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A black  i phone with charging cable was found in the Archive Room.  It will be on the cart behind circ until close of 4/16/19. It will then be in the locked cabinet.

Our AmeriCorps staff member will be doing A LOT of outreach this summer. She (only women applied) will be handing out free donated books at most of the stops so I’ve created a Facebook post asking for donations. Until further notice, please put donations of books for kids and teens in the box marked for them next to the food donation bin.

Thanks.

The Stop Motion station doesn’t much get used for what it’s intended. I’m removing it from YS for now. Jessica is going to try it out with clay in teen scene.

A 21 and over symphony remix will take place on Friday April 26th at 5:30 PM at the Civic Center downtown.  Come and enjoy free Fongs pizza and beverages (which may require a purchase), and an open rehearsal.  No reservations required, and it’s free!  Program will feature Festive Overture by Shostakovich, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, The Promise of Living by Copland, and selections from Porgy and Bess by Gershwin.  Iowa native Simon Estes will be singing with the orchestra as well as the Luther College Choir. 

Some numbers I came across that I thought I’d share:

Polk County Libraries – Circulation Per Capita

Each use of our A-to-Z World Food database in the past year cost about $12. In other words, it’s not getting used. We will not be renewing it. Links to it have been removed from the website.

Each desk now has a collection of plastic cheat-sheets that say what staff at that desk should do in different kinds of emergencies.

• Circulation cheat-sheets are next to the book sale cash drawer.
• YS cheat-sheets are on a magnetic hook on the staff room window frame.
• PS cheat-sheets are under the counter opposite the PC.

Please let me know if you have suggestions for improving them.

This afternoon, patrons with over $5 in fines will receive a message like the one shown below. You may receive calls from patrons with questions about their fines and about food-for-fines.

Pay your overdue fees with non-perishable food items during National Library Week (April 6-14).

One food item pays $1 in fees.

Fees for damaged or lost items cannot be paid with food.

Please reply to this message with questions. 

The agenda with some notes from last week’s staff meeting is included below. Please take special note of the last item on emergency procedures.

Agenda – All Staff Meeting 3/28/19

• TS/IT

  • Magazine subscription changes

    • Ceased publication 2018/2019

      • American Girl (Jan./Feb. 2019)

      • Cooking Light (Dec. 2018)

      • Des Moines Northwest Suburbs Business Journal (Dec. 2018)

      • Family Fun (June/July 2018)

      • Glamour (January 2019)

      • Redbook (Nov./Dec. 2018)

      • Seventeen (Dec. 2018/Jan. 2019)

  • No longer providing free issues

    • Road Scholar

  • JPL Photo Archives – http://photos.johnstonlibary.com

  • “NEW” tape

• Youth Services

  • The Crayon Initiative

    • The Co-Lab this month is a collection spot for donating used crayons that will be recycled into new crayons and donated to children’s hospitals.

  • Sensory Spaces

    • The library is cooperating with other libraries around the metro to provide regular “sensory” hours (outside of regular hours) for those with special needs that prefer to visit when the library is less busy and more dimly lit. JPL’s first event will be held Sunday, July 21st, 12pm -1pm.

  • Summer Preview (dates & performers)

  • Free Comic Book Day (Saturday, May 4th)

    • Free comic books for all on 5/4

  • Scratch Day (Sunday, May 5th 2-4:30)

    • Check out details on JPL’s second annual scratch day event at https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/events/?event_page=event&did=31754

• Public Services

  • Shred Day

    • Shred Day will be held Saturday, April 27th, 9am-12pm. Details are at https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/events/?event_page=event&did=30747

  • Kites on the Green

    • Kites on the Green will be held Saturday, May 4th, 10am-5pm

  • Summer Preview

  • Whisper Room

• Eric

  • New Shelver – will review applicants next week

  • JCSD Partnership

    • Jessica, Megan, and I met with Ann Wiley from the Johnston Schools to discuss ways of cooperating. We will be meeting with the district’s librarians soon to provide a tour and an overview of JPL resources.

