Category: All-Library News

This is my Friday off. Please turn your time sheets in by Noon on Thursday so that I can double-check them Thursday afternoon. Remember the library was closed 11/24 and 11/25; make sure to update your time sheet appropriately. Thanks!

The Des Moines Symphony (which Andrew is part of as a cellist), is offering a holiday discount of $10 off on a Flex package for the next four masterworks performance sets.  All performances are at the Civic Center downtown Des Moines, and the dates and times of the concerts are as follows:

Mahler 5:

February 4th: 7:30 PM
February 5th: 2:30 PM

St. Clair conducts Tchaikovsky:

March 11: 7:30 PM

March 12: 2:30 PM

April in Paris:

April 22: 7:30 PM

April 23: 2:30 PM

Giunta conducts Rachmaninoff

May 13: 7:30 PM

May 14: 2:30 PM

Use the discount code HOLIDAYFLEX22 at checkout, and this offer expires December 31st.  You can use up to 4 tickets for one concert, one for each concert mentioned, or any combination.

I sent a message this afternoon to the Sunday Card Crafting Club participants regarding changes we’re making effective January 2023. Below is the text of the message in case you receive questions.

Beginning with the January 2023 card class we are dropping the to-go card kit option and returning to the in-person card class format we had prior to the pandemic. The to-go card kits served the community well when we weren’t able to gather in a meeting space, but we now want to return focus to crafting as a community. As those who have been attending classes this past year can attest, we have a great time together expressing our creativity.

We are also transitioning to a new event registration app. It will more clearly state that this is an adult crafting class for ages 18 or older. We have sharp tools and delicate embellishments that aren’t meant for little fingers. Children will not be allowed in the work space. There will be a make and take child craft in the Youth Services area while card class is in session.

In the spirit of an in-person card class, you must be present to receive a card kit. If you register and then learn you won’t be able to attend, you’ll have the option in the registration app to cancel your registration so that someone from the waitlist can attend in your place. We will no longer allow friends and relatives to pick up kits for you.

If you are still wary of sitting close to other people, we will have seating options for those who want to maintain social distancing.

We will experience some growing pains as we move to the new app. Registration for the January 8th card class will be taken manually. The new event calendar won’t be available until January 2^nd. You can send me a message or you can sign-up for the January session at the December card class.

Note that while we normally meet the first Sunday of each month, New Year’s Day is on Sunday this year, so we’re moving our gathering to the second Sunday – January 8^th. We’ll be back to the first Sunday in February. We’ll also still be meeting from 1:30-3:00 in the West Meeting Room.

The in-person only format will allow us to use class time to offer tips and to give you more opportunities to experiment with stamping, embossing, etc. I know that this change will be an adjustment for all of us, and I appreciate your enthusiastic support of the card crafting club. My team and I are grateful for your kind words and encouragement as we think of ways to inspire your creativity.

No-churn ice cream

14 oz. sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp. vanilla, mint, or almond extract, or other flavoring (optional)

2 cups heavy cream, cold

Mix flavoring into condensed milk.  Whip the cream until it holds stiff, billowy peaks.  Gently mix a scoop of the cream into the condensed milk, as this will make it easier to fold in the rest of the whipped cream.  Transfer the rest of the whipped cream to the condensed milk mixture, and gently stir until you see just a few small lumps.  Be careful not to over mix.  Transfer to freezer-safe container, smooth the top, and place a piece of waxed paper on top to prevent ice crystals from forming.  Freeze for at least six hours before serving, and consume within two weeks for best flavor.

For flavored ice cream, heat cream until warm and/or a few wisps of stream occur.  Remove from heat and add desired flavoring.  Let sit until cooled to room temperature, then remove flavoring ingredient.  Refrigerate cream until completely chilled again, then proceed with recipe above.  I’ve used fresh raspberries, coffee beans, and cinnamon sticks for flavorings.

If you haven’t tried maple mustard salad dressing, here is the recipe:

3/4 cup 100% pure maple syrup

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup dijon mustard

Mix together and shake well until combined.

Andrew’s dad will be officiating the Nebraska Class A state football championship game tonight at 7:15 on Nebraska Public Television.  You can watch online or via the PBS video app.

