JPL Intranet

Some of you may have noticed that even after updating the expiration and address check dates for expired patrons you’ll still see a block on his/her account. Those blocks get removed by an overnight process. What you’re seeing is normal (although somewhat annoying and confusing).

Eric 

To add news or create an incident report via the intranet, just click the corresponding link in the ‘Content’ menu to the right.

Eric

When news items are posted to the intranet, staff members should now receive an email message containing the content of the news. If you don’t wish to receive these messages or if you’re reading this message on the intranet itself but have not received it in your email inbox, please let me know.

Eric

Please follow the steps below to place purchase requests for patrons via the intranet:

• Click the “Purchase Request” link in the “Helping Patrons” menu.

• Find the patron by scanning their barcode or searching by their last name.

• Find the patron in the results and click their first name

• Complete the request form then click submit (click ‘view requests’ to view the patron’s past requests)

The Johnston items that were checked out to Urbandale patrons just prior to our migration to Polaris have been switched from a status of “In” to “In-Repair”. If, for some reason, these items are actually “In” and you attempt to check one out, you’ll receive an error message. To complete the checkout, first check the item in then re-try the checkout.

Just a reminder — when the weather is cold, please allow the AV items to warm up a bit before checking them at check-in. If you try to remove a disc from a case and it is cold, it could snap into pieces.

Thank You!

Staff,
We are currently experiencing some issues with the log in process for the public computers.

Here is what to do if a patron comes up to you and says they are having difficulty logging in on the public computers:
1. Check their card to make sure the “Internet” box says “Internet” rather than “No Internet.”
2. Check their birthdate, fines, expiration date, etc. The items that you would typically check to make sure the card is in good standing.
3. If you can find no apparent reason as to why the card is not functioning, please issue the patron (14 & older) a guest pass. We’ve been finding a few patrons like this. We will see if Dreama can work her magic for us again on this issue when she comes next. Until then, please just give them a guest pass.
4. Please remember that anyone 13 & under needs to have the permission form signed or it needs to be documented on their old card that was signed by their parent/guardian. The old cards are in the maroon file cabinet that sits behind the circ counter on the same side as preshelving. Missy, Lori F., Maurine, myself all know where these are kept so ask one of these people if you have any questions.

Please feel free to call me with any questions.
Thanks,
Cheryl

Hi all. As promised, here is the schedule of events of Holidays in Johnston. Please let me know if something is not clear, etc. Thanks 

Here are the items of most concern:
2:30 p.m. – Santa Arrives
3:00 to 3:20 p.m. – JHS choir performs
4:00 to 4:20 p.m. – Summit Middle School Flute & Clarinet choirs perform
4:30 p.m. – Mayor draws for prize and the tree is light

 Popcorn Picks will begin Dec. 2

Keep reading for a more detailed schedule…

2:30 p.m.
Santa arrives at the library via firetruck.

2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Activities (These activities will last for the entire 2 hours)
Children’s Area
1. Arts & Crafts – staffed by Kinney, one ys staff and one TAB volunteer.
2. Storytime with Ms. Lynne in Storytime Room. Continuous groups – 8 times she will tell the story.
3. Visit with Santa in the Northwest Corner.

Commons Area
1. Cookies & Punch
2. Cookie Decorating
Both activities will be ‘staffed’ with Johnston Woman Social Connection volunteers

East Meeting Room
1. Food Craft by Chef Christina (Hy-Vee) Reindeer Craft made from marshmallows, etc.
2. Food craft staffed by Friends volunteers – only 1 volunteer so far

West Meeting Room
1. Tables and chairs so attendees can eat their cookies

Staff Room
1. Staging area for Madrigal students and Summit Middle School Flute & Clarinet Choirs

Archive Room
1. Gingerbread Contest/Display. Community Education is responsible for this – they are judges.

Area by Christmas Tree & PS Desk
1. JHS Choir will sing at 3:00 to 3:20 p.m.
2. Summit MS Flute & Clarinet choirs will perform at 4:00 p.m.
3. Grinch Game ‘staffed’ by Officer Ryan Hannsen

Activity at 4:25 p.m.
Announcements and prize drawing by Mayor Dierenfeld — people who enter contest MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN.
Activity at 4:30 p.m.
Christmas tree lighting in Johnston Commons; Depending on the weather we may light inside and do a countdown indoors or we may usher people outside to enjoy…stay tuned for ‘weather’ or not this happens. 

