Category: Uncategorized

The procedure for handling unattended children at close has been updated and can be found on the closing checklist near the staff entrance. The new procedure is consistent with our unattended child procedure in not requiring a response from staff unless the child is under the age of 9 (or if the child is younger than 18 and their safety is in question). The new procedure does not require that staff wait 15 minutes after close before contacting the police. Both the new and old procedures are included below.

NEW

If a child under the age of 9 is not accompanied by a responsible caregiver 12 years of age or older or if the safety of an unattended minor is in doubt when the Library is closing, staff will contact police to assume responsibility for the child. A report of the incident will be made and a copy of the Unattended Child Policy will be sent home with the child or mailed to the address on record.        

OLD 

If a child under the age of 18 is left at the library without transportation after close, Youth Services or Public Services staff will attempt to call a parent, guardian, or designated caregiver. If no one can be reached on the first attempt or if the child’s caregiver has not arrived within 15 minutes after close Youth Services or Public Services staff will contact police to assume responsibility for the child. Two staff members–one from Youth Services, one from Public Services–will remain with the child inside the library until the police arrive. A report of the incident and a copy of the Unattended Child Policy will be sent home with the child or mailed to the address on record.      

After the recent evacuation due to a smoke alarm, several staff have asked for information about how to respond in the case of an emergency. The Library’s emegergency manual is linked below as well as under the “Staff Resources” menu on the intranet. I’ve included the fire evacuation procedure below. We will review several of the procedures at the all-staff meeting in March. 

http://catalog.johnstonlibrary.com/share/JPL Emergency Manual.pdf

Upon the discovery of fire, proceed according to the following plan:

• If the alarm is not already activated, sound the alarm at the nearest pull switch.
• Direct someone to immediately call 911 from in-house if possible or from cell phone outside.
• If fire is in its earliest stages, such as in a trash can or a small pile of paper, use the nearest extinguisher while other staff continue evacuation.
• Before leaving the building, close the door to the burning area to confine the fire and minimize the spread of smoke.
• Make sure all patrons have left the building.
• Evacuate the building to an area of 500 feet.
• Gather staff and patrons by the JOHNSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY STONE MONUMENT SIGN – EAST OF THE LIBRARY IN JOHNSTON COMMONS.
• Do a head count.
• Report the incident to the director and assistant director within 24 hours.

Just a reminder, our Staff Holiday Party is THIS Saturday at 6:30 PM at Smash Park in West Des Moines. I plan to get there right after work and will grab us table. My cell phone # is 651-999-9013 in case you don’t see us there, feel free to call or text me to find us 🙂 Hope to see you all there!

Molly mentioned that a backup phone line connected to the building’s fire alarm malfunctioned today and caused an beeping on the fire alarm panel by the front doors. Molly was able to turn off the beeping by pressing the System Trouble button (middle red button). Hopefully the malfunction has been repaired and the beeping won’t go off, but just in case it does, look at the panel and press this button.

Note: This was not the actual fire alarm going off.

Peg

The Des Moines Symphony will be hosting a re-mix event on Friday, February 15th at 5:30 PM at the Civic Center.  This is for people 21 and older only, and they can come for free and enjoy some Fong’s pizza and beverages.  An open rehearsal will take place at 7 PM, and no reservations are required.  We are playing Bernstein’s Divertimento for Orchestra, Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto, and Schumann’s Second Symphony.  Hope you can make it!

Hi all!

I am looking for wizardy-type items to help decorate our Harry Potter Escape Room! Now, you might not think you have anything that fits this description, but I bet you do! It could be a large vase, a chest, some weird bottles, candlesticks, or maybe just a piece of cloth or a blanket that I could use to cover a table — think castle decor! 🙂

If you have something that you think I could use, please bring it to the library by Friday, Feb. 8th and mark it with your name.

Thanks very much!

Jessica

I am pleased to inform you that the Des Moines Symphony will be presenting Star Wars: A New Hope, in June this year.  Here is a link with information, and it will take place on June 7-8 at the Civic Center.  Could be a one-time event!  https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/Star-Wars-A-New-Hope/

This pay period does include a holiday (Monday, January 21) and an early closing (Tuesday, January 22). Be sure to mark your time sheet accordingly.

Thank you!

