Category: All-Library News

Exciting news! The new fax/copy/printer at the Reference Desk is live and ready to go. Instead of using the Brother to fax, copy or print, you will now use the Epson 5850 if you are working at the Reference Desk. Here are a couple need-to-know items with this new machine:

• Epson 5850 is an inkjet printer versus the laser printer in the staff workroom.
• Unlike the Brother printer, the Epson 5850 DOES print color.
• Same costs apply: $.15 for B&W; $.50 for color, per side.
• If you have a print job where quality if really important, i.e. a person is printing their resume for an interview, you might consider printing it to the Workroom Toshiba–quality will be nicer.
• If a patron has a really long print job, I would send it to the Workroom Toshiba instead of the Epson.
• Scanning is functioning now. Here is an example of what the fax confirmation sheets look like:
  Fax Confirmation Page
• The Epson makes a much quieter fax dialtone noise than the Brother did. While it’s dialing and sending, there is an orange triangle that appears on the screen.
• I have printed and laminated faxing documentation for the new Epson 5850. It is by the public printer documentation by the print release station.
• I will be checking in with staff over the next week to go over any questions you might have about the new machine. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have questions.
• Finally, high-five Lori French when you walk by her. She used her powers of tech persuasion to make the Epson 5850 do what we needed it to.

A couple additional details about Adult Summer Reading Mugs:

• When we start to get adult patrons turning in their completed Adult Summer Reading Log, please grab a prize mug for them from the boxes that are underneath the self checkout computer behind circ instead of grabbing mugs from the display. I have additional boxes of mugs in my office and will replenish as needed.
  
• If you, as a staff person, would like to participate in Adult Summer Reading you are welcome to. I would like you to hold off collecting your mug until after Summer Reading culminates (end of July) to make sure we have enough for patrons first.
  Thanks!

Hello!

Just a few notes about Teen Summer Reading prizes for those of you who will be working the YS Desk this summer.

I have added a Book Sale Coupon as an option at the candy bar prize level for kids or families who might not enjoy a sugary prize.

I’ve also included Book Sale Coupons in the prize drawers as an option for kids who don’t want/can’t use one of the other prize options. For example, kids might know they will be out of town during the final laser tag party, so we can offer the Book Sale Coupon as an alternate prize.

If prizes run low in any of the drawers or the Candy Caboodle, refills can be found on the green shelving under the clock in the YS workroom. Coupons are located in a blue bin next to the candy. Feel free to refill as needed, or send me a Slack to let me know we are running low on prizes, and I will refill.

More grand prize drawing entry slips can be printed if needed. Find them here —  YDriveTeenSummerReading2024grandprizedrawingextraentry

Or, if you notice they are running low. send me a Slack, and I will print more. 🙂

Thanks very much! If you have any questions, please ask!

Jessica

Riddhi is up and running on scheduling staff in WTW and verifying time sheets. It’s time for me to move on from these tasks, so effective today, Riddhi is your go-to person for anything related to your schedule or your time sheet.

As in the past, please communicate via email to both Riddhi and Molly about scheduling stuff – they will be each other’s backup so it’s good they are both in the loop at all times.

Peg

Please send Riddhi an email at sheth@johnstonlibrary.com if you are not able to turn in your time sheet by this day and time.

2024 Adult Summer Reading Instructions for Staff

1. To sign up for Adult Summer Reading all a patron needs to do is take an Adult Summer Reading Log or download one from the library website under the main Events menu (https://www.cityofjohnston.com/1461/Adult-Summer-Reading). Adult Summer Reading Logs are located at each service desk. Email or slack Beth if your supply is getting low. Extra copies of the logs can be found here: P Drive: Beth Stevens> Adult Summer Reading> 202ASR> Adult Summer Reading Log 2024.pdf
2. The Adult Summer Reading Challenge is a little different than years past. Please take a minute to familiarize yourself with the directions.
   • Here’s how it works: the Challenge runs from May 28 through July 28 and concludes with a Grand Prize Drawing in August. In order to complete the challenge, patrons must finish at least 12 action items from these 4 categories:
     • read or listen to a book of their choice,
     • attend a JPL adult library program,
     • complete a summer reading puzzle, or
     • Dealer’s Choice. The Dealer’s Choice category allows you to do more of any of the first 3 categories.
   • Write the title of the completed item next to the category in which it fits.
   • Answer keys for all Adult Summer Reading Puzzles are at the Reference Desk. If a patron wants to check their own puzzle, they can, but they do not need to turn the puzzle into us. We’ll just take their word for it that it was completed.
   • Adults who complete the Summer Reading Challenge get a JPL swag mug and a chance to enter the Grand Prize Drawing.

