JPL Intranet

Andrew is a cellist in the Des Moines Symphony, and will be performing at the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix shows in February.  Tickets are selling fast, and here is a link to purchase them:

https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/harry-potter-and-the-order-of-the-phoenix/

I hope you can enjoy a movie with the symphony!

Andrew is a cellist in the Des Moines Symphony, and will be performing at the New Year’s Eve Pops on December 31st at 8 PM at the Civic Center in downtown Des Moines.  Cirque de la Symphonie is joining us, and there will be dancers doing ballet-like performances on stage.  Here is a link to purchase tickets:

https://my.desmoinesperformingarts.org/0/7672

Hope you all can spend the last few hours of 2023 with the orchestra!

If patrons had lists in their account, not holds, but lists – these will not transfer over to the PowerPAC.

If patrons come in and would like access to their lists from the old website, please get their name, library card number and email (or phone). Send this info to Dreama via email deskins@johnstonlibrary.com

Dreama can export their list(s) and send it to them.

Thursday, December 21, 2023 we will go live with a new CivicPlus website and Polaris PowerPAC catalog. Previously, these two important features of our online presence have been integrated into one site. After tomorrow, they will be two separate sites that link back and forth to each other. This is the case for the vast majority of public libraries, so it should be something that most of our patrons are familiar with. We are considering tomorrow a soft opening for the new catalog and website and will not be doing a lot of publicizing for these new sites until after the holidays. This will give us a chance to refine items if needed.

Below are some talking points to use should you have patrons comment on the new catalog or website. In addition to these scripts, be aware that our own mindset is going to go a long way to helping patrons digest change. While assisting patrons as they figure out the new sites, we will project a relaxed and positive attitude and convey that we’re all learning the new system together.

When I’m working with patrons at a public desk, I always think of myself as a partner/guide helping a person get what they need out of a system (and as we all know, systems and bureaucracies can be confusing).

When you are attempting to show a patron how to navigate our new site or PowerPAC, turn your screen around and work through it together. Be upfront about the fact that we have just switched to new sites to better serve our patrons. We’re still learning the new system too, but together, we’ll figure it out.

Below are some talking points to use should you have patrons comment on the new catalog or website.

• The new website prioritizes ADA compliance, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can easily access and utilize the library’s services.
• The new catalog features improved search functionality, including quick access to new and on-order items and improved read-alike suggestions.
• Library services, resources and access to materials have not changed. All the same JPL services and materials you love are still available.

As you have time, please check out the following documents to familiarize yourself with our new website and PowerPAC Catalog.

How to Navigate Our New Civic Plus Website

How to Navigate the PowerPAC

Repost of Megan’s PowerPAC Training Doc:  https://tinyurl.com/2s3dw9vk

We have started a new channel on Slack called Website/PowerPAC feedback. Please feel encouraged to leave comments or feedback from patrons as well as things you notice that might need to be fixed or refined. Thanks!

Leave accrual was doubled for some employees this pay period. So your PTO totals on your paystub you received yesterday may not have been correct.

The City is working with the payroll software vendor to get the problem corrected. They will let us know when it has been addressed. At that time, we will get you accurate PTO totals.

Thursday, December 21, 2023 we will go live with a new CivicPlus website and Polaris PowerPAC catalog. Previously, these two important features of our online presence have been integrated into one site. After tomorrow, they will be two separate sites that link back and forth to each other. This is the case for the vast majority of public libraries, so it should be something that most of our patrons are familiar with. We are considering tomorrow a soft opening for the new catalog and website and will not be doing a lot of publicizing for these new sites until after the holidays. This will give us a chance to refine items if needed.

Below are some talking points to use should you have patrons comment on the new catalog or website. In addition to these scripts, be aware that our own mindset is going to go a long way to helping patrons digest change. While assisting patrons as they figure out the new sites, we will project a relaxed and positive attitude and convey that we’re all learning the new system together.

When I’m working with patrons at a public desk, I always think of myself as a partner/guide helping a person get what they need out of a system (and as we all know, systems and bureaucracies can be confusing).

