Maurice M. Pine Library Blog

Closing Libraries

2011-05-20T07:02:00.002-04:00

At the BCCLS System Council yesterday representatives from the 75 libraries that form our cooperative voted to suspend the borrowing privileges of Northvale citizens. The reason: Northvale citizens have voted not to fund their small library and probably soon will close it entirely. Perhaps you have been following the story in the Record.
And then my cousin forwarded me the link to this NPR article on "A Country Without Libraries."
Closing Libraries - is it the right thing to do? I understand taxpayers want to avoid increases in taxes, but at what cost?

Neil Gaiman talks about libraries

2011-04-19T11:38:00.000-04:00

Nat Geo Music

2011-04-19T10:45:00.002-04:00

This one is for fun, and some cross-cultural exposure as well. The theme of the library's summer reading program is "One World, Many Stories." And music is one way to tell a story, so click on over to Nat Geo Music, and listen to music from around the world. We don't guarantee you'll like all of it, but we think you'll enjoy the adventure!

5 Myths About the 'Information Age"

2011-04-18T16:22:00.001-04:00

From The Chronicle Review

Confusion about the nature of the so-called information age has led to a state of collective false consciousness. It's no one's fault but everyone's problem, because in trying to get our bearings in cyberspace, we often get things wrong, and the misconceptions spread so rapidly that they go unchallenged. Taken together, they constitute a font of proverbial nonwisdom. Five stand out: read more

The Library Card As A Pop-Culture Fiend's Ticket To Geek Paradise

2011-04-12T06:49:00.002-04:00

NPR blogger Linda Holmes discovers her local library....and we can't figure out why she wasn't a library user all along!
After discussing the many things she found in the library she concludes:
Is that it? It's ... not remotely. They had magazines, they did have encyclopedias and research materials, obviously, and basically, if you have a small child, they will do everything short of holding your kid by his feet and dipping him in fonts of wisdom. There's story time, there are tutoring rooms (which were in use when I was there), there's a book club (they're reading As I Lay Dying at the moment), and OH RIGHT, it's staffed with people who clearly would really like it if you came up and asked them questions about books or anything else.

The point I'm trying to make is that as a pop-culture-adjacent person, you may think that public libraries are not particularly relevant to you. But I felt like since we've talked about movie pricing, e-book pricing, and a lot of other business models, it was only fair to bring to your attention my experience with this bizarre business model that's so crazy it just might work.

You'll enjoy reading the entire post so click to read.

What Will Happen When the Librarians Are Gone?

2011-04-07T16:36:00.001-04:00

Elegy for librarians After all the budget cutting's done, who'll be around to help us ask the sharper questions?

Libraries Break Out: line item shows small cost for big service

2011-04-02T15:28:00.004-04:00

A March 31, 2011 editorial in the Bergen Record comments that "PROPERTY TAX bills will have a new line item, and, in this case, it’s a good thing. Towns will now break out the amount paid toward their municipal or joint public libraries in the same way other towns provide a separate line for their contributions to county libraries. The law was signed by Governor Christie last week.

Library funding is a very small part of a municipal tax bill. Residents will see this clearly with the new layout. But local libraries’ diminutive cost relative to schools, police and the rest, belies their outsized contribution to their communities. They are community center, coffee klatch, job center, classroom and newsstand rolled into one. They provide a safe place for children after school, and a space for adults to relax during the day. Some host free tax preparers for older adults. Others host English classes for their newest residents. A public library is a concrete expression of civic values. And separating its cost from the general tax levy will drive home its bang for the buck."

Read the entire editorial

Current Event Resources

2011-03-23T10:21:00.003-04:00

The Newark Public Library has put together two pages of links to information on:

1) Tragedy in Japan

2) Crisis in Libya

These should be useful for assignments and also for the informed and interested citizen. Keep up the good work, Newark PL!

Library Card Catalog Cabinets Used for eReader Storage - eBookNewser

2011-03-18T13:51:00.001-04:00

Library Card Catalog Cabinets Used for eReader Storage - eBookNewser

If you’re old enough, you might recall how libraries used to have card catalogs. This was back before you could look stuff up on the computer...

