Category: Uncategorized

UPDATES TO YESTERDAY’S UPDATES (there is A LOT of information here, please read throughly):

1. Polaris OPAC – The online catalog should be up and running again today. If you notice any missing links or issues, please send me an email or slack message.
2. Library Specialist Position –This will be posted today (8/20/24), please share the information with anyone that you may think is interested. I am still targeting a mid-October start date for this position.
3. Intranet – There are component to the Intranet that seems to not always function correctly.  We are looking at potential options to securing this resource. I will communicate more, once I know it. As you identify issues, concerns, or even just comments about what you like/don’t like, use/don’t use on the Intranet – feel free to share them with me.  I cannot promise that all aspects will be achieved with whatever way we go – but I am open to hearing ideas.

Thank you!

-HS

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Hi All,

There are a lot of important updates below, so please take time to read them and reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns.

1. Polaris OPAC – For those that were at the library on Monday August 19th, you will know that we had issues with our PAC not working. A solution is still in the works,  but in the meantime please apologize to patrons and offer assistance from our end. If you do not know how to use the staff-side of Polaris to search for materials, please let Holly or Lori F. know and we will assist you.  I do not have a current timeline as to when it will be fixed.
2. Out of Office – Dreama will be out of the office for the next few weeks, as previously mentioned she broke her humerus bone last Friday and needs time to heal. Lori French and I will be primary contacts for TS/IT.
3. Organizational Structure – A new organizational structure was approved by the library board last Thursday, August 15th. The main changes that occurred is that we moved to a 3-manager model. Dreama will continue be manage the Tech Services / IT departments, which includes check-in tasks.  Megan will continue to manage the Youth Services department, but is also adding the management of  customer services responsibilities (i.e. public facing desks).  This includes being a primary contact for desk schedules. Megan will be moving into Molly’s old office to help her be more accessible to those at a service desk. Beth will manage Adult (aka Public) Services, which means adult programs, tech lab, help desk appointments, etc. and will continue to manage library communications (website, newsletters, social media, etc.).  The assistant director position has been moved to a Library Specialist.  This is a new title/name and combined job description for several positions including Jessica, Sheila, and Lori F., in their various responsibilities. This will continue to be a slow process as we clarify roles and responsibilities throughout the library, and majority of you will not see any immediate changes at this time.
   
4.   Library Specialist (Adult Services) –  Sometime this week (hopefully) we will be posting the newly created library specialist for adult services.  Applications will be accepted through September 8th. I am hopeful that we will have someone in place by mid-October.
5. Scheduling / W2W – Due to a few scheduling gaps, Megan may have reassigned desk assignments over the next few weeks. Please check W2W regularly for updates. Please note: In/Out schedules remain unchanged, unless someone has spoken with Megan or Holly about needing a change.
6. Kate T.’s Last Day / Library Clerk Opening – Kate’s last day with JPL will be Wednesday September 4th. We are excited about her new adventure and will miss her as part of our team. We will be posting for this position, plus some additional open hours with Peg’s retirement, in the coming week.

Again, thank you for your continued patience as we work through reorganizational changes. We see you. We hear you.  As details are confirmed, we will continue to communicate them to you.  Do not hesitate to reach to reach out to Beth, Megan, Dreama or Holly with any and all questions or concerns you have.

You are all important to the library and we appreciate the stability you have provided to our customers/patrons during this transition time. 

–Holly

8/19/2024

Hi All,

Please keep Dreama in your thoughts and well-wishes; she fell and broke her humerus bone, (not wrist, which is what I originally stated). She will be out of the office for a bit and Lori French will be the primary contact for Tech Services/IT.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Lori or myself. Thank you for your patience!

-Holly

Just a friendly reminder that ILLs have a specific due date as shown on the ILL loan band. To help minimize patron confusion on “When is this really due?”, instead of just scanning the barcode as usual, please modify the due date on the patron’s account. Thank you so much for your help with this!

Hey everyone! I lost an earring yesterday, if you happen to see it could you please put it in my mailbox?
Thank you!
Erin

The green piano connected to the video synth is not working. I’ve put an out of order sign on it. I’ll keep you posted.

We have new AV controls in the large meeting room. I’ve provided a summary below but I strongly encourage you to spend twenty minutes practicing routing video and audio on your own with a laptop and the microphones—ask YS or someone at Circ. to cover PS if you need to or come in a few minutes before your shift.

