October 22, 2009

Friends of the Library

This is the 4th annual National Friends of Libraries Week, so we'd like to take this opportunity to thank our Friends! Thank you Friends, for your generosity, kindness and hard work!

Friends of Libraries are people who live in your community who want to contribute to the library. They are an active, fundraising body who meet with library staff to decide where to allocate and how to raise funds for the library. The most recent, exciting purchase of the Friends was the Museum Pass Program.

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October 9, 2009

Make Way for Ducklings

After 25-30 phone calls and way too much staff time spent on dealing with our abandoned duck situation, we said goodbye to them yesterday as they embarked on their journey to a new life on a farm. It was a sad situation, as they were abandoned and left in the park by their 'human family.' Presumably, the people thought that they would survive, just as the other ducks and geese here do, but Muscovy ducks are special. They bond with their humans and continue to desire human contact. In truth, I will miss them. It was cute to see them pecking on the window of the Children's Room, wanting the attention of the people inside. And, it definitely engaged the community -- people were angry, scared, happy... whatever the emotion, they couldn't wait to walk into the building and tell us about it!

I'm glad that we were able to find them a home where they will be well taken care of, be safe from other wildlife and not become someone's dinner. Thanks to Bryant employee, Joey for his help in finding them their new home. And, many, many thanks to the rescuers who tirelessly work to keep our local ducks healthy, happy and safe.

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October 4, 2009

Look Out... I Mean, Duck!

Our location in Gerry Park is mostly a blessing, but sometimes a curse. When we have difficulty leaving the parking lot on a snowy day, it's a curse. When we look out the window and admire the beauty around us, it's a blessing. Dealing with abandoned ducks falls into the curse category.

Upon arriving at work this morning, I was faced with a pile of notes left by yesterday's library crew. It was amazing to see that on a busy Saturday, the librarians took the time to call more than 10 different places to try to "rehome" the abandoned, aggressive ducks in our parking lot. Some of these places included Volunteers for Wildlife, Department of Wildlife, Department of Environmental Conservation, US Fish and Wildlife, Animal Control, two different people who do rehab, and the 6th Precinct. The wildlife organizations wouldn't help because... (wait for it...) these are Muscovy, domesticated ducks. They are not "wild" ducks. I'd love to know the difference. The police said that they couldn't help us contain them, but suggested putting up a "dangerous duck crossing" sign! Another rescue organization suggested spraying them with a strong stream of water. And, yet another person said, 'how aggressive could they be? no one's ever been killed by a duck before!' Tell that to the people that were chased and bitten by the ducks yesterday! At the end of the day, the ducks are still here.

These poor ducks have been abandoned in a strange place. The other ducks won't let them anywhere near the pond, and they've become quite aggressive. This is not the first time we've had a 'duck issue,' and I'm quite sure it won't be the last. Of all of the things we have to deal with 'on the job,' this is the oddest. I wish that people would find a humane way to deal with their unwanted animals. Abandonment is not the answer.

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July 30, 2009

Circulation Statistics

We are so proud to announce that the overall circulation of materials has increased by 16,241 which represents a 6% increase over last year’s figures! One of the most significant increases is patron self-service renewals which has increased by 64% over the last three years.

"Circulation" is one of those funny library words... what we call the Circulation Desk, most people refer to as the "check out" desk. But, when you think about it, Circulation is a good word for it. Library materials leave our building, go out into the community, return to the library, and go out again and again. Does that make us the heart of the community? I think it does!

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July 22, 2009

Book Recommendations

How do you find a good book to read? Is it from the New York Times Book Review? People Magazine? Is it recommendations from friends? This NYTimes article reports that Target is having their employees select books to recommend and displaying them prominently. This display is causing sales as well as a books popularity to rise. Does this mean that they're great books? Possibly, but not necessarily.

We, too have noticed that well-displayed books tend to get taken out more often. We have beautiful book displays, usually around a specific topic and those books just fly off of the shelves. We also put out an annual list of Staff Picks. These are books that have been enjoyed and are recommended by library staff.

Can you get recommendations from Amazon or Oprah? Definitely. But, we can offer one thing those other sources can't -- actual face to face conversation. Ask us for a recommendation. We'll ask you what you have enjoyed in the past, and before you know it, you'll be walking out with a stack of books! And, all we ask for in return is your library card and a promise that they'll be returned in the next few weeks. And, hey -- do you want to borrow a dvd while you're here?

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July 17, 2009

Museum Passes

We are so excited to launch our new Museum Pass Program! Thanks to the Friends of Bryant Library, Roslyn cardholders, over 18 years of age are invited to borrow a pass, free of charge, to Cradle of Aviation, Guggenheim, Long Island Children's Museum, Museum of Modern Art and American Museum of Natural History. Most family passes admit two adults and up to four accompanying children.

Reservations can be made online, right from our website. Or, a Reference Librarian can make the reservation for you. Make your reservation for the day you want to pick up your pass. You may want to pick it up the day before you are going to visit the museum. Your pass will be due two days from that date, so you may want to plan accordingly.

Feedback for this program has been tremendous! Museum-goers have been thrilled to have gotten into the museums for free, and taken advantage of discounts in the gift shops and cafes. We're so glad to be able to offer the Museum Pass Program to you. Thanks, Friends!

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April 20, 2009

Bragging a Little

Here are some of the wonderful comments that we received after giving library tours to all of the 5th graders in Roslyn. These tours began last year and came out of a conversation about collaboration between the Children's Department and the schools. We spend a lot of time and energy on the visits because we know that we are lucky for the opportunity to speak to so many adults and "future adults" at one time. If our goal was to excite everyone about all that the library offers, I think that we were successful.

“We had NO idea what was available. It is a new world for us. Amazing.” Parent, Laurie Merlis

“Going into middle school, the kids should learn all about research at the library.” Parent, Hillary Tenner

“They learned about all the great resources available at the library and online.” Parent, Tammy Rosenbaum

“This trip was full of useful information. I know, I learned many things.” Parent, Jill Glick

“Yes, I feel the Roslyn Library gives the children many resources for the future.” Teacher Assistant, L. Farnan

“It is extremely beneficial as a “step into middle school.” Teacher, Terri Nappi

“The trip allows the students to see how resourceful the library is for them.” Teacher, Karen Hintermeister

“It is a wonderful way to bring them to the next level.” Parent, Megan Gomez

“My daughter has only utilized the children’s section up until now.” Parent, Eden Buchbinder

“Many of the students are unaware of the electronic resources so the Power Point is especially helpful. Visiting the Bryant Room is also very valuable.

Thank you! As always, the trip is so well organized and highlighted the most important information.” Kelly Denig, Teacher (Kelly used to teach Kindergarten, she has been a fifth grade teacher for the past five years.)

“The children need to know about all of your services. I live in the district and love your library, the staff, and all of your services.” Lori Maller, Teaching Assistant (Lori’s three children have been/were frequent users of the Children’s Department.)

“Opens up the eyes of children to a world they may only have heard of, yet -- not truly experienced. Thank you for this tour and showing me” “your secret upstairs Roslyn Room” I didn’t even know it existed ---What a treasure!” Marla Fein, parent.

“It’s very important that children become familiar with what the library has. I love that kids can go online and get help with their homework.” Stefanie Kammerman, parent.

“Gives the students great info for middle School. My family uses the library all the time, we love it. The staff is always great.” Andrew Mulchinski, parent.

"Thank you for the great tour! I never knew that the library could be such an interesting place! I loved the Bryant Room... Normally, I go on Google to access information. Now I will use the Bryant Library for research. I will also check out my summer reading book at the library. Thank you! I never knew that a library card could do so much. Your friend, Kyler Rood"

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March 9, 2009

Library Cuts

It is very quick, easy and necessary to send this letter (by email, fax or snail mail) to your elected officials. Tomorrow is Library Lobby Day, (today is Virtual Lobby Day!) and we are counting on your support.

"As state budget negotiations ramp-up, I am writing to remind you to reject the draconian $18 million cut in Library Aid proposed in the 2009-10 Executive Budget. This proposed 18% cut in funding for library services would be on top of the two cuts in Library Aid imposed in 2008 and would bring library funding down to a level not seen since 1993. These cuts would also result in a corresponding loss of $2 million in federal funds for library services by 2011.

Libraries have already contributed their fair share toward reducing the state's budget deficit. Library Aid would drop from $102 million in 2007 to $80.5 million in 2009 under the Governor's proposal. Between 1998-2006, libraries and library systems received no increases, while other educational institutions received generous increases. When we finally received increases, the funds barely made up for eight years of neglect and inflation. Now -- when libraries are needed more than ever, when libraries are being used more than ever - more cuts are being proposed.

Library use is up dramatically in every community across the state. The neediest in our communities use our libraries to get help writing resumes, applying for jobs, taking ESL and literacy classes, and accessing government assistance programs. Families in our communities use libraries to borrow reading materials and other resources, learn about do-it-yourself projects, and enroll their children in early literacy programs. A recent survey has shown that 80% of libraries in the state have helped a patron look for a job in the past three months and 75% have helped a patron access public assistance.

Library systems are the backbone of our libraries and information infrastructure. They are an example of how the library community has long been a champion and role model for regional cooperation, resource sharing and providing services in a cost-effective and efficient manner, that saves libraries of all types and their patrons money.

Further cuts in Library Aid, will jeopardize the very existence of many of these library systems, and eliminate the very mechanisms that make libraries one of the most cost-effective public services in our communities. No other state funded program serves so many people (over 75% of New York households and getting bigger) with so little state funding (less than one tenth of one percent of the state budget and getting smaller).

To add insult to injury, the NYS Department of Tax and Finance has discontinued mailing paper tax forms to individuals and instead directed them to libraries to pick up forms or download them off the internet. So not only are you asking us to do more with less, but you are asking libraries to help collect the very tax dollars you are taking away from us.

Please consider all other options, like using the discretionary federal stimulus funds, before further reducing funding for our libraries and library systems. Hope to see you at Library Lobby Day on Tuesday, March 10th. For more info visit www.nyla.org."

