BLTeens Blog

Change of Address

2007-04-27T10:41:00.000-04:00

Well -- after 3 years and over 400 blog posts, this is my last Blogger blog entry... we have migrated our blog to a new address: http://www.nassaulibrary.org/bryant/blog. It has a new name and a new look! The new name is BLog -- short for Bryant Library Blog. Please update your bookmarks, tell your friends, and keep on reading!!

Happy Birthday, Library of Congress

2007-04-24T15:45:00.000-04:00

The Library of Congress was officially established on April 24th, 1800. It is currently spread over three buildings in Washington, D.C. It is the largest library in the world. Librarians of Congress must be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. It is only on it's 13th Librarian of Congress, James J. Billington.

The mission of the Library of Congress is: "The Library's mission is to make its resources available and useful to the Congress and the American people and to sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations." A worthy mission it is.

Oddly, while Mr. Billington is clearly a bright and educated man, he is not actually a librarian -- he doesn't have the necessary Master's degree! Many of the other 12 Librarians of Congress had degrees and were involved in library administration before their appointment, though Mr. Billington was not. It is interesting to me that the only librarian in the nation with a capital "L" has always been a man -- what does that say about our profession and our nation? In my opinion, it's the librarians in the "trenches," struggling to keep up with information and technology overload, balancing our work and our families, and working within a budget to keep our buildings and our collections strong -- these are the people who are librarians with a capital "L!"

It's Not Easy Being Green

2007-04-23T08:52:00.000-04:00

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!

Happy National Library Week!

2007-04-20T13:42:00.000-04:00

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.

Peace, It's Still Missing

2007-04-14T10:38:00.000-04:00

I met an old friend in the city yesterday and we went to the Rubin Museum. There was a timely and beautiful exhibit there called, "The Missing Peace," and it included work from 88 artists from 25 countries who were inspired by the themes and ideals of the Dalai Lama. Although we spent almost two hours there, we didn't get to see everything. Fortunately, there is an online virtual tour! The Dalai Lama Foundation expresses the importance of his ideals in today's world:

"Education for basic human values is very important. No one exists as an isolated individual. Problems far away will eventually affect us. This is not religion, but reality. It is essential to understand the reality of our situation, and develop the basic human values of warmth, affection, kindness and compassion. So this idea of curricula for peace and ethics is very important…not only important, but urgent."

It is especially significant as we consider that tomorrow is Holocaust Remembrance Day; a day to reflect and remember the millions of people who were slaughtered. So many years later, we are still asking, why? The Dalai Lama speaks to universal ideals, that if taught and practiced, would benefit humanity everywhere. Ideals such as: universal connectedness and responsibility, the importance of human dignity, and the need for peace. In remembrance of the past and hope for the future, this is my wish.

And So It Goes

2007-04-12T12:42:00.000-04:00

Kurt Vonnegut died last night at the age of 84. His alter-ego, Kilgore Trout died at the same age (in the novel, Timequake). His novels are a must read if you consider yourself an educated, well-rounded person. But, he was also a man of tremendous wit, humor and humanism. His obituary in the NYTimes is impressive and includes links to many articles, book reviews and interviews.

Kurt Vonnegut's wikipedia entry gives you an idea of the kind of person he was, "On pages 9 and 10 of his book Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction, Vonnegut listed eight rules for writing a short story:

1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things -- reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them -- in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

So, even though Kurt Vonnegut's life is over -- his legacy will live forever. And so it goes.

The Floating World

2007-04-06T11:27:00.000-04:00

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!

Long Island Reads

2007-03-29T14:59:00.000-04:00

Long Island Reads is an Island-wide reading initiative. Each Spring, people in Nassau and Suffolk come together to read the same book, (James McBride's The Color of Water) participate in discussions of the selection, and enjoy related events in public libraries. This year it's on April 11th, from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Glen Head Community Center.

This event will be a great opportunity to not only discuss the book, but also to greet friends, meet members of other book clubs, local officials and enjoy delicious refreshments - in other words, to "celebrate community through reading."

I got a call last night about an old friend of the family who is recovering from brain surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. All seemed to be well -- she is now cancer-free, and is basically her old self... except that she can no longer read! Of course, the overall feeling is that we're grateful for her health, but you can't help but wonder -- what would I do if I couldn't read?!! What a tremendous loss that would be! After the initial shock, my brain kicked back into gear, and I realized that of course, she could listen to books instead. And, then there are all the practical implications, like reading street signs and bank statements... In light of that news, I welcome any opportunity to celebrate reading!

Long Island Reads is an Island-wide reading initiative sponsored by the Nassau Library System and Suffolk Cooperative Library System.