Library's Budget Request is $76,000 Lower Than Last Year; No Furloughs Planned for Now

2011-03-12T13:07:00.000-05:00

Library director says borough appropriation would be $2,208,490

Confessions of a Book Slob

2011-03-09T20:12:00.000-05:00

Confessions of a Book Slob

Can you be a devoted reader and not care much about books as objects?

Lifehacker recently pointed to a post at Apartment Therapy from last year that offers five tips on caring for books, an earnest list of advice that runs from the patently sensible (“Don’t store books too close to a heater, in direct sunlight or in damp places where they could become mildewed”) to the fastidious (“To condition the spine…”). If you own valuable books, or simply prize your collection of paperbacks, the list is worth a look. I write if, because I realize that sometime in the past few years, I’ve gone from someone who cared for his shelves—organizing books by author and theme (if never alphabetically) and standing back from the clean rows with arms crossed in satisfaction—to an inattentive owner, as likely to re-shelve a book where it belongs, or even to find it a shelf, as I am to attend to other optional matters of household hygiene
.

Read more http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2011/03/confessions-of-a-book-slob.html#ixzz1G9eszNS4

How Irish Libraries Celebrate Library Week

2011-03-08T11:21:00.006-05:00

7 books to help you understand Libya

2011-03-06T09:50:00.001-05:00

7 books to help you understand Libya

What to read for background on Libya? The shelves of English-language libraries and bookstores are not exactly crammed with options. However, there are a handful of works – from histories to fiction to travel literature – which offer a good general grounding in the country's background and culture. Here, at least for starters, are some interesting suggestions.

- Marjorie Kehe, Monitor book editor

HarperCollins Puts 26 Loan Cap on Ebook Circulations

2011-02-26T11:14:00.000-05:00

HarperCollins Puts 26 Loan Cap on Ebook Circulations

For BCCLS patrons who use ListenNJNW to download ebooks onto the new readers they received for Christmas, HaperCollins has limited the license to 26 checkouts. After that, the license expires and that title will no longer be available to patrons. Bad news for libraries and ebook users.

Authors are Helping to Spread the Word on the Importance of Libraries

2011-02-25T10:03:00.000-05:00

“Sharing education, sharing a book…that’s what changes the world.”
NY Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer.

Mapping America, Every City Every Block

2010-12-17T06:29:00.000-05:00

Did you see this interactive census map from the New York Times?
Put in your zip code to check out your neighborhood.
Browse local data from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, based on samples from 2005 to 2009. Because these figures are based on samples, they are subject to a margin of error, particularly in places with a low population, and are best regarded as estimates.

Author Jon Katz on the importance of libraries

2010-10-29T07:19:00.000-04:00

Here's a blog post by author Jon Katz (used to live in Montclair before moving to New York State to live on a farm with his dogs) about what libraries meant to him growing up.

Governor's Budget Imperils NJ Libraries

2010-04-12T06:55:00.000-04:00

Brad Parks, author of FACES OF THE GONE, wrote a great editorial in Sunday's Star-Ledger about the Governor's proposed budget cuts:

"They’re talking about the 74 percent reduction to library funding in Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed budget, which includes a 50 percent cut in direct aid to libraries and the elimination of several statewide programs — like interlibrary loan, which was used 3.8 million times last year.

The cuts, which add up to $10.4 million, could also cost New Jersey access to $4.5 million in federal matching funds which, among other things, currently provides internet access for roughly two-thirds of the state’s 306 public libraries..."
Read more

Save New Jersey Libraries

2010-03-24T06:56:00.000-04:00

THREATS TO NEW JERSEY LIBRARIES
(message from Highlands Regional Library Cooperative)

As many of you know, Governor's Christie's budget proposes cuts to the following budget lines: Library Network Aid, Per Capita Library Aid, Virtual Library. Additionally, the budget proposes moving the State Library under the auspices of Rutgers University, and there is a bill pending (A2555) to eliminate the 1/3 of a mil minimum funding for municipal libraries. For more details on these threats see NJLA's Legislative Alert.

We are working with the library community to develop an advocacy plan to address these threats. As our advocacy efforts develop we will be in touch with HRLC members through our listserv, webpage, blog, and all channels at our disposal.

