Category: All-Library News

The AEA Van is running right now. We can accept books from other libraries. We will return them via AEA/IA Shares or mail. The AEA Van picks up on Tuesday and Thursday. After the items are quarantined, Circ Staff enters the titles of the items we return to other libraries in the IA Shares/AEA Shipments spreadsheet which can be accessed from the Patron Assistance Menu on the Intranet.

Talking points for patrons are:

1. It can be a couple of weeks for delivery through the van. Libraries usually backdate to the date we received the item at JPL, but while the item is in transit, it will remain on their account at its home library.
2. The home library may quarantine the item after it is received, so patrons may want to build that into their timeline.

A schedule of the AEA Van schedule and buildings/libraries can be found here.

Please don’t hesitate to ask Molly if you have any questions about the AEA Van or Open Access questions.

A library user wrote:

“An additional thanks to you and all the staff for the wonderful, user-friendly efforts you have developed during our COVID times. There are days that my library books have “kept me going” and having the library “open” helps me feel less isolated.  I know we all look forward to being back in the library together again.”

The State Library has just added several new magazine titles to Bridges. Our patrons now have more magazine titles available via Bridges than what we offer via RBDigital (see list below). Given this and the upcoming dissolution of RBDigital from their takeover by Overdrive, we won’t be renewing our RBDigital magazine service this fall. I will notify our RBDigital users of this soon. Let me know if you have any questions.

Hello All,

This is your friendly reminder public service announcement about submitting ILL requests. Tech Services would like to remind people that ILL requests should only be submitted for specific items rather than something more general like any books by Author Authorpants (substitute an author of your choice). Dreama told us that ILLs are resource-heavy for libraries and often patrons don’t even pick them up. And–when general requests are submitted sometimes patrons then decide that it wasn’t really what they we’re looking for. Some of the reference interview work to drill down to what patrons are actually looking for needs to be done before the request is submitted to Tech Services. Please feel encouraged to send patrons (by phone or in person) to the Reference Desk and staff can help patrons identify specific items and then look at worldcat to see if items are likely to be available. Thank you! Please ask Beth if you have questions.

The current issue of magazines and all newspapers can now be checked out. Magazines will continue to circulate for 3 weeks, and newspapers will check out for 1 week. Magazines can be renewed twice, but newspapers cannot be renewed. All issues are holdable.

Newspaper barcodes are on the last page of the first section of the newspaper – in the upper-right corner.

Ann will remove the plastic covers that distinguish the current issue of magazines. She’ll check the shelves periodically (no pun intended!) to make sure that an issue of each magazine is on display if the current issue is checked out.

Reliable Maintenance will take over cleaning of the library on October 5th. Molly and I met with the supervisor today and mentioned the lack of attention to detail that we hope will not be an issue with his crew. They run overnight shifts for cleaning so you’re unlikely to see them at closing time.

https://www.reliablemaintenancecompany.com/

So Slack seems to be the answer to everything, but let’s try to relay messages regarding Home Delivery through the #homedelivery channel.

Lydia will post the patrons that she has planned for delivery a week (or so) before delivery. In general, delivery is offered on Tuesdays between 2 and 3 pm. If you have questions that Slack doesn’t address, please just leave Lydia a note on the #homedelivery channel. She will follow up with the patron.

For pressing questions from Home Delivery patrons, your best bet is to message on the #homedelivery Slack channel and/or offer a call back from Molly or Lydia if we aren’t available.

I hope this information helps. Feel free to let us know if there is more information we can put out there!

The Des Moines Public Library has compiled information on metro-area library’s services and hours. Our info. is slightly out of date so other’s may be as well but it provides a nice overview of who is doing what.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ai3X-8cHmlwFecJowf-qjKRL6kYkx2CeK3cJfP-U5mQ/edit?usp=sharing

We are seeking an Assistant Librarian for Circulation to provide additional support and training for staff doing circulation work. Internal applicants are welcome to apply. If you know someone outside of JPL that may be interested, please spread the word. Let Molly or I know if you have any questions.

Assistant Librarian – 25.75 hours/week – Some Evenings and Weekends

Under the direction of the Assistant Director, the Circulation Assistant Librarian performs a variety of tasks in providing library service to customers. Responsibilities include working in the Circulation, Reference, and other areas of the library as assigned. This position requires skill in customer service and behavior management.

