FutureReady365 interview with 1000 Awesome Things author

FutureReady365 is a community blog focused on sharing knowledge, ideas and insights on how we are prepared for the future. The intention of the blog is to have a different information professional post every day in 2011.

Neil Pasricha the author of 1000 Awesome Things, The Book of Awesome and, the just released Book of (Even More) Awesome agreed to be interviewed for the FutureReady365. Neil’s blog has a readership of millions of people, has won two Webby Awards (“the Internet’s highest honor” according to The New York Times) and was named one of PC Magazine’s Top 100 Sites On the Internet.

Should we allow porn in libraries?

That's the provacative title of this Salon article.

The best point was in the comments, by a librarian, unsurprisingly.
"My professional concern about filters is that they provide a false sense of security. They simply do not work and have never worked the way people think they should; legitimate sites get blocked as often as questionable sites are allowed. There are far more effective solutions to addressing the problem, including putting computers in public areas, limiting the amount of time people can spend on a computer in a day, creating a separate children's area where adults are only allowed if accompanied by a child...the list goes on. But relying on technology alone to solve what is ultimate a behavioral issue isn't going to work."

Workplace Accomodations for Persons with Disabilities

Webinar Date: May 12, 2011 @ 2:00 PM Eastern - 60 minutes

Upcoming webinar will inform participants about workplace accommodations with a focus on non-visible disabilities, such as mental illness, learning disabilities, the accommodation process, and available resources.


Presenters: Anne E. Hirsch, Co-Director, Job Accommodation Network (JAN); Linda Yost, JAN Consultant

Moderator: Rande Chafkin, Senior Program Specialist for Disability Program Division of Adult Services, Employment and Training Administration

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Working toward practical solutions that benefit both employer and employee, JAN helps people with disabilities enhance their employability and show employers how to capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities add to the workplace.
JAN’s consultants offer one-on-one guidance on workplace accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related legislation, and self-employment and entrepreneurship options for people with disabilities. Assistance is available both over the phone and online. Those who can benefit from JAN’s services include the workforce investment, employers, government agencies, service providers, as well as people with disabilities and their families.

Whether hiring a person with a disability or if an employee becomes disabled, it makes good business sense to provide a workplace accommodation to retain a qualified employee and reduce staff turnover.
Most accommodations are simple, no or low-cost; there are sometimes tax credits and other incentives for employers to make workplace accommodations for persons with disabilities.

During the Webinar, JAN staff will discuss its web site, highlighting useful resources for the One-Stop Career Center system. There will also be a demonstration of JAN’s services via an “Ask JAN” session.
Learn practical solutions to ensure workplace success.

A podcast interview will provide follow-up to this Webinar.

To Register; must register in Workforce3one first

Capital Region Housing Fair Saturday at Main Library

Anyone looking to buy a home, fix a home, or save a home should spend some time at the Capital Region Housing Fair this Saturday, April 30. The free event runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the large auditorium at the Main Library (161 Washington Avenue) of the Albany Public Library. The housing fair includes seminars, consultations, and exhibits.

Three seminars will be offered at the fair:
• 10:30 a.m.—How to Increase Your Credit Score
• 11:30 a.m.—How to Hire a Contractor
• 12:30 p.m.—Down Payment Assistance Programs

Consultations on the following topics will be available from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.:
• Legal advice
• Credit reports and reviews
• Mortgage checkups
• Foreclosure prevention

More HERE.

Is that food taxable?

Inspired by the front page story in today's Albany Times Union, Food ready to eat on a plate? It's taxable

In New York State:
Food Item is///Tax Exempt if///Taxable if
cold cuts///sliced and sold by weight///arranged on food platter
pizza///frozen, refrigerated, unheated///heated
hot dog///refrigerated (packaged)///served on a bun or heated
fish///sold unheated///heated or served in a sandwich
bread///sold by the loaf (whole or sliced)///served with a bowl of soup
bananas///sold whole, individually or by the bunch///peeled or sliced as part of a fruit platter
bagel///sold by quantity (whole or sliced)///toasted, buttered, or with cream cheese
salad mix///packaged in bag///from a self-serve salad bar or prepared and arranged on a plate
ice cream///sold in a container by weight (including hand-packed pints, quarts, etc.)///made-to-order cone or sundae
macaroni salad///packaged and sold by weight///served with a sandwich, served in a tray as a side dish or on a plate, or from a self-serve salad bar
chicken wings///sold unheated///sold heated

More fun explanations of the New York State sales tax law re food sold by food stores.
for food retailers.
for specific products and services.

