Tuesday, May 31, 2011

How books were made in 1947

Interesting ten minute film on YouTube. Warning--for print lovers only.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Copyright Challenges For Librarians and Information Professionals

Here's info about the new podcast from Copyright Clearance Center’s Beyond the Book series. In this new issue, Victoriano Colodron, Executive Director of RightsDirect, speaks with Geraldine Clement-Stoneham, board member of SLA Europe, to talk about the copyright related challenges facing librarians and information professionals.

Here are the link and the transcript [PDF].

Sunday, May 29, 2011

100 Best Blogs for Librarians of the Future

...you’re probably excited about discovering and experimenting with the new tools and systems that have changed the way we find, receive and catalog information. But with all of the new technology out there, it can be hard to keep track of everything beyond your own niche field of study. This collection of library and information technology blogs have changed that, and now you’ll be able to learn about all of the trends, developments, tools and resources available to librarians in every niche.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

RRLC Linking Libraries Newsletter

The Rochester Regional Library Council RRLC publishes its newsletter Linking Libraries approximately four times a year. Read the June 2011 issue.

Friday, May 27, 2011

CDTA Memorial Day schedule

The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) announced that on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, 2011, buses will operate on a Sunday/Holiday schedule. NX will not run. Regular weekday service will resume on Tuesday, May 31, 2011.

In addition, service will be temporarily rerouted to accommodate various Capital Region Memorial Day parades, including the Monday 9 a.m. albany parade, which will reroute the #1, #10, #12, #13, #22, and #905. Call 482-8822 for more details.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Bruce Hallenbeck interview

Bruce Hallenbeck is a horror film maker and compiler of books dealing with horror films, and a nice fellow to boot! I knew him from my FantaCo days.

For those who are early risers (or who have DVRs), Bruce will be interviewed on Forum 13, Channel 13's public affairs show, this coming Sunday at 6:00 AM. Phil Bayly will chat with him about his books and writing awards. It has been already taped. But don't you want to hear the answer to his question, "Were you a weird kid?"

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

News and Notes - May 23, 2011

The May 23, 2011 edition of News and Notes from the Office of Dr. John B. King, Jr., Senior Deputy Commissioner of Education - P-12, New York State Education Department, is now available.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Comments Sought on Proposed NOVEL-Ready Levels

The NOVELNY Steering Committee invites comments by May 27, 2011 on proposed revisions to the "Statewide Internet Library Levels Table." This table (formerly called the "NOVELNY-Ready Library Levels Table") outlines the current library technology requirements for Basic, Advanced and Leader levels and is intended to assist libraries in keeping current with technology trends.

The proposed revisions to the table update the technology requirements for public, school, academic and special libraries. Libraries meeting these requirements are recognized by the New York State Library and by their library system as being "Statewide Internet Library-Ready."

The proposed revised table can be viewed at this Web page.

For comparison purposes, the current version of the table may be viewed at this Web page.

Please send comments or questions about the proposed revisions, by May 27, 2011, to:
David Fiske, Senior Librarian, New York State Library, Division of Library Development, at dfiske@mail.nysed.gov or call him at 518-486-4857.

The NOVELNY Steering Committee is comprised of library leaders from a broad spectrum of libraries and systems throughout the State. They have the responsibility of implementing the NOVELNY Plan, NOVEL New York Online Virtual Electronic Library: Libraries Expanding Information Access for New Yorkers in the New Century.
__________

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Citizens for Public Transportation Meeting

Albany Common Council President Carolyn McLaughlin will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of Citizens for Public Transportation.

When: Wednesday May 18th - 7:00 PM
Where: Unitarian Universalist Society, 405 Washington Avenue, Albany.
All are welcome

Friday, May 13, 2011

Library Budget Up for Vote Tuesday

Stolen from Stephanie Simon, APL:

You've probably been reading about the library's proposed 2012 budget. Well, Tuesday, May 17, is the big day. You get to make a choice and cast your ballot.

Please take time on Tuesday to go out and vote on the library budget and trustee candidates. Polling places are open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. You vote on the library budget at the same place where you vote on the school district budget. If you don't know your polling location, check this directory [PDF] to find it. [Note that it may be different from the place you vote in general and primary elections.]

Information about the library budget and candidates is available online and at http://www.albanypubliclibrary.org/locations/ all library locations.

2012 Library Budget Facts
The proposed 2012 total library tax levy is $8,796,596 and was unanimously approved by the elected Board of Trustees. The tax levy pays for the library's operating budget and the Branch Improvement Plan, which was approved by voters in February 2007. The 2012 tax levy is an increase of $1.7 million over the current year.

