A check was found in the YS Area of the library. I’ve contacted Jenny Lashier to let her know it is here. 

I will put it in the cabinet in an envelope labeled “Jenny Lashier”

We will be discussing emergency procedures at this month’s all-staff meeting on the 28th. In the meantime, here’s a repost of informaiton previously shared about the weather sirens.

Weather sirens will be activated under the following conditions:

1) Tornado Warning

a. Tornado or funnel cloud reported by a trained spotter (law enforcement, fire department official, emergency management agency)

2) Severe Wind Warning

a. Winds 70 mph or greater forecast or occurring

In either case, sirens will sound for approximately 3 minutes followed by a 2 to 3 minute silence and then sound again for another 3 minutes and repeat this cycle until the threat has passed. Staff should announce that patrons need to either leave the library or go to the restrooms for shelter. 

Please see the two documents linked below for more information.

https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/emergency-management/emergency-preparedness/be-informed/warning-sirens/

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1uEt_ZXp_FOihnHRWDsdDUSEine8ri6sXcn817fg2Zww/edit?usp=sharing

City hall and the city attorney have ok’d us asking for contact information for a particular address when we need to reach an adult there. My guess is that we’ll get the most use out of this in getting the names and phone numbers of parents/guardians of kids with an address on their account but no parent name and/or no (or a non-working) phone number. Requests for a water bill search can go to Molly or myself. 

An archive of yesterday’s workshop is now online:

• Archive access
• Workshop slides

The live webinar will be shown in the Archive room Wednesday, March 13th at 1:30pm. Please register via the link below.

https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/events/?event_page=event&did=31330

Strategies For Coping With Toxic People Workshop

Whether they are patrons, co-workers, friends, or family members, toxic people can seem to defy our logic and understanding. Some are oblivious of the negative impact that they have on those around them, and others seem to derive satisfaction from creating chaos and pushing other people buttons. In almost every situation, dealing with toxic people can be very stressful.

In this webinar, Andrew Sanderbeck offers you strategies for dealing with toxic people that will enable you to control what you can and eliminate what you can. Youl learn that you are in control of far more than you realize. Youl walk away not only with skills you can use in the library, but that you can use in life.

To be more consistent in enforcing library rules and expectations; we have made some small changes to how staff handle library suspensions.  We are hoping these changes will help tighten up some of the loopholes that we have found in our procedures and help patrons be more successful while using the library. We have also updated the verbiage in the conduct report to better reflect the progression of suspensions. 

Patrons will continue to be given 2 reminders (warnings) for the following behaviors:

• Creating unreasonable noise or engaging in boisterous activity
• Disruptive behavior including: running or throwing things
• Interfering with access to or use of the library
• Selling, soliciting, surveying, distributing written materials for political, charitable, or religious purposes

On the 3^rd reminder (warning), the patron will be asked to leave and a conduct report should be created. In the conduct report, make sure to explain the situation in detail and include any reminders that were given.

Patrons will be asking to leave for the day without reminders (warnings) for the following behaviors:

• Swearing or using foul language
• Pushing, hitting, or play fighting
• Making out or inappropriate displays of affection
• Bullying (verbal or physical)

Our behavior system is cumulative, meaning consequences in a given month (30-day time period) escalate. During a 30-day period, if a patron gets 2, one-day suspensions (being asked to leave for the remainder of the day), and is then asked to leave for the day for a third time, the suspension length is increased to a week.

Computer access will be suspended if a suspension is a week or longer. When the suspension is over, the patron will have a conversation with a department head and their computer access will be reinstated.  

There will be incidents that require an immediate week or longer suspension. These situations will be discussed with staff and department heads and then communicated to the patron when a suspension length has been determined.

Thank you all for your hard work in making the library an enjoyable place for ALL patrons 🙂 

The Whisper Room is now open. While the room is intended for adults only, we won’t be checking IDs. If a high school student is using the room as intended–i.e. quietly–leave them be. 

It’s time to do staff picks again! Please email me (nubel@johnstonlibrary.com) any fiction and/or nonfiction books you’ve read lately and enjoyed; I’ll add them to the list on the website and make a bookmark so patrons can enjoy these books too.

