The New York Library Association urges you to contact your state legislators in support of its 2008 Legislative Priorities, which can be found at www.nyla.org under Headlines. NYLA urges you to use the Online Advocacy Center (click on the Library Advocate button) to send a fax/email in support its top four priority bills which are:
Association Libraries Opt Into State Retirement (S.7507 Farley/A.10518 Paulin) The bill would allow association public libraries that meet certain criteria to join the NYS retirement system upon approval by their board of trustees.
Dormitory Authority Bonding (S.1684 Farley/A.6256 Eddington) Bill would allow NYLA to bundle small bonding projects together for submittal to Dormitory Authority to give libraries greater access to inexpensive financing and reduce their borrowing costs. Only projects below $5 million would qualify for this program. All other library projects would still need special legislation. Status: Passed Senate
BOCES-Libraries Internet Partnerships (S.2082 Larkin/ A.6592 Gunther) Authorizes Boards of Cooperative Educational Services to enter into contracts with public libraries or library systems to provide internet access and communication services. Status: Passed Senate 3/28
Sales Tax Exemptions for Book Fairs (S.1722A Lavalle/A.3463A Cahill) Bill would exempt book fairs held by school and library organizations (PTA’s/Friends Groups) from collecting sales tax.
You can only send one letter at a time, so if you want to send letter in support of more than one issue, you need to go back to the beginning of the process.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
THE STATEWIDE SUMMER READING PROGRAM GEARS UP FOR 2008
Information about the 2008 Statewide Summer Reading Program, “Catch the Reading Bug@Your Library” is now available online. Librarians, teachers, and other educators planning for the 2008 program can go to www.summerreadingnys.org for ideas, links, and activities.
Schools, libraries, and library systems are invited to link directly to this site where library users can find games and other related links.
Educational studies show that kids who enjoy leisure time reading over the summer perform at higher academic levels when school resumes than those with no summer reading. The Statewide Summer Reading Program keeps kids learning and reading while school is out of session.
Participation in the 2007 Statewide Summer Reading Program was 1.35 million - up from 1.2 million in 2006. The goal is to have 1.5 million youngsters participating in the 2008 program.
Printer-friendly fliers in multiple languages encouraging parents to enroll their youngsters in the program are now available on the New York State Library’s web site. Go to www.nysl.nysed.gov and click on "Statewide Summer Reading."
Watch for more information about the Statewide Summer Reading Program website in May when more games, activities and other resources for planners will become available.
Schools, libraries, and library systems are invited to link directly to this site where library users can find games and other related links.
Educational studies show that kids who enjoy leisure time reading over the summer perform at higher academic levels when school resumes than those with no summer reading. The Statewide Summer Reading Program keeps kids learning and reading while school is out of session.
Participation in the 2007 Statewide Summer Reading Program was 1.35 million - up from 1.2 million in 2006. The goal is to have 1.5 million youngsters participating in the 2008 program.
Printer-friendly fliers in multiple languages encouraging parents to enroll their youngsters in the program are now available on the New York State Library’s web site. Go to www.nysl.nysed.gov and click on "Statewide Summer Reading."
Watch for more information about the Statewide Summer Reading Program website in May when more games, activities and other resources for planners will become available.
Monday, April 28, 2008
We Is Smart
There's a recent Business Review story indicating that Albany is 11th smartest metro in the nation, topping all New York cities. The full chart is here.
(And yes, I know it should be Are rather than Is.)
(And yes, I know it should be Are rather than Is.)
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Three Candidates for APL Trustee Seat
Albany Public Library will be asking City of Albany voters to vote to fill one vacant seat on the Library Board of Trustees in the May 20th Albany City School District Election.
There will be three candidates on the ballot.
Charles Carr is self-employed with a background in facilities management. A lifelong resident of Albany, he and his two sons regularly use the Delaware Branch.
Jose Lopez is an assistant teacher for people with disabilities and a long time Albany resident.
Lois Parsons, the incumbent, is also a long time resident of Albany. She has worked in the nursing field and has been involved in fundraising for neighborhood associations.
The Trustee vacancy was created by the passing of longtime Board member John Bach and has been temporarily filled by the Library Board’s appointment of Lois Parsons until the next election. The candidate receiving the largest number of votes in the election will serve the balance of Mr. Bach’s term, which expires on June 30, 2009.
Polling sites for the library vote are different from the locations used for citywide elections; see the ones listed here. If you have any questions regarding the polling sites, contact the Clerk of the City School District of Albany at 475-6010.
Detailed information on APL’s May 20th election, including additional candidate and budget information, will be posted on the library’s website. If you have questions, please call Interim Library Director Tim Burke at 427-4379 or email burket@uhls.lib.ny.us.
There will be three candidates on the ballot.
Charles Carr is self-employed with a background in facilities management. A lifelong resident of Albany, he and his two sons regularly use the Delaware Branch.
Jose Lopez is an assistant teacher for people with disabilities and a long time Albany resident.
Lois Parsons, the incumbent, is also a long time resident of Albany. She has worked in the nursing field and has been involved in fundraising for neighborhood associations.
The Trustee vacancy was created by the passing of longtime Board member John Bach and has been temporarily filled by the Library Board’s appointment of Lois Parsons until the next election. The candidate receiving the largest number of votes in the election will serve the balance of Mr. Bach’s term, which expires on June 30, 2009.
Polling sites for the library vote are different from the locations used for citywide elections; see the ones listed here. If you have any questions regarding the polling sites, contact the Clerk of the City School District of Albany at 475-6010.
Detailed information on APL’s May 20th election, including additional candidate and budget information, will be posted on the library’s website. If you have questions, please call Interim Library Director Tim Burke at 427-4379 or email burket@uhls.lib.ny.us.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Original Spider-Man artwork given to Library of Congress
The artwork from Amazing Fantasy #15, the first appearance of Spider-Man, has been given to Library of Congress.
