Category: All-Library News

Charles Koehler’s daughter just called, and he passed away. He only passed away two days ago, but she said the library was on her mind because he continued to talk so highly about our collection and staff until his last days.

I don’t see an obituary listed yet, but I thought I’d pass on the news and her kind words.

The JPL Winter Reading Challenge begins January 15. On the 15th, patrons will have the ability to check a box when they are scheduling curbside hold pickup to also receive kids, teen, or adult winter reading materials. We have had some patrons write in the note section of their appointments already they they want winter reading materials. Kids and Adult materials are ready to go and in the commons so if patrons request kid or adult materials now, you can go ahead and include it in their hold pickup. Teen winter reading material will be ready by Friday, which is the first actual day of Winter Reading. These packets do not have registration–no need to cross names off of a list or otherwise keep track of who packets are going to.
Thanks,
YS and PS

The annual Innovative Libraries Online Conference will be held next Thursday. Registration is not required. If you attend a session (or multiple sessions) from home, you can put that time on your timesheet. More information about the conference can be found via the link below.

https://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/ld/c-d/continuing-ed/iloc/iloc2021/ilocschedule20?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

As we look forward to reopening, please take a look around your public desks and the public areas this week to ensure they’re tidy and presentable. YS & PS staff, when we reopen please be sure to turn on catalog PCs in your area each morning and ensure pencils and paper are available there. We will have 5 PCs be available starting Tuesday: 3, 7, 9, 16, and print express. Patrons can use the Tech Lab if they don’t need assistance. Browsing appointments are spaced every 20 minutes. We will allow walk-ins for all services if space allows. In short, we’re reopening with the same services we offered prior to reducing services/capacity before we closed. Let me know if you have any questions.

Tax forms are on order. Once they arrive, we’ll offer curbside pickup. Our Tax Form page, which is linked at the top of our homepage, will be updated when our forms arrive. The page also includes information about where else patrons can pickup forms and where they can find tax prep. assistance.

Our volunteer Helen is withdrawing the 2019 magazines. We will not be making them available to the public this year, but if there are any titles or issues that you want, let me know, and I’ll give them to you after we’ve finished removing them from Polaris.

Every couple of years the city’s Communication Specialist organizes a survey of Johnston residents. I’ve linked to the results below. The summary of library-related findings is as follows:

• Library Services. Residents were generally satisfied with the overall quality of library services provided. Ninety-four percent (94%) of the residents surveyed, who had an opinion, were “very satisfied” and “satisfied” with the Johnston Public Library; 90% were satisfied with the quality of library materials, books, DVDs magazines and etc. and 88% were satisfied with the quality of library programs, story hours and book discussions.
  • Sixty‐three percent (63%) of respondents indicated they had visited the Johnston Public Library in the past year.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PyuemFgo4885UKnXUvL4PHQ1_IM8OZce/view?usp=sharing

Sunday will be Blaine’s last day working at JPL as he has relocated to Carroll to be near family. As much as I know he will miss us, I know he won’t miss commuting through winter weather.

I put a note for him in the break room to sign well wishes.

The city’s revised Covid-19 policy is linked below. Please take special note of consequences of refusing vaccination (more information on the city’s role in getting employees vaccinated will be shared as I have it). Let me know if you have any questions.

Good Afternoon,

Attached is the updated COVID-19 policy. Please distribute to your employee groups.

As you have probably heard, the leave benefits associated with FFRCA expired on 12/31.  This is the act that offered 2 weeks of time for COVID exposure or illness, and offered 2/3 pay for school/daycare COVID related absences. The new stimulus package did not extend these.

At this time, we will be continuing the leave that was allowed in the FFRCA Act.  This does not “reset” the hours allowed, just allows for the rollover of time employees may still have.

Changes from the last version are highlighted in yellow.  Highlights include:

• Continuation of the FFRCA leave allowances
• Vaccinations – including language that employees who are eligible, and/or offered COVID-19 vaccinations but decline, will be required to use their accrued leave (PTO, etc.) for any COVID related absences.  There are exceptions for medical and religious grounds.  Declination forms will be distributed as needed.  Those who initially decline may decide at a future date to proceed with vaccination.  This is a work in progress, and we continue to fine tune timelines, etc.  Please let me know if you have specific instances which require discussion or resolution.
• PTO Bank – added language that will allow employees to convert any hours they accrued over the 420 cap into their sick banks.  This will need to be communicated to Payroll prior to January 31.

As has been the case since March, this information continues to change over time, and therefore our policies may be updated/amended as needed.

Thanks for your continued patience with all things COVID!

Please let me know if you have questions or concerns.

