JPL Intranet

The book return at Beaver Creek is now open! Materials returned there will be picked up twice each week and backdated to the previous pick-up date. We will try to keep the pickup days consistent–e.g. Monday and Thursday–but they may vary depending on staff availability. While I’d prefer learning tools to be returned to the library, anything that can fit through the slot can be returned at Beaver Creek. I’ll be creating a page for our website soon that provides patrons information about the return, backdating, and other information. Let Molly or I know if you have questions.  

We would be very happy to take your empty oatmeal containers for a project this fall.  Thanks! Lynne

Since Andrew’s birthday is tomorrow but won’t be here again until Wednesday, there are Mississippi mud brownies in the staff lounge.  Please help yourself when you get a chance!

“About a quarter of American adults (24%) say they haven’t read a book in whole or in part in the past year, whether in print, electronic or audio form. Who are these non-book readers?”

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/03/23/who-doesnt-read-books-in-america/

The Iowa Stormwater Education Partnership shared their lunch with us today. All the fixin’s for a taco are available in the Staff Kitchen. Already ate lunch? Take some home with you.

Oh, and don’t overlook the cheesecake in the refrigerator for dessert.

Peg

Our outreach season is winding down. We no longer need to collect J and YA books in the box behind the checkout desk. Please put future donations in the book drop room with the others. 

The curated lists on our website are now searchable by list name and description and item title and author. This will make it easier to find read-alike lists or lists that contain particular titles like “Wimpy Kid” or “Harry Potter”

https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/pac/?pac_page=lists

Megan and I have put together a short guide with tips on handling various types of patron behaviors and complaints. As important as the specific strategies mentioned is the tone that’s encrouaged througout and that is summarized on page 2. A copy will be kept at each of the service desks. Please take a look through it as you get time and let us know if you have suggestions for additional categories.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jN4BPZIuRTJ3H7KrTgRNHHSo8UiqYXrt

 Agenda – All Staff Meeting 7/25/19

• TS/IT

  • Printable list of book club sets

    • Dreama has added a printable list of book club set to the intranet under the “Helping Patrons” menu. She’s also added a list of the several new adult sets added recently.

• Public Services

  • Summer Reading Wrap-Up

    • Adult summer reading went well. “Official” stats will be available soon. 

  • PS Staff Change

    • Stephanie will be reducing her hours when she returns to classes in August. Beth is interviewing candidates next week. 

  • Preview of Fall Programs

    • Beth shared information about fall programs for adults:

      • Investment Basics for Women

      • National Voter Registration Day

      • Nancy Drew Humanities Iowa program

      • NaNoWriMo and Write All Night

      • Dreama and Lori’s Sun Paper Crafting Club

      • Estate Planning

    • Community Reads

      • The Community Read Fest is coming up Saturday, August 17th, 1-4. The event will feature food, a virtual visit from author Thanhha Lai, and a chance to have your photo taken by local artist Liz Brown for JPL Humans of Johnston Photography Project, create your own mini family story podcast, and make a storytelling craft.

• Molly

  • New Staff  have joined the circulation department: Sarah Gehrke and Jennifer Thompson. Sarah is a regular library user and has a background in teaching, education, historical research, customer service, and archival practices. Jennifer is currently the Assistant Director at the Mercy College of Health Sciences Library.

• Staff Leaving – Hunter and Rachel

  • Hunter and Rachel will be leaving us soon for UNI

• Eric

  • DVD/CD Duplicator

    • A new piece of Tech Lab equipment allows fast duplication of DVDs and CDs; up to five at once. 

  • Responding to Patron Behavior & Complaints

    • Megan and I have put together a guide that provides tips on how to approach difficult situations you may encounter in the library. I’ll be posting information about this in a separate intranet post.

  • FY20 Stats

    • Eric shared some stats from the past fiscal year–July 1, 2018 to June 20, 2019–including top circulating titles, circulation by age and gender, e-book borrower stats, and more. 

      • https://drive.google.com/file/d/12sR9RN69BbL0tPeh3wGiYBOKVSStzMAL/view?usp=sharing 

The Adventure Pass authentication issue with rural Polk County patrons has been resolved. They should now be able to reserve passes as Johnston residents do. 

Rural Polk County Patrons, unlike other non-Johnston residents, are eligible to checkout Adventure Passes but they’ll be blocked from logging into the Adventure Pass system. To get around this, temporarily change the city in the patron’s address in Polaris to Johnston. 

Alyssa left her purse at the Sips and Stories program tonight. We locked it in the money cabinet and I sent her an email. Her phone did not have voicemail set up.

Sunday July 28th at 7:30 PM at Water Works Park will be the final Des Moines Symphony concert this summer, and it’s free.  We will be playing music by John Williams. 

The season is coming up soon, and here is the website with information:  https://dmsymphony.org/.  I will let you know about open rehearsals and re-mixes when I get more info. 

I’ve put a couple of piles of the postcard-sized fliers on the upcoming sales tax vote at the checkout PCs. Circ. staff, each time someone checks out please place one in one of the items.

UPDATE:

If asked about the election while at work, you’re free to offer facts or point people to the website on the flier BUT, while on the clock, you cannot advocate for yes votes. 

One pass to the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden has been added to our Adventure Pass options. 

Ivan and I woke up on Tuesday and felt like getting married, so this happened:

All I have is this picture as proof of the marriage, but if you are willing to take my word for it my name is now Molly Guerra. When my email changes, I’ll let you know