An Albany resident with a $150,000 home will pay approximately an additional $47.38 next year for the library, or about 91 cents each week.

The proposed budget allows the library to keep the doors open at all seven libraries in the newly expanded and improved system, including two brand-new and three renovated neighborhood branches. The increase will also add a few hours a week at the branches and some needed improvements at the Main Library. Two library trustee seats are also up for election.


We've got seven libraries across the city of Albany. Please visit this weekend and learn about all of the wonderful materials, services, and programs Albany Public Library has to offer!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

National Jukebox


This is really tremendous!

Historical Recordings from the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress presents the National Jukebox, which makes historical sound recordings available to the public free of charge. The Jukebox includes recordings from the extraordinary collections of the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation and other contributing libraries and archives. Recordings in the Jukebox were issued on record labels now owned by Sony Music Entertainment, which has granted the Library of Congress a gratis license to stream acoustical recordings.

At launch, the Jukebox includes more than 10,000 recordings made by the Victor Talking Machine Company between 1901 and 1925. Jukebox content will be increased regularly, with additional Victor recordings and acoustically recorded titles made by other Sony-owned U.S. labels, including Columbia, OKeh, and others.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Promoting summer reading


To support public library promotion of summer reading programs, new resources and tools have been added to the New York State Library website.

* The "Summer Reading at New York Libraries" Information Page Provides links to two marketing workshop presentations: Marketing Youth Service Programs 101, presented at the YSS 2011 Spring Conference and the 2010 Summer Reading promotional workshop for local public libraries.
* The "Summer Reading at New York Libraries" Downloadable Materials Page includes several new and/or updated resources:
-- flyers to reach parents and educators
-- "Suggestions for Promoting Your Libraries Summer Reading Program"
-- downloadable template to create report card labels and iron-on transfers for T-shirts or canvas bags.

* The "Summer Reading at New York Libraries" Importance of Summer Reading Page contains current research information and an annotated bibliography highlighting the educational value of public library summer reading programs.

Please visit all areas of the New York State Library Summer Reading at New York Libraries website for many more program and promotional resources.

Monday, May 09, 2011

Albany library officials explain budget; candidates debate

Albany Public Library officials will present their proposed budget, which calls for a 25 percent property tax increase, to the public Monday night at the library's main branch.

Residents will be asked to vote on the spending plan May 17, the same night the city school district's $206.5 million budget is on the ballot.

The library budget totals $9.56 million, with $8.79 million coming from taxes. Of that tax levy, $6.94 million is to run the libraries, with the rest going to pay the construction debt associated with the five new and renovated neighborhood branches.


Monday night's meeting is at 6:30 p.m. at the main branch at 161 Washington Ave. It will also include an opportunity to meet the four candidates running for two open seats on the board of trustees. They are Donna Dixon, Felix Mendoza, Jose Lopez and Timothy Smith.


Read more HERE.

Paul Bray column on Bus Plus

Bus Plus needs our help to work by Paul Bray
Times-Union Sunday, May 8, 2011

If Bus Plus is going to meet its transformational potential of bringing us closer together, increasing cost-effective and inter-generational mobility and fostering a prosperous 21st century economy, we all need to participate beginning now.

THE ADVENTURES OF Super Librarian

More powerful than a stack of reference books.

Saturday, May 07, 2011

Don't mess with an angry librarian

From Change.org

By day, Andy Woodworth is a mild-mannered librarian. By night, he's still a librarian, just less mild-mannered.
Andy is kind of famous in the librarian community, mostly for getting the Old Spice guy to do a video about how great libraries are, and unsuccessfully campaigning to get Ben & Jerry's to create a flavor called the "Gooey Decimal System." (If you don't get the pun, just ask someone ten years older.)
Oh, and now he's using Change.org to help lead the charge in a fight against NewsCorp, one of the world's most powerful companies.
See, more and more libraries are beginning to buy e-books, like those read on a Kindle or similar device. They're programmed to be like normal books -- lent out to one reader at a time, returned, and downloaded by another reader. It's simple, and especially great for working parents or the disabled who have a hard time making it to a library.
But publishing giant HarperCollins (owned by NewsCorp) is trying to force libraries to only buy e-books that literally self-destruct after the 26th reader in an attempt to maximize profits.
Having to repeatedly buy the same book will be a financial and logistical disaster for libraries, one that could force a few to close their doors.
Even worse, there are signs that other publishing companies may soon follow the lead of HarperCollins, which could devastate libraries all around the world.
Some amazing librarians have launched a full boycott of HarperCollins until the decision is reversed, but they urgently need widespread support to force NewsCorp to back down.
Andy's petition demanding an end to self-destructing e-books has a goal of 100,000 signatures -- click here to add your name now: http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-harpercollins-limited-checkouts-on-ebooks-is-wrong-for-libraries
Andy declares on his blog that "The world needs more badass librarians." It's true, though right now the world also needs more readers who will stand alongside them.