"According to curator Sara Duke, an anonymous donor has given the 24 pages of original interior artwork from Amazing Fantasy #15 to the Library of Congress' Prints and Photographs division. The artwork, drawn by Steve Ditko and written by Stan Lee, first appeared in print in 1962, and is in good shape."
"According to curator Sara Duke, an anonymous donor has given the 24 pages of original interior artwork from Amazing Fantasy #15 to the Library of Congress' Prints and Photographs division. The artwork, drawn by Steve Ditko and written by Stan Lee, first appeared in print in 1962, and is in good shape."
Friday, April 25, 2008
The APL Budget Vote May 20
When is the vote? Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 7:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M.
What you should know about the 2009 Budget:
•The 2009 proposed budget that was unanimously approved by the Library Board of Trustees reflects a 4.13% increase in the library tax levy.
•The proposed budget will support the increased operating costs required by the opening of the five new, state of the art branch libraries that will be completed in 2009 as part of the Library’s Branch Improvement Plan.
•These operating increases include staffing to support an expanded hours schedule for all of the new branch libraries and to support the expanded library collections; dedicated public computing areas for adults, teens, and children; and the variety of community meeting spaces that will be provided in the new branch libraries.
What services does the current library tax levy support?
* Full access to a large and diverse collection of new books, DVDs, music CDs, audio books, large print books, and electronic information
* Free public computer use and wireless Internet access
* Free public programs that range from infant, pre-school, and children’s storytimes, to senior computer classes, to cultural programming, lectures and concerts for all ages and interests
* Access to professional reference librarians to provide assistance with informational and research needs
* Free use of community meeting rooms and exhibit space
* 24/7 online access to the collections of all 29 public libraries in the Upper Hudson Library System and a wide variety of research and reference databases
* The debt service on the $29.1 million Branch Improvement Plan bond
Here's detailed budget information.
Additional Voting Information
The vote will take place in conjunction with the school district budget vote. Voters will be asked to vote on the Library budget proposal and to elect a candidate to fill the vacant seat on the Albany Public Library Board of Trustees. Additional information about the candidates for Trustee will be available at all library locations and on the library’s website (www.albanypubliclibrary.org) as it becomes available.
Who can vote?
Anyone registered to vote in the City of Albany general election is eligible to vote.
Where do I vote?
There are NEW voting locations for 2008. With a focus on enhancing accessibility for voters throughout the community, there are new voting locations in election districts in eight of 15 wards.
Please Note - Polling sites for the school district and library budget vote are different from the polling locations used for citywide elections. Locate your polling place on the chart below or check our website for a directory of polling places.
Polling locations for May 20, 2008 Budget Vote
Italics indicate where changes have been made.
1st WARD, Election Districts 1-3
Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science & Technology
Lincoln Park
1st WARD, Election Districts 4-10
City Parks & Recreation Building
7 Hoffman Avenue
2nd WARD, Election Districts 1-3, 5-13 & 15-17
Giffen Memorial Elementary School
274 South Pearl Street
2nd WARD, Election Districts 4 & 14
City Parks & Recreation Building
7 Hoffman Avenue
3rd WARD, Election Districts 1-15
Sheridan Preparatory Academy
400 Sheridan Avenue
4th WARD, Election Districts 1-5 & 12
North Albany Academy
570 N. Pearl Street
4th WARD, Election Districts 6-11
Arbor Hill Elementary School
Arbor Drive
5th WARD, Election Districts 1-12
Philip Livingston Magnet Academy
315 Northern Blvd.
6th WARD, Election Districts 1-7 & 9
Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science & Technology
Lincoln Park
6th WARD, Election District 8
First Lutheran Church
646 State Street
7th WARD, Election Districts 1, 4-6, 8-9
Delaware Community School
43 Bertha Street
7th WARD, Election Districts 2-3
St. Teresa’s School
8 Hollywood Avenue
7th WARD, Election District 7
Albany School of Humanities
108 Whitehall Road
8th WARD, Election Districts 1-3, 9, 11-12
Albany School of Humanities
108 Whitehall Road
8th WARD, Election Districts 4-8, 10
St. Catherine of Siena School
35 Hurst Avenue
9th WARD, Election Districts 1-9
St. Teresa’s School
8 Hollywood Avenue
10th WARD, Election Districts 1-8
Albany High School
700 Washington Avenue
11th WARD, Election Districts 1-8
First Lutheran Church
646 State Street
12th WARD, Election Districts 1-3, 5 & 11
Harriet Gibbons High School
75 Watervliet Avenue
12th WARD, Election Districts 4 & 9
North Albany Academy
570 N. Pearl Street
12th WARD, Election Districts 6-8 & 10
Montessori Magnet School
65 Tremont Street
13th WARD, Election Districts 1-6 & 8-9
Pine Hills Elementary School
41 North Allen Street
13th WARD, Election District 7
Eagle Point Elementary School
1044 Western Avenue
14th WARD, Election Districts 1-10
Eagle Point Elementary School
1044 Western Avenue
15th WARD, Election Districts 1-3 & 8
Eagle Point Elementary School
1044 Western Avenue
15th WARD, Election Districts 4-7
Teresian House
200 Washington Avenue
What you should know about the 2009 Budget:
•The 2009 proposed budget that was unanimously approved by the Library Board of Trustees reflects a 4.13% increase in the library tax levy.
•The proposed budget will support the increased operating costs required by the opening of the five new, state of the art branch libraries that will be completed in 2009 as part of the Library’s Branch Improvement Plan.
•These operating increases include staffing to support an expanded hours schedule for all of the new branch libraries and to support the expanded library collections; dedicated public computing areas for adults, teens, and children; and the variety of community meeting spaces that will be provided in the new branch libraries.
