Category: All-Library News

It’s spring which means…it’s evaluation time. Part of the process is the self evaluation. This is your chance to tell your supervisor what you think you did well in the past year, how you’d like to grow going forward, and what could be done to help make your work or your experience at work better. The self evaluation form is linked below. It’s optional for shelvers. Please have it to your supervisor by June, 15th.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1N1MY_0WdfVJ8syr_7vVyrXiRAkLFjArN

Hey all,

Looking forward to seeing everyone who is interested in people-ing during the JPL Buddies Happy-Hour-ish Zoom chat today at 4:00pm. Today we’re going to be playing trivia with Peg as our host.

Log in and call in info below:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94474083135?pwd=a1VRSlpvUVF3bUVPeDhBZ3pMSitjQT09

Meeting ID: 944 7408 3135
Password: JPLBuddies
One tap mobile
+16468769923,,94474083135#,,#,860992# US (New York)
+13126266799,,94474083135#,,#,860992# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 944 7408 3135
Password: 860992

The May concert set has been cancelled, and the symphony staff is still working on rescheduling concerts for later this year.  Might not be until September that concerts will resume.

Our updated reopening plan is linked below. Phase 4, browsing by appointment, begins Tuesday, July 7th. During phase 4, groups of three or fewer can browse in the library for 30 minutes by appointment.

[NEW] Phase 4.5 will begin Monday July 20th. In phase 4.5, we’ll offer the same services as in phase 4–computer use and browsing by appointment–but will expand our hours to Monday-Thursday 10am – 6pm and Friday-Saturday 10am – 5:30pm. Walk-ins for both browsing and computer use will be allowed if slots are available. Curbside hours will remain the same: Tues. & Thur.: 2pm-6pm; Wed. & Fri.: 10am-2pm; and Sat.: 9am-12pm. 

Beginning 7/20, browsing appointments will spaced every 20 minutes so no more than 8 browsers will be in the building at any time plus no more than 4 computer users. At checkout, patrons will be required to use one of the 2 self-checks that will be available. Visitors under 14 need to be accompanied by an adult. Masks will be required. Disposable masks will be available. Staff can make appointments for patrons–for curbside holds and printing pickup, computer use, and browsing–under the Patron Assistance menu on the intranet.  Let me know if you have any questions.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LDstEh5tOpLJcURsRYWWKKm6FNRjL5dfFk9kzovdKmM/edit

Sorry, I included the wrong text and it’s a pain to prevent email notifications for each update so you’re getting this again.

After the governor’s announcement today about extending closures in Polk County, I wanted to get the information included below out to patrons ASAP. It’s been scheduled to post on Facebook at 7pm. The information about due dates has been emailed to all patrons with items out.

——————–Facebook Post——————–

Although we are anxious to reopen, the safety of our patrons and staff is paramount. Today, the Governor extended existing closures in Polk County, including closure of public libraries, to May 15th. Due dates for library materials have been extended to June 1st–please hang on to your checkouts as our book returns are closed. We are planning for a phased reopening of the library based on relaxation of social distancing recommendations. The first phase of the plan includes curbside pickup of library materials; phase two includes limited access to public computers; in phase three the building will be open for limited browsing; and in phase four the library will be fully open with the restarting of in-person library programs and community meetings. We don’t currently have a start date for reopening. Until Iowa ramps-up testing and officials get a more accurate picture of the coarse of Covid-19 in Polk County and across the state, we think it best to avoid announcing a particular timeline that we may not be able to keep. We miss all of our patrons. We look forward to seeing you and will be in touch with updates as we have them.

——————–End Facebook Post——————–

This super-long paragraph makes reference to a plan. Molly, Department Heads, and I put together a draft reopening plan that I’ll clean up tomorrow then share with everyone for input.

-Eric

Bad news, y’all. Technical difficulties got the better of us today and Zoom has put us in the naughty corner. We’ve decided to call if for today and cancel the Zoom social hour. Sorry for the very late notice–news to us too.

Plan on meeting next Friday at 4:00pm for JPL social hour Trivia. I hope you’re studying up between now and then.