Circulation Desk

2007-03-23T10:42:00.000-04:00

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!

March Madness

2007-03-14T18:05:00.000-04:00

March Madness has definitely come to the Bryant Library. As you know, we'll be closed on Tuesday, March 20th through Thursday, March 22nd for the installation of our new Circulation Desk. And, there is tremendous preparation that is going into this migration, officially beginning on Monday afternoon.

At the same time, we're also preparing to get security cameras installed throughout the library. It's very frustrating to see an item that says "check shelves," only to find it missing. We're hoping that this will cut down on the number of items that "disappear" mysteriously.

Simultaneously, while the library is closed to the public, the staff will still be here, working as diligently as usual. What will we be doing? We'll be doing some professional development -- educating one another about our unique specialties, doing large amounts of cleaning and of course, answering reference questions by telephone.

Incidentally, happy Pi Day (3/14 -- get it?!)! It's interesting to note the contrast -- whereas pi is an infinite number that never varies and will go on and on with no discernible pattern, the library is ever changing and growing in leaps and bounds in direct response to the needs of the community. Just where we should be!

Found by Google!

2007-03-08T15:03:00.000-05:00

We received a lovely letter the other day from the daughter of Roslyn's local historian, and author of the book, Roslyn Then and Now, Roy Moger. She had "googled" her father's name and came across our recently redesigned Local History site. She wrote a long letter which concluded with, "Thank you for all the work you do to keep history alive in Roslyn."

It's funny to think that the library has the difficult job of keeping history alive for future generations, while also making information available to today's generation(s) of information seekers. This means that while Myrna (our archivist) is upstairs in the Bryant Room, carefully preserving old photographs and newspaper clippings, I am downstairs creating wikis, updating our website, investigating offering IM Reference or blogging away! The truth is that we're both working toward the same end -- attempting to make it easier for everyone to find whatever information we're offering -- now and in the future.

Roslyn residents span every age and technological skillset, which means that we have to offer as many things as possible in as many formats as possible. There are many people still using videos, while others haven't handled anything other than a dvd in ages. There are many, many people listening to books: on cassette, cd, or mp3, but I still need to hold a book in my hand.

In this case, Roy Moger's daughter found our tribute to him (which is actually his tribute to Roslyn) on our website. If it were encased in plastic and filed away, she would have had to visit our library to find it. As a forward thinking library, we are committed to growth, change and reinventing ourselves to best meet present and future library users.

Closed for Installation of New Circulation Desk

2007-03-05T13:46:00.000-05:00

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!

Fiction by Color

2007-02-26T10:44:00.000-05:00

A little story on the news caught my attention the other night. It turns out that it's not a new issue, either. Some of the large bookstore chains, like Borders, maintain a separate section for fiction written by African American authors. That's right, they're separating their fiction by skin color. My initial, gut reaction was that it was a racist practice. But, I have to say that the news report that I saw, raised compelling arguments on both sides of the issue.

One African American woman (bookstore owner) explained that as a culture unto itself, it deserved it's own section. "Terry McMillan, best-selling author of Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back: "I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, you don't have Jewish American sections or Irish American sections. So it's insulting and flattering at the same time that we get our own special section. On the other hand, since we are trying hard to eliminate color lines, we should all just be included in [general] literature."

Spokespeople from Borders explained that it makes it easier for people who enjoy this particular "genre" to find new African American authors. While that may be true, it also prevents customers of all colors, who aren't specifically looking for literature by African American authors from finding them by browsing.

It's so easy now to find books by genre, using our Electronic Resources. There are two that are particularly good -- Books in Print and Novelist. You can't search by the color of the author, but you can use either of these databases to generate a list of books written about African American life and culture. Although interesting points were raised on the other side, I still don't think it's necessary to separate general fiction like that. In a library, fiction is organized alphabetically by the last name of the author -- regardless of gender, race or subject --we plan to keep it that way.

Letter from an Appreciative Roslyn Resident

2007-02-22T10:57:00.000-05:00

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,

Fifty 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

Contained in a Reference Librarian's Rolodex

2007-02-13T16:12:00.000-05:00

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...

Has the Library Changed Your Life?

2007-02-09T10:14:00.000-05:00

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.

Happy Birthday, Norma Perlman!

2007-02-06T12:55:00.000-05:00

Today we celebrate Norma Perlman’s 90^th 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.

What's News?

2007-02-05T14:39:00.000-05:00

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!

Make it Personal

2007-01-15T10:07:00.000-05:00

What is the secret to being a good teacher? How do you make a lesson memorable? How do you impress upon others the importance of making a difference? You have to make it personal.