What services does the current library tax levy support?
* Full access to a large and diverse collection of new books, DVDs, music CDs, audio books, large print books, and electronic information
* Free public computer use and wireless Internet access
* Free public programs that range from infant, pre-school, and children’s storytimes, to senior computer classes, to cultural programming, lectures and concerts for all ages and interests
* Access to professional reference librarians to provide assistance with informational and research needs
* Free use of community meeting rooms and exhibit space
* 24/7 online access to the collections of all 29 public libraries in the Upper Hudson Library System and a wide variety of research and reference databases
* The debt service on the $29.1 million Branch Improvement Plan bond
Here's detailed budget information.
Additional Voting Information
The vote will take place in conjunction with the school district budget vote. Voters will be asked to vote on the Library budget proposal and to elect a candidate to fill the vacant seat on the Albany Public Library Board of Trustees. Additional information about the candidates for Trustee will be available at all library locations and on the library’s website (www.albanypubliclibrary.org) as it becomes available.
Who can vote?
Anyone registered to vote in the City of Albany general election is eligible to vote.
Where do I vote?
There are NEW voting locations for 2008. With a focus on enhancing accessibility for voters throughout the community, there are new voting locations in election districts in eight of 15 wards.
Please Note - Polling sites for the school district and library budget vote are different from the polling locations used for citywide elections. Locate your polling place on the chart below or check our website for a directory of polling places.
Polling locations for May 20, 2008 Budget Vote
Italics indicate where changes have been made.
1st WARD, Election Districts 1-3
Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science & Technology
Lincoln Park
1st WARD, Election Districts 4-10
City Parks & Recreation Building
7 Hoffman Avenue
2nd WARD, Election Districts 1-3, 5-13 & 15-17
Giffen Memorial Elementary School
274 South Pearl Street
2nd WARD, Election Districts 4 & 14
City Parks & Recreation Building
7 Hoffman Avenue
3rd WARD, Election Districts 1-15
Sheridan Preparatory Academy
400 Sheridan Avenue
4th WARD, Election Districts 1-5 & 12
North Albany Academy
570 N. Pearl Street
4th WARD, Election Districts 6-11
Arbor Hill Elementary School
Arbor Drive
5th WARD, Election Districts 1-12
Philip Livingston Magnet Academy
315 Northern Blvd.
6th WARD, Election Districts 1-7 & 9
Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science & Technology
Lincoln Park
6th WARD, Election District 8
First Lutheran Church
646 State Street
7th WARD, Election Districts 1, 4-6, 8-9
Delaware Community School
43 Bertha Street
7th WARD, Election Districts 2-3
St. Teresa’s School
8 Hollywood Avenue
7th WARD, Election District 7
Albany School of Humanities
108 Whitehall Road
8th WARD, Election Districts 1-3, 9, 11-12
Albany School of Humanities
108 Whitehall Road
8th WARD, Election Districts 4-8, 10
St. Catherine of Siena School
35 Hurst Avenue
9th WARD, Election Districts 1-9
St. Teresa’s School
8 Hollywood Avenue
10th WARD, Election Districts 1-8
Albany High School
700 Washington Avenue
11th WARD, Election Districts 1-8
First Lutheran Church
646 State Street
12th WARD, Election Districts 1-3, 5 & 11
Harriet Gibbons High School
75 Watervliet Avenue
12th WARD, Election Districts 4 & 9
North Albany Academy
570 N. Pearl Street
12th WARD, Election Districts 6-8 & 10
Montessori Magnet School
65 Tremont Street
13th WARD, Election Districts 1-6 & 8-9
Pine Hills Elementary School
41 North Allen Street
13th WARD, Election District 7
Eagle Point Elementary School
1044 Western Avenue
14th WARD, Election Districts 1-10
Eagle Point Elementary School
1044 Western Avenue
15th WARD, Election Districts 1-3 & 8
Eagle Point Elementary School
1044 Western Avenue
15th WARD, Election Districts 4-7
Teresian House
200 Washington Avenue
Thursday, April 24, 2008
APL Library Auctions!
APL has finally moved out of two of its libraries, readying them for renovation.
Auctions:
Howe Library Auction on May 7th
Pine Hills Library Auction on May 14th.
Here's What's at the classic Howe Library
As many of you know, the Howe Library was built in 1928 and has beautiful oak shelving, woodwork and classic library furniture. The preservationists among you will be delighted to know that much of the built-in wood bookcases, trim work and fireplace will be staying. But for you antique aficionados, here's what will be up for auction:
Classic Oak Library Bookcases (tall and 4', single and double)
Round Oak Library Tables
Oak Library Chairs
Small Oak Library Chairs
Oak Card Catalogs
Oak Filing Cabinets
Period Glass Globes
Oak Circulation Desk
Oak Librarian Desks
Metal shelves, metal and plastic chairs, framed prints, metal filing cabinets and much more.
Here's what's at the Pine Hills Library
Since the Pine Hills Library was renovated in the early 1990s, the shelving and furniture is contemporary and some is upholstered. And all of it is in good condition. Here's what will be up for auction:
Metal with Wood Accent Library Bookcases (tall and 4', single and double)
Wood Library Tables and Wood Chairs
Upholstered Library Reading Chairs
Metal shelves, tables, and much more.
So here's all you need to bid on a little bit of history:
Howe Library Auction - Wednesday May 7th
6:00 p.m. viewing and auction to follow
Schuyler & Broad Streets, South End Neighborhood (Morton @ South Pearl)
Item pick-up date is Saturday May 17th, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Pine Hills Library Auction - Wednesday, May 14th
6:00 p.m. viewing and auction to follow
517 Western Avenue, Pine Hills Neighborhood (corner of N. Allen Street)
Item pick up date is Saturday, May 17th, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Cash & Checks Accepted.
