Category: Uncategorized

The dozens of themed online title lists created by library staff are now accessible via the website. Find them under the Browse menu or take a look via the link below. The lists are browsable by format and genre.

https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/pac/?pac_page=lists

Update: The public Internet is back.

CenturyLink is experiencing outages in our area which is affecting the public Internet.  They do not have an estimated time for repair.

Good Morning,

The City of Johnston provides a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to all employees and their dependents.  Initial counseling and referral services are confidential and are provided at no cost.  Counselors are available 24/7/365 by calling 1-800-327-4692.  The Employee and Family Resource website offers information as well as links to helpful resources.

Please find a summary of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits offered to you and your family through Employee Family Resources here. 

Also, as a reminder, please remember that information on all benefits available to you is available at www.myjohnstonbenefits.com  The Class Code login is CityofJohnston (case specific and all one word).

As always, please let me know if you have questions or concerns.

Thanks,

Cyndee

The West Des Moines Library will be having their computers replaced on September 5 and 6.  Therefore, don’t be alarmed if a lot of people are wanting to use our computers or wi-fi during that time.

Circ will be moving the holds to shelving where the former charging station/hightop seating was located near the entrance. We hope to have to have the procedures in place and shelving installed within the month.

More info and procedures to come….

The software that runs our website–PHP–got upgraded today. It was long (about 20 versions) overdue and required fairly significant changes to parts of the website to make it compatible. Please let me know if you come across any weirdness or obvious bugs.

If you do not have a City of Johnston  or Johnston Public Library email address, use your first initial and last name followed by “@cityofjohnston.com” (e.g. “lrath@cityofjohnston.com”) to access the trainings.

Hello,

As part of your employment with the City of Johnston, you are required to take several key training courses.  We have implemented a web based training solution to allow more convenient participation by employees.

Access to the training website is available here.  Your department director or supervisor has been notified of the required training and will allow you to view the training during your scheduled work hours.  Although there is an audio component to the training, you are not required to listen to the training; you can read the training material if that is your preference.

There are 7 training topics to be covered in this training.  These are:

• Review of the City Handbook
• Building a Drug-Free Workplace
• Discrimination and Harassment Prevention
• Respect in the Workplace
• Sexual Harassment Prevention
• Workplace Violence Prevention
• Diversity Awareness Training

Completion of the required training must be achieved by November 15, 2017.

Please let me know if you have questions or concerns, so we can address them in a timely manner.

Thanks,

Cyndee Rhames

https://www.desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/other/656-harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers/.

That is a link with info about Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, being performed by the Des Moines Symphony in February with film.  Some tickets have been sold, so please start planning ahead!  Since Jessica was really interested, I hope this will help. 

We didn’t receive the August 15th issue of the Wall Street Journal.  It should be here on the 16th.

Hey ya’all,

Like me, I know you have been getting a ton of calls about eclipse glasses. Here are 5 locations that DM Register reported has eclipse glasses that meet safety requirements. You might advise people that they may want to call these locations first–have heard through the grapevine that some of these places have sold out already: 

Walmart

Lowes

ToysRUs

Home Depot

Amazon

Glasses should conform to ISO 12312-2. Here’s a link to KCCI’s story: https://goo.gl/F2ieey.

If someone wants to buy a $5 Art in the Barn tote, please enter it in the Numpad feature. You can enter a description of “bag” in the item field. 

Thanks!

I brought some brownies since my birthday is on Sunday and I won’t be working then.  Get yours in the break room before they’re all gone!

Mid August also means the symphony will start soon!  Check the Des Moines Symphony website for more information, and one huge event this season is Harry Potter, coming in February!

If a patron leaves you extra change or if, for whatever reason, you have cash or change to put in the Foundation/Book Sale register, use the Numpad feature on the iPad’s Paypal app to manually enter the amount. Press the ‘Charge’ button to complete the transaction and open the cash drawer.

At their August meeting the DART board approved a reconfiguration of one of their all-day bus routes, Route 5. The current Route 5 (shown below) stops at Merle Hay Mall. The new Route 5, to begin in October, will continue along Merle Hay all the way to 70th Ave. in Johnston with a stop very close to the library.  

There is now a cash register for the Foundation purchases. Instructions are listed below. Please let Molly or Eric know if you have questions. 

If the iPad is asleep, push to home button twice to get to the home screen.

Tap on the PayPal icon.

Enter the transaction by tapping on item being purchased.

Hit charge when you are finished entering the transaction.

Enter the method of payment – Swipe for a credit card or tap cash or check.

For cash, you will be prompted to enter the amount tendered.  Cash drawer will open at the end of cash and check transactions.

When prompted for receipt, you can tap print to print a receipt.

If there is an error, leave a detailed note for Molly (or Eric in Molly’s absence). Eric or Molly will void the transaction the next morning.

*Circ staff will use key on Owl ring to unlock and bring the foundation cash drawer to locked money cabinet at the end of the night.* 

We’re sad to say that our supply of solar eclipse viewing glasses is gone. According to KCCI there are businesses, such as Casey’s, that are selling glasses for about $3/pair. Glasses should conform to ISO 12312-2. Here’s a link to KCCI’s story: https://goo.gl/F2ieey.

Peg

Painter Jim Bryson is showing his work in the gallery until the end of September. He is an oil painter who takes inspiration from places where he has visited, like Yellowstone Park, Yosemite Park, and the Smoky Mountains.

So, go and take a peek!

I just thought I would share this opportunity since it is right here in Johnston. 

There is an open house at the Sikh Temple at 4820 NW 59TH Ave in Johnston. On August 12th, from 10 am – 12 pm, you can tour the Temple and learn about Sikh beliefs. Visitors are advised to dress modestly and bring a head covering (scarves for women and kercheifs for men). 

Please visit the link below for more information:

http://comparisonproject.wordpress.drake.edu/meet-my-religious-neighbor/

Patrons can now place requests for book club sets via the website.

When patrons click ‘Place Hold’ on a book club title they’re shown the dialog included below…

If patrons click ‘Multiple Copies’, they’re taken to a form like this:

The Technical Services department will handle book club set requests–questions from patrons regarding their requests should be directed to Missy or Dreama.

Winners have been drawn for the Adult Summer Reading prizes and each winner has been contacted. Prizes are located at the Reference Desk. 

Grand Prize Winners (prizes under Ref Desk)

• Techie – Sarah Aspengren
• Rebuild – Heather Schmitz
• Grillin’ – Cheryl Thompson

$10 Gift Card Winners (cards locked in Proctor Files drawer)

• Sarah’s Hallmark – Megan Okessor
• Ace Hardware – Larissa French
• Panera – Lucinda Wonderlich-Fuller
• Twisted Bean Coffee Shop – David Connelly
• Hobby Lobby – Kristie Richie

Peg