Thanks!

Kathleen

The fam and I are heading south to San Antonio for Spring Break – temps forecasted to be in the 70s, can’t wait.

I’ll be working on time sheets early this week so that Eric doesn’t have to do too many by himself.

Please have your time sheets in the green folder by noon on Thursday. I’ll work on them that afternoon.

Thanks!

Peg

Time sheets are due in the green folder between Eric and Molly’s offices by Friday the 15th at closing. 

I reset the system clocks this morning, but it may take up to 24 hours for them to reflect the correct time.

The FY20 budget was passed at last night’s council meeting. The Library’s FY20 budget is $1,394,559 (our current budget is $1,362,555). The majority of the increase from our current budget will go toward increases in wages and benefits. I’ve included a couple of charts from the finance director’s presentation at the meeting.

• The first chart shows how the FY20 budget is allocated–the Library is included with Parks & Rec. in the “Culture & Recreation” category. 
• The second chart shows where the city’s revenues come from.
• The third chart shows all of the entities levying taxes on Johnston residents and the share of each on residents’ total tax bill. Note that city taxes make up only 28% of the total property tax bill.

I can tell that everyone took those extra few minutes to look at When to Work before submitting time sheets. Only two minor errors – easily fixable. Thank you!

This is long, so I’ll link the PDF here. 

Due to multiple illnesses, I am cancelling the Adult Beginner ESL and ESL childcare scheduled for this evening. I will send texts to all regular participants. However, it’s likely I may miss someone; please apologize for the inconvenice if someone shows up.

Peg

We’ve had a few incidents recently of patrons using their phones to record interactions with staff. Patrons are within their rights to record public officials in public spaces  as long as they’re not interfering with us doing our work (see http://www.dmlp.org/legal-guide/recording-police-officers-and-public-officials). If a situation arises, however, where the act of being recorded or something else about the situation makes you uncomfortable, feel free to step away and let another staff member finish the interaction.

The mobile food pantry has a cart of food that anyone, regardless of age or whether they’re registered, can take. Several of our younger visitors have been going hog-wild on these snacks and making a mess in the computer lounge and commons. YS and PS staff along with Molly and I will ask these kdis to choose one item from their haul to eat in the commons–the rest needs to go behind a desk (in a bag with their name on it) until they’re ready to leave for the day. 

Please take the extra minutes to open your When to Work account and compare your actual hours worked to your scheduled hours. The majority of errors I catch are simply a mismatch between the two. If you find a discrepancy, speak to your supervisor.

Thanks,

Peg

Hi All,

I’m sorry I didn’t get this out sooner, but substitute clerk Michelle Walsh relocated from Johnston earlier this month. Her last day was January 31st. I have a card in the Breakroom so we can send her our thanks and well wishes!

Molly

We will be making an Art Cart available for use in the library by kids in 6th grade and up starting today. The Art Cart will have various art supplies available – including withdrawn magazines and books for the kids to cut images out of. (We just wanted staff to be aware of this in case they see kids cutting up magazines and worry that they might be from the library’s collection.)

Kids who want to use the materials in the art cart may come to the Youth Services Desk and sign it out. They can then use it in the library to create their art and return it to the Youth Services Desk when they’re done.

Polly called yesterday to give us an update.  Her doctor planned to visit her yesterday and most likely release her from the neck brace, but he cancelled due to weather where he is and where she is and rescheduled her appointment for MARCH 20th!!!  She was not thrilled with this delayed date.  

Polly stated he has been conservative all along while treating her, so in the long run this is probably for the best, but a long wait too.  She said she will continue with speech therapy and physical therapy.  She walks very well with the walker and a cane, no problems at all.  For the most part she is able to take care of herself, but she is not supposed to bend over, so she cannot tie her own shoes yet.  Polly said to thank others for the cards that have been sent; she appreciates them.

Cards and well wishes may be sent to Polly at the following address:

Polly Munck
Room 11
Portage County Health Care Center
825 Whiting Ave
Stevens Point, WI 54481