Category: Uncategorized

The Des Moines Public Library director appeared on WHO-TV yesterday to explain Macmillan’s embargo on e-book and e-audiobook sales to libraries for the first 8 weeks after their release and DMPL’s boycott of the publisher’s e-titles.

https://whotv.com/2019/11/06/des-moines-public-library-boycotts-major-publisher-over-e-book-policy/

This month’s co[lab] is intentionally simple because it won’t be up long (the book tree will be replacing it on 11/22!). We’re inviting patrons to write what they’re thankful for on a post-it note and put it on the Archive window. 

Public Services would like to ask that we work collectively to ensure that any inappropriate comments are removed from the window.

Thanks,

Peg

Today I learned about a new DART service called “Flex Connect” that allows riders within a particular “zone” to take an Uber at no charge to or from one of three DART bus stops in that zone. The zone (pictured below) does not include Johnston but could be used by Johnston residents if they happen to be within the zone and need to get to or from a bus stop to another place within the zone. It’s all a little confusing but I’m sure a motivated rider (with a smart phone) could figure it out. More details are linked below. 

https://www.ridedart.com/flex-connect-demand-service

Shout out to everyone! You’ve all been doing a fantastic job of turning your time sheets in on time and making sure they’re correct before you do. For the last couple time periods, 100% of time sheets have been turned in on time. And errors have been minimal. Thank you!!

Kanopy, our video streaming service, now includes Sesame Street amongst the hundreds of other great offerings for kids including shows from Weston Woods/Scholastic and PBS. Remember that cardholders need to live in Johnston to use Kanopy.

Sue Barlow and Lydia Ponder now have johnstonlibrary.com e-mail addresses:

barlow@johnstonlibrary.com

ponder@johnstonlibrary.com

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

Tis the season for giving. As a benefit of our partnership with Project Share (Star Cards) and the desire for more jeans days, the library will be participating in Casual for a Cause. Beginning November 1, staff can purchase stickers or buttons to be used for Jean Days throughout the month of December. There are 16 non-casual days in December (think Monday-Thursday).

Stickers are $1 – You can buy as many as you would like, but each sticker can only be used once

Buttons are $15 – Buttons can be used throughout the whole month of December

You may purchase stickers/buttons from me (Megan S.) beginning Monday, November 4. Cash only, please!

The last day to purchase buttons/stickers is November 30. Stickers/buttons are redeemable beginning December 1. 

You must be wearing the sticker or button any time you are wearing jeans on a non-casual day.

All money raised from Casual for a Cause will be used to purchase items for individuals participating in Project Share.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Just a heads up:

We got back 51 library card applications from the 8th grade visits that Megan, Jessica and Eric did a few weeks ago  We are mailing home the library cards and including notes on the accounts if we need additional information or clarification from the applications. 

We are working away on the cards and hope to get the accounts created and cards mailed by Friday or Saturday of this week. I’ll put the applications that have not been enetered at the Circ Desk in case someone comes in before their account has been created, so you can create the card for them.

I am prepping our intranet to move it to the newest version of Drupal. This has required disabling then re-enabling some features. I think everything is back to normal now but let me know if you experience weirdness.

I just received notice (I was not included in the original notice) that city staff are invited to attend training from FD and PD staff from 9-12 tomorrow morning. The training will cover two topics: “Stop the Bleed” and “Active Threat Response”. 

Doors have been installed on the coat closets in the large meeting room. Tomorrow, the current locks will be swapped with locks that accept the library’s master key. If you don’t have one, master keys are kept in the righthand top drawer at the reference desk and the righthand top drawer in my desk. 

Phyllis Clay left her wallet by the printer. I called and left a message for her. The wallet is locked up with the money.

The Domestic Violence shelter dropped off a basket for staff to donate items. They’re in need of the following:

-Diapers (size 2-6), pull ups, baby wipes, bottles, baby shampoo and lotion
-larger size diapers are most often needed
-Bath towels and wash cloths (new or gently used)
-Deodorant, soap, women’s razors
-Feminine hygiene products
-Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body wash
-Brushes, combs, and hair accessories
-New underwear and socks for all ages and genders
-Blankets and comforters-Twin size(new or gently used)
-Pillows (new or gently used)
-Twin size sheets (new or gently used)
-Phone, gas and grocery gift cards, $10 gift cards to Walmart
-Alarm clocks, desk lamps (new or gently used)
-Hair dryers and curling irons (new or gently used)
-Purses, make up bags, and luggage (new or gently used)
-Journals and pocket planners
-Underwear and personal care items for male teen adults
-Ethnic hair products

Lydia Ponder has joined the library as a substitute clerk. She will be training at the Circ, PS and YS desks over the next month. Please take a moment to welcome her to JPL when you get the opportunity.

Havana Nights pops concert with the Des Moines Symphony this Saturday the 26th at 7:30 at the Civic Center. 

Masterworks three on November 9th at 7:30, and November 10th at 2:30 at the Civic Center.  Dvorak 8 and Grieg Piano Concerto plus two contemporary works!

The 2019 Holidays & Closings calendar was approved at last week’s board meeting. Find the link below and under Staff Resources to the left.

http://catalog.johnstonlibrary.com/share/Holidays%20Calendar%202020.pdf

We received our first question about voting for the combined City/School Vote that will take place on November 5. JPL is a voting location on November 5th but we are not a location for in-person absentee voting. 

If people are interested in In-Person Absenstee voting (otherwise known as early voting), they can do that at the Polk County Election office, located at – 120 2nd Ave., Suite A Des Moines, IA 50309. The Polk County Election office is open for in-person absentee voting beginning October 7 through November 4, (Mon-Fri 8am – 5pm). 

October 25 is the voter preregistration deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail.  Voters may use Election Day registration procedures to register to vote after the preregistration deadline. If people want to request an absentee ballot by mail, the form is here: https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/media/330976/absenteeballotapp_campaign.pdf
The form should be mailed to the Polk County Auditor’s Office at 120 2nd Ave., Suite A Des Moines, IA 50309

Sample ballots for the November 5 election are available at the Polk County Auditor’s Office: https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/auditor/election/city-school-combined-11-5-19/

If a person wants to know if they are registered to vote or wants to register to vote online, that can be done at the Secretary of State’s website: https://sos.iowa.gov/

Polling Place/Precinct info can be located at the Secretary of State’s website: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx

For those who don’t have a JPL email address or who do have one but don’t have outlook open while working at a public desk, there’s a new “Email a Patron” form in the lower right corner of the intranet. (This takes the place of the desk stats form which is going back to paper.)

Here are some examples of what you could use it for:

• Sending a patron a link to the Adventure Pass webpage or a link to a search of our website for a particular author
• Sending a patron information copied from the IRS website or the city’s website

The message will be delivered from the notices@johnstonlibrary.com email account which Molly and I monitor. 

Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.