Bias

I'll express my bias to admit that, even before he wrote his book about Mayor Corning, Corning: Albany Icon, Albany Enigma, and he read an excerpt describing the Springbok rugby team coming to Albany in such vivid detail, Paul Grondahl had been my favorite Times Union writer.

Meet the Author series continues at the Main Library tomorrow beginning at 12:15 pm. Paul Grondahl will discuss his new book, Now is the Time, a history of Parsons Family & Child Center (formerly the Albany Orphan Asylum).
***
NOTE that both the Friends board and the Trustees are meeting TODAY, at 5pm and 5:30 pm, respectively.

Events at the Albany Public Library:October 30-November 5

Monday, October 30
Bookmobile - Atria Shaker (Bookmobile)
Pre-School Storytime (Howe Branch)
Bookmobile - Atria Crossgates (Bookmobile)
Test Preparation Online (Main Library)
Friends of Albany Public Library Board (Main Library)
Callled APL Trustee Board Meeting (Main Library)
Scrabble Club (New Scotland Branch)
Tuesday, October 31
Boo-Mobile - School Halloween Visits (Bookmobile)
Seniors Connect (Main Library)
Toddler Storytime (Pine Hills Branch)
Meet the Author: Paul Grondahl (Main Library)
Halloween Party! (Main Library)
Read to me Storytime (Pine Hills Branch)
Delaware Dogs Program (Delaware Branch)

Wednesday, November 1
Bookmobile - Ohav Shalom Nursery School (Bookmobile)
Toddler Storytime (New Scotland Branch)
Pre-School Storytime (North Albany Branch)
Bookmobile - Crestwood Plaza (Bookmobile)
Pre-School Storytime (Howe Branch)
Pre-School Storytime (Main Library)
Bookmobile - Green St. (Bookmobile)
Tutoring (Main Library)
Numismatists (Pine Hills Branch)
Thursday, November 2
Bookmobile - New York Library Association Annual Conference (Bookmobile)
Writers Group (Main Library)
Lapsit Storytime (Main Library)
Tutoring (Main Library)
Book Discussion Group (Main Library)
Friday, November 3
Dance Dance Revolution! (New Scotland Branch)
Bookmobile - State St./LOB (Bookmobile)
Read to Tess the Dog (Main Library)
After School Craft (New Scotland Branch)
Saturday, November 4
Bookmobile - Kipp Tech Valley Charter School (Bookmobile)
Author Peter Krass (Main Library)
Saturday Afternoon Cartoons (Main Library)
Sunday, November 5
Sunday Cinema (Main Library)

Albany Institute of History and Art's 33rd Annual Antiquarian Book and Ephemera Fair

I want to plug this because not only is the Institute a neighbor on Washington Avenue to the main branch of the library, but the event deals with books and librarians.

The event is a fundraising event for the AIHA Library. General admission to the exhibitions of the Albany Institute is $7.00. Most of the related book fair activities are free, except where noted. General admission to Sunday’s events at The Armory is $5.00. However, there is some special pricing:
Students get in free when they present their school identification cards.
Librarians, archivists, curators, teachers, and professors get in at half-price when they present a business card or institutional identification card.

Saturday, November 11, 2006 at the Albany Institute of History & Art, 125 Washington Avenue
2:00 - 3:00: Lecture and Booksigning. Nancy Todd, author of New York’s Historic Armories: An Illustrated History. Free.
3:00 - 4:00: Behind the Scenes Tour. Learn how the Albany Institute preserves and organizes its library materials and see examples from its unique collection. Free.
3:30 - 5:00: Appraisal Fair. Bring your paper-based treasures (e.g., rare books, photographs, maps, posters, postcards, manuscripts, prints, family letters, ephemera, broadsides, autographs, etc.). $5 per item or $10 for 3 items.

Sunday, November 12, 2006 at the The Armory, 195 Washington Avenue
Antiquarian Book and Ephemera Fair
10:00—4:00: More than 50 booths selling rare books, ephemera, photographs, posters, prints, and other paper-based collectibles. Special events include Meet the Author, Dealer Presentations, and exhibitions.
Meet the Author
Informally chat with some of the region’s popular authors about their research and publications.
11:00 – 11:45: Charles Semowich, coauthor of Flora, Fauna, and Fantasy: The Art of Dorothy Lathrop
12:00 – 12:45: Paul Grondahl, author of I Rose Like a Rocket, Mayor Corning: Albany Icon, Albany Enigma, and other titles
1:00 – 1:45: Tom Lewis, author of The Hudson: A History
2:00 – 2:45: Nancy Todd, author of New York’s Historic Armories: An Illustrated History
And more!

