Iowa Publications Online

A snapshot of water resource trends prepared by the Iowa DNR in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the U.S. Geological Survey, and The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department

 
Published Date February 6, 2025 | Issue 164 
A snapshot of water resource trends for January 2025 
 
IOWA DROUGHT CONDITIONS 
 
 
CONDITION SUMMARY - DRY JANUARY  
Even though January saw below-normal precipitation, drought conditions remain stable across the state. Last month, 
the preliminary statewide precipitation totaled 0.32 inches or 0.65 inches below normal. November and December 
precipitation was 1.28 inches above normal, improving statewide conditions going into January, which is typically Iowa’s 
driest month of the year. Soil moisture and stream flows are considered normal despite some deterioration in January. 
The final February precipitation outlook issued by the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) 
indicates a slight chance for above-average precipitation for the eastern half of the state. 
 
January Precipitation and Temperature 
Iowa’s preliminary statewide precipitation totaled 0.32 inches, or 0.65 inches below normal. Most of the northern one-
third of Iowa experienced the driest January in 153 years of statewide records; multiple stations reported no measurable 
precipitation. Only a pocket of south-central Iowa reported above average precipitation with Bloomfield observing the 
month’s highest precipitation of 2.04 inches. The statewide average snowfall was 1.7 inches, 6.6 inches below normal. 
The highest snowfall total was measured near Cedar Rapids. 
 
The statewide average temperature was 18.4 degrees, 1.1 degrees below normal. Iowa Falls reported the month’s high 
temperature of 63 degrees on the 30th, 36 degrees above normal. Emmetsburg and Pocahontas reported the month’s 
low temperature of -22 degrees on the 22nd, on average 29 degrees below normal. 
 
l <DWA..I DNR 
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 
WATER SUMMARY UPDATE 
Iowa Drought Regions 
2 
DROUGHT LEVEL 
NORMAL 
WATCH 
WARNING 
EMERGENCY 
IMPROVING◊ 
DEGRADING◊ 
NOTREND ~ 
 
 
 
Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) 
The SPI is an index based on accumulated precipitation for various time scales. SPI is the most commonly used indicator 
worldwide for detecting and characterizing meteorological droughts. The SPI indicator measures precipitation 
differences based on a comparison of observed total precipitation amounts over the period of interest with the long-
term historical precipitation record for that period. Droughts are characterized by negative SPI values, while positive SPI 
values indicate wet periods. The range of SPI values is between -3 and +3, denoting “extremely dry” to “extremely wet”.  
 
90-day SPI values for all Drought Regions in January (comparing November, December, and January precipitation) are 
above zero. 180-day SPI values are all negative, with only Drought Region 4 improving slightly.  
 
Drought 
Region 
3-month SPI 6-month SPI 
IDP Classification 
↑ = improving 
↓ = degrading 
↔ = no trend 
1 + 0.5 - 1.2 Normal ↑ 
2 + 0.7 - 0.9 Normal ↔ 
3 + 0.6 - 0.7 Normal ↓ 
4 + 1.0 - 0.5 Normal ↔ 
5 + 0.7 - 0.5 Normal ↓ 
 
Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI) and Streamflow 
SSI is a metric that compares current streamflow against the historical record to determine how far away the current 
streamflow value is from the river’s historical mean observed on the same date. SSI values in four of the five drought 
regions have improved, with Drought Region 5 with a slightly lower value.  
 
According to the US Geological Survey, in January streamflow levels remain mostly normal across the state. Compared to 
January 2024, Regions 3 and 4 in a Drought Watch and Region 5 in a Drought Warning with SSI values of -1.27, -1.02, and 
-1.84 respectively. It should be noted that during the winter season, USGS streamflow data may be impacted by ice 
formation and backwater.  
Accumulated Precipitation: Percent of 1991-2020 Normals 
January 01 , 2025 to January 31 , 2025 
2 5 10 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 300 400 
 
US DROUGHT MONITOR AND DROUGHT CONDITIONS 
The current US Drought Monitor (USDM) shows similar drought conditions compared to December’s map published in 
the January Water Summary Update. However, drought conditions improved compared to the end of October. At the 
end of October, about 37 percent of Iowa was rated as D1 - Moderate Drought, and 50 percent was rated as D2 - Severe 
Drought. By the end of January, D1 - Moderate Drought area had increased to 54 percent and the D2 - Severe Drought 
area had decreased to less than one percent. An unseasonably dry January, which is already the driest month of the year 
falls in the driest part of the year explains the continued drought conditions. The most recent USDM, released on 
February 6, shows a continuation in conditions across portions of the state, with only one area of D2 - Severe Drought 
covering about one percent of the state in northwest Iowa. 
 
 
The Seasonal Drought Outlook released on January 31 by the CPC, valid through April 20, 2025, shows the potential for 
drought persistence in the western and northwestern portion of Iowa, and no drought or removal over the rest of the 
state. This outlook considers the impacts of recent precipitation as well as seasonal precipitation outlooks. Drought 
conditions tend to be stable during the winter months, so improvement or removal is seen as a positive development.  
 