1. When a patron turns in their completed Summer Reading Challenge log, please do the following things:
   • Double check that they have completed at least 12 of the categories on the log
   • Cut off the bottom of their log with name and phone number and put it in the Summer Reading Grand Prize Bucket behind the Circulation Desk.
   • Write the patron’s name in the Summer Reading Stat Log.
   • Ask the patron if they would like a cobalt or sky blue swag mug.
   • Congratulate them on completing Adult Summer Reading and give them their mug!
2. If they want to keep going, patrons have the option to complete ONE Bonus Summer Reading Log. The Bonus logs are red versus orange and clipped together in the Adult Summer Reading Holders behind the regular logs.
   • Completed Bonus logs are good for one additional entry into the Grand Prize Drawing that will happen at the beginning of August. Patrons who complete the Bonus log DO NOT get a second mug.
3. The Grand Prize for Adult Summer Reading is a DSM Local Book Store Crawl Gift Card Pack that contains the following items:

• $30 gift cards to Reading in Public, Beaverdale Books, and Storyhouse Bookpub book stores, literary coffee, literary tea, and book coasters.

Adult Summer Reading Display with a swag mug prize is up behind Circ. The paper book background decoration has limited visibility from the check-in desk a little. Remember to ring the doorbell if you need backup at the Circulation Desk.
Thanks!

Hi All:

Summer Reading is right around the corner! A copy of each log is available at each service desk if you would like to familiarize yourself with them J As always, if you have any questions, please let me know. 

Important Dates:
1^st day to pick up logs is Tuesday, May 28^th
1^st day to redeem prizes is Saturday, June 6^th
Last day to redeem prizes in Sunday, July 28^th

•  Kids Summer Library Program Birth-Kids going into 5th Grade
  Kids ages birth-going into 5^thgrade are invited to participate in this program. Starting May 28^th, kids can come to the library to pick up all that they need for this year’s summer reading program.
• Kids can pick up their activity log at any of the service desks or the teen volunteer summer reading table.
• Kids are asked to fill in a star for EACH DAY they meet their reading goal or EACH DAY they complete an activity. **This is new. Please emphasize this change when handing out logs**
• When a level is complete (10 stars), kids can come in to pick up the prize for the completed levels. Please stamp the child’s log when a prize is redeemed.

Prizes:
Purple:  Lanyard, Purple Button, Scratch-off Ticket
Kids will scratch off the silver sticker on their ticket. Their prize will be revealed. The prizes are in a 3 drawer container and labeled.

Orange:  Goodie Bag & Orange Button
The goodie bag is filled with a variety of coupons: Iowa Cubs ticket, Taco Johns Coupon, Blank Park Zoo pass, & more.

Blue: Activity Kit & Blue Button
This year’s activity kit includes crayons, a velvet poster, sticker face sheet and a scratch art bookmark.

Green: Prize Book & Green Button
Each child will receive a book and a green when they finish their log. They are free to choose from picture books, beginning reader, early chapter books, and chapter books. All of the titles are located on the shelving behind the YS desk.

