I sometimes forget if I’ve read a particular novel, especially if it’s by one of the many prolific authors like James Patterson, Faye Kellerman, and Daniel Silva. I also tend to forget titles of books that I didn’t particularly like. You can keep a log under “My Reading History” when you go into the Library’s catalog at www.alisweb.org and then click on “My Account”. You may then “Opt In”.
Or if you prefer, do as I do, keep a WRITTEN LOG (yes, written) and GRADE your books! I use letter grades (A+ to C-) and also add one or two notes about the book. It keeps me from restarting a book I previously read and helps when I’m asked for a recommendation. What happened to the D’s and F’s? I usually don’t bother finishing those that I would grade D or F. After reading 50 pages, I don’t continue if I’m not interested EXCEPT if it’s for my book club, then I usually force myself to finish. Guess it’s good discipline, or is it peer pressure?

If you have not applied for the Economic Stimulus Payment, you still have time. The IRS has extended the deadline to October 15, 2008. If you have applied but not received your check yet, if you received a different amount than you expected, or have any other questions, check out the IRS information page or call the Rebate Hotline at 1-866-234-2942. Even if you are not required to file taxes, you must file form 1040A in order to receive a stimulus payment. It does not mean that you will have to pay taxes.

I recently went to a very interesting Consumer Health workshop. One of the many good websites discussed was Ask Me 3. Basically, this website helps people have better communication with their health care professionals (doctors, nurses and pharmacists). Ask Me 3 refers to three fundamental questions that a person needs to ask:
1. What is my main problem?
2. What do I need to do?
3. Why is it important for me to do this?
Some suggestions for clear health communication are as follows:
Bring a friend or family member with you to the doctor’s. Sometimes we all need a second pair of ears to better understand and remember what is being said.
Bring a list of all your medicines and supplements.
Ask for further information if you don’t understand.
More information and links to printable brochures are given. Everyone has a right to know what their doctor is saying to them. Don’t be afraid to ask again!

With gas at approximately $4.00 a gallon, there’s never been a better time to live in a walkable neighborhood. Walk Score helps you find the most walkable places to live. By entering an address, it finds the distance to the nearest stores, post offices, restaurants, libraries, and other useful destinations. Walk Score ranks 2,508 neighborhoods in the largest 40 U.S. cities. The Top Four Cities are: San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, Boston, MA, and Chicago ILL. Walk Score, www.walkscore.com, is the perfect tool for anyone looking to find a home or office in a walkable neighborhood.

This year the Library planted a “Victory Garden.” Begun as a tribute to one of our most beloved staff members, Bea Shacknow, the garden has flourished and become food for the homeless in Nassau County. Elaine Zimmer and Heather Greco, with help from Gary Peluso planted tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, beans and annual flowers in the area that borders the southeast part of the building. They were joined in July by teen volunteers who helped water and pick the vegetables. They thoroughly enjoyed their outdoor experience and plan to help again next year. The proceeds of their labors are enjoyed by residents of the INN in Hempstead, a facility that feeds hundreds of people each week. We are very proud of the work our staff has done to help others, and the example they have set for the next generation.

Nothing is more frustrating than trying to get personal help when calling a store or business on the telephone. More often than not, you’re greeted by an automated system offering a multitude of choices for everything but speaking with another human being. The website www.gethuman.com (also available through the Consumer and Shopping database listings on the library’s homepage) provides hundreds of 800 phone numbers plus the “secret” of getting beyond the automated system to a customer service representative. You can search by the name of a company, an industry (finance, government, insurance, stores, etc.), or by country (companies in the US, Canada and England are covered), or browse through the alphabetical listings.

Have you seen the old pictures of Plainview-Old Bethpage that the library put up near the circulation desk? Would you like to see these and other old pictures of the community posted on an Internet site for everyone to enjoy? I love to see how our community looked and how it changed and the memories these pictures bring back. There’s a project called “Long Island Memories” which is digitizing these photographs and our library hopes to become part of it. Take a look at some of the pictures other libraries have posed of their communities. They are just wonderful!

Have you tried playing Wii? FYI, Wii is a video game console from Nintendo. Wii Sports features bowling, tennis, and golf games. I tried bowling using the Wii-mote, a unique control that is strapped to your wrist. The bowling screen with pins comes up in front of you. You press the remote buttons on the Wii-mote while swinging your arm back to bowl. I felt like I was actually bowling! The hottest new product is Wii Fit combining fun and fitness into one package for “all ages” to enjoy. Check out the Wii website: http://www.nintendowii.net/ to find out more.