Local libraries are already beginning to feel the cuts that have been imposed on us -- and more are expected. I can't make it to Albany, but today -- Monday, March 9th is "Virtual" Lobby Day! So, in honor of this occasion, we're asking everyone residing in NEW YORK to post a web letter via NYLA’s Online Advocacy Center today. Even if you have sent previous letters, please do so again because this is a new letter. Together, we CAN make a difference!

It's fast...it's easy. Just follow the link and become a library advocate by contacting our elected officials today. I've already gotten a response from Michelle Schimel. She said that she is advocating to protect library funding. Please take a moment to help your community.

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February 26, 2009

America's Star Library!

Guess who is one of America's Star Libraries!
7,115 = American Public Libraries Surveyed
256 = Americas Star Libraries
34 = New York State
5 = Nassau County
This is from an email that we received from Cathy Mealing, our library director. Can you sense her excitement?

We are all thrilled that The Bryant Library has been given a star from Library Journal this month. The high rating was an assessment of public service, based on four indicators: library visits, circulation, program attendance, and public Internet computer uses. The results are broken down into budget categories and we were one of only two Nassau libraries in our budget group that received stars!

Congratulations to Cathy Mealing, to all Bryant Staff and to all Roslyn residents on a library with star-worthy performance!

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February 12, 2009

Missing Marie

You would not have found Marie on Facebook nor in a Google search. You would never have gotten a text message from her. And, the likelihood of getting an email from her was slim. Her children described her as being 'technologically Amish.' The truth is that Marie Courtney needed to be experienced in person. A typical Marie experience could be summed up with a warm smile, tremendous style, a hot cup of tea and a scone, a witty joke and a hearty laugh. We are celebrating her life even as we are mourning her death.

Marie passed away on February 10, 2009. She was our colleague and our treasured friend. Her last years here at the Bryant Library were spent in the public eye: working the Reference Desk and doing Prime Time programs for the seniors in our community. She planned teas, dance performances, lectures, designed wonderfully creative book displays, did interloans, as well as supervised our services for the homebound. She took great pleasure in her job. So much so that she continued to work part-time, even after her retirement in 2007. A lesser known fact is that Marie worked in nearly every department in the building. She began here in 1982 as a clerk in Technical Services. And, she continued in that department and the Circulation Department while she worked to get her Masters at the age of 65. Imagine that! She went on to a second career when most people are considering retirement! Marie joined the Reference Department as a full-time librarian in 1999.

Those are the facts, but it doesn't tell you who Marie was. As is common when you lose someone you love, you begin to reminisce and that is what we've been doing. A fly on the wall would mostly hear us laughing because so many of our memories of Marie are funny. To look at her, you might think that she'd be somewhat old-fashioned, prim, proper, but you'd be wrong. She was an intelligent, curious, kind, vivacious, hilarious woman. She was always well put together, from her hairdo and manicure, to her sunglasses and high heels - Jackie O. would have had nothing on her! Marie had three children and one precious granddaughter, all of whom she adored and was incredibly proud of. She loved her tea and blueberry scones. She loved to read. She possessed great inner strength, and a healthy dose of stubbornness. She loved to laugh and to make other people laugh. She enjoyed New Yorker cartoons and would often share them with others. Marie adopted the most beautiful kitten and named him Dewey... a couple of years prior to the bestselling book of the same name. Marie was always up for a nice dinner, a good joke, skit or song. She could always be counted on for a compliment and a kind word. She was an excellent librarian and a great friend.

Marie always said that she was hired as Christmas help, then just stayed on. We are so glad that she did. She touched so many of our lives, and she will be missed.

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January 14, 2009

Solution to Overdues

A book was returned to the Bryant Library yesterday that was due back in 1974. The Settlers by Meyer Levin was published in 1972, so it may have still been a bestseller at the time! Imagine the overdue fine for a book that is 35 years overdue! Well, fear no more because very soon, overdues will be a thing of the past.

Starting today, if you go to our online catalog, you will find this notice: "On January 27, we will begin generating daily email Courtesy Notices. If you have an email address in your patron record and you have items currently checked out, you are eligible to receive these email notices, sent three days before your items are due. They are meant as a gentle reminder that library materials must soon be returned, to help you avoid delinquencies and fines. The email subject line will read "LIBRARY NOTICE". We hope you find this service a convenience."

We've been waiting for this for a loooong time and we're thrilled to offer you the opportunity to receive email reminders. I hope that this will both save you money in late fees and also help us to get our books into the hands of more patrons more quickly.

Incidentally, if due dates are a challenge to your memory as they are to mine, you may also have trouble remembering the title of a book that you may have read months ago. Our catalog is also capable of "remembering" the titles of books that you've checked out in the past. But, just as with the email reminders, you'll need to enable this option through your account. As always, if you need help, please ask at the Reference Desk. We'll be happy to show you how!

Hint: in order to use this feature, we must have your email address. Log into "My Account" and click on "modify personal information." You should be able to see your phone number and email address and enter or change it if necessary.

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December 17, 2008

Download Books to Your Ipod

Here at the Bryant Library, we love books! But, some of us prefer mysteries, some historical fiction, some romance, and so on. To divide us even further, there are those of us (and you) who enjoy listening to books, rather than reading. As a recent convert to audiobooks, I find it a great way to pass time in the car. Although, it can be very bad for my gas mileage! :)

Okay, so you decide that you want to try listening to an audiobook. Now, you have further choices to make... we have books on cd, books on mp3 (Playaways) and downloadable books. Downloadable books are available to download to your computer, some of them can be burned to a cd, and... now some are available to download to your ipod!

There are many popular titles, fiction, non-fiction, biography and lots of classics. For a high school student with a reading assignment, downloading to an ipod may be just the ticket!

Visit the Nassau Digital Doorway to learn more!

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November 25, 2008

Show Your Thanks

If you're looking for a way to show your thanks to the library this year, look no further. Governor Patterson has cut state aid to NYS libraries twice already this year, to the tune of 20%! The NYS Division of Budget is now proposing a $20 million cut in Library Aid that will devastate library services. And, if passed, this next cut will begin to affect the great work done at the Nassau Library System.

NLS is responsible for the vans that run from library to library every single day. They transport interloaned library materials so that each of the 54 Nassau libraries can share books, dvds, etc. We also share resources in terms of doing group purchases for our Electronic Databases. NLS also runs staff training workshops, which enables us to help serve you better. In short, NLS is very, very important to us. Many librarians, directors, and others employed by a library or library system went to Albany this past week to hold a rally to protest the funding cuts. (Thanks, Roseanne for the photo!) Don't let this proposition pass without letting the government know how important your library is to you. If you are feeling thankful this holiday, please visit the NYLA site by clicking on the link from our website, print out, sign and mail the letters to your local legislators or complete the entire "thank-ful" task with a click of your mouse!

We thank you for your support and your patronage. Have a great Thanksgiving!

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November 22, 2008

William Cullen Bryant Lecture

Tomorrow, Sunday, November 23rd is our 25th annual William Cullen Bryant Lecture. This year we will feature a very special guest, Dr. Janice Perlman. If you know Norma Perlman (and who doesn't?!), Janice Perlman is her daughter! Ms. Perlman will be speaking about "The Urbanization of Poverty." Her latest book, Favela: The Dynamics of Urban Poverty in Rio de Janeiro, will be published this year by Oxford University Press. She is the founder and President of Mega-cities Project, a global non-profit organization. Their vision is "...to transform cities towards increasing social justice, ecological regeneration, political participation and economic vitality respecting the unique history and culture of each one and celebrating the vitality of diversity." Wow.

Ms. Perlman holds impressive credentials including a Guggenheim Fellowship, Fulbright Award as well as grants from Kellogg, Ford and Rockefeller Foundations. The lecture, including a Powerpoint presentation, promises to be both fascinating and timely. Thank you to the Friends of Bryant Library for sponsoring this program.

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August 18, 2008

New Beginnings

Today we welcome a new librarian, MaryAnn Tweedy, to the Reference Department. As I consider what kinds of things to write, I admit that I'm also thinking of my husband who will be starting a new job next week. So, I give you both my best advice. What kinds of things might you keep in mind when beginning a new job?
1. Be patient with yourself. It takes time to learn the ropes.
2. Listen and observe -- although you're good at what you do, everyone does things a little differently.
3. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
4. Engage your sense of humor -- a good laugh goes a long way in many situations.
5. Get to know your coworkers -- after all, you'll be spending lots of time together!
6. Remember the power of chocolate (and/or a large iced coffee!) -- it's a great pick me up in the afternoon and does wonders to improve your mood!
7. Use commuting time to relax -- listen to a good book or good music.
8. And, as I heard many times over my first few weeks at my job, "Rome wasn't built in a day."

Dawn Rosenberg McKay's About.com article on Starting a New Job ends with, "Keep a positive attitude and an open mind. Your life has changed and it will take getting used to."

Good luck to you both! And, welcome to MaryAnn!

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July 14, 2008

Outdoor Book Sale

It's begun again... our annual outdoor Book Sale! We are fortunate to have our bookstore open all year long, staffed by Friends of Bryant Library, across the street in the Valentine House. But, come summertime, as we're doggedly weeding our collection to make room for new purchases, residents in the area flock to the library for our book sale!

Come often as the selection is constantly changing -- there are children's books, young adult titles, adult fiction, biography, reference books as well as oversized coffee table books. There's definitely something for everyone!

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July 9, 2008

Helen Glannon Room Reopening

Regular programming resumed yesterday with the reopening of the Helen Glannon Room. It has been closed for the past few weeks for repairs. It was amazing to see the room as they opened up the wall. For those of you who are not familiar with the Bryant Library, the meeting room is in the center of the library. But, it was also the original building which ended with that wall. I didn't realize that the original windows were still buried in the walls and that once the wall was gone, we had a perfect view of the beautiful blue sky!

All is back to normal now and the room looks beautiful!