Funny story. January 15, 1971, I was in the first grade. My teacher announced that today was the birthday of a very important man. A man who believed that all people were created equal. A man who believed that all human beings deserved dignity and respect. A man who wasn't afraid to stand up and let others know what he believed. My teacher asked if anyone knew the name of this man. I confidently raised my hand and said, "Abraham Kleinberg, my grandfather." While that was technically true, it wasn't the answer she was looking for, and she went on to teach about the important things that Martin Luther King, Jr. fought and stood for.

Martin Luther King, Jr. did and said a great many memorable things for which he has been honored and we remember today. But, the part that I most admire is that he called for all people to take personal responsibility for the world's wrongs. Everything he wrote and spoke about is still relevant today, but none more than that. We are not just vessels to listen passively and accept what goes on, but instead we need to be active participants in making history. If everyone took personal responsibility for making a difference in his or her own little piece of the world, the world would be a better place. My grandfather was such a man, and in his memory, and in honor of Dr. King, I strive to live up to that ideal.

The Bryant Room

2007-01-11T10:53:00.000-05:00

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.

Feel Safer in Your Community

2007-01-10T18:44:00.000-05:00

I received a notice in my mail today from my local Board of Education. They notified us that a registered level 2 sex offender had moved into our neighborhood. The letter included instructions about how to find further information about this person, including a photo and address. I have visited this site before and it was a reminder to do do this periodically. I think it's a good idea to become familiar with names and photographs and know approximately how many registered sex offenders live in your area -- especially if you're a parent of teenage girls, as I am. And, not to make you paranoid, but Nassau County isn't that large, and people can get around fairly easily, so don't forget to check surrounding neighborhoods.

The search itself is easy: the website is from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. You click on "search subdirectory." You'll have to enter required information -- your name, address, etc., but then it will let you search by name, county or zip code. The good news is that my search yielded no registered sex offenders in the 11576 zip code!

Is an Empty Library a Happy Library?

2007-01-03T18:20:00.000-05:00

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.

Have a Happy!

2006-12-22T15:14:00.000-05:00

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.

Always Busy at Bryant

2006-12-11T14:31:00.000-05:00

What a busy weekend we had here at the Bryant Library! There was the Tech Tips workshop for Young Adults on Saturday -- two very tech-savvy teens led the workshop and instructed parents and other teens about what's hot this holiday season. And, on Sunday, there was the Ms. NY State Senior America Talent Showcase. What an inspiration these women were! They ranged in age from 65 into their 80s and they sang, danced, entertained and had the whole audience swaying along. The public access computers were all in use, so for the first time, I saw the sign-up computer being used. Our new SAM system allows you to enter your library card number to reserve the next available computer. It worked like a charm! With SAM, our computers shut themselves down at 10 minutes before closing. But, there were still several people on laptops that didn't leave until exactly 9:00.

As we left the building, there were two people sitting on the bench outside the library with their laptops. We asked if they were waiting for a ride. The gentlemen, whose first language was obviously not English, said that they were fine, thanks -- they were just taking advantage of our "wee fee." He was referring to our wifi (pronounced why-fi) -- we are a wireless hotspot, meaning that even though he was technically outside of our building, his laptop was picking up our wireless connection to reach the Web. It was too cold to sit outside for very long, but I'm glad we could help out a little. This is just one example of how we are available 24/7 via the Web, long after our physical building is closed.

Is It Real or is it Second Life?

2006-10-06T14:21:00.000-04:00

This is what I'm talking about -- The Second Life Library has teamed up with the library at Charlotte & Mecklenburg to collaborate on a creative and cultural space for teens on an island in Teen Second Life. TSL is for teens, ages 13-17. There is lots to do there including gaming, chatting, etc. -- it's like playing Sims, but it's for real. Now, they will also have a library to peruse as well. It makes sense to me that librarys are meeting the teens "on their own turf," so to speak. If the teens are already active in Second Life, then they will take advantage of using the library while they're there. At least, that's the hope.

Second Life is a wonderful place for adults, but for safety (and probably for other reasons as well) they don't allow anyone under 18. If you're reading this as a parent, you can assuage your fears and answer your questions about Teen Second Life here.

In the meantime, I've signed up to be a greeter and tour guide at the Second Life Library and Information Island Grand Opening celebrations. They begin on October 12th and will continue through the 14th. There will be lectures, exhibits, discussions -- even virtual refreshments (zero calories!). There is a brand new medical library, science library, bookstore, etc. If you've been curious about the SL Library and wanted to check it out, put these dates on your calendar and come on in!