We are asking for the restoration of 10.4 million dollars to local libraries. These funds provide libraries with Internet connections, website and email hosting, interlibrary loan, delivery of library materials, electronic resources, as well a library for the blind and handicapped.

Here are things you can do:

Use the talking points from Norma Blake

Point supporters to this Capwiz Link: http://capwiz.com/ala/nj/home/ and ask them to contact their state reps and the Governor to fight for funding. Capwiz makes it EASY!! Also, you can sign up for legislative alerts (and encourage other to do so too) here:
http://capwiz.com/ala/nj/lmx/u/?jobid=145361623&queueid=4898333736

Encourage your friends, family, and customers who support library service to Become a Library Champion so we can continue building our base of support.

Bookmarks for you to print and distribute! http://njla.pbworks.com/Library-Champions-Bookmarks (thanks to Heidi Cramer for providing)

Join (and encourage your friends, family, customers and colleagues) the Facebook Group Save NJ Libraries!

Register for the HRLC Annual Membership Meeting and Advocacy Rally

Need to book a flight?

2010-02-21T06:53:00.000-05:00

If you're planning on booking a flight and want to get the best deal, read "Booking a Flight in the Frugal Way" by Frugal Travelers Matt Gross of the New York Times.

And you'll want to visit the library in person or BCCLS on-line to check out some travel guides for your destination. Perhaps you'd like to read some fiction set in your destination country. Here is a list from the Morton Grove Public Library's Webrary, or do a Google search of your own with relevant terms like "fiction set in England," etc.

Do you sometimes wonder why you love to travel in light of all the waiting and lost luggage and the confusion of finding your way? Jonah Lehrer offers some scientific conjecture in "Why We Travel," in The Frontal Cortex blog.

Bon Voyage!

New Jersey Building Codes

2010-01-28T16:35:00.000-05:00

New Jersey Building Codes offers the following in pdf format:
2006 International Building Code® New Jersey Edition
2006 International Residential Code® New Jersey Edition
2006 International Mechanical Code® New Jersey Edition
2006 International Energy Conservation Code® New Jersey Edition
2006 International Fuel Gas Code® New Jersey Edition

eBooks now available on ListenNJLW

2010-01-25T10:27:00.000-05:00

The Highlands digital partnership is pleased to announce that eBooks are now available at:
http://www.listennjnw.com/

At present these eBooks are compatible with the Sony Reader or the Nook. All you need to do is download Adobe® Digital Editions (available on the website). Note: you have the option to activate Adobe Digital Editions anonymously or with an Adobe ID. We're recommending that you use an Adobe ID. This will allow you to transfer the eBook from your computer (PC or MAC) to your reader.

There is an extensive Help section on the site which should be able to answer most of your questions.

If you or your patrons need additional help you may contact BCCLS support at: eaudio@bccls.org

Our starter eBook collection contains 116 titles. You can choose a loan period of 10, 14 or 21 days AND eBooks can be returned before the due date!!!

The ListenNJNW site now has links to Social networking sites Facebook and Twitter so your patrons can share their reading pleasures.

Happy Downloading!

The Book Club with Only One Member

2010-01-25T06:51:00.000-05:00

Are your a social or solitary reader? These days book groups abound - ones in a physical place like the library, a classroom, a private home, or, more and more, with an online community of readers. "The Book Club with Just One Reader" by Motoko Rich in the Jan. 23 issue of the New York TImes discusses the social reading experience. And the Times is running a blog where you can voice your thoughts on the collective literary experience.

Giving to help Haiti's recovery

2010-01-16T06:52:00.000-05:00

Below are some organizations providing disaster relief to Haiti's residents after the devastating earthquake.
The American Red Cross
http://click.e.tripadvisor.com/?qs=af772146f14abfb501d9ba3711711a40ca1fa7b860b0be88e090ccfec92c19b83db933bb52a6317c
Text "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 (billed to your phone)
The United Nations World Food Program
http://click.e.tripadvisor.com/?qs=af772146f14abfb51083471c3b5728598c4abc10400240baae54e667eca8a8e4cfab95bf661cd809
The Salvation Army
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)
http://www.msf.org/
Action Against Hunger
http://click.e.tripadvisor.com/?qs=af772146f14abfb5a8e0c071dc86b4917dc9d1a4a9f9daaec4adaa32155b376160761de742035c80
Project HOPE
http://click.e.tripadvisor.com/?qs=af772146f14abfb5422b851f04c2428527e386418f4f0ab5b996fdd4b67d1171414591184d403d89
Partners in Health
http://www.pih.org/

