JPL Intranet

It’s National Library Week and today is Library Workers Day! It’s crazy times and I truly appreciate everyone’s help, insight, and patience throughout these past few weeks. For me, this time being closed has helped me better appreciate how much of my motivation and satisfaction at work comes from the relationships that I have with the people that visit the library and the people I work with. I feel lucky to work with a staff who feel the same. Thank you. I hope to see everyone soon.

Hi All! How is it going. Here is the plan for this week if you have time. This is optional:

• If you have not done so already, get signed up for Lynda.com and watch the following videos courses
  2. https://www.lynda.com/Business-tutorials/Empathy-Customer-Service-Professionals/2825032-2.html
  3. https://www.lynda.com/course-tutorials/Customer-Service-Mastery-Delight-Every-Customer/5040391-2.html
     1. This course is two hours. Just start with watching the third part titled “Ways to Generate Ideas, Part 2”
     2. Look at this Customer Service Self-Audit

• Attend one of these Zoom meetings if you can. We will chat about the trainings in relationship to our work. I’m also going to review the selection process and the purchase request process.
  1. 7 p.m. Thursday, April 23^rd
     1. Meeting ID978-3991-6904
     2. Meeting Password 410991
  2. 10 a.m. Friday, April 24^th
     1. Meeting ID988-6863-6595
     2. Meeting Password 390078

• If you are interested in taking home some Circ related projects, please email or text me. I have some projects that I am ready to box up and that you could pick up at the library. I have a few tasks that are just things you could work on from a computer and a few tasks that would require picking up a box of materials at the library. If you are interested in one of these jobs, please email or text me 515-210-4441.

I hope everyone is staying healthy and sane. Take care. I hope to see some of your later this week on Zoom.

I’d like to add a more human-touch to JPL’s Facebook and Instagram posts (yes, Youth Services is all over this, they already post awesome human-touch images), but I’d like to expand it a bit.

Would any or all of you be willing to send me an image of what you’re doing at home during our closure? It could be a stack of the books you’ve read, are reading, want to read; it could be a picture of something personal like your pet, or something you’ve made; maybe an image you capture of nature that makes you happy. I’m open to images that will send a feel-good message. With your permission, I will only use your first name in the post.

Thanks,

Peg

I know you’re all wondering when and how we’ll reopen. As you know, the governor has mandated that public libraries remain closed until April 30th. Predictions* suggest that Iowa will not have reached the peak number of daily deaths and infections (the top of the “curve”) until sometime in the first half of May.  We closed the library when Iowa was at the bottom of this curve so its unlikely we’ll reopen at the top of it. Metro-area library directors have discussed coordinating reopening to prevent a run on the first library that reopens. I assume we’ll reopen in much the same way we closed but in reverse: first allowing hold pickups in the entryway and returns to the book drops; then allowing patrons to enter the building; and finally starting up programs and meetings. This picture assumes, however, that the virus will go away all at once in the same way that it came. As this article points out, we may be in for waves of loosening restrictions followed by a re-tightening if we see spikes in new cases.

Full-time staff are continuing the activities outlined in this post. In addition, Megan as signed up for Reader Zone for patrons to participate in summer reading online. You can try it out via the Reader Zone app or website. Use the code dfd10.

I hope everyone is doing well. If you’re so inclined, join the JPL Staff Facebook group.

Take Care,

Eric

*https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america/iowa

*https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/04/07/825479416/new-yorks-coronavirus-deaths-may-level-off-soon-when-might-your-state-s-peak#allstates

*https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/iowa-coronavirus-cases.html

In normal times, Food for Fines would start tomorrow. Patrons can still donate items for fines during National Library week. The details posted to Facebook are included below. We’ll talk more about procedure for staff closer to re-opening:

Hey all,

Please ignore the previous zoom invitation for our JPL Buddies Zoom Happy hour and instead use this new meeting ID and password. This one is with a paid account so Zoom won’t kick us off at 40 minutes.

Looking forward to saying hi to anyone that wants to join today at 4pm.