 
 
U.S. Drought Monitor 
Iowa 
February 4, 2025 
(Released Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025) 
Valid 7 a.m. EST 
Intensity: 
D None 
D DO Abnormally Dry 
D D1 Moderate Drought 
LJ D2 Severe Drought 
- D3 Extreme Drought 
- D4 Exceptional Drought 
The Drough t Monitor toruses on troad•scale 
oondifions. Local conditions may vary. For more 
fl formation on the Drought Mon,tor, go to 
https:Jldroughlmonilor.unl.edu/Aboul.aspx 
Author: 
Lindsay Johnson 
National Drought Mitigation Center 
USDA ... -
droug htmonitor.unl .edu 
U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook 
Drought Tendency During the Valld Period 
Valid for February 1 - April 30, 2025 
Released January 31, 2025 
■ Drought pcrsisb 
Dt<M.tght rcm11Jru, 
!x.t iml)t"O'Ve$ 
■ Drought 1-etnoval likely 
Drought devefopment like ly 
D No drought 
OTHER WATER RESOURCE INFORMATION 
 
Border River Conditions 
Current conditions on both the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers show generally normal flows. On the Missouri River the 
US Army Corps of Engineers reports that total reservoir storage peaked for the year in July, and is consistent with USACE 
forecast levels. Storage should be slightly below normal levels by the end of the calendar year, which will allow for flood 
storage in 2025.  
 
January Soil Moisture 
The Iowa Geological Survey reports that surface soil moisture conditions look considerably lower than the previous 
month across the state. This is consistent with the absence of precipitation in January and can be seen in the figure 
below. Additionally, soil moisture sensors can misinterpret frozen water as very dry soil.  
 
 
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 
This edition of the Water Summary Update continues to reflect use of the 2023 Iowa Drought Plan (IDP), which was 
developed as a collaborative effort between the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture and 
Land Stewardship, and the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The IDP can be seen in its 
entirety on the DNR’s website: The Iowa Drought Plan.  
 
For additional information on the information in this Water Summary Update please contact any of the following:  
 
General Information, Jessica Reese McIntyre, Iowa DNR .................... Jessica.ReeseMcIntyre@dnr.iowa.gov, 515-725-9547 
State Climatologist & Drought Coordinator, Justin Glisan, IDALS............. Justin.Glisan@iowaagriculture.gov, 515-281-8981 
Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI), Elliot Anderson, IGS ................................ elliot-anderson@uiowa.edu, 319-335-1575 
Stream Flow, Dan Christiansen, USGS ............................................................................... dechrist@usgs.gov, 319-358-3639 
Stream Flow, Mike Anderson, Iowa DNR ................................................... Michael.Anderson@dnr.iowa.gov, 515-725-0336 
Soil Moisture, Filipe Quintero Duque, Iowa Flood Center ................................... felipe-quintero@uiowa.edu, 319-384-1727 
30 
10 
35 
15 
ISU Soil Moisture Observations: 2024-11-01 to 2025-02-01 
DONl4: Doon, IA [Region 1] 
NASl4: Nashua, IA [Region 3] 
GREl4: Greenfield, IA [Region 4] 
2024-11-01 2024-11-15 2024-12-01 2024-12-15 2025-01-01 2025-01-15 2025-02-01 
1.0 
0.8 
'2 
0.6= 
0. ·u 
0.4 ~ 
0.. 
0.2 
1.25 
1.00-
c 
0.75 ~ 
·u 
0.50 ct 
0.25 
0.6 
0.4 g-
~ 
0.. 
0.2 


Water Summary Update, February 6, 2025, No. 164

Agreed-upon procedures report on the City of St. Paul for the period ending June 30, 202

 
OFFICE OF AUDITOR OF STATE  
STATE OF IOWA 
State Capitol Building 
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0006 
Telephone (515) 281-5834  
Rob Sand 
Auditor of State 
 
 
 
 NEWS RELEASE  
  Contact:  Pam Bormann 
FOR RELEASE February 13, 2025 515/281-5834 
Auditor of State Rob Sand today released an agreed-upon procedures report on the City of St. Paul, 
Iowa, for the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024.  The agreed-upon procedures engagement 
was performed pursuant to Chapter 11.6 of the Code of Iowa.  
Sand reported nine findings related to the receipt and disbursement of taxpayer funds.  They are 
found on pages 7 and 8 of this report.  The findings address issues such as a lack of segregation of 
duties, the lack of bank reconciliations, the lack of utility reconciliations and the City not using a 
uniform chart of accounts.  Sand provided the City with recommendations to address each of the 
findings. 
The City Council has a fiduciary responsibility to provide oversight of the City’s operations and 
financial transactions.  Oversight is typically defined as the “watchful and responsible care” a 
governing body exercises in its fiduciary capacity.   
A copy of the agreed-upon procedures report is available for review on the Auditor of State’s website 
at Audit Reports – Auditor of State. 
# # # 
 