Texting aid is an interesting concept - http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hsJuKebFn2J1dGz3FRlzNzC95RSg

And the NYTimes offers experts opinions on the "Help that Haiti Needs." http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/the-help-that-haiti-needs/

Haiti's history of misery

2010-01-13T17:56:00.000-05:00

Who can be untouched by Haiti's devastation by earthquake? Haiti appears to have had more than its fair share of chaos, poverty and natural disasters. And, as has happened so often in the nation's past, just when the situation was getting better, a fresh catastrophe struck, writes Nick Caistor of the BCC. Click over to http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8456728.stm to read the story. I try to check BBC frequently for their special reports and international coverage.

Play Games Online

2010-01-10T13:33:00.000-05:00

OK, it's the weekend, so let's play
AddictingGames.com offers thousands of games - action, sports, puzzle and board, and more. Test your dexterity with Sketch a Match, do a jigsaw puzzle with Daily Jigssaw or relive your old Tetris days with Phit. Find more at FreeArcade.com

And, when you tire of all those games, go read a book!

Free Animal Health Resources

2009-12-24T14:57:00.001-05:00

If there is new wildlife under your tree tomorrow you'll want to take a list at these free animal health Internet resources assembled by the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine . Look here for free Internet resources providing quality-animal-health-related information.

As always, please remember that your veterinarian is the very best person to consult with questions regarding your animal's health, especially if your animal is ill. If your concern is urgent, please be sure to contact him or her immediately.

Cultured Traveler

2009-12-20T19:14:00.000-05:00

Rare Books Don’t Always Live in Glass Cases
There are dozens of libraries across the United States that house dazzling collections and often mount eccentric exhibitions but largely remain unfamiliar to the public. “What is fun is to become aware of these marvelous libraries that, though open to the public, are not well known and are filled with wonderful treasures,” said Robert S. Pirie, a prominent book collector who lives in Manhattan and has his own library of several thousand volumes.

This NY Times article describes some collections and leaves you curious to discover more.

Travel & Leisure's Top Travel Websites

2009-12-14T07:08:00.000-05:00

Travel & Leisure's Top Travel Websites
Researching travel has become an art with myriad articles and blogs on how to get the best fares, stay in the best hotels, eat the best food, etc. etc. "T+L put hundreds of travel websites to the test to uncover the top 45 you need to bookmark before planning your next trip." And this list is so extensive that experimenting with the 45 sites may take as long as your next vacation. Consider it armchair travel and save a bundle, one way or another.

NPR's Complete List of Holiday Book Recommendations

2009-12-11T11:02:00.000-05:00

NPR assembles all of its lists in their complete list of holiday book recommendations including Most Mesmerizing Mysteries, Best Young Adult Fiction, Nancy Pearl's Choices, Best of Foreign Fiction, Best Cookbooks, 5 Best Books to Share with Friends. If you can't find something to tempt you here, you are in big trouble!

Overlooked New York

2009-12-09T20:26:00.000-05:00

Overlooked New York is a collection of portraits and interviews with ardent New Yorkers by Zina Saunders. Sometimes it's just interesting to live in someone else's head for a few minutes. Click first on the category (such as Rooftop Pigeon Guys), and then on the thumbnail portraits at the top of the page for each person's story. Ah, the wonders of the web!

In the News - Global Warming

2009-12-08T07:04:00.001-05:00

The New York Times offers two very informative interactive graphic sets on global warming providing background for the Copenhagen international conference on global warming.

Who’s at the Climate Talks, and What Do They Seek?
As big greenhouse gas emitters, the United States and China are expected to be pivotal to the outcome of the climate talks in Copenhagen. Many other countries fall into the formal and informal clusters described here.

Interactive Feature
Science and Politics of Climate Change
A timeline of climate study and diplomacy.