Dates that kids are eligible to begin picking up their prizes, due to restructuring:
Purple: June 6^th
Orange: June 16^th
Blue: June 26^th
Green: July 6^th

 Teen Summer Reading is for kids going into 6^th grade-12^th grade.
Teens will be pick up their reading log and can earn points doing the following things:
Reading (points per page OR points per minute)
Reading aloud to someone (5 points per minute)
Listen to an audiobook (1 point per minute)
Watch a movie based on a book (20 pts each, 300 points max)
Attend a Library Program (100 pts each)
Write a book review (20pts each, review forms are available at the YS Desk)
Watch a TV series based on a book (10 pts/episode, 300 points max)
Donate pop tabs to Ronald McDonald House (20 points/10 pop tabs) – A can is located at the YS Desk and Volunteer Table

When a teen comes in, have them add up their total points and write the total points they have on their sheet.  After giving them the prizes they’ve earned, date & initial where the total points are and check off the prizes they’ve received. All prizes will be organized by point level and are located behind the YS desk and at the teen volunteer table.

Prize Levels:
300 points: Two (2) Iowa Cubs Tickets
500 Points: Ticket to the Laser Tag Super Reward Party on Friday, July 26^th**
If they make it a point to mention they will not be able to attend the party, feel free to offer them a coupon, book, or candy bar.
700 Points: Taco John’s OR Spare Time Coupon
900 Points: Free Book
1000 Points: Choice of Candy Bar & Entered into Grand Prize Drawing (located on the back of their log)
1200+ Points: For every extra 200 pints earned, teens get an additional entry into the grand prize drawing.
 **When teens reach 500 points they receive a ticket to the Laser Tag Super Reward Party. There is a 3-ring binder containing the tickets. Please fill out the ticket stub with the teen’s first and last name and their phone number. Then remove the ticket from the ticket stub and give it to the teen. Remind the teen that they must register and have the ticket in hand to attend the final party!

 Thank you for your help and hard work in preparing for summer reading!

Due to the storm on May 21, some areas of Johnston will qualify for a special vegetative debris pickup on May 28th at 6 a.m. Other areas of the City will use metro waste curbside to pick up their debris.

The full report and map, is at the Circulation Desk or on the City’s website , if patrons have questions. If they still have questions after looking at the information on the website, they should call City Hall.

Andrew made some vanilla ice cream that is in the freezer in the break room in the large container with a black lid, and small container with a blue lid.  There is chocolate syrup and butterscotch topping in the refrigerator door, and peanuts on the table.  Please be sure to put the wax paper on top of the ice cream after serving, and he will need the containers when the ice cream is gone.  Please help yourself!

Here’s the problem with putting TS staff in charge of anything: We want everything explained clearly. Already we’re stuck on what to call the variety of book (material) return boxes we have. So here’s what we’ve decided:

Inside returns — book and AV at the south end of the Circ Desk

Outside returns — book and AV slots attached to the building

Drive-up return — in front of the building

Remote returns — at Horizon and Beaver Creek elementary schools

We’ll be using these names for the Daily Desk Schedule, but we won’t complain if you use your own names for them!

Our All Staff Meeting is scheduled on Sunday, May 19 from 10:45 am-12:45 pm.

10:45 -11:30 am Social Time

11:30 -12:45 Staff Meeting

If the first session doesn’t sound like your thing – you are not required to attend, but we would love to have you there! Both sessions will be paid.

**We want to acknowledge and celebrate your achievements. If you have received awards, certifications, or have any personal news you would like to share, please let us know. Feel free to send information and or pictures to sockness@johnstonlibrary.com **

Time Sheets due Wednesday May 15 before 8 pm.

Please send Riddhi or Peg an email at sheth@johnstonlibrary.com or rasmussen@johnstonlibrary.com if you are not able to turn in your time sheet by this day and time.

Andrew is a cellist in the Des Moines Symphony and will be performing in this weekend’s Masterworks concerts.  We are playing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and the fourth movement of this work involves the poem “Ode to Joy.”  Concerts take place on Saturday May 11th at 7:30 PM, and Sunday May 11th at 2:30 PM at the Civic Center downtown.  Tickets are selling fast since Beethoven’s Ninth involves vocal soloists and choirs, so please visit this link to purchase your tickets:

https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/symphony-rediscover-the-ode-to-joy/

There are 7 plywood boards outside the cubicle wall of my office for Judy Anderson. She will stop by sometime in the next couple of days to pick the items up. If I’m not here, if someone could just Slack or email me that she grabbed the items, that would be much appreciated.

