Category: All-Library News

We extended user account expiration dates a number of times throughout the pandemic. Dozens if not hundreds of accounts are now expiring each day. To make the renewal process easier for staff and patrons, the expiration notice now includes a link for patrons to confirm their account information and renew their accounts online. The notice sent 30 days prior to an account’s expiration now reads as follows.

The library updates user accounts every two years. Your Johnston Public Library account will expire in 30 days. If your contact information has changed, either reply to this message, call us at 515-278-5233, or visit the library to let us know your new information. If your contact information has not changed, please follow the link below to renew your account.

https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/expiration/

In addition, 45 days prior to a patron’s account expiration the message shown below will appear at the top of the screen when they login to their account.

The link in the message takes patrons to their account screen where they can verify their information and renew their account or send us a message with their new contact information.

UPDATE

The camera in the southeast corner has been replaced and is now working again.

The security camera in the southeast corner has gone bad. It’s being sent for repair.

We are very lucky to be welcoming three new shelvers to the library: Aina Brown, Ava Rehm and Cetrick Willis.

Please take a moment to welcome them to the library when you see them.

From NPR:

The loud noises you may hear blasting from your electronic devices this afternoon are no cause for concern.

At 2:20 p.m. ET [1:20 Central] on Wednesday, the federal government will be testing two emergency alert systems on televisions, radios and certain cell phones across the country.

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/11/1026679111/fema-fcc-nationwide-emergency-alert-test-eas-wea

UPDATE: The HVAC guy discovered that the sensor that measures the humidity of outside air being brought into the building was malfunctioning. He’s replacing it now.

I wanted to let staff know that I’ve contacted our HVAC company to have them take a look at why the humidity is so high in the building right now.

Please help yourself to a Mississippi mud brownie at anytime today and the next few days.  I brought some since my birthday is on Friday, and I will be gone tomorrow through Sunday.  Thanks for a great summer reading!

Lori F. and I are setting up teen laptops in the East Meeting Room. If our tables are in your way, please let us know.

The symphony will be back to having in person audiences Labor Day weekend at Waterworks Park’s Lauridsen Ampitheater in Des Moines:

Saturday, September 4th:  Aretha: A Tribute, 7:30 PM

Sunday, September 5th: John Williams Celebration, 7:30 PM

Should be an exciting weekend, hope you all can attend as both are FREE!

The Pleasant Hill Public Library will be closed from August 9-29 due to the installation of a new HVAC unit.  Curbside will be available from 4-6 PM weekdays during that time.

From city hall:

Interim HR Policy Guidelines Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic v080421.1

INTENT
As the delta variant of COVID-19 is surging throughout Polk County, Iowa, and the US, the City of Johnston is revisiting the CDC guidance related to the pandemic.
On August 2, 2021, the CDC designated Polk County as having a high rate of transmission. The CDC and Polk County have also issued guidance related to the delta variant in areas of high transmission.

FULLY VACCINATED EMPLOYEES
People are considered fully vaccinated:

• 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
• 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
  If you do not meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated.
  See the CDC guidance related to being fully vaccinated.

EMPLOYEE MASKING GUIDELINES
Considering the CDCs updated guidance related to use of masks for all persons, regardless of vaccination status, in areas deemed to have substantial, or high transmission rates, the following guidelines will apply:
Employees are required to wear a mask when indoors and outside of their individual workspace and/or unable to socially distance, and also when riding in vehicles with others.
The public will be encouraged to wear masks in city buildings, but it will not be mandated.

EMPLOYEE EXPOSURE, QUARANTINE GUIDELINES
Vaccinated Employees:
Per the CDC guidance:

• Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
• Get tested 3-5 days following a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days after exposure or until a negative test result.
• Isolate if you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the prior 10 days or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Unvaccinated Employees:
If you have tested positive and/or are exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19, and/or you have been informed by a health care provider that you are likely to have
COVID-19, you must ISOLATE (stay in your home or other residence) until you are no longer at risk for spreading COVID-19. Until this time, you should not leave your place of isolation or enter any other public or private place, except to receive necessary medical care. You should distance yourself from other members of your residence. If possible, separate yourself from others by staying in a specific “sick room” or area.
You are required to self-isolate because you can easily spread the virus to others. If you haven’t been tested, contact your healthcare provider for a medical assessment and to discuss whether you should be tested.
Seek urgent or emergency medical care immediately if you have trouble breathing, pressure or pain in your chest or any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
For more ways to protect yourself and others, see the CDC guidance for unvaccinated people.