Thanks!

Beth

I’d like to have two or three washable masks for all staff when we reopen. I know some of you already have masks. If you will need masks when you return to work (whenever that is), please let me know.

Hey all,

Looking forward to seeing everyone who is interested in people-ing during the JPL Buddies Happy-Hour-ish Zoom chat today at 4:00pm. Today we’re going to be playing trivia with Peg as our host.

Log in and call in info below:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94474083135?pwd=a1VRSlpvUVF3bUVPeDhBZ3pMSitjQT09

Meeting ID: 944 7408 3135
Password: JPLBuddies
One tap mobile
+16468769923,,94474083135#,,#,860992# US (New York)
+13126266799,,94474083135#,,#,860992# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 944 7408 3135
Password: 860992

I’ve completed drafts of everyone’s timesheets. Please follow the link below to verify and, if necessary, make changes to your sheet. Let me know if you have trouble.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZLkt_hAxWzQOMeRTjRyxfjaTcoPY8xJC?usp=sharing

It’s National Library Week and today is Library Workers Day! It’s crazy times and I truly appreciate everyone’s help, insight, and patience throughout these past few weeks. For me, this time being closed has helped me better appreciate how much of my motivation and satisfaction at work comes from the relationships that I have with the people that visit the library and the people I work with. I feel lucky to work with a staff who feel the same. Thank you. I hope to see everyone soon.

I’d like to add a more human-touch to JPL’s Facebook and Instagram posts (yes, Youth Services is all over this, they already post awesome human-touch images), but I’d like to expand it a bit.

Would any or all of you be willing to send me an image of what you’re doing at home during our closure? It could be a stack of the books you’ve read, are reading, want to read; it could be a picture of something personal like your pet, or something you’ve made; maybe an image you capture of nature that makes you happy. I’m open to images that will send a feel-good message. With your permission, I will only use your first name in the post.

Thanks,

Peg

I know you’re all wondering when and how we’ll reopen. As you know, the governor has mandated that public libraries remain closed until April 30th. Predictions* suggest that Iowa will not have reached the peak number of daily deaths and infections (the top of the “curve”) until sometime in the first half of May.  We closed the library when Iowa was at the bottom of this curve so its unlikely we’ll reopen at the top of it. Metro-area library directors have discussed coordinating reopening to prevent a run on the first library that reopens. I assume we’ll reopen in much the same way we closed but in reverse: first allowing hold pickups in the entryway and returns to the book drops; then allowing patrons to enter the building; and finally starting up programs and meetings. This picture assumes, however, that the virus will go away all at once in the same way that it came. As this article points out, we may be in for waves of loosening restrictions followed by a re-tightening if we see spikes in new cases.

Full-time staff are continuing the activities outlined in this post. In addition, Megan as signed up for Reader Zone for patrons to participate in summer reading online. You can try it out via the Reader Zone app or website. Use the code dfd10.

I hope everyone is doing well. If you’re so inclined, join the JPL Staff Facebook group.

Take Care,

Eric

*https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america/iowa

*https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/04/07/825479416/new-yorks-coronavirus-deaths-may-level-off-soon-when-might-your-state-s-peak#allstates

*https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/iowa-coronavirus-cases.html

In normal times, Food for Fines would start tomorrow. Patrons can still donate items for fines during National Library week. The details posted to Facebook are included below. We’ll talk more about procedure for staff closer to re-opening:

Hey all,

Please ignore the previous zoom invitation for our JPL Buddies Zoom Happy hour and instead use this new meeting ID and password. This one is with a paid account so Zoom won’t kick us off at 40 minutes.

Looking forward to saying hi to anyone that wants to join today at 4pm.

