Category: All-Library News

Department Directors –

We are looking forward to the family-friendly grand opening of the Johnston Town Center on August 28^th and have several events planned. At 3 p.m., the splash pad, an inflatable, yard games, and food trucks will open up to the public, followed by afternoon City Hall tours, art-related activities, and various local performers.

In the evening, we will welcome Jason Walsmith (7 p.m.) and Maddie Poppe (8:30 p.m.) to the City Hall amphitheater stage for performances as part of a ticketed event concluding with a brief fireworks show around 10 p.m. If you and your family are interested in attending the evening ticketed performances, please let your director know how many tickets you’d like. Adam or I will then give your tickets to the department director to distribute.

We ask to keep ticket requests to four or less unless you have a larger immediate family planning to attend. There is limited space in The Yard and we need an accurate headcount.  We ask that staff only request tickets if they are actively planning to attend. If you previously ordered tickets online, you do not need to request tickets through Janet and Adam.

While the printed tickets have a row and seat, we will not have assigned seats for people like you would have at a normal concert. The seating is general admission, so please bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating and be aware no outside alcoholic beverages are allowed. There will be a beer and wine garden open in the evening. Event parking is available at the Junior High Building. More information is available at www.cityofjohnton.com/JTCGrandOpening. A parking map and full event schedule should be on this link by the end of this week.

Thanks,

Janet

The basketball hoops are up at the Johnston Commons playground. The playground is located at 6700 Merle Hay Road just north of the Johnston Public Library. More information on the playground can be found by visiting http://www.cityofjohnston.com/…/Johnston-Commons….

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

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.

• The bank of computers surrounding the reference desk will now only allow log in for patrons age 14 and older.
• If a patron 13 or younger tries to sign in to the computers in the adult area, an error message will come up that says the following:
• The system does not permit access to the requested area for this account.
• When a patron logs into a computer in adult areas, they will now have a 2-hour session.

• Kids 13 or younger must use computers in the YS area.
• Computer sessions in the YS area are for 90 minutes.

• Patrons age 18 and older can receive guest passes and computer time extensions, so long as all the computers are not full. This is a change. Guest passes and computer extensions used to be allowed for individuals 14 and up. 
• If an individual 17 or younger wants to use a computer, they will need a library card. All normal age rules for library cards still apply; however, if an individual is only interested in computer use, a computer only card can be given to anyone 17 or younger.

Libraries are always evolving to meet the changing world and needs around them; however, helping readers is a constant, essential service. Does your library offer a readers’ advisory (RA) service? Have your RA efforts changed over the last year during COVID-19? Do you ever wonder how your RA service compares to that of libraries across the US?

Publishers Weekly magazine will be shelved with Adult Magazines beginning with the July 5th issue. Previously, this magazine had been routed to staff. Anyone who is still interested in reading the magazine is welcome to check it out.

Hey all!

I need your help judging the best Glue Gun Art Challenge entry.

For this challenge, kids were given a bag of random craft materials and a glue gun and told to create a fabulous piece of art. The art they created is on display on top of the bookshelves in the Children’s Dept.

If you could take a few minutes to look at the art and then write down your top 3 favorite pieces, I would be forever grateful. (They are all really amazing and there is no way I can decide which is my favorite!)

I’ve left paper and pens and a container to put your votes in on the YS work room table. When voting, write down the title of the piece and the artist’s name.

Thank you!

Jessica

From city hall:

I wanted to let you know, we are planning to officially open the Splash Pad and Patio area of the Johnston Town Center on Friday, July 23^rd.  The splash pad will be programmed to operate between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily.  Unfortunately, the restrooms within the Site Support/Concessions building still have a few minor touch ups needed, so they will not yet be open, but the exterior restrooms on the east side of City Hall will be available.  This information will be pushed out to the public next week.

As you’ve seen, Ripples has also been installed, but still needs scales installed, that work is anticipated to occur next week, but if it’s not completed by Friday Ripples will be fenced off for safety purposes.

See the splashpad and patio on the city’s Facebook page.

