No. 06-37                                                                                                                  September 15, 2006

• CAROL HENDRIX, Administration

Reminder:  Trustees and Library Directors…Don’t forget to register for the Annual Meeting! Deadline is September 29, 2006. Thanks.

 Diane Ackerman to Speak at the FLLS Annual Meeting

The speaker for this year’s Annual Meeting (October 11, 2006) will be author Diane Ackerman.  The title of Ms. Ackerman’s talk will be:  “What is a self?”   Most of us feel intact and continuous, despite the constant commotion in our cells, especially brain cells.  Endlessly fascinated by both mind and matter, Ms. Ackerman recently published “An Alchemy of Mind,” a poetics of the brain based on the latest neuroscience.

Blessed with a scientist’s passion for facts, but a poet’s love of words and ideas, she will be talking about how the brain becomes the mind, how it builds a sense of self, and the mental fantasia in which we spend our days.

Diane Ackerman was born in Waukegan, Illinois. She received an M.A., M.F.A. and Ph.D. from Cornell University. Her works of nonfiction include, most recently, An Alchemy of Mind, a poetics of the brain based on the latest neuroscience, Cultivating Delight: A Natural History of My Garden, and others.

Her poetry has been published in leading literary journals, and in several books including Jaguar of Sweet Laughter: New and Selected Poems.  She also writes nature books for children and is co-editor (with Jeanne Mackin) of a Norton anthology, The Book of Love.

Ms. Ackerman has received many prizes and awards, including a D. Litt. from Kenyon College, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the John Burroughs Nature Award, and the Lavan Poetry Prize, as well as being honored as a Literary Lion by the New York Public Library.  She also has the rare distinction of having a molecule named after her --dianeackerone.  She has taught at a variety of universities, including Columbia, the University of Richmond, and Cornell.  She hosted a five-hour PBS television series inspired by her book, A Natural History of the Senses.

Deadline to register for the Annual Meeting is Monday, September 25^th.   Hope to see you there!

 

• JAN AGUIRRE, Specialist & Training Coordinator

 Polaris “Tip of the Week”

Did you know that you can find out why a library denied a hold? If a patron questioned why their hold has not been filled yet, you can open up the hold request, go to the notes page and see which libraries Request Manger it has showed up on and how they handled the request.

Search for the patron using Patron Status

Go to their Request screen

Highlight the title in question and double click to open up the hold request

 Go to the second screen or the Notes screen

Look at the bottom right hand corner, scroll over to see the reason the request was denied

Please set the status to missing if you are the library denying the hold and cannot find the item. That way it will move on to the next library in line.

 

NOVEL – The Panacea to Your Health Questions

What is fugu poisoning?  Can you recommend a few alternative therapies for insomnia?  Do you have any health journals I can use for my class project?  What are some possible treatments for indigestion? 

Do questions like these make their way to your service desk?  If so, then we have a training class for you!  Join TCPL Reference Librarian Jennifer Schlossberg as she guides you through Health and Wellness Resource Center with Alt Health, Health Reference Center, and a few other online remedies.  You will learn the scope of these databases, their strengths and weaknesses, and good searching techniques to answer the array of questions you get from your patrons.  You will even get a chance to roam around in each database as there will be laptops for your use.

Location	Date	Day	Registration Deadline	Topic
Candor	9/25/2006	Monday	9/21	Health Databases
McGraw	10/4/2006	Wednesday	10/2	Health Databases
FLLS	10/13/2006	Friday	10/11	Health Databases
Trumansburg	10/18/2006	Wednesday	10/16	Health Databases
Weedsport	10/25/2006	Wednesday	10/23	Health Databases

To register for a class, please contact Jan Aguirre at 607-273-4074 x36, or email her at jaguirre@flls.org.  Space is limited to 10 participants. Training is made possible by a grant through the Gates Staying Connected Phase Two Grant Program.

 To register for a class, please contact Jan Aguirre at 607-273-4074 x36, or email her at jaguirre@flls.org.  Space is limited to 10 participants and space will be reserved for at least one participant per library. As an incentive to attend the training, $20 will be awarded per participant. Incentive checks will be sent to the library at the conclusion of all the workshops.  Training is made possible by a grant through the Gates Staying Connected Phase Two Grant Program.

 

• MARISA IACOBUCCI, Adult Services Coordinator

December System Meeting Changed….BUT…please read on!

The December system meeting topic has changed.  Annette is going to use the time for an informational meeting for anyone interested in the changes to the Summer Reading Program for 2007.  Along with the meeting, we will have sample book group kits, descriptive videos and story time kits for you to peruse. 

