Albany's 58th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade takes place on Saturday, March 15, 2008. The Parade steps off at 2 pm at Quail Street and Central Avenue and travels down Washington Avenue to State Street to North Pearl Street.
Be sure to don your green apparel and have some fun! Click here for more details.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Best Careers: Librarian
From U.S. News and World Report.
"Librarians these days must be high-tech information sleuths, helping researchers plumb the oceans of information available in books and digital records. It's an underrated career. Most librarians love helping patrons dig up information and, in the process, learning new things."
"Librarians these days must be high-tech information sleuths, helping researchers plumb the oceans of information available in books and digital records. It's an underrated career. Most librarians love helping patrons dig up information and, in the process, learning new things."
Thursday, February 28, 2008
The Librarian Wins In The Data Breach David Vs. Goliath Battle
"A Florida librarian — whose confidential data was apparently accessed in a databreach involving Wells-Fargo and Sprint Nextel — won his lawsuit against the two giants [this month], when neither company bothered to send anyone to represent them at the hearing."
Information Isn’t Reserved for Books
From the Houston Chronicle story by Carolyn Feibel.
But research librarians say their powers have been unfairly dismissed in the online age. Not only can they outsmart Google’s dead ends and weaknesses, librarians say, but they can help people surf faster and smarter by showing them hidden databases and tricks...
In an age of clickable gratification, when books, articles and data are moving online, some people wonder whether librarians are relevant, said Leslie Burger, the immediate past-president of the American Library Association. But Burger said they are more necessary than ever.
She said librarians are subject to outdated stereotypes: “fusty, bookish, sensible shoes, eyeglasses and not particularly friendly. We’re really the polar opposite of that right now.”
But research librarians say their powers have been unfairly dismissed in the online age. Not only can they outsmart Google’s dead ends and weaknesses, librarians say, but they can help people surf faster and smarter by showing them hidden databases and tricks...
In an age of clickable gratification, when books, articles and data are moving online, some people wonder whether librarians are relevant, said Leslie Burger, the immediate past-president of the American Library Association. But Burger said they are more necessary than ever.
She said librarians are subject to outdated stereotypes: “fusty, bookish, sensible shoes, eyeglasses and not particularly friendly. We’re really the polar opposite of that right now.”
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Branch Improvement Plan Celebration Committee
Five new branch libraries in 2009 & 2010 - How exciting is that?!!!!!
You’ve contributed so much already, your vote for the library bond and your input on the library designs. Now it’s time to plan the parties!
Would you like to help to organize the community celebrations for the new library in your neighborhood?
You’re invited to join the The BIP CCs (Branch Improvement Plan Celebration Committee)
The Friends of Albany Public Library have launched this new volunteer program to build support for the celebrations to accompany the closing, building and opening of the five new libraries.
The first meeting of the BIP CCs is
Wednesday, March 5th, 5pm
at the Pine Hills Library, Western Avenue
Everyone welcome!!! Come bring your ideas for great library celebrations.
R.S.V.P.s encouraged to Elissa Kane, kanee@uhls.lib.ny.us or 427-4346
You’ve contributed so much already, your vote for the library bond and your input on the library designs. Now it’s time to plan the parties!
Would you like to help to organize the community celebrations for the new library in your neighborhood?
You’re invited to join the The BIP CCs (Branch Improvement Plan Celebration Committee)
The Friends of Albany Public Library have launched this new volunteer program to build support for the celebrations to accompany the closing, building and opening of the five new libraries.
The first meeting of the BIP CCs is
Wednesday, March 5th, 5pm
at the Pine Hills Library, Western Avenue
Everyone welcome!!! Come bring your ideas for great library celebrations.
R.S.V.P.s encouraged to Elissa Kane, kanee@uhls.lib.ny.us or 427-4346
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
1st Friday at the Albany Institute of History & Art
March 7
5:00 - 9:00 pm
(Free)
Be sure to stop by the Albany Institute of History & Art if you are planning to participate in downtown Albany's 1st Friday events on March 7. The Institute will be free from 5:00-9:00 and will offer a a 10% discount on select items in the museum shop.
