Category: Circulation News

Halloween Music is on Display. Please be careful at Check-in or as you are helping patrons. J Music CDs do not have a separate holiday section, so they do not belong in the holiday display.

After this season, we will be storing all holiday CDs beneath the JF in the preshelvign area. We will have one box that is a combo Halloween/Holiday.

I will be out of the country with limited access to email and phone from August 28 – Sept 6.

While I am gone specific areas of my responsibilities have been delegated to specific people. Since we are already a little short-staffed, it will work best if we can try to follow these lines of communication as closely as possible. This will help evenly distribute the work.

Dreama is in charge while I am out. She will be the person to contact with escalated general library issues – escalated behavior, building maintenance, human resources issues, library bills, etc.). Her cell phone is 515-422-6791.

For all scheduling needs that impact a desk (YS, PS, CIRC or Teen Sp), please contact Peg. For immediate issues(within the next 72 hours) please text her at 515-991-0713. If it is a minor thing more than 72 hours out, you can email her.

Mary Bush will be the main point of contact for escalated circulation questions – library charges (fines/replacement costs), accounts, and anything circulation-related. She has been promoted to Assistant Circulation Librarian. Her work email is bush@johnstonlibrary.com. If you need immediate assistance and Mary is not working, please remember that there are the Patron/Item needs assistance forms at the Circ Desk. Mary will follow up if you fill out one of those forms.

Beth and Peg are both available to back up any public desk with things outside desk duties. They are also happy to answer questions about desk duties while I am out.

Librarian in Charge – Remember that Assistant Librarians act as Librarians in Charge and are an immediate resource. There is an Assistant Librarian on staff at most times.

I just wanted to send out a message regarding desk duties and departments. We have been successful in moving toward our goal of integrating staff from different departments at all of the service desks. This will continue to happen as a part of our All Desk Service Model. The All Desk Trainings are intended to be the core duties at each desk regardless of the name of the desk or the department. The tasks you do off the desk or during slow periods at the desk will still be specific to your department.

We are working to create more uniform workstations at each desk to facilitate moving between the desks with ease. For instance, each desk has a blue folder with printed instructions on how to open and close each desk area, but please ask your coworkers when you have questions. I will work with you to facilitate shadowing at opening and closing so everyone gets a chance to see how other desks close.

Here are some examples of when it would be smart to try to use a new muscle at a desk and when it might be wise to just go ahead and ask for help:

A few weeks ago I was at the Youth Services Desk. I was chatting with a family that I have talked with before. They were browsing for books in a very leisurely manner. One of the girls was looking for a book series but she didn’t remember the title or much about the series. I knew that I probably wasn’t going to be the best person to find the series, but they seemed very willing to work with me as I looked. So I did some Google searching, I did some catalog searching, and I asked them the questions I knew to ask. We worked together for about 5 or 10 minutes, and then I said, “Let’s pull in the big wigs” and I grabbed Megan and Jessica. Of course, Megan and Jessica found the series in a few minutes. I didn’t feel bad at all because I learned a lot about children’s book series during the search and I got to practice a skill that I don’t use that often. The family didn’t seem upset at all. They even discovered a book series while we were searching. It was a win-win. If the family had been with a crying baby or seemed like they needed to leave ASAP, I probably would have only looked with them for a minute before grabbing help.

That same day, we had a woman come in to use the computers. She began her interactions at the PS Desk in a surly manner. The PS Desk was already fairly busy, and Cathy went ahead a grabbed me right away. In that situation, Cathy did the right thing. Cathy had other patrons that needed her attention and the woman made it clear that she was in a hurry and didn’t have the time or inclination to wait and I was available.

We can’t always give the rushed patron an extra hand, but if there is a backup and you get the sense that this will be escalated, don’t be afraid to ask for help.  That being said, don’t be afraid to try new things like readers advisory or helping with a library resource you rarely use. You can always ask for help after you give it a shot. If we never practice our All Desk Skills, they won’t stick. Most of the time patrons are very understanding if you are unsure and when you frame it correctly, it can be a learning experience for everyone.

Please note that Meeting Room Technology/Approval is not an All Desk Skill. So while you are going to approve study rooms and let people into study rooms as a desk task, letting groups into the Meeting Rooms and/or setting up Meeting Room Technology is a task that associates/guides and assistant librarians are trained to do. Clerks do not need to worry about learning that.

