JPL Intranet

We’ve had a lot of demand for notary services recently so we’re going to try offering it by appointment. For now appointments are available Monday-Thursday 11am-3pm. A link for creating a notary appointment has been added to our homepage. To create, cancel, or edit an appointment or to view the schedule, use the links on the left menu of the intranet. Patrons will be instructed to call the library when they arrive for their appointment and will be let in via the Commons doors.

Do we have to keep Circ Desk manned? 

Not as strictly as we were before. We will still have phones set to ring 10 am – 6 pm (Monday – Thursday) 10 am – 5:30 pm (Friday and Saturday) so we will try to keep schedules the same. We should make every attempt to answer the Circ Line, but if we miss the call we can just respond to the voicemail as soon as possible.

What if someone wants to make an appointment outside of curbside hours?

We are sticking to curbside hours to exchange materials unless someone is standing outside wanting a few items…use good judgment. If you can get them what they need, that is fine.

But we aren’t setting up a special process for people to grab items outside of curbside hours that will be widely communicated with other staff like how we used to put items by the bouncer desk and people could just pop in and grab them.

Can I help people who want to make last-minute appointments for curbside, think they have an appointment but don’t, or show up on the wrong day?

Please try to grab items for people that show up during curbside without an appointment or on the wrong day or that think they have an appointment but don’t have an appointment. If they really want the items yet today and we are doing curbside, please try to accommodate them.

What about the lady that wants me to help her pick 10 books for her daughter? 

Remember that book bundles are a great option for children and parents. You can help them submit the request over the phone. Typically those are processed in 24 hours during the week.

How can patrons pay fines?

They can pay over the phone via credit card. They can put money in an envelope marked with their name and library card number and place it in the book return. They can mail us a check.

Can people get a library card?

They can apply for a digital card at www.johnstonlibrary.com Digital cards are processed in three days – often sooner.

When will the library building reopen? 

We do not have a date set because the situation is fluid. We are continuously reassessing conditions and we are looking forward to welcoming the public back into the building.  Please transfer those with detailed questions about the why’s or timeline of our COVID response to Eric’s phone, extension 604.

Curbside during the winter – 

• The heavier metal tables will soon be replaced with a picnic table that will be easier for the Parks Department to move when clearing snow.
• It is up to the staff member doing curbside decide to move curbside pickup between the glass doors if it is raining or wet snow is falling. You don’t need permission. Be sure you flip the curbside sign to reflect where you will be placing items.
• We also should offer to bring items to cars if it seems slick. It is ok to ask patrons to pull up in front of the building if you are running items to their car. There is snow melt near the commons doors.
• When the library is closed but you want to place items between the glass doors, please be aware that people might try to enter the building. Consider using exit only on the sliding doors (don’t lock yourself out) or placing the whiteboard sign in the commons in front of the entrance.

The Library Foundation met last week to discuss their 2021 budget which runs January-December. They approved two major projects: a new teen area and face-out browser bins for picture books.

Teen Area

The Youth Computer Lounge, funded by the Foundation in 2015, is a great spot for older elementary-aged kids and younger teens. Older teens prefer to hang out in the east/adult side of the library in spots that are out of view of staff. The foundation agreed to fund a glass wall that will enclose the glass alcove adjacent to the Archive Room to turn it into a space for older teens. During the school day, the space will be open to all. After school, only teens will be admitted. Details on furnishing, amenities, and staffing are being discussed. Installation will occur in February or March. Music CDs will be moved to the style of bins that house the kids music CDs to open-up the area in front of the space.

Picture Book Browsing

The foundation’s other major project for 2021 is converting two sections of shelving in the YS area into face-out bins for picture books. The bins will be organized by categories–like “Animals”, “Holidays”, and “Characters”–to make browsing of one our most popular collections easier for patrons. Megan and Dreama are discussing categories, call numbers, and other details on how these books will be organized. The bins will likely arrive in February.

J & YA Overdue Fees

For several months, the library board has been discussing the idea of eliminating fines on juvenile and YS books and audiobooks. At last night’s board meeting, they agreed to include elimination of past fines on these materials as well when it is put to a vote at their December meeting. The measure would go into effect January 2021.  Going completely or partially fine-free has been a trend in public libraries in recent years as libraries seek ways to remove barriers to access particularly for lower income patrons. Research and anecdotal reports suggest that such a move does not correlate with significant increases in overdue items; does correlate with an increased rate of return of long-overdue items; and, not surprisingly, seems to prompt the return of patrons who avoided the library for fear of accruing fees. (See this page for a nice collection of articles on libraries’ experiences going fine-free.)

