Internet issues continue

We continue to have issues with our NOBLE/Comcast internet connection. This affects the service desks, public computers, and Wifi. The cause is being investigated (NOBLE, Comcast, Town IT) – it’s a complicated one.

Saturday/Sunday/Monday/Tuesday: If it goes down. Use a cell phone or laptop w/ a hotspot to send an email to

  1. support@noblenet.org
  2. itsupport@readingma.gov
  3. Michelle
  4. Amy (only through the end of MLA)

Subject: Library internet down  / Content: Date, time, your name, and extension. They will need to contact someone in the building to check on the status.

Again, there is an issue, but we don’t know the cause yet. Smart people are working to solve the problem, but it is complicated.

We greatly appreciate everyone’s patience during this inconvenience.

IT issues and new IT ticketing system

Town IT has a new ticketing system, please use this email: ITSupport@readingma.gov and CC Michelle on it.

Please make sure to inform Michelle about any of the following tech issues. If I don’t know about them, I won’t be able to address them.

TBS/Printing/Copying issues:
(weekday)-inform Michelle. (weekend/evenings) Call: 630-537-1370 or email: Helpdesk@tbsit360.com  cc Michelle
App Issues: Send issues to: support@communico.co cc Michelle
Meeting Room AV issues: Inform Michelle/IT

Busy Bees Volunteers Info

We have a few helpers who will be helping us maintain the exterior native and sensory garden areas – weeding and watering as they can. Please see Amy if yo you have questions or if you they need assistance.

Our Busy Bees Volunteers will be stopping by the Borrower Services desk to sign in and pick up the watering cans (2 blue ones), their gardening apron which signals they are a volunteer, and tools (if they don’t bring their own). Everything (except the watering cans) is in the green Busy Bees Bucket located near the blue watering cans.

Buildling Alarm Information

Opening or Closing the building? Here are instruction on how to use the four-digit code assigned to you by Facilities

OPENING

  • Enter through the main entrance of the library and go straight ahead to the white alarm panel
  • Enter your four digit code followed by “1” (e.g. 00001)
  • The panel should say “Disarmed”

CLOSING

  • Make sure all emergency doors, staff room doors (includng Administration) are shut. You cannot set the alarm if any of these are open.
  • Go to the whit alarm box in the entryway vestibule
  • Enter your four digit code folled by “2” (e.g. 00002)
  • The panel should say “Away” or “System Armed”

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SET OFF THE ALARM

What happens if you accidentally set off the building alarm when you arrive in the morning?? First, don’t panic. The alarm automatically calls the police department and a custodian. Employees should just wait and explain the error to those who respond. 

If you have/know your building code, try entering your code followed by “1” at either the the main security alarm keypad is in the entryway vestibule or at the secondary key pad is located at the Borrower Services Desk.

All alarms should be resolved by the police department and custodians. Even mistakes. They keep logs, stats, etc.

If you don’t know your building code, please reach out to your Department or Division Head.

Library App Updates

Please continue to send me any app issues and I will submit a ticket with Communico. Here are some updates on known issues:

The checkout history does not show up in the app, Communico is aware and is working on a solution.

Holds cannot be suspended through the app, Communico is aware and working on a solution.

Items that should not renew, appear to renew in Communico-but they aren’t renewed (items with a hold/items that have reached the renewal limit). Communico is working on this.

Updated Emergency Response Guide

The updated Emergency Response Guide – updated as of April 2025 – is now available on the intranet. We will discuss several key points at the upcoming staff meeting.

FOR THURSDAY

Please have a printed copy at every service desk. Employees should read through this document carefully.

We do not have time to review the entire guide at the May 1 meeting, but still expect you all to be familiar with how to handle emergencies.

Be a leader in the TikTok universe?

We are looking for someone from R&R or Collection Services to lead TikToks downstairs for other departments.

We want to make the library as a whole seem fun, approachable, and easygoing. This is a part of the Communications rebranding where we focus on the more human side of the library.

Will this add to your workload? Only a little! Filming, editing, and posting only takes about an hour out of my week. You would be in charge of coming up with the video idea, gathering volunteers, directing, editing, and posting. If you like the internet and laughter, it is actually a really fun part of the job.

There’s also no pressure to this. You can be as silly and goofy as you want.

I’ll set up a training with anyone who is interested.

Here’s some examples:

–This is an idea that we came up with (not a trend)

–This a trend that we did before it was overdone

–Lip sync videos are always really popular and can be related to library things

Last day of school and 25-26 School Calendar

Last Day of School & 2025–2026 School Year Calendar: The Reading School Committee officially voted to set the last day of school as Monday, June 16, 2025 as this will be the 180th day of school, as required by DESE. Looking ahead? In case you missed it, the 2025–2026 school calendar is now available on the district website—be sure to check it out here.