The Perfect Gift

2009-12-05T20:00:00.000-05:00

If you're searching for the perfect gift for the young people in your life, consider these holiday gift book recommendations from the Youth Services Committee of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System. December 2009 http://web2.bccls.org/web2/tramp2.exe/log_in?setting_key=BCCLS&screen=BCCLSVisor-December2009.html

Ebsco offers H1N1 Influenza information portal

2009-11-20T08:18:00.000-05:00

Ebsco, a major database publisher, is offering an free portal to information on the H1N1 Influenza Strain. The site is divided into 3 sections with information for Clinicians, Nurses and Patients and offers more facts and guidance on the potential pandemic than you will ever need (we hope!) Click on the icon above to learn more.

And don't forget the CDC (Center for Disease Control) for a really excellent source on the H1N1 flu. Statistics, information on the vaccine, general information and information for specific groups are given clearly and the information is updated frequently. This website is available in a variety of languages. Click to visit CDC

Best Books of 2009

2009-11-18T19:36:00.000-05:00

We can't believe it.....Publishers Weekly has a best books of 2009 published already. Well, if there are Santas in the Malls before Thanksgiving I guess we can have best of 2009 in the November 2 issue of PW. So for your reading pleasure click on over to PW and read

NPR What we're reading now

2009-11-17T08:06:00.000-05:00

If you are in the market for some reading suggestions click on over to NPR's What We're Reading. And then explore the rest of the NPR site. There are lots of intriguing articles and unlike a radio broadcast you can read any time you want (or listen to many of the broadcasts).

The Future of Reading by Tom Peters

2009-11-03T09:36:00.000-05:00

"The future of reading is very much in doubt. In this century, reading could soar to new heights or crash and burn. Some educators and librarians fear that sustained reading for learning, for work, and for pleasure may be slowly dying out as a widespread social practice" - complete article at Library Journal

One Book NJ

2009-10-30T10:44:00.000-04:00

It's here! The One Book New Jersey 2010 website is up and running!

Please go to the website, www.onebooknewjersey.org, to vote for your favorite titles in each of the four categories- adult, young adult,juvenile fiction (chapter book) and picture book (read to me). Click on "Vote Now."

From now through Sunday, November 15, librarians and readers of all ages are encouraged to vote for the titles best suited to be One Book New Jersey selections! You can only vote for one title per category, but you can place a vote in all four categories: Adult, Teen, Middle Grade, and Read to Me. Vote now, and spread the word! Winning selections will be announced on November 16, 2009.

One Book New Jersey 2010 marks the 8th year of the program!

Consumer Reports free through library database

2009-10-19T09:51:00.000-04:00

Not that I want to discourage anyone from coming to the library, but did you know you can get the full text of Consumer Reports through the library system's EBSCO database? Go to www.bccls.org and click on Magazines, Newspapers and Reference Sources . At this point you will enter your library card number for access. Then choose EBSCO, then EBSCOhost web, then MasterFILE Premier. At this point enter your search terms and limit the search to Consumer Reports. If your first search term doesn't work, try another. If you don't limit to Consumer Reports you will pull up other articles as well. Click the Full Text box so all your results will have the full text of the articles. Good luck and don't be afraid to experiment and play.

Looking for that perfect quote?

2009-10-11T19:18:00.000-04:00

Famous Quotes and Authors claims to be "the most complete and useful web resource about Famous Quotes with the best collection of famous quotations for all occasions! Browse over 25,000 quotes online from over 6,700 famous authors. It's fun to browse and I hope you'll remember at least one of these for the next occasion.

Lab Tests Online

2009-10-05T07:15:00.001-04:00

Do you think you spend too much time looking for medical information? Lab Tests Online has answers when you're researching medical tests. To catch your interest the first story is about Michael Jackson's toxicology report. It's followed by other "Topics in the News." But the real info is on the left - one can search by tests, conditions/diseases or screenings or through a search box. Here's a quick, comprehensive and up-to-date medical test reference!

