No. 06-19                                                                                                                     May 12, 2006

• MARISA IACOBUCCI, Adult Services Coordinator 

Intellectual Freedom: What, Me Worry? 

On Thursday, June 22, 9:00 – noon, I will be giving a workshop on Intellectual Freedom in the Borg Warner Room at TCPL.  This workshop is part of the ABLE grant pilot training with an aim to explain intellectual freedom, the difference between censorship and selection and how to handle challenges in your library.  I strongly encourage you to attend! 

This is a topic that is always timely and would benefit those dealing with the public, such as library staff and directors, though trustees are very welcome to attend.     

Some of you have registered already, but if you have not and are interested in attending, please contact me no later than May 31^st by e-mail: marisa@flls.org or by phone, ext. 26.  You must sign up for this workshop as each registrant needs to fill out a pre-workshop questionnaire.

Institute of Museum and Library Services Partners with National Endowment for the Arts to Create Largest Book Club Ever The Big Read encourages America’s cities and towns to participate, apply for grants, in effort to reverse dramatic decline in literary reading New York, NY—Dr. Anne-Imelda M. Radice, the recently appointed director of the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, announced from Carnegie Hall in New York City today that the agency will partner with the National Endowment for the Arts on the Big Read. The Big Read is a new national reading program designed to revitalize the role of reading in America. The Institute is the primary source of federal funds and leadership to the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. “Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America” a 2004 National Arts Endowment report, documented a dramatic decline in literary reading – among all age groups, ethnic groups, and education levels – and galvanized a national discussion. The Big Read was developed to help reverse this trend by giving citizens in more than 100 communities in all 50 states an inviting opportunity to read and discuss great books. Each city or town that participates will host a community-wide read that involves collaborations with libraries, schools, local government, and the private sector. The Institute will contribute $1 million in the first year of the national program and cast America’s libraries and librarians in a central role to encourage community participation. “We are delighted to be a partner in The Big Read,” noted Dr. Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director of the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. “Libraries are ‘information central’ in communities everywhere. Encouraging library participation will assure that The Big Read has big impact in cities and towns across the United States.” “We are so pleased to have the Institute of Museum and Library Services as a partner,” said Dana Gioia, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “They bring expertise and a capacity that will not only make the Big Read bigger but better.” The Big Read will be administered by Arts Midwest, a regional arts agency based in Minneapolis, MN. The partners invite cities and communities nationwide to participate in 2007. The Big Read will award grants generally ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 to more than 100 communities to conduct programs that encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment. To find out how your organization can submit a proposal to join the Big Read, please visit: www.neabigread.org

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Its mission is to grow and sustain a “Nation of Learners” because life-long learning is essential to a democratic society and individual success. Through its grant making, convenings, research and publications, the Institute empowers museums and libraries nationwide to provide leadership and services to enhance learning in families and communities, sustain cultural heritage, build twenty-first-century skills, and increase civic participation. To learn more about the Institute, please visit: http://www.imls.gov.

 

•  JAN AGUIRRE, Specialist & Training Coordinator

Polaris “Tip of the Week”

Placing a copy specific hold in PowerPac.

Some patrons are confused about how to place a copy specific hold in PowerPac. It’s actually pretty easy, once you know how.

• Open up PowerPac and select your library

• Initiate a search

• When you find the title of the item you would like to place on hold, click on the Local Availability link or the System Availability link.

• Left click on the icon next to the call number (see location of arrow below)

 

•  The patron will then be prompted to enter their barcode and password.

A quick visual clue that this hold request is indeed a copy specific hold request is the barcode number displayed in the hold request window. (Note the arrow) This lets the patron know that this hold request can only be satisfied if that specific barcode is scanned.

 

 

• Once they have entered in their barcode and password, they will need to click on the Submit Request button

• This window displays verifying that the request was successful

 

• ANNETTE BIRDSALL, Youth Services Coordinator

Summer Reading Opportunities with David Blaine

As you have already heard, David Blaine is the NYS summer reading spokesperson.  There will be many opportunities for publicity and contests.  If you have any patrons who love modern magicians, love reading and are able to participate in the upcoming events; please contact me with questions. The letter below from Anne Simon invites your participation and explains the events. The time is short to the launch event, June 6^th, and it’s a school day, but this may not be a deterrent for your patrons.  I will post details about the contests, public service announcements, and library visits beyond NYC as they are arranged. Please publicize this opportunity.  

Thanks,
~Annette 

 

  

• REX HELWIG, Computer Network Manager

I have added another report in the Cataloging/Items section.  This report is called “AA-Items without a Statistical Code”.  This report will list the items in your collection that don’t have a Statistical Code assigned.  It should be run periodically and the items listed should be updated.  I will be working on a report that will show usage based on Statistical Code but if the item doesn’t have one assigned, it can’t be counted.

 

• LINDA BEINS, ILL/Reference Coordinator

 ILL

Effective May 15, The TCPL Board of Trustees has adopted a change in TCPL’s ILL policies. Some key features are:

• New books and all DVDs will only be available to TCPL patrons; the New Book status will remain for twelve months.

• Audio books on CD and cassette, music CDs and videos (both feature and instructional) will be available to patrons at the Tompkins County libraries (TCPL, Dryden, Groton, Newfield, and Trumansburg).

 More details will follow in a separate message next week, I hope.

 

Southern Route libraries’ should have received a survey assessing the satisfaction with the current courier service by day’s end. Let me know if you didn’t get one. Please return your completed survey by May 25. Feel free to make lots of comments and suggestions. Your feedback will help us improve delivery service.

 

 Reference – Another Medical Resource

The NYS Dept. of Health http://www.nyhealth.gov has announced their NYS Hospital Profile website that  “highlights important information on hospitals for consumers…[including] each hospital’s available services and licensed beds, quality of care measures, volume and types of procedures performed, and contact information.” Consumers can compare the performances of different hospitals with each other and with the state average. The website of the NYS Dept. of Health also has other valuable information. For example:

• Download a Health Proxy form from the Laws & Regulations (Living Will) section.

• The Statistics & Data link will lead you to County Health Indicator Profiles for each of the NYS counties.

• Order various flyers and brochures about health related subjects from the Publication Catalog.