No. 04-45                                                                                                               December 3, 2004       

• MALIA NEWBY, Audio-Visual Department

DVDs: SOME OLD, SOME NEW, BUT ALL WORTH A VIEW!

Here are some of the DVDs that are available to be requested in the Finger Lakes Library System collection.  Request some today!

The Simpsons (Year 1):
Watch the funniest family on television from its very beginning.  13 episodes of the Simpsons - originally broadcast 1989-1990.  DVD features audio commentary for each episode by creator Matt Groening, original scripts, unaired footage, outtakes, foreign language clips, early sketches, Tracy Ullman short, still gallery, and more.

Prime suspect 1-6:
This tense, uncompromising drama created by the distinguished dramatist and novelist Lynda La Plante, has been critically acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic and has won a total of 14 international awards. Detective Inspector Jane Tennison, a skilled top-class detective, continues to struggle to prove herself in a male-dominated world.

Taboo (National Geographic):
Complex and controversial, this mesmerizing hit series offers an insider's view of closed worlds traditionally off-limits to outsiders. Witness stunning stories about rituals and traditions so shocking that you can't help but be attracted.

Samuri X (Japanese Anime):
Nineteenth century Japan is torn by warfare and rebellion where small bands of soldiers seek to overthrow the tyrannical Tokugawa Shogunate.  Kenshin, a young orphan whose fighting skills were honed by the great swordsman Hiko, has hopes for a new world peace.  When a woman named Tomoe arrives, her kindness and attention show him a kind of life he didn't know existed.

Twilight Zone (Collection 1):
One of television’s most rightly revered series, The Twilight Zone (1959-64) stands as the role model for TV anthologies.  Its trenchant sci-fi fantasy parables explore humanity’s hopes, despairs, prides and prejudices in metaphoric ways conventional drama cannot.

       

• JAN AGUIRRE, Training Coordinator

Are you consumed by questions on how the search the Electronic Databases? Do your patrons need help learning to use a mouse? Are they confused by Windows terminology and basic navigation? …

The Trainer’s Toolbox can help. This valuable training tool provides all the equipment necessary to teach your patrons or staff in several areas.

And it’s so easy!

Simply enter in the following link: http://www.flls.org/cns/toolbox/ in your Web browser.

There you will see:

• A reservation form to reserve the Trainer’s Toolbox
• Set up instructions for setting up the Toolbox
• Helpful tips for creating a presentation, and setting up an electronic classroom
• PowerPoint presentations on Searching the Electronic Databases for Adults Children
• Basic Windows and Basic Outlook.
   

The Finger Lakes Library System will deliver to your library all the equipment necessary to conduct a workshop on these topics. Also included are handouts specific to the presentation, evaluation forms, and post-tests.

So reserve this valuable learning tool today!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me: Jan Aguirre 273-4074 x36 or jaguirre@flls.org

"Provided by the New York State Library, NOVEL is an online virtual library connecting New Yorkers to 21st century information via local libraries statewide. NOVEL is currently supported with temporary federal Library Services and Technology Act funds. New Century Libraries is an important statewide funding initiative currently before the Legislature that proposes permanent state funding for NOVEL."

 

• MARISA IACOBUCCI, Adult Services Coordinator

ANNUAL REPORT WORKSHOP – Thursday, December 9, 2004 
I have, to date, heard from only seven libraries that they will be attending the Annual Report Workshop next week.  Now, while I cannot make this mandatory, I would like to STRONGLY encourage you to attend.  Last year’s reports were great – very few corrections – for which I am proud.  But, coming for a refresher never hurts, and it also helps me to understand your needs regarding the report.

 
If you have not responded as to whether you are coming or not, please do!  Thanks!

 

• REX HELWIG, Computer Network Manager

The New-ILS Committee has unanimously selected the GIS Polaris product to replace our current Dynix software and the FLLS Board of Trustees has approved our request to enter into contract negotiations. 

The selection process started over 10 months ago with a trip by Karen and me to PLA in Seattle to select the 4 vendors we would invite to participate.  We ended up inviting 5 vendors with 1 declining to participate. 

The committee was formed with representation by large and small libraries from each county.  We identified over 150 features that we wanted to see in our next ILS (Integrated Library System) software.  We sat through full day demonstrations by each vendor.  Follow-up meetings narrowed the field to 2 as we identified what the committee felt were "must have" features. 

Those 2 products were Dynix Horizon and GIS Polaris.  Both of these products would have worked for us since they were designed to be more consortium-friendly and included the "must have" features.  The committee met and decided that because of the clean user interface, ease of use, workstation requirements, included modules (most modules are included as core product), customer support rating, location of the company (Syracuse, NY) and the price quoted, that GIS Polaris would be the next FLLS ILS. 

We are very excited about working with a company that has been in the library automation field for over 30 years and encourage all of the libraries to take look at the Polaris product at the GIS Website:

http://www.gisinfosystems.com/Polaris/PolarisOverview.asp

I will be making copies of the information about the different modules and sending them to each of the libraries so you and your Board of Trustees can see what the product looks like and its capabilities.
 
Stay tuned, there is a lot more information to come.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Directors’ Advisory Council (DAC) members: 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding FLLS library service, you are welcome to contact a DAC member from the list below. 

Beverly Dann, Waverly Free Library
Gail Park, Southworth Library Association, Dryden
Janet Steiner, TCPL, Ithaca
Judy Barkee, Ulysses Philomathic Library, Trumansburg
Kay Zaharis, Cortland Free Library
Lois Maki, Newfield Public Library
Mary Frank, Peck Memorial Library, Marathon
Sally Otis, Hazard Library, Poplar Ridge
Stephen Erskine, Seymour Library, Auburn
Susan Robey, Groton Public Library