Beth and her staff have completed a guide to social services in Polk County for handing out to patrons when we reopen. I placed a copy at the circ. desk. You can also view it via the link below.

https://board.johnstonlibrary.com/2020-11/11c%20Polk%20County%20Resources%20Pocket%20Guide_Final%20For%20Printer.pdf

The following message was just sent to learning tool borrowers:

We typically ask that the library’s learning tools be returned inside the library. The library building, however, is currently closed to the public due to the recent spike in cases of Covid-19. Because of this, we’ve extended due dates on learning tools to December 15^th. When you arrive at the library to return your learning tool, please call us at 515-278-5233 and we’ll meet you outside to retrieve it. The hours when we can accept returns are included below. Let me know if you have any questions.

Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays 10am-2pm

Tuesdays & Thursdays 2pm-6pm

Saturdays 10am-1pm

Sundays 12pm-2pm

For those wondering, Brittany is the staff member who received a positive test result yesterday. Because we’ve all been masked around her and are generally keeping plenty of distance between each other, no staff members will be required to get tested or to quarantine.  For now, all part-time staff should plan to continue to come to work as scheduled. I’ll be talking with department heads about staffing and other issues related to the closure today and will keep everyone posted.

The bouncer station will be staffed periodically for the next couple of days. If the bouncer station is not staffed and you notice someone standing outside the front doors looking confused and trying to get someone’s attention,  peak your head out the Commons doors, explain that we’re closed and, if it’s relevant, that we’re still doing curbside.

Another staff member has tested positive for Covid-19. Starting tomorrow, the library building will be closed to the public. Patrons with browsing an PC appointments have been notified via email. We will continue curbside pickup of holds and printing. The following has been posted on Facebook.

I’m pleased to announce that this upcoming Tuesday, Shelly Hamlin-Rodrick will be starting as a Circulation Library Associate. Her email is hamlinrodrick@johnstonlibrary.com. We are very happy to have her joining the team.

FYI

Des Moines is at curbside only at all branches with internet by appointment at Central only. This will officially be in place until December 1st but will likely last longer.

Ankeny is remaining open with its current limits:

• <75 capacity
• Reduced # of computers
• No large meeting room use
• No in-person programs
• Curbside offered every day

Pleasant Hill will be closing to patrons coming into the library beginning on Friday. We will have curbside service on Monday through Saturday.

Waukee is closing to the public starting Saturday. Will continue with curbside pickups.

Bondurant, has backed down to curbside and appointments for 1 person computer usage.

Clive is closed to the public until at least 12/31/2020 we are offering curbside pickup only.

Grimes – curbside only

West Des Moines Library will remain closed and continue curbside service through at least November 30

Ann LeMaster has returned to her birth name – Ann Brown.

The governor issued a proclamation yesterday that included a couple of sections I want to address as they relate to library business. One section issues a limit on indoor gatherings to 15 people. These restrictions, however, “do not apply to gatherings that occur during the ordinary course of business or government.” Another section issues a requirement that masks be worn “when individuals are within 6 feet of one another for 15 minutes or longer.” Neither of these measures will change how we do things here at the library. I’ve included a link to the Iowa Department of Public Health’s summary of the governor’s proclamation below. Let me know if you have any questions.

https://intranet.johnstonlibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Summary-of-Enhanced-Public-Health-Measures_final.pdf

These cards are at the bouncer desk to handout to patrons we turn away.

Please help yourself to Chex muddy buddies in the break room!

Hey all,

Due in part to COVID-related reduction of services at some libraries, and in part because of transportation changes associated with the State Library of Iowa, interlibrary loans are averaging at least two weeks to get to a patron from the time the request is made.

When you have a patron who is requesting an ILL, it is probably a good idea to ask them if they need the item by a certain date. If the patron need an item sooner than 2-ish weeks, and it is available from another local library, that may be a better option for a patron to pursue.

JPL is now offering HelpNow, an online service that connect students with a live instructor for homework help and tutoring. HelpNow is available every day from 2pm – 11pm. A link is available on the Research page of our website as well as the kids and teens pages. I’ll add a link to the homepage soon and we’ll promote the service on social media next week.

https://landing.brainfuse.com/?u=main.johnstonlibraryhn.ia.brainfuse.com

Appointments for PC use and browsing have been updated to reflect the changes detailed in my post yesterday.  It’s going to take through the weekend to work through the appointments that were made before these changes. Because of this, we don’t need to begin enforcing the one-group at-a-time rule for browsing until Monday. We will also wait to decommission 2 PCs until then.