Exhibitions on view include:
- HORSING AROUND: 19th Century Cast-Iron Hitching Posts
- CAST WITH STYLE: 19th Century Cast-Iron Stoves from the Albany Area
- THE FOLK SPIRIT OF ALBANY: Folk Art from the Upper Hudson Valley
- VENETIAN SCENES by Walter Launt Palmer
Friday, February 22, 2008
New York State Writers Institute Spring 2008 Schedule
The New York State Writers Institute at SUNY Albany has posted its spring 2008 semester schedule at http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst/index.html. Two Albany-related events of note are the screening of Dragonwyck, which features a family said to resemble the Van Rensselaers, on Friday, March 7 at 7:30 pm at Page Hall, 135 Western Ave., SUNY Albany Downtown campus; and a Reading/Talk by Albany-born and SUNY Albany graduate, Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, upon which the highly-acclaimed Broadway musical Wicked is based, on Thursday, March 13 at 7:00 pm at the Recital Hall in the Performing Arts Center at the SUNY Albany Uptown campus.
Fixing up an Old House? Find Out About a NYS Tax Credit
Find out if you're eligible for a New York State tax credit for repairs you make on your older Albany home. A free workshop on this topic will be held at the Albany Public Main Library on Monday, February 25, 2008 from 5:3o pm to 7:00 pm. This free workshop will be sponsored by the Preservation League of New York State, Historic Albany Foundation, the City of Albany, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Empire State Development Corporation.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Dear Library Advocate
As you may know, $5 million in Library Aid was cut in the Governor's proposed 2008-09 Executive Budget. These funds were added by the Legislature last year as a result of the advocacy efforts undertaken by NYLA and the library community. These advocacy efforts included meetings with legislators in district offices, writing and faxing letters in support of NYLA's Budget Priorities to legislators, attendance at Library Lobby Day, recognizing legislators support through displaying the READ posters, in library newsletters and press releases, and financial contributions from the New Yorkers for Better Libraries PAC to key legislators.
The cumulative impact of all these advocacy efforts resulted in the $5 million increase last year, the second consecutive annual increase in Library Aid in over 10 years. We must now continue these advocacy efforts again this year to restore the $5 million in Library Aid. So if you have not already done so, please fax a letter either via NYLA's Online Advocacy Center at http://www.nyla.org (click on contact your elected officials button) or mail letter to your legislators (sample letter can be found at NYLA's Advocacy Page/Tools.
Now is the time to be contacting your legislators leading up to Library Lobby Day on Tuesday, March 11th. Please make every effort to attend this year's event (details can be found on NYLA's website). Listed below is timeline for Legislative actions related to the adoption of the State Budget.
Feb. 26th - Senate and Assembly release their revenue projections for 2008-09
Feb. 29th - Consensus must be reached on revenue projections or State Comptroller estimates are used.
March 12th - Senate and Assembly vote on their budget bills/resolutions setting out their priorities
March 13th - Legislative Joint Budget Committees start meeting to resolve differences between their budget versions.
March 26th - Legislative Joint Budget Committees recommendations to be completed.
The cumulative impact of all these advocacy efforts resulted in the $5 million increase last year, the second consecutive annual increase in Library Aid in over 10 years. We must now continue these advocacy efforts again this year to restore the $5 million in Library Aid. So if you have not already done so, please fax a letter either via NYLA's Online Advocacy Center at http://www.nyla.org (click on contact your elected officials button) or mail letter to your legislators (sample letter can be found at NYLA's Advocacy Page/Tools.
Now is the time to be contacting your legislators leading up to Library Lobby Day on Tuesday, March 11th. Please make every effort to attend this year's event (details can be found on NYLA's website). Listed below is timeline for Legislative actions related to the adoption of the State Budget.
Feb. 26th - Senate and Assembly release their revenue projections for 2008-09
Feb. 29th - Consensus must be reached on revenue projections or State Comptroller estimates are used.
March 12th - Senate and Assembly vote on their budget bills/resolutions setting out their priorities
March 13th - Legislative Joint Budget Committees start meeting to resolve differences between their budget versions.
March 26th - Legislative Joint Budget Committees recommendations to be completed.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
3 Apples Book Awards
(2/10/08) With great excitement, the Youth Services (YSS) and School Library Media (SLMS) Sections of the New York Library Association (NYLA) announce:
The 2008 3 Apples Book Award, a New York State Children's Choice Award, goes to GREEN EGGS AND HAM by Dr. Seuss (Random House). Here's someone doing a reading of that GREAT story.
Here's an animated version:
The same animated film, flipped, tinted, and speeded up:
The 2008 3 Apples Teen Book Award, a New York State Teen Choice Award, goes to A CHILD CALLED IT: ONE CHILD'S COURAGE TO SURVIVE by Dave Pelzer (HCI).