• All AV equipment in the east and west rooms (minus the screens) can be controlled from the touch panels on the north wall. This includes selecting which mics are active, controlling the volume, and powering on and off the projectors.
• Input (whether via HDMI or VGA) into any of the wall plates can be routed to any or all of the projectors. This is new. On the west panel, for example, selecting the north panel as the source will route the input to any of the west projectors that are powered on.
• Microphones are still kept in the east closet but we’ll likely be splitting them and the AV cables between the east and west coat closets.
• The three hard-wired microphone jacks on the north and west walls are now live. If it were me using it, I’d prefer a wired handheld mic over the wireless for sound quality and volume.
• The panel in the east room only controls AV in the east.
• The panel in the west room is the “master”. It controls all AV in the west and, if the rooms are “combined” (using the “combine rooms” button on the west panel), it can also control the AV in the east. Combining rooms is the only way to get speakers in both rooms to project the same sound and to have the projectors in both rooms show the same thing.
• the west projector (the one that projects to the west wall) is stubborn about turning on. Most times, it’s taken me a couple of cycles of turning it on and off to get it to work. I will contact the company about it.
• The headphone ports on the wall plates only work when there’s a computer connected to the plate via vga. It’s purpose is to allow vga PCs to project their audio. VGA PCs can be connected to the headphone jack (also called a 3.5mm jack) by connecting it’s headphone port to the wall plate via the male-to-male (that’s what it’s called) headphone cable. (We have a cable/adaptor ordered that will allow us to connect audio ports—in phones, computers, etc.—to the in-wall mic jacks to route audio to the overhead speakers via those devices without using the projectors.)

Welcome!

Test post

At this morning’s staff meeting, I introduced a list of skills that I think all JPL staff who work at a public desk should have. The list includes things like making and renewing library cards, running the cash register, and printing, faxing, and scanning (see the complete list via the link below). Myself and other department heads are currently gathering relevant documentation. We’ll then work with PS, YS, and circulation staff to schedule the trainings. The process will take some time. The goal is to help staff provide better service by increasing their knowledge of other departments’ more routine tasks. Once trained, the expectation is that staff, if available, can step-in to help another department when they need it. If there’s a line at the circulation desk, for example, PS staff can help checkout and will be able to handle the issues that commonly popup during that process–expired accounts, overdue fees, etc. If PS staff are helping a patron on a computer, circulation staff will be trained to help a patron release a print job. This does not mean that staff will be abandoning their desks for long periods of time to work at another desk. It does mean that if another department calls for help (with something you’ve been trained to do) and you’re not busy assisting other patrons then you’ll be expected to pitch in and then go back to your regular work.

Please let me know if you have any questions or if you think of things that should be added to the list.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1g7ucseDxBaHdhJsVwCKRnjhL9LLJPecDyXSE_AHjptQ/edit?usp=sharing

You each should receive an email about your account for the new intranet. You don’t need to do anything at this point. I’ll keep everyone posted on the progress.

The Parks Department plans to install the ice rink near the library the first week of December. The sign shown below will be installed near the rink. 

Hello — I’m wondering if anyone might have an extra copy of the Des Moines Register from Sunday November 17th. Probably kind of a long shot, but I think Aidan was in the sports section and we missed it! The library’s copy already had the article torn out of it – I didn’t do it. 🙂

Thanks,

Denise

I would like to let you know that I am playing in the Amy Grant concert with the symphony on Sunday December 8th at 7 PM at Wells Fargo Arena.  I don’t know if tickets are still available, but this is something the symphony doesn’t do every year.

New Year’s Eve pops on December 31st at 8 PM at the Civic Center. 

Beth posted that Dania Abdulrahman was missing – according to KCCI, she has been found safe.

Hey All, 

Our former regular patron, Dania Abdulrahman is currently a missing person. She doesn’t live in Johnston anymore–she and her family have moved to West Des Moines, but should we see her in the library, please contact the West Des Moines Police Department. 

Info here: https://www.kcci.com/article/west-des-moines-police-search-for-missing-13-year-old/29814762

Please let me know–by text at 515-250-5381 if possible–if you see Greg Judas, foundation board member, in the library. 

**Update*** Printer has been repaired as of 11/15/2019

Tray 4 on the staff printer holds 11″x17″ paper. There is an error message that I can’t resolve. I’ve submitted a service call to Premier.

In the meantime, Trays 1-3 and 5 are still functioning for envelopes, 8″x11,” 8″x14,” and cardstock (respectively).

Good morning!

Please join us for the Holiday Potluck on Wednesday, December 18^th. The potluck will be at City Hall from 11:30 – 1:00.

Thank you!

Kaitlyn Royer

Administrative Assistant

City of Johnston