RETURN TO WORK (Regardless of Vaccination Status)
If you have tested positive for COVID-19 and/or have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, and/or you have been informed by a health care provider that you are likely to have COVID-19, you must isolate until:
 At least 10 days have passed since your symptoms first started; AND
 At least 24 hours have passed since your last fever without the use of fever reducing medication; AND
 Your symptoms have improved

ABSENTEEISM DUE TO ILLNESS:
COVID-19 related absences (isolation, quarantine, illness, school or daycare, vaccination) are subject to established City policies and require the use of accrued leave applicable to the situation (PTO, sick, etc.).
Employees who are ill with symptoms that may be related to COVID-19 (fever, shortness of breath, respiratory issue, cough, etc.) will be asked to self-isolate in accordance with IDPH guidelines. Employees who are self-isolating or quarantined are expected to remain at home except for essential errands or medical appointments.

The annual Iowa Library Association Conference will be held in Des Moines this year. Because we won’t need to pay for everyone to travel, stay in a hotel, etc., all staff are welcome to attend. The conference will be held Wednesday, October 6th – Friday, October 8th. A reception will be held in the exhibit/vendor hall Wednesday afternoon and the educational sessions on Thursday and Friday.  Because of the cost to register ($215 for the whole conference, $175 for Thursday only, and $145 for Friday only), please ensure you’re available to attend at least three sessions. I’ve linked to the full schedule below. Let me know if you’re interested. Time spent at the conference will be on-the-clock.

https://www.iowalibraryassociation.org/index.php/conference-sessions

Following recent CDC and Polk County Health guidance, staff (vaccinated and unvaccinated) will be required to wear masks while working a public desk, while meeting with other staff, and in any other setting where social distancing is not possible. Masks will once again be made available to the public inside the entryway but the public will not be required to wear masks. I’ll update this post with a link to a more detailed city-wide policy when it’s issued later today.

Now that the library building is open, patrons are getting reminder emails to renew their cards.

Renewals require verbal verification of the contact information listed on the account, so they can be done over the phone or at one of the desks.

We do not require proof of address with a renewal.

Please remember that they will get an email thirty days before the account expires. Please take a minute to look at the instructions for renewal which are listed under Documentation>Polaris, Cash Register>Library Card Renewal. I’ve also printed a copy for each public desk.

Ask Molly or Denise if you have questions.

We are welcoming several new staff to the library over the next two weeks.

This week Tammy Dial will begin working as a shelver. She will be a familiar face to most of you through her years of volunteer work at the library.

Mary Bush and Cathy Barrett will begin as library clerks on Thursday. Mary has a background in education, and Cathy comes to us from the healthcare field.

We are excited to have them at JPL. Over the next month, please take a moment to welcome.

If you or someone you know is in need of boxes you are welcome to any of the empty ones in the East Meeting Room.

Learning Tools/Launchpads do not circulate on accounts belonging to library users under the age of 14. This was temporarily changed during Covid-19, but the block has been added back to Polaris for juvenile cards.

We have had some under 14 borrowing Learning Tools/Launchpads recently. You may have to explain the change to them.

Volunteer and library patron, Roger Littlefield, is hosting a backyard concert, featuring Chad Elliot, on August 12th. He has invited his neighborhood association and local friends, but he wanted to extend the invite to library staff as well. There is an invitation posted in the break room with details. He said he hopes many of you can make it.

City hall is looking for staff to work at the Town Center grand opening on Saturday, August 28th to do things like hand out wristbands at the beer garden, oversee the bounce house, facilitate parking, and the like (details and shifts forthcoming). Please let me know if you’re interested in picking up some hours at this event.