Hey all,
JPL is in the process of transitioning to a new event calendar for meeting and study room requests. During this process there are a couple things to be aware of:

• Meeting and study room reservations for 2023 are not able to be made from now until December 12.
• Beginning, Dec 12, the public will be able to call Reference staff to make 2023 reservations.
• Beginning January 1, the new calendar will be live on our site and reservation processes will be back to normal, just with our new calendar.
• Meeting and study room reservations for the remainder of November and December can continue to be made through our website and old meeting room calendar as usual.

Don’t forget to purchase your tickets for the Des Moines Symphony production of Gustav Holst’s Planets suite.  It takes place this weekend on Saturday the 19th at 7:30 PM, and Sunday the 20th at 2:30 PM at the Civic Center.  Here is a link for purchasing tickets:  https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/the-planets/

Also on the program are Edward Elgar’s Cockaigne Overture, Robert MacMillan’s Larghetto for Orchestra, and a fanfare for Amazing Grace.

Remember Friday November 11 was a holiday. Be sure your time sheet reflects this closing.

There will be a rebroadcast of the 2021 Yankee Doodle Pops concert tomorrow (Veterans Day) at 11 AM on Iowa Public Radio Classical.  Andrew is playing the cello in this, and this was the YDP that was performed for broadcast only.  Hope you can tune in!

April Sigmund has joined the Circulation Department as a Library Clerk. She will be working Wednesday evenings and every other Saturday. Please take a moment to welcome her when you get the chance.

Just a reminder that tomorrow is election day and the library will closed Friday for Veterans Day. The library will be a polling place from 7am to 8pm for precinct 8. Other Johnston polling locations are listed below.

I have updated the Lost and Found Procedure.

Please note that we are no longer locking items in the money cabinet.

The procedure can be found printed at the Circulation Desk.

Please let Molly know if you have any questions.

I reset the system clock, but it may take up to 24 hours for the building clocks to reflect the correct time.

Early voting here at the library starts tomorrow. Voters from anywhere in Polk County are allowed to cast an early ballot here or at any of the other early voting locations (see the list for Thursday – Saturday below).

Registered Iowa voters must present an ID. Acceptable forms of identification are an Iowa driver’s license or a non-operator ID, a U.S. passport or military ID, a veteran’s ID, tribal ID or an Iowa voter ID card.

Early Voting Locations – Thursday –  Saturday 

Hours:

Thursday & Friday – 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday – 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Locations:

Altoona Library
700 8th ST., SW Altoona, 50009

Ankeny Library
1250 SW District Dr., Ankeny, 50023

Johnston Library
6700 Merle Hay RD., Johnston, 50131

Urbandale Library
3520 86th ST., Urbandale, 50322

West Des Moines Library
4000 Mills Civic PKWY, WDM, 50265

Thanks to funding through a Principal^® Foundation grant, DART is expanding weekend transit access for Johnston residents on its Local Route 5. This route travels between downtown Des Moines and the Johnston Public Library, with stops at popular locations in Des Moines, Johnston and Urbandale, including the Johnston Town Center, Merle Hay Mall and Drake University.

Local Route 5 service details

After weekend service begins on Local Route 5 on Sunday, Nov. 13, the route will have roughly hourly service during the following hours:

• Saturdays: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Sundays: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.

This change will not impact weekday service schedules or service frequencies for Local Route 5. Schedules for the route are available now at ridedart.com/November

A link to the event calendar training video from this morning’s meeting and a link to the temporary event calendar site are included below.

Video: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7ohm…

Site: https://live-johnston.pantheonsite.io/

Our Let’s Talk, English conversation group continues to have strong online attendance. Because of this, Chelsea (the lead teacher) and I would like to add one more volunteer each Monday evening. Who do you know that might be interested in volunteering? In short, I’m asking if you could tell your friends, family and those you trust about this opportunity. Here is an image you can share. Please ask anyone interested to contact me at rasmussen@johnstonlibrary.com.

Holidays and closings for calendar year 2023 were approved at last week’s board meeting. There are no changes. A link is included below.

https://board.johnstonlibrary.com/2022-10/05%20Holidays%20Library%20Calendar%202023.pdf