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June 30, 2008

Gossip Girls Bottleneck

It's 10:00... do you know where you child/teen/tween is? We do. They're in town, watching the filming of The Gossip Girls! That's right -- they're back in Roslyn today. Don't they know how much chaos this causes in our small town? The Reference Desk has been fielding all kinds of questions from "what's going on?" and "how long will they be there?" to "what stars are actually on the set?" Our answers (which are from an anonymous source connected with the filming) are:
1) They're filming The Gossip Girls.
2) They will be there all of today and again next Monday.
3) Stars is a relative term -- Paul Newman is a "star." The cast of Gossip Girls? Not so much.

So, good luck getting around Roslyn today. Walking might be your best bet.

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June 26, 2008

Duckling Disaster

While it's true that we are located in what many people call "the duck pond," we're not really in the duck business. But, in spite of this fact, we continue to get called for duck and geese emergencies. Twice in the last couple of weeks, the library has had to call a wildlife expert to rescue young ducklings that had been abandoned in the park. While it may have seemed like a good idea to leave the ducks in the "duck pond," in reality it's a death sentence to the young animals. These poor adorable creatures are unable to feed and care for themselves. In fact, when the ducklings were found last week, one of them was already dead.

Please pass the word -- our beautiful park is home to geese and to the library, but it's not a refuge for ducklings.

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May 19, 2008

Bravo to Barbara

Many of you have already heard that Barbara Czekala, Head of Reference is retiring at the end of this month. Barbara has been here for 43 years which makes it sound like she’s 110, but in reality she’s a very young retiree! She began when she was still in high school in 1965, and has been heading the Reference Department since 1980.

These last twenty years have seen incredible changes in the library world. As card catalogs became computerized and reference books have given way (somewhat) to Electronic Databases, Barbara managed to bridge the gap between print and technology effortlessly. Not an easy feat!

Barbara’s job responsibilities include developing and maintaining the entire fiction and nonfiction collection. She literally has handled every book on the shelf. Since Roslyn is a well read community, equipped with such a small building, Barbara has had to make difficult decisions regarding what to purchase. She has called the lack of space a kind of “censorship.” But, one of the best kept collections in the county will be an important part of the legacy she leaves behind for the rest of us, and for that we are grateful.

On a personal note, one of Barbara’s outstanding characteristics is her generosity. Not an occasion goes by without a special cake, card, gift or luncheon. She makes everyone in the department feel special. But, Barbara’s generosity extends beyond hospitality – it is her sharing of her broad depth of knowledge that has made it an incredible pleasure to work with her for so many years.

Barbara will spend retirement gardening, spending time with her husband and son, traveling, as well as lots and lots of reading, I'm sure! Bravo to Barbara on an awesome career and best wishes for a relaxing, fun and healthy retirement. You will be missed.

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March 7, 2008

Word Alternatives

We just installed Microsoft Word 2007 on our public computers. I am surprised at how quickly people have just caught on. I haven't yet had any questions about the new look and feel of this frequently used program.... but it's early yet!

I have, however, had a lot of questions recently from people who save documents on their home computers and come to the library to print and run into a problem. Many people have Microsoft Works installed on their home computers, not Microsoft Word. Our computers will not open Works documents. So... I am suggesting one of 2 free, downloadable solutions: OpenOffice, and Abi Word. (I feel obligated to tell you to be careful of anything that you download from the Internet, but both of these programs have been around for awhile and I've heard good things about them.) You can use either of these programs to save documents as Word documents that you can then email to someone or print from the library.

The main stumbling block, in my experience has been employers asking that resumes be emailed to them. They generally want them sent as Word documents. What do you do if you don't have Word? You can either download one of those programs, or come to the library and use our public access computers!

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January 23, 2008

Library Lovers Month

February is Library Lovers Month. We are celebrating by inviting you to enter to win an mp3 player! All you need to do is to put your name in the box at the Circulation Desk. We also invite you to tell us what you love about your library.

Why an mp3 player? Well, to download audiobooks, of course! So, come in and give us a little love -- and we'll give it back in return!

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January 2, 2008

A Good Friend

As what seemed like the last remaining Canada Geese flew overhead on this bright, crisp morning, we gathered to celebrate the life (and mourn the death) of a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and cherished friend of the library. I was immediately taken with Julie Chodorow and his wife Doris when I met them years ago. I don't know if it was their sense of humor, their intelligence, their gentle manner, their stories of family and travel or some combination of it all. Well, I learned more about him today and I am even more awed.

Julie collected giraffes -- not just because they are beautiful animals, but because of the life lesson to be learned from them. Giraffes give birth standing up. This means that each baby giraffe hits the ground from six feet and must immediately stand and keep up with the herd to survive. Julie knew and taught his family (and now, his friends) that we must hit the ground running and persevere in order to do well in life.

Each generation of his family spoke about Julie. Through their eulogies, we understood what drew Julie to the library. He clearly had a passion for books, reading, education, and storytelling, At the end, one of his granddaughters-in-law spoke to the great grandchild generation about what she thought Julie would want them to remember about him. There were three things: the importance of family, a love of New York City, and to support your local library. She said that the library houses all sorts of wonderful things and there is lots to discover there. Then she told them to visit the library often and to think of their great grandfather when they do.

I know that we'll be thinking about him.

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December 11, 2007

Raffle for Rotary Scholarship

We recently had our Bryant holiday staff party. Each department put together a few themed baskets, filled with fun stuff and we raffled them off at the party. The themes were based on song titles -- the one in the photo was "It's Not That Easy Being Green," and it was filled with environmentally friendly products. We had so much fun putting them together -- some of the other themes were "Some of My Favorite Things," "Macho Macho Man," "Who Let the Dogs Out?" and more!

The baskets were raffled off and $425 was raised for the Roslyn Rotary Club Scholarship Fund. What does Rotary do anyway? Here's what they say: "Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 31,000 Rotary clubs located in 166 countries."

Our own library director, Cathy Mealing is the Vice President of the Roslyn Rotary, and we were happy to contribute to such a worthy local cause!

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December 3, 2007

Books in a Bag

Book clubs have really grown in popularity recently. Some of our staff members and patrons belong to more than one! And, thanks to Beth Siegel, our new(ish) Adult Services Librarian, we are hopping on the book club band wagon and are now offering "Books in a Bag!" Here's how it works: We put together a bag containing 10 copies of the book, background information, an interview and/or biography of the author and discussion questions. A representative of the book group picks up the bag and distributes the books. That's it!

We have six titles available right now: Amagansett, Bel Canto, The Book Thief, The Tender Bar, The Thirteenth Tale and Water for Elephants.

Now, hosting a book club couldn't be easier -- all you have to do is put up the coffee! Let us take care of the rest!

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November 20, 2007

Thanks, Bryant Library

We are proud to announce a quadruple combination of new services! First of all, we launched our new website a couple of days ago! And, along with our new look, we are also showcasing three new services! Nassau Digital Doorway is a partnership of fourteen Nassau libraries who have pooled resources to offer a fabulous collection of downloadable audiobooks! My LibraryDV is a video on demand service that has an awesome collection of classic films, hollywood favorites, cooking shows, and more! And, lastly, we have NextReads, which is an email newsletter service for book recommendations! Sign up for up to 20 different genres and get great book recommendations emailed to you!

All of these services are free of charge to Bryant Library cardholders. So, what are you thankful for this year? Have a happy holiday!

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November 9, 2007

Fighting Consolidation!

There is an important meeting on Monday night at the Bryant Library. This 63rd Annual Meeting at 7:30 will feature a presentation by our director, Cathy Mealing regarding the consolidation plan that has been proposed by the county. Please come and hear about the effect consolidation would have on our local libraries. This letter to the editor was wonderfully supportive and indicative of the kind of outpouring of support we've gotten from the Roslyn community.

This letter was sent by the Assemblyman to Newsday, the Long Island Tribune and the Long Island Herald on Monday, November 5.

To the Editor:
So the America I loved still exists, if not in the White House or the
Supreme Court or the Senate or the House of Representatives or the
media. The America I love still exists at the front desks of our
public libraries.
- Kurt Vonnegut

The front desks of our public libraries are not only the gateway to broader horizons -- offering us access to virtually all the literature and information we see - they are a touchstone of their community, reflecting the values and priorities of their constituents. The library is the hub of local activities, a place for personal growth and social experiences, a place to take pride in, a place to feel connected, a place to feel at home.

But our county leaders have proposed to consolidate the county's 54 public libraries into a single library system governed by a single appointed board threatens to make one library indistinguishable from the next.

The world of information-gathering continues to change at an unprecedented pace. Libraries have stayed relevant by adapting and evolving, while maintaining their commitment to the things that make each integral to its own community.

Libraries are a fundamental part of their community's identity. Local libraries work closely and cooperate with public schools. Local library trustees, the majority of whom in Nassau are elected, are members and leaders of their communities. Local libraries are sometimes the only public building open seven days a week in a community, providing a place for residents of all ages and backgrounds to read, study, reflect, meet with friends and participate in meaningful activities.

The county has so far failed to show how consolidation will he claims, save money but not cut facilities, employees, hours of operation or home rule. This seems all but impossible. Of course we would all like to see our property taxes reduced, but library budgets account for such a small fraction of local property tax burdens- from 1% to about 4% -- that any savings realized from consolidation would be drop in the bucket.

Nassau County's communities are not interchangeable. Each has its own distinct character, and their libraries should be free to reflect that. The diverse population of Nassau County will not be well served by a consolidation McLibrary system.

Harvey Weisenberg
Member of Assembly
516-431-0500
weisenh@assembly.state.ny.us

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October 29, 2007

About a Library

There's a great article in the November 5th issue of The New Yorker magazine about libraries. It delves into the rich history of libraries, finally ending up in the digital world that we live in now. It takes you from Greece to Google and from alphabetization to digitization. Here's a quote from the article:

"Sit in your local coffee shop, and your laptop can tell you a lot. If you want deeper, more local knowledge, you will have to take the narrower path that leads between the lions and up the stairs. There—as in great libraries around the world—you’ll use all the new sources, the library’s and those it buys from others, all the time. You’ll check musicians’ names and dates at Grove Music Online, read Marlowe’s “Doctor Faustus” on Early English Books Online, or decipher Civil War documents on Valley of the Shadow. But these streams of data, rich as they are, will illuminate, rather than eliminate, books and prints and manuscripts that only the library can put in front of you. The narrow path still leads, as it must, to crowded public rooms where the sunlight gleams on varnished tables, and knowledge is embodied in millions of dusty, crumbling, smelly, irreplaceable documents and books."