JLAMS: Spring Issue

The Spring 2011 issue of JLAMS, a peer reviewed electronic journal from the Library Administration and Management Section of the New York Library Association, is available on the LAMS web site.

If you think you might be interested in submitting an article to JLAMS, please send an email to editor Richard Naylor at naylor@colonielibrary.org or give him a call at 518.810.0316 to discuss it.

Articles this issue include:
Digitizing Everything? The Launch of the Digital Imaging Program at Queens Library by Kimmy Szeto
Value by the Numbers: Using Performance Metrics in Libraries by Debbi Olley Murphy
Library Architecture Influences Library Efficiency by Peter Gisolfi, AIA, ASLA, LEED AP
To Dewey or Not to Dewey: Libraries Go Dewey-free By Maureen McGrath

NACHA fraudulent e-mail

The Electronic Payments Association has recently issued on their website a warning that fraudulent emails are being sent out in their name. Our office has been getting a bunch of these lately (I had three in my in-box this morning).

It goes without saying, *don’t* open the .exe file that is embedded in the email. Clearly, they’re phishing.

This, BTW, is a variation of a problem that's been going on for nearly a month.

More from NACHA (a legitimate organization).

Main APL Reference Department closed Monday & part of Tuesday, April 25-26

The Main Library Reference Department will be closed on Monday, April 25, and part of the day on Tuesday, April 26, so APL can move into the newly refurbished public computing area on the second floor of 161 Washington Avenue. This project is the first phase of improvements to public computing at Main, which are made possible through a federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) grant.

The whole reference area, including the public access computers, will be unavailable during the move.

If you need access to public computers on April 25 and 26, visit any of the six branches. More HERE.

Google Map Maker of the United States

Using Map Maker, people have built out and edited the maps for 183 countries and regions around the world, and now, due to the contributions of citizen cartographers, 30 percent of people have detailed online maps of the places they live.

Map Maker users have mapped entire cities, road networks and universities that were never previously recorded online. These contributions have been incorporated into Google Maps and Google Earth, so the collective expertise of the Map Maker community benefits the millions of people using these products globally.

More HERE.

Let-Them-Eat-Cake-Attitude Threatens to Destroy a Network of Public Assets

by Scott Turow. President, Authors Guild
Posted: February 15, 2011

"Millions of Americans simply cannot afford to replace what libraries have traditionally offered for free -- access to books, computers and research assistance. Ironically, the importance of these services is even greater in a time of economic uncertainty."

It says a lot of other good stuff, too.

HEAD OF LIBRARY SYSTEMS, UA -Job Opening

HEAD OF LIBRARY SYSTEMS
UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

The University at Albany Libraries seek a creative, knowledgeable, dynamic leader committed to service to academic library users to provide vision and direction for library IT operations, including the Libraries' ILS (Ex Libris ALEPH 500), design and technical aspects of the Libraries’ Web site, an in-house server farm (possibly transitioning to campus IT hosted) that hosts Web sites and related applications, over 400 PCs / laptops and associated peripherals for public and staff, and computer-equipped classrooms. Coordinates, manages, mentors, and provides leadership for the Library Systems Department, consisting of 5 professionals and student assistants. Integrates systems knowledge and experience into the advancement of the Libraries’ goals through existing and new initiatives. Recommends technical standards, policies, and new technological initiatives. Plans hardware/software upgrades for the Libraries. Collaborates with administrators and other library units in planning, supporting, and managing technology-based services, such as Serials Solutions resource linking, EBSCO Discovery Service, Ares reserve management system, and ILLiad resource sharing management system. Participates in planning and management within the Division as a member of the Technical Services Department Heads and Team Leader Group. Reports to the Associate Director, Technical Services and Library Systems Division. The successful candidate must fulfill an important partnership role with campus Information Technology Services (ITS), University-wide initiatives such as an institutional repository, and with faculty and other users of the library; be professionally active; provide vision for the department and the Libraries; and perform other duties such as committee service.