Have you noticed the interesting 3-D display near the Circulation Desk? It features Frommer Travel Books and accompanying art work about the world of travel. It was created by the library's very talented artist, Laura Centofranchi. Laura has been with us just over a year and has contributed greatly to the new spirit in the Library. She painted the cafe area free-hand, creates all the flyers, posters and brochures, and advises us on color and taste. We really value her artistic "eye" and rely on her instincts.

The travel display is great fun and part of a nationwide contest. If we win, the Library will receive a free lecture from Arthur and his daughter Pauline Frommer or we might win a whole collection of his travel books. Whatever the outcome, we can all enjoy the beautiful display. Take time to look at Ms. Centofranchi's delightful work while planning your next trip.

In July, 2006, Renee had a great idea to collect books to send to soldiers serving overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. Chris and I joined her and we sent a few boxes to soldiers via the anysoldier.com website. It is now two years later, and through our program “For Our Soldiers” we have sent over 1,200 care packages containing food, books, toiletries, dvd’s, and anything else we could fit in a box, at a cost of over $8,000 in postage.

Our friends, co-workers, families and our most generous community, Plainview-Old Bethpage, have reached deeply into their hearts and pockets. Stop by the “For Our Soldiers” table outside of Community Services and read some of the wonderful letters and emails from the recipients of our packages. We have been overwhelmed by the gratitude and humility of these brave men and women. Read their words and you will leave the Library with a smile on your face and a greater appreciation for the sacrifice of our soldiers.

It’s summer time and there’s no more hiding in sweat pants and baggie shirts. Studies show that keeping a food and activity journal is a helpful tool in the fight to get fit. I was ready for a reality check, so I got on the scale and then went looking for a website to use for journaling. I tried a couple but found them cumbersome to use until I tried www.my-calorie-counter.com. It has a huge database of nutritional information on many common foods, including lots of popular brands and restaurant items as well. It lets you set your own portion size, too.

You can also create custom food entries for foods that you eat regularly that are not included in the database. The site has a large list of activities and the calories burned when you engage in them. If you’re into blogging, you can post to a like-minded community blog and share your experience with others. There are plenty of links to articles on health and fitness. If you are honest about listing everything thing you’ve eaten, you may find the answer to that age-old question, “Why can’t I lose weight?” Then you can take steps needed to make that question unnecessary.

I love to shop and I’m always looking for the best buys at bargain prices. A friend of mine told me about this shopping website. It’s called Overstock.com. It’s an on-line wholesale and retail service featuring bedding books, clothing, electronics, furniture, jewelry, sports equipment and watches. This site has Clearance Bins, Steals Of The Week, Top Sellers, and Gift Cards that you may purchase online. Stop in today.

Have you heard of or considered investing in a GPS?
Technology allows you to navigate with a GPS via satellites. I received a GPS as a gift. It works great. You input your destination and the GPS gives you turn by turn directions and calculates an estimated time of arrival. If you miss an exit or turn while driving, the GPS recalculates your directions. Are you interested in purchasing one or would you like to read more? “Consumer Reports” has rated GPS navigators in the June 2008 issue. If you are not ready to buy one, Google maps is useful for getting directions.

This summer we encourage all of our younger patrons to "Read for the Gold," as part of our exciting Summer Reading program. There are a variety of programs designed specifically for infants thru teens. Each of the various programs promotes summertime reading, and rewards participants with weekly prizes, stickers and certificates. The programs will start on June 30th and continue thru August 17th. Come in or call Family Center to get more details.

Summertime fare, I think of barbecues and casual dining. These are the kinds of restaurants to consider when you are too tired to flick the switch, marinate the meat or clean up the mess. Grab a bite at Big Daddy’s Barbecue in Massapequa - hot, smoky and fiery food, extremely powerful. You don’t need the sun to feel the heat! Turtle Crossing is another favorite of mine. Take a ride to East Hampton for the day and stop by this restaurant for huge portions of tasty ribs, brisket and shrimp. It has an upbeat crowd so bring the family to enjoy the noisy fun atmosphere. If you would like a home away from home, with fabulous Northern Italian food and great service you must try Fianona in New Hyde Park, a family operated business of our friend/co-worker Evita. She does not want to brag, but our fellow staff members have no problem doing so. It should be added to the list of restaurants you must definitely try.

The Media Center has begun purchasing a small number of BLUE-RAY DVD titles for public borrowing! See Desk for details. If you have the player at home, here is the opportunity for POB card holders to borrow some new, popular titles. We hope you enjoy them!
Our growing Book on CD collection is perfect for car trips, and now includes a large number of Pimsleur foreign language titles.
We have just received some additional MP3 titles-Titles by Alexander McCall Smith, Jodi Picoult, Lisa Scottoline and others.