I like the idea that the library of today "illuminates rather than eliminates" the past. What a concept.

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October 24, 2007

Everything is Illuminated

With the installation of all new lighting in almost the entire library, everything is truly illuminated. Not only is it energy efficient, but it is amazing to be able to actually see the materials we're looking for! I don't think we realized how dark it really was until the bulbs were replaced. If you haven't been in the library recently, come and take a look. You just might find something great!

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October 4, 2007

Free People Read Freely

We're nearing the end of the 26th annual Banned Books week. It's a week to appreciate our freedom to read. A moment in time to realize what a monumental privilege intellectual freedom really is. Take a look at the list. You won't believe how many of these titles you've read and how many are required reading for students today because they're so vital to a well-rounded education.

In the past, the American Library Association, together with individual libraries were basically alone in publicizing Banned Books Week. But, in today's world, it was also advertised on Second Life and Facebook, too!

You'll find Catch-22, Catcher in the Rye, Brave New World, Flowers for Algernon, and Song of Solomon, to name a few. Near the top of the list for 2006 was Harry Potter! These books have formed the basis of our literature and our imaginations over the years. I can't imagine life without them. What do you think?

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September 20, 2007

Memory Challenge

Alternative title: It Happened at the Reference Desk. I took a question yesterday afternoon that left me giggling. It started with a phone call. A very pleasant woman on the other end, told me that she had an entry on her calendar for the Bryant Library at 1:00 on September 27th, but she couldn't decipher her writing and couldn't remember what it was. What she did remember was that it was something she'd very much enjoy attending. I looked it up for her, and laughed as I told her that the program is called "Sharpen the Mind, Sharpen the Memory!"

She didn't see it as amusing, but just replied, "I knew it was something I wanted to go to!" I hope she remembers to attend!

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August 3, 2007

Question: When is a YA Librarian Like an iPhone?

Answer: when she's as hip and cool as our new Young Adult Librarian, Irene Winkler! Not only is she cool, but she's intelligent, curious, interesting, eager to learn, tech savvy and hilariously funny. If you don't know her, please come in and introduce yourself and your teens. Congratulations to Irene and the community of Roslyn on this fantastic new partnership!

What does a Young Adult Librarian do anyway? There are several elements to this position: the books (ordering, weeding and reading), the teens themselves (assignment and book selection help and programming), and outreach to the community (developing a relationship with the school librarians and teachers, parents, etc.) These tasks are all interactive, involve social networking and communication. Now, consider the iPhone... A YA Librarian has to be up on popular culture - the latest books, music, movies, tv, and webtrends. The iPhone is the ultimate in pop culture. A YA Librarian's ultimate goal is to reach out and bring and keep teens into the library by being so dynamic that they wouldn't consider going anywhere else for their information and entertainment needs. Have you ever seen someone who owns an iPhone leave home without one? I rest my case. Although I must admit, I think that Irene will be around way longer than the iPhone!!

The best news of all is that while Susan Owens is retiring, she will still be at Bryant part-time as Young Adult Librarian Emeritus. So, while many libraries have only one YA Librarian, we have Suzi, Irene, Michele (me) and Beth, who have all specialized in teen services. Yea, Roslyn!

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July 31, 2007

Book Sale

We are fortunate to have a year-round book sale across the street in the Valentine House, which is run by the Friends. But, this is the time of year that we have a 'patio' book sale right outside of the library! All year long, as we discard old materials to make room for new ones, they are boxed up, awaiting this sale! We've been getting rid of a lot of books on tape, in favor of the cd or mp3 versions, there are fabulous picture books, young adult titles and fantastic adult mysteries, romances, biographies and more! There is some great stuff there -- come see for yourself!

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July 26, 2007

We Are Here, We Are Here, We Are Here!

I love to see articles about libraries and this one was particularly on the money. It talks about the largest challenge of many public libraries -- marketing ourselves. Libraries are the backbones of communities, but we tend to sit quietly in the background. We offer what many other agencies in the community offer, only we offer them for free.

Is there a Blockbusters near you? We have many dvds and videos here -- you can even reserve them online! Looking for the latest Harry Potter? Don't go to Barnes and Noble -- come here! Or, reserve them online and just come in to pick them up! Do you like to listen to audiobooks or books on mp3? Those tend to be really expensive -- get them from us instead! Do your kids go through picture or chapter books faster than you can read them? Visit your library! Are you or your children doing research? How about utilizing our fabulous electronic databases, either in the library or from home! What about storyhours, movies, book discussions and more! The summer is a great time to explore all that what we have to offer -- come on in and enjoy!

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July 18, 2007

Shhhhh Happens

I borrowed the title from the punch line of this comic strip -- I had to, it was too appropriate! The library world is undergoing big changes, and Bryant is no exception. The New York Times reports that there is a wave of retirements coming and so they have: Ann Secter, long time backbone of the Children's Room, Paulette Palumbo funny, friendly and fashionable librarian from Technical Services, Marie Courtney, Bryant's hysterically funny and young at heart Senior Services Librarian and Susan Owens, our most enthusiastic and energetic Young Adult Librarian, are all retiring within the next month or so. We don't have to say goodbye, though because three out of four of them will be staying on part-time.

That's a lot of change in a short span of time! I must admit that historically, I haven't taken to change all that well. But, in recent years I've really come to embrace it. For the librarians who are retiring, this is an opportunity to do, see and experience life in a new and different way. For us, it will mean looking at ourselves with a new and different set of eyes. In any kind of business, change is an opportunity for growth. While these four retirements will mean a huge adjustment for the library, I know that it will bring new and wonderful opportunities both to the library and to our colleagues. But, despite my late in life wisdom regarding change, (and my absolute hope for all good things in their retirements), there is still a part of me that wishes nothing would change. They will be missed.

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June 7, 2007

Facebook - For Parents or Professionals?

For some people, being on top of pop culture -- music, movies, what's hot and what's not, comes naturally. Not so for me. I work very hard at it. I consider it part of my job, both professionally and as a parent. For both of those reasons, I joined Facebook months ago -- way before my daughter did. I was happily participating in librarian groups and making friends when she expressed an interest in joining. Unprompted, the first thing she did when she joined, was to "friend" me -- I was beyond thrilled.

Facebook is an online social network -- I think of it as a graphic representation of six degrees of separation. Teens use it to connect, interact and keep in touch with their friends. In addition to my daughter, some of my friends include my brothers, my nephew, actual friends and colleagues. I leave private messages for my daughter, write on a colleagues "wall," and "poke" my brother. I admit, though that I tread carefully, where my daughter and her friends are concerned. It's not about the technology -- it's about being in her space.

There is an article in today's NYTimes, called "OMG my mom joined facebook!" that is hilarious and worth reading. As a parent, there is a fine balance between being in your teen's space, being aware of what's going on and being interfering and embarrassing. But, I feel totally in my element in a professional capacity when I'm on Facebook -- it really isn't just for teens and college students anymore. And, now our Young Adult Librarian, Susan Owens has a Facebook also.

Find us. Friend us. We're in your space now.

Posted by Michele at 8:39 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

June 6, 2007

Nassau County Poet Laureate

A recent Newsday article announced that of the 7 Nassau County legislators voting for poet laureate, only Roslyn's Wayne Wink voted for Maxwell Wheat. The reason cited was that in one of his poems, Wheat was critical of our government for the war in Iraq. O M G... what is going on here? Max Wheat is an 80-year-old successful and celebrated local poet. Do his political views negate his body of work? Does it make him unable to do the job of a poet laureate, which essentially is to promote poetry in Nassau County? Is a citizen not entitled to freedom of expression?

I found the original call for a Nassau Poet Laureate on the Disorganized Librarian's blog. Here is an excerpt:

"To qualify for the position of Nassau County Poet Laureate (NCPL), a poet will be a resident of Nassau County, and remain a resident for the length of his/her poet laureate position, be eighteen years of age or older, submit a one page resume and submit up to three representative samples of poetry (not to exceed three pages, total), understand the NCPL term is two years, and understand, according to the Nassau County Poet Laureate Law (Title 59), “the poet laureate shall promote and encourage poetry within the county and shall give two public readings within the county each year... In addition, the poet will, if chosen as a final candidate, be prepared to conduct an interview by the NCPL Panel to include a description of his/her activities in the poetry community, his/her view of the role of a NCPL and what he/she expects to bring to this role and give an approximate fifteen-minute reading of his/her poems...Most importantly the NCPL Panel is seeking those poets who are dedicated advocates of the role of poetry in the educational and cultural life of poetry in Nassau."

In my opinion, Max Wheat fit all of the criteria outlined above -- none of which have anything to do with politics. And, from the Newsday article, he said, "I was looking forward to it very much. I wanted to make Nassau County accessible to poetry enthusiasts." So sorry you can't, Mr. Wheat.

According to the Library of Congress, Joseph Auslander was the first National Poet Laureate, appointed in 1937. Funnily enough, "he was noted for his war poems, and his best-known work is "The Unconquerables" (1943), a collection of poems addressed to the German-occupied countries of Europe." Ironic, no?

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May 21, 2007

It's All About Friends

I went away this past weekend on a family retreat. It was cold and rainy. It was hilly, rocky, and slippery (can you tell I'm a real nature lover?). We had several families sleeping together in one bunk. It was too cold to swim or boat. My friend had a mouse visitation in the bathroom. There was no hot water. The food was beyond disgusting. They ran out of coffee on Saturday morning (now that's inexcusable!). However, we all had a great time. Why? Because it's all about the friends.