Banned Books - protect your freedom to read

2009-09-25T09:47:00.000-04:00

Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read

September 26-October 3, 2009

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.
Intellectual freedom—the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular—provides the foundation for Banned Books Week. BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them.
The books featured during Banned Books Week have been targets of attempted bannings. Fortunately, while some books were banned or restricted, in a majority of cases the books were not banned, all thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and members of the community to retain the books in the library collections. Imagine how many more books might be challenged—and possibly banned or restricted—if librarians, teachers, and booksellers across the country did not use Banned Books Week each year to teach the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.

Eyewitness to History

2009-09-24T15:52:00.000-04:00

I'm a great reader of novels set in different historical periods and find this leads me back to learn more from history books and other historical resources. Today, on the Internet, I stumbled onto Eyewitness to History , a site that not only provides brief summaries of events throughout history but also provides an eyewitness account of those events. I was reading about the Battle at Gallipoli, what event do you want to try?

A New Oprah Book Selection

2009-09-18T14:39:00.000-04:00

"Say You're One of Them" by Uwem Akpan is Oprah's new book club selection, her first in about a year. Oprah says "this is an awe-inspiring collection of stories that challenges you to look beyond the headlines and see an Africa full of both joy and despair. Detailing the violence and poverty facing the children of modern-day Africa, this is a book you won't soon forget."
Visit Oprah's webpage for more about this book and others she has chosen. We love Oprah for encouraging reading and an appreciation of diversity.

On the ropes? Robert Darnton's Case for Books

2009-09-16T20:43:00.000-04:00

In a new collection, Harvard University library director Robert Darnton says reports of the book's death are greatly exaggerated
Click on over to PW, Sept. 14,
and read his case for books.

September is Library Card Sign-up Month

2009-09-11T14:19:00.000-04:00

September is Library Card Sign-up Month - a time to remind parents and kids that a library card is the most important school supply of all. This September with the cooperation of the Fair Lawn elementary schools, registration cards have been distributed through the elementary schools. Kids can then bring the registration cards with their parent or guardian to the library and get their library card. Card holders are invited to have their picture taken with their card for the Library Card Wall of Fame. An area on the library’s main floor will be set aside for the photographs. And it doesn’t have to be a new library card. Students and adults, with new or old library cards, are invited to get their picture on the Library Card Wall of Fame.

Reading Underground

2009-09-04T11:46:00.000-04:00

The NYTimes this morning had an interesting article on reading while traveling on the subway http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/nyregion/06reading.html?_r=1&hp
with a link to a blog called "The Subway Book Club" written by a lawyer from Brooklyn http://subwaybookclub.wordpress.com/
We love anything about reading anywhere. Don't forget to visit your local library for your subway/bus/train reading material. Can't read because you're the one driving? Check out books on CD or tape. Make the most of all your travel time!

Selecting that perfect college or university

2009-09-01T16:23:00.000-04:00

General and Undergraduate Ranking sites
Tomorrow students in Fair Lawn head back to school. And if you are thinking ahead to finding that perfect college for your child or yourself, take a look at this collection of college ranking and evaluating sites assembled by the University Library of Ullinois at Urbana/Champaign. It offers a convenient one-stop-shop for college rankings, especially for very targeted populations and unique criteria.

100 Best Beach Books Ever

2009-08-04T15:10:00.000-04:00

The folks at NPR have brought us more reading lists - this time audience picks of the best 100 beach books ever. Click on over and see if you find your favorites included.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106983620&sc=emaf

More Puzzles from Alice

2009-07-20T14:33:00.001-04:00

Can you guess these book titles?

Of Mice & Men

Tom Sawyer

Highlight the area below each picture to see the answers

Summer Reads from NPR

2009-07-16T07:05:00.000-04:00

Every once in a while I wander over to NPR for a little mental pick-me-up. Today at NPR.org I voted for my favorite 10 summer reads from the proposed list of 200 (we're voting to get it down to 100) and then I checked out their book suggestions. And I found out what Nancy Pearl has picked for her summer reads this year. Check it out and let us know which ones you've enjoyed. Happy summer reading (and any other time)!

Help Finding Low Cost Health Care

2009-07-14T06:43:00.000-04:00

Do you, a library patron, or someone you know need help finding low cost health care or help paying for prescriptions? NeedyMeds.org offers lots of information on patient assistance and government programs (Medicare, Medicaid, etc.) as well as other resouces to provide information and help with the financial burden of healthcare.