Starting pay: $20/hour

Details and an application are available at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cityofjohnston/jobs/2866585/

Recording

[UPDATE]
The parking lot lights are fixed

We have short amongst the parking lot lights that’s tripping the breaker for the lights near the staff parking area. An electrician will be out next week. Until then, the staff lot will be a little darker after sunset.

Patrons can apply for a digital library card from our website. The digital card application will typically be processed within 48 hours.

Applicants 14 and older

Residents of Johnston and rural Polk County will be emailed their credentials to log into digital content. They will also be mailed a physical card to use for curbside, browsing, and PC appointments. They will have 90 days after the library fully reopens to provide a photo ID and proof of address if they wish to keep the card active.

Applicants that reside outside Johnston and rural Polk County will be emailed their credentials to log into the website for placing holds for curbside. They will not have access to most digital content. They will be mailed a physical card to use for browsing and PC appointments. They will have 90 days after the library fully reopens to provide a photo ID and proof of address if they wish to keep the card active.

Applicants under 14

Residents of Johnston and rural Polk County will be emailed their credentials to log into digital content. They will also be mailed a physical card with a letter asking a parent or guardian to bring a photo ID and proof of address back to the library before the juvenile will be allowed to use the card to borrow physical materials at a browsing appointment. There will be a blocking note on the account that can be deleted when the parent/guardian provides their photo ID and proof of address. Please add the parent or guardians DL number to the DL number field.

Applicants that reside outside Johnston and rural Polk County will be emailed acknowledging their application was processed. They will not have access to most digital content. They will be mailed a physical card with a letter asking a parent or guardian to bring a photo ID and proof of address back to the library before the juvenile will be allowed to use the card to borrow physical materials at a browsing appointment. There will be a blocking note on the account that can be deleted when the parent/guardian provides their photo ID and proof of address. Please add the parent or guardians DL number to the DL number field.

Individual books in the Book Club collection will now check out to JPL patrons for 6 weeks. This change eliminates the need to set a special due date when you’re preparing for curbside service.

TS staff will continue to set special due dates for sets checked out both to JPL patrons and to other libraries.

Per the city ordinance, the library must submit an annual report to the city council after the end of each fiscal year. Katie Fiala, the current board president, will present the report at the next city council work session. A link to the report is included below.

https://board.johnstonlibrary.com/2020-08/12%20FY20%20Annual%20Report%20to%20Council.pdf

https://www.dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/copland-vivaldi/

https://dmsymphony.secure.force.com/ticket/#/instances/a0F1S00000I6iY4UAJ

Between now and New Year’s Eve, I will be playing in only ONE symphony performance, and it will only be live-streamed on Thursday, November 12th at 7 PM.  The links above are concert information and for buying online access.  We will be playing Copland and Vivaldi works as well as a few others.

I made some chocolate chip bagels and brought those and a cream cheese package on Wednesday.  Bagels in freezer and cream cheese in fridge, and please help yourself when you get a chance.

The staff member doing curbside will be in charge of deciding how inclement weather will impact where we leave the items. For instance, they may choose to use the umbrellas for light rain or snow or to put the items between the front doors for heavier rain or snow.

If inclement weather impacts curbside delivery, the staff member doing curbside will post the change to the #publicservicesdesks channel on slack so we are all aware.

We will hold an all-staff meeting via Zoom at 9am Thursday, September 24th. I’ll send a reminder and a link closer to that date. In between now and then, if you need help setting up Zoom on your staff of work PC, let me know. I understand that not everyone has a microphone and camera on their PC–that’s ok. If you don’t have a microphone and have questions or comments during the meeting, please use the chat feature.

Beginning today (9/10), individuals can request to add a 1,000 Activities Before Kindergarten folder to their curbside holds pick-up bag (much like we did for summer reading). Folders will be stored on the low part of the circulation counter. Megan will keep an eye on the stock and re-stock the folders when needed.

If people have questions about 1,000 Activities Before Kindergarten please direct them to a YS person or to our website that has information about the program.

This program is designed to encourage parents and children to sing, talk, read, write and play together to build early literacy skills.  This program is for children ages birth-preschool.