 
2422-0535-EP0P 
CITY OF ST. PAUL 
 
AUDITOR OF STATE’S INDEPENDENT REPORT 
ON APPLYING AGREED-UPON PROCEDURES 
 
FOR THE PERIOD 
JULY 1, 2023 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2024 
 
 
 
 
City of St. Paul 
 
OFFICE OF AUDITOR OF STATE  
STATE OF IOWA 
State Capitol Building 
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0006 
Telephone (515) 281-5834  
Rob Sand 
Auditor of State 
 
 
 
February 6, 2025 
Officials of the City of St. Paul 
St. Paul, Iowa 
Dear Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council: 
I am pleased to submit to you the agreed-upon procedures report for the City of St. Paul, Iowa, for the 
period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024.  The agreed-upon procedures engagement was performed 
pursuant to Chapter 11.6 of the Code of Iowa and in accordance with attestation standards established 
by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the standards for attestation engagements 
contained in Government Auditing Standards. 
I appreciate the cooperation and courtesy extended by the officials and employees of the City of St. Paul 
throughout the agreed-upon procedures engagement.  If I or this office can be of any further assistance, 
please contact me or my staff at 515-281-5834.   
 Sincerely,  
 Rob Sand 
 Auditor of State 
 
2 
Table of Contents 
  Page 
Officials  3 
Auditor of State’s Independent Report on Applying Agreed-Upon Procedures  4-5 
Detailed Findings and Recommendations: Finding 
Segregation of Duties A 7 
Bank Reconciliations B 7 
Chart of Accounts C 7 
Reconciliation of Utility Billings, Collections and 
  Delinquent Accounts D 7 
Monthly City Clerk’s Report E 8 
Disbursements F 8 
Interfund Transfers G 8 
Annual Financial Report (AFR) H 8 
Payroll I 8 
Staff  9 
 
 
 
 
3 
City of St. Paul 
Officials 
  Term Term 
Name Title Began Expires 
John Dingman Mayor Jan 2024 Jan 2026 
Marty Bentler Council Member Jan 2024 Jan 2026 
Rod Cox Council Member Jan 2024 Jan 2026 
Paul Kenel Council Member Jan 2024 Jan 2026 
Ted Moeller Council Member Jan 2024 Jan 2026 
Brent Pieper Council Member Jan 2024 Jan 2026 
Jolene Cox City Clerk  Indefinite 
Brian Helling Attorney  Indefinite 
 
 
OFFICE OF AUDITOR OF STATE  
STATE OF IOWA 
State Capitol Building 
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0006 
Telephone (515) 281-5834  
Rob Sand 
Auditor of State 
 
 
4 
Auditor of State’s Independent Report on Applying Agreed-Upon Procedures 
To the Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council: 
We performed the procedures below, which were established at Iowa Code Chapter 11.6, to provide 
oversight of Iowa cities.  Accordingly, we have applied certain procedures to selected accounting records 
and related information of the City of Anywhere for the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, 
including procedures related to the City’s compliance with certain Code of Iowa requirements identified 
below.  The City of St. Paul’s management, which agreed to the performance of the procedures 
performed, is responsible for compliance with these requirements and for the City’s records.   
This agreed-upon procedures engagement was conducted in accordance with attestation standards 
established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the standards for attestation 
engagements contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the 
United States.  The City of St. Paul’s management has agreed to and acknowledged that the procedures 
performed are appropriate to meet the intended purpose to report, in accordance with Chapter 11.6 of 
the Code of Iowa, recommendations pertaining to selected accounting records and related information 
of the City including the City’s compliance with certain Code of Iowa requirements.  This report may not 
be suitable for any other purpose.  The procedures performed may not address all the items of interest 
to a user of this report and may not meet the needs of all users of this report and, as such, users are 
responsible for determining whether the procedures performed are appropriate for their purposes.   
The procedures we performed are summarized as follows: 
1. We observed selected City Council meeting minutes for compliance with Chapters 21, 
372.13(6) and 380 of the Code of Iowa. 
2. We obtained an understanding of the City’s internal controls to determine if proper control 
procedures were in place and incompatible duties, from a control standpoint, were not 
performed by the same employee. 
3. We observed surety bond coverage for compliance with Chapter 64 of the Code of Iowa. 
4. We obtained and observed the City Clerk’s financial reports and selected bank 
reconciliations to determine whether the bank balances properly reconciled to the general 
ledger account balances, journal entries and monthly financial reports provided to the City 
Council. 
5. We scanned City funds for consistency with the City Finance Committee’s recommended 
Uniform Chart of Accounts (COA) and to determine required funds and fund balances were 
properly maintained and accurately accounted for. 
6. We observed the City’s fiscal year 2024 Annual Financial Report to determine whether it 
was completed timely and accurately reflected the City’s financial information. 
7. We scanned investments to determine compliance with Chapter 12B of the Code of Iowa.   
8. We observed depository resolutions, the City’s investment policy and reporting of unclaimed 
property to the State of Iowa to determine compliance with Chapters 12C.2, 12B.10B and 
556.1(12) of the Code of Iowa. 
9. The City had no debt.
 
