Category: All-Library News

Lori Elrick is our main contact for questions related to book club sets. When patrons (or other libraries) call with questions, please transfer the calls to x619. Lori works Monday-Friday 12-5, so you may want to inform the caller at other times to leave a voicemail. You can also transfer them to x716 if it’s a book club emergency!

The Johnston Arts Council is hosting an outdoor art walk this summer at Terra Park. The library is the pick-up and drop off site for the boards registrants will paint on. I’ve placed a list of registrants near the boards at the bouncer desk. Each registrant gets one board. Mark the names off the list once they pick up their board.

Rod Brown has resigned from his position in the circulation department.  He will be relocating to Omaha later this year. Thanks to Rod for his years of hard work.

Due to the Kites On the Green event, there will be no curbside holds pickup on Saturday. We will close the gate and open the meeting room alcove doors for restroom access for event attendees.

As some of you probably know, I have been receiving food assistance from the DHS since last April due to a huge decrease in pay from the symphony.  Even though I am no longer working for WDM, I have to have their payroll department complete a statement of earnings form by Monday.  After it’s faxed to the DHS, I asked them to fax it to 515-278-4975, or 515-278-2033 so I can have a copy for my records.  When it’s received, please place it in my mailbox as it has the last four digits of my SSN.

For those who missed it, a link to the recording of today’s all-staff Zoom meeting is linked below.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OsVsdsmFNg_5ecsnzXlBVbMAl53XV86u/view?usp=sharing

My next symphony concert will be in May and will be virtual.

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

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

Those are links with concert info as well as info about purchasing online access.  If you purchase access but can’t watch it on May 13th, you will have 30 days after the performance to access it.  We are playing works by Gluck, Mozart, Faure, Grieg, William Grant Still, and Marianna Martines (with principal flutist James Blanchard).

Recordings of the required harassment trainings I mentioned a while back are linked below. You’re welcome to watch/listen to them at home. Remember to put the time on your timesheet. Once you’ve completed the training, please print and complete this form and put it in my inbox inside my office door to the left.

Supervisors: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11KIub8Qkzq84AgVeXJj9UQj6vfewZXJc?usp=sharing

Everyone Else: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LAjcvtDrhXOsOpexd78BzNL6_bu15wNe?usp=sharing

The new staff printers have been installed. To get them working on your PC, click the search icon in the lower left corner. Type “\staffserver2020” and press the enter key. In the folder that pops up, double click “Workroom Toshiba” to install the workroom printer. Next, double click “ys toshiba” to install the YS printer. Click the search icon again and type “printers” and hit the enter key. Remove the old printers by clicking their names and then clicking “Remove Device”. You can set one of the new printers as your default printer by clicking it then clicking “Manage” then “Set as Default”. This process is already complete on all Circulation PCs and the PS desk PC. Let me know if you have any trouble.

Sometime in the next week, a sculpture that used to be at Wallace Elementary will be installed in the landscape area outside the meeting room hallway alcove. The sculpture was created several years ago with help from Wallace students. It was recovered recently and has been restored by the original artists.

YS and a student from Summit Middle School have teamed up to collect donations of new and gently used Kid’s and Young Adult materials. Please place any kid or young adult donations in the WEST meeting room to keep them separate from all other donations.

Information is below:

Drop off new or gently used children’s and Young Adult books at the Johnston Public Library or Summit Middle School. Items collected will be used for summer programming at the library and various Outreach Initiatives.

Can’t make it to the library? Leave your books near your mailbox on the following dates and volunteers associated with the Extended Learning Program at Summit Middle School will swing by and pick them up!
April 24th – Green Meadows North
May 1st – Green Meadows West

Please let me know if you have any questions! Questions from patrons can be directed to Megan.

• The library will enter our next phase of reopening on May 10. In the meantime, when someone calls or asks about services being offered right now, the main idea to communicate is this:

We’re on our way to fully reopening and the next phase of JPL’s reopening plan will begin May 10, but right now we’re still mainly open for grab-and-go type service.  Computer use and browsing are available on a walk-in basis but if you want to guarantee your spot, an appointment is still recommended, especially for computer use.

Thanks! Ask your supervisor if you have any questions.

Kites on the Green kite kits are available for pickup at the welcome desk at JPL (also known as the bouncer desk) for anyone that requests one. Information with a link showing people how to build the kits are inside the bag.
Thanks!

From Janet, the city’s Communications Manager:

I have set up the Johnston Commons playground project page, so I wanted to share it. There are renderings of what it will look like, along with a map that shows the placement.

https://www.cityofjohnston.com/1056/Johnston-Commons-Playground

There is also a public meeting on Wednesday, Apr. 21, at 6 p.m. to get feedback from residents before it is finalized. In the event of weather, it will be moved to the library.

Thanks,
Janet

Lynda.com is now Linked In Learning. The same videos–for learning business, software, technology, and creative skills–are available at Linked In Learning. The process for patrons to log into the Linked In Learning app is slightly different. Details on logging in via a browser or via the app are included on the page below.

https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/research/linked-in-learning/

If any of you are in need of makeup removers, please let me know.  I accidentally received some in a grocery order the other day when I didn’t order them.

From they city’s HR person, Cyndee:

This update condenses the policy, and makes these basic changes:

• Clarifies the intent and removes the preliminary language we used when first implementing the policy
• Removes “covid time” and adds requirement of the use of accrued leave for absences, illness, school, daycare, vaccination, etc.
• Removes “admin time” and reiterates PTO cap of 420 hours
• Removes references to 2/3 pay for daycare, school related issues, but maintains allowances that department directors will work with employees to find mutually beneficial solutions for those issues
• Removes references to allowing the borrowing of 2 weeks PTO
• Updates quarantine and isolation guidelines for vaccinated and unvaccinated staff
• Updates travel recommendations to current CDC guidance for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers both internationally and domestically

https://intranet.johnstonlibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Employee_Covid_v040821.1.pdf

Let me know if you have any questions.