Category: All-Library News

Public Services is kicking off an Adult Winter Reading Challenge. Please read these instructions for staff so you know what to expect. Winter Reading Challenge 2022 Intructions for Staff

Thanks!

You can also find a printed copy of each document in your library mailbox. We hope you can make it.

January Joy Committee: Riddhi, Lolo and Peg

JPL’s virtual Book Club that Stephanie facilitates through a JPL Facebook Group, Silent Book Club, is now the Lonely Readers Club. It’s the same virtual book club, just under a new title. (We started using the name 5 years ago, and between then and now someone trademarked the name).

Here’s the slightly updated description. Please ask Beth or Stephanie if you have any questions. Thanks!
Flirting with the idea of a book club, but not interested in peopling or meeting? We get you. The JPL Lonely Readers Club is all of the book club with none of the meetings. The book for the month will be announced via the Facebook group @ facebook.com/groups/JPLLonelyReadersClub. Print copies of the Lonely Readers Club book of the month will be available at JPL beginning the 8th of the month, while supplies last. If you’re feeling social, (as in, social media social), join the JPL Lonely Readers Club Facebook group and chat with fellow readers about characters, plot, how that one character really bothered you, or whatever else you need to get off your chest. It’s the literary lonely hearts club for that little bit of recluse in all of us! Discussion begins online on the last Monday of each month.

Withdrawn 2020 magazines are now free for the public.  The cart will be placed near the Public Service Desk.

Free Withdrawn Magazines are available until 1/18/22 outside of Lori E.’s office.  They will head to the recycling dumpster after that date.  Two patrons have requested certain titles and those will be available for them at the circulation desk on 1/18.

Hey ho! Some of you may know that Lori Elrick and I are “organizers” and “cleaners”. And every so often we get an itch to clean up a space here at JPL. The Staff Kitchen is on our To-Do List.

On or after January 19, Lori and I will be deep cleaning the Staff Kitchen. We’re going to remove everything from the refrigerator, freezer, and cupboards and clean all the shelves and make decisions on what comes out of/off of those shelves. We also may tackle re-organizing the wall of paper.

This is your one week notice to take care of anything that belongs to you that you don’t want us to “mess with.” The best place for you to store personal items is: 1) put it and your name on one of the white baskets on top of the refrigerator and put in a cupboard, refrigerator or freezer, 2) put it in your locker or desk, or 3) take it home.

• Any items labeled with a staff person’s name will be put back where they came from.
• Any items relating to a department, such as Public Services, will be put back where they came from.
• Food, both perishable and non-perishable, that is past its expiration date will be discarded.
• Non-expired food, both-perishable and non-perishable, with no identifying information as to whom it belongs will be placed on the staff table and owners should label it or take it home.
• Extra mugs, glasses, flatware, serving utensils, etc. will be downsized and placed on a table for staff to claim. If not claimed within one week, items will be discarded or donated.

Don’t freak out. We’re not heartless and we won’t discard anything of value. 🙂

Updated mask policy from city hall:

Effective immediately – employees are required to wear masks when social distancing guidelines cannot be followed and/or when riding in a vehicle with others for work purposes.  (This does not mean that you must wear a mask when in common areas, just in those instances where you can’t avoid being close to others.)

As a reminder – social distancing is maintaining 6’ of distance between you and others.

Masterworks 4 is coming up, and one of the pieces will be Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto.  Here is the link to purchase online access, and you will have up to 30 days after the intial performance to watch it:

https://my.desmoinesperformingarts.org/0/6040?queueittoken=e_newdmpasafetynet~q_6d5e19af-0b6e-4eda-9b77-a66bfc7398cc~ts_1642004674~ce_true~rt_safetynet~h_7d0bced1da62567adcc26f56c8d0498c13cb8e58a00de626af9ce20e9d062bbf

Nathan McCumber left his license here at the library. Is has been locked up in the grey cabinet. He is not a patron so we were not able to call but we did send a facebook message to him.
Thanks,

Beth

Because of a change Overdrive (the company behind Bridges/Libby) made to their technology, patrons will no longer be able to place holds or checkout e-book or e-audiobook titles directly from our website. Instead they’ll be presented with a link to navigate to Bridges for holds and checkouts.