Hey, all you photographers out there! The Library is looking for someone to take photos of a typical day in the Library. We’ll upload the photos to our flickr account and give you credit for your work. We would love to see the Library through your eyes and share it with the world!

I love to cook on the barbecue and many of my friends have asked me for my “recipe secrets.” My grilling “secrets” are really web sites that I’d like to share. Try RecipeSource. Type “barbecue” in the search box and click the “Go” button. You’ll find delicious marinades and sauces that will please everyone! Fish lovers, try
Fish 4 Fun for tips on grilling seafood. For vegetables, I use
Grilling 101-Grilled Vegetables-All Recipes. Grilling vegetables isn’t rocket science and many vegetables are great on the grill. Last, but not least, is Grilling-Recipes.com which gives you 1200 of the best all time barbecue recipes. I especially like the grilled chicken recipes

I was looking for a special place to take my visiting granddaughter last weekend and luckily a library patron asked to see a recent Newsday article about the Long Island Puppet Theatre and Museum. When I found the article, I couldn’t believe that I had never heard about the place before and it’s right next-door in Hicksville! It’s a charming, enchanted, colorful theater with puppet shows on weekends and during school vacations.
They will be showing The Little Mermaid, The Wizard of Oz and Punch and Judy during the next few months. They also hold BIRTHDAY PARTIES complete with favors and pizza. Get directions on their website www.lipuppet.com. It’s easy to find and reasonably priced!

Our country will be electing a new president in November, and John McCain will be the Republican nominee. He supports the war in Iraq, always has, and if he is elected, our troops will most likely remain there for years to come. If a Democrat is elected, whether it is Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, the timetable for their return will be different. But the fact remains, the troops will be there for the foreseeable future, and we must keep our focus on that. Let’s remember that what we do is for the men and women who are struggling to fight a war under difficult conditions with substandard supplies. They know that many people in our country are losing faith in the war and the government’s rhetoric but we must show them that we still support the individuals who are there, if not the war itself. Please donate materials, food and money to our efforts and we will continue to send our care packages overseas.

Jennifer, an old friend of mine, was interested in doing community theatre. She didn’t know where to turn and asked my advice. I went on to the Plainview-Old Bethpage Library website (www.poblib.org) and clicked on “Search by Subject.” This led me to “Long Island Information.” “Deb’s Web” looked interesting. I clicked on ”Cast Calls.” This was just what Jennifer needed. There is an extensive listing of theatres on Long Island. Specific roles are advertised. I’m looking forward to seeing her on the stage soon!

I recently returned from the Public Library Association Conference in Minneapolis and heard about an amazing organization that was started in 1998 when 28-year-old John Wood was an overworked Microsoft executive in need of a quiet vacation. Little did he know that his trip to Nepal was going to be life changing. His guide took him to see a school that literally had no books – oh, except for a Danielle Steele romance and other castoffs from travelers. He made a decision after that trip to leave Microsoft and do something about this deprivation. He wrote a book “Leaving Microsoft to change the world” - 370.9173 Woo. He then proceeded to found an organization called http://www.roomtoread.org. This became and is an organization that is providing books, education to young girls and goodwill in several Asian countries. It is expanding to South Africa. It provides the means so that the people can do the building of libraries and schools on their own. Look at their web site and you will see the impact that this one person has had.

When someone asks,” What’s for dinner?” and you respond, “Reservations,” check out Zagat Long Island Restaurants at the Reference Department. If you want additional suggestions, openings and closing of venues, or small bites, consult the Long Island Restaurant binder located on the Consumer Table. The list is updated twice weekly and is very informative. Some of my own suggestions:
·: After attending a lovely high tea at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC, I thought about another wonderful gem. The Lady Ann’s Vintage Tea Room right here in Levittown was a special experience.
.· For a slice of the South, try Smokin Al’s Famous BBQ Joint. Please dress casual, it could get messy.
· If you enjoy a touch of Greece, try the fresh fish and outstanding Greek salads, served at the 33 year old Mediterranean Snack Bar in Huntington. Tell owner Steve, Ilene sent you.
· For a fun, lively, tropical getaway, Laguna Grill comes to mind for tasty tangy dishes, including fabulous salads and potent drinks at the lively bar.

We have a new wheelchair accessible library table which meets ADA requirements. This table provides ample knee clearance space and a range of heights appropriate for wheelchair users. It can be used alone as a reading table or with a laptop computer. It’s located in the Reference corridor. Stop by the Reference desk for the crank that raises and lowers the table and we’ll be happy to assist you!