For more information, including qualification requirements and application instructions: http://library.albany.edu/jobs/professional/ls/head

Application deadline: June 15, 2011UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

The University at Albany Libraries seek a creative, knowledgeable, dynamic leader committed to service to academic library users to provide vision and direction for library IT operations, including the Libraries' ILS (Ex Libris ALEPH 500), design and technical aspects of the Libraries’ Web site, an in-house server farm (possibly transitioning to campus IT hosted) that hosts Web sites and related applications, over 400 PCs / laptops and associated peripherals for public and staff, and computer-equipped classrooms. Coordinates, manages, mentors, and provides leadership for the Library Systems Department, consisting of 5 professionals and student assistants. Integrates systems knowledge and experience into the advancement of the Libraries’ goals through existing and new initiatives. Recommends technical standards, policies, and new technological initiatives. Plans hardware/software upgrades for the Libraries. Collaborates with administrators and other library units in planning, supporting, and managing technology-based services, such as Serials Solutions resource linking, EBSCO Discovery Service, Ares reserve management system, and ILLiad resource sharing management system. Participates in planning and management within the Division as a member of the Technical Services Department Heads and Team Leader Group. Reports to the Associate Director, Technical Services and Library Systems Division. The successful candidate must fulfill an important partnership role with campus Information Technology Services (ITS), University-wide initiatives such as an institutional repository, and with faculty and other users of the library; be professionally active; provide vision for the department and the Libraries; and perform other duties such as committee service.

For more information, including qualification requirements and application instructions: http://library.albany.edu/jobs/professional/ls/head

Application deadline: June 15, 2011

Scott Turow

Our Authors, Our Advocates

Sara Paretsky

Our Authors, Our Advocates

Citizens for Public Transporta​tion meeting tonight-note venue

Citizens for Public Transportation will meet this Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Society, 405 Washington Avenue, Albany. Bill Ritchie, head of the Albany County Central Federation of Labor will speak about organizing effective demonstrations.
Please note the change of location.

Brad Meltzer

Our Authors, Our Advocates

Sharon Draper

Our Authors, Our Advocates

Kathy Reichs

Our Authors, Our Advocates

Pam Muñoz Ryan

Our Authors, Our Advocates

Cascada - Everytime We Touch

Does your library have a policy against this type of behavior? Especially messing up the card catalog.

Second National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

April 30, 2011 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

For local collection sites see below

Turn in your unused or expired prescription and non-prescription medications for safe disposal.

Proper disposal of unused prescription and over-the-counter medications is important to protect both people and the environment. Unused prescription and over-the-counter medications that remain in the home can cause serious harm to people if they are taken accidently, intentionally misused or inappropriately given to someone else. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet. Unused medications that are flushed down the toilet or poured down the sink can enter the water supply, harming fish and other wildlife and posing a potential risk to people.

If you have unused medications to get rid of, bring them to a local collection site on Saturday, April 30th between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

Albany Police Department South Station, 126 Arch Street, Albany, NY 12202

Crossgates Mall Overflow parking lot across from Borders and Ruby Tuesday’s (Drive-thru), 1 Crossgates Road, Albany, NY 12202

For more information and to find additional collection sites in the area go to: www.albanycounty.com/health

www.nationaltakebackday.com

American public overwhelmingly responded to DEA prescription drug take-back effort" last fall.

Our Authors, Our Advocates

From ALA President Roberta Stevens:

Dear Colleagues,

I've long believed that authors are natural allies of libraries.
Especially in these challenging times, they understand the key role that libraries and library staff play in the economic, social and educational fabric of our nation. They can speak passionately on the importance of not only sustaining, but increasing support for libraries. My presidential initiative, Our Authors, Our Advocates: Authors Speak Out for Libraries, is a new campaign that enlists America's authors to become articulate and powerful spokespeople for libraries.

Please help fuel the national dialogue on America's libraries.

Spread the word. These public services announcements are available for placement on your library's website and for sharing with your library's advocates.

These new PSAs are being launched during National Library Week.
Stay tuned for more to come throughout the year.

Neil Gaiman

Hen Amendment

Information a librarian has provided from the Albany Chicken Coalition to challenge the city ordinance on the ban of chickens within the city proper. The amendment proposes strict guidlines for the legal keeping of hens (not roosters) through a permit process requiring pen sanitation inspections, a fee, a limit of 5 birds per lot and alerting neighbors.

See the amendements HERE.

From the ACC:

The benefits of chickens:
Chickens are clean, quiet and adapt well to small spaces. They are easy and fun to care for. They eat food scraps, produce nitrogen-rich fertilizer for your garden, and give you delicious, healthy protein in the form of eggs. As anyone who has a garden knows, being a part of your food cycle is not only a deeply rewarding experience, it’s a step towards a more sustainable lifestyle. Urban agriculture contributes to food safety and food security as well as a vibrant community’s social life. It is detrimental to the health and vitalization of our cities to continue to believe in the misconception that cities should solely be consumers and not producers.