5 
10. The City had no TIF. 
11. We traced selected receipts for accurate accounting and consistency with the recommended 
COA. 
12. The City had no voter approved levies. 
13. We traced selected disbursements to proper approval, adequate supporting documentation, 
accurate accounting and consistency with the recommended COA and compliance with the 
public purpose criteria established by Article III, Section 31 of the Constitution of the State 
of Iowa.  
14. We traced transfers between funds to proper authorization and accurate accounting and to 
determine whether transfers were proper. 
15. We traced selected payroll and related transactions to proper authorization and accurate 
accounting and determined whether payroll was proper. 
16. We observed the annual certified budget for proper authorization, certification and timely 
amendment. 
Based on the performance of the procedures described above, we identified various findings and 
recommendations for the City.  Our findings and recommendations are described in the Detailed 
Findings and Recommendations section of this report.  Unless reported in the Detailed Findings and 
Recommendations, no exceptions were noted during the performance of the specific procedures listed 
above. 
We were engaged by the City of St. Paul’s management to perform this agreed-upon procedures 
engagement and conducted our engagement in accordance with attestation standards established by 
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the standards for attestation engagements 
contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States.  
We were not engaged to and did not conduct an examination or review engagement, the objective of 
which would be the expression of an opinion or conclusion, respectively, on specific accounting records 
and related information of the City, including compliance with specific Code of Iowa requirements.  
Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion or conclusion.  Had we performed additional procedures, 
other matters might have come to our attention that would have been reported to you. 
We are required to be independent of the City of St. Paul and to meet our other ethical responsibilities, 
in accordance with the relevant ethical requirements related to our agreed-upon procedures 
engagement.  
The purpose of this report is to report, in accordance with Chapter 11.6 of the Code of Iowa, certain 
agreed-upon procedures and the resulting findings and recommendations pertaining to selected 
accounting records and related information of the City, including the City’s compliance with certain 
Code of Iowa requirements.  This report is not suitable for any other purpose. 
We would like to acknowledge the many courtesies and assistance extended to us by personnel of the 
City of St. Paul during the course of our agreed-upon procedures engagement.  Should you have any 
questions concerning any of the above matters, we shall be pleased to discuss them with you at your 
convenience. 
 
 
 
