Author: Elizabeth Stevens

Check out the new photography exhibit by Ryan Morrison in the JPL Gallery. Tonight we will have an Artist’s reception for him in the Commons from 7pm to 7:30pm.

Also, big thank you to Melodee and her husband for providing train artifacts in the display cases.

Additionally, there is now a JPL Art Gallery page on our website that includes a fillable form for artists who are interested in displaying work in either our display cases or in the JPL Art Gallery. You can find it under the events tab on the website. Full url is here: https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/1428/JPL-Art-Gallery 

We have a functioning VCR in the tech lab again! Let the VHS digitizing begin…again!
As always, if a first-time user would like staff assistance, please make a Tech Lab Help Desk appointment. Ask Beth if you have questions.

Kanopy is available again. I had to reconnect my JPL library card and pin to my Kanopy username and password. If patrons are still struggling, that’s what i would suggest trying. Ask Beth if you have questions. Thanks!

Kanopy is temporarily unavailable. We’re working on resolving the issue. If you have patrons inquire about the service, please tell them we’re aware of the problem and working on a fix. Take their contact info and tell them we’ll notify them when Kanopy is back in action. Patron contact info can be emailed or slacked to beth. My email is stevens@johnstonlibrary.com.

Thanks!

Tax season is upon us so I wanted to submit a friendly reminder about info and services we offer during this time, as well as info and services we do not offer.

Under the Services Menu at johnstonlibrary.com, we have menu link called Tax Forms. This is the most expedient way to link people to printable forms for Iowa and Federal tax forms. The link also has info about what government offices people need to go to if they want to pick up their tax forms in person.

JPL has received federal 1040 and 1040SR forms plus federal 1040 instruction booklets. The 1040SR stands for senior. It is intended for people 65 or older. Form is basically the same but has larger print and calls out tax benefits for people over age 65.

If individuals are seeking tax forms above and beyond the forms listed above, we will print them for individuals for free. We will not print instruction manuals for free.

The tax link on our website also has information about free tax preparation people can take advantage of if they are interested. AARP offers free tax prep, as well as United Way. Links to those sites with location and date and time info is posted there.

During this time, it’s important to remember that we do not provide tax advice or information to people, in the same way we do not provide medical or legal information to people. Just a friendly reminder that we can connect people to services and organizations that do provide this information, but we are not the information ourselves.

Due to extreme winter weather conditions we have decided to postpone the Ancestry Basics Genealogy Class that was originally scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, January 13, 2024.

Ancestry Basics at JPL has been rescheduled for Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 10:30am. 
Here is a direct link for the rescheduled JPL Genealogy event: https://johnston.librarycalendar.com/event/ancestry-basics-iowa-genealogical-society-5044.

Patron’s registration for this new date will transfer over from the previous date. Patrons have been notified of this change via email. Patrons have also been told if they are no longer able to attend the class on Sat, Feb 3, to email us at info@johnstonlibrary.org or to call the library.

Thank you in advance for your help editing these event registrations if needed.
Ask Beth if you have questions.

Update: Our grand prize winner is out of the country for about a month. I will keep her prize in my office until she’s back stateside.

The Grand Prize Winner for 2023 Ultimate Reading Challenge has been drawn. The winner is Bernita Missal. She has been notified via voicemail that her prize is waiting for her at JPL behind the Circulation Desk. The prize is a DSM Metro Local Bookstore Crawl Gift Card Pack.

When Bernita comes to pick up her prize, I would love to get a picture if she’s up for it. If I’m here when she comes in, please grab me so I can chat with her.

Thank you to all staff for all your help answering questions about the Ultimate Reading Challenge and giving out prizes. Now on to Ultimate Reading Challenge 2024!

Beth

2024 Ultimate Reading Challenge Book logs are now available. Paper logs are at both the ref desk and the circ desk. No sign-up is necessary–people can just take a challenge log. All directions are on the book log. As you have time, take a chance to read through the 2024 Reading Challenge so you can answer questions.  If people want to print their own log, directions and a PDF for Ultimate Reading Log are on the website under events. Ultimate Reading Challenge 2024 can also be accessed on the website by clicking on the the image slider link on the homepage.

Additionally, we are going to give people a week grace period to turn in their 2023 Reading Logs. I am here for a program on Saturday, January 6th and will take the 2023 prize material down then. Thanks for all your help handing out prizes and taking pics. Much appreciated. Ask Beth if you have any questions.

