Author: Molly Guerra

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/YG40jFL7aPsIKQjgF3OXvDZqCeU2oy9IOESbA6f1pIvSpbYg1nwZaCxB_TCBS-48.Gw9fmOaSdHl6z7tG

I’m going to add time for everyone today. If you couldn’t make it, please watch the staff meeting at home or before or after one of your shifts sometime this week or next.

Thank you!

Hello Circulation Department. It feels like a long time since we have chatted. I am so, so grateful for all the grace you have allowed me this summer and I try to wear more hats than usual.

I realize this is very, very short notice, but I will be on Zoom this Sunday, July 16 at 11:30 a.m. for an impromptu Circ Staff Meeting. I will completely understand if I am the only person in attendance because this is ridiculously short notice. I will record the meeting and post it so it can be watched at your convenience if you cannot come on Sunday.

Thank you all for all your hard work this summer.

Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84788750038

Here is a link to the obituary for Sandy’s dad, Larry. His services will be on August 5.

It seems no one had noticed, which is good, but we were short our spare key to the front automatic doors. I got a replacement. So while the key to the automatic doors remains on the keychain in the card catalog, if we are unable to find that key, in a pinch, we have an extra on the master keychain.

Tonight there will be a campaign event for Ron Desantis at the Simpson Barn. The First Lady of Florida and Governor Kim Reynolds will be speaking.  There will be children’s activities, provided by the Desantis Campaign, outside of the Simpson Barn.

Doors open at 5 p.m.

It is planned that there will be groups protesting the event. There will most likely be national media attention and a large crowd.

There will be security for the First Lady and the Governor. Johnston Police and State Troopers will be present also.

At the desks remember that we are not going to engage in debate about either group. Just sticks to facts and remain calm if you have questions or concerns from library users. Call or text me if you have any concerns.

The Polk County Emergency Management extreme temperature plan will be activated today based on the forecasted temperatures exceeding 90 degrees today (7/3) and tomorrow (7/4).  This includes weather amnesty at area homeless shelters, activation of cooling centers at many public locations, and access to cooling centers via DART buses.

More detailed information and resources are available here: https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/emergency-management/our-plans/extreme-temperature-and-sheltering-resources/

I just wanted to quickly touch base and let everyone know how the library director search is going.

The library board has put out a request for proposals from consulting firms to lead the executive search. The hope is that the library board will choose a firm in late July. Once a firm is hired, we are thinking it will be 4 to 6 months until the new director begins.

Here is a very rough estimate of the timeline which is subject to change:

• September – advertise the position
• October –  review applicants and interview candidates
• November – extend an offer
• December – library director begins

I will keep you posted each step of the way, but feel free to ask if you have any questions.

Mark your calendars. The library will be holding an All Staff Meeting on Sunday, July 23rd. The meeting will have two components:

10:45 -11:30 will be time to socialize, enjoy some food together, and enjoy some informal meetings and talking.

11:30 -12:45 will be a traditional meeting with an agenda. The agenda is in progress.

If the first session doesn’t sound like your thing – you are not required to attend. We would love to have you come to both sessions if possible. Both sessions will be paid.

Please email Molly or Peg to let us know if you will be able to attend on July 23rd so we can get When to Work updated.

Here is a little trick that I have learned the hard way – When the locked money cabinet key is not wanting to turn – firmly push in all the drawers below the cabinet. I’m not sure why exactly, but the lock will not turn if the drawers are not firmly closed.

If the lock is still wonky – you can just put the money in the cabinet without locking it and leave a note on the buildingmaintenance Slack channel for staff the next day.

It is that time of year again when I put out a reminder to be very mindful at check-in. As you may have experienced yourself, there has been an increase in patrons reporting items not getting scanned at check-in.

Just a reminder to double-check your work at the Check-in desk. Keep an eye out for books that go on display – and please, please make sure they get checked in.

Thanks for your help.

