Author: Molly Guerra

I am a few days late on this post. Olivia Hickcox has joined the library as a library clerk. Please take a moment to welcome her to the library.

I have had many good questions about what is expected of staff during desk back up time when check-in assistance is not needed.

We will be presenting a couple of topics related to library services and library resources to challenge you to dig into our collection, rethink our services and explore our resources.

This month is Disability Pride month. Over the next couple of weeks, as time allows at the desks and/or during desk backup, complete the following tasks:

Read this book review from the Washington Post. I loved How Lucky. Recommended for your reading list 🙂

• Do we have this title in our collection?
• Find another fiction title that we own that has a character with a disability?
• What are the subject headings of this book?
• Would those be helpful in your search for another fiction book with a character with a disability?
• Just for fun – what do we think of an able bodied author writing from the perspective of someone with SMA Type 2?  I really enjoyed the book, but I read it thinking that it was written by an author with a disability similar to SMA.

A library user wants some general information about spinal muscular atrophy type 2. We can provide information, but we cannot apply the information. Patrons should review medical information with their providers. We cannot provide medical advice. We can connect people with medical information.

• Look for information on Academic Search Premier. Did you find a full text article?
• Look up the condition on Medline.
• Are there print resources available at the library?
• Read about finding reliable health information here.

And finally, please read Services to People with Disabilities: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights by ALA.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you!

In 2015 as I walked into the parking lot of JPL after my job interview for Assistant Director, I found a tick in my hair. I remember thinking there had to be some symbolism to that. 

I never did look into what that might mean. As I am writing to share with you that my last day at JPL will be July 17, I decided to look up what finding a tick means in different cultures and contexts. Endurance, patience, resilience, adaptability, boundary setting and self-care are symbolized by ticks. I feel like all of those words could describe my personal and professional journey over the last nine years, but joy is the best way to describe it.

I am excited for new adventures in life as a mom as my kids are becoming young adults, and I am looking forward to new professional challenges. 

It has been a pleasure to be a part of this library community in Johnston. You guys are amazing, and I have learned so much from you and our library users. Thank you for letting me be a part of this. 

Holly will release more information about when and how my position will be posted and filled at a later date. 

In the meantime, Holly will be assuming my duties after my departure. Starting immediately, any question, concern or communication that you send to me, please include Holly. Those I supervise, will be supervised by Holly after my departure. 

Holly’s contact information is:

sealine@johnstonlibrary.com 

Cell: 515-681-6466

If you have questions, let us know!

Molly & Holly

We have a new library clerk starting today. Christopher Baughman will be working at desks several mornings a week and every other weekend. Please take a moment to welcome him to JPL!

Under our research tab we had a link to Tech Boomer (a digital literacy website). That website is now called Tech Unity Life. I have updated the link on the website.

To my knowledge, the link was seldom used for Tech Boomers. Over the next two months we will evaluate usage of Tech Unity Life and may remove it from the website if we determine it is not being used. So if you have been using it often to assist patrons with digital literacy, please to reach out to Molly or Beth.

Could everyone take a moment to review How to Handle Lost and Found in Confluence this week please 🙂

Locked Drawer:

• As a reminder – the locked Lost and Found drawer should be used for “cash, cell phones, credit/debit cards, gift cards, tablets, or other small valuables (worth more than $25).” Other items do not need to be locked up and are less likely to get found if they are in the drawer.
• We need to list items put this drawer in the green notebook and then note in the green notebook when the items is picked up or taken care of by staff.  We use the green notebook to leave documentation of where an item went. For higher value items, it is helpful for your coworkers to have a paper trail (the green notebook) of where items went in case someone comes in expecting to find their phone or ID and it is not in the drawer.
• Slack is a great way to let people know that something has been put in the locked drawer or a pickup has been scheduled, but it is not a substitute for marking notes in the green notebook.

Regular Lost and Found:

• Please put your initials and the date found on items
• Please empty food or drink containers

Thank you!

I have put a copy of the Jamex Coin-op override key on the keychain with the master key and tree key that lives at the PS Desk in the top drawer. It is labeled coin-op.

There is a spare coin-op key on the master keychain which hangs in the locked money cabinet.

I am sad to say that Kris Whetstone has submitted her resignation to spend more time with her family. She sends her best wishes to you all!

Thanks for all your work at the desks as we dive into our busy season. I want to send out a reminder on our procedures for checking out items to library users.

Library users can borrow without a library card, but I ask that you follow this process to keep the experience consistent for library users and your fellow staff. Always ask for their library card first. If they say they don’t have it, always ask if you can see their photo ID before looking them up with three pieces of information. Here is an example of how a interaction might sound:

JPL Patron: I don’t have my library card, can you just look me up? 

JPL Staff: Not a problem at all about the library card, would you happen to have your photo ID available?

JPL Patron: I don’t have anything with me.

JPL Staff: Ok. We can still get you checked out by verifying three pieces of information on your account!

Photo ID is preferable because you have then verified their identity and when you open their account if they ask you questions about their circulation record, ask you to get them a new card, etc. you will be good to go and can help them. It also helps to have their name spelled along with date of birth right in front of you. 

You guys – I could go on and on about all the various times that escalated issues have gotten really awkward and complex from us accidentally checking out items to the wrong person’s account. I can tell you a million stories – just grab me sometime. But in the meantime, please trust me that if at all possible, it is best to use a library card or photo ID before looking people up with three pieces of information to ensure you get items on the correct account. 

Also – please remember that if you look up the account with three pieces of information, you are just letting them borrow the materials on their own account. So I cannot come in and give you three pieces of information on my husband’s, mom’s, friend’s account to borrow on their card. I can give you three pieces of information about my account and borrow items (after I am asked if I have my library card of photo ID available).  I can present another person’s library card and use their account with full access. 

