Category: All-Library News

With the holiday on Monday, I thought I’d get this reminder out early.

Participants in the Terra Park Art Walk will be dropping off their paintings over the next couple of weeks. Please make sure the artists write their name on the back of their paintings. There’s a permanent marker at the bouncer station. The paintings can be placed in my office.

Beth and I are so excited to be welcoming the newest members of the JPL Staff.

Laurie (goes by Lolo) Balduchi & Christine Kane-Finn

They both are starting this afternoon and will be working in YS & PS as Library Guides. If you see them, please introduce yourself and welcome them to JPL!

We are discontinuing the digital cards that we began offering in response to the pandemic. Links to the digital card application have been removed from the website.

Upcoming changes to our services are included below. I’ll post additional information as each date approaches.  You can view the full reopening plan here.

• June 14th
  • Archive Room reopens for public meetings
  • Curbside holds pickup no longer requires appointments; available all open hours (more details forthcoming)
• July 5^th
  • Youth Services play areas reopen
• August 23^rd
  • Large meeting room reopens for public meetings
  • Normal hours resume (M-Th: 9am-8pm; F & Sat: 9am-5:30pm; Sun: 1pm-5pm)
  • Children under 14 admitted without an adult (per unattended policy)
  • Small in-person programs like book clubs resume indoors

Let myself or your supervisor know if you have any questions.

We haven’t received USA Today since May 12th. We’ve notified the publisher, and service will resume on May 24th.

We’re now receiving The New York Times daily. It’s arriving by mail, so there may be a one-week lag. I’m not sure yet whether the Sunday edition will arrive by carrier with the Des Moines Register or by mail.

Place any incoming issues of newspapers on the TS shelf in the Circ workroom.

West Bank will offer a Free Shred Day to the community at the 1601 22nd Street, West Des Moines parking lot on Saturday, May 22, 2021, 8 a.m. – Noon.

https://www.westbankstrong.com/about_us/news/article/free-shred-day-may-22#:~:text=West%20Bank%20will%20offer%20a,COVID%2D19%20regulations%20and%20guidelines.

Phones are back.

Following the recent guidance from the CDC on mask wearing by vaccinated individuals, the mayor rescinded the city’s mask mandate at last night’s city council meeting. Going forward, city buildings, including the library, will encourage but not require mask wearing. Staff will continue to wear masks and we will continue to make disposable masks available for patrons at the entryway but staff should not mention mask-wearing to those who enter without one.

It is sad to announce, but Lydia has resigned and Wednesday, May 19th will be her last day. Please join me in wishing her all the best.

That’s right, tonight at 7 PM.  Link to purchase tickets:

https://dmsymphony.secure.force.com/ticket/#/instances/a0F1S00000IJUtlUAH

If you aren’t able to watch it tonight, you will have 30 days after to view it!

This is my last performance until early July!

Virtual concert is only three days from now, please purchase your concert access soon!  Probably one of the only times you will be able to see me via the web!

Each year as part of my annual evaluation, the library board sends all staff a survey. It’s anonymous and I never see any of the written responses. The board would like responses by Monday, May 17th. The survey is linked below.

https://forms.gle/Y7oND2BcQWhGnjV28

The State Library has added a number of new titles to the Bridges magazine collection including several in other languages. Bridges magazines are always available–i.e. no holds lists–and don’t count against patrons’ checkout limits. Checkout the Bridges magazine collection via the link below.

https://bridges.overdrive.com/bridges-johnston/magazines/collection/217420

The library will continue to circulate the current issue of magazines.

If you haven’t purchased your online access for my virtual symphony concert on May 13, please do so ASAP.  We are playing works by Mozart, Martines, Gluck, Grieg, Faure, and Still.  Here are links with concert information as well as info about purchasing access:

https://www.dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/fantaisie-en-francais/

https://dmsymphony.secure.force.com/ticket/#/instances/a0F1S00000IJUtlUAH

With our re-opening next week, Hot Picks have been returned to their default status — they are not holdable, have a 2 week/1 week checkout, and are not renewable.

Molly has ordered several new items for the collection. Some of these new items went out with the “regular” collection values, but as patrons return them, the items will no longer fill holds requests.