So, if you are interested in or have questions about the 2007 Summer Reading Program, please come to this meeting – Thursday, December 7^th, 10:30 – noon.   *** See Annette’s section.
 

     Upcoming Grants with deadlines:

1.      National Library Week Grant 2007

This year’s application deadline is October 16, 2006. 
Libraries across the United States are invited to apply for the $5,000 Scholastic Library Publishing National Library Week Grant, which will be awarded to a single library for the best public awareness campaign incorporating the 2007 National Library Week theme, “Come together @ your library®.”  The grant, in support of libraries, is sponsored by Scholastic Library Publishing, a division of Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, and is administered by the Public Awareness Committee of the American Library Association (ALA).

National Library Week is April 15-21, 2007.

All proposals must use the “Come together @ your library” theme, which incorporates The Campaign for America's Libraries’ “@ your library” brand, on any and all promotional and publicity material supporting National Library Week activities. 

A grant application form and guidelines are available on The Campaign for America’s Libraries Web site at www.ala.org/@yourlibrary/nlwgrant.
 

 2.  Nominations Sought for Best Small Library in America

Application deadline is November 1, 2006.
Library Journal’s annual award for the Best Small Library in America, cosponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was founded to encourage and showcase the exemplary work of these libraries. Now in its third year, the award honors the public library that most profoundly demonstrates outstanding service to populations of 25,000 or less. The winning library will receive a $15,000 cash award, a feature story in the February 1, 2007, Library Journal, membership and conference costs for two library representatives to attend the Public Library Association Biannual Conference in 2008, and a gala reception at the conference.

Members of the editorial board of Library Journal, librarians from around the country, and a representative from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will judge nominations based on key factors, including:

• Creativity in developing services and programs that can be replicated by other libraries

• Innovation in introducing and supporting public access computing, educating patrons in its use, and measuring the impact of this technology usage

• Use of technology to expand the reach of library services

• Demonstrated community support

• Success in developing cooperation with other libraries

• Partnerships with other agencies and businesses

• Increase in library use, particularly by new users

• Evidence of library’s role as community center

Guidelines and eligibility requirements can be found on the LJ website at: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA606273.html.

 

3.  “Let’s Talk About It” Grants

The application deadline for the first round of grants is December 1, 2006.
The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office (PPO) and Nextbook, a gateway to Jewish literature, culture and ideas, are pleased to announce two new rounds of grants for Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature – Identity and Imagination, a theme-based reading and discussion series. Under the new deadlines, two new themes and increased programming grants are available.  Public and academic libraries are eligible to apply. 

Based on the “Let’s Talk About It” reading and discussion model pioneered nationally by ALA in 1984, Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature features scholar-led, theme-based discussions that explore the best in contemporary and classic Jewish literature.  Over the past three years, Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature grants have been awarded to 159 libraries nationwide.  Participating libraries will each host a five-part discussion series featuring one of six themes.

The two new themes and book selections are:

Neighbors: The World Next Door
A Journey to the End of the Millennium, A.B. Yehoshua
Red Cavalry, Isaac Babel
Neighbors, Jan T. Gross
The Assistant, Bernard Malamud
Mona in the Promised Land, Gish Jen

Modern Marvels: Jewish Adventures in the Graphic Novel
A Contract with God, Will Eisner
Maus I/II, Art Spiegelman
Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer: Stories, Ben Katchor
The Quitter, Harvey Pekar
The Rabbi’s Cat, Joann Sfar

Each library selected for the grant project will receive:

• A $2,500 grant (increased from $1,500 in the past) to support program costs and scholar honoraria.
• Training for the library project director at a national training workshop where they will hear from project scholars, experts, and organizers, and receive a program planning guide, materials and ideas.

• Program materials, including introductory literature and essays on each of the books, promotional materials, and selections for additional reading.

Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature - Identity and Imagination grants will be awarded in two rounds during 2006 and 2007.  Libraries that have already received a grant and completed a Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature series are eligible to apply for a single-series $2,500 grant or a two-series $5,000 grant under each deadline. 

For program guidelines and grant application, go to: http://www.ala.org/ala/ppo/currentprograms/letstalkaboutit/letstalkaboutit.htm

 

4.      "We the People Bookshelf"
Grant Applications due January 31, 2007!! 

***Attention Public and School (K-12) Librarians and Public Library Trustees*** 

The American Library Association (ALA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) are pleased to announce the newest We the People Bookshelf. This year's theme is "The Pursuit of Happiness." 

