Category: All-Library News

Abbi Waugh, former JPL librarian, says hi to everyone.  She and her friend were at one of my concerts this past weekend.  Her birthday was yesterday, and she said that she was taking off work and getting a massage.

Upcoming Des Moines Symphony concerts:

Saturday, October 15th at 7:30 PM:  The Music of Queen

https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/the-music-of-queen/

Saturday, October 22nd at 7:30 PM, and Sunday, October 23rd at 2:30 PM: The Firebird

https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/the-firebird/

For the Queen concert, Martin Herman will be guest conducting with MiG Ayesa as vocalist.  The Firebird concert will feature Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini with Charlie Albright as piano soloist, William Bolcom’s Ragomania, and St. Georges Symphony No. 2.

A new waste toner cartridge has been installed in the public printer. We’ve tested printing and all appears to work well. Yay!!

City staff and their families are eligible for free flu shots from the Johnston HyVee Pharmacy. To receive a shot, take the coupon linked below to the pharmacy any time they’re open: Sunday 10am – 5pm, Monday – Friday 9am – 8pm, Saturday 8am – 6pm

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KIjB8B35aXtQyCQQZH7Hn6M9TsvKftfP/view?usp=sharing

The public printer is out-of-order. The waste toner cartridge needs replaced. The part was ordered on Monday, but has NOT been received yet. Patrons will need to see PS Staff to print.

https://my.desmoinesperformingarts.org/7130/7131?queueittoken=e_newdmpasafetynet~q_9b81bff4-622a-41b1-8d49-10316c8dc3da~ts_1663700706~ce_true~rt_safetynet~h_1b22b09cec255f49dab53c8becbb51da5ea4adc4994e8498ccc9a829c3b61213

The above link can be used to purchase online access for this weekend’s masterworks by the Des Moines Symphony, and Andrew Holm is playing in this.  Remember, there’s also an opportunity on Saturday at 7:30 PM at Johnston Town Center and Riverview Park in Des Moines to watch it via a large screen for free!

The library will be sending a bouquet in memory of Gloria for the service this week, but I will not be collecting donations from staff. Gloria’s family requested that memorials be made to the Library Foundation in lieu of flowers.

I need to complete time sheets on Thursday because I don’t work Friday-Sunday.

We no longer need to separate J and YA donations. Please treat any of those items like any other donations.

Next Saturday, September 24 at 7:30 PM, there will be a free watch party for the season debut of the Des Moines Symphony at the Johnston Town Center as well as at Riverview Park in Des Moines.  I have been having trouble finding information about this on their website, but if you like the Des Moines Symphony facebook page or follow them on Instagram, there will be more information.

Cathy and Miren are working together on Home Delivery. Calls about Home Delivery can be forwarded to the new home delivery extension – 603.

We will not have that phone line staffed all the time, but we will do our best to respond to messages within 24 hours Monday – Friday. Typically Cathy works afternoons Tu, W, Th, and Miren works 12-4 pm M – F.

If patrons wish to reach Cathy or Miren about home delivery via email, they should use homedelivery@johnstonlibrary.org

There will be a memorial gathering followed by a service on Thursday, September 29th from 4-6 p.m. at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Grimes.

If you would like to attend and the service falls during a regular library shift, please contact your supervisor.

We’ve been working on organizing supplies. Office and processing supplies will continue to be stored in the TS area, and the cabinets are labeled. Please ask anyone in TS if you need assistance finding something.

Janitorial supplies are stored in the maintenance room behind the Whisper Room.

Copier paper is stored at each copier. Surplus reams and rolls of receipt paper are stored in the staff kitchen.

You can find a list of core supplies at P:Office SuppliesCore Office Supplies.xlsx. This list is a work in progress. Suggestions are welcome.

Use the #Office-Supplies-Needed channel on Slack to report when you take the next to the last of something. The person who places the order will reply to the channel.

All supervisors will continue to order supplies for programs, special projects, etc. If you need supplies that aren’t on the core list, check with your supervisor.

The first Masterworks symphony concerts of the season are September 24th at 7:30 PM, and September 25th at 2:30 PM at the Civic Center downtown Des Moines.  We will be playing Gershwin’s An American in Paris, Daphnis et Chloe suite by Maurice Ravel,  Fantasia para un gentilhombre for guitar and orchestra by Joaquin Rodriguo, and the world premiere of Kevin Puts Heartland Canons.  Sharon Isbin will be our guitar soloist.  This will be the only concert livestreamed this season, and here is a link to purchase your access:  https://www.dmsymphony.org/livestreams/.

Here is a link to purchase in-person tickets:  https://my.desmoinesperformingarts.org/0/6330?queueittoken=e_newdmpasafetynet~q_6b6e0cfb-1137-4004-ad85-683431ddafb2~ts_1663167850~ce_true~rt_safetynet~h_228b70514fcc90675c4087d2f2cae86012cba40e48f7ce49f79aea5477842d14

As we’ve done for the past few years, we’ve created accounts for each Johnston High School Student so they can access our online resources. The accounts include no personal information and are not tied to students’ regular JPL accounts. Students will not be able to checkout physical materials with these accounts but will have access to the following online resources:

• Bridges / Overdrive
• Master and Academic File
• Consumer Reports
• Novelist
• Kanopy
• LinkedIn Learning
• BrainFuse
• Mango Languages

This is what the account info. looks like in a Polaris patron search. As you can see we were only given IDs–not names, addresses or other personal information.

As we grieve the loss of Gloria, please remember that free counseling is available through the Employee Assistance Program. Call 800-327-4692 for confidential service.

I am pleased to inform you that there are now two performances of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire with the Des Moines Symphony in January.  Dates and times are as follows:

Friday, January 27th: 7:30 PM

Saturday, January 28th: 1:30 PM

Get your tickets at this website:  https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/harry-potter-and-the-goblet-of-fire/

Seeing the symphony perform the entire movie may a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

It is with deep sadness that I share the news that former JPL employee, Gloria Brewer, passed away yesterday. For those of you that did not know, Gloria had been ill since shortly before she left JPL.

I do not have details about her service, but I will share them when they become available.

I will put a card in the break room tomorrow for staff to share their condolences with Gloria’s four children, grandchildren and husband, Jay.

Gloria’s daughter, Angie, shared this today, “Working at the library was so fun for my mom, and I know she loved working with everyone there. She loved telling me about the library. Thanks for all that you have done for my mom.”

Tomorrow night at 7:30 PM at the Civic Center downtown, Bernadette Peters with the Des Moines Symphony in concert.  Get your tickets now!

Remember that a holiday fell during this pay period 8/28-9/10 and update your time sheets accordingly.