Also, know that All Desk Skills include only the basics of technology. You should be able to help a patron print a document, PDF, or email. You do not need to know how to reformat a resume, troubleshoot advanced technology issues, or assist patrons with in-depth Help Desk or Tech Lab tasks that are going to take more than 5 to 10 minutes. If they need a lot of assistance, you can schedule pending a help desk appointment.

Please continue to ask Molly and Peg if you have questions about the desk training, and we will do our best to schedule you with a staff member to review the skill you feel unsure about.

I have printed off a list of general All Desk Tasks and a list of things that are not All Desk Tasks.

Assistant Librarians and Library Associates/Guides will do some non-all desk tasks while on a desk – especially during the evenings and weekends.

This list is at each desk to look over. This is not going to cover every scenario, but I hope it helps clarify.

Library Director Search Update:

The library board has signed an agreement with the recruiting firm, Bradbury Miller. We will begin working with them at the end of November. This pushes our timeline for a new library director to April/May 2024.

Library Services Reminder:

JPL has two remote book returns at Beaver Creek Elementary and Horizon Elementary that are generally emptied on Monday and Friday mornings. We always backdate until the last empty. Thanks to our awesome volunteer, Layne, for emptying the book returns for the library!

Holiday Gathering Committee:

We are looking for social librarians to help plan this year’s Holiday Gathering. If you are interested or have ideas for a gathering in November or December to celebrate with your co-workers, please shoot me an email. I would like to get a group meeting in October to begin our planning.

Library Numbers:

In July we circulated over 1,043 items each day.

FY 23 (July 22 – June 23) JPL spent $84,416.87 on print and e-books for our collection.

Hello – In the past we have had some circ tasks on When to Work. We have moved to a sheet posted on the Home Delivery Cabinet. Each week Mary or Molly will fill in the sheet. Please check it daily and mark your initials after you have completed your task.

If you notice that a co-worker’s name is listed but know that they are out that day, feel free to do the task and initial your name.

If you are not sure how to do a task, instructions are in the folder posted next to the sheet (or they will be tomorrow)

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/YG40jFL7aPsIKQjgF3OXvDZqCeU2oy9IOESbA6f1pIvSpbYg1nwZaCxB_TCBS-48.Gw9fmOaSdHl6z7tG

I’m going to add time for everyone today. If you couldn’t make it, please watch the staff meeting at home or before or after one of your shifts sometime this week or next.

Thank you!

Hello Circulation Department. It feels like a long time since we have chatted. I am so, so grateful for all the grace you have allowed me this summer and I try to wear more hats than usual.

I realize this is very, very short notice, but I will be on Zoom this Sunday, July 16 at 11:30 a.m. for an impromptu Circ Staff Meeting. I will completely understand if I am the only person in attendance because this is ridiculously short notice. I will record the meeting and post it so it can be watched at your convenience if you cannot come on Sunday.

Thank you all for all your hard work this summer.

Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84788750038

It is that time of year again when I put out a reminder to be very mindful at check-in. As you may have experienced yourself, there has been an increase in patrons reporting items not getting scanned at check-in.

Just a reminder to double-check your work at the Check-in desk. Keep an eye out for books that go on display – and please, please make sure they get checked in.

Thanks for your help.

Molly

Thank you all for your understanding as we worked through some changes with how we use When to Work.

I wanted to reach out and give you a few updates:

• This summer we will plan to publish the schedule 2 weeks at a time for Circ, YS, and PS. This Friday we will put out the next two weeks June 25 – July 1 and July 2 – July 8. Then each Friday this summer we will release one more week.
• This fall we hope to get back to scheduling out a month at a time and putting the schedule out on the 21st of the month.
• If you don’t know which weekends you work, your supervisor can let you know which weekends you work more than two weeks out.
• As always – ask if something on When to Work doesn’t seem right to you.

Circ staff- so it will take a little work on our part to get slack added to your phones. I am happy to add it, but you all use one login, so I will have to get it added with you because it will require a passcode which will be sent to notices@johnstonlibrary.org.

Anyway- a text to me 515-210-4441 works just as well and I could post to publicservices that you will be late for an opening shift.

We have moved JMusic CD Preshelving to the bottom shelf under the J Picture Preshelving. Please ask if you have any trouble finding it.

I have put together a holds review with some basic questions I get asked about holds. Ok. This may not be the most fascinating thing you have ever watched. I do think that the info is important though, so with that, here is the link and passcode:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/L8DXKKJXpRn-EUL9zjQnBv5HQUCb2TqsONCNjLswwgbOGgC08QRxYjXkkJyG7PaA.S3YDEUeqqCzNAdV6?startTime=1683301349000
Passcode: AL0E$sZp

*I will schedule you time to watch this off-desk or backup during your regular shifts.