Dealer Presentations
Drop by these booths for quick talks and demonstrations about special collecting areas.
11:30 - 11:45: Ephemera, Ephemera Society
11:45 - 12:00: Children’s Book Series, Lee Temares
12:30 - 12:45: Postal History, aGatherin’
1:30 - 1:45: Ephemera, Margaret O’Connell
1:45 - 2:00: Fishing Books, Austin’s Antiquarian Books
And more!

Please contact Rebecca Rich-Wulfmeyer for more information. She is the Chief Librarian and Archivist at the Albany Institute of History & Art
125 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210
t 518-463-4478 f 518-463-5506
www.albanyinstitute.org

Eats, Shoots, and Leaves

Or is it eats shoots and leaves? Lynne Truss' "Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation" was a big hit both in Britain and then in the U.S. I bouight it for my wife, who is a teacher. From the very last paragraph in the book: "So we ignore the rules of punctuation at our political peril as well as to our moral detriment." Come to the library tomorrow at noontime for a review of this enchanting book.

Events at the Albany Public Library:October 23-29

Monday, October 23
Bookmobile - Westview Senior Center (Bookmobile)
Pre-School Storytime (Howe Branch)
Preparing for Civil Service Tests (Main Library)
Bookmobile - Daughters of Sarah (Bookmobile)
Bookmobile - Arbor Hill Elementary Community School (0)
Called Meeting Library Trustees (Main Library)
Scrabble Club (New Scotland Branch)
Tuesday, October 24
Toddler Storytime (Pine Hills Branch)
Book Review (Main Library)
Read to me Storytime (Pine Hills Branch)
Bookmobile - Sheridan Prep Elementary School (0)
Delaware Dogs Program (Delaware Branch)
Wednesday, October 25
Pre-School Storytime (Main Library)
Pre-School Storytime (Howe Branch)
Toddler Storytime (New Scotland Branch)
Learn to Crochet (New Scotland Branch)
Halloween Stories and Crafts (Pine Hills Branch)
Book Club (Pine Hills Branch)
Thursday, October 26
Dance Dance Revolution! (New Scotland Branch)
Lapsit Storytime (Main Library)
Friday, October 27
Bookmobile - Swinburn Park Neighborhood (Bookmobile)
Introduction to Word II (Pine Hills Branch)
Bookmobile - South Mall Towers (Bookmobile)
After School Craft (New Scotland Branch)
Connecting with America (Pine Hills Branch)
Saturday, October 28
Bookmobile - Metropolitan New Testatment Mission Baptist Church (0)
Bookmobile - Eagle Point Elementary School All Hallows Eve Celebration (0)

Paul Grondahl at APL

On Tuesday October 31 at 12:15 pm at APL’s Main Location at 161 Washington Avenue, the Friends of APL will present Paul Grondahl, an award-winning Times Union reporter and author of the biography of Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd, Corning: Albany Icon, Albany Enigma. He will discuss his latest book: Now Is The Time: A History of Parsons Child and Family Center, 1829-2004. His talk will examine the 175-year history of the institution formerly known as the Albany Orphan Asylum and Albany Home For Children. Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing after the talk.

Get a Job

"Get a Job" was a #1 hit by the Silhouettes, and a #21 hit for the Mills Brothers that same year. Apropos of that, APL is holding three workshops in October that will help Civil Service job hunters at the Main Library. No registration is necessary.
Today, Monday, October 16 at 12:15 p.m., come to How to Apply for City Jobs and Civil Service Exams. Join representatives from the City of Albany’s Equal Employment
Opportunity Office for an overview and question and answer session.
On Monday, October 23 12:15 pm, the public can attend Preparing for Civil Service Tests. Get some general advice from the City of Albany’s Equal Employment Opportunity Office.
On Monday, October 30 12:15 pm is Test Preparation Online. Come to an open lab at the Main Library to explore the Testing & Education Reference Center. This subscription database provides test preparation books for downloading and online practice for many civil service, licensing, and education tests. In addition, it offers information on vocational schools, colleges, graduate opportunities, distance learning programs, and more. Access is also available free from home with a library card. Do you need to take an education or employment related test? The test preparation book collection at the Main Library can help you get ready. The collection provides study guides for GED, SAT, or college level education tests, and civil service or employment licensing exams. These items may be checked out.
For more information call the Reference Department at 427-4303.