Activity from December 2 forward:
Popcorn Tins – back by popular demand and thanks to Maurine our ‘popcorn picks’ are back. Popcorn tins will be given away to people who pick specially designated books/items. Kinney will choose these items and Maurine will place holds. Please expect an additional email re: this process.

You all know that Rita is retiring soon. These kinds of events provide an opportunity to rethink and maybe reconfigure positions to suit new and anticipated needs within a workplace. The library currently has more than forty-five computers in use by library staff and the public in addition to wireless routers, switches, servers, copiers, and computer software. The library would greatly benefit from having someone on staff –forty hours per week– to manage this technology. The duties assigned to what will be called the Information Technology and Circulation Support Librarian position will include these kinds of intermittent, as-needed duties as well as duties related to supervising the library’s circulation staff and cataloging materials. Having an additional cataloger on staff would help us continue to prepare new materials for circulation in a timely manner.

Much discussion and consideration has gone into making this decision as it’s one that we may have to live with for several years. The position change has been approved by the board and we’re currently advertising for candidates. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Eric

Shovel, snow boots and ice melt are back at the staff entrance. There’s also a bucket of snow melt in the book drop room for the front entry. The large shovel for clearing the front walkway is in the maintenance supply room (just inside the door next to the floor sink).

Elijah Trice has been banned from the library building for thirty days. He will be allowed back to the library December 14th.

The print release station now has a touchscreen.

Eric

The Circulation Staff meeting will be held on Monday night, December 2 from 8:00-9:00 PM in the Archive Room.

Most of you have likely noticed my recent rearranging of shelves and furniture in the adult area. The new non-fiction and recently returned shelves have been removed from the main aisle to make for a direct path through the length of the adult area. New nonfiction has been moved alongside the other new books. Recently returned has been moved to the north side of the tax form shelf. The two PCs remaining behind the reference desk (the research PC and the catalog PC) will, in time, be changed to regular PCs and moved into study carrells with the other adult PCs to the north of the reference desk (there will then be two rows of 6 carrells instead of one row of 6 and one row of 3). This will clear an area behind (east of) the reference desk for comfortable seating. To make for a better view out the north windows, the adult CDs will take the place of the adult magazines; the adult magazines will shift to where the audiobooks are -the shelves will be angled to allow for a view out the windows from the lobby and reference area; the audiobook shelves will move to the front of where the DVDs currently sit -the DVDs will shift to these shorter shelves (to set them off as a collection distinct from the books behind them), and the audiobooks will shift to the shelves currently holding the DVDs. When the budget allows, I hope to add more comfortable seating to place along the north windows behind where the magazines will be and in other areas of the library.

The end to all of this is creating a more open feel that takes advantage of the light from and view out of the buildings windows.

Eric

…that we are really weeding and shifting in lots of places! So, if you see an end cap that has incorrect signage on it please mention this to Beth Stevens.

Also, as you look around at all the cool changes with computer placement, TV placement, etc. and notice that signs should perhaps be changed, please bring this to Beth Steven’s attention. Beth is working on updating the signs, but we definitely miss things from time to time. So, if she or I don’t catch something – just let her know.

Thanks everyone!

Cheryl

Things are being moved around!

1. The viewing station has been moved into the east adult study room. This will allow adults who want to view videos the chance to use the equipment without being relegated to the children’s area. It will also allow viewers a quieter area and give parents (looking for a quiet place to work) a distraction for their children. 
2. Two adult PCs previously behind the reference desk have been moved to the study rooms.
3. The internet and game computers have been collected in the east-end of the children’s area. The kids learning computers have been moved to the north side of the children’s area against the windows.

The Library Board approved a change in the circulation policy that allows patrons to show a photo ID (military ID, drivers license, school ID, etc) OR their library card to checkout materials. An additional procedural change allows patrons to give their name and birthday (in lieux of their library card number) when placing holds or renewing materials over the phone.