May 4, 2009
Find Us on Facebook
I have written about Facebook in the BLog before, but this time it's to announce that the Bryant Library now has a Facebook page! We are posting photos, events and news of interest on our brand new page.You can also search our catalog or our Web site from our page. Now, you don't even have to leave Facebook to find us -- please join us today and 'become a fan!'
Posted by Michele at 1:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
April 29, 2009
Career Cruising
Just back from a demonstration on one of our new databases called Career Cruising. What a timely, useful and well-organized program! There are two separate and distinct targeted audiences for the database.
The first is high school students, preparing their college searching. There is lots of material for college selection -- exploring and comparing colleges, financial aid and scholarship information, etc. A student can answer questions about their selection criteria and the database will provide them with a list of potential colleges. There is also a portfolio feature that enables the students to save their work in a central location. They can save their searches as well as upload essays, resumes, community services, etc., so it's all in one place. And, it's printable! As the parent of a junior in high school, I know that I will be turning to Career Cruising quite often!
The second target for this database is either someone graduating from college and deciding on a career path or an adult making a career change. Just like the college module, you can elect to answer questions and the program will return a list of potential careers. Clicking on the career will give you all the information you would need to make a decision -- you'll get salaries, job availability in your area, the education you would need to pursue this career -- even two interviews with people who currently hold jobs in this area! Additionally, Career Cruising offers a resume builder that is incredible! All you need to do is enter the information and the program does the rest! You can format it to look just the way you want it to, or you can export it as a Word document and polish it up on your own!
As an aside, I just came across this link from Staples today. They're offering free copies of resumes and business cards from now until June 13th! Job searching is very much a hot topic these days, and Bryant Library is on top of it all! If you need assistance with your career search, please call the Reference Desk and make an appointment to see our career counselor. And, please check out Career Cruising!
Posted by Michele at 11:49 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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"
Posted by Michele at 4:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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.
Posted by Michele at 9:51 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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!
Posted by Michele at 11:11 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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.
Posted by Michele at 11:41 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
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.
Posted by Michele at 11:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)