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In this episode of Did you hear, we discuss the weird and wacky, and sometimes wonderful, things we find in the book drop. Melissa and Dave host our librarians Chris Carleton, Austin Johnson and Laura Hunt who share their most fabulous and freaky finds, including many things used as a bookmark.

Look for a new episode next Wednesday, Dec. 18: our 2019 Notable Book List! 

In this episode of Did you hear, we discuss the weird and wacky, and sometimes wonderful, things we find in the book drop. Melissa and Dave host our librarians Chris Carleton, Austin Johnson and Laura Hunt who share their most fabulous and freaky finds, including many things used as a bookmark.

This is probably a good time to ask you to please, please, please not place anything in the return bins except Library materials. The occasional drawing from a child or periodic thank you note is OK though. :D

From our staff: the artwork for this episode was submitted by Clerk Charles Hower who wrote, "I have only been with the library since June of 2018, so not much time to see really crazy things. I do have one picture I took of a note card with some drawing we got in an adult fiction book at Monticello. I believe the note card was discarded, but I still ponder this art and its meaning months later." The text in the drawing reads, "How many beans until I'm satisfied?" 

The Library wishes you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving! To honor the day, w e scoured the jocohistory archives and found this gem: Mrs. Daniel's class Thanksgiving 1981.

For even more local history visit jocohistory.org or follow our hashtag on Twitter.

While Cedar Roe Library is having work done on its roof, Cedar Roe staff are helping out at various other locations.

Here's Jacqueline, a clerk, who can be found at Antioch during the construction!

Stay up to date with Cedar Roe!

We’ve all seen how the stereotypical “IT guy” is portrayed in the movies: Usually, it’s a bespectacled, pocket protector-wearing introvert who is good at technology but hopeless at understanding humans. But members of Johnson County Library’s IT (Information Technology) Team are very good at understanding humans, and specifically, how patrons use the Library’s technology. Their mission is to make it as user-friendly as it can be.

Point to anything in a Library that has a screen or connects with the network or a database, and the IT Team is responsible for the patrons’ experience with it.

In every stage of a project – working with vendors, evaluating technology, testing, acquisition and staff training – the goal is always to help patrons access the Library’s resources. When selecting technology, the team asks a lot of questions: Can this technology be more intuitive? Easier to understand? Placed in a more convenient location? What value will this provide to patrons?

The team has many projects going at any given time, most recently:

• Scheduled replacement of public computers
• Creating new process for updating and maintaining software on public computers
• Working on a back-end upgrade of the public website
• Upgrading interlibrary loan software which allows patrons to request materials from libraries throughout the country

One recent project was to make the catalog-only screens more ADA-accessible. The team noticed some of the screens weren’t at accessible height and that keyboards and mice were less user-friendly than modern touchscreens. Several models of touchscreens were tested for durability and responsiveness and ultimately the larger screens were chosen. As a finishing touch, the team made the catalog-only setups more aesthetically pleasing. Now, you’re not just seeing a computer on a desk – it’s more like a kiosk. Patrons will notice that the new catalog kiosks are more visible and easier to use to look up a book or author quickly.

If you see someone working on technology at one of the Johnson County Library branches, it’s most likely a member of the IT team. Be sure to give them a wave or tell them thank you because they are making technology faster and easier to use.