  Pam Bormann, CPA 
  Deputy Auditor of State 
February 6, 2025 
 
6 
 
Detailed Findings and Recommendations
City of St. Paul 
Detailed Findings and Recommendations 
For the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 
7 
(A) Segregation of Duties – Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal 
control.  A good system of internal control provides for adequate segregation of duties so no one 
individual handles a transaction from its inception to completion.  In order to maintain proper 
internal control, duties should be segregated so the authorization, custody and recording of 
transactions are not under the control of the same employee.  This segregation of duties helps 
prevent losses from employee error or dishonesty and maximizes the accuracy of the City’s 
financial statements.  Generally, one individual has control over each of the following areas for 
the City: 
(1) Cash – handling, reconciling and recording. 
(2) Investments – investing, recording, custody and reconciling earnings. 
(3) Receipts – opening mail, collecting, depositing, recording, reconciling and posting. 
(4) Disbursements – purchasing, invoice processing, check writing, mailing, reconciling 
and recording. 
(5) Payroll – recordkeeping, preparing and distributing. 
(6) Utilities – collecting, depositing, posting and maintaining accounts receivable. 
(7) Financial reporting – preparing and reconciling. 
Recommendation – We realize segregation of duties is difficult with a limited number of 
employees.  However, the City should review its control procedures to obtain the maximum 
internal control possible under the circumstances utilizing currently available staff, including 
elected officials.  Independent reviews of reconciliations should be documented by the signature 
or initials of the reviewer and the date of the review. 
(B) Bank Reconciliations – The cash and investment balances in the City’s general ledger were not 
reconciled to bank and investment account balances throughout the year.  No outstanding items 
support was maintained to document differences between the book and bank balances. 
Recommendation – The City should establish procedures to ensure bank and investment account 
balances are reconciled to the general ledger monthly and variances, if any, are reviewed and 
resolved timely.  An independent person should review the reconciliations and document the 
review by the signature or initials of the reviewer and the date of the review on the monthly 
reconciliations. 
(C) Chart of Accounts – The City has not implemented the recommended Uniform Chart of Accounts 
(COA) for Iowa City Governments approved by the City Finance Committee. 
Recommendation – To provide better financial information and control, the recommended COA, 
or its equivalent, should be followed. 
(D) Reconciliation of Utility Billings, Collections and Delinquent Accounts – Utility billings, 
collections and delinquent accounts were not reconciled throughout the year and a delinquent 
account listing was not prepared monthly. 
Recommendation – A listing of delinquent accounts should be prepared monthly.  Procedures 
should be established to reconcile utility billings, collections and delinquent accounts for each 
billing period.  The City Council or other independent person designated by the City Council 
should review the reconciliations and monitor delinquent accounts.  The review should be 
documented by the signature or initials of the reviewer and the date of the review. 
City of St. Paul 
Detailed Findings and Recommendations 
For the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 
8 
(E) Monthly City Clerk’s Report – The City Clerk’s report to the City Council did not contain the 
beginning fund balance.   
Recommendation – The City should establish procedures to ensure all required elements are 
included in the monthly City Clerk’s report.  The City Council or a designated member should 
review and approve the monthly City Clerk’s reports and review/approval should be documented 
by the signature or initials of the reviewer and the date of the review/approval. 
(F) Disbursements – For 31 disbursements observed, we noted the following: 
• For one disbursement observed, sales tax of $3 was paid.  As a governmental entity, the 
City maintains a tax-exempt status.  As a result, the City should not incur sales tax. 
• There was no supporting documentation available, or the supporting documentation was 
not complete for two transactions observed for $250. 
Recommendation – The City should establish procedures to ensure all payments are reviewed to 
prevent the payment of sales tax.  In addition, the City should establish procedures to ensure all 
disbursements are properly supported by a vendor invoice or other supporting documenation. 
(G) Interfund Transfers – Section 545-2 of the City Finance Committee Rules requires “A fund 
transfer resolution must be completed for all transfers between funds and must include a clear 
statement of reason or purpose for the transfer, the name of the fund from which the transfer is 
originating, the name of the fund into which the transfer is to be received, and the dollar amount 
to be transferred.  Resolutions were not completed for the two transfers made during fiscal year 
2024.   
Recommendation – The resolutions approving all fund transfers should include the information 
required by Section 545-2 of the City Finance Committee Rules. 
(H) Annual Financial Report (AFR) – Chapter 384.22 of the Code of Iowa requires the City’s ARF 
include a “summary for the preceding fiscal year of all collections and receipts, all accounts due 
the city, and all expenditures…”  The beginning balances did not agree to the prior year ending 
balance. 
Recommendation – The City should establish procedures to ensure fund balances reported on 
the AFR agree with the City’s records and beginning balances to prior year AFR. 
(I) Payroll – The following items were noted for payroll: 
• The City Clerks compensation approval was not documented in the City Council meeting 
minutes. 
• There was no documentation for the approval of the quarterly payment for the City Clerk. 
• The City Council members compensation was not established and approved by ordinance 
as required by Chapter 372.13(8) of the Code of Iowa. 
Recommendation – Approved compensation for the City Clerk and the payment to the City Clerk 
should be adequately documented in the meeting minutes.  In addition, the City should establish 
and approve the compensation for the City Council members by ordinance, as required. 
City of St. Paul 
Staff 
9 
This engagement was performed by: 
Pamela J. Bormann, CPA, Deputy 
Cole L. Hocker, CPA, Director 
Stephen J. Hoffman, CIA, Senior Auditor II 
Christopher L. Poague, Staff Auditor 
 


Agreed-upon procedures report on the City of St. Paul for the period ending June 30, 2024

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week

Monday Morning Eye-Opener February 17, 2025
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
February 17, 2025  
Mental Health First Aid Training
New Course Offering in 2025
This year, the State Library is introducing a new training
program: Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) This is an
evidence-based, early-intervention course that teaches
participants how to identify and respond to individuals
experiencing mental health and substance use challenges.
This training is specifically intended for people working with
the public and is designed to help teach appropriate strategies for recognizing and
intervening in a crisis. 
More About This Course
Provides participants with the skills to offer initial assistance and guide individuals
toward appropriate professional help when necessary
Emphasizes the importance of recovery and resiliency, based on the belief that
individuals experiencing these challenges can improve and utilize their own
strengths to stay well
Teaches participants a 5-step action plan to help someone developing a mental
health problem or experiencing a crisis
Classes will be offered regularly both virtually and in-person over the coming year. As
required by MHFA, each event will be capped at 15 participants, registration will close one
week before the event to allow time for materials to be ordered. The sessions will be
facilitated by a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor.
Currently Scheduled Events (worth 8 hours of CE Credit)
Space is limited, registration is required. Login to Workday Learning to learn more and to
sign up.
Virtual Sessions Via Zoom
Tuesday March 4. 8:30AM-3:00PM. (2 hours of prework, 6 hours of content, 30-
minute lunch break)
E
n
Friday March 28. 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM (2 hours of prework, 6 hours of content, 30-
minute lunch break)
In-Person Training 
State Library Building. 1112 East Grand Ave, Des Moines. Room 310 
Friday April 4. 8:00AM-4:30PM. (7.5 hours of content, 1-hour lunch break)
Training sessions are open to anyone working in a public library in Iowa. No prior
experience is necessary. Stay tuned to State Library communication channels as
additional training dates will be announced for fall.
Register in WorkDay Learning
 
