• ELAINE KNAPP, Administration

Just a reminder to those libraries who have NOT sent in their updates for the 2008 directory that the deadline is today Feb 1^st.   Please return your updated pages as soon as possible.  Thank you.

 

• JAN AGUIRRE, Specialist & Training Coordinator

The 2008 purging of inactive patrons is almost completed. Thanks to all the libraries that have submitted their forms and then notified me promptly when the purge was ready to be completed.

This is just a reminder to those libraries who have not turned in a form. If you don’t remember if you did or not, here are the libraries I have NOT received a form from yet: Aurora, Candor, Lodi, Moravia, Newark Valley, Nichols, Owego, Poplar Ridge, Port Byron, Spender, TCPL, and Waterloo.  

I am still waiting to hear from the following libraries that they have looked at the record set sent and I can now purge those inactive patrons: Dryden, Groton and Homer. 

If you do NOT wish to purge any patrons at this time, please email me and let me know. If you have misplaced your form, let me know and I would be happy to send you another one. 

Thank you!

 

• ANNETTE BIRDSALL, Youth Services Consultant

Youth News 

Summer Reading

** Important ** March 1^st is the order deadline to receive your summer reading items from Highsmith by May 1, 2008!

(Janway orders do not have a deadline.) Last year the deadline was April 1^st after our summer reading meeting.  I will have a table of samples at our gaming system meeting on February 28^th!  But don’t miss the deadline. If you wait, many products will not be available.  (Our summer reading system meeting is March 20^th.)

$100 worth of books, library card protectors and t-shirts will all be provided with the summer reading mini-grant funds.  You will also receive one teen poster and one children’s poster as part of our membership in the collaborative.

Your t-shirt order forms have been sent in delivery.  I must have them by February 22^nd so I don’t’ miss the March 1^st deadline.

Please do not use the Highsmith order form for these. 

Thanks for your help. Please contact me if you have any questions. 

 

Annual Reports

The new questions on early literacy may create questions for you.  If you had a storytime or other literacy program, choose the target audience when you answer the program question.  Then record your attendance by age as you are able.  Next year, you will need to track your storytimes by the age breakdown. This year an estimate may be the best you can do.  Please contact me with any questions.

Also, the report now asks for summer reading statistics.  I keep your actual forms for one year, so if you cannot find yours please let me know. Every effort should be made to report the same numbers.  Again target audience is key. If teens attend your children’s program it’s not the same as a teen program. Separate teens and kids only if you target both groups.  Please contact me with any questions. 

 

Upcoming Workshops

Kathleen Odean will be hosting a workshop on the best new young adult books in Aurora, NY on March 31, 2008.  This is a BOCES sponsored workshop, and the fee is only $8.  Kathleen Odean presented a fabulous workshop for us in 2005; don’t miss the opportunity to hear her again. Print copies of the flyer will be sent in delivery, and I will attach a copy to the website and tomorrow’s youth news by the end of the week. 

The YSS spring conference flyer is now available. Print copies will be sent in delivery, and I will attach a copy to the website and tomorrow’s youth news by the end of the week.  Featured authors are Alex Flinn and Monica Wellington.  The workshops include f summer reading crafts, do it yourself programming, and everything from early literacy to teen gaming and much more.  The workshop is April 11 in Melville, Long Island.  Hope to see you there!

 

• MARISA IACOBUCCI, Adult Services Coordinator

All About February 

From Carol Bos on NYLINE:  

During February we commemorate African-American Heritage Month and recall numerous world events:  Explosion of the shuttle Columbia, Parliament's abolishment of the slave-trade law, opening of King Tut's tomb and FDR's Executive Order 9066 (resulting in Japanese-American internment camps).  Learn the details of those, and other events, in this summary of February Highlights.

Go to: http://www.awesomestories.com/Newsletters/Feb%20Newsletter.htm 

 

Also provided is a listing of topics (which link to primary sources) for slavery, World War I and World War II (with separate sections for the war in Europe and the war in the Pacific).

Group access to the site is free for all schools, libraries and educators.  Request group access with this form.  https://www.awesomestories.com/signup.php?ua=group_signup   It is also free for students and members of the general public.  Select an individual password with this form. 

https://www.awesomestories.com/signup.php?ua=individual_signup  The site's privacy policy http://www.awesomestories.com/content/privacy.shtml is strictly enforced.

 

       Mark Your Calendars!

We just received a confirmation that the December 4^th system meeting with be about the Central Library.  Please mark your calendars!