When you are attempting to show a patron how to navigate our new site or PowerPAC, turn your screen around and work through it together. Be upfront about the fact that we have just switched to new sites to better serve our patrons. We’re still learning the new system too, but together, we’ll figure it out. 

 Below are some talking points to use should you have patrons comment on the new catalog or website. 

• The new website prioritizes ADA compliance, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can easily access and utilize the library’s services.
• The new catalog features improved search functionality, including quick access to new and on-order items and improved read-alike suggestions.
• Library services, resources and access to materials have not changed. All the same JPL services and materials you love are still available. 

As you have time, please check out the following documents to familiarize yourself with our new website and PowerPAC Catalog.

How to Navigate Our New Civic Plus Website

How to Navigate the PowerPAC

Repost of Megan’s PowerPAC Training Doc:  https://tinyurl.com/2s3dw9vk

We have started a new channel on Slack called Website/PowerPAC feedback. Please feel encouraged to leave comments or feedback from patrons as well as things you notice that might need to be fixed or refined. Thanks!

Library Director Search Update

A timeline for for the library director search has been established.

January 2-February 11 –  The position will be posted and applications will be accepted.

March 5 & 6 – Semi-finalist interviews will be be conducted via Zoom with the Search Committee.

April 10 & 11 –  Final interviews will be conducted in person at the library. The library board will conduct the interviews and staff will have the opportunity to greet the candidates.

End of April/Beginning of May – The library board will announce the next director.

June 2024 –The library director will begin work at JPL.

Building Updates – Peterson Painting will have a crew here on December 22 and December 27-29 working on drywall repair and painting. I will put in meeting room / study room reservations where possible. They are willing to work around the reservations we have already. The crew will be back the middle of January to finish up the painting. So there will be a few weeks where we will have patches of drywall with mud but no paint.

New Website and PowerPAC

Thursday we are scheduled to move to our new website and PowerPAC. You should have all had the opportunity to look at the PowerPAC. If you haven’t, please do take a look. https://catalog.johnstonlibrary.com/polaris/

Here is the link to the website we will be transitioning to later this week. Feel free to take a look! https://www.cityofjohnston.com/1300/Johnston-Public-Library

Thanks to Beth, Megan, Dreama, Erik (our IT consultant) and Janet from the Communications Department for all their work on this project!

Someone just posted this to Slack, but I didn’t know it either so I thought it deserved a place on the Intranet. Johnston PL has an adventure pass to Brenton Skating Plaza. The Brenton Skating Plaza only allows visitors to use the passes after January 1 of each year through the end of the season in the spring. So passes are only good for January and February – not December skating.

This shows up on our calendar for availability.

Please remember to unplug the lights on the book tree at night. This is officially a public services desk duty, but feel free to help out by unplugging them if you notice they are still on at closing time.

Thank you!

I am working on a project to organize all the library’s procedural documentation. I have removed all the files that were viewable under the Documentation tab on the Intranet. Most of them were out of date.

Stay tuned for where you will eventually be able to access documentation files. I think you’re going to like the change!

Hello everyone,

Reminder tomorrow is the Employee Holiday Party!! City Hall will close from 11:30-1:00 for everyone to attend! Food will be provided but feel free to bring a side to share if you like 😊! If you can, please bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Jonston Partnership & help us spread some holiday cheer!

Staff that are regularly scheduled to work can speak to their supervisor about attending – we will need at least three staff here as the library will remain open.
Staff that are not regularly scheduled are encouraged to come on their own time and enjoy the festivities and food with city / library co-workers.

Ann is retiring after this week! Please swing by the staff break room to enjoy a treat and to add an Ann JPL memory or two to the book so she won’t forget about us!

The library has agreed to be the pick up and drop off point for a present drive that has been arranged by the Johnston Middle School Student Council. People are invited to pick an ornament from the tree, purchase an item and return the items to the library. We will gather them in a tub in Molly’s office. Gifts should be returned to the library by December 22nd.

If patrons have questions beyond the instructions below, there is contact information on the poster by the tree to email for further information.