The library board discussed a couple of exciting agenda items at last night’s meeting:

Casual Days

The board approved a revision of the library’s Dress Policy that makes every workday a casual day. We’ve been casual throughout the pandemic so nothing is changing for those who started at JPL after March 2020. The updated Dress Policy can be found here.

Drive-up Book Return

The board also approved purchase of an outdoor, drive-up book return that will be installed along the curb in front of the library. This return will be slightly larger than those at Beaver Creek and (soon to be at) Horizon. It should arrive sometime in September or October.

Shade Structure for West Patio

Lastly , we discussed a quote I recently received for a shade structure for the west patio. We’ve received one grant for the project and are waiting to hear about another. For the remainder of the funding, I’ll present the project to the Library Foundation in November for inclusion in their 2022 budget. If approved, the structure should be in place before summer 2022. You can check out the style of the shade here.

Newspapers are barcoded, but they have been returned to non-circulating and non-holdable in Polaris. Newspapers are purchased with the intention that library users will read them in the library. We do not circulate the most current issue, and we rarely circulate older issues.

Please ask your supervisor if you have any questions.

Hello All,

Today and tomorrow (7/15 and 7/16) patrons will be coming in to pick up their packaged ingredients for the Deck Food Online Cooking Class that will take place this Saturday, 7/17 on Zoom.
Please send patrons to the Reference Desk to pick up their ingredients. There is a printed registration list on the cart. Please cross off paton’s names when they pick up their bag.
Thank you!

The daily newspapers did not arrive this morning (Thursday, July 15). Ann is off today, so if the newspapers arrive late, please give them to me to check-in.

We’re excited to announce that Rose Hebron has accepted the Youth Services Assistant Librarian position. Rose is currently Children’s Services Librarian at the Carlisle Public Library. Her previous experience includes running education programs for the Animal Rescue League. Rose graduated with a Master’s degree in Leadership Development from Drake University in 2019 and from Grandview university with a degree in Human Services in 2017. She’ll start her work at JPL on August 9th.

The city’s communications department has started a bi-weekly employee newsletter. The first edition is included below for those that don’t have a city/library email address. If you have news that you think should be included in the newsletter, let me know.