Beginning Monday, we’ll have less room for walk-ins. To keep the number of people we need to turn away to a minimum, please make appointments for all callers who want to visit or encourage them to do so themselves before they come. Links for making appointments are on the front page of our website. For those that we do need to turn away, offer to make them an appointment for them. Handouts for patrons will also be available at the bouncer table with information on how to make appointments.

This reduction in services comes at a time of year, December through February, that is typically our slowest both in terms of circulation and foot traffic. Because of this and because, with the crazy case numbers, more people are likely to stay away from public places, I don’t think these changes will have a dramatic effect on our patrons. While browsing slots are likely to be relatively full each day, PC slots won’t be. With 3 PCs available from 10am-6pm, for example, we can accommodate up to 24 computer users each day. Only 9 of those slots are available for appointments. This means 15 slots will be available for walk-ins.

As I mentioned yesterday, there is no end-date to these relatively minor changes. I will continue to consult with the board, with city administration, and with departments heads as circumstances change.

With rising case numbers in the metro and throughout the state, we’ll be scaling back our in-building services as outlined in the message below that I sent to library trustees today. In addition, we will cease volunteers working in the library which may mean that shelving and other tasks get backed up–that’s ok. Please remember to try to practice social distancing between each other and between yourself and patrons whenever possible. There is no end-date for these changes, we’ll make further adjustments one way the other as circumstances warrant.

Trustees,

In response to the rising case numbers in Iowa and the Des Moines metro, we will be scaling back our in-person services, ceasing volunteers working in the library, and having some of our full-time staff work from home when possible. Changes to our services are outlined below:

Browsing

We have changed the spacing of browsing appointments–where groups of up to 4 can browse in the library for 30 minutes–from every 20 minutes to every 35 minutes so groups don’t overlap. No walk-ins will be allowed unless there is not another group here or scheduled to be here within 30 minutes.

Computer Use

We have changed the spacing of our 1 hour PC appointments from every 30 to every 45 minutes. We will also reduce the number of available PCs from 5 to 3. Walk-ins will be allowed if a computer is available.

Curbside Holds and Printing Pick-up

Curbside services will continue as-is.

As you can see from the chart included below, visits to the library building since we reopened in June are down by 80%-85%. We think these new steps, which will reduce daily computer appointments from 14 to 9 and browsing appointments from 23 to 13, along with our mask requirement and social distancing put us in a position where we can safely continue to offer services that patrons can’t get anyplace else and continue to offer work to part-time staff who can’t work from home.  From the public’s perspective, these changes will be mostly invisible as we will continue to offer the same services as before; same-day appointments may just be harder to come by.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Please do not park in the first row of parking spots near the library’s dumpsters, tomorrow, Tuesday, November 10. We will be hosting a Drive-In Storytime and are reserving those spots for the attendees!

The following message is from city manager Jim Sanders:

Fellow City Employees,

As you are aware, over the past couple of weeks we have experienced a significant surge in COVID-19 cases within Polk County and throughout the state of Iowa. The surge in COVID-19 cases and exposures has “hit home” for many of us as we all have experienced or witnessed more illness and exposures among our co-workers, family members, friends and acquaintances. We are at a critical stage regarding COVID where we as citizens need to do our part to help stop the spread and protect ourselves, co-workers, friends and families.

Attached are current and updated policies regarding COVID. We have created these policies to meet and/or exceed the guidance we have received from the federal government and Center for Disease Control (CDC). The policies require our employees to follow safety guidelines including social distancing and wearing face coverings anytime you are in common areas within our facilities including hallways, restrooms, work rooms, break rooms, shops, etc. Employees that do not follow any directive, policy or guideline related to the pandemic may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Regarding what you do outside of the work place, I encourage you to follow all safety guidelines and protect yourself, your family and friends. As we go into the holiday season, I hope you discuss with your family how you can safely celebrate the holidays while protecting yourselves and your families, especially older family members and family members with underlying health conditions.

I know we are all tired of dealing with COVID and I hope we will soon be able to turn the corner and begin working our way back to normal. In the meantime, we all need to take personal responsibility and do what is necessary to be safe and reduce the spread.

Thank you and please stay safe!

Jim