The library is pleased to announce the development of our first teen garden. The flower and vegetable garden will be planted in the late spring and tended through harvest time in the fall. A kickoff workshop, under the guidance of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, is currently being planned for May. Teens in grades 7 – 12 will have the opportunity to plant, tend, and enjoy the beautiful flowers and delicious vegetables from the garden. Additionally, a portion of the vegetables grown will be donated to the Interfaith Nutrition Network as part of the Plant a Row for the Hungry program. Teens who are interested in participating are encouraged to contact the Family Center. All participants will earn community service credit.

If you’re reading this blog post, you’re on our website. Did you notice the small photo with the URL www.flickr.com above it? If you click on that photo, you’ll enter the world of Flickr, much more than just a photo album. It’s a place where the Library is posting all their photos, so you can view them at any time. But it is also a community of photo sharing folks. You can post your photos on flickr and make them public for anyone to view or private, and share them with your chosen friends by invitation only. You can write descriptions of your photos and invite people to post their comments, just like you can comment on this blog.

Even the Library of Congress is posting pictures on Flickr! They have a page on Flickr called the Commons where you can look at photos from a collection called 1930’s and 1940’s in color and another collection called News in the 1910’s. There are thousands of photos in each collection and they would love to get your comments.

PIMSLEUR FOREIGN LANUAGE CDs

The Media Center has just expanded our foreign language collection
We now have, on CD format, Arabic, French, Italian, and Spanish that POB residents may borrow
These popular Pimsleur series are all without manuals, so you just listen and learn

PLAYAWAYS

We now have 39 titles in our growing collection
We even provide the batteries
You just provide the headphones
Truly “Plug & Play”

I’ve picked out some old pictures from our Local History Collection to decorate our new lobby. It will take a bit of time for them to be framed and hung, but I hope they bring back some good memories. I had a lot of fun going though our pictures and deciding what to use. Our community sure has changed. We went from farm country to a hustling, bustling suburban town in a very short time. Enjoy the pictures!

The Friends of the Library invite you to celebrate National Library Week with them. They have planned an interesting evening on Monday evening, April 14 at 7:30 with local author, Alyson Richman. Ms. Richman has penned three highly acclaimed novels – The Last Van Gogh, which is her most recent work of historical fiction, The Swedish Tango and The Mask Carver’s Son. Richman will discuss her craft and read from her books. There will also be time for questions and answers from the audience. After Ms. Richman’s program, please join us for refreshments and a book sale and signing.
You may also wish to read The Last Van Gogh prior to attending the lecture, so be sure to reserve it as a single copy or read it with your book group and reserve it as one of our “Book Club in a Bag” titles. We are looking forward to seeing you at this exciting event.

If you want Nassau County Assessment Review Commission to review your property’s assessment you can file electronically until March 3, 2008. Access the forms through the website http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/ARC/forms.html. You can also print up the forms either at home or the Library and mail them by March 3, the last day to appeal the 2009-2010 tentative assessment.

Last time we advertised for a part-time Librarian on the Long Island Library Conference website, I received a number of responses by email. One cover letter was from a librarian with 7 years of library experience who listed attributes I thought would make her a strong candidate for the job. She said in her letter that a position at the POB Library was very appealing to her. Great, I thought, she must know the library! You can imagine my surprise when I opened up her resume and saw that she was writing from London, England. Wow, that would be quite a commute!

On Feb 17, 2009 all television broadcasting will become 100% digital. That means that if you have an analog TV you will have to get a converter box. Did you know the government is going to give you a subsidy for the purchase of a box? This website https://www.dtv2009.gov/ will tell you all about it. If you are a cable or satellite subscriber then you will be provided with an analog signal until 2012.

One person comes to the Library for the latest bestseller. Another comes with her toddler for Storytime. Perhaps you’re retired and like to read your favorite newspapers or magazines in our lounge. Or maybe you come to use our Internet computers. You are all different, but you have one thing in common. You come to the Library for something that you need.

But what about when you need something and don’t know where to find it? The Library can help you there, too. The Community Service Department provides personal, confidential Information & Referral Services. If we don’t have the information to help you solve your problem, we will try to connect you with the person or agency that can. We work with parents who need services for their children and adult children who need assistance for their parents. We proctor exams for people, we help with applications – we want to connect you with the answers you need.

Your direct line to the CS office is (516) 938-0077 X1254. Stop in or call. We’re here to help.