Internal News Update

City of Johnston Employee Newsletter Welcome to the first employee newsletter. This newsletter will be sent twice a month, the day after the Johnston City Council meetings. We hope you find the information useful and a way to stay connected. Thank you! Kari Allen (Parks Department) took this beautiful photo. She captured the image over the holiday weekend by the Simpson Barn. Send your pictures of the city to mvanderlinden@cityofjohnston.com to be featured in an upcoming newsletter! Find out what’s happening within our city Doug Sandvig retired yesterday after 26 years with the City of Johnston as a Building Official. We thank Doug for his years of service and dedication to the City. He will be missed! Congratulations! City News Bryan Burkhardt was sworn in as newest council member at the City Council meeting on July 6. His term will expire Dec. 31, 2023. To check out our latest infrastructure, parks and trails, and other city projects click the photo above to visit our projects page. The projects with an update this week include; NW 54th Ave., NW Beaver Dr., and NW 62nd Ave./Merle Hay Rd. Sign up for the Mayor’s Run for the Trails. The annual Mayor’s Run for the Trails will be Saturday, August 21 at 8 a.m. starting at Terra Lake Park. To register click the photo above to be directed to the site. Movie in the Yard City Council, staff, friends, and family enjoyed a test run of movies in the Yard last week. We look forward to many more to come! Private Development Projects Update The City of Johnston, in partnership with Hansen Companies, is redeveloping the Norwest quadrant of NW 62nd Avenue & Merle Hay Road into a mixed-use entertainment/shopping/office development. Initial Site Improvements are scheduled to be completed in July/August 2021. The initial improvements include parking for the overall site, site utilities, a central green space named “The Yard,” which will include a splash pad and ice/rink, and the new Johnston City Hall. Additional commercial buildings will follow the completion of these initial improvements, with the first building anticipated to break ground in the fall of 2021.  Employee News Teresa Rotschafer’s granddaughter competed at the National United States Tumbling & Trampoline Association Championships last month. She placed 2nd overall in trampoline in her class (National runner-up) and 11th overall in mini-trampoline (in which she had won State here in Iowa). A new resident called to thank our Public Works team (specifically Denny and Brady) who were very polite and professional while changing a battery on his water meter. He mentioned how they went above and beyond to answer all of his questions. He had nothing but great things to say. Thank you for all the work you do to keep our city running and residents happy. Teresa Rotschafer’s newest grandbaby, Waylon Ray Merriam, was born on May 3rd. What a bundle of joy! Congrats! Birthdays and Anniversaries Birthdays July 7 Christine Kane-Finn, Library July 8 Tyler Hardenbrook, Fire July 10 Daniel Schneider, Fire July 10 Ryan Wheeler, Fire July 18 Michael Gaskins, Public Works Work Anniversaries July 11 Elvir Hasanovic 16 yrs., Parks July 11 Kari Allen 16 yrs., Parks July 11 David Croll 16 yrs., Comm. Dev. July 13 Adam Hoffman, 7 yrs., Fire July 14 Craig VerHuel 13 yrs., Fire July 15 Sarah Gerke 2 yrs., Library July 17 Travis Wuebker 15 years, Fire July 17 Shawn Benberg 15 years, Fire SAVE THE DATE Save the date! The Johnston Town Center Grand Opening will be on Saturday, August 28! There will be food, fun and live entertainment. We hope to see you all there! Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks. As a reminder, please send any news you would like to share in our employee newsletters to mvanderlinden@cityofjohnston.com. Thank you! Upcoming City, Community Meetings and Events Johnston Farmers Market: Tuesdays, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Lunch and Lures: July 7, 18, 24, 11:30-1 p.m. Fishing Buddies: July 7, 5-6:30 p.m. Yoga by the Lake: July 10, 8-9 a.m. Planning and Zoning Meeting: July 12, 7:00 p.m. Yoga by the Lake: July 17, 8-9 a.m. Library Board Meeting: July 15, 5:30 p.m. Intro to Kayak Fishing: July 18, 3-5 p.m. City Council Work Session: July 19, 6 p.m. City Council Meeting: July 19, 7 p.m. Beginner Fishing Workshop: July 24, 4-6 p.m. Sundae in the Park: August 8, 6-9 p.m. Mayor’s Run for the Trails: August 21, 8 a.m. Johnston Town Center Grand Opening: August 28 Johnston City Hall 6221 Merle Hay Road Johnston, IA 50131 Phone: 515-278-2344 Fax: 515-278-2033 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

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Now that there are more patrons in the building, circ staff will be locking the meeting room doors leading out to the Art Gallery. If you have donations to add to the East Meeting Room, please bring a key to unlock and lock the door or enter the meeting room through the staff area.

The film scanner is back up and running. As I’ve mentioned to a couple of you, keep an eye out for Tech Lab reservations where the patron notes that they’re coming in to use it. I’ll try to be available to help them get started.

Don’t forget to tune in to the following channels at the following times for Yankee Doodle Pops this weekend:

July 2nd at 8:30 PM on Iowa PBS

July 4th at noon on Iowa Public Radio Classical

July 4th at 6 PM on Iowa PBS

July 5th at 11 AM on Iowa Public Radio Classical

The PBS Video and Iowa Public Radio apps are free to download from the app store.  After downloading the IPR app, be sure to select Classical, as that is the network the YDP will broadcast.  97.7 FM and 105.9 FM should be the radio stations for IPR Classical if you wish to use a radio.  Iowa PBS is 11.1.

Just a reminder that on July 1st our access to several State Library provided online resources will expire. The resources, which are linked on the Research page of our website, that are going away include all Gale resources (including Opposing Viewpoints), Transparent Language, and Credo Reference. We’ve already replaced Transparent Language with Mango Languages. The State Library will begin accepting bids for replacement resources, including a general reference resource to replace the Gale offerings, soon. I’ll keep everyone posted.