The Circulation Desk Ribbon Cutting was Saturday and I heard it was lovely. Thanks again to the Friends of Bryant Library.

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May 15, 2007

Hollywood Librarian

We've long been saying that there should be a film about libraries and librarians. It's time to dispense with some of those pesky myths and stereotypes about us:

The library must be such a quiet place to work. (yea, NOT!)
Librarians are uptight and conservative and serious. (okay, I've met a few, but not at Bryant!)
Librarians know everything. (not true, but we do know where to find everything!)
All librarians wear glasses. (well, duh, we use our eyes a lot! But, with contacts, sometimes you can't even tell!)
Librarians "shoosh" a lot. (I only shoosh at home. It happens very rarely here, and often only if the noise appears to be bothering other people.)
All librarians are old. (Despite what my kids think, I am not old yet, or at least I'm young at heart!)

There is a full length documentary film coming out called Hollywood Librarian. You can even see a UTube trailer of it! I've been reading about it in the blogosphere.

There are several qualities that librarians have in common: intellectual curiosity, intelligence, commitment to literacy, privacy and a helping profession. But, overall, you'll find us a diverse bunch of people. We're men and women, technology geeks, audiophiles, movie buffs, married and single, mothers, fathers and grandparents. See Hollywood Librarian to find out more about libraries and librarians and their impact on our society.

And, in the spirit of democracy, don't forget to vote today!!

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May 7, 2007

Libraries Light the Way

The Long Island Library Conference was last week. It's a time for librarians, staff and administrators to get together and hear about issues that are impacting our profession. I went to two workshops that were particularly interesting to me. The first was "Communicating Electronically." There were several different speakers who discussed all of the exciting "social networking" tools we have available to us -- most of which are free or low cost! Barbara Moon, a young adult specialist from Suffolk County spoke about Shelfari and Library Thing. If you haven't heard of these fun, social, bookish tools yet, you probably should take a look. Then, the Director of the Lindenhurst Library spoke about how they're used podcasting in his library. The next topic up was instant messaging and the many library applications for it. And, lastly, Therese Nielson from Huntington spoke about blogging.

The key points about all of these tools is that they're low cost (or free), low risk (if they aren't successful, just move on), and all have the same objective -- to reach out to the public in many different ways.

The second session that I enjoyed was about Popular Culture and was done by Sophie Brookover and Elizabeth Burns -- both from New Jersey. They defined popular culture as "whatever people in the community are talking, thinking and reading about" -- whether it's from People magazine, The Daily Show, Fox News, NPR, blogs, iTunes, Flickr, etc. This means that the definition of pop culture will vary depending upon the age and interests of the people. Teens might be interested in facebook, utube and itunes, while baby boomers are thinking about retirement and health care costs.

I guess both workshops made the same point -- which is to know what matters to your community. For some, this just means going about their daily lives. For me, keeping up with popular culture is work -- it's fun, but it doesn't come easily to me. Fortunately for me, I have my children, my husband and my mother, who are all very "hip," and keep me in the know about music, movies, fashion, tv -- in terms of books, and the business of libraries, I'm on my own. That's why these workshops are so helpful.

Libraries lighting the way was the conference motto and I thought it very appropriate. We don't invent information, but we provide access to the public -- we illuminate the path to facilitate the finding of information.

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April 23, 2007

It's Not Easy Being Green

Earth Day was yesterday, and, coincidentally, it was as if Spring had really sprung -- the cherry blossoms in D.C. may be long over, but here in Roslyn, everything is in perfect bloom!

How did we celebrate Earth Day? The way we always do -- by circulating books from person to person to person -- saving the trees! And, what about all of the plastic, chemicals and energy that's involved in making the dvd and cds and cases? Sharing is good for the earth, and we're all about sharing -- library materials as well as information.

The Bryant Library not only saves money, but we aim to save the earth as well!

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April 20, 2007

Happy National Library Week!

National Library Week seems like a great time not only to celebrate libraries, but also to consider the relevance of libraries in our modern world.

Libraries today are enjoying a golden age in which public, school, college and university libraries are flourishing not only within the physical confines of bricks and mortar, steel and glass, but also in the continuously expanding Internet universe.

The facts speak for themselves: library use is up nationwide. More than 2 billion items were checked out last year, and librarians serve nearly 1.8 billion visitors annually. Circulation is calculated a little differently these days -- we not only count the number of times a book has gone out, but also the number of times an article or an ebook has been downloaded. We not only take Reference telephone calls, but we answer emails and provide a ton of information on our website.

Rather than threatening our libraries, the age of technology has only complemented our services and expanded our reach. This is because libraries are about more than information and data sharing.

Libraries are about community.

They provide us with a physical gathering place, a crossroads for people of all ages, ethnicities and economic means, complete with trained information professionals - librarians - fostering inquiry and assisting with interpretation of information both onsite and online.

Libraries and librarians are more relevant than ever, providing a 24/7 information delivery service. Our multi-faceted, multicultural, multilingual resources are providing a bridge to their best conceivable future for millions nationwide. And, of course, admission is free.

It's democracy in action. There's nothing obsolete about that.

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April 6, 2007

The Floating World

We have a beautiful new photography exhibit in the display case in front of the Circulation Desk. The photos were taken by none other than our Local History librarian and archivist, Myrna Sloam. Myrna is an incredibly talented photographer, paying particular attention to lighting and detail, and the results speak for themselves.

As we get through the next few days of wintry weather, and look forward to spring, give yourself a treat and take in these exquisite close-ups of floating flowers.

There is a list of the photos and a price list at the Reference Desk. Myrna also has a website if you'd like to see more of her work. But, I'm warning you, it'll be hard to pick just one -- they're all so beautiful!

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March 23, 2007

Circulation Desk

After three days of dismantling, building, drilling, moving and lots and lots of cleaning, we opened this morning to a brand new, beautiful desk and pots of coffee and tea to welcome the public!

Coincidentally, I went to a workshop this afternoon on the topic of Library Transformation. They spoke about physical, virtual and philosophical transformations at different types of libraries. Definite themes emerged:

* Responsiveness to the community. Keep asking what the public wants and needs.
* Involve the community in the library and the library in the community
* Listen.
* Become accustomed to change.
* Set a goal of saying "yes."
* Incorporate technology - blogs, wikis, instant messaging, email, etc.
* Think out of the box, listen, respond and rethink the way we've always done things.

What a way to begin the Spring season! Thanks to the Friends for beautifying the library and enhancing our transformation!

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March 5, 2007

Closed for Installation of New Circulation Desk

Thanks to a generous gift from the Friends of Bryant Library, we will be installing a new Circulation Desk!! That's the good news. The bad news is that we have to close the building for a few days to insure everyone's safety.

We will be closed from Tuesday, March 20th through Thursday, March 22nd.

Staff will be in the building to answer telephone reference questions from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is a great time to learn how to renew and request materials using your library card. Your PIN number should be the last four digits of your phone number (but if you have a problem, you can call and we'll straighten it out for you). And, don't forget that you have 24 hour access to our Website, Downloadable Audio Books and Electronic Databases.

You have a couple of weeks to stock up on library materials in the meantime!

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February 22, 2007

Letter from an Appreciative Roslyn Resident

Recently, we noticed that a long-time Roslyn resident and frequent patron of the library hadn't been coming in anymore. A staff member sent him a card, hoping that he was doing well. And, today, we received this letter in the mail:

To the Reference & Circulation Staff of the Bryant Library, our good neighbor,

Fifth seven years ago we settled in our beautiful Roslyn. My wife, an accomplished singer, piano player, and composer decided to take a position with Nassau County as a musical director.

With the help of Bryant personnel, she was able to secure documents and ideas to entertain thousands in seniors centers and nursing homes and charity organizations -- encouraging the helpers to sing and dance! It is not unusual for strangers to inquire about my wife and remark that "she changed my life for the better!"

My wife's stroke has made it impossible for her to walk, talk, read or write, but can still sing and play the piano with one hand! The husband, therefore, through research at the library, has brought in musicals, the best of Broadway and the Metropolitan Opera. Our evenings are filled with concerts -- and we both sing along.

Subsequently, her husband went through surgery and became homebound at 93 years of age!

Our good neighbor at Bryant Library offered to send us the research books from which I made made many excellent suggestions...

Life also has its brighter side when my wife was asked to put on a fund raiser for a charity organization, the script called for a horse and buggy on the stage. This was no obstacle for my wife. A horse and buggy was secured, the buggy was put on the stage, but the horse was disqualified as he could not sing!

You can use any part of this letter for printing... no names to be mentioned.

Fondly,

Mr. Anonymous Patron

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February 13, 2007

Contained in a Reference Librarian's Rolodex

Well, we finally disposed of the Rolodex that's been sitting at the Reference Desk forever. We did go through it and decided to keep the answers to some of the more frequently asked questions readily available. But, most of the information was so dated. What made it dated, wasn't the questions themselves, necessarily, but that all of it is so easily accessible now. Now, every agency has a website, which lists contact information. It's so easy to look something up and have an answer in seconds! What used to take librarians ages to find, (and the public didn't have access to at all) is now easily available online.

* Words ending in GRY (angry, hungry, gry, aggry, meagry and puggry)
* Groups of Animals: have you ever heard of a clowder of cats, a crash of rhinoceri or a charm of goldfinches?
* What does 1 bell mean in Maritime time? It means that it's 8:30 a.m... 8 bells? It's 12 noon.
* What color is the Jets uniform? Apple green and white, of course! And, the Knicks? The colors of the Nassau County Police cars.
* There is actually a card for "Horses in Movies." Dale Evans (Buttermilk), Lone Ranger (Silver), Roy Rogers (Trigger) and Hoppalong Cassidy (Champ) are just a few on this list.
* Ivy League Colleges from Harvard, established in 1636 to Cornell, established in 1853.
* Slogans of the Revolutions: French (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity), Russian (Land, Peace, Bread) and Spanish Civil War (No Pasaran - They Shall Not Pass)
* The trees in the Roslyn Park area are Cornelian Cherry, with yellow blossoms in Feb. through March.
* Seven Dwarves: Doc, Bashful, Dopey, Sleepy, Grumpy, Sneezy and Happy
* Santa's Reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen and Rudolph (from "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore
* And, under Motor Vehicle Department, it actually says, "Mrs. Anonymous says that the Huntington Motor Vehicle Department is very accommodating - no lines and much comfort." How's that for personal service?!

