Saturday, January 29, 2011

Chinese New Year Celebration

Pine Hills Library- Large Meeting Room from 1-5 on 2/5. The library is located at 517 Western Avenue. For more information call 482-7911 or go to www.albanypubliclibrary.org.

Steamer #10 Fundraiser

Help Steamer #10 celebrate its 20th. anniversary by attending a fundraiser on Saturday, February 5th. at 8 P.M. The Singing Anchors, featuring Benita Zahn, Jerry Gretzinger and Jessica Layton, will perform. Musical arrangement and accompaniment by Jay Kerr. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased by calling 438-5503. For more information click on www.steamer10theatre.org.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission

How did it come to pass that in 2008 our nation was forced to choose between two stark and painful alternatives — either risk the collapse of our financial system and economy, or commit trillions of taxpayer dollars to rescue major corporations and our financial markets, as millions of Americans still lost their jobs, their savings, and their homes?

The Commission concluded that this crisis was avoidable—the result of human actions, inactions, and misjudgments. Warnings were ignored. “The greatest tragedy would be to accept the refrain that no one could have seen this coming and thus nothing could have been done. If we accept this notion, it will happen again.”

Get the Report

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Public Libraries Lending E-Readers

The Cohoes Public Library has started lending Nooks to the public, which may be the first public library in the greater Capital Region to lend out e-readers.

YNN News story.
Troy Record article.

Monday, January 24, 2011

New webpage highlighting digitized Census of New York volumes

Here's a recent news release by the New York State Library about its digitized copies of the statistical censuses that where done by New York State in the years in between the federal ones. In many cases if the publication was long we have split it into separate volumes. For example, the 1875 Census was split into 5 volumes. The last one ever done was in 1925.

The New York State Library has a new web page that highlights and links to digitized materials relating to the Census of the State of New York. The State Census volumes that have been digitized are the published statistical schedules compiled from the original returns under the direction of the Secretary of State which describe the population and economy of counties, cities and towns in New York State. Instructions for the enumerators taking the census have also been digitized, as well as, other related documents. These documents are freely available online as PDF documents on the State Library's website.

Note - Information in the Instructions for enumerators can sometimes be helpful when using the State census schedules that list acutal names.

For example, this paragraph below is from page 19 of the Instructions for Taking the Census of New York in the year 1855 ......

8. Color.1 the person be white, no entry is to be made, but if mulatto, write M. ; or if black, B. opposite to the name. In like manner if the person be an Indian, living apart from any tribe, and not on any reservation, write Ind. The number of Indians of this class is probably extremely small. Special marshals will be appointed for taking the census of Indians residing together in settle ments, and the marshals appointed for taking the census of the election districts of towns will have no duties to per form in relation to such Indian settlements. Special marshals will be appointed to take the Allegany, Cattaraugus, Oneida, Onondaga, St. Regis, Tonawanda, and Tuscarora Indians. All others should be taken by the town marshals.
***
If you're interested instead about the original returns with the names, the New York State Library's holdings on microfilm can be found HERE.

A broader list of some of the items digitized by the New York State Library can be found HERE.

Friday, January 21, 2011

How to renew APL items

You DON'T have to go to the library to renew your books, CDs and videos. Just go HERE.

Better yet, sign up at your library to get e-mail notifications. Instead of getting a notice in the mail informing you that your item is four weeks overdue, you can get something like this:
This is a courtesy reminder that your library items will be due in two days. If you need to keep any of these items longer, you may be able to renew them online...

I've saved quite a bit of money in late fees not paid, the library saves money in postage.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

AJL announces Sydney Taylor Book Awards

The Association of Jewish Libraries announced the 2011 Sydney Taylor Book Awards this week, recognizing new books for children and teens that exemplify the highest literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience.

Go HERE for the
complete press release and list of award winners.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

10th Annual Underground Railroad Conference

Abolishing Slavery in the Atlantic World: The ‘Underground Railroad’ in the Americas, Africa, and Europe is scheduled for April 8-10, 2011 (not in February)

It will be held at Russell Sage College in Troy. Information is in process but much of the conference information is available at www.ugrworkshop.com - Registration information will be posted soon!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

The Social Side of the Internet

The internet is now deeply embedded in group and organizational life in America. A new national survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project has found that 75% of all American adults are active in some kind of voluntary group or organization and internet users are more likely than others to be active: 80% of internet users participate in groups, compared with 56% of non-internet users. And social media users are even more likely to be active: 82% of social network users and 85% of Twitter users are group participants.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Standing together in service

Each January, we remember Dr. King on his own holiday -- and one of the best ways to preserve his legacy is to engage in service ourselves. As Dr. King told us, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"

That's why this Monday, January 17th, Organizing for America volunteers will be participating in service projects all across the country in Dr. King's honor. There will be food drives, neighborhood clean-ups, education projects, blood drives, and more.