Our VHS player in the Tech Lab is temporarily out of commission while we wait for a VHS cleaning head tape to be delivered. It should arrive next week on Dec 28th. Peg will be checking Tech Lab reservations as they come in next week and will check in with anyone if they are coming in for this service. The 4 other types of video tape digitization are still functioning (VHS-C, Video 8/ HI8, Digital 8, and Mini DV).
There are no upcoming appointments for VHS digitization at this time.

Thursday, December 21, 2023 we will go live with a new CivicPlus website and Polaris PowerPAC catalog. Previously, these two important features of our online presence have been integrated into one site. After tomorrow, they will be two separate sites that link back and forth to each other. This is the case for the vast majority of public libraries, so it should be something that most of our patrons are familiar with. We are considering tomorrow a soft opening for the new catalog and website and will not be doing a lot of publicizing for these new sites until after the holidays. This will give us a chance to refine items if needed.

Below are some talking points to use should you have patrons comment on the new catalog or website. In addition to these scripts, be aware that our own mindset is going to go a long way to helping patrons digest change. While assisting patrons as they figure out the new sites, we will project a relaxed and positive attitude and convey that we’re all learning the new system together.

When I’m working with patrons at a public desk, I always think of myself as a partner/guide helping a person get what they need out of a system (and as we all know, systems and bureaucracies can be confusing).

When you are attempting to show a patron how to navigate our new site or PowerPAC, turn your screen around and work through it together. Be upfront about the fact that we have just switched to new sites to better serve our patrons. We’re still learning the new system too, but together, we’ll figure it out. 

 Below are some talking points to use should you have patrons comment on the new catalog or website. 

• The new website prioritizes ADA compliance, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can easily access and utilize the library’s services.
• The new catalog features improved search functionality, including quick access to new and on-order items and improved read-alike suggestions.
• Library services, resources and access to materials have not changed. All the same JPL services and materials you love are still available. 

As you have time, please check out the following documents to familiarize yourself with our new website and PowerPAC Catalog.

How to Navigate Our New Civic Plus Website

How to Navigate the PowerPAC

Repost of Megan’s PowerPAC Training Doc:  https://tinyurl.com/2s3dw9vk

We have started a new channel on Slack called Website/PowerPAC feedback. Please feel encouraged to leave comments or feedback from patrons as well as things you notice that might need to be fixed or refined. Thanks!

During the remainder of December, patrons will begin turning in their Ultimate Reading Challenge logs. We have decided that they will collect the logs at the Circ Desk since this is a place that should always have backup. I have printed copies of the prize instructions and put them at each desk. The PDF instructions are here: How to Give Out Prizes for Ultimate Reading Challenge. If you have patrons who seem flexible I would love a photo of Ultimate Reading Challenge winners holding their new JPL Book Bag–only if patrons feel like it. 😉

Please ask Beth if you have questions. Thank you for your help!

In addition to seeking input from staff regarding what you would like to see in the next JPL Director, the Library Board of Trustees is also seeking input from community members. The survey that was shared with staff to provide feedback about what you want in the next director, will also be made available to community members. It will go out in a Facebook post tonight and will be in the JPL e-newsletter on Thursday.

For some people, this may come as the fist time that they are hearing that Eric is no longer at JPL. Here’s a refresher script you can use should you be asked for more details over the phone or in person about why Eric left or what he is doing professionally.

Eric left JPL in May.
The Library Board has enlisted the help of a hiring firm that specializes in connecting great leaders with great libraries.
(if still being pressed for more info…)
I don’t have any other info, but if you would like I can get you our Interim Director Molly Guerra’s contact info.

Thanks!

Libby and the Bridges Consortium have communicated that they would like the library website links for access to Overdrive e-books and e-audiobooks to go through a Libby link rather than the older Overdrive link (which we had been using on our website). That change was made on our website last week. Some of you have noticed.

Now, the Libby experience on a computer is very similar to the Libby experience on a smartphone or tablet. That’s a good thing, but user-interface for signing out of an account has some clunky, and somewhat scary, language that is not obvious or intuitive.

Please take a look through the documentation for singing in to and out of Libby on a computer (including a staff computer).

For a little more context, a staff person might have a need to sign in as a patron on Libby for the following reasons:

• A patron says they are unable to sign in to Libby. You look at their Polaris account and don’t see an obvious reason that would be preventing a login. You can try logging in as them to rule out user error on the patron’s part.
• Staff log in as patrons for some Home Delivery individuals who use ebooks and e-audiobooks.

  Thank you! Please ask Beth or your supervisor if you have additional questions.

