Author: Eric Melton

Lost Wallet

Charles Wright called and thinks he might have lost his wallet at the library last night. If you should find it, please call Charles at 964-9591.

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New TV + PC Hook-ups In Archive Room

A new TV has been mounted on the wall in the Archive room. HDMI, VGA, ethernet, audio, and power connections are accessible via the flip-up box in the table.

 

 

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New Information in PAC

Two new bits of information are available (from staff PCs only) via the PAC: total check outs and last check-in date. 

 

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Bulletin Board

Bulletin board is now being handled by Lori Elrick. Please leave things for the board on her desk.

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The New Yorker: Weeding the Worst Library Books

http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/weeding-the-worst-library-books

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Timesheets Due Noon Thursday, April 28

Please remember to put your completed and signed timesheet and PARS in the folders outside of Eric’s office on or before Thursday noon, April 28.  My task is to ensure that you are paid properly – I do feel uncomfortable when I have to complete PARS and sign your name – so please double-check the expandable folder to make sure any PTO has a matching PAR. 

Thanks,

Peg

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Library Board Meeting Recap

The library board met last Thursday. I’ve highlighted some of the agenda items below.

  • The board approved lowering the 1-10 page fax price to $1 while keeping the 25 cent charge for each page over 10.
  • The board also approved funds to digitize our collection of local newspapers that were not digitized the last go round as well as funds to purchase umbrellas for the tables on the west patio. 
  • The board approved purchase of equipment for a book-bike delivery/outreach service. The bike will haul a custom trailer full of library materials. Operating staff will have the ability to check out materials, make new cards, and more.  Regular routes to neighborhoods will initially run June through August. The bike will also be taken to community events, grocery stores, and other gathering places.
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Shred Day

Update to Shred Day–I heard back from AARP and they tallied roughly 500 cars through our Shred Day line. That is nearly 5 times the volume that we typically have!! I want to thank Saturday staff for rallying and handling unexpected events in a stellar fashion. Given what we knew going in to the event, I don’t think it could have been handled better. 

 

Thank you. You’all are very appreciated. 

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Shred Day an Overwhelming Success!

AARP estimates 300+ cars navigated the gueue to drop off materials to be shredded.  The shredding truck couldn’t keep up and some materials were transported to the shredding company’s location.  

THE SHREDDER wants recyclers to know that their staff will not go home tonight until all materials dropped off at JPL today are shredded.

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Johnston’s Outdoor Severe Weather Sirens Not Working Properly

JPL Staff – In case you are not aware of this issue, please read Emergency Alert from the City of Johnston.

Peg

 

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Fax Pricing Now $1

The board approved a reduction in Fax pricing at last night’s meeting. 

Pricing is now:

$1 for up to 10 pages

25 cents for each additional page

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Timesheets and Cards for Karen’s Family Due This Week

Please complete, sign and put your timesheet into the green folder outside of Eric’s office by Thursday (ee gads – that’s tomorrow).  Don’t forget to complete PARS for PTO.

Additionally, please put your private card to Karen’s family into the basket (in the staff kitchen) or sign the group card on or before Friday.  We’ll gather up the cards and send them all to Karen’s son and daughter-in-law in Monterrey, California.  Hopefully our cards will let the family know that Karen was a valued member of the JPL staff and that she is missed.

Thanks,

Peg

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Flooring Installation Thursday-Saturday

We are having new, more-easily cleaned flooring installed in each of the study rooms as well as the Tech Lab. The work will begin tomorrow and be completed Saturday. The study rooms will reopen as soon as the work is complete. The Tech Lab will reopen Monday once I reinstall the furniture and equipment.

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Message from JPL Foundation President on National Library Workers Day

The President of the JPL Foundation, an organization that works with the library to address needs through private donations, asked me to pass along his appreciation of JPL staff on National Library Workers Day:

In honor of today’s National Library Workers Day, I’d like to pass along from myself and the foundation, thanks for your guidance and time spent on all aspects of making the Library, the place to be. Also, thanks to your staff for their countless hours working with patrons and organizing events for the community.
You are appreciated!

Greg Judas

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Doctors Now

Doctors Now, where all city employees go for non-emergency work-related care, has moved to 8779 Northpark Court (in the strip mall with Pancheros and 1908 Draught House). The phone number remains 515-270-1000 option 1.

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Cards for Karen

To honor Karen’s memory, we thought it would be nice to have JPL staff individually prepare a card of sympathy to be sent Karen’s son. We will collect cards in the basket in the staff room and then will mail them collectively to Karen’s son. 

If any individual chooses to make a donation in memory of Karen to the nonprofits of her family’s choice (NPR or Johnston Public Library)- perhaps you could include/acknowledge this in your individual card.

Please place cards in a sealed envelope in Peg’s mailbox or in the basket in the staff room before next Friday, April 15th. 

For those that would rather sign their name on a group card from JPL, there is a card is in the staff Kitchen next to the basket.  

 

Karen’s family are as follows if you wish to address them directly: 

Son and daughter-in-law, Shawn and Brett Zima of Monterey, Calif.; brother, Ron (Marla) Franklin of Des Moines; sister Judy (Dennis) Carlsen of Germantown, Ohio

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Karen’s Obituary was published in the Newton Newspaper on Tuesday

Karen Sue Zima

March 31, 2016

Karen Sue Zima, beloved mother, sister and friend, died March 31, 2016, at Mercy Hospital, Des Moines. She was 69 years old. Her parents preceded Karen in death. The daughter of Leon and Edith Franklin, Karen was born March 14, 1947, in Chicago, Ill. She was a graduate of Newton High School, class of 1965, attended the University of Northern Iowa and graduated from the University of Iowa.

Karen retired after 30 years of devoted civil service to the Department of Defense in 2011. After retirement, she enjoyed working at Iowa Cubs baseball games and the Johnston Public Library. Her love of reading, nature and the Iowa Hawkeyes are what loved ones will remember most. Karen also enjoyed traveling and has had adventures across much of the world.  An incredibly devoted mother and sister, Karen was a warm, generous, caring woman who will be greatly missed by many.

Those left to honor her memory are her son and daughter-in-law, Shawn and Brett Zima of Monterey, Calif.; brother, Ron (Marla) Franklin of Des Moines; sister Judy (Dennis) Carlsen of Germantown, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, condolences may be expressed by donating to the Johnston Public Library or National Public Radio.

 

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Error on this pay-period’s timesheets

The timesheets distributed today have incorrect dates along the top of the table. The dates should read 3-16 (not 20-2).

 

 

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Karen

Karen’s family stopped in the library today.  They left a beautiful bouquet in honor of Karen at the Circ desk .  And they expressed their appreciation and gratitude for all the staff did for Karen on Thursday and throughout her tenure here.

They said she enjoyed coming to work at the library and was really in her niche: Karen loved reading, BBC shows, music, NPR and current topics.  It gave them great comfort to know that she was here, at a place she loved, when she suffered the heart attack.

Per Karen’s wishes, there will be no service.  An obituary will appear in the Newton Daily News.   The family is requesting that memorials be directed to NPR and the Johnston Public Library.

Peg

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Mobile Printing Handout

One more thing to mention about mobile printing: Circ, Public Services and Youth Services all have handouts for patrons at their desks that detail how to utilize the three different methods of mobile printing. Instructions are also available at www.johnstonlibrary.com under the Services Menu link. 

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