The Lions Club will not be holding the annual book sale this spring. It is possible it will be held later this year.

We should continue to let people know that we are not accepting book donations due to a lack of storage space. That being said, we will accept donations that people bring into the library without asking. They go behind the circulation desk on the black cart labeled donations.

Thanks.

• January 10 – Policy is in effect; Employees may begin uploading their documentation.
• February 4 – Deadline for mask or testing exemption form submittal.
• February 9, 3 p.m. – Deadline to submit documents and deadline to be considered vaccinated. If we do not have proof of vaccination, or an approved exemption for testing by this deadline, employees will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test for the week of February 14.
• February 14 – Weekly testing of unvaccinated (non-exempt) employees begins.  Employees are responsible for taking a test and submitting their results every week within a 7-day period (calendar days).  If an employee is out of the workplace for more than 7 calendar days, they will need to get tested within 7 days of returning to work, and submit their results. Masking requirements go into effect on this day.  Anyone unvaccinated, and without an APPROVED masking exemption, must wear a mask when inside.  See the policy for exceptions and conditions.

Iowa OSHA announced on Friday evening that they will not be enforcing the federal COVID Vaccination/Testing mandate. The city has therefore decided to pause implementation of this policy.  

You may remember talk a while back of a federal vaccine/testing requirement for US workers. This was tied up in the courts but is now set to go into effect next week, January 10th.  I’ve tried to highlight the important points in the bullets below but it is VERY IMPORTANT that you read the full policy (here).

• All employees are required to submit a declaration of current vaccination status and provide proof of vaccination (if applicable) by February 9, 2022 directly to the City’s Human Resources department though one of the following methods:
  • By uploading an electronic copy to our secure, encrypted portal. Instructions for accessing the portal will be emailed to you at the email address you provide to your supervisor, director, or HR.
  • By delivering a hard copy to the Human Resources department [Cyndee Rhames] at City Hall
• Employees that have not provided proof they are fully vaccinated or who do not have an approved exemption from testing will be required to test for COVID-19 in accordance with the procedures herein beginning the week of February 14, 2022. Testing will be at the employee’s own expense. Employees shall not obtain testing during their work hours and are not compensated for time to be tested.
• Unvaccinated employees who do not have an approved exemption from face coverings must wear proper face coverings over the nose and mouth when indoors and when occupying a vehicle with another person for work purposes.

I understand that this is a lot of information. If you have questions after reading the full policy, let me know. You can expect a follow up email from city hall within the next couple of days with a link to the reporting portal.

We’re getting ready to weed the 2020 magazines. If you’re interested in receiving any of the withdrawn issues, please let me know the titles, and we’ll set them aside for you.

Two titles have already been claimed: Martha Stewart Living and Sports Illustrated.

Let me know by Saturday, January 15.

Happy New Year!
Drywall repairs are being done in several parts of the library right now, including the staff breakroom. Please pardon the mess–it’s temporary. 😉

Good Morning,

As I am sure you have all heard, the CDC has changed quarantine/isolation guidance this week.  Also, the US Supreme Court will hear the case for the OSHA vaccine mandate on January 7.   Once that decision has been reached, we may have further information on policies and processes going forward.

The CDC guidance is attached [linked below]

It is important that the masking portion of the guidance is followed.  As a reminder, the current City policy still requires employees to wear masks whenever more than one employee is traveling in a vehicle on City business.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions or concerns.

Thanks!

Cyndee

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1POcOFcO_z1UtAVlbwTL5A1L6ldM9I6Ia/view?usp=sharing

Happy New Year Everyone!

My “Christmas card” this year can be found in the staff break room in the shape of baked goods. Enjoy! And may your holidays be happy ones!

Due to the proximity to the holiday, we will not be holding our regular, bi-monthly all-staff meeting this month. I apologize for the late notice.