Category: All-Library News

Hello All,
With in-person programming happening again throughout the library and our new cleaners coming into the library many hours after staff leave, Molly and I decided to switch up closing responsibilities regarding lights in the building. Now, PS will be the department who will turn off lights at the end of the night. The lights labeled Security/Reference will be kept on all night, and the Workroom lights can be turned off from the back of the building once all staff have gathered by the staff door to leave for the evening.

Thanks! Ask your supervisor if you have any questions.
-Beth

Hey all,
As of September 30, 2021, users on older Apple devices (Mac computers running lower than macOS 10.12.1 and iPhones/iPads running iOS 9) may have trouble using the OverDrive desktop or mobile apps.

What’s the impact on users?
This internet-wide security change will result in a security warning for less than 1% of OverDrive users, which in many cases can be resolved by updating their operating system or browser version.

(We’ve already helped 2 people that have come into JPL with this issue.)

What should impacted users do?

• Users who encounter this warning should update their operating system or browser version (if an update is available).
  All iOS devices that were released after 2012 can update to iOS 10 or newer, which will work after this change. Here are steps to help iOS users update their operating system version
• If the device is so old that newer iOS operating systems are unable to be installed, patrons could still continue to use Bridges by accessing it through their Browser and going through our website. eBooks and audiobooks would not be able to be read offline, like they could through the app, however.
• Another option would be to access Bridges through a web browser and our website, and then to read the books through a kindle app downloaded onto their device.

  More info is available here: As of https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204204

  Please feel free to send patrons with Overdrive questions to the Reference Desk for assistance.
  Thanks!

Oops – week got away from me.If you can’t get your time sheet to the folder by Friday, please email me, rasmussen@johnstonlibrary.com. Thanks.

Emily Lawson will be dropping off art for display either Sunday or Monday (Oct3-4).  Please place her items in Eric’s office.  Thanks!

If you need a flu-shot, the coupon linked below is good for a free shot for yourself and anyone in your family at the Johnston Hy-Vee Pharmacy. One coupon needed per family.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a5tUqeYAxsGEkJ4QBj8ci8duL-cXfMS8/view?usp=sharing

Pharmacy Hours:

8 a.m.-8p.m. Mon.-Fri.
9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday
10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sunday

Up to now, the collection of films available via Kanopy, the streaming video service we offer to cardholders who live in Johnston, has primarily included award-winning documentaries, rare and hard-to-find titles, film festival favorites, and indie and classic films. They’ve recently “partnered with more major film studios like Warner Brothers, MGM, and Lionsgate…to provide…access to hundreds of blockbusters, box office hits, and must-see award-winning films.” You can browse the Kanopy collection here. Login with the email and password included below.

info@johnstonlibrary.com

123Johnston

The first pops concert of the season is Saturday October 9th, at 7:30 PM at the Civic Center, and we are playing music of the Beatles.  https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/revolution-the-music-of-the-beatles/.  Please be sure to bring a Covid vaccination card as well as a mask if you are attending, and it should be amazing!

Eric,

Thank you for all the special summer programs that were enjoyed by everyone in our family.  The grab and go kits for various ages were especially popular with our Kdgn. grandson and 14 month old granddaughter.  We could tell others were hooked on those activities, too, because several times the kits were all gone quite early in the time block.  What a good idea to have the children’s activities broken down into various age brackets.  We also enjoyed the storywalk and hope to see more of those scheduled.

All winter/spring I looked forward to the monthly grab and go card kits.  And this fall, I appreciate receiving the reminder notices and the ability to have a kit available on the hold shelf if I can’t make the scheduled Sunday afternoon card crafting group.

The library has been a lifesaver during the pandemic and we’ve certainly taken advantage of the curbside pickups.  We were reading on skype each week with a grandson in Washington and always had lots of Johnston library books to share with him.

We appreciate the many opportunities you are providing to our community.

Louila and Alan Bjork and family

I will be playing a requiem with a Drake alumni choir on Sunday October 3rd at 3 PM at St. Ambrose Cathedral in downtown Des Moines.  It’s free and open to the public.

In addition to the bike locks we loan from the circulation desk (stored below the video games), we now have six zip-tie style locks for locking scooters. As with the bike locks, these new locks can be loaned by collecting a photo ID, library card, keys, or some other form of collateral that can be stored in the red basket next to the locks.

JPL was voted “Favorite Northwest Polk County Library” by Iowa Living Magazine readers for the second year in a row! The award will be featured in the October issue of the Johnston Living magazine. Congrats everyone!

Please have your timesheet completed with PARs attached and placed in the green folder outside Eric’s office by 8 pm Thursday.

As always, double-check that the hours on your timesheet match When to Work. If they don’t, please speak with your supervisor. If there are last minute changes, you may always send me an email and tell me that your timesheet is correct or that WTW is correct or whatever.

All Des Moines Symphony Masterworks performances will be livestreamed this season (along with having a live audience), and here is a link to purchase access to Masterworks 1. We are playing Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Egmont Overture, John Corigliano’s Promenade Overture, Piano Concerto in one movement by Florence Price, and Hector Berlioz’s Hungarian March.  You will have until 30 days after the initial broadcast to watch the performance.

https://my.desmoinesperformingarts.org/0/6043

• The drive-up book return has been installed in front of the library. As of now, circ staff have been assigned to empty it at open, and within thirty minutes of close. A midday empty is planned, but we are still working out when that might be scheduled.
• The timing varies, but our goal is to have items returned at JPL checked in within 24 hours. Items returned at Horizon or Beaver Creek may remain on accounts for up to five days since they are emptied two or three times a week. We always backdate at check-in if items are not discharged the day there are returned.
• The key to the book return is in the card catalog at Circ. We are storing the empty book cart in the commons.

Please ask if you have any questions.

The YS Department will be hosting a Ride with DART program tomorrow morning.

Please do not park in the spots next to the garbage cans on the West Side of the parking lot. I am saving that spot for the DART bus to park to make is safe and accessible for families to get to from the Storytime Room. I will place cones to block off those spots in the morning.

Thank you,

Megan

Hello All!
Laurie and Cathy have asked me to ask all of you who may have a stash of clean plastic grocery bags to bring them in for library use. Patrons use them to carry out armfuls of library materials and our stash is depleted.

Thanks!

This morning, patrons with over $5 in fines will receive a message like the one shown below. You may receive calls from patrons with questions about their fines and about food-for-fines.

Eric Melton,
Pay your overdue fees with non-perishable food items September 11-19.
One food item pays $1 in fees. Fees for damaged or lost items cannot be paid with food and are not included in the amount listed below.

Your current fees eligible for payment via food for fines:
$126.70

Staff
Johnston Public Library
515-278-5233

Please have your timesheet completed with PARs attached and placed in the green folder outside Eric’s office by 8 pm today.

As always, double-check that the hours on your timesheet match When to Work. If they don’t, please speak with your supervisor. If there are last minute changes, you may always send me an email and tell me that your timesheet is correct or that WTW is correct or whatever.

Hello All,
Beginning tomorrow, September 9th, study rooms will be locked when not in use. When a patron comes in to use the study room, whether they have a reservation or not, please direct them to the Information Desk where a staff person will have them sign out the room on the Study Room Sign Out Sheet that is kept in the top drawer to the right of the Ref computer. The sign out sheet is in a green folder labeled “Study Room Sign Out Sheet”. We will also ask patrons to sign the room back in when they are done  so staff know to relock the rooms.

Anyone still has the right to use the study room, so long as other library behavior policies are being met.
Thanks! Please ask Beth, Megan or your supervisor if you have any questions.