  • Emergency Procedures Review and Drill

    • We reviewed a presentation on emergency procedures. Please take a look at https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1uEt_ZXp_FOihnHRWDsdDUSEine8ri6sXcn817fg2Zww/edit?usp=sharing

A small group of vandals entered the library last night and knocked all of the books from the adult fiction and non-fiction stacks. Staff have been working today to get things back in order. All departments and shifts will be expected to help put things back. Bring your back braces.

Erika is leaving us and I’m sad. I need to drink a margharita–who’s with me? 

Let’s send Erika off in style at El Mariachi on Saturday, April 13 at 5:45 to 6:00pmish. 

Join us for mexican food with your fellow JPL’ers. Send Beth an email if you’re able to make it so we know how many seats we will need. 

Thanks! Beth

Erika announced today that she’ll be leaving us April 12th. Best wishes to her. 

All, 

Just a reminder that the Genesis Fundraiser is this Saturday 5/30 at Franklin Junior High from 5pm to 8pm. A lot of our kids that we see on a regular basis are Genesis kids and I know it would mean a lot to them to see library staff there supporting them. I went last year and had a great time–I ate delish food, saw some of our kids do African dancing, and made a lot of really cool connections. If you are at all interested, I would highly recommend going. I’ll be there. 😉 It is a fundraiser so it does cost to attend, but $$ goes to support Genesis Youth Foundation to provide programming to refugee kids. Program for the evening is below–ask me if you have any questions. More info and advanced tickets can be found here: https://www.genesisyouthfoundation.org/

Program for the evening is below if you’re curious: 

GENESIS YOUTH FOUNDATION 2ND ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

Mix and Mingle

Opening Address by Shekinah Young

Welcome from Sam and Tricia Gabriel

Spoken Word – I Am Africa Alexis Crute and Jazmyn Smith

VIP dance performance

Introduction by Tony Kioko

Keynote Address by Suku Radia

VIP dance performance

Kid speeches from Korto Klar and Ezra Mugabi

Transition to cafeteria

Dinner is served

GYF Board President, Nick Peterson

Stories of the immigrant experience from Mirza Kudic, Otis Sackie, and Sam and Tricia Gabriel

Thank you and wrap up

Come and hear Iowa native Simon Estes sing selections from Gershwin’s opera “Porgy and Bess,” on April 27th at 7:30, and April 28th at 2:30 at the Civic Center downtown.  We will also be doing Shostakovich’s Festive Overture as well as Chichester Psalms by Bernstein. 

The 2019-20 season was announced yesterday, and please check the Des Moines Symphony website for more information.  It will include Scheherezade, Dvorak’s eighth symphony, Brahms Second Symphony, Carmina Burana, and much more. 

Don’t forget to have your time sheets turned in by closing on Friday this week!

We’ve applied and been accepted for an AmeriCorp position to help with summer reading. The position requires 34 hours/week, goes for 9 weeks, and pays $2,500 plus a $1,250 education stipend. More details are linked below. Please refer questions or interested parties to me. Please share the posting with anyone you think might be interested. 

https://goo.gl/WJK9Hs

Today at 10 a.m. the Emergency Sirens are supposed to sound as part of a statewide tornado awareness event. We do not need to lead patrons to the bathrooms if the sirens go off at 10 a.m.

In all other events, please lead patrons to shelter if the sirens sound.

Thanks!

I’ve had a few questions about the Mom’s Morning Out Bins. They have been moved behind the Circ Desk. Too much stuff was being taken and we didn’t want to worry about it. I’ve had a few questions from patrons and staff about what donations are being solicited. Per the website:

Gift Cards

• Grocery gift cards ($25)
• Gas station gift cards ($10)

Blessings Boutique

• Gently used or new women’s clothing
• NEED: Gently used or new women’s clothing size 14+
• Gently used or new women’s accessories (shoes, jewelry, etc.)
• New cosmetics (lotion, body wash)

At the end of the day, they, the volunteers, can sort through the bins though so don’t feel like you need to turn away a donation. Here is the website:

https://ridgelife.org/single-moms-morning-out/