Here is information from the Johnston Student Council members:

• The ornaments contain a category and an item from the UnityPoint Amazon wish list (things like blankets, games, books etc.)
• All items purchased should be new and unused
• People are encouraged to wrap toys, board games, or puppets and tape the ornament to the outside of the gift so the girls know what is inside and can distribute it accordingly
• Other items like blankets, bottles, etc. do not need to be wrapped
• They created signage with QR Codes that direct people to the UnityPoint Wish List and a poster with additional details about the program
• The students will pick up the gifts on Saturday, December 23

I created a training worksheet to help everyone become familiar with various features of the PowerPac. The goal of the training is to make staff more comfortable with showing patrons how to perform searches and help them access their account information.

Although you do not need to record your answers or turn in a completed form, I encourage everyone to work through the following document, when you have time, to become familiar with the PowerPac before we go live on December 21.

Training Document:  https://tinyurl.com/2s3dw9vk

Link to PowerPac: https://catalog.johnstonlibrary.com/polaris/default.aspx

If you have questions or can’t find something, please talk to your supervisor.

During the remainder of December, patrons will begin turning in their Ultimate Reading Challenge logs. We have decided that they will collect the logs at the Circ Desk since this is a place that should always have backup. I have printed copies of the prize instructions and put them at each desk. The PDF instructions are here: How to Give Out Prizes for Ultimate Reading Challenge. If you have patrons who seem flexible I would love a photo of Ultimate Reading Challenge winners holding their new JPL Book Bag–only if patrons feel like it. 😉

Please ask Beth if you have questions. Thank you for your help!

Hello All,

JPL will be hosting its 2nd Read Local Author Fair on Saturday, February 24th. Right now through January 13, JPL is accepting applications from local published authors who would like to be a part of the event.

Information about the rules for author’s wishing to participate and the application is currently available on our website.

https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/local-author-fair-rules

Please direct any questions to Beth or Megan.

As the busy holiday season approaches, here are a few tips for handling Holds.

*Please remember to trap all holds for patrons and put the items on the Holds shelf, even when someone calls and claims she is on her way to the library to get the book. This way, all items are accounted for if the patron has a change of plans and comes the next day (or the next week or never).

*Please remember to print an extra Holds slip for Learning Tools and video games and put it in an empty case on the Holds shelf for patrons to find and bring to the desk to retrieve their items.

*Please don’t put items on the shelf with ILLs and Learning Tools if they are not officially on hold for a patron because even if he or she comes in that day to pick it up, the next person at the circulation desk won’t necessarily know where to find it. Because staff at the circ desk is constantly rotating, all held materials need to be placed in a standard location according to library procedures. (If an exception is made, for example, setting aside a book for someone who is coming in that day and needs to make a library card first, put the book and a dated note explaining the situation on the white cart behind the circ desk where Lori places new Holds to be shelved.)

*If a patron requests an extension on a hold pick-up, please follow these guidelines:
1. Check the holds queue to see if there are other holds on the item. If there are, you can grant one extra day for pickup if circumstances warrant it. If there aren’t other holds on the item, you can grant up to five extra days for pickup.
2. If you tell a patron they can have more time, you need to change the “unclaimed” date in Polaris. Do not just write a note on the holds slip or move the item to the held ILL/Learning Tools shelf. Otherwise, the item still moves to unclaimed on the original date and this sets off a chain of actions that can be hard to undo if promises have been made to patrons. Also, if a different staff member is here when the patron arrives to pick up the item, no one will know where to find it if it’s not where it’s supposed to be.
3. To change the unclaimed date, double click or right click on the item in the patron’s account to open the Hold Request page. In the upper right-hand corner, you will see the Unclaimed Date. Change this to the new unclaimed date and save. The “Hold Until” date should then update on the patron’s account as well. (Note: This only works if the item hasn’t already moved to unclaimed.)

If you have questions about any of this now or when one of the above situations comes up, please ask. It’s important that everyone follows the same procedures for Holds so that items don’t fall through the cracks and materials for patrons are readily available when they come to pick them up.

Thank you!

Lately,we have started receiving requests from those patrons who love to have our withdrawn magazines. TS withdraws older issues of magazines, and in the past this has happened in January.  Beginning this year we are moving that process to the month of  July.

If you receive requests for withdrawn magazines, you may pass this information on to the patron, or take their contact information and I will email or call them. Thanks for your help!