To place a maximum bid, contact Elissa Kane at 427-4346 or kanee@uhls.lib.ny.us.
To receive an inventory list by e-mail the day before the auction contact Elissa Kane at 427-4346 or kanee@uhls.lib.ny.us.
All items must be taken either the night of the auction or on May 17th at 9:00 -11:00 a.m. for Howe and 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. for Pine Hills.
Auctions:
Howe Library Auction on May 7th
Pine Hills Library Auction on May 14th.
Here's What's at the classic Howe Library
As many of you know, the Howe Library was built in 1928 and has beautiful oak shelving, woodwork and classic library furniture. The preservationists among you will be delighted to know that much of the built-in wood bookcases, trim work and fireplace will be staying. But for you antique aficionados, here's what will be up for auction:
Classic Oak Library Bookcases (tall and 4', single and double)
Round Oak Library Tables
Oak Library Chairs
Small Oak Library Chairs
Oak Card Catalogs
Oak Filing Cabinets
Period Glass Globes
Oak Circulation Desk
Oak Librarian Desks
Metal shelves, metal and plastic chairs, framed prints, metal filing cabinets and much more.
Here's what's at the Pine Hills Library
Since the Pine Hills Library was renovated in the early 1990s, the shelving and furniture is contemporary and some is upholstered. And all of it is in good condition. Here's what will be up for auction:
Metal with Wood Accent Library Bookcases (tall and 4', single and double)
Wood Library Tables and Wood Chairs
Upholstered Library Reading Chairs
Metal shelves, tables, and much more.
So here's all you need to bid on a little bit of history:
Howe Library Auction - Wednesday May 7th
6:00 p.m. viewing and auction to follow
Schuyler & Broad Streets, South End Neighborhood (Morton @ South Pearl)
Item pick-up date is Saturday May 17th, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Pine Hills Library Auction - Wednesday, May 14th
6:00 p.m. viewing and auction to follow
517 Western Avenue, Pine Hills Neighborhood (corner of N. Allen Street)
Item pick up date is Saturday, May 17th, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Cash & Checks Accepted.
To place a maximum bid, contact Elissa Kane at 427-4346 or kanee@uhls.lib.ny.us.
To receive an inventory list by e-mail the day before the auction contact Elissa Kane at 427-4346 or kanee@uhls.lib.ny.us.
All items must be taken either the night of the auction or on May 17th at 9:00 -11:00 a.m. for Howe and 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. for Pine Hills.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Springtime Art & Craft Show. Woman's Club of Albany May 2-3, 2008
Woman’s Club of Albany
725 Madison Ave
725 Madison Ave
Albany, NY 12208
(518) 465-3626www.womansclubofalbany.org
Cathy Frank (formerly of Firlefanz Gallery) and Karen Greendale together with the Woman’s Club of Albany, 725 Madison Ave in Albany NY are pleased to announce a “Springtime Art & Craft Show: Thinking of Mom and Tulips” on May 2nd and 3rd featuring 29 women artists (8 jewelers, 6 ceramic, 13 visual, and 2 fiber artists ) and a little cafe with homemade sandwiches and sweet treats.
Hours:
May 2nd, 5pm to 9pm
The show and cafe will be part of the First Friday Art Events of Albany. The Woman's Club will be one of the stops on the event trolley line.
May 3rd, 11am to 5pm.
show and cafe
A tulip painting by Lori Lawrence will be offered in a silent auction.
The show is free and open to the public. Part of the profits from the show and cafe will benefit the Club’s programs.
Visitors will be able to vote for their favorite tulip from the 900 tulips that were planted last fall by members of the Club in the front garden of the mansion.
Featured artists are:
Jewelers:
Loretta Fontaine
Cathy Frank
Julia Glick
Karen Greendale
Nancy Miller
Katie Nare
Dana Rudolph
Cynthia Tocman
Ceramic artists
JoAnn Axford
Victoria Crowell
Cathy Frank
Brenda McMahon
Joanne Millis
Liz Vigoda
Visual artists:
Chris De Marco
Elizabeth Dubben
Georgianna Heller
Ronda Jeffer
Lori Lawrence
Willie Marlowe
Monica Miller
Gail Nadeau
Sunghee Park
Jean Strausman
Audrie Sturman
Marie Triller
Wendy Ide Williams
Fiber artists:
Cheryl Baitsholts
Lynne Holstein
About The Woman's Club of Albany
Founded in 1910, the Woman’s Club of Albany began as a civic organization dedicated to helping women and children, and improving conditions in the City of Albany. With the recent renaissance of the Club, its mission has been expanded to maintain an organized historical center for women in the Capital Region by educating and heightening awareness about the historical, social and legal movements of women; and to promote service and philanthropy including charitable fundraising and donation for those in need in our community, particularly underprivileged children and families in the Capital Region.
For additional information about The Woman's Club of Albany and its historic building, please visit: www.womansclubofalbany.org
For further information about the show please call
Cathy Frank at 518-456-1913
or
Karen Greendale at 518-727-6875
AdAge Magazine Creating an Insight & Information Department
The author did not know he was describing librarians. "[S]maller agencies need to have access to smart people and smart research. Whether it's just the basics of someone actively scanning current marketing writings, magazines, books and blogs and making sense of it all for us, or a more robust option that includes the aforementioned research resources. Our world demands that we have access to and utilize compelling insights to keep our work and our clients' brands relevant. [...]"
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
18 Sexy Trips to the Library Stacks
Movie stills from Entertainment Weekly. Belying the dowdy librarian image.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Dingell Examining Closure of Hopkins Health Database
The chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee is investigating why a government-funded, reproductive health database operated by the Johns Hopkins University briefly blocked searches using the term abortion two weeks ago.