Beth

Johnston Public Library is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: JPL Buddies Happy-Hour-Ish Zoom Meeting
Time: Apr 17, 2020 04:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Every week on Fri, until May 29, 2020, 7 occurrence(s)
Apr 17, 2020 04:00 PM
Apr 24, 2020 04:00 PM
May 1, 2020 04:00 PM
May 8, 2020 04:00 PM
May 15, 2020 04:00 PM
May 22, 2020 04:00 PM
May 29, 2020 04:00 PM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://zoom.us/meeting/tJApcO2opjgrGdHAVXpnfzDOrI9Vec3mx1LH/ics?icsToken=98tyKuCsqjwuGtyWsRqCRowIBo_CLPTxiHZcjad1vSndEy5VeCfZJMsbBLd8Q9XI

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94474083135?pwd=a1VRSlpvUVF3bUVPeDhBZ3pMSitjQT09

Meeting ID: 944 7408 3135
Password: JPLBuddies
One tap mobile
+16468769923,,94474083135#,,#,860992# US (New York)
+13126266799,,94474083135#,,#,860992# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 944 7408 3135
Password: 860992
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acXug3u4KJ

I know that many of you know patrons–from in the library or through home delivery, book clubs, the book bike, etc.–from Martina Place and Bishop Drumm. I’ve included some sad news from the Fire/EMS Chief below. I’ll update everyone as I hear more.

———————–

Mayor, Council and Department Heads.

I have an update on Martina Place and Bishop Drumm in Johnston.

There is an outbreak of COVID-19 in Martina Place that this also affected Bishop Drumm. This is now added to the list of care facilities that the Governor will be reporting on in her updates.

We are taking extra precautions and working with their staff. We will work with them more tomorrow to ensure the safety of their residents and our staff.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Jim Clark

Fire Chief

Johnston-Grimes Metropolitan Fire Department

6373 Merle Hay Rd.

Johnston, IA  50131

Office:  515-251-7690

jclark@cityofjohnston.com

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The 2020-21 symphony season has been announced, and please check the website for more information.  As you may know, this year would’ve been Beethoven’s 250th birthday, so we are performing a lot of his music.  If you haven’t listened to his five cello sonatas and sets of variations for cello and piano, please take a chance to do so!

Hey everybody! How are y’all doing? I am SO GLAD the sun is shining today.

I could use your help promoting Kanopy. Specifically, I would like your suggestions for content to watch. Think of this as Staff Picks for Kanopy. I have no specific deadline, but the sooner you get them to me, the sooner I can start encouraging our patrons to utilize this awesome resource.

Send your suggestions to me at rasmussen@johnstonlibrary.com and I’ll use your recommendations to promote Kanopy on social media.

Stay safe,

Peg

Sorry y’all–I think Zoom just cut us off because we reached our 40 minute time limit. Good to see all of your faces.

Stay well. Hang in there.
beth

Hello!

A few of you had mentioned that you don’t have the intranet bookmarked at home

http://catalog.johnstonlibrary.com/wordpress-staff/

We talked about the Lynda tutorial Customer Service Foundations and the personal customer service vision exercise and Lori E. recommends Empathy for Customer Service Professionals  (only 20 minutes) so I’m excited to view it.

There was a great question about where Niche Academy Tutorials are located on the website. I’ll paste a picture below:

I hope everyone is doing well. I thought I’d provide a brief update on library business.

Public services staff have been posting to social media and updating our online lists of materials to include more lists of electronic materials which we’ll promote on Facebook and elsewhere. Brittany and Megan have been posting story times, activities, and other programs on Facebook and YouTube. Jessica has started Instagram and Tik-Tok pages for teens where she’s been posting book recommendations, author events, and other fun stuff. Those responsible for physical collections are continuing to order materials with an emphasis on filling gaps in their collections. Dreama and her staff are continuing to report to the library to receive and unpack deliveries, process and catalog materials, and work on other Technical Services projects. Molly is processing all incoming digital card requests from home and also responding to email messages from patrons that come from our website. Several full-time staff are responding to the new live-chat feature on our website which is staffed 9-4 Monday through Friday. I am checking and responding to library voicemail several times each week.

In the past week, I’ve spent about $8,000 on extra copies of high-demand e-books and e-audiobooks to reduce wait times for JPL patrons. I’ll continue to monitor Overdrive hold lists while we’re closed and shift spending from physical to electronic materials to reduce wait-times. 

The restroom remodel is continuing. The tile should be done a week from Monday. The next step will be counter installation, then re-installation of sinks and toilets, and finally installation of the stall partitions. 

Finally, anyone is welcome to visit the library during the day weekdays to stock up on books, movies, or whatever.