Friday, May 06, 2011

AMTRAK HONORS "THE GREAT MIGRATION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS" ON NATIONAL TRAIN DAY IN PHILADELPHIA

Exhibit documents African American journey from the rural South by train

PHILADELPHIA - Amtrak honors the Great Migration on National Train Day, May 7, 2011, with an exhibit that documents the journey of African Americans from the rural south to the industrial north during the early 20th century. The important role the Great Migration played in America's railroad history will be discussed by Dr. Allen Ballard, University of Albany History/African American Studies professor and award-winning author.

The exhibit chronicles the migration of African Americans from the South to the Northeast, Midwest and West via passenger and freight trains. It was designed with the help of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, African American Museum of Philadelphia, Library of Congress, The Henry Ford®, and University of Chicago and Florida State Archives.

In addition, attendees will be able to engage in storytelling and conversation with members of the Union League and United States Colored Troops (USCT)/Civil War period reenactment performers walking around 30th Street Station...

National Train Day marks 142 years of connecting travelers coast to coast and commemorates the day the transcontinental railroad was created. On May 10, 1869, in Promontory Summit, Utah, the "golden spike" was driven into the final tie that joined 1,776 miles of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railways, transforming America by creating the nation's transcontinental railroad.

At National Train Day, Amtrak will also celebrate its 40th anniversary with entertainment and activities geared towards "all kids - young and old." As one of four events across the country, visitors to 30th St. Station will enjoy live entertainment, interactive and educational exhibits, kids' activities, model train displays and tours of Amtrak equipment, freight and commuter trains, and notable private railroad cars. All activities are free and open to the public on Saturday, May 7 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

For more information about the Great Migration of African Americans exhibit please visit MyBlackJourney.com/Philadelphia. For more information about National Train Day or to find information about other community events, visit www.NationalTrainDay.com.

Thursday, May 05, 2011

Research Your Genealogy

Do you have an interest in tracing your family history? If so, check out some genealogy resources to help you start your research, including:

Immigration Records -- Review ship passenger arrival records dating from 1820 to 1982.
Land Records -- Find records that document the transfer of public land from the U.S. government to private ownership.
State Archives and Historical Societies -- Get contact information for archives and historical societies in your state.

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Library advocate Neil Gaiman responses to silly verbal attacks

"The fine author Neil Gaiman recently found himself the target of a very silly politician — the kind that discredits his own position via childish behavior.. The person who did this name-calling is Minnesota House Majority Leader Matt Dean." So wrote Mark Evanier. But he provides a link to Gaiman's comments. And what does this have to do with libraries? All will become clear.

Monday, May 02, 2011

Four Candidates for Two Library Trustee Seats

There are two open seats on the Albany Public Library Board of Trustees in the May 17th election. The five-year terms of William Ryan and Brian Levine are ending and both have declined to run again.

There are four candidates for those two board seats. The candidates, listed in ballot order, are:

(1) Donna Dixon of 46 Fleetwood Avenue, 12208
(2) Felix Mendoza of 84 Jennings Drive, 2004
(3) Jose Lopez of 40B View Avenue, 12209
(4) Timothy D. Smith of 322 Hudson Avenue, 12210

The library is hosting a budget presentation and candidate forum on Monday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the Main Library.

The library budget vote and candidate election is set for Tuesday, May 17, from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m., in conjunction with the city school district vote. This link lists the polling places, which are different from those in the general election.

Info from HERE.

Sunday, May 01, 2011

Albany History Fair

The 12th Annual Albany History Fair will be held on Sunday, May 15 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Albany Visitors Center (Intersection of Clinton Avenue and Broadway). The theme of this year's fair is "Commerce in New York's Capital City". Highlights include music provided by Old Songs, Cherry Hill's Hudson River Trade Game: Albany's Connection to the World, a walking tour by City Historian Tony Opalka, displays by local historical organizations and more.
The event is being held in conjunction with Heritage Weekend, a now annual statewide celebration. The Times Union continues to serve as media sponsor, and Hudson River Construction Company has provided generous support.
There will also be an Underground Railroad Walking Tour that day. You must
register in advance. If you would like to attend please register through email to pstewart@localnet.com or calling 518-432-4432.