Thanks for reading this and following the process. It really helps so our library users know what to expect and have a consistent experience at JPL. 

This cheat sheet is in Confluence under Circulation and Library Card Policy FAQ that I am currently updating but this information is there.

Please ask me, Riddhi or Mary if you have questions!

The override key is missing from the Ref. Desk. I have put in an order for a new key, but if you know where the old key is, please let Molly know.

Doug, our building maintenance staff, has many responsibilities with roadwork that take up most of his time during May and mid-July. He will not be doing lightbulb replacement until later in the summer. So please do not be discouraged if you do not see lights changed out as quickly as usual.

During this time, please add light bulbs that need to be replaced to #buildingmaintenance on Slack and Lori F or Molly will add those noted to a spreadsheet in the P Drive<Building Maintenance. We will get the spreadsheet to Doug so he can get light bulbs switched next time he visits.

Due to the storm on May 21, some areas of Johnston will qualify for a special vegetative debris pickup on May 28th at 6 a.m. Other areas of the City will use metro waste curbside to pick up their debris.

The full report and map, is at the Circulation Desk or on the City’s website , if patrons have questions. If they still have questions after looking at the information on the website, they should call City Hall.

The library has four (4!) clerk positions currently posted.

Clerk One: Monday – Thursday 3 – 8 pm
Clerk Two: Every Saturday/Sunday 12 – 5 pm
Clerk Three: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 1 – 5 pm
Every other Saturday 1 – 5:45 pm and Sunday 12:45 – 5:15 pm
Clerk Four: Tuesday and Thursday 4 – 8:15 pm
Every other Saturday 8:45 am and Sunday 12:15 pm – 5:15 pm

Internal applicants are welcome to apply or request additional hours.

For external applicants, they can find job listings at the bottom of our website. Internal applicants can just email Molly and Dreama.

Hello!

You have probably heard rumblings about some changes coming regarding Check-in and Shelving. I appreciate everyone being willing to allow Dreama and I to talk things through before we shared any “official” updates.

So beginning May 5th – some staff that have reported to me, will begin to report to Dreama. Those staff include Laurie Hazel, Sarah Gerke, Andrew Holm and Ashlyn Simon. Sarah and Laurie will still work some desk shifts.

Dreama’s staff will be in charge of emptying the book returns, doing the Pick List, pulling unclaimed holds, calling holds.  The Circ Weekly Calendar schedule that you look for in the back room will no longer be up on May 5th. If you have a question about who is doing the picklist or anything to do with the jobs above, you will want to check-in with TS staff.

Dreama will also become the volunteer coordinator since the majority of our volunteers work in shelving and pick list help. Questions or applications can be sent her way.

Dreama or a TS designee may ask staff trained in check-in for help from time to time. Especially during those crazy summer months. All staff trained to check-in will be ready to help when asked.

If you are not moving to TS, you may have additional desk hours instead of check-in. I will be sending out a note to desk staff discussing the change and what you will be doing during your shifts not covering a desk.

People can still pick up shifts for each other from desks or TS. So for instance if Sarah (TS) is out, Carolyn (Patron Services) is welcome to pick up her shift. If she does that, Dreama will communicate with Carolyn what TS duties she will be responsible for outside of Sarah’s desk shifts.

There is a lot to digest. The main thing to remember is to ask questions if you are unsure of what you should be focusing on at work.

Molly and Dreama

For the time being, we will not have a notary regularly available on Mondays after 6 pm as Peg is in a program.

Please see the message from the Library Board of Trustees below. I am very excited for the next chapter at JPL, and I am eager to begin work with the new director. Holly is very well respected in the Iowa library community, and she is going to be a great leader:

Dear JPL staff,

Thank you for your patience during our search for the next Library Director for the Johnston Public Library.  Pending Library Board approval at a special board meeting on May 2nd, we are pleased to announce that our next director is Holly Sealine.  Holly is currently a Public Service Manager at the Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library and has previously been the director at the Norwalk Easter Public Library.  Holly’s first day at the library will be May 31st.  There will be a press release to the public after our May 2nd meeting, but the Library Board wanted you all to know in advance because we recognize how important this decision is to each and every one of you.

Thank you to everyone that participated in the library director search.  Whether you attended the presentations, gave building tours, staffed a desk so others could attend, met the candidates, or filled out the survey, we appreciated your willingness to assist the Board in making this decision.

Best,
Kelly McAlister

There is the potential for severe weather tomorrow. Please take a moment to review the emergency cards at the desks for the procedures for tornado watches and warnings.

We are in the final stretch with putting together kite kits! Kites on the Green will be help May 4th. We have about 2.5 boxes of kite kits left to assemble. Please work on kits are time allows. There is another box of string handles in the northwest corner of my office.

There are instructions for making the kits by the Circulation Desk or you can grab a LIC to ask how to make a kit.

Thank you for your help!

Please congratulate Riddhi on her promotion to Assistant Librarian! Her promotion is effective immediately as she begins her training on scheduling, timesheets and librarian in charge.

Hi All!

After we got a taste of Confluence and all the information it contains, I would like everyone to take a look at it next time you work.

Please pull up Confluence and use the search bar to find information about resources we have for genealogy. What do you see if you pull up test prep? What if you type in Tornado?

Speaking of Tornados: During the social hour at the last staff meeting we played game of weather emergencies Jeopardy. If you couldn’t attend the social hour, could you please search “emergency manual” in Confluence and review the emergency procedures – especially for tornados and straight-line winds. 

Okay – happy confluence procedure exploring 🙂