Peg

We will be open tomorrow and Thursday! 

Please make sure the following doors are left open at close tonight and tomorrow night (see purple indicators on map):

• Study Rooms 3 & 4
• East Electrical Room
• Story Time Room
• Archive Room
• Book Drop Room

Feel free to wear jeans Tuesday – Thursday this week.

For those that are interested, Genesis Youth Foundation is hosting their second annual fundraiser on March 30. Genesis is an organization that strives to level the playing field for immigrant and refugee children and some of our neighbors right across the street are part of this group. This is a great opportunity to eat delicious authentic African food, watch traditional and contemporary African dance, hear their keynote speaker, Suku Radia, who grew up in Uganda, speak about experiences of immigrant and refugees from Africa, and support a great organization at the same time. I went last year and felt like I really learned alot about a segment of our community we serve here at the library. Let me know if you have any interest in this event or have additional questions. –Beth

Winter Weather Advisory in effect through noon. Wind Chill Advisory from 6pmMonday-6pm Tuesday. Wind Chill Warning from 6pm Tuesday-9am Thursday**Dangerous, life-threatening cold air will dominate Iowa, from late this evening throughThursday AM. Wind chill values on Wednesday morning will range around -50. Frostbite ispossible within 10 minutes. Hypothermia possible. Vehicles, including school buses, may notstart. Prolonged cold will stress heating systems.

Ann is having surgery tomorrow and expects to be at Mercy Medical Center (Downtown) for a couple of weeks.  While she doesn’t want visitors right now, you can send her a free eCard. Mercy volunteers will print it out and deliver it to her.

A smoke detector was triggered Thursday night around 6:45. Staff and patrons were evacuated. The fire department are fairly certain the alarm was triggered by a ballast in a hanging light in the area east of the Archive Room. The Fire Department left about 7:45 and the library remained closed. Doug is looking at the light this morning.

I could use parmesan cheese shakers, or the large size spice shakers, or really any kind of container that has the split top like those, for Press Play. I don’t need them for a month of so, but will gladly take any you have between now and then. Thanks! Lynne

A 2016 Pew report found that, nationwide, 48% of Americans 16 or older had visited their public library in the past year.  The recent community survey commissioned by the city found that 68% of Johnston adults had visited JPL in the past year and that amongst those who had, 95% were satisfied or very satisfied with their experience. I’ve included a few charts from the report below. The results reflect staff who work hard to provide excellent programs and services that reflect the community’s needs.

Full Report >> https://drive.google.com/open?id=1H-K4cHRGa9iAY4D-QDG3Nejd18NrzW9v

In November, the JPL Foundation approved funding for a quiet room for adults which would be enclosed with glass walls in the old public printer/copier area near the janitor closet. The “Whisper Room” will have two public computers, will be limited to adults only, and will be for silent studying, reading, or working. I shared a view of the outside of the room at the all-staff meeting in November that can be viewed here. A view of the of the inside of the room is included below. Everything should be completed by April.

The State Library’s contract for job- and school-readiness software was recently up for renewal/RFP. Up to this point, Learning Express, a website with dozens of school- and job-related practice tests and skill-building resources, has been the state-provided resource on these topics. Sometime in the next couple of weeks, libraries in Iowa will switch to Brainfuse. From what I understand, we will have access to four Brainfuse resources: 

1. JobNow which includes resume template and live resume help; job searching resources and live help; and help choosing and developing skills in a career. 
2. LearnNow which is very similar to Learning Express, with test-prep for school and job-related exams.
3. Adult Learning Center includes tutorials on basic math, basic reading, and basic writing, using Microsoft Office products, GED and citizenship practice tests, and live tutoring on basic skills
4. VetNow veterans and their families with locating eligible benefits, live online academic tutoring, employment transition assistance, and finding community resources.

These seem to offer information and assistance on a much broader range of topics than Learning Express and the live-help aspect sounds like it has the potential to be very helpful. 

Here are links and login information for trials of two of the resources:

JOBNOW LINK: http://iowajobnowtrial.jobnow3.jobnow.brainfuse.com

Username: Iowajobnowtrial
Password: trial

VETNOW LINK: http://iowavetnowtrial.vetnowtrialc.ny.brainfuse.com
Username: Iowavetnowtrial
Password: trial