The POPLINE database is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and run by Hopkins' Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Bloomberg's dean ordered all searches restored after he learned that an administrator had made it difficult to find abortion-related scientific material on the POPLINE Web site. The restriction lasted several days.
"I am concerned that the restriction of certain search terms in the POPLINE database is an ideological decision and not in line with the spirit of free scientific inquiry intended by the creation of such a database," Rep. John D. Dingell, a Michigan Democrat, wrote in a letter yesterday to USAID's administrator.
The congressman requested the names of the officials who were involved in the decision to make abortion a "stop word" - one that a search engine will ignore.
More here.
The POPLINE database is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and run by Hopkins' Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Bloomberg's dean ordered all searches restored after he learned that an administrator had made it difficult to find abortion-related scientific material on the POPLINE Web site. The restriction lasted several days.
"I am concerned that the restriction of certain search terms in the POPLINE database is an ideological decision and not in line with the spirit of free scientific inquiry intended by the creation of such a database," Rep. John D. Dingell, a Michigan Democrat, wrote in a letter yesterday to USAID's administrator.
The congressman requested the names of the officials who were involved in the decision to make abortion a "stop word" - one that a search engine will ignore.
More here.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
May is "Celebrate Bike Month!"
New York Bicycling Coalition Presents the 5th Annual Capital Bike Month 2008
May 1st-31st: “Let’s Celebrate Bike Month!” Poster Contest for kids.
Submissions accepted 5/1/-5/28; awards ceremony 5/31 during bicycle safety education class at Guilderland Public Library (see 5/31, below). Co-sponsored by the Guilderland Public Library and Altamont Free Library. Free and open to all children ages 4-17 throughout the Capital District. Prizes & giveaways sponsored by Plaine and Son and the Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club.
Friday, 5/2: 5:30-9PM: Urban Ride & Grand Opening of “Dream Wheels”
exhibit at UAG Gallery, 247 Lark St., Albany.
http://upstateartistsguild.org/DreamWheels (show runs 5/2-5/23).
Proceeds benefit NYBC and the Albany Bicycle Coalition (ABC). Urban ride departs at 5:30pm from Civil War Memorial in Washington Park (intersection of Henry Johnson Blvd. & State St.). 12 mile route featuring ABC’s Albany Bike Map and proposed bike routes; returns to UAG gallery for Grand Opening Gala.
Sunday, 5/4: 10:00A.M.-3:00PM: Free “Open House” Day and BBQ at Saratoga Mountain Bike Association (SMBA) Trails. Team LUNA Chix of Upstate NY and the SMBA will be co-hosting several mountain bike rides throughout the day for various ability levels on the SMBA trails in Saratoga Springs. [NOTE: you are not required to be a SMBA member to attend this event.] Beginners, intermediates, and experts are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, visit www.saratogamtb.org or contact john@saratogamtb.org or treesawmtb@yahoo.com.
Monday, 5/12: Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club presents “Warm up for Bike to Work Day” Ride. Check your legs and practice your commuting route with the added benefit of increased safety in numbers that fellow cyclists can provide. Meet at 5:30pm at CDTA Delmar Park & Ride (intersection of Route 32 & 52, Delmar) for 13 mile round-trip venture from Delmar to Empire State Plaza in downtown Albany. Ride departs at 5:45pm. See www.webmhcc.org or contact kjempie@earthlink.net for more details.
Tuesday, 5/13: 9AM-10:30AM: Legislative Breakfast. 10:45AM-11:30AM Ride around the Capital. Legislative Office Building, Room 211A. Similar to the League of American Bicyclist's National Bike Summit, this is an opportunity to learn about the latest state legislation pertaining to bicyclists and pedestrians, voice your concerns, and interact with your local and state representatives. Following the breakfast, there will be a short ride around the State Capital and downtown Albany area. Co-sponsored by CK Cycles. RSVP to nybc@nybc.net by Friday, May 9th
5:00-8:00PM: “Tune Up Your Bike Night” and Free Repair Clinics at Troy Bike Rescue, 15 Trinity Place, Albany, NY 12202. For more information, call 518.986.2256, email troybikerescue@gmail.com, or visit www.troybikerescue.org.
Wednesday, 5/14: 5:30pm-8:00pm: Bicycle Rodeo for Kids and Families.
Free bike safety checks and helmet giveaways for children; one child’s bike will be donated to recipient of “Citizen’s Award,” chosen by Boys & Girls Club (B&GC). Location: Boys & Girls Club, 400 Craig Street, Schenectady. Co-sponsored by Plaine and Son and the B&GC of Schenectady.
Thursday, 5/15: 5:00pm: Commuter Contest: car vs. bus vs. cyclist.
Location: Starbucks to Starbucks (downtown Albany to Stuyvesant Plaza). Fabulous prizes & swag courtesy of Steiner’s Sports. For more information, visit www.nybc.net or email nybc@nybc.net.
Friday, 5/16: Bike to Work Day. 6 staging areas with mapped routes and bicycle escorts to downtown Albany; 3 rally points with designated bicycle parking; and a “commuter buddy” program offered to cyclists who choose not to ride alone. Co-sponsored by Downtown Albany BID, CDTA, O.G.S., Sports Signup, Sandwiches to Go, Steiner’s Sports, The Downtube, Elevate Cycles, EMS, Steuben Athletic Club, Capital District YMCA and Bruegger’s Bagels. For more information, visit www.nybc.net.
7:00pm: Film showing of “Contested Streets” at Guilderland Public Library (2228 Western Ave., Guilderland, NY 12084). Brief discussion to follow. Free and open to the public. Co-sponsored by GPL & NYBC.
Saturday, 5/17: 10am-3pm: LCI “Savvy Cyclist” Road I Class. Location:
University at Albany, 1400 Washington Ave., Albany, College of Arts & Sciences Bldg. Room 123. Instructors: Claire & Bert.
