JPL Intranet

This week, we’ll be prepping for installation of new furniture in the circulation area which starts a week from today. If you need help finding something while things are displaced, ask Molly or myself.

I ordered 10 at-home Covid-19 tests from Test Iowa. If you’ve been exposed or think you’ve been exposed and need a test, let me know.

We no longer need to put it out.

Those that wish to use curbside should be instructed to call the main phone number for assistance.

The curbside cell phone is forwarding calls to the main library number.

We will return to publishing When to Work monthly rather than weekly. The monthly schedule will be published on the 21st of the month going forward.

When patrons call the curbside phone number, the call will be forwarded to the main library number.

• If you get a call for curbside pickup, please get the patron’s name and check how many holds they have.
• Let them know that you will gather their items and where you will leave them:
  • 1. Between the sliding glass doors
  • 2. on the picnic table outside the library.
• Check out the holds to the patron’s account and sack them in a paper bag.
• Put the holds out for the patron.

If you are very busy at a desk, please gather the information from the patron and don’t hesitate to ask a circ staff member to help you gather and deliver the items.

Just a reminder to re-use padded envelopes and boxes when returning materials via the AEA van. There is a blue basket of used padded envelopes near Lori E.’s cubicle (under the picture book labels) that you are free to take.

I encourage you to ask Lori E., Ann, or Lori F. if you need interlibrary mailing supplies. They’ll help you find materials you can re-use. We keep costs down and help the environment by re-using materials as much as possible before delving into our supply of new materials.

Now that we’ve dropped the covid-related announcements from our homepage, I’ve added back several sections including a section that highlights a particular staff-created list.  To feature a list on the homepage, login to the jpllists account, navigate to the list, click the cog on the right side of the list’s header, and then select “Home” as the featured location.

As most of you know, the book sale iPad has been freezing and otherwise acting up. In order to see if the problems are caused by the iPad or the Paypal app, I’ve temporarily pulled the iPad and replaced it with the curbside phone. Please use the phone for book sale purchases and let me know if it has any trouble.

Hi All,

Dreama is aware that there is an error message coming up, from time to time saying that a printer driver needs to be installed. We are working to fix the issue.

In the meantime, please just move to another computer until you find one that will print. Generally, they are not all impacted at once.

The issue will self-resolve after a few minutes and the printer will work again.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

A wallet belonging to Tyler Skow was found in the parking lot today, 8/24 and turned in by a patron. Tyler does not have a library card so has not been contacted. The wallet is locked up in the gray cabinet in the workroom.
Thanks, Beth

The Teen Space is officially open!

Teen Space Hours:
Monday-Thursday 3-6pm
Friday 3-5:30pm

Rules:

• Respect yourself. Respect others. Respect the space.
• Please don’t swear or use harmful language.
• Snacks and covered drinks are welcome. 
• The Teen Space is a cuddle-free zone. 
• Play fighting is never permitted.
• For teens in 6th grade-12th grade.

The Teen Space will be staffed during open hours, and will be locked when the space is closed.

Furniture, laptops, and other pieces of equipment are delayed, but will be added when items arrive.

I had a Panera snack with Abbi Waugh, former JPL librarian yesterday, and she said to tell everyone hello.  She is enjoying working at the downtown library in the tech services department, and her daughter Eleanor starts school at the downtown school this week.

Our second remote, drive-up book drop has been installed at Horizon Elementary. We’ll begin promoting it on social media next week.

If someone calls to ask about donating materials for the book sale, please let them know that we are not accepting donations at this time.

• The book sale room will remain open.
• If someone shows up with donations, we will accept them.
  • At the Circulation Desk, there is a black cart labeled donations. Please place the donations on the cart.
  • At the end of the day or as the cart gets full, Circ staff will put them in the closet in the West Meeting Room.

We extended user account expiration dates a number of times throughout the pandemic. Dozens if not hundreds of accounts are now expiring each day. To make the renewal process easier for staff and patrons, the expiration notice now includes a link for patrons to confirm their account information and renew their accounts online. The notice sent 30 days prior to an account’s expiration now reads as follows.

The library updates user accounts every two years. Your Johnston Public Library account will expire in 30 days. If your contact information has changed, either reply to this message, call us at 515-278-5233, or visit the library to let us know your new information. If your contact information has not changed, please follow the link below to renew your account.

https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/expiration/

In addition, 45 days prior to a patron’s account expiration the message shown below will appear at the top of the screen when they login to their account.

The link in the message takes patrons to their account screen where they can verify their information and renew their account or send us a message with their new contact information.