Molly

Thank you all for your understanding as we worked through some changes with how we use When to Work.

I wanted to reach out and give you a few updates:

• This summer we will plan to publish the schedule 2 weeks at a time for Circ, YS, and PS. This Friday we will put out the next two weeks June 25 – July 1 and July 2 – July 8. Then each Friday this summer we will release one more week.
• This fall we hope to get back to scheduling out a month at a time and putting the schedule out on the 21st of the month.
• If you don’t know which weekends you work, your supervisor can let you know which weekends you work more than two weeks out.
• As always – ask if something on When to Work doesn’t seem right to you.

Circ staff- so it will take a little work on our part to get slack added to your phones. I am happy to add it, but you all use one login, so I will have to get it added with you because it will require a passcode which will be sent to notices@johnstonlibrary.org.

Anyway- a text to me 515-210-4441 works just as well and I could post to publicservices that you will be late for an opening shift.

If you are running more than five minutes late for an opening shift (845 or 9 M-Sa or 1245 Su), you are required to post to the #publicservices channel on Slack. This will help your coworkers know that you are coming and begin the process of reassigning opening duties as needed.

We all run late from time to time. Totally understandable, but communicating that to your coworkers is required so we can efficiently open the library. If you cannot safely post to Slack that you are going to be more than five minutes late, please let your coworkers know as soon as you possibly can or-at the very least- touch base with them upon arriving at the library.

Please let your supervisor know if you have questions.

Please share this information about free summer lunches for children up to age 18.

I was informed by the Communication Manager, Janet Wilwerding, that there has been some negative feedback in the community that free lunches cannot be provided at the library or The Ave (former Chapel Ridge). Unfortunately, the library does not qualify as a free lunch site per state guidelines. The Ave was unable to participate this year.

*As a side note – Storytimes will not be by JPL but by community members and school district staff.

Hello – just another friendly reminder to please fill out the Emergency Contact Form for the City. I know that many of you have – so thank you! If you haven’t had the opportunity to do so, we appreciate you doing so this week.

Here is a copy of the form if you wish to fill it out digitally and email it directly to Janet or print it and fill it with ink, scan it, and email it to Janet. I have printed copies in the breakroom. You can just fill it out and put it in my basket.

We appreciate your help. Janet is working on a comprehensive crisis communication plan which will allow the City to effectively contact employees in the event of an emergency.

If you are regularly scheduled for 2o+ hours per week or if you work an average of 2o+ hours per week over a 12-month period, you earn PTO.

Just a reminder that your PTO balance shows up on your paycheck. We also have a report outside my office – near the timesheets folder. It doesn’t hurt to look at one of these each pay period to make sure that the amount has increased or decreased appropriately.

The Employee Handbook covers PTO on pages 19-23 including how much should be accrued each pay period based on employee classification and years of service.

If you have questions regarding your paycheck, PTO, or benefits, please contact Sammy Dickson – sdickson@cityofjohnston.com Please let Sammy know as soon as possible if you have a question or see an error.

This sheet includes contacts for common types of information or questions from City Hall for city employees.

From time to time Sharm Siesler, Library Foundation Treasurer, or Justin Frerichs, Library Foundation President, will pop in to pick up items.

I will put those items in the folders on the black cart near my desk. There is a folder labeled Foundation Treasurer and a folder labeled Foundation President.

Please find the Summer 2023 City of Johnston Employee Newsletter here.

The City of Johnston is working to develop an emergency communication plan. Every staff member should fill out the form linked below.

This can be returned to Janet Wilwerding via email or you can put it in my box and I’ll drop it off at City Hall for Janet.

Communications Contact Preference Form

Hello. Please double-check your timesheet against When to Work before you submit it. We have staff training on Friday, so I want to make sure that you have your hours in there to reflect your attendance. If the hours on your timesheet do not match the hours on When to Work, please let your supervisor know.

Molly