Author: Eric Melton

We need to assemble a group of Johnston residents for the strategic planning process that will begin this spring. They can be library users but it’s not a requirement. Please let me know if you have someone you think would provide useful input on where the library should focus its efforts.

A new feature in the PAC allows patrons to log in to multiple accounts using the green “Add an Account” button in the account menu. Added accounts will show as a list under Switch to…”. Logging out clears all saved accounts. This feature is not related to Polaris’s associated accounts feature. 

Technical Services now has its own phone group extension.  If you want to transfer a call to TS, you can use 716 and all four of our phones will ring.

Please turn in your timesheets on or before Thursday, October 1.  This is the first week I’ll be verifying timesheets on my own.  I will be out of the office on Friday.  If you won’t be in the office before October 1 and you haven’t completed your timesheet yet, please send me an email to let me know.

rasmussen@johnstonlibrary.com

Thanks!

A digital microscope has been set up outside the Youth Computer Lounge. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with it when you have time. The PC will be left on. The monitor will be turned off by Youth Services staff nightly.

The yellow notepads at the reference, youth services, and circulation desks are intended for any kind of patron comments you feel are worth noting. These could be compliments, complaints, or suggestions. 

Eric

1. The Book Club Sets are located in Technical Services.  The adult non-fiction titles are shelved behind Missy’s desk.  The adult fiction titles are shelved by call number (author), and they also begin behind Missy’s desk and continue around to the right.  The YA and Juvenile fiction books are shelved next to the YS workroom.
2. When a book club set is reserved, the Circulation Status is “Cataloging.”  Books with a status of “Cataloging” cannot be checked out.
3. To determine which book club sets are available, go to the PAC.
   1. Click on More, Book Club Sets.
   2. On the left side of the screen, click on Checked In Titles Only.
   3. Click on Update.  The patron may now select from the titles listed.
4. Patrons are also welcome to check out single copies of Book Club Sets as long as the Circulation Status is “In.”
5. If a patron wants to borrow either a single copy or a Book Club Set, call TS, and we will bring the book(s) out to the Circ Desk.  If no one is working in TS, you may retrieve the book(s) for the patron.
   1. If you check out a single copy, you do not need to do anything further.
   2. If you check out two or more copies of a single title, leave a note for (or send an e-mail to) Dreama letting her know which set you loaned.
6. If a patron wants a copy of the discussion questions, go to P:\Book Club\Multiple Copies Discussion Questions.  Each book has its own document which you can print for the patron.
7. Book Club Sets have no renewals.  Single copies may be loaned for a standard 3-week check-out.  If a patron wants to borrow multiple copies for a discussion, ask the patron when s/he will be ready to return the books and check them out for that date.
8. When Book Club Sets are returned, check them in and place them on the shelf: “Book Club Books for Tech Services.”  TS staff will pick them up and re-shelve them.

Please say hi to our new Public Services staff member, Sarah Lane, when you see her at the Reference Desk. 

Sarah’s new email is lane@johnstonlibrary.com if you want to add her to your contacts. 

Thanks!

Hello Staff,

Artists and display organizers will be in between now and next Tuesday.

Imad Saab and Steve Murga art for the gallery. When these items come in place them in the work room by the desk next to the paper shredder.

D Allen Ryan will pickup his items in the display cases.

Steve Murga and family will deliver items for the display cases. If the Murga family comes into the library before Mr. Ryan, please carefully take the items out of the display cases and place them on my desk.

They will need the display key which can be found in the drawer with the Foundation money bag in a clear plastic box and marked “Display”.

On 9/30/2015 Chad Elliott will pickup his paintings. If I am not here, the paintings are in the coat closet in the East Meeting room boxed and ready for him to pickup.

Thanks for your help.

Karla

We are now live with a new event calendar and meeting room reservation system. We are still working out some kinks but the new systems will save ALOT of time and effort in coordinating our bookings. 

http://events.johnstonlibrary.com/

The cupboards around the staff area sink have been labelled to distinguish office supplies, which are for use by all, and processing supplies, which are for the Tech Services department. If you can’t find or we don’t have something you need amongst our office supply stash, please let me know.

We’re changing the names of a couple of our collections:

1. Cakes Pans are now Molds.  We’ll be adding an assortment of baking and craft silicone molds to the collection so we’re broadening the name.
2. Special Collections are now Archives.  The new name fits better on a spine label.

The Xerox has an error that is preventing printing. I’ve called Premier. They should be in Thursday.

Hello Everyone,

Please turn in your timesheet today, Wednesday, September 16th. 

This will be the last time you receive this message from me; after this pay period, Peg will handle timesheets.  Yay, Peg.

Thank you,

Missy

Banned Book Week 2015 is September 27rd to October 3rd, but here in Public Services, we don’t believe that one week is nearly enough time to be indignant. Allison has filled the front large display with Banned and Challenged kids, teens and adult books. Books on this display have a red paper “banned” band on them. These books are available for checkout. Patrons do not need to return the band–they are welcome to rip open their banned or challenge books with abandon. 😉 The slideshow on the website and the PAC now features a banned book week slide. If patrons click on this slide, they will be redirected to the American Library Association website page for banned and challenged books. This is the place to direct patrons if they have questions about why a particular book was banned or challenged. Please ask Beth if you have any questions or concerns. 

National Voter Registration Day

September 22, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM @ 6700 Merle Hay Road

National Voter Registration Day is September 22nd. Members of the League of Women Voters will be at the Johnston Public Library to register first time voters and help voters who are already registered update their information. Patrons need to be prepared to provide either the last 4 digits of their social security number or their driver’s license number. A photo ID is not required.

We received word that Kinney’s mother passed away over the weekend.

A bouquet and sympathy card will be sent from the library staff.  

An envelope is on the black file cabinet outside my office if you would like to make a donation toward the flowers.