Will you find and sign up for an event in your area, and help make this country an even better place?

This movement is about so much more than politics -- it is about coming together through progress, change, and community. Lifting each other up in dedication and service is one of the best ways not only to honor Dr. King, but to honor each other. By giving service a new role in this country, we can establish a new foundation for our economy and a brighter future for our children.

(From Michelle Obama)

25 most famous librarians in history

Ben Franklin, Melvil Dewey, Laura Bush and 22 I didn't know about.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Taxpayers Impacted by Recent Tax Breaks Can File Starting in Mid- to Late February

Who Must Wait to File

For most taxpayers, the 2011 tax filing season starts on schedule. However, tax law changes enacted by Congress and signed by President Obama in December mean some people need to wait until mid- to late February to file their tax returns in order to give the IRS time to reprogram its processing systems.

Some taxpayers – including those who itemize deductions on Form 1040 Schedule A – will need to wait to file. This includes taxpayers impacted by any of three tax provisions that expired at the end of 2009 and were renewed by the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act Of 2010 enacted Dec. 17

. Those who need to wait to file include:

Taxpayers Claiming Itemized Deductions on Schedule A. Itemized deductions include mortgage interest, charitable deductions, medical and dental expenses as well as state and local taxes. In addition, itemized deductions include the state and local general sales tax deduction that was also extended and which primarily benefits people living in areas without state and local income taxes. Because of late Congressional action to enact tax law changes, anyone who itemizes and files a Schedule A will need to wait to file until mid- to late February.

Taxpayers Claiming the Higher Education Tuition and Fees Deduction. This deduction for parents and students – covering up to $4,000 of tuition and fees paid to a post-secondary institution – is claimed on Form 8917. However, the IRS emphasized that there will be no delays for millions of parents and students who claim other education credits, including the American Opportunity Tax Credit extended last month and the Lifetime Learning Credit.

Taxpayers Claiming the Educator Expense Deduction. This deduction is for kindergarten through grade 12 educators with out-of-pocket classroom expenses of up to $250. The educator expense deduction is claimed on Form 1040, Line 23 and Form 1040A, Line 16.

In addition to extending those tax deductions for 2010, the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act also extended those deductions for 2011 and a number of other tax deductions and credits for 2011 and 2012 such as the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the modified Child Tax Credit, which help families pay for college and other child-related expenses. The Act also provides various job creation and investment incentives including 100 percent expensing and a two-percent payroll tax reduction for 2011. Those changes have no effect on the 2011 filing season.

The IRS will announce a specific date in the near future when it can start processing tax returns impacted by the recent tax law changes. In the interim, taxpayers affected by these tax law changes can start working on their tax returns, but they should not submit their returns until IRS systems are ready to process the new tax law changes. Additional information will be available at www.IRS.gov.

For taxpayers who must wait before filing, the delay affects both paper filers and electronic filers. The IRS urges taxpayers to use e-file instead of paper tax forms to minimize confusion over the recent tax law changes and ensure accurate tax returns.

ALA 2011 Youth Media Award Winners (Caldecott, CS King, Newbery et al)

The awards were announced earlier this week at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Diego.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Designing Social Media Policy for Government

Government agencies in the United States and around the world are increasingly looking to leverage social media to improve the quality of government services and enable greater citizen engagement. One central challenge that has emerged is the blurring line between the three types of social media use by government employees, namely agency use, professional use, and personal use. In this brief, the Center for Technology in Government at the University at Albany draws on its research on social media to clarify these different use types and why they matter for designing social media policy.

Monday, January 10, 2011

New Version of Library of Congress Homepage Debuts

A new version of the Library of Congress homepage (LOC.gov) is now online.

After only a few minutes of "poking" around it's clear the new homepage is cleaner, clearer, easier to navigate and does an excellent job of getting users to various LC collections/services with a minimal number of clicks. For example, to go from the hompage to the Prints & Photographs Online Catalog or American Memory is only a single click away.

LC's Matt Raymond has MUCH more in this blog post including a 10-point tour of the new page.

Read further HERE.

Friday, January 07, 2011

Recital at Emmanuel

In Recital
Leo Milman, violin
Michael Clement, piano
January 9, 2011 at 3 pm

Emmanuel Baptist Church
275 State Street, Albany

Program

Cantabile---Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840) from “The Well-Tempered Clavier;”
Prelude and Fugue No.22 in B-flat minor---Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
“Spring” Sonata, Opus 24—Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): I Allegro, II Adagio, molto espressivo, III Scherzo, IV Rondo—Allegro ma non troppo

Intermission

Recitativo and Scherzo—Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962)
Sonata in C minor, Opus 45---Edvard Grieg (1843-1907): I Allegro molto ed appassionato, II Allegretto espressivo all Romanza, III Allegro animato

Thursday, January 06, 2011

WINTER STORM WATCH

EASTERN ALBANY-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALBANY-350 PM EST THU JAN 6 2011

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...

TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS AROUND 18. SOUTHEAST WINDS AROUND 5 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 30 PERCENT.
FRIDAY...PERIODS OF SNOW. SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 1 TO 3 INCHES. HIGHS AROUND 30. EAST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 90 PERCENT. .
FRIDAY NIGHT...PERIODS OF SNOW. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 4 TO 8 INCHES. LOWS AROUND 19. NORTHEAST WINDS AROUND 5 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 90 PERCENT.
SATURDAY...SNOW LIKELY. ADDITIONAL LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 70 PERCENT.
SATURDAY NIGHT...SNOW LIKELY IN THE EVENING...THEN A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT. ADDITIONAL LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE. LOWS AROUND 19. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 70 PERCENT.
SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S. LOWS AROUND 15.
MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS AROUND 30. LOWS 10 TO 15.
TUESDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 30S. .TUESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 15 TO 20.
WEDNESDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY IN THE MORNING...THEN BECOMING PARTLY SUNNY. A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. HIGHS AROUND 30.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 10 TO 15. HIGH IN THE UPPER 20S.

ZONE FORECAST PRODUCT FOR EASTERN NEW YORK AND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
350 PM EST THU JAN 6 2011

Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2011

Now available: U.S. Census Bureau's tatistical Abstract of the United States: 2011. The Abstract is perennially the federal government's best-selling reference book, but is also available online at the link. When it was first published in 1878, the nation had only 38 states, people usually got around using a horse and buggy, Miami and Las Vegas did not yet exist, and Franklin D. Roosevelt had yet to be born. The Abstract has been published nearly every year since then.

Contained in the 130th edition are 1,407 tables of social, political and economic facts that collectively describe the state of our nation and the world. Included this year are 65 new tables, covering topics such as insufficient rest or sleep, nursing home occupancy, homeschooling, earthquakes, U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions, organic farmland, honey bee colonies, crashes involving distracted drivers and cities with the highest transit savings.

The statistics come not only from the Census Bureau but also from other governmental agencies and private organizations. The data generally represent the most recent year or period available by summer 2010. Most are national-level data, but some tables present state- and even city- and metropolitan-level data as well.

36th Annual List of Banished Words Goes "Viral"

It may have been word of the year in some wheelhouses, but "refudiate" wasn't looked upon favorably by many who sent in nominations for Lake Superior State University's 36th annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness, which was released on New Year's Eve.

In a busy U.S. election year, "the American People" told LSSU they were tired of not only "refudiate," but also "mama grizzlies" who wanted their opponents to "man up."

But words and phrases related to technology and the way we communicate dominated the list for 2011, including "viral," "epic," "fail," and the use of websites "Facebook" and "Google" as verbs. "Viral" received the most nominations.

The "back story" on LSSU's popular list began on Jan. 1, 1976, when former LSSU Public Relations Director Bill Rabe and a group of friends each contributed a few expressions that they disliked to form the first list. After that, the nominations stacked up for future lists and Rabe's group, known then as The Unicorn Hunters, didn't have to make up its own list again. LSSU receives well over 1,000 nominations annually through its website.

And now, here's a look at the 2011 list. Get ready for the "wow factor!" It's full of "epic" "a-ha moments" that are sure to go "viral." It's a no-"fail" list that you'll be "facebooking" and "googling" with your "BFFs." "Just sayin'."


The complete announcement contains comments from a few of the people who nominated each term.

The 2011 List
+ Viral
+ Epic
+ Fail
+ Wow Factor
+ A-Ha Moment
+ Back Story
+ BFF
+ Man Up
+ Refudiate
+ Mama Grizzlies
+ The American People
+ Google and Facebook (as Verbs)
+ Live Life To The Fullest

Archive of Previous Lists

Alphabetical Compilation of Words From All Lists (1976-2010)

Here's http://www.lssu.edu/banished/archive/2010.phpthe 2010 List
+ Shovel-Ready
+ Transparent/Transparency
+ Czar
+ Tweet
+ App
+ Sexting
+ Teachable Moment
+ In These Economic Times….
+ Stimulus
+ Toxic Assets
+ Too Big To Fail
+ Bromance
+ Chillaxin'
+ Obama-prefix or roots?