We still get questions like "where is there a public fax machine?" or who to call to help the injured wildlife in the park, and we're still prepared to answer those questions. But, now the job of a librarian is so much more broad and complicated. And, to think that librarians found and thought to hold onto this information for the future. But, they also had to put those little cards into their typewriters and painstakingly type them up before they filed them! I wonder what we'll be leaving for future librarians...

Posted by Michele at 3:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 9, 2007

Has the Library Changed Your Life?

Spending as much time in the library as I do, I know firsthand how many lives we touch, but it was nice to see it acknowledged and in print in the new issue of Woman's Day magazine. Each woman discussed the unique way in which the library had a positive impact on her life.

Four women were interviewed. The first woman discussed her battle with Postpartum Depression and how the library helped her to reconnect with the community. The second woman talked about how she moved to NY from Indonesia as a 10 year old, and the library helped her to learn English and helped to acclimate her mother to life in the United States! The third woman discovered the library while staying in a hotel awaiting the building of her new home. She became so involved with the decorating books, that she later decided to make a career of it! The final woman interviewed, lost her vision due to retinopathy. As a young, blind woman, she found out that the Library of Congress provides a tape recorder and books on tape (and books in Braille) for free through the mail. She is now a published author!

If you'd like to see your story in print, be sure to read the official rules and entry information. Submissions will be accepted between February 14th and May 10th. It is sponsored by the American Library Association, in conjunction with Woman's Day, and you can find more information about this collaboration here.

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February 6, 2007

Happy Birthday, Norma Perlman!

Today we celebrate Norma Perlman’s 90th birthday. I understand that her children wanted to throw her a big party. She declined. The only party that she would permit would be library staff, family and friends only and be held in the library. She even had to be convinced to hold it in the beautiful and considerably larger Bryant Room – initially, she would only consent to the staff room. And, by the way, no gifts, please.

Well, Norma – your presence is truly our present – every day. Norma’s history with the Bryant Library dates back to 1964 when she was first elected to the Bryant Library Board of Trustees. A short and probably incomplete history of her accomplishments include:

* President of the Board in 1971
* Instrumental in the founding of the Friends
* The Bryant Library “Carpe Diem” sundial was installed in her honor
* Stepped down from the board in 1979
* Has been a member of the Friends ever since
* In 2002, the new Reference Desk, which was a gift from the Friends, was dedicated to Norma (an honor she politely brushes off as “unnecessary.”)
* Very active in the Roslyn community and school-related organizations as well.
* She was also one of the original founders of the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Fund, established some 24 years ago, and was an honoree in 2005.
* Norma is responsible for the art showcase in the lobby and spends hours setting up and dismantling displays.

Norma always teases me about Googling and blogging. Well, today I “googled” Norma and found 4 pages – there are links to the blog, where she’s been mentioned a few times, several from the Roslyn News, referring to letters she’s written, or that she’s been mentioned in, and charitable organizations she belongs to.

Consider this quote from a letter that Norma wrote to the Roslyn News during the terrible school scandal: “I am writing to express my concern at the continued legal pursuit of prior board members. The backbone of this community has been the wonderful people who have given countless hours of their time with no other motive than to make Roslyn the very special community it has been for many decades. If in the name of our community we send out a signal that no good deed will go unpunished, in the future we will only attract those who feel that there is some personal benefit to them in serving this community."

Norma doesn’t give of herself for personal benefit, but rather to benefit the community. And, boy, has she ever. What is Norma’s secret? What makes Norma, Norma? I don’t know, but she is bright, cultured, funny beyond belief, energetic and capable, has a sparkle in her eye… she is the Bryant Library’s grande dame. In the Jewish faith, there is a name for this woman – we call it “Eishet Chayil,” the Woman of Valor. Eishet Chayil is actually a poem, sung on Friday nights to remind us all of the strength of women. Translated, it describes a “Woman of Valor” as one who sets the tone of love and personal growth. To know Norma is to appreciate her strength and talents. Here is a short excerpt from the Eishet Chayil:

Eshet chayil mi yimtza v'rachok mip'ninim michrah
An accomplished woman, who can find? Her value is far beyond pearls.
Oz v'hadar l'vushah vatischak l'yom acharon
Strength and honor are her clothing, she smiles at the future.
Rabot banot asu chayil v'at alit al kulanah
Many women have done worthily, but you surpass them all.

In 2002, when the Reference Desk was dedicated to Norma at the 57th Annual Bryant Library Association Meeting, our former Library Director, Elizabeth McCloat spoke about Norma. She said “I finally realized why Norma is never tired. It’s because her day isn’t measured in time, but rather in random acts of kindness. As Norma knows, it’s not a building that makes the Library special. In her words ‘The Bryant Library is people.’ We believe that the Bryant Library is Norma Perlman…”

There is no one who works in the library who doesn’t light up when they hear Norma’s distinctive voice in the building. Norma is a tremendous inspiration to all who know her. “Norma has an inexhaustible supply of optimism and vision,” says Barbara Czekala, the Head of the Reference Department, “she is part of the fabric of the library.” Thank you for bringing joy to our building and for doing all that you do. Happy, happy birthday, Norma.

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February 5, 2007

What's News?

As always, there's a lot going on here at the Bryant Library! And, although I'm here all the time now, I am finding it even harder to find the time to blog. So, I'm going to attempt to update you right now!

* The teens hosted a Babysitting Reception and a VidFest, which each brought in over 100 people!
* Electronically speaking, we've eliminated all usernames and passwords associated with our Electronic Resources. Most of them are available from home and can be accessed with your library card number. We've also added three new databases recently: Gale Virtual Reference Library, Culturegrams, and Eldercare.
* The blog has a new look.
* There is a new color copier (50 cents a copy) and scanner (free!) for the public.
* Computer classes and one on one tutoring are available several times per week, sign up at the Reference Desk.
* Mr. Ryan, one of the high school teachers spent time here on Saturday, pulling classic novels for his students and setting them aside. How awesome is that?
* All tax forms are online and links to them can be found on our website.
* The Staff Picks are going like hotcakes!
* We've gotten a new security system and people counter!
* Our calendar is filled to the brim with outstanding programs for children, adults, teens and seniors!

We welcome these changes and are proud to introduce them to you. Please visit us online or in person and take advantage of all that the Bryant Library has to offer!

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January 11, 2007

The Bryant Room

Myrna Sloam, our archivist, and I have completed the Bryant Room web site redesign. For those of you who don't know, The Bryant Room houses our local history collection. There is a tremendous amount of information there -- for researchers as well as for "browsers." Roslyn has a rich and interesting history, which the library has been diligently collecting over the years. And, now we offer it to you!!

* Do you know that we've been in this building since 1952 and the Bryant Room collection was established in 1953? Want to know more about the history of the Bryant Library?
* Are you dying to know how we got the name Roslyn?
* How about a timeline going back to 1643?
* Would you like to review the From the Bryant Room column that Myrna writes for our newsletter every month? There is some fascinating material hidden in there! Did you know that George Washington visited Roslyn?
* Are you curious about our namesake, William Cullen Bryant?
* There is nothing like learning history through stories, and Roy Moger was a great storyteller! We are fortunate to have many stories available to us from a former local historian, and Roslyn Then and Now author, Roy Moger.

For the answers to all of these questions and much more, please visit our newly designed Bryant Room website! And, after you've investigated our new site and your curiosity is piqued, please come visit in person! The Bryant Room is absolutely beautiful and it feels like you've taken a step back in time.

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January 3, 2007

Is an Empty Library a Happy Library?

Not in Roslyn it isn't. But, Maplewood, New Jersey was on the front page of the New York Times yesterday as the library announced that it will be closing in the afternoons to prevent students from disrupting the library. While I can understand that teenagers, particularly bored teens, can be disruptive, we would welcome the challenge of providing activities to keep teens in the building. Just this afternoon, we had the first in a series of three Babysitting Workshops and we welcomed over 25 young adults! Every public library caters to many different groups of people, including children, teens and seniors. And, this creates "busyness" at different times of the day. For example, I know that parking can be especially difficult on Mondays at lunchtime because that is when the REAP meetings for seniors are. School groups and storytimes can create some happy, chaotic noise in the mornings. And, historically, we anticipate the arrival of teenagers in the after school/evening hours. Often, they come to do homework, research, or to use our computers, but sometimes they do come to "just hang out." This is our window of opportunity to reach out to these kids and help, teach and get to know them. After all, we'll be seeing them through high school and even college. Hear this Roslyn teens: We're not throwing you out -- we're welcoming you in!!
One of our challenges as librarians has been making the change from a strictly book, silent environment to more of a community center. As such, we struggle to advertise our programs and we bask in our successes. I have been trying to muster up some sympathy for Maplewood's library, but not only can't I seem to do it, but I am having a hard time understanding their rationale. Would a retail store close at it's busiest times because it didn't have the staff to handle the register? No. They'd hire more staff. Do we close the highways during rush hour? No, we just endure and try to make it as pleasureable as we can -- perhaps with an audiobook or a great cd! What about the Starbucks in Roslyn? They see a lot of students because it is so close to the school. I spoke to a Starbucks employee recently who said that he enjoys the after school rush. And, after all, teens pay the same amount for a cup of coffee!
My opinion? The school board should have worked with the library to come up with a workable solution for the community. Perhaps the schools should have offered more after school programs. Perhaps the schools could have funded a "supervisor" for the teens in the library. Somehow they should have worked together to solve what is clearly a community issue -- working parents and teens who are home alone. But, don't punish the kids.