Thanks! Beth

The library has four (4!) clerk positions currently posted.

Clerk One: Monday – Thursday 3 – 8 pm
Clerk Two: Every Saturday/Sunday 12 – 5 pm
Clerk Three: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 1 – 5 pm
Every other Saturday 1 – 5:45 pm and Sunday 12:45 – 5:15 pm
Clerk Four: Tuesday and Thursday 4 – 8:15 pm
Every other Saturday 8:45 am and Sunday 12:15 pm – 5:15 pm

Internal applicants are welcome to apply or request additional hours.

For external applicants, they can find job listings at the bottom of our website. Internal applicants can just email Molly and Dreama.

All holds for Home Delivery Patrons ( Homebound/Outreach) have been moved from the all-patrons hold shelves to a cart in the Repair area.  When checking in, or trapping holds from the  pick list for a Home Delivery Patron, a box will pop up showing “Home Delivery Patron” before allowing you to continue.  Please place any holds with this pop up box on the cart labeled Home Delivery Patron Holds.  The cart is located in the repair area next to check in (Miren’s old area).   Thank you!

Cathy and Loriel

Kites on the Green is tomorrow! I have printed and placed a copy of the schedule at each desk. If patrons have more questions, an information booth will be set up near the sidewalk leading to the park/barn.

Feel free to take a look at the KOTG website as well that has more details about the day:
https://www.cityofjohnston.com/606/Kites-on-the-Green—May-4

Some things to note:

• Please park in the last row, closest to the road.  Emergency vehicles will need the spaces near the dumpsters.
• If you get a break, I encourage you to bring a lunch or get food from one of the food trucks that will be at the event
• We may need to use the large meeting room for the performers, if that happens, someone from the KOTG Committee will be assisting with set-up, teardown, and crowd management.

Thanks!

Megan

We have a new Incident/Conduct in the Library Tracker!

Incident-Tracker is a secure and user-friendly platform that allows us to track Incident Reports and Conduct in the Library reports in one location.

The Incident Tracker can be viewed by clicking on the “Submit a Report” tab on the Intranet. The username and password are also listed in this tab for easy access.
Username: library
Password: 123Johnston

I have placed a copy of the instructions at each desk. These instructions include How to Submit a Report and How to View Reports within the new platform.  Instructions will also be uploaded to Confluence over the next week or so.

I have transferred all incidents and Conduct Reports from the last month and a half to the new tracker.

When you have some time, take a look at the Incident Tracker.

If you have any questions, please let me know. I will be providing training at our All Staff Meeting in May.
Megan

Hello!

You have probably heard rumblings about some changes coming regarding Check-in and Shelving. I appreciate everyone being willing to allow Dreama and I to talk things through before we shared any “official” updates.

So beginning May 5th – some staff that have reported to me, will begin to report to Dreama. Those staff include Laurie Hazel, Sarah Gerke, Andrew Holm and Ashlyn Simon. Sarah and Laurie will still work some desk shifts.

Dreama’s staff will be in charge of emptying the book returns, doing the Pick List, pulling unclaimed holds, calling holds.  The Circ Weekly Calendar schedule that you look for in the back room will no longer be up on May 5th. If you have a question about who is doing the picklist or anything to do with the jobs above, you will want to check-in with TS staff.

Dreama will also become the volunteer coordinator since the majority of our volunteers work in shelving and pick list help. Questions or applications can be sent her way.

Dreama or a TS designee may ask staff trained in check-in for help from time to time. Especially during those crazy summer months. All staff trained to check-in will be ready to help when asked.

If you are not moving to TS, you may have additional desk hours instead of check-in. I will be sending out a note to desk staff discussing the change and what you will be doing during your shifts not covering a desk.

People can still pick up shifts for each other from desks or TS. So for instance if Sarah (TS) is out, Carolyn (Patron Services) is welcome to pick up her shift. If she does that, Dreama will communicate with Carolyn what TS duties she will be responsible for outside of Sarah’s desk shifts.

There is a lot to digest. The main thing to remember is to ask questions if you are unsure of what you should be focusing on at work.

Molly and Dreama