JPL Intranet

Beth is offering a training on Sunday, March 29th from 1 – 2:30 p.m.  If you are planning to attend Megan’s training at 11 a.m. and would like to stay for Beth’s, I have an optionla hour of Circ Training/Meeting that we can do between 12 and 1 p.m. so you could work from 11 -2:30 rather than take an hour break between 12 and 1 p.m.

Let me know if you will be attending Beth’s training at 1 p.m. and if you are attending if you would like to do the Circ training from 12 – 1 p.m. on the 29th.

Thanks!

I underestimated patrons’ revulsion towards porta-potties. Even so, please do not allow patrons to use the staff restroom–don’t lie if asked, but it’s best not to bring up the fact that we have one. Don’t tell them this either,  but I believe 100% of patron porta-potty users will come out of their experience stronger, more capable people.

Hi All,

Please see the message from Dreama below. Do not switch the trays/paper sizes. Thanks!

Please let staff know that the trays are designated for specific paper types/sizes:

• Tray 1 – envelopes in the left side of the tray (follow diagram)
• Tray 2 – 8.5 x 11 paper
• Tray 3 – 8.5 x 14 paper
• Tray 4 – 11 x 17 paper

I reset the system clock this morning, but it may take up to 24 hours for the building clocks to reflect the correct time.

All,
I have scheduled two All Desk trainings to go over Public Services things including faxing, public PC’s, the public copier/printer, etc. Trainings are scheduled for Friday, March 27 at 1:00pm and Sunday, March 29 at 1:00pm. Trainings are scheduled to last 1.5 hours. If you are not already scheduled on W2W at the time of a training you wish to attend, please email your supervisor to be added.
Link for registration is here: https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/events/?events_q=PS%20All%20Desk

A reminder that you can now add staff picks via the website. If you’re logged in, you’ll see an “add to staff picks” link below each book (books only). Click the link to add your favorites to the staff picks page. Your first name will be shown on the staff picks page and patrons can limit the staff picks to a particular staff member.

https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/pac/?pac_page=browse&item_type=book&genre[]=21

During the remodeling of the bathroom, Circ staff should unlock the two glass doors nearest the porta potties when we open. We will need to remember to lock them when we close.

This will allow for easier access to the bathrooms, but it will be important that we remember to lock them when we close.

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is increasingly in new reports and the situation continues to evolve rapidly in China and globally with a growing number of countries/jurisdictions affected. Cases in Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea are concerning and have sparked speculation about whether this epidemic may become a pandemic. The overall risk to Iowans continues to remains low at this time. There are no cases in Iowa. The CDC, Iowa Department of Public Health and Polk County Health Department continue to monitor the situation in the United States and in Iowa.

To help educate our community about COVID-19, the Polk County Health Department has created a comprehensive website containing information, resources and tools including:

• Situational Update
• COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
• COVID-19 Organization Specific Resources (schools, businesses, healthcare providers, first responders, community events)
• Communication Resources

Please visit this website often as we will be updating it to provide the most up-to-date information about COVID-19. https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/health/programs/disease-prevention/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19/

If you have any additional questions, please contact Nola Aigner Davis by email at nola.aigner@polkcountyiowa.gov or by phone at office: (515) 286-3848 cell: (515) 782-7236.

The plumbers have shut off the building’s water temporarily while they remove the restroom fixtures.

The programming that turns a driver license scan into a Polaris account has been updated to accept the newer IDs. In addition, you’ll no longer hear a sound on a successful or unsuccessful scan. Instead, you’ll see a message letting you know whether or not it worked. The ID scan screen at the checkout desk has been moved next to the book sale iPad. It can be left on at all times.

Repairs to the concrete along the front of the library and in the parking lot will begin next week. Each repair is relatively small so there shouldn’t be too much disruption of parking or foot traffic.

The green piano connected to the video synth is not working. I’ve put an out of order sign on it. I’ll keep you posted.

[UPDATE] Our email notifications don’t include the video so I’ve included a link below. Otherwise, you can watch it at work via the intranet.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iYvEneZVjXC5khKlCm6Dm6F3wwfdGZTd/view

The police chief forwarded this video on the coronavirus for me to share.

Sometime on Monday, March 2nd, a storage pod will be delivered near the dumpster. Please don’t park in the three spots west of the dumpster.

Please register here > https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/events/?event_page=registration&did=35066

Computer assistants, such as Apple Siri and Amazon Alexa, and other Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs are becoming commonplace. If you need directions, want to buy groceries, or are looking for suggestions for a new wardrobe, technological help is just a request away. There is no doubt that computerized assistants and Artificial Intelligence are impacting every facet of society, including our economies, cultures and public institutions such as schools and libraries, and that this impact will only grow stronger.

As we as a society try to manage this new technology, many people are calling on the library community to lead the way. Libraries are increasingly supporting patrons in understanding AI as well as implementing AI technology to improve processes and provide a better, more personalized patron experience.

Librarians will also be needed to educate people about AI, helping them understand how to use it in order to enhance daily life and develop their career, while learning of potential pitfalls and how to protect personal data online.

This webinar will discuss the use of AI in public libraries and provide advice on how your library can ensure it is not only prepared for the changes AI will bring, but that it is positioned to shape and then lead the world that AI is helping to create. Featuring presentations from the New Orleans Public Library, King County Library System and collectionHQ, the webinar will share specific examples of how AI is being used to inform the selection of pre-published titles based on predictive algorithms, and how voice-assisted technology can be used to connect patrons to library resources.

The 8mm film scanner is fixed. I have notified the three people waiting. If you’re uncomfortable with the 8mm scanner, please let me know when you see Tech Lab reservations from patrons requesting to use it.

The skating rink is currently being disassembled for the season.

The West Des Moines Library will be closed all day on March 2nd for some reorganizing, and public computers will be unavailable there from then through the 6th.

If you know someone attending Des Moines Symphony Youth Concerts next week, please let me know.  We can’t wait to share music with them!

Next Masterworks set is March 14th at 7:30, and March 15th at 2:30 at the Civic Center.  Beethoven’s 8th Symphony, Wagner’s Sigfried Idyll, and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana will be presented.  https://www.dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/carmina-burana/