JPL Intranet

The Library Board approved the 2018 Holidays and Closings list. It’s been added to the “Staff Resources” and is available at http://catalog.johnstonlibrary.com/board/2017-10/8%20Holidays%20Calendar%202018.pdf

I just received a notice from city hall regarding flu shots. Shots will NOT be covered for employees not on the city’s health plan. I apologize for the confusion.

FREE flu shots for all employees as well as dependents who are covered on the City health plan!

WEDNESDAY, November 1 from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

OR

THURSDAY, November 2 from2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING

Meeting Room

6373 Merle Hay Road

A Holidays & Closings page has been added to the website. Look for the link in the footer of each page.

https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/holidays-closings/

I’m starting to add titles to our adult playaways/portabooks collection again. 

I’ve always been a fan of playaways but at the libraries I’ve worked in circulation is low.

Maybe patrons don’t understand what they are or think they look too complicated. 

A Playway is a small audio player with a complete audiobook. It can be used with headphones like an iPod or Walkman or, with a cable like the one shown below, it can be used in cars with auxilary jacks.

If you’re unfamiliar with Playaways, take one off the shelves and take a look (I’ve also included a link to a video below).

If it feels right when helping a patron with audiobooks, bring up our playaway/portabook collection and tell them how they work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI8WYzPhjP8

Because Public Services and Youth Services staff are:

1. generally more available to leave their desks to respond to behvaior-related incidents
2. trained to submit conduct reports and escalate consequences in accordance with the Conduct In the Library Policy
3. more familiar with many frequent-offenders

please report behavior issues you observe to either Public Services or Youth Services staff who will respond.

-Eric

Saturday November 11th is the first pops concert of the season, “Music of Queen,” 7:30 at the Civic Center.

Saturday November 18th, 7:30, and Sunday November 19th, 2:30, the next Masterworks concert.  This will be called Ritual Fire Dance, and it will contain Spanish music and dancers, and should be very entertaining. 

Armstrong Kyne’s mother, Evelyn, just informed me that he is missing. He left his home at 10 pm last night (Tuesday) and has not been seen since. She asked that if we see him to call her at 508-762-6164 or to notify the Johnston Police Department (they are aware of the situation). 

Armstrong is a sophomore and is a frequent visitor to the library. As soon as I receive a photo from Evelyn, I’ll add to this post so that you can put a name with a face.

Peg

I promised I’d share this in-house only. Count on Lynne to take care of any situation.

If possible, please have your completed timesheets and PARS turned into the green folder by noon on Thursday, October 26.

I will not be working on Saturday and thus must have them checked before I leave on Thursday. Otherwise, Eric has to check them. 

If you won’t be in the library before then, send me an email and we’ll work it out.

Thanks,

Peg

The door between the East Meeting Room and the staff area has a new handle that:

1. is always unlocked from the staff side
2. can be locked and unclocked from the meeting room side using the toggle on the side of the door below the latch (see image below).

If possible, when going between the meeting room and staff area during a noisy program or room setup, please set the door to unlocked and close it between trips to contain the noise.

The door should be locked when the East or West rooms are being used by public groups.

Family concert on Sunday October 29th at 1 PM at the Civic Center downtown.  See the Des Moines Performing Arts website for tickets (NOT Des Moines Symphony website).  Phantoms of the orchestra is the theme for this season’s family performance.  Night on Bald Mountain is on the program, so you will feel spooked!

The Des Moines Symphony is hosting a ReMix event for people 21 and over on October 20th at the Civic Center downtown at 5:30 PM.  Anyone interested is welcome to come and enjoy pizza and beverages and enjoy an open rehearsal that evening.  The repertoire for this concert set is Tannhauer Overture by Wagner, Death and Transfiguration by Richard Strauss, and music from the ballet Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky.  Concerts are the 21st at 7:30 and 22nd at 2:30. 

Another reminder, family concert on the 29th at 1 PM at the Civic Center.  A great one for your kids!

Again, the ReMix on the 20th is only for people 21 and over, and no reservations required. 

Hello! There was a wallet left by the computers a little bit ago, and I looked inside for some type of identification. There was a Johnston library card, and the patron’s name is Carla Tolson. I called the phone number on the account and left a message, and the wallet is locked in the back. Thanks!

Longtime JPL volunteer, Polly Munck, recieved the Governor’s Volunteer Award on September 25th for her years of service at the library. When you see her, please take a moment to congratulate Polly, and thank her for all her hard work!

Don’t forget to compare your timesheet to WTW before turning it in. If you took PTO, be sure to fill out a PAR.

Thanks,

Peg

Update: Mobile printing is working!

Update: The public PCs and printing are functioning normally again.  Mobile printing is still not working.

Saturday’s power outage damaged the public server causing public PCs and printing to be unavailable Saturday.

I’ve configured a workaround so that public PCs are working, but printing is still unavailable.  Public Services staff can print documents for the public on staff printers.

Patrons may see a screen on a public PC asking them to select a location. It doesn’t matter which location they choose.

Good afternoon!  I just wanted everyone at JPL to know that I have been admiring the personalized JPL clothing and asked if we could order!  I have the catalog in my mailbox and want to invite anyone who wants to order to please grab the catalog and take a look!  Juli T

To try to clear up confusion about the procedure or lack thereof, we have decided that patrons can checkout without a photo ID or library card if they verify two of these three pieces of information: address, date of birth, and/or phone number.

Each of our physical magazines (the ones on the shelves) that we also subscribe to electronically now has a magnet directing patrons to more information about reading magazines on their computer, tablet, or phone. 

Find out more at https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/emags

Has the SIBR Spot outlived it’s usefulness (I’ve seen 10 people try to use it as a self-check for every 1 that know what it’s for)? Can we direct patrons to GoodReads or the website for series information?

Please send me your opinion if you have one.