This program is part of the Trauma-Informed Library
Practices work, funded by the Institute of Museum and
Library Services Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Grant:
RE-254904-OLS-23 
Reminder: AtMail Service Discontinuing
Deadline May 1st
Today, this necessary reminder because the deadline is
looming: as of May 1, 2025, the State Library will no
longer provide email service to public libraries. AtMail,
the State Library’s vendor for email service, is currently
used by 299 public libraries, all of which will need to
 select a new email service provider by May 1st.
Last August, State Library management announced the end of our SILO AtMail service. 
And since then, State Library staff have been gathering resources to help public libraries
work through this process, helping to answer questions about switching over to another
email provider.
Several situations prompted this decision, among them frustration with ongoing technical
issues, obviously affecting service satisfaction.  In addition, last year brought about
difficulties in handling FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests. Because state and
local government emails are considered public records, providing email service to libraries
puts the State Library in the time consuming and potentially sensitive position of being in
the middle between the city and the email service provider. Legally, FOIA requests are
best handled in their entirety by the city government.
And finally, the longevity of this service factored in. The State Library began offering email
service to public libraries about 25 years ago when few libraries had staff expertise to
establish it locally. Today, email is ubiquitous and can be likened to phone or Internet
service, which the our agency does not provide for public libraries. 
So if your library hasn’t already made the switch to a new email provider, we have detailed
explanations, FAQs, as well as a video clip on the webpage linked below. Moreover, your
District LRT is standing by to provide support through this process.
Please be mindful of the May 1st deadline, click below for much more,
and thank you for for seeing to this soon!   
Email Service Transitioning
 
State Library Launches New Website
State Library of Iowa.Gov
Have you seen it?  It’s really quite awesome!  That being the State Library’s new website,
launched last Tuesday on the official platform for all state agencies.  Following a directive
from Governor Reynolds regarding a state government realignment in 2023, the goal was
for all state agencies to move to the official website platform.  The photo above is the
State Law Library now showing on our main landing page.
“This project has been in the works for some months now, and we are pleased to launch
the new State Library website with some exciting enhancements for our users,” said
Interim State Librarian Brenda Hall. “The new website still contains all of the important
information that libraries and Iowans have come to expect from us.  And it is now more
apparent that we are part of state government.”
The State of Iowa contracted with a vendor to lead the process in updating and
transitioning state agency websites to a consistent platform. The State Library follows
about 60 other state agency websites that have already gone through the process, place
us now on the official state government website platform for the first time. 
The State Library’s new website platform is built on the Drupal platform and is designed
with accessibility and readability in mind. NOTE: this switch does not affect public libraries’
PLOW websites, those will remain on the Concrete5 platform. 
New Website Features Include
Improved content for landing pages, locations, contacts, and “How Do I…”
explanations for processes
Quick Links to useful and popular content throughout the site
More white space and larger fonts for accessibility
Shorter paragraphs and sentences for readability
Greater compatibility with mobile use, including Tables of Contents and “Back to
Top” links on longer pages
Improved navigation, showcasing more of the work the State Library does
Prominent featured images that complement the text
Take some time to browse and bookmark the
State Library’s new website today!
State Library of Iowa.Gov
 
This Week
February 18. All Iowa Reads 2025:
Exploring the Shortlist. 
Online. 11:00AM-12:00PM
This hour-long webinar introduces the 2025 All Iowa
Reads shortlists for Adults, Teens, & Kids. Through
booktalks and read-a-likes.  Plus ides ideas for
spotlighting these titles and the All Iowa Reads finalists in
your library.
February 21.  Friday Tech Focus. NotebookLM:
Your New Digital Sidekick. Online. 9:30-10:00AM
Meet NotebookLM, maybe your newest (and most tireless) research assistant! Think of it
as a supercharged notetaker, a friendly brainstorming buddy, and a master of all things
organized. Whether you're chasing the elusive perfect program idea, drafting policies, or
managing your research, NotebookLM can help.
Friday Tech Focus is a quarterly opportunity to learn about a new tech or web tool, and
discuss how it might be used in a library setting. Perfect for the busy librarian! Spend 30
minutes learning about a new tool, then stay for informal discussion if you have time.
Register in WorkDay Learning
 
Monday Morning Eye-Opener
Editor: Bonnie McKewon
1112 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
The State Library is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library
Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.
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Monday Morning Eye Opener, February 17th, 2025

This newsletter is produced by the State Library of Iowa's  Continuing Education consultant. The information in this newsletter is updated and current information for the librarians of Iowa. It give information on classes, webinars, etc