At checkout:

• The Tonieboxes will be next to the Launchpads behind the Circ Desk.
• The Tonie Kits will be above the Tonieboxes on the ledge in containers.
• The Wi-Fi Hotspots have also been moved up to the top of the ledge in a container.
• Tags for Tonieboxes and Tonie Kits will be kept on the shelf near the Tonieboxes and Launchpads.

At Checkin:

• All the pieces are listed on the tag so make sure all the pieces are returned. The pieces are all marked with JPL and a partial barcode, so please verify that the correct pieces are in the correct kit or box.

Eric has arranged a training opportunity for staff on May 19th from 9 am – 12 pm.  My understanding is it will be a general safety training by the Johnston Police Department – but more details to come.

Since this is outside our regular meeting times, please email me and let me know if you will be able to attend the paid training and I will add you to When to Work. If you are already scheduled to work during that time, you do not need to let me know you will be here 🙂

Thanks!

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/vKJEuiMsKMNzN0otDbDVlVs022CcwRA383tBbH2MnKyQMifPALqdd4n8UlT6hb0q.Yn68PwfBpNtjcxAo

Above is the link to the Circ Staff Meeting from yesterday. I have you all down for 1.25 hours. Please watch from home if you did not make it to the meeting yesterday.

Let me know if you have questions.

Molly

We are going to be holding a virtual Circ Staff Meeting on Sunday, April 23rd at 11 am. Please join live via Zoom if you can. If you cannot make it at 11 am that day, I will still put you on When to Work for 1 hour. Please watch the video on your own sometime that week to make up the hour.

Let me know if you have any questions or if there are agenda items you would like to have added to the meeting.

Topic: Circ Staff Meeting
Time: Apr 23, 2023 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89606570397

The Ultimate Reading Challenge will be giving fine coupons as a prize. In past years, we handed out fine coupons for Summer Reading Program prizes. There are coupons out there for free book sale books.

If you are presented with a fine coupon:

• Fine coupons are only good for fines or “overdue item” fees. They cannot be used for replacement, damage, or processing fees.
• Coupon transactions are NOT put in the cash register. You will mark the amount “paid” with coupons as “coupons” from the payment drop-down menu. Coupon transactions will NOT go in the cash register. So for instance:
  • Molly has $.90 in fines. She presents a $1 fine coupon. You would mark the fine as paid with a coupon on Polaris. There would be nothing else to do. We do not offer “change” for coupons. Do NOT enter it in the cash register.
  • Molly has $1.50 in fines. She presents a $1 fine coupon and $0.50 cash. You would mark $1 in fines paid as a coupon in Polaris. You would mark the remaining $0.50 paid as cash in Polaris. You would ONLY enter $0.50 into the cash register.
• You can recycle the coupon after you have cleared the fee. We do not need to save them.

If you are presented with a book sale coupon:

• Take the coupon(s) in exchange for the item(s)from the book sale room.
• There is nothing to enter in the iPad cash register. You can recylce the book sale coupon. We do not need to keep the coupons.

The cash register/foundation register is only for real money (cash, credit cards, checks) – not coupons. The bank doesn’t want our fine coupons 🙂 

Please let me know if you have questions.

Hello,

This week and next, I will be assigning everyone time to watch part II of meeting and study room reservations.

Please print a copy of the handout to follow along with the meeting.

Here is the link to the meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/U979-5292eKPE-2oGGClcQsqU_cqEz7cT6Dc46_ksW-aVC6SgJ6vda_AVcRIUg0._v0kuv-p6o7ETEA1
Passcode: 1R!oRw1J

Please ask if you have questions.

Paypal is discontinuing the app we use to accept book sale payments so we’re switched to their new app, Zettle. It’s pretty intuitive but check out the video below for a tutorial on completing transactions. If it logs out, the username is “notices@johnstonlibrary.com” and the password is “123Johnston”.

https://www.zettle.com/gb/help/articles/1084729-taking-card-and-contactless-payments

* Edit *Just a reminder that the Secretary of State provides a program called Safe at Home which allows participants to use a generic address rather than their actual residential address. This is offered to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, and assault.

If someone identifies themselves as a participant in the program, we will use the address they provide us.

We do not need to collect their actual address or have them show proof of address. Also – a reminder that phone numbers and emails are optional and they are not required for a full-access library card.

More information about the Safe at Home program can be found here:

https://safeathome.iowa.gov/