The 3 Apples Book Award was developed to encourage the joy of reading for pleasure, and to give the children and teens of New York State the opportunity to participate in honoring their favorite books. The choice of books nominated are as wide as the children's and teen's reading interests and tastes, making these truly both Children's and Teen Choice awards.
Each year, children in grades three through six, ages 8 to 12, and teens in grades seventh and up, ages 12+, have the opportunity to nominate their favorite book at either their school or public library. Each child and teen will have the opportunity to nominate one book title. The top fifteen nominees are then announced and children and teens are encouraged to read or listen to three of the books selected. Children and teens will then vote for their favorite book from those nominated titles and a winner is announced each May 10th. Every school and public library that participates in the program then celebrates the award with their children and teens.
More information can be found at www.3applesbookaward.org.
The 2008 3 Apples Book Award, a New York State Children's Choice Award, goes to GREEN EGGS AND HAM by Dr. Seuss (Random House). Here's someone doing a reading of that GREAT story.
Here's an animated version:
The same animated film, flipped, tinted, and speeded up:
The 2008 3 Apples Teen Book Award, a New York State Teen Choice Award, goes to A CHILD CALLED IT: ONE CHILD'S COURAGE TO SURVIVE by Dave Pelzer (HCI).
The 3 Apples Book Award was developed to encourage the joy of reading for pleasure, and to give the children and teens of New York State the opportunity to participate in honoring their favorite books. The choice of books nominated are as wide as the children's and teen's reading interests and tastes, making these truly both Children's and Teen Choice awards.
Each year, children in grades three through six, ages 8 to 12, and teens in grades seventh and up, ages 12+, have the opportunity to nominate their favorite book at either their school or public library. Each child and teen will have the opportunity to nominate one book title. The top fifteen nominees are then announced and children and teens are encouraged to read or listen to three of the books selected. Children and teens will then vote for their favorite book from those nominated titles and a winner is announced each May 10th. Every school and public library that participates in the program then celebrates the award with their children and teens.
More information can be found at www.3applesbookaward.org.
Friday, February 15, 2008
NYC trip
The Friends of APL are offering a bus trip to the American Museum of Natural History and Hayden Planetarium in NYC on Wednesday, April 16th for an all inclusive price of $52. The bus leaves the library at 7am, Crossgates at 7:30am and will leave NYC at 5pm. To register by 3/29/08, send payment, name, address, phone # and number of people in your party to Friends of APL, 161 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12210 or call Grace White at 428-7131.
Librarians don’t often get credit they deserve
From the Kansas City Star. Notable quote:
"People believe in the library fairy...They think libraries are 'a natural resource' like the Grand Canyon. They don’t realize [librarians] put it there in the first place."
"People believe in the library fairy...They think libraries are 'a natural resource' like the Grand Canyon. They don’t realize [librarians] put it there in the first place."
Readin' and Rappin' at Howe Library
On Wednesday, February 27th at 4PM, The kids can read a book related to Black History Month and then turn it into a rap song that will be recorded!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Alice Green
Drop by the Main Library at 12:15PM on Tuesday, February 19th as Dr. Green, the Director of the Center for Law and Justice speaks on racism and the criminal justice system.
Black History Month Rocks On: Black Soldiers
Join a discussion with Jacqui Williams at the Howe branch on Monday, February 18th at 6PM for Black Soldiers of the American Revolution: Rejection, Recruitment and Resettlement.
Surviving the Queue
"Ever been frustrated by the long waiting-room lineup to see a doctor? (I, know -- stupid question)." It was Tom Petty who said, "The waiting is the hardest part." Recommended read: Yes, I Mind Waiting: 10 ways to reduce lineup stress for staff and customers By Jeff Mowatt. 13 February, 2008.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Underground Railroad Conference - February 22-24, 2008
FREEDOM’S SONGS – VOICES OF THE UGR
ALBANY, NY: The Underground Railroad History Project/URHPCR of the Capital Region, Inc. will present Kim and Reggie Harris and Nzinga’s Daughters in concert on Saturday evening, February 23rd, 2008, at 7:30 PM at St. Joseph’s Hall at the College of Saint Rose on Madison Ave in Albany, NY.
Based in Hartford, Connecticut, “Nzinga’s Daughters” is a women’s performing ensemble of professionals and trained semi-professionals. The ensemble presents varied programs of African, Caribbean and African-American music, dance, storytelling and poetry. The Underground Railway is a favorite focus. The February 23rd performance will “start in Africa and bring you to America, and end with the Emancipation Proclamation."