  How to Sign In and Sign Out of Libby on a Computer

Hey all,

A reminder that at closing the all-in-one computers can be left alone. The all-in-one computers do not have a tower and a monitor; both are part of one unit. All-in-one computers include the two computers in the Whisper Room, Computer #9 in the YS area (on the same wall as game tablets), and the two catalog computers by the Ref Desk. All these computers reset themselves via a timed program at night.

At closing, all other computers just need to have monitors turned off.

Thanks! Ask beth or your supervisor if you have questions.

Reminder that tomorrow, Tuesday, November 7 is City/School Election Day. Polls will be open from 7am to 8pm. JPL is a voting site for people in this polling district. Polk County election officials will be in the East Meeting Room tomorrow for voting.

General voting info can be found on our website here: https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/services/voting-information/

If individuals are looking for their polling place, that can be found here at the Iowa Secretary of State’s website: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx.

Voters need to bring a valid form of ID with them to the polls. Valid forms of ID include:

Johnston Public Library has satellite in-person absentee voting happening today, Friday, October 27  in the Large Meeting Room until 4pm.

More information about the 2023 Election is available on our website under the Services menu here:
https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/services/voting-information/

One of the services we offer at JPL is test proctoring for students or individuals who are not able to take a test in person with their school or institution.

Please take a second to review the how-to process for talking to patrons about proctored tests, getting them the info they need, and finally scheduling the tests.

Again, Peg and I will make an effort to come around to Public Desk staff in the next week or two to talk through the process and answer questions.

Thanks!

How to Proctor Exams

Hey all,
Over the next week-ish Peg and I will be coming around to staff working Public Facing Desks to review the following info:

1. What are Help Desk Appointments
2. What falls into the parameters of tasks or challenges where a Help Desk appointment is an appropriate solution
3. How to Schedule a Help Desk Appointment

   As you have time, please take a second a read over how we advertise Help Desk Appointments to the Public on our website: https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/services/help-desk/.

   Additionally, please check out the Help Desk Inquiry Drawio document that leads you through situations that should result in a Help Desk Appointment versus leading to a connection with an outside agency.

   The final document goes into detail on the steps to take when scheduling a Help Desk appointment for a patron.

   Save up your questions. I’ll be making the rounds to discuss all things Help Desk in greater detail.

   Thanks!

   https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/services/help-desk/

   Help Desk_Inquiry.drawio (2)

   Help Desk_How to Make an Appointment

Polk County Health will be at JPL tomorrow 10/4 from 5pm to 7:30pm to administer flu shots. Details including insurance information, payment info, and registration info is available here: https://johnston.librarycalendar.com/event/get-flu-shot-polk-county-health-department
No one will be turned away because of inability to pay.

Pre-registration for the JPL Flu Shot Clinic is highly recommended. Look for the JPL Flu Shot Clinic at immunizepolk.com or use this link to go directly to the JPL clinic page: immunizepolk.com. Appointment times are very flexible–as long as you have an appointment spot and can make it to JPL between 5:00pm and 7:30pm on October 4, Polk County Health nurses will be able to accommodate you.

I will set up laptops and iPads outside the Archive Room tomorrow afternoon for people to register who have not pre-registered.

Thanks! Ask Beth if you have questions.

Hello All,
Art in the Barn 2023 Artist Registration is full. Should you receive phone calls or emails about exhibiting artists who are interested in participating, please let them know that we have reached capacity for artist registration this year.
If artists are interested in participating in future years, I can add their email to a list that will be sent out for the artist call in future years. If an artist is interested in potentially exhibiting in coming years, please take their name and email, and send it to me at stevens@johnstonlibrary.com.

Tickets are absolutely still available for individuals who would like to come to Art in the Barn as an attendee. Tickets for attendees are available in person at JPL, online at https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/art-in-the-barn/, or at the door on the night of the event (October 20, 2023).
Thanks! Ask Beth if you have questions.

PSA Announcement from PS Staff:

When you use meeting room technology like HDMI cords, VGA cords, or the gig boxes we have with dongles, please use the equipment meant for each room and please put them back where they belong. We have meeting room tech for each room and it’s best if the cords for that room stay where they belong.

Archive Room Tech is in the cabinet behind ref desk where we keep laptops and iPads. This includes HDMI cords and a gig box with dongles.

East Meeting Room locked closet has an HDMI cord, VGA cord, gig box with dongles, a power strip and an ethernet cord.

West Meeting Room locked closet has an HDMI. cord, VGA cord, gig box with dongles, a power strip, and an ethernet cord.

Master Key opens the locked closets in the Large Meeting Rooms. Thank you! Ask Beth or Peg if you have any questions.