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December 22, 2006

Have a Happy

Surrounded by red and green, pointsettias, candy canes and blinking lights, I am still having a hard time believing that the holidays are here! I am not a big fan of the "holiday hoopla," and my husband has taken to calling me "Ebenezer," but there are some things about this time of year that can't be beat. Although I hate snow on the ground, and the cold weather that comes with it, I am fascinated by and love snowflakes in all other forms. And, we have been inundated with chocolate, candy and cookies lately -- all from people expressing appreciation. They have come from the Friends of the Library, library patrons and staff. Thank you to all!

Speaking of appreciation... Recently, we found two young library visitors expressing appreciation to one another -- alone... in a corner... and only partially clothed... get the picture? A library staff person caught them by surprise. In the Bryant Library, every little nook and cranny is used and there truly are no hiding places! Were they severely embarrassed? So mortified that they'd be reluctant to show their faces (or any other parts of their bodies) in the library again? No way. They asked in a teenage, obstinate voice (usually reserved just for their parents), "well, where should we go?" They were given several suggestions and they were on their way.

We try to say yes to just about everything here at the Bryant Library. Do we offer wifi? Yes! Can you renew and reserve books online? Yes! Don't want to wait for a computer? No problem -- with SAM and a couple of new computers, there is little or no waiting time! Need a notary? We have several! Videos? DVDs? CDs? MP3s? Yes, yes, yes and yes! Color copies? We now offer a color network printer as well as a color copier! The one thing we must say no to is inappropriate, overaffectionate behavior in a public space. Sorry about that.

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December 7, 2006

Changes at Bryant

Whew -- lots of changes here at the Bryant Library. SAM has been here officially for one week and we're still working out the kinks. For the most part it's worked as expected -- people come in to use the computers and can go right to our bank of public access computers. If there is one available, they can just sit down, enter their library card number (any Nassau County card) and go, go, go! We can print guest passes for out of towners at the Reference Desk. It's been a huge change for all of us -- staff as well as library patrons. Thank you to both groups for being so patient and understanding as we learn the ins and outs of our new system.

Yesterday, we welcomed the arrival of our new security system. Gone is the security gate, gone are the jungle-gym poles that the kids would swing on and gone is the counter that someone would have to get on their hands and knees to read every night. In it's place is a brand new security system that is much more attractive and less cumbersome than our old one.

Elizabeth McCloat, our previous director came to visit us from Savannah, Georgia last week. It was great to see her! She marveled at all the changes that have taken place here that have been in the works for a long time. We're excited to be offering something new ... and also trying to catch our breath!

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November 28, 2006

SAM is coming

No, not that Sam! But, we do want you to check out our SAM. Our SAM stands for Smart Access Manager and it's coming tomorrow! SAM is a software program that will improve computer access for everyone. Sign-up for computers will be directly at the computers themselves and you will sign in with your library card number and will be asked to create a PIN. Guests will receive a one-day pass. You have one hour to use the computer, at which point you will receive warnings that your time is almost up. At that time, you will be asked to print or save your work.

The most exciting part is that we are also getting two additional computers for public use, one "Access for All" computer, and new network printers, including a color printer! One of the changes is that in order to print, you'll have to add money to your account, in the amount of $1.00 to $10.00. We are going to be handling this at the Reference Desk. You can no longer bring your own paper.

Our hope is that there will be a shorter wait time for an available computer. And, the users privacy is protected, because they've logged in with their own library card number and PIN. That, coupled with the additional computers and new printers -- we think it's going to be great!

We are so excited to present SAM at our library, but please be patient with us as we learn all of the new procedures and troubleshoot any problems that may arise. The main issue at the moment is that there will be no computer availability as we install this new software tomorrow. This can't be helped. We are sorry for the inconvenience -- just know that we'll be back better than ever on Thursday!

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November 25, 2006

Food For Fines

Starting this Monday (11/27), we will be holding a Food For Fines drive. In exchange for each item of food you bring in, you will receive a $1.00 coupon to be used toward paying down fines on your record. The food will be picked up by the INN . The Interfaith Nutrition Network is an organization that provides food for the many, many hungry people on Long Island. Their soup kitchens are filled to capacity every day and this is an opportunity for us to help. Not only is this a good time to pay off your library fines, but you'll be doing something good for the community at the same time! Bring your canned, plastic or boxed items to the library between November 27th and December 2nd. (This offer is good for this week only and cannot be used for replacement fees).

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November 15, 2006

Learn Computers, Take a Class!

I had an older gentleman approach the Reference Desk the other day asking what resources we offer at the library that could help him to learn how to use computers. I told him about our Computer Training courses that are offered at the Valentine House on Tuesdays from 10:00-11:45. I explained that these classes are $10.00, and are for beginner computer students -- exactly what he was looking for! It is a very gentle class with only 4 students maximum, at a time. There is also a follow-up class on using email that is taught at the same time on Thursdays. After you've taken these classes, the trick is to practice, practice, practice! So, we have two teachers who volunteer to work with Roslyn residents who want to learn. As a Roslyn resident, you are entitled to sit in the library with one of our volunteers three times for about one hour to work at your own pace, ask questions and learn -- for free! The volunteers are here on Tuesday evenings from 7:15 - 8:15 and on Wednesdays and Fridays, from 11:15-12:00 and 12:15 - 1:00.

If you are new to computers and would like to learn more, please make an appointment to take one of our classes. Put an end to the frustration of not knowing how and become the one in the know! It is the greatest gift you can give to yourself. The gentleman that met me at the Desk the other day, signed up for the class and was thrilled! He was excited to finally catch up with his 95 year old mother, who is dying to email him!

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November 13, 2006

Director, Cathy Mealing Honored

Last week, well over one hundred people attended the 17th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fundraising Dinner to benefit the Second-Year Scholarship Fund. Some 51 of us were there to support our own director, Cathy Mealing, as she was one of three people who were honored that evening. From what I could gather, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Fund Committee is made up of members of the community who do fundraising throughout the year, so that they can offer scholarships to Roslyn students in financial need.

There were speeches throughout the evening from committee members and honorees. There was also a moving speech by a previous recipient of the award, now a lawyer, who spoke about how much the award meant to her at the time. Jon Kaiman, who made a brief appearance summed up the work of the committee when he said, "you pull together as a community, for a community."

Cathy was introduced by Norma Perlman, a Friend of the Library (and most of the community of Roslyn!). As Cathy accepted the award, she talked about her 44 years of library service and said that "libraries bring you the world." Truer words were never said. Congratulations, Cathy!

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November 2, 2006

Time Flies

So, today is the second day of my new job. It's also the second day of November, which is what would have been my stepmother's 56th birthday. Unfortunately, she died at the age of 41 (exactly the age that I am now), leaving two small children, three older stepchildren, a brother, a mother and a husband. I was working full time, going to library school, and was newly married when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I took time off from school to care for my newborn brother, and my husband and I lived in Brooklyn for several months, while she underwent a bone marrow transplant. The following year, when I became pregnant, I chose to work part-time, and increase my school schedule so that I would finish prior to the birth of my first daughter. I finished my degree just a few weeks before she was born!

Why am I telling you this? Because this is the first time since 15 years ago that I am back to work full-time! This is such a big change in so many ways. To me, my work is a gift that I give to myself. I will still spend time being a daughter, granddaughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend, but now I am also a full-time librarian. Hopefully, as I enter into this next phase of my life, I will continue to be a librarian at the top of her game, technologically aware, a reader, a writer and a researcher!

Everyone has been so sweet in welcoming me to the library -- the staff and Roslyn residents. Someone made sure that I had all desk supplies -- stapler, scissors, glue sticks, blue pens, etc. I am all set to do any arts and crafts project! Someone else provided me with a calendar, desk, computer, phone, and beautiful flowers. I've gotten a picture frame, good luck bamboo plant and a teacup. I've been taken to lunch, baked for, fed, watered and partied! I've gotten instruction booklets on every piece of equipment from the phone, my chair and the drawers of my desk!
So, on this bittersweet day for me, thank you, everyone for being so kind, and, as the cake said, "Welcom[ing] [me] to the Bryant Family." I am thrilled to be part of this sweet, funny, intelligent, and distinctly Bryant, family!

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October 4, 2006

Our New Digital Media Format

Presenting, drum roll please... the debut of Playaways! They look like cassette tapes with headphones, but they're actually mp3 players that come preloaded with books on them. If you enjoy listening to your books, this may be the easiest format yet. We have around 20 titles at the moment, with many more to come in the near future. You can check our catalog to see what we own by doing a keyword (or simple boolean) search and entering the word "playaways" in the search box. Don't limit your search to Roslyn, but leave it at the default of "View Entire Collection." You'll see that we have fiction (unabridged), as well as non-fiction titles. You can check them out, renew and even reserve them, if you like. There is a Playaways display by the new dvds. The display features my very own, family dog -- our stuffed German Shepherd, Norman. He looks very handsome up there -- he's wearing headphones and listening to The Da Vinci Code!

We are proud to be the very first library in Nassau County to offer Playaways, thanks to the diligence of our A-V librarian, Kathy, we are always ahead of the curve! Aside from it looking incredibly easy to use, convenient and portable, it also has one feature that cracked me up -- you can slow down or speed up the reader's voice. Do you think they listen more slowly down south, and speed it up in New York? What a funny concept!

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October 3, 2006

Phones4Life

Last week, my family's cell phone plan expired, so we renewed our plan and upgraded our phones. This process took several hours and turned out to be complicated and costly. As my children unpacked the new phones and all of the accompanying gadgets -- headsets, car chargers, phone chargers, cases and clips, I collected all of the "old" stuff. Of course, none of the old equipment fits the new phones. So... what do you do with the phones and accessories that you no longer use? We have a drop box in the library for used cell phones -- it is sponsored by Phones4life and it is an excellent idea! In addition to helping the environment by not adding to our already crowded landfills, the phones go to people who truly need them. Next time you upgrade your phones, consider donating them at the library!
In keeping with this philosophy, we just got a flyer today from the Sid Jacobson JCC -- they're doing a program called The First Annual Bike Exchange. From now until November 30th, the JCC is collecting used bikes. And, on Sunday, December 10th, they're hosting a "bike sale." They are selling the bikes for a suggested donation of $15 for a children's bike and $25 for an adult bike. Now is a good time to clear out your garage and make a donation that will surely be enjoyed by children and adults who need them!
So, when you upgrade your "stuff," consider donating your "old stuff." The Bryant Library supports this environmentally and philanthropically-friendly philosophy, which is why we house drop boxes for cell phones and also used eyeglasses. Don't forget to erase your personal information from the phones before you donate them!