 
Annual Report Updates - PLEASE READ 

Below is updates/information about the annual report.  Please note them to help you complete the report correctly. 

Disbursements - Polaris fees go in line 12.22 – Miscellaneous 

Library Transactions – Playaway circulation figures go in line 4.8 – Circulation of Adult Other Materials 

If you cannot see the update button on the bottom of the screen, go to the bottom right corner of the screen and click on the arrow next to the 100%.  Choose ‘custom’ and type in 95%.  This should be change the screen so you can see the update button and not have to using a magnifying glass to view the screen.   

Section 9 of the report is having some hiccups.  The vendor is working on correcting these.  As soon as I hear more I’ll let everyone know.

As always, if you have any questions about the report, please contact me.

 

•  LINDA BEINS, ILL/Reference Coordinator

RECYCLED REFERENCE Let me know by February 8 if you are interested in any of these items for your library:

• Best’s Key rating Guide: Life/Health United States & Canada

• Best’s key rating Guide: Property/Casualty United States & Canada [

• Kelley Blue Book: Official Motorcycle Guide (September-December 2007)

• LexisNexis Corporate Affiliations (2006) 8 vols.

• Peterson’s Graduate & Professional Programs (2006) 4 vols.

• Peterson’s Summer Programs for Kids & Teenagers (2007)

• Statesman’s Yearbook (2005)

• Ulrich’s periodical Directory (2006) 4 vols,

 

DATABASE  - TELL ME MORE® Online is now available from the Electronic Database → Language Instruction link on www.flls.org . It is a comprehensive language learning program that helps you learn to read, write, comprehend, and speak English, Dutch, French, German, & Spanish though multimedia interactive lessons. Requirements include: Microsoft Windows® 95/98 and up, Internet Explorer 5.0 or later version, and headphones, speakers, and microphone for the speech recognition component. It is available from home. You must download Auralog components, including Adobe Flash Player, available through the Auralog Computer Test link.

 You will start at this TeLLMeMore page:

 

Patrons will have to create a new account the first time they use this database. The link “To create a new account” is halfway down the screen. Enter the patron library card number in the username field; patrons can select a password of their own choosing.

If you click on the “For solution assistance and documentation” link at the bottom of the screen you will access links to the following documents and presentations. They will help patrons get started and navigate through the language instruction database.

- Minimum Requirements to use TeLL me More Online

- Quick Reference Guide

- Getting started document

- Internet Explorer 7 Configuration

- Useful Tools

- Instructional Presentation

TCPL is working on a TeLLMeMore handout to further assist patrons. I will distribute them to you when they are ready.

 

WEBSITES – Hopefully, you have received copies of the Celebrate February 2008 Black History Month brochure in your delivery. Please let me know if you would like additional copies for your library. 

WEBSITE Register to use Awesome Stories at https://www.awesomestories.com/signup.php?ua=group_signup. AwesomeStories, launched in 1999 by educators, has links to primary sources to help tell the stories of historical and cultural events. Once you register you will receive a monthly email newsletter and will be able to search their archives.

LAST WEEK’S QUESTION OF THE WEEK  When was Yellowstone National Park established? In which state(s) is the Yellowstone National Park located?

The Yellowstone National Park Act, signed by Pres. Ulysses S. Grant in1872, set aside public land, to be administered by the federal government, along the Continental Divide where Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho intersect;¹ the largest expanse of park land is in Wyoming. The first time Congress had set aside lands for public use was in 1864 when Yosemite National Park was created but in this case the management of the land was the responsibility of the State of California. The 2.2 million acres of the park is home to a herd of bison that is “considered an anchor for the entire species.”²

¹ Gray, Brian. “Yellowstone National Park Act”. Major Acts of Congress, Vol. 3; New York: Macmillan, 2004, p. 293-296. [Available through Gale Virtual Reference at www.flls.org → Electronic Databases → General Reference → Virtual Reference Library]

² “Yellowstone National Park”. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, Vol. 5; Detroit: St. James Press, 2000, p. 213-214. [Available through Gale Virtual Reference at www.flls.org → Electronic Databases → General Reference → Virtual Reference Library]

 THIS WEEK’S QUESTION OF THE WEEK What is the Cardiff Giant and where is he located now?

 Submit your own Question of the Week for inclusion in future FLLS Bulletins by emailing me at lbeins@flls.org !

  

• REX HELWIG, Computer Network Manager

Rex will be out of the office from January 31 – February 12, 2008.  If you have any questions, please call ext. 37.