The Dark Knight is scheduled for release on July 18, 2008 in U.S. theaters. The film is based on the fictional DC Comics character Batman. Heath Ledger, who recently, tragically passed away played the role of the Joker. The role may, in fact, have led to his physical exhaustion. To prepare for the role, he was given Batman: The Killing Joke and Arkham Asylum to read. Our library currently has Batman: The Killing Joke in DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore, call number 741.5973 Moore. Bethpage and Wantagh Public Libraries have Arkham Aslyum. The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller is also a suggested read for Batman fans. It can be found at other Nassau libraries and is on order for Plainview.

For all business aficionados, check these out! We have two great resources for looking up your mutual funds and stock profiles. Morningstar and Value Line Online are available on all of our Internet computers. So, come on in and try them out! Stop at the Reference desk and we will log you on.

My friend, Diane was looking for a new internist. She had a few names but wanted more information: education, practice information, and legal actions. I told her about a good site, www.nydoctorprofile.com. This was just what she needed to make an informed choice. You can just type in this address or go to our new homepage, www.poblib.org. Click on the following:
Search by Subject
Health, Medicine, and Nutrition
Doctors, Dentists, Healthcare Professionals, Hospitals
New York State Physician Profile
Here’s a tip: Just put in the doctor’s last name. All the doctors with that last name will come up. Click on the appropriate doctor.

Renee, Chris and I were talking about our “For Our Soldiers” program, which has been ongoing since July, 2006. Since our money collection jar was stolen back in December, donations of money and materials have dropped to next to nothing. We cannot put out another collection jar, or box, because of the possibility of theft and damage to the library. Therefore, our collection area will most likely be eliminated. One of us asked the others if we were ready for our efforts to send the care packages to the soldiers to end. I was at a loss for words. Even though we all knew when we began that we could not possibly sustain this for the long haul, the thought of abandoning our soldiers, which is what I feel in my heart we would be doing, felt like a dagger to my heart. All because one person felt the need, during the holiday season, to take the few dollars that our community donated, dollar by dollar, to those who are far away from home, friends and family.

We don’t know how else to continue to receive donations from the kids who threw coins from their allowance into the jar, or the shopper who was in Shop Rite and bought an extra box of granola bars and dropped them into the basket the next time she was in the library. Or the vet who brought in a bunch of decks of playing cards. If you have any thoughts on this, we welcome your suggestions.

The Hempstead Public Library is home to the World Language Collection, which contains over 12,000 books in over 20 languages. This special collection serves anyone who resides in Nassau County. If you wish, you may request these titles from our Reference Department. FYI, our library owns a small foreign language book collection, which is on shelves next to the Adult Lounge. If you can’t find what you need please ask, we’d be happy to help you.

Have you used our new PlayAways yet? We now have 27 titles, with more on the way. Just add you own headphones, push a button, and you are good to go!

Don’t forget our collection of classic DVDs. We have over 60 vintage titles for your enjoyment, many enhanced with additional features. Speaking of classics, we now have a colorized “Our Gang” DVD set.

Thanks to our patrons for borrowing a record high number of Music CDs in December. Come and browse our growing collection of classical, popular, folk, rock, country, jazz, and international titles.

The Books on CD collection has grown and have been shifted for easier browsing. We’ll be glad to show you where.

Have you ever wondered about a friend that you went to school with? The Local History Collection at the library has a large collection of yearbooks from all the schools in the district. Many people have used them to reconnect with old acquaintances. Do you have a school project? We have an extensive book collection that deals with the history of our area. There is also a newspaper-clipping file that keeps track of pertinent articles and information about, businesses, schools, local organizations and people in our community. We keep environmental studies and other material about things that affect Plainview and Old-Bethpage, as well as the rest of Long Island. If there is something controversial going on in our area, come to the library and get up-to-date information from the Local History Collection. The collection also houses over 1,000 photographs and shows how our community has grown and changed. Come to the Reference Desk and ask to see any of the material or ask for our Local History Librarian who can do more extensive research for you.

Do you remember watching old horror movies hosted by Zacherley, the Cool Ghoul? Or going to a drive-in restaurant where car hops brought the food to your car on metal trays that hooked over a partially raised car window? What about trips to the corner candy store on a summer afternoon to buy Mallo Cups, Double Bubble bubblegum with Bazooka Joe comics inside every pack, frozen Popsicles on double wooden sticks that could be shared with a friend or Fizzies tablets that bubbled into a sparkling beverage when dropped into a glass of cold water?
Articles about all of these plus many more can be found in Reminisce: The Magazine That Brings Back The Good Times and Good Old Days: The Magazine That Remembers The Best both available in the Adult Lounge.