Be Credit Savvy

Building good financial credit is important. It can affect your ability to make large purchases and qualify for a loan or mortgage. Learn more about credit:

How Credit Works
Why Credit Scores Matter
Build a Better Credit Report
General Credit Tips

UAlbany MSIS program earns full reaccreditation from ALA

The Master of Science in Information Science (MSIS) program has earned full reaccreditation from the American Library Association (ALA).

Accreditation is achieved through a review process conducted by an external review panel of practitioners and academics that verifies the program meets the Standards for Accreditation of Master’s Programs in Library and Information Studies.

Position Announced – Public Computer Center Manager

Albany Public Library Search Reopened

The Albany Public Library seeks a full time Public Computer Center Manager to manage and coordinate the expansion of its library-based public computing center. This is an independent contractor position funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) through September 30, 2012. The selected candidate will report to the Head of Reference Services. The candidate should be a highly motivated, self-starter who can work with direction and minimal supervision. The PCC Manager will work closely with existing library staff to identify training needs across the library system and to establish a plan for continuation of service beyond the terms of the grant funding.
Summary of Position:
• Provide Training and Assistance to PCC Trainers, Albany Public Library staff, community partners and volunteers
• Coordinate the scheduling and staffing of the PCC and its services in concert with already-established Albany Public Library programs
• Identify vulnerable populations and implement audience-specific training programs
• Promote the PCC and the library’s services through a variety of measures, including attending meetings and preparing publicity
• Develop an outreach and evaluation plan
• Ensure that funds are spent in accordance with program requirements; all reporting requirements are met on time and with accuracy; all grant goals and objectives are met and completed
Minimum qualifications:
Graduation from a registered college or university accredited by the American Library Association or registered by the NYS Education Department to grant degrees with a Master’s Degree in Library Science, Information Services or equivalent and two (2) years of paid full time professional library experience in a library of recognized standing. In addition, eligibility and application for a New York State Public Librarian’s Professional Certificate at the time of appointment.
The salary for this full time independent contractor position is $29.14 per hour. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Application review will begin on April 21, 2011. To apply send resume, letter of interest, and the names and contact information for three professional references to:

Albany Public Library
Marjorie K. Reinhart, Human Resources Manager
161 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12210
reinhartm@albanypubliclibrary.org

Open government sites to go dark

Several of President Obama’s open government initiative data websites are scheduled to go dark in May due to lack of funding. Funding will run out on April 20 for IT Dashboard; Data.gov, which provides enhanced access to publicly available federal datasets; and Paymentaccuracy.gov, which tracks improper payments from government programs. Other open government public data sites scheduled to go dark after July 30 are USASpending.gov, which provides detailed information on federal contracts, and Apps.gov, a site that tracks how federal agencies use free web applications. More information about the proposed cuts is available here.

Free gov pubs online

The press release read: "Through a partnership among GSA, the U.S. Government Printing Office, and Google, 100 of the most popular government publications are now available to download for free online. This partnership will allow for greater access to these documents and contribute to an open and transparent government. As more documents become available online, it will eventually reduce the number of documents that GSA’s Federal Citizen Information Center prints while reducing costs and the environmental impact."

Sounds great! So I decided to check it out at pueblo.gpo.gov/FreePubs.php. I should note that one can order almost any of the physical items and receive them in one to three weeks, rather than writing to Pueblo, Colorado, like I used to.

First couple categories, Cars and Consumer Action Handbook, each had only one item, but one could click on the link and make a PDF.

But several areas had no such link. Under Small Business was Diversifying Your Workforce, with no link. What to do? Check out the FAQ!

"During this pilot program, we are limiting copies to one per person. However, you can download and print copies of government publications from Google Books (http://books.google.com) or order print copies of publications from the Federal Citizen Information Center (http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov) and the Government Printing Office Bookstore (http://bookstore.gpo.gov).

I tried Google Books first. The export citation choices were BiBTeX (.bibtex), EndNote (.enw), and RefMan (.ris); my computer recognized none of the extensions. At the FCIC/Pueblo site, not only did I find a PDF of the resource, but links to related items. I couldn't find the item at all at the GPO bookstore.

Next I looked for, under Money, the item Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number. Both Google books and FCIC/Pueblo led me to the Social Security page with a PDF link. Again, no luck at the GPO bookstore.

Your experiences may vary.

Upper Madison Clean Up, Saturday, April 16

Friends Of The Madison- Upper Madison Clean-Up

Merchants, community groups, neighbors, and college students are invited to collect trash, cigarette butts, and leaves from the blocks of Madison between S. Allen and S. Main, and the W. Lawrence and Yates Street area in Albany from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Bags will be provided, and some rakes. However, if you can, please bring your own brooms, rakes, picker-uppers, etc. Together, in no time, we'll have an avenue to be proud of. Contact Virginia Hammer (VHammer@gmail.com) if you have questions.