Thanks,

Cyndee

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MOmsdLxp6i9l0vJge6uh8RaSsVTDg54E/view?usp=sharing

Unless cases get crazy over the next couple of weeks like they did in November, we will reopen the library building to the public on Tuesday, January 19th. We will reopen with the same rules we were operating under throughout the fall: browsing and PC use by appointment with room for walk-ins. Curbside pickup will continue. Your supervisor will be in touch if reopening requires changes to your schedule. Let me know if you have any questions.

Did anyone request “Autism Intervention Every Day” through Heartland AEA? It was received in today’s delivery.

Lori F

Update: The Polaris update is complete. You can use Polaris once Lori has upgraded your PC to version 6.6.

We’re upgrading from Polaris 6.3 to 6.6 this morning. Please do not use Polaris until the upgrade is complete. Our estimated completion time is 9 a.m.

We in TS appreciate everyone’s help opening the staff door for deliveries and receiving packages at the main entrance. Everyone does a great job putting the packages on the workroom counter. Sometimes, though, we’re not aware that packages have been dropped off. If you direct a delivery person to the counter or put a package there yourself, please say something to Lori French or Dreama if Lori isn’t in. If neither of us is in, you can message us on Slack at #deliveries-from-ups-et-al. We’ll take it from there!

Case counts are down significantly from where they were in mid-November when we closed the building again to the public. We will remain closed through January 17th and reevaluate reopening for browsing and computer use by appointment prior to then.

Weird week – didn’t look ahead. If it’s not possible for you to complete your time sheet by Thursday at noon, let me know and I’ll print a time sheet for you. Please make sure When to Work is correct and that will insure you get paid correctly. 🙂

Peg

The library board approved elimination of overdue fees on juvenile and YA books and audiobooks at last night’s meeting. This change will take effect 1/1/2021 and will include elimination of outstanding overdue fees on those materials as well. While we’ll wait to announce this exciting news on social media until January 1st, it’s not a secret. If you’re discussing unpaid fines for overdue J or YA books or audiobooks with a patron, feel free to mention that those will be eliminated at the start of the new year.

Good morning –  What a year we have had!  I look forward each year to seeing many of you at our annual holiday potluck but Covid-19 is going to change yet another norm this year as we will have to bypass having a potluck!  Although we have had a challenging year, it also has been a rewarding year with the completion of many high profile projects such as the Pioneer Parkway recreation trail, the canoe/kayak launch at Lew Clarkson Park and the completion of the new city hall.  Every department has faced many issues brought on by the pandemic: public buildings closed to the public, public meetings held on Zoom, employees working from home, schedules being altered, quarantines, and isolations.  All of these challenges have been met by the utmost professionalism by our employees and what I am most proud of, through all this, the citizens of Johnston continued to receive the quality services they deserve and are accustomed to.  Thank you for your service and dedication to our community!!

As I look to the future, I thought it was important to give the Mayor and City Council as much notice as possible regarding my decision to retire. The City Council took action at the last Council meeting and approved my final contract as City Administrator with a retirement date of January 5, 2023 (my last working day will be October 18, 2022).  Regarding my replacement, the current Mayor and City Council will be requesting proposals from various executive search firms to recruit a new City Administrator.  The recruitment process will begin in March 2022.

In preparation for this transition, the Mayor and City Council took additional action and modified titles and the organizational charts for administration, affecting Cyndee Rhames and Teresa Rotschafer.  A copy of the chart is attached.

Cyndee’s new title is Director of Internal Operations/City Clerk.  The main change to her responsibilities now include all Human Resource (HR) issues.  The HR functions Teresa was performing will be completed by Cyndee, with the exception of labor negotiations, in which Teresa will still be involved. Cyndee will continue with her IT responsibilities and maintains her appointment as City Clerk.   Teresa’s new title is Assistant City Administrator/Finance.  Teresa will be continuing all of her responsibilities regarding the financial functions of the City and learning additional City Administrator responsibilities.  This will help with the transition to a new City Administrator.  The creation of the Assistant City Administrator position was not done as an automatic succession to the City Administrator position.  In fact, at this point Teresa has announced she would not be interested in the position.

As we approach the holidays, there appears to be reason for hope with the introduction of safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines.  I want to encourage you to continue doing the right things to make sure you and your family are safe.  If we hang on a little longer, I am hopeful the recovery from the pandemic will begin in early 2021.

Thank you for all you do and please have a Happy and Safe New Year!

Best wishes,  Jim

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

This is a link to information about the next symphony concert that I will be playing in.

Yes, it’s unfortunately true.  I am only scheduled to perform in two concert sets during my tenth season with the orchestra.  You can purchase online access right now, but I will send reminders along the way.