Events at the Albany Public Library:October 16-22

Monday, October 16
Bookmobile - Atria Shaker (Bookmobile)
Albany Quilters (Howe Branch)
Pre-School Storytime (Howe Branch)
Bookmobile - Atria Crossgates (Bookmobile)
How to Apply for City Jobs (Main Library)
Library Board of Trustees (Main Library)
Scrabble Club (New Scotland Branch)
Tuesday, October 17
Seniors Connect (Main Library)
Toddler Storytime (Pine Hills Branch)
Meet the Author: Frank Robinson (Main Library)
Bookmobile - Arbor Hill Community Center, Inc. (0)
Read to me Storytime (Pine Hills Branch)
Delaware Dogs Program (Delaware Branch)
Wednesday, October 18
Bookmobile - Ohav Shalom Nursery School (0)
Pre-School Storytime (Main Library)
Bookmobile - Crestwood Plaza (Bookmobile)
Pre-School Storytime (Delaware Branch)
Pre-School Storytime (Howe Branch)
Toddler Storytime (New Scotland Branch)
Bookmobile - Green St. (Bookmobile)
Intro. to Word--Part 2 (Main Library)
Learn to Crochet (New Scotland Branch)
Citizen’s Library Advisory Committee (Main Library)
Book Tasting (Main Library)
Thursday, October 19
Dance Dance Revolution! (New Scotland Branch)
Writers Group (Main Library)
Intro. to Publisher (Howe Branch)
Lapsit Storytime (Main Library)
Bookmobile - Flash 4 Event @ 3rd Ave. and Clinton (0)
Intro. to Internet (Main Library)
Friday, October 20
Introduction to Word I (Pine Hills Branch)
Bookmobile - State St./LOB (Bookmobile)
After School Craft (New Scotland Branch)
Connecting with America (Pine Hills Branch)
Saturday, October 21
A Community of Writers (Main Library)

Frank S. Robinson

Local author Frank S. Robinson, NO relation, I believe, to the baseball Hall of Fame outfielder and former Washington Nationals manager, will be discussing, reading from, and signing copies of his book, LIFE, LIBERTY, and HAPPINESS - AN OPTIMIST MANIFESTO, at:
Borders Books
Crossgates Mall
Guilderland, NY
SATURDAY, OCT. 14, 2 PM

Albany Public Library
161 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY
TUESDAY, OCT. 17, 12 noon
For information about the book, and ordering details, go here.

Frank writes, "People who have read this book have LOVED it!"

Tuesday Noon Program: Book Review

One of the events the Friends sponsor regularly is the Tuesday noon book review. Tomorrow's review will feature The Best American Poetry of 2006, which will be reviewed by Dan Wilcox, poet, activist and a member of "3 Guys From Albany", a poetry performance group. Come to the rear of the main library at 12:15 pm.
Description: Book:

This Week at the APL: October 9-15

Monday, October 9
Bookmobile - Westview Senior Center (Bookmobile)
Pre-School Storytime (Howe Branch)
Bookmobile - Daughters of Sarah (Bookmobile)
Philosophies of Life – Stories for Young People (Main Library)
Scrabble Club (New Scotland Branch)
Freedom Files Film: Voting Rights (Main Library)
Tuesday, October 10
Seniors Connect (Main Library)
Toddler Storytime (Pine Hills Branch)
Book Review (Main Library)
Read to me Storytime (Pine Hills Branch)
Bookmobile - Sheridan Prep Elementary School (0)
Delaware Dogs Program (Delaware Branch)
Wednesday, October 11
Pre-School Storytime (Main Library)
Pre-School Storytime (Delaware Branch)
Pre-School Storytime (Howe Branch)
Toddler Storytime (New Scotland Branch)
Intro. to Word--Part 1 (Main Library)
Learn to Crochet (New Scotland Branch)
Teen advisory group (Pine Hills Branch)
Community Gardens (Pine Hills Branch)
Author Charles Mann (Main Library)
Thursday, October 12
Hispanic Heritage Month Drop-In Craft (Howe Branch)
Dance Dance Revolution! (New Scotland Branch)
Albany Quilters (Howe Branch)
Lapsit Storytime (Main Library)
Intro. to Computers - Part II (Main Library)
Friday, October 13
Hispanic Heritage Month Drop-In Craft (Howe Branch)
Bookmobile - Swinburn Park Neighborhood (Bookmobile)
Introduction to the Internet (Pine Hills Branch)
Bookmobile - South Mall Towers (Bookmobile)
After School Craft (New Scotland Branch)
Connecting with America (Pine Hills Branch)
Saturday, October 14
Hispanic Heritage Month Drop-In Craft (Howe Branch)
Albany Tennis Club (Pine Hills Branch)

Library Science Jeopardy

I'm a librarian, I've won on JEOPARDY!, but I did REALLY badly on this. Still, give it a try here.

Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources

OCLC, "a worldwide library co-operative", has put out a book entitled "Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources", which "summarizes findings of an international study on information-seeking habits and preferences."

The Perceptions report provides the findings and responses from the online survey in an effort to learn more about:

Library use
Awareness and use of library electronic resources
The Internet search engine, the library and the librarian
Free vs. for-fee information
The "Library" brand

For instance, half of American library users don't know if/that their library has a webpage.

Go here, if the links below don't work, or if you want to access the whole report:

Download individual sections of the report:
Introduction (PDF; 706kb)
Part 1: Libraries and Information Sources--Use, Familiarity and Favorability (PDF; 1.5mb)
Part 2: Using the Library--In Person and Online (PDF; 1.2mb)
Part 3: The Library Brand (PDF; 891kb)
Part 4: Respondents' Advice to Libraries (PDF; 284kb)
Part 5: Libraries--A "Universal" Brand? (PDF; 248kb)
Conclusion (PDF; 126kb)
Appendix A: Supporting Data Tables (PDF; 1.1mb)
Appendix B: Sample Verbatim Comments (PDF; 473kb)
About OCLC (PDF; 98kb)

Tell OCLC what you think about the report and the issues it examines.

Most reliable search tool could be your librarian

Web search engines may hustle up quick results, but librarians dig up online information you can trust, say experts.

By Elinor Mills
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Published: September 29, 2006, 4:00 AM PDT

Your child wants to learn more about Martin Luther King Jr. You might consider consulting a librarian instead of Google, AOL or Microsoft search engines.

Using the keywords "Martin Luther King," the first result on Google and AOL--whose search is powered by Google--and the second result on Microsoft Windows Live search is a Web site created by a white supremacists group that purports to provide "a true historical examination" of the civil rights leader.

Granted, there are sponsored links above the result on all three sites and a "snapshot" of links to related content on AOL above the link on that Web site. But given that many people rely on the information they get in the top few results, someone could come away with a skewed perception of the man.

That's where librarians come in. While the Web is good for offering quick results from a broad range of sources, which may or may not be trustworthy, librarians can help people get access to more authoritative information and go deeper with their research.

Tuesday Noon Program

Tomorrow at noon, there will be an Albany Roundtable Talk at the Main Library, beginning at 12:15 pm. The Albany Roundtable Speaker: Paul Bray, Lawyer and columnist in urban and environmental planning, founder and president of the Albany Roundtable . He has appeared regularly in the Times Union and has wonderful insights about city life.

This Week at the APL: October 2-8, 2006

For more details, go here.

Monday, October 2
Bookmobile - Atria Shaker (Bookmobile)
Pre-School Storytime (Howe Branch)
Bookmobile - Atria Crossgates (Bookmobile)
Scrabble Club (New Scotland Branch)
Tuesday, October 3
Seniors Connect (Main Library)
Toddler Storytime (Pine Hills Branch)
Albany Roundtable Talk (Main Library)
Bookmobile - Arbor Hill Community Center, Inc. (0)
Read to me Storytime (Pine Hills Branch)
Wednesday, October 4
Bookmobile - Ohav Shalom Nursery School (0)
Pre-School Storytime (Main Library)
Bookmobile - Crestwood Plaza (Bookmobile)
Pre-School Storytime (Howe Branch)
Toddler Storytime (New Scotland Branch)
Bookmobile - Green St. (Bookmobile)
Learn to Crochet (New Scotland Branch)
Numismatists (Pine Hills Branch)
Thursday, October 5
Dance Dance Revolution! (New Scotland Branch)
Writers Group (Main Library)
Lapsit Storytime (Main Library)
Book Discussion Group (Main Library)
Intro. to Computers - Part I (Main Library)
Friday, October 6
Introduction to Library Catalogs (Pine Hills Branch)
Bookmobile - State St./LOB (Bookmobile)
After School Craft (New Scotland Branch)
Connecting with America (Pine Hills Branch)
Library Called Board Meeting (0)
Sunday, October 8
Sunday Cinema (Main Library)