February 14, 2025
STEM Fairs & Summer Reading Summits Kickoff March
3
Join us at an event near you
Space remains at each STEM Fair and Summer Reading Summit. We'd love to have you join us. See how
much fun folks had last year in the above picture? You won't want to miss these! 
STEM Fairs: Hands-on learning for inexpensive STEM programming
Are you new to STEM and need some inspiration to get started programming in your library? Or are you
already doing STEM activities and need some fresh ideas to keep attendees interested? If you answered “yes”
to either of those questions, please join us for a Librarian STEM Fair!
 More Information & Registration
 
Summer Reading Summits: Polish Summer planning and network with other librarians
Reg·ster loday! 
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Taking place the day following the STEM Fair, the Summer Reading Summits are designed to help you put the
finishing touches on your plans for Summer Library Programming. We’ll talk about the importance of summer
learning for kids and teens, best practices for summer programming, and have plenty of time to network and
hear from each other.
More Information & Registration
Quick Youth Services programming note: Pop YS Live and Check it Out will be on break while Janeé's
traveling for these events. We'll see you again for our usual webinars in April!
Newly-Added Events
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a course designed to teach individuals how
to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance
use challenges among adults aged 18 and older. The training provides
participants with the skills to offer initial assistance and guide individuals
toward appropriate professional help when necessary.
Virtual Events:
Tuesday, March 4, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Friday, March 28, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
In Person Event:
Friday, April 4, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Des Moines)
More Information & Registration
Additional Upcoming Events
All Iowa Reads 2025: Exploring the Shortlists
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
This hour-long webinar will introduce you to the 2025 All Iowa Reads shortlists for
Adults, Teens, & Kids. You'll hear booktalks and read-alike selections for the
shortlisted books for Adults, Kids and Teens. Attendees will also hear ideas for
spotlighting these titles and the All Iowa Reads finalists in your library.
More Information & Registration
Friday Tech Focus (February 2025) | NotebookLM: Your New Digital Sidekick
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Friday, Feb. 21, 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Meet NotebookLM, maybe your newest (and most tireless) research assistant! Think
of it as a supercharged notetaker, a friendly brainstorming buddy, and a master of all
things organized. Whether you're chasing the elusive perfect program idea, drafting
policies, or managing your research, NotebookLM can help.
More Information & Registration
 
Open Meetings & Records: Compliance is the Law
Tuesday, Feb. 25, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Public library boards are subject to Iowa's Open Records and Open Meetings laws.
In this session, representatives from the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB) will
provide an overview of the legal requirements and best practices for boards to comply with these laws in order to
maintain transparency. The session will cover such topics as compliance with posting of meetings, public comment,
requests for records, how and when library boards can go into closed sessions, and avoiding legal pitfalls.
More Information & Registration
Check it Out (February 2025)
Tuesday, Feb. 25, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Check it Out! is a monthly webinar series from the State Library of Iowa spotlighting
the best new books for ages 0-18. Youth Services Consultant Janeé Jackson-
Doering will share collection development tips, programming ideas, the best books
to use for storytimes, and of course, new titles galore for kids and teens. This is a fun, fast-paced session that will fill
both your library shelves and your TBR list!
More Information & Registration
Big Ideas Book Discussion (February 2025) | Meet Me at
the Library: A Place to Foster Social Connection and
Promote Democracy
Friday, Feb. 28, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
The 2025 Big Ideas Book Discussion series kicks off with Meet Me at the Library: A
Place to Foster Social Connection and Promote Democracy by Shamichael Hallman. The subtitle speaks to the
enduring attributes of America’s public libraries as places that build community connections and uphold democratic
principles.
More Information & Registration
 
Summer Library Programming 2025: Adult Programming
& Materials
Wednesday, Mar. 12, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
"Level Up" your summer reading program by including adults! Learn lots of great
ideas for programming you can use any time (but especially with this year's summer
reading theme), including programs for adults and families (with many programs being suitable for teen audiences,
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too). We'll even have a special focus on reaching adults ages 20-30. In addition to programming, we'll discuss
promotion, prizes, and more. 
More Information & Registration
Webinar Archive: Two Ways to View
For Credit: Workday Learning
View courses in Workday Learning and complete the evaluation to see the CE Hours on
your All Completed Hours and Endorsement Tracker Reports. To enroll in courses: Find the
"Learning" app, choose "Discover," then finally "Browse Learning." Contact the CE Team for
help navigating Workday (LibContEd@iowa.gov).
Workday Learning Login
To Audit: YouTube
If you don't track CE hours, or only want to view for informational purposes, you
can also view recorded webinars on the State Library of Iowa CE Team YouTube
Channel. Subscribe for alerts when new content is added!
State Library CE YouTube Channel
External CE Training Opportunities
The Maine State Library maintains a list of CE events going on around the country. It's
a good place to browse if you're looking for hours, or something on a specific topic.
Our thanks to our colleagues in Maine for compiling this list. Please confirm time zone
when registering for an event.
Nationwide CE Calendar
 
