Category: Uncategorized

The new YS furniture is here and looks (and feels) amazing. It’s temporarily being stored in the west meeting room entryway. Check it out if you have time (and there’s not a meeting).

As of the last week of April, my divorce was final. I would like to thank everyone that has taken the time to ask me if I’m okay or share a kind word/note/gift. The last few years (and months in particular) have been difficult for my family. I’m sure Brad, Daisy, Mary Ellen and I have somethings to figure out, but I am confident that things are changing for the better at home. As for work: I’m looking forward to less crying in my office and more Promoting creativity. Inspiring Creativity. Engaging Community. I am so grateful to work with such and understanding group. Thanks again for everything. 

Please send this out to all of your staff and make sure they are very alert and aware of suspicious emails today/this week.  Do NOT click on any links in any emails that look suspicious.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/blockbuster-wannacry-malware-could-just-be-getting-started-experts-n759356

Mark Kacmarynski

Kadeth, Inc.

mark@kadeth.com

Please turn in your completed time sheets on or before Thursday, May 11, if possible. Make sure to double-check your hours against your scheduled hours in When to Work. 

Thanks,

Peg

The copier’s credit card reader is now active. The machine has a minimum charge of 25 cents. Patrons with a single 15 cent copy or print job can use their card but will be charged 25 cents.

Per Jo, the crazy beagle was returned to her owner this morning.

A message from the city’s IT contractor:

Attention,

If you would send out an email to everyone ASAP in your Office to warn them to NOT open any Google Doc files from anyone unless you know 100 percent it is legit. There is virus spreading via email today and I wanted to warn you of this. Could be from anyone, but currently seems to be going around the public schools in Iowa and also state agencies.

Thanks!

Mark

Mark Kacmarynski

Kadeth, Inc.

mark@kadeth.com

The Des Moines Symphony is holding an open rehearsal next Friday May 12th at 7 PM at the Civic Center in downtown Des Moines.  If you and others would like to attend, I need to know the name of each person attending so I can sign them up.  The deadline for signing guests up is in the evening on the 11th.  Repertoire is Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No. 1, Bolero by Ravel, Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphosis, and American Gothic by Michael Daugherty. 

The library has purchased three bike locks. They will be kept behind the Circulation Desk. Locks will be loaned by collecting a photo ID or library card. There is a basket to store the library cards or photo IDs near the locks. Please ask if you have questions.

Hey all, 

Printing directly from the USB port on the Public Printer has been disabled. From here on out, if patrons want to print from a USB, they will need to sign on to one of our public computers. 

Patrons ARE still able to scan directly to their USB from our public printer. 

Thanks. Please ask Beth if you have questions. 

Not everyone likes to run or even jog – ugh, think of your knees people!.  Some prefer the benefits of walking and the ability to carry on a conversation at the same time.

Therefore, Missy, Jessica and Peg are inviting any and all walkers to join us in the 5K for Karen Run/Walk on Friday June 16th.

Missy and Jess plan to come up with a clever t-shirt to identify us walking librarians. We’ll start as a group and finish as a group – Walkers Unite! Unless, of course, you prefer to walk faster than us and therefore you’ll finish before us.

Let one of know you’re interested and we’ll include you in the details.

Registration for the race is $25 prior to race day and $30 on race day.  

Peg

The first pot light in the art gallery was leaking today during the rain. Looking at this weekend’s weather, It may leak more. If it does, place a bucket under it along with the wet floor sign. I’ll call about it Monday.

If you are free the weekend of May 13-14, the Des Moines Symphony is presenting their final concert set of the season then.  We will be playing American Gothic by Michael Daugherty, Symphonic Metamorphosis by Carl Maria Von Weber, Saint-Seans Cello Concerto No. 1, and Ravel’s Bolero.  Matt Haimovitz will be the soloist.  Concerts are at 7:30 on the 13th, and 2:30 on the 14th. 

The schedule for next season is now available online, and one program that wasn’t on the website the last time I looked is the Harry Potter program. 

Due to some of the recent behavior incidents at the library, I’ve asked the police chief to provide extra police presence in and around the building. If you haven’t already, you’ll likely notice more police walk-throughs and drive-throughs over the next few weeks. Kenny Egan, the sergeant in charge of the officers patrolling the library, has given his cell number for library staff to use whenever there’s an incident. (He says a direct call will make their response time quicker.) Feel free to call Kenny, the PD’s non-emergency number, or 911 when you need to report an incident.

Kenny Egan                     515-720-8874

PD Non-Emergency            515-278-2345

Dell is sending a technician this morning/early afternoon to replace a faulty tape drive.  This will probably require shutting down the Polaris server for fifteen minutes or so.  Lori F. and I will work with Circ staff to use offline mode at the Circ Desk.  The library’s web site and the Polaris client will be unavailable during the maintenance window.

We’ll let you know when the technician arrives.

Update: The tape drive has been replaced. Thanks to everyone for your cooperation and patience during the downtime.

I attended a meeting this morning to hear about changes to the summer lunch program that has been offered at the library the past few summers. 

The Johnston Schools have signed up for a USDA program that provides funding for summer lunches. The USDA requires that the lunches be served in a location near the homes of kids that receive free and reduced lunch. The library does not meet this requirement. This summer, the lunch will be located across the street at Chapel Ridge (exact location to be determined). 

More details forthcoming. 

Texas Roadhouse just delivered fresh rolls as a gift.  They are on the table in the Staff Kitchen.

Peg

Hey all, 

I am looking for a couple library employees who are interested in working the Shred Day event on Saturday, April 29th from 8:30am to 12:30pm. You will be working outside and either helping to direct traffic to the Shred Day car que so library patrons are still able to easily access the library or helping to take boxes of shredding material from vehicles and giving them to the Shredder employees to be shredded. I will be here on this day and will be assigning everyone tasks so things run smoothly. 

You will be payed for your time on April 29th. If interested, please email me at stevens@johnstonlibrary.com. 

If you know any library lovers looking for a part time gig, point them to our current opening for Library Clerk Substitutes. This position will be used to help cover vacations, illnesses, busy summers, etc. at the Circulation, Public Services, and Youth Services desks.

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cityofjohnston/jobs/1712972/library-part-time-library-clerk-substitute?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

As most of you know, fines for DVDs & Blu-Rays will increase to 30 cents per day beginning July 1. I’ve begun making patrons aware of the change by adding signs to the DVD shelves and the following sentence to the footer of email notices:

NOTICE: Overdue fees for DVDs and Blu-Rays will increase from 15 cents/day to 30 cents/day effective July 1, 2017

In the next several weeks, we’ll expand the awareness campaign to Facebook and, possibly, an email blast.