This course is offered free of charge and brought to you by NYBC and a grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. RSVP to nybc@nybc.net by Thursday, May 15th to reserve a space.
Wednesday, 5/21: 6pm: Ride of Silence (Albany). Start location: Corning Preserve (downtown Albany). 12 mile route will pass ghost bikes commemorating the deaths of 3 local cyclists. For more details, visit www.rideofsilence.org or email Claire Nolan
(cbnolou@yahoo.com) or Sue Troll (trollasko@aol.com).
Saturday, 5/31: 10:30am-12:30pm: Safe Cycling for Kids (and Their
Parents) Workshop. Guilderland Public Library. Winners of Bike Month poster contest announced and prizes distributed. Fun for the whole family! For more information, contact Jennifer Ogrodowski, Guilderland Public Library, at (518) 456-2400, ext. 34, ogrodowskij@uhls.lib.ny.us or Judith Wines, Altamont Free Library,
(518) 861-7239, winesj@uhls.lib.ny.us .
May 1st-31st: “Let’s Celebrate Bike Month!” Poster Contest for kids.
Submissions accepted 5/1/-5/28; awards ceremony 5/31 during bicycle safety education class at Guilderland Public Library (see 5/31, below). Co-sponsored by the Guilderland Public Library and Altamont Free Library. Free and open to all children ages 4-17 throughout the Capital District. Prizes & giveaways sponsored by Plaine and Son and the Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club.
Friday, 5/2: 5:30-9PM: Urban Ride & Grand Opening of “Dream Wheels”
exhibit at UAG Gallery, 247 Lark St., Albany.
http://upstateartistsguild.org/DreamWheels (show runs 5/2-5/23).
Proceeds benefit NYBC and the Albany Bicycle Coalition (ABC). Urban ride departs at 5:30pm from Civil War Memorial in Washington Park (intersection of Henry Johnson Blvd. & State St.). 12 mile route featuring ABC’s Albany Bike Map and proposed bike routes; returns to UAG gallery for Grand Opening Gala.
Sunday, 5/4: 10:00A.M.-3:00PM: Free “Open House” Day and BBQ at Saratoga Mountain Bike Association (SMBA) Trails. Team LUNA Chix of Upstate NY and the SMBA will be co-hosting several mountain bike rides throughout the day for various ability levels on the SMBA trails in Saratoga Springs. [NOTE: you are not required to be a SMBA member to attend this event.] Beginners, intermediates, and experts are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, visit www.saratogamtb.org or contact john@saratogamtb.org or treesawmtb@yahoo.com.
Monday, 5/12: Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club presents “Warm up for Bike to Work Day” Ride. Check your legs and practice your commuting route with the added benefit of increased safety in numbers that fellow cyclists can provide. Meet at 5:30pm at CDTA Delmar Park & Ride (intersection of Route 32 & 52, Delmar) for 13 mile round-trip venture from Delmar to Empire State Plaza in downtown Albany. Ride departs at 5:45pm. See www.webmhcc.org or contact kjempie@earthlink.net for more details.
Tuesday, 5/13: 9AM-10:30AM: Legislative Breakfast. 10:45AM-11:30AM Ride around the Capital. Legislative Office Building, Room 211A. Similar to the League of American Bicyclist's National Bike Summit, this is an opportunity to learn about the latest state legislation pertaining to bicyclists and pedestrians, voice your concerns, and interact with your local and state representatives. Following the breakfast, there will be a short ride around the State Capital and downtown Albany area. Co-sponsored by CK Cycles. RSVP to nybc@nybc.net by Friday, May 9th
5:00-8:00PM: “Tune Up Your Bike Night” and Free Repair Clinics at Troy Bike Rescue, 15 Trinity Place, Albany, NY 12202. For more information, call 518.986.2256, email troybikerescue@gmail.com, or visit www.troybikerescue.org.
Wednesday, 5/14: 5:30pm-8:00pm: Bicycle Rodeo for Kids and Families.
Free bike safety checks and helmet giveaways for children; one child’s bike will be donated to recipient of “Citizen’s Award,” chosen by Boys & Girls Club (B&GC). Location: Boys & Girls Club, 400 Craig Street, Schenectady. Co-sponsored by Plaine and Son and the B&GC of Schenectady.
Thursday, 5/15: 5:00pm: Commuter Contest: car vs. bus vs. cyclist.
Location: Starbucks to Starbucks (downtown Albany to Stuyvesant Plaza). Fabulous prizes & swag courtesy of Steiner’s Sports. For more information, visit www.nybc.net or email nybc@nybc.net.
Friday, 5/16: Bike to Work Day. 6 staging areas with mapped routes and bicycle escorts to downtown Albany; 3 rally points with designated bicycle parking; and a “commuter buddy” program offered to cyclists who choose not to ride alone. Co-sponsored by Downtown Albany BID, CDTA, O.G.S., Sports Signup, Sandwiches to Go, Steiner’s Sports, The Downtube, Elevate Cycles, EMS, Steuben Athletic Club, Capital District YMCA and Bruegger’s Bagels. For more information, visit www.nybc.net.
7:00pm: Film showing of “Contested Streets” at Guilderland Public Library (2228 Western Ave., Guilderland, NY 12084). Brief discussion to follow. Free and open to the public. Co-sponsored by GPL & NYBC.
Saturday, 5/17: 10am-3pm: LCI “Savvy Cyclist” Road I Class. Location:
University at Albany, 1400 Washington Ave., Albany, College of Arts & Sciences Bldg. Room 123. Instructors: Claire & Bert.
This course is offered free of charge and brought to you by NYBC and a grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. RSVP to nybc@nybc.net by Thursday, May 15th to reserve a space.