 
Watch a course from that list or another CE training offered by someone other than
the State Library of Iowa? Please complete the "Request for External CE Form" within 45 days of participating in the
training.
Request for External CE Credit
Hours earned through WebJunction are automatically applied to your Workday Learning account. You can
expect to see hours on your account on or near the first day of the following month. The completion date of your
coursework in Workday will match your WebJunction certificate.
You do not need to fill out the Request for External CE Credit form for WebJunction content for any course. 
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STATE LIBRARY 
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Browse the WebJunction Course Catalog
CE Consultant: Samantha Bouwers
1112 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
The Continuing Education program is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library
Services under the provisions of the Library Services and  Technology Act as administered by the State
Library of Iowa.
I I 
WebJunction 


State Library of Iowa: Continuing Education Newsletter from the State Library of Iowa, February 14, 2025

State of Iowa - SAS 122 for the year ended June 30, 202

State of Iowa - SAS 122 for the year ended June 30, 2024

Rules and Regulations for nonresident deer hunting in Iowa

2025 Nonresident Iowa Deer Application Instructions, 2025

Weekly newsletter for the Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology of the Iowa Department of Public Healt

 
Epi Update for Friday, March 7, 2025 
C E N T E R  F O R  A C U T E  D I S E A S E  E P I D E M I O L O G Y  ( C A D E )  
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) 
 
Items for this week’s Epi Update include 
• Vaccine recommendations and food safety for spring break travel 
• National increase in pertussis cases in 2024 
• Infographic: Food and beverage safety for the international traveler 
 
Vaccine recommendations and food safety for spring break travel 
With spring break approaching, travelers should be reminded of the health risks associated with domestic and  
international travel. CDC offers destination-specific guidelines for international travel. Key points of concern 
include ongoing disease outbreaks or travel warnings at the destination, vaccines recommended prior to travel, 
and prophylactic medication to consider packing for the trip.  
 
Remember to check the vaccination guidelines for destinations early in the travel planning process, as some 
vaccine schedules recommend multiple doses, and it generally takes about two weeks for antibodies to 
develop post-vaccination to reach full protection. 
 
Examples of vaccines that may be recommended based on destination include hepatitis A, Japanese 
encephalitis, typhoid, and yellow fever. It is also important to ensure routine vaccines such as MMR, hepatitis 
B, influenza, Tdap, etc. are up to date before traveling. 
 
There are several important food and water safety tips to keep in mind while traveling internationally: 
• Wash hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand 
sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. 
• Consider not eating raw foods.  Fruits and vegetables are often safter to eat if you can peel them 
yourself or wash them with bottled or disinfected water. 
• Pre-packaged foods are generally a safer option than food opened or handled by another person. 
• Do not drink tap water or use ice in countries where tap water might be contaminated. Avoid swallowing 
water while showering and brush your teeth with bottled or disinfected water. Tap water can be 
disinfected by boiling, filtering, or chemically treating. 
 
For more information about travel safety from CDC, including guidelines based on destination, visit 
wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.  
 
For more food safety tips when traveling, visit wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/food-water-safety. 
 
National increase in pertussis cases in 2024 
Pertussis case reports have been lower than usual over the past five years. However, the United States is 
returning to typical patterns where more than 10,000 cases are reported each year. In 2024, reported cases of 
pertussis increased across the United States and in Iowa, indicating a return to pre-pandemic trends.  
Preliminary data from CDC shows more than six times as many cases in 2024 than in 2023. 
 
Vaccination remains the best way to prevent pertussis. However, as typical infection patterns return to the 
United States, CDC expects pertussis cases to continue to increase in both unvaccinated and vaccinated 
populations. Pertussis can occur in vaccinated people as protection from vaccination fades over time.   
 
 
For more information regarding pertussis vaccination trends, visit hhs.iowa.gov/data/health/immunization.   
 
For more information on national pertussis trends, visit www.cdc.gov/pertussis/php/surveillance/index.html.  
 
Infographic: Food and beverage safety for the international traveler 
 
 
To view in full size, visit stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/55282.  
 
 
Have a healthy and happy week! 
Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology 
800-362-2736 
 


Epi Update for Friday, March 7, 2025

This document contains the Governor's recommendations for the Department of Education in FY 2025 (fiscal year ending June 30, 2025)

Department of Education Budget, FY 2025

This document contains the Governor's recommendations for the Iowa Telecommunications and Technology Commission in FY 2025 (fiscal year ending June 30, 2025)

Iowa Telecommunications & Technology Commission Budgets, FY 2025

This document contains the Governor's recommendations for the Secretary of State in FY 2025 (fiscal year ending June 30, 2025)

Iowa Department of Human Services

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