Take Care,

Eric

I’ve completed drafts of everyone’s timesheets. Please follow the link below to verify and, if necessary, make changes to your sheet. Let me know if you have trouble.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1P0KsqfKm9m-Uq4DXN4EWu3NFcqfmGUt5?usp=sharing

Hey all,

We had requests for weekly zoom social gatherings. Again, totally optional just meant as a way for us to check in with each other and keep our human-ing skills strong. Feel free to invite your fur babies or other roommates you’re quarantined with to say hi. Instructions for logging in to zoom are below. Stay well. Sending everyone good library vibes.

Beth

Elizabeth Stevens is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: JPL Buddies Happy-Hour-Ish Zoom Meeting
Time: Apr 10, 2020 04:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Every week on Fri, until May 1, 2020, 4 occurrence(s)
Apr 10, 2020 04:00 PM
Apr 17, 2020 04:00 PM
Apr 24, 2020 04:00 PM
May 1, 2020 04:00 PM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://us04web.zoom.us/meeting/vpMrde6orjMuV_A431r4OrMq7ajjZK5HfA/ics?icsToken=98tyKuqvqDktGtSdtF_Hf7QtE9ribPHMl0dxi_cOzQ2xLDJ-c1T3POh4GedXFvmB

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/376270084?pwd=OFZKOHRRMlRLK0tKVTVzUm15N01NUT09

Meeting ID: 376 270 084
Password: JPLBooks

 Good morning.

Last week EFR sent an email to all of our employer groups inviting you and your employees to our free webinar “Coping with COVID-19: Resiliency and Mental Health to be presented this week on Wednesday, April 8^th at 10:00 AM CDT at:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5896299735182037517

If you have not already done so, please forward this information to all your employees.  If you did provide this information to your employees last week, will you please send them a reminder. 

After registering, each person will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

The 2020 Green Days & Kites on the Green events have been cancelled. There’s some talk of rescheduling a smaller Green Days event for the fall. I’ll keep everyone posted.

I’ve started a private JPL Staff Facebook group for us to keep in touch (about non-work related things) while we’re home. Click the link and request to join. Your posts will only be seen by other JPL staff who are part of the group.

I have scheduled two meetings for next week. If you haven’t done the Doodle Poll, please attend either meeting if you are able. I did split into groups so that we have a few people at each meeting because, as much as I know you would love a one-on-one with me , I thought the learning might be richer if there were a few people in each group.

Again, if you have anything you’d like to discuss, feel free to bring it to the meeting or send it to me ahead of time.

See you soon.

Meeting One – Tues. April 7th 1 – 2 p.m.

https://zoom.us/j/640233393?pwd=SWpSOVl4Z2RHVjQyTkdEcDIvZ1pEQT09

Meeting ID 640-233-393  Password 254145

Sarah G., Gloria, Sue, Laura R., Meetu, Andrew, and Melodee

Meeting Two – Thur. April 9th 7 – 8 p.m.

https://zoom.us/j/431700152?pwd=TDN1Y1pPdmVjLytlTktPcW5ieEg5QT09

Meeting ID 431-700-152 Password 081806

Carolyn, Laura A., Denise, Lori E.

Yesterday, the governor announced an extension of the closure of Iowa’s schools, bars, and restaurants to April 30th.  We will follow suit and announce that the library will be closed until the end of April (it’s possible we’ll be closed longer). All due dates and hold-till dates for available holds have been extended to May 8th.

Hi All.

How were the Niche Academy tutorials? Did you learn some new things? I certainly have as I reviewed them.

I also set my kid up for an RB Digital account and learned that you can now create your account through the app. Before you had to create the account online and then download the app. Now it is seamless and you can do it all through the app.

I was also reminded of how much is offered through BrainFuse. I remember learning about it when we first got the database, but they have a lot of resources.

I would strongly suggest spending a bit of time creating a BrainFuse account and looking at some of the resources available.

Okay. Next week, I’d like to offer an optional, Circ training opportunity via Zoom. I’ll be going over some more complicated Circ processes, the most frequently asked questions and anything else we want to cover. If you have things you like to share at the training or ideas that you think I should share, let me know!

Here is a Doodle Poll. Please select all the times you are available so we can get as many there as possible.

https://doodle.com/poll/eg4wc8kwuyudd5gy

I hope everyone is well! If you need anything or have any questions during the closure, please don’t hesitate to email, call or text me 515-210-4441.

Take care, and I hope to see you soon.