Part of the NEH's We the People initiative, this annual collection development grant project will award sets of 15 classic books for young readers to 2,000 libraries across the country.  Selected libraries will also receive 4 of the Bookshelf titles in Spanish, a bonus CD (Happy Land: Musical Tributes to Laura Ingalls Wilder performed by various artists), posters, bookmarks and programming resources. Libraries interested in receiving the collection are required to develop and host a program to introduce the collection and its theme to students and/or patrons.   

The list of "Pursuit of Happiness" titles has just been posted at http://www.ala.org/wethepeople . Guidelines and applications will be available online at http://www.wethepeople.gov  or via http://www.ala.org/wethepeople  from September 19, 2006 through January 31, 2007.  All applications are due by January 31. 

We hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity to receive the "Pursuit of Happiness" collection for your library!  With questions, please contact the Public Programs Office:  ALA Public Programs Office, 800/545-2433, ext. 5045, publicprograms@ala.org   

   

• ANNETTE BIRDSALL, Youth Services Coordinator

September 28^th Graphic Novels Now Workshop!  I have RSVP’s from 11 libraries.  All attending member libraries will receive a copy of the book, Graphic Novels Now: Building, Managing & Marketing a Dynamic Collection by presenter, Francisca Goldsmith.  Don’t miss this one!

October 17^th Growing a Reader Workshop, RSVP online today. http://earlyliteracy.sals.edu  This workshop is your opportunity to gain credibility for all your creative storytime activities!  Learn how the work you do prepares the new readers in your communities. And learn the language that will help secure funding and attract partnerships for building a reading community.   All day workshop, lunch will be provided.  Visit www.flls.org/youth for details!

Summer Reading Updates.

Thank you for all your evaluations.  I’m enjoying the pictures, flyers, and tales of all your efforts.  Congratulations on another successful year.  And kudos to us all – this is our first year for every library in the system to host a summer reading program. Bravo! 

 Please watch the delivery for your summer reading 2007 incentives catalog.  This is the only catalog you will receive.  Read the flyer for ordering information, changes, and details about the December 7^th (10:30 – noon) informational meeting for “Get A Clue @ Your Library!”  and “You Never Know @ Your Library.” This will be FUN!  There will be chocolate.  Hope to see you there.  RSVP’s are required.

 

• LINDA BEINS, ILL/Reference Coordinator

I will be out of the office next week on Sept. 21 & 22. If you have an immediate question about interlibrary loan please call 273-4074, ext. 43. Otherwise I will get back to you soon after I return on Sept. 25.

In-Transit Items
We have whittled the list of long In-transit items down more than 60%.  If you have not searched for the items on the list of books (put in-transit to your library but never checked in) that I sent to you, please do so in the next few days.

 Databases
The New York State Library announced that an additional five-year back file of full-text NY Times articles has been added to Thomson-Gale’s InfoTrac Custom Newspapers available through NOVEL and accessible through the FLLS Electronic Databases link. The beginning date for the NY Times is now January 1, 1995.

• Please keep in mind that the database CollegeSource Online is also available through the FLLS Electronic Databases link. Tell your high school student patrons and their parents that they can search information about individual colleges and universities, as well as do custom searches for institutions by geographical region, size, type, degree programs, academic interests, etc. There are also links related to financial aid, the college application process, and other web resources. Patrons can access this database remotely with their library barcode and password. Give me a call if you would like assistance exploring the CollegeSource database.

 Web Resources
Julia Schult, Groton reminded me that Google has introduced Google News Archive that lets you search through 200 years of archived articles.  A unique feature is the ability to create a timeline so that you can see how a particular issue was covered over time. The archive includes both free and fee-based content; search results available for a fee are labeled "pay-per-view" or with a specific price indicated. Please note that some of the fee based content may be available, at no cost to the patron, from one of the newspaper databases subscribed to by FLLS. You may also submit out-of-system ILL periodical requests and we will try to find a free copy of an article from another library.


Last week’s Question of the Week

On September 12, 1954, the first episode of the TV show Lassie aired.  What year did the series end? What was the name of Lassie’s first companion and who played this little boy?

I used the Internet Movie Database to learn that the series Lassie ran from 1954 to 1974. Jeff Miller, played by Tommy Rettig, was Lassie’s first sidekick. I turn to the Internet Movie Database immediately for all sorts of movie trivia. The Search by Plot or Character comes in handy when you can remember everything about a movie or television show except its title.

This week’s Question of the Week

What year did NYS reverse legislation that did not allow inmates with life sentences to wed? (Hint - Use Info Trac Custom Newspapers database and find the NY Times article by Donatella Lorch about “weddings in prison” written in September 1996).

• 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. 

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