Wednesday, 5/21: 6pm: Ride of Silence (Albany). Start location: Corning Preserve (downtown Albany). 12 mile route will pass ghost bikes commemorating the deaths of 3 local cyclists. For more details, visit www.rideofsilence.org or email Claire Nolan
(cbnolou@yahoo.com) or Sue Troll (trollasko@aol.com).
Saturday, 5/31: 10:30am-12:30pm: Safe Cycling for Kids (and Their
Parents) Workshop. Guilderland Public Library. Winners of Bike Month poster contest announced and prizes distributed. Fun for the whole family! For more information, contact Jennifer Ogrodowski, Guilderland Public Library, at (518) 456-2400, ext. 34, ogrodowskij@uhls.lib.ny.us or Judith Wines, Altamont Free Library,
(518) 861-7239, winesj@uhls.lib.ny.us .
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
City of Albany Earth Day Electronic Drop-Off Day
Earth Day Electronic Drop-Off Day
The City of Albany is sponsoring an Earth Day Electronic and Room Air Conditioner Drop-Off Day on Saturday, April 26 from 7 AM to 1 PM at the Taft Furniture Parking lot, 1960 Central Avenue, 1 mile past Route 155--free to City of Albany residents only. Acceptable items for disposal include computers and computer parts, televisions (no consoles), telephones, VCRs, room air conditioners, radios and PDAs. City of
Friday, April 11, 2008
Rex Smith to Speak at Friends' Annual Meeting
The Friends' Annual Meeting will be held Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 7 p.m. in the large auditiorium in the main library. Rex Smith, editor of the Times Union, will be speaking on "Communication for Citizenship: How Journalism Can Help Sustain Society's Progress."
Rex is Editor and Vice President of the Times Union, the dominant communication medium in a 16-county area of upstate New York. He has led the newspaper since mid-2002 to national recognition for writing, reporting, photography and design, both in print and on the Web.
Rex, who grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota, came to Albany as a national correspondent and state capitol bureau chief for Newsday, one of the nation’s largest newspapers, then spent four years as editor of The Record in Troy. Earlier in his career, he was a congressional aide in Washington and editor of a small daily paper in Indiana. He also spent a year as a television reporter and anchor in the metropolitan New York region.
Among numerous professional citations, Rex has received the Distinguished Service Award of the national Society of Professional Journalists, the World Hunger Media Award, a Pulitzer Fellowship and a Rotary Fellowship. He has reported from Central America, South Africa and the former Soviet Union. He is a graduate cum laude of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and received his master’s degree with highest honors from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where he was awarded a Pulitzer Fellowship.
Rex hosts a nationally syndicated weekly program, “The Media Project,” on Northeast Public Radio, and is past president of the state press association and vice chair of the state Fair Trial/Free Press Conference. He is in demand as a public speaker and a contest judge, and has twice been a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes. He lives in Rensselaer County with his wife, the author and radio commentator Marion Roach, and their 12-year-old daughter, Grace Yu Ying Smith.
Rex is Editor and Vice President of the Times Union, the dominant communication medium in a 16-county area of upstate New York. He has led the newspaper since mid-2002 to national recognition for writing, reporting, photography and design, both in print and on the Web.
Rex, who grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota, came to Albany as a national correspondent and state capitol bureau chief for Newsday, one of the nation’s largest newspapers, then spent four years as editor of The Record in Troy. Earlier in his career, he was a congressional aide in Washington and editor of a small daily paper in Indiana. He also spent a year as a television reporter and anchor in the metropolitan New York region.
Among numerous professional citations, Rex has received the Distinguished Service Award of the national Society of Professional Journalists, the World Hunger Media Award, a Pulitzer Fellowship and a Rotary Fellowship. He has reported from Central America, South Africa and the former Soviet Union. He is a graduate cum laude of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and received his master’s degree with highest honors from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where he was awarded a Pulitzer Fellowship.
Rex hosts a nationally syndicated weekly program, “The Media Project,” on Northeast Public Radio, and is past president of the state press association and vice chair of the state Fair Trial/Free Press Conference. He is in demand as a public speaker and a contest judge, and has twice been a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes. He lives in Rensselaer County with his wife, the author and radio commentator Marion Roach, and their 12-year-old daughter, Grace Yu Ying Smith.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Preservation League of New York State Workshop: Enhancing Main Street
WHAT: Enhancing Main Street: Making Upper Floors Work Again
A free workshop presented by the Preservation League of New York State
WHEN: Tuesday, April 15, 2008
8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: WAMC Linda Norris Auditorium
339 Central Avenue
Albany, NY
The workshop’s featured speakers will include:
Buffalo architect Clinton Brown, who will discuss Main Street revitalization and why it matters, and also present a case study of mixed-use project in Medina, Orleans County; Joe Fama of the Troy Architectural Program in Troy, who will explain how New York’s building codes and preservation can work together; Murray Gould of Port City Preservation in Oswego, who will provide information on funding sources and strategies for downtown conversion projects; and Sandra Adams of the Community Preservation Corporation in Albany, who will discuss how financing was assembled for recent mixed use projects on North Pearl Street.
The workshop is free and lunch will be served, but seating is limited.
Please register by Friday, April 11. Call 518-462-5658 x13 for more information or email upperfloors@preservenys.org.
Enhancing Main Street: Making Upper Floors Work Again is presented by the Preservation League of New York State, and sponsored by the Central Avenue Business Improvement District, Empire State Development Corporation, and WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Co-sponsors include the City of Albany Department of Development and Planning; Downtown Albany Business Improvement District; Historic Albany Foundation; Lark Street Business Improvement District; New York Planning Federation; and Office for Small Cities — NYS Housing Trust Fund Corporation.