Beth

Johnston Public Library is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: JPL Buddies Happy-Hour-Ish Zoom Meeting
Time: Apr 17, 2020 04:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Every week on Fri, until May 29, 2020, 7 occurrence(s)
Apr 17, 2020 04:00 PM
Apr 24, 2020 04:00 PM
May 1, 2020 04:00 PM
May 8, 2020 04:00 PM
May 15, 2020 04:00 PM
May 22, 2020 04:00 PM
May 29, 2020 04:00 PM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://zoom.us/meeting/tJApcO2opjgrGdHAVXpnfzDOrI9Vec3mx1LH/ics?icsToken=98tyKuCsqjwuGtyWsRqCRowIBo_CLPTxiHZcjad1vSndEy5VeCfZJMsbBLd8Q9XI

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94474083135?pwd=a1VRSlpvUVF3bUVPeDhBZ3pMSitjQT09

Meeting ID: 944 7408 3135
Password: JPLBuddies
One tap mobile
+16468769923,,94474083135#,,#,860992# US (New York)
+13126266799,,94474083135#,,#,860992# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 944 7408 3135
Password: 860992
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acXug3u4KJ

I know that many of you know patrons–from in the library or through home delivery, book clubs, the book bike, etc.–from Martina Place and Bishop Drumm. I’ve included some sad news from the Fire/EMS Chief below. I’ll update everyone as I hear more.

———————–

Mayor, Council and Department Heads.

I have an update on Martina Place and Bishop Drumm in Johnston.

There is an outbreak of COVID-19 in Martina Place that this also affected Bishop Drumm. This is now added to the list of care facilities that the Governor will be reporting on in her updates.

We are taking extra precautions and working with their staff. We will work with them more tomorrow to ensure the safety of their residents and our staff.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Jim Clark

Fire Chief

Johnston-Grimes Metropolitan Fire Department

6373 Merle Hay Rd.

Johnston, IA  50131

Office:  515-251-7690

jclark@cityofjohnston.com

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The 2020-21 symphony season has been announced, and please check the website for more information.  As you may know, this year would’ve been Beethoven’s 250th birthday, so we are performing a lot of his music.  If you haven’t listened to his five cello sonatas and sets of variations for cello and piano, please take a chance to do so!

Hey everybody! How are y’all doing? I am SO GLAD the sun is shining today.

I could use your help promoting Kanopy. Specifically, I would like your suggestions for content to watch. Think of this as Staff Picks for Kanopy. I have no specific deadline, but the sooner you get them to me, the sooner I can start encouraging our patrons to utilize this awesome resource.

Send your suggestions to me at rasmussen@johnstonlibrary.com and I’ll use your recommendations to promote Kanopy on social media.

Stay safe,

Peg

Sorry y’all–I think Zoom just cut us off because we reached our 40 minute time limit. Good to see all of your faces.

Stay well. Hang in there.
beth

I hope everyone is doing well. I thought I’d provide a brief update on library business.

Public services staff have been posting to social media and updating our online lists of materials to include more lists of electronic materials which we’ll promote on Facebook and elsewhere. Brittany and Megan have been posting story times, activities, and other programs on Facebook and YouTube. Jessica has started Instagram and Tik-Tok pages for teens where she’s been posting book recommendations, author events, and other fun stuff. Those responsible for physical collections are continuing to order materials with an emphasis on filling gaps in their collections. Dreama and her staff are continuing to report to the library to receive and unpack deliveries, process and catalog materials, and work on other Technical Services projects. Molly is processing all incoming digital card requests from home and also responding to email messages from patrons that come from our website. Several full-time staff are responding to the new live-chat feature on our website which is staffed 9-4 Monday through Friday. I am checking and responding to library voicemail several times each week.

In the past week, I’ve spent about $8,000 on extra copies of high-demand e-books and e-audiobooks to reduce wait times for JPL patrons. I’ll continue to monitor Overdrive hold lists while we’re closed and shift spending from physical to electronic materials to reduce wait-times. 

The restroom remodel is continuing. The tile should be done a week from Monday. The next step will be counter installation, then re-installation of sinks and toilets, and finally installation of the stall partitions. 

Finally, anyone is welcome to visit the library during the day weekdays to stock up on books, movies, or whatever.

Take Care,

Eric

I’ve completed drafts of everyone’s timesheets. Please follow the link below to verify and, if necessary, make changes to your sheet. Let me know if you have trouble.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1P0KsqfKm9m-Uq4DXN4EWu3NFcqfmGUt5?usp=sharing