Kim and Reggie Harris have been singing and telling stories together for nearly two decades. As singers, songwriters, storytellers, educators, interpreters of history, and cultural advocates, they have developed a stunning reputation amongst college presenters and folk audiences. Their music, alternating between contemporary and historically-based songs, is always rich in emotion, powerful and draws one into its rhythm and beat, and their stunning voices and intelligent harmonies prompted one reviewer to describe them as "vocal acoustic joy!!"
The presentation will bring to an end a full day of workshops and events that comprise part of the 7th annual conference on the Underground Railroad Movement in New York State: “The Underground Railroad: How It Worked: Two Centuries of Resistance, Escape, and the Underground Railroad in New York and Across the Continent.”
The Conference will be held in Albany, NY, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, February 22, 23, 24, 2008. It will begin on Friday evening at the Best Western Sovereign, 1228 Western Avenue, Albany, NY, with dinner and a speech by Spencer Crew, Director of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Saturday’s events will be at the College Of Saint Rose. The fee for Saturday evening is $10. There will be open seating.
The conference schedule, description of featured events, a list of workshops, and an online registration form are available at the URHPCR web site.
Underground Railroad History Project
P.O. Box 10851
Albany, NY 12201
518-432-4432
Contact: Katherine Storms
Phone: (518) 427-7168 or 265-3418 (cell)
ALBANY, NY: The Underground Railroad History Project/URHPCR of the Capital Region, Inc. will present Kim and Reggie Harris and Nzinga’s Daughters in concert on Saturday evening, February 23rd, 2008, at 7:30 PM at St. Joseph’s Hall at the College of Saint Rose on Madison Ave in Albany, NY.
Based in Hartford, Connecticut, “Nzinga’s Daughters” is a women’s performing ensemble of professionals and trained semi-professionals. The ensemble presents varied programs of African, Caribbean and African-American music, dance, storytelling and poetry. The Underground Railway is a favorite focus. The February 23rd performance will “start in Africa and bring you to America, and end with the Emancipation Proclamation."
Kim and Reggie Harris have been singing and telling stories together for nearly two decades. As singers, songwriters, storytellers, educators, interpreters of history, and cultural advocates, they have developed a stunning reputation amongst college presenters and folk audiences. Their music, alternating between contemporary and historically-based songs, is always rich in emotion, powerful and draws one into its rhythm and beat, and their stunning voices and intelligent harmonies prompted one reviewer to describe them as "vocal acoustic joy!!"
The presentation will bring to an end a full day of workshops and events that comprise part of the 7th annual conference on the Underground Railroad Movement in New York State: “The Underground Railroad: How It Worked: Two Centuries of Resistance, Escape, and the Underground Railroad in New York and Across the Continent.”
The Conference will be held in Albany, NY, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, February 22, 23, 24, 2008. It will begin on Friday evening at the Best Western Sovereign, 1228 Western Avenue, Albany, NY, with dinner and a speech by Spencer Crew, Director of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Saturday’s events will be at the College Of Saint Rose. The fee for Saturday evening is $10. There will be open seating.
The conference schedule, description of featured events, a list of workshops, and an online registration form are available at the URHPCR web site.
Underground Railroad History Project
P.O. Box 10851
Albany, NY 12201
518-432-4432
Contact: Katherine Storms
Phone: (518) 427-7168 or 265-3418 (cell)
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Bus meeting for February
Lucille Brewer announces:
Citizens for Bus Transportation will meet Wednesday, February 20th, at 7:00 PM at the Albany Public Library, Washington Avenue, Albany.
Guest speaker Andreas Kriefall, ARISE organizer, will discuss lobbying techniques for better transportation. A representative of CDTA will be present.
Lucille is especially anxious to recruit bus riders and supporters of bus riders to assist in pressuring Albany and the CDTA for better snow removal at bus stops, and to continue campaigning for better bus passenger access at Colonie Mall.
Citizens for Bus Transportation will meet Wednesday, February 20th, at 7:00 PM at the Albany Public Library, Washington Avenue, Albany.
Guest speaker Andreas Kriefall, ARISE organizer, will discuss lobbying techniques for better transportation. A representative of CDTA will be present.
Lucille is especially anxious to recruit bus riders and supporters of bus riders to assist in pressuring Albany and the CDTA for better snow removal at bus stops, and to continue campaigning for better bus passenger access at Colonie Mall.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
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