A free workshop presented by the Preservation League of New York State
WHEN: Tuesday, April 15, 2008
8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: WAMC Linda Norris Auditorium
339 Central Avenue
Albany, NY
The workshop’s featured speakers will include:
Buffalo architect Clinton Brown, who will discuss Main Street revitalization and why it matters, and also present a case study of mixed-use project in Medina, Orleans County; Joe Fama of the Troy Architectural Program in Troy, who will explain how New York’s building codes and preservation can work together; Murray Gould of Port City Preservation in Oswego, who will provide information on funding sources and strategies for downtown conversion projects; and Sandra Adams of the Community Preservation Corporation in Albany, who will discuss how financing was assembled for recent mixed use projects on North Pearl Street.
The workshop is free and lunch will be served, but seating is limited.
Please register by Friday, April 11. Call 518-462-5658 x13 for more information or email upperfloors@preservenys.org.
Enhancing Main Street: Making Upper Floors Work Again is presented by the Preservation League of New York State, and sponsored by the Central Avenue Business Improvement District, Empire State Development Corporation, and WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Co-sponsors include the City of Albany Department of Development and Planning; Downtown Albany Business Improvement District; Historic Albany Foundation; Lark Street Business Improvement District; New York Planning Federation; and Office for Small Cities — NYS Housing Trust Fund Corporation.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Peace Corps, Anyone?
Remember the Peace Corps? What better time than now to think about it. Visit the APL for an informational seminar from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on April 15th (after you finish your taxes). Folks 50 and over are especially invited, but all are welcome. Shoot your questions to Amie Kabia at 212-352-5353 or akabia@peacecorp.gov.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Bus Meeting
Lucille Brewer announces:
Citizens for Public Transportation will meet Wednesday, April 16, 7:00 PM at the Albany Public Library, Main Branch.
SPEAKER: Joshua Poppal, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition
Luis Acosta of CDTA will also attend.
Citizens for Public Transportation will meet Wednesday, April 16, 7:00 PM at the Albany Public Library, Main Branch.
SPEAKER: Joshua Poppal, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition
Luis Acosta of CDTA will also attend.
Friday, April 04, 2008
U.S. Funded Health Search Engine Blocks 'Abortion'
By Sarah Lai Stirland April 03, 2008 5:55:57 PM
Categories: Censorship
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/04/a-government-fu.html
A U.S. government-funded medical information site that bills itself as the world's largest database on reproductive health has quietly begun to block searches on the word "abortion," concealing nearly 25,000 search results.
Called Popline, the search site is run by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Maryland. It's funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, the federal office in charge of providing foreign aid, including health care funding, to developing nations.
The massive database indexes a broad range of reproductive health literature, including titles like "Previous abortion and the risk of low birth weight and preterm births," and "Abortion in the United States:
Incidence and access to services, 2005."
But on Thursday, a search on "abortion" was producing only the message "No records found by latest query."
Stephen Goldstein, a spokesman for Johns Hopkins, said he wasn't aware of the censorship, and couldn't immediately comment.
Under a Reagan-era policy revived by President Bush in 2001, USAID denies funding to non-governmental organizations that perform abortions, or that "actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations."
A librarian at the University of California at San Francisco noticed the new censorship on Monday, while carrying out a routine research request on behalf of academics and researchers at the university. The search term had functioned properly as of January.
Puzzled, she contacted the manager of the database, Johns Hopkins' Debbie Dickson, who replied in an April 1st e-mail that the university had recently begun blocking the search term because the database received federal funding.
--------------------------------------
The complete article may be read at the URL above.
Categories: Censorship
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/04/a-government-fu.html
A U.S. government-funded medical information site that bills itself as the world's largest database on reproductive health has quietly begun to block searches on the word "abortion," concealing nearly 25,000 search results.
Called Popline, the search site is run by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Maryland. It's funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, the federal office in charge of providing foreign aid, including health care funding, to developing nations.
The massive database indexes a broad range of reproductive health literature, including titles like "Previous abortion and the risk of low birth weight and preterm births," and "Abortion in the United States:
Incidence and access to services, 2005."
But on Thursday, a search on "abortion" was producing only the message "No records found by latest query."
Stephen Goldstein, a spokesman for Johns Hopkins, said he wasn't aware of the censorship, and couldn't immediately comment.
Under a Reagan-era policy revived by President Bush in 2001, USAID denies funding to non-governmental organizations that perform abortions, or that "actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations."
A librarian at the University of California at San Francisco noticed the new censorship on Monday, while carrying out a routine research request on behalf of academics and researchers at the university. The search term had functioned properly as of January.
Puzzled, she contacted the manager of the database, Johns Hopkins' Debbie Dickson, who replied in an April 1st e-mail that the university had recently begun blocking the search term because the database received federal funding.
--------------------------------------
The complete article may be read at the URL above.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
And they say libraries are obsolete
Queens Library's circulation for March 2008 was 2,054,870, an historic single-month high for the U.S.'s busiest library and quite possibly, the highest any U.S. library has ever done in a one-month period.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
State Budget
Dear Library Advocate: Negotiations on the 2008-09 State Budget are coming to a conclusion and library supporters need to reach out again to their state legislators to urge them to restore the $5 million cut in Library Aid. The Legislature and Governor have agreed to provide a $1.8 billion increase in school aid and to fund this overly generous increase, they have to find the money to pay for it from other programs like Library Aid.
So please send a letter via email or fax using NYLA's Online Advocacy Center at www.nyla.org to contact your state legislators today. Please forward this to as many people as possible. Thanks for your cooperation.
So please send a letter via email or fax using NYLA's Online Advocacy Center at www.nyla.org to contact your state legislators today. Please forward this to as many people as possible. Thanks for your cooperation.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Spring 2008 Restaurant Week
The Capital Region's first and best Restaurant Week is back, April 21 -26! Don't miss your chance to experience three-course meals at 20 great downtown Albany dining establishments for the low price of $16.09.
Click here for participating restaurants & menus.
Click here for participating restaurants & menus.
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