NeedyMeds is a 501(3)(c) non-profit with the mission of helping people who cannot afford medicine or healthcare costs. The information at NeedyMeds is available anonymously and free of charge.

The Best Kid's Books Ever

2009-07-06T06:47:00.000-04:00

I was guided to this column by BCCLS executive director Robert White who comments that "Children's reading is the heart of a good public library." And we agree as we embark on the 2009 summer reading program - "Be Creative @ Your Library." It officially begins today.

New York Times Op-Ed Columnist NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF gave his favorites in the Times on July 4. Check them out http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/opinion/05kristof.html

His goal in offering this thought-provoking list of children's books is to strongly encourage parents to get their children reading. He comments "In educating myself this spring about education, I was aghast to learn that American children drop in I.Q. each summer vacation — because they aren’t in school or exercising their brains."

Reading his column and list and his blog http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/ and the comments on his blog http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/04/the-best-kids-books-ever/#comments brought back lots of memories for me. Maybe it's time to reread some of those books myself. What are your favorites? What would you add to the list? Comments are welcome here, too.

Teens Invited to Join the WWE Summer Slam Reading Jam

2009-06-30T11:04:00.000-04:00

Teens and tweens, 10-18, have a chance to win a trip to WWE's Summer Slam in Los Angeles this summer by taking part in the Summer Slam Reading Jam. The Fair Lawn Library is part of a pilot project sponsored by World Wrestling Entertainment and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Starting June 24, we will be giving out numbered posters featuring WWE Superstars Rey Mysterio, Evan Bourne, Beth Phoenix and Eve to the first 25 patrons between ages 10 and 18 who check out two YA books. Posters will be available until July 16 or as long as supplies last.

On July 17, WWEkids.com will post the winning and alternate numbers from the numbered posters. The winning and alternate posters should be brought into the library for confirmation. Two grand prize winners will win airfare to Los Angeles for two, two nights hotel, two tickets to the Summer Slam pay-per-view event and $200 spending money. Ten first prize winners will receive copies of the WWE Encyclopedia. Contact Mary or Marie at (201) 796-3400 for more information.

This program is designed by WWE and YALSA to encourage teens and tweens to read for fun throughout the summer.

Bestselling Authors Coming to the Library

2009-06-30T10:56:00.000-04:00

Imagine there was never a Laguna Beach, a Newport Harbor, or the shimmering Hills. Imagine that your hometown-your school-is the first place MTV-like network, XTV, descends to set up cameras. Now imagine they've trained them on you.

The Fair Lawn Public Library will be hosting the bestselling authors of The Nanny Diaries, Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Krause on Thursday, July 9 at 1 PM. The authors will give a reading of their first Young Adult novel, The Real Real, a social satire exploring the world of teen reality shows. They will also discuss their nine year creative writing partnership.

This program is for teens 13-18 and will be held in the meeting room of the library. Please bring a copy of the book for signing. A limited number of books will be available for sale to benefit the Friends of the Library.

BooksNJ 2009 - a great success!!

2009-06-16T06:43:00.000-04:00

Hope you made it to BooksNJ2009 at the Paramus Library last Sunday. The event, sponsored by BCCLS, and the Paramus Public Library brought authors and about a thousand readers together. The festival, originally planned as a celebration of the 30th anniversary of BCCLS, grew into an extravaganza after 93 authors, most of them current or former New Jersey residents, signed up to participate. BooksNJ2009 also advocated for the support of libraries and generated a lot of public support and a good press coverage. Click to read the article in the Record. What a great celebration of books, authors and libraries!

Today Show Talks about Public Libraries

2009-06-12T07:22:00.000-04:00

Yesterday on the Today Show there was a great piece on the importance of public libraries in today's economic times. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/31237988#31237988
It's great to have such good national coverage.

GovFresh - Government 2.0

2009-06-09T06:43:00.000-04:00

GovFresh, launched on May 1, 2009, "is a live feed of official news from U.S. Government Twitter, YouTube, RSS, Facebook, Flickr accounts and more, all in one place." Click on each government entity (such as White House, Supreme Court, Department of