Tony Burroughs: Heritage Preservation Through Genealogical Research

Tony Burroughs, internationally known genealogist, is speaking at the 10th annual Underground Railroad Public History Conference on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at Russell Sage College, Troy, New York as part of the conference "Abolishing Slavery in the Atlantic World: the 'Underground Railroad' in the Americas, Africa, and Europe and its relationship with us today".

As a genealogist, author, and former professor at Chicago State University, Burroughs lectures throughout the United States and Canada on all aspects of genealogy. He is the author of Black Roots: A Beginners Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree (Fireside Division of Simon & Schuster, 2001).

He was a guest expert in Roots Remembered (BBC 2007), Oprah’s Roots (PBS 2007), African American Lives with Henry Louis Gates (PBS 2006) and was the genealogist in search of the family of Jesus on three continents in The Real Family of Jesus. The documentary was produced by the BBC. He was a featured genealogy expert in six episodes of the PBS television series, Ancestors 2 (2000), and was the African American Genealogy expert in the original Ancestors (PBS 1997). Burroughs has also been interviewed on CBS Sunday Morning, CBS News, ABC World News Tonight, BET Nightly News, National Public Radio (NPR) and many local broadcasts.

Don't miss this opportunity. Register for the 10th anniversary conference celebrating and preserving Underground Railroad history in its national and international context and its relationship with us today.

Registration available at www.ugrworkshop.com or by calling 518-432-4432.

Restaurant Week! April 10-16

The Capital Region's best Restaurant Week returns to Downtown Albany! 3 course meals for 1 low price: $20.11 (a $35 value) with 17 restaurants participating! Review the menus and make your reservations TODAY!

Van Jones at Siena

The Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King Lecture Series on Race and
Nonviolent Social Change proudly presents the 24th Annual Lecture given by

Van Jones

April 7th
The Alumni Recreation Center at Siena College

7:00 pm

A brief biography from Jones' web page


“Van Jones is a globally recognized, award-winning pioneer in human rights
and the clean-energy economy. He is the best-selling author of the definitive
book on green jobs: The Green-Collar Economy. He served as the green jobs
advisor in the Obama White House in 2009. Van is currently a senior fellow at
the Center For American Progress. Additionally, he is a senior policy advisor
at Green For All. Van also holds a joint appointment at Princeton University,
as a distinguished visiting fellow in both the Center for African American
Studies and in the Program in Science, Technology and Environmental Policy at
the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.”


“Van is the founder of Green For All, the national organization working to
get green jobs to disadvantaged communities. He was the main advocate for the
Green Jobs Act, which George W. Bush signed into law in 2007. The Act was the
first piece of federal legislation to codify the term "green jobs." Under the
Obama administration, it has resulted in $500 million for green job training
nationally. While best known for his promotion of green jobs, Van has been
hard at work for nearly two decades, fashioning solutions to some of urban
America's toughest problems. In addition to Green For All, he is the co-founder
of two social justice organizations: the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and
Color of Change”.

Awards and honors:

•was named by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the
world in 2009.
•was designated by the World Economic Forum as a "Young Global Leader."
•is a recipient of the international Ashoka Fellowship.
•was one of Essence Magazine's 25 most inspiring African Americans in 2008.
•was named by Ebony Magazine as one of the Power 150
•received Inforum's 21st Century Visionary Award

Printable Flyer

Free and Open to the Public


Peter Ellard, Ph. D.
Chair, Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King Lecture Series on Race and
Nonviolent Social Change

Siena College
515 Loudon Road
Loudonville, NY 12211-1462
518-783-2341 fax 518-786-5013

Poetry Night

ALA Aims to Eradicate Cluelessness by 2050

April 1, 2011. The American Library Association announced a bold initiative today to eradicate cluelessness in the United States by 2050. An ALA spokesperson explained, “The only institution up to the task of eradicating cluelessness is public libraries. We originally set our goal at 2025, but an early survey of cluelessness in America revealed vast swaths of cluelessness. Cluelessness is being created at an ever increasing rate. In some ways, cluelessness is a uniquely American product on a par with any other American product – corn, hogs, wheat, steel, and lumber. This is what our country produces.”

To implement this initiative, cluelessness workshops will be taking place at public libraries across the country, scheduled between 9 am and 5 pm. More HERE.