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Articles from January 2011 Issue of College & Research Libraries News (72.1)

Direct to http://crln.acrl.org/content/72/1.toc Table of Contents

Features

Richard Wayne- The academic library strategic planning puzzle: Putting the pieces together
Claire Walker and Amanda Click- Meeting the reference expectations of ESL students: The challenges of culture
Anne Pemberton- From friending to research: Using Facebook as a teaching tool
Susanne Markgren- Ten simple steps to create and manage your professional online identity: How to use portfolios and profiles
ACRL candidates for 2011: A look at who’s running for office

Scholarly Communication

Jonathan Miller- Open access and liberal arts colleges: Looking beyond research institutions

Internet Resources

Kathleen D. Rickert-Media and Democracy: Resources for alternative news and information

The Way I See It

Stefanie Buck
A distance education librarian becomes a distance education student: Switching roles

Departments

David Free-In the News
David Free-News from the Field
Jenni Terry-Washington Hotline
Jane Hedberg-Preservation News
Joni R. Roberts, Carol A. Drost, Joshua Lupkin, Ken Fujiuchi, and Ford Schmidt-Internet Reviews
Birmingham Civil Rights Initiative
Freebase
Go For Broke National Education Center
George M. Eberhart-New Publications
Ann-Christe Galloway-Grants and Acquisitions
Ann-Christe Galloway-People in the News
Gary Pattillo-Fast Facts

Velma K. Moore Award

The Library Trustees Association of New York State (LTA) is seeking nominations for the 2011 Velma K. Moore Award to be presented at the Trustee Institute, April 29 & 30, 2011 in Albany, NY.

The Velma K. Moore Award was established in 1962 to honor the memory of Velma Moore, wife of former NYS Lt. Governor Frank C. Moore. From 1947 until her death in l961, Velma actively worked to improve library service in New York State. A member of LTA from its establishment, she also served two terms as its president.

The award is presented annually at the LTA Trustee Institute and carries a cash prize of $1,000 which is given to the recipient's library of choice. The award is granted to an individual or group of individuals who has made exemplary contributions to the development of library services in New York. Nominees may include trustees, a community member, staff or any group of library supporters. Please note that current LTA directors are NOT eligible and former LTA directors cannot be nominated for the award until one year after leaving their service on the LTA board.

Criteria for evaluating nominees includes service to local, county, system or state libraries which advances the effectiveness of these libraries; service in areas of legislation or other support that advances library causes; promotional services through publishing, speaking or involvement in professional or lay library groups or organization; service to state or national library organizations; and/or service on state study committees.

Nominations may be submitted by e-mail or mail. The official e-mail address for nominations is: rreissig@librarytrustees.org. Please put Velma K. Moore Award in the subject line. Submitting nominations to any other e-mail will not be accepted. You may mail nominations to: Rita Reissig, 360 Castle Street, Geneva, NY 14456.

Deadline for nominations is February 15, 2011. The letter of nomination must include the following for the nominee: name, address, telephone

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Please Vote for Pepsi Refresh Grant for NYLA's Empire State Book Festival

NYLA is competing for a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant to fund this year’s Empire State Book Festival. Please visit www.refresheverything.com today and register to vote. You can register more than one email address and you can vote every day for the Empire State Book Festival until the end of January.

Not many library sponsored projects get funded so let’s show the nation that New York supports its libraries, literacy and literature by voting for the Empire State Book Festival HERE.

It’st very important that NYLA gets as many votes as possible. Please forward this on to as many of your colleagues, friends and family to vote. Thanks in advance for you cooperation and forbearance.

For more info about the Empire State Book Festival, please visit www.empirestatebookfestival.org

Librarians Without Borders Annual Report

Before you review the annual report here's a bit about the organization (from the Librarians Without Borders Web Site)

History

LWB was born in February 2005 by a group of socially-minded librarians who wanted to address the vast information resource inequity existing between different regions of the world. Our vision is to build sustainable libraries and support their custodians and advocates — librarians.

Our Mission

Librarians Without Borders (LWB) is a non-profit organization that strives to improve access to information resources regardless of language, geography, or religion, by forming partnerships with community organizations in developing regions.

Our Values

Libraries have a fundamental role as defenders of intellectual freedom and providers of equal access to information.

Access to information is vital in supporting learning and literacy, reducing poverty, empowering citizens, and building healthy, strong communities.

We do not draw cultural or linguistic boundaries – diversity is embraced; we will work with our partners in their own cultural context and in their own languages.

Our efforts are enhanced by working collaboratively, internally as well as externally with the domestic and international community, to further our mutual goals.

Monday, January 03, 2011

Death by Irony: How Librarians Killed the Academic Library

A satire by Brian T. Sullivan

"Insensible of mortality, and desperately mortal."
—Shakespeare

The academic library has died. Despite early diagnosis, audacious denial in the face of its increasingly severe symptoms led to its deterioration and demise. The academic library died alone, largely neglected and forgotten by a world that once revered it as the heart of the university. On its deathbed, it could be heard mumbling curses against Google and something about a bygone library guru named Ranganathan.

Sunday, January 02, 2011

The Adventures of the Special Librarian

Corporate Library Research in 1964
3 Geeks and a Law Blog

The Minnesota SLA division's Terri Horsmann converted this 1964 information film to a YouTube video for all to see.