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September 20, 2006

The Library's a Busy Place

As you know, the library is a busy place. People come here for various reasons -- not only to check out or return materials, but to use computers, do research, study, attend programs, get something notarized, see our career counselor, and to make copies. Librarians and library staff are here to help with almost every library need. There are a few things that the library provides, but does not provide support for -- the pay phone, for example. If there is something wrong with the pay phone, we would post an "out of order" sign on it, and make a phone call to have it repaired. With the copy machine, I open the door, turn a few levers and try to get it to work when it jams. My expertise in this capacity is limited though. Unfortunately, the copy machines are used way more frequently than the pay phones, misfeed frequently and reside directly beside the Reference Desk. So... we are constantly being asked for help with the machines. Now, I am very willing to help, and I know how to make a straight copy. But, spatial relations are not my very best thing, so it is trial and error regarding reducing and enlarging.

A woman came in yesterday and wanted to enlarge a tiny picture on a handout given to her by a professor. The picture was of the internal organs of a person. I led the woman to the machine and showed her how to enlarge. The picture started out so tiny that it took her several tries and it still wasn't quite right. I told her that we have many medical and anatomy books available and the information would be the same -- presumably our internal organs don't change from publisher to publisher... but she insisted that this one came from her professor and she would stick with it. Okey-doke.

It's funny. I consider myself to be quite good with technology, but there are certain things that are just beyond me. We provide the copy machines as a service to the community, but I consider them a necessary evil!

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September 18, 2006

I've Been Enlightened!

As the first couple of weeks of school have quickly slipped behind us, and things are now in full swing, students are beginning to get their first assignments. And, because we work closely with the schools, we also have received assignments. The first one is for Ms. Pearlman's Global History class and the subject is Enlightenment.

If you are in Ms. Pearlman's class, you have several options. She specifically says that you must use at least two different sources and only one of them can be an "internet source." This does not mean that you can't do the entire thing using the internet -- it means that you can only use one website. In other words, you can use as many Electronic Databases as you like -- because these will lead you to print articles that can be accessed online, but only one website.
So, you can start with the Electronic Databases, but since this is history research, you will mostly find encyclopedia articles and such. You can only use one of these, so what will you do next? How about an internet search? You could "google" Enlightenment, but you'd come up with 50 million hits -- only some of them being relevant and appropriate. If you haven't tried Ask.com yet, may I suggest that you give it a try? Ask can help you narrow down your search. For instance, if you put "Enlightenment" into the search box, it will return a list of hits, plus a column on the right side that helps you either narrow or expand your search or look for "related names." In this case, many of the names listed in this column are the exact ones that Ms. Pearlman listed on her assignment -- how convenient! As you browse the list of hits that you've gotten, choose the links that end in .edu -- these are most reliable as they are from academic institutions.

Of course, we always encourage you to visit us in in person and take home books on your topic or use our reference collection. We've also put books aside (behind the Reference Desk) -- you can't take these out -- these are for the entire class to use. This is a clever assignment and an interesting topic -- and, as always, we're here to help you!

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August 29, 2006

Fall Comes to the Bryant Library

The September/October Newsletter is out and it's beautiful! An interview with our own new Assistant Director, Joan Casson Sauer is featured in full color on the front page. She reminds us that September is Library Card Sign-Up Month and says, "A library card has always been the most important school supply of all." And, in Byte Size News, Joan tells us about a new Electronic Resource available from home and in the library -- Proquest HEalth Management. Our Coordinator of Reference Services, Barbara Czekala is on the inside cover, asking for your thoughts on recommended reading -- we encourage you to send us your "2 cents!" Bryant Room archivist, Myrna Sloam, selected an interesting article about the history of Mott's Cove on page 3. Our own talented Mary Lindquist, Administrative Assistant for the Director, was awarded a Certificate of Merit for the Bryant Library welcome brochure. Even if you've been coming to the library for years, request a copy of this beautiful brochure next time you're in -- you may just find out about something new! The full color centerfold is filled with exciting programs for the Fall including concerts, book discussions, lectures, yoga, films and the ever popular defensive driving classes! Children's Programs are on the inside back cover with lots of fun programs for children, a reminder about the Tumblebooks and an announcement that they now have graphic novels for kids! And, finally, the back cover has a 10% off coupon for the Friends Bookstore and lists Young Adult Fall programs. What a chock-filled, gorgeous issue of the Bryant Library Newsletter!

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August 25, 2006

Like a Needle in a Haystack

Sometimes searching for something on the web is like looking for a needle in a haystack. We had a question this morning that was like that. A woman was looking for the recipe for Aunt Pat's Clam Dip that David Letterman talks about on his show. She isn't computer literate and couldn't figure out how to find it, so she called the library. I went to David Letterman's website first, but couldn't find it there, and unfortunately, there is no search option. I used both google and ask.com with different keywords to try to locate it. No luck. I did, however, find a few clues -- I found a couple of dates when the recipe was read on the show. So, I went back to the website and searched again. I finally found it in the Wahoo Gazette for August 14th. At one point, I had almost given up and was looking for contact information, thinking that the woman could call the show and request the information. But, there was no way, without a computer and a lot of patience, that this question was going to get answered.

I know this wasn't the most important question we were likely to answer today, but it illustrated a point that is made time and again, on a daily basis, in the library -- in order to do research in this day and age, you need to be persistant, computer savvy, be open to trying different avenues, and asking for help. The good news is that more people are willing and able to try... and we're always here to help!

Meanwhile, the clam dip looks good...!

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August 24, 2006

Chick Lit, Again

There is a table in front of the Reference Desk that always contains some sort of book display. They are always cute, clever and attract attention, but I have to say that this is one of my favorites. It's the Chick Lit display that I promised in a previous post, and it is even better than I expected! I suspect that those books are going to fly off the table!

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August 10, 2006

411 - Can We Help You?!

I answered the phone last night, mistakenly anticipating a reference question, and a woman asked me for the phone number of Fortunoff's. The library provides lots of services, but directory assistance isn't officially one of them. We do have access to this information, as does 411, 555-1212 and any phone book, but the difference is that is the function of those three choices -- it's not our official function. Anyway, I went to fortunoffs.com, then asked her what location she needed. Her response... wait for it... bridal registry! Not exactly what I was asking her for -- patiently, I clarified that I wanted to know whether she needed the number for Westbury, White Plains, etc. I gave her the number and was she happy with that? No, actually she wasn't -- she wanted an 800 number! The important thing is that I did my job to the best of my ability, and... a call to Westbury is still a local call!

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July 13, 2006

Duck Rescue Update

I received a joyous email to update us on the progress of the little ducks that were rescued back in June. Check it out!
"After weeks on a healthy nutritious diet, the ducklings were finally ready to move to their new forever home. On Friday, July 7, they moved in with their new family. April, their primary caregiver, is an extraordinary young lady who is an animal lover and hopes one day to attend veterinary school. April's father worked tirelessly building the perfect predator proof pen for the ducks to ensure they would be safe. April spent hours researching to find out all she could about keeping ducks, including the proper care and food necessary to ensure the ducks live a long and healthy life. It all paid off. When the ducklings met their new mom, it was love at first sight. They immediately began following her around her backyard and even followed her right into the family swimming pool, enjoying a cool dip after a stressful car ride to their new home.

Thanks to everyone who participated in rescuing these ducklings. Most ducklings abandoned at ponds don't survive the night. They truly are defenseless and fall prey to predators such as raccoons, dogs, snapping turtles, cats, and even other ducks. Kudos to all who worked so hard to help!"

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June 29, 2006

Empty Nest

I am definitely suffering from the empty nest syndrome. Both of my girls have flown the coop -- onto the brighter pastures of sleepaway camp. And, the birds in the nest just outside our back door have left also! So, what do I do when the girls leave? Well, I'm reading a book called The Notebook Girls, written by four teen girls -- okay, probably not the best idea... I'll probably spend more time with my husband, enjoy the beautiful weather, catch up with friends old and new, cry a little -- okay, maybe you should ask me tomorrow! On the bright side, I will be working more! I don't want to give away too much, but look for a new text-only version of our website and lots of changes to the blog.

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June 26, 2006

Congratulations and Happy Days!

Congratulations to my three graduates -- what a week -- three graduations (one preschool, one elementary school, and one middle school), several parties, lots of family, hugs and love...

and, drum roll, please...
the appointment of our new Assistant Director, Joan Casson Sauer!!

Eleanor Roosevelt put it best: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

Congratulations and love to all!

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June 19, 2006

Who Do Libraries Serve?

An educated, bright, successful, well travelled, well read man shared his opinion of libraries at a dinner party this weekend. His take on library users is that they come to the library simply because they aren't financially successful enough to buy their own books or own their own computers. As bright as he is, not only did he insult a large segment of our population, but he has missed the research component of libraries entirely.

• Libraries are "keepers" of important and sometimes historic materials and information.
• Librarians are not only first rate researchers, but part of our job is to provide the public with the tools to do their own research and to make information accessible.
• Many, if not most people don't want to own every book they read or listen to, every video they watch, or cd they listen to. How inefficient space-wise and environmentally wasteful would that be, if we all did that?
• Readers of fiction often rely on librarians for recommendations. Are Barnes and Noble employees better at recommending books than librarians? I think not.

How did I respond to his ignorant comment? I didn't -- I let it go. This is my response. I want to thank him for providing me with fodder for an important blog post.

Posted by Michele at 10:33 AM | Comments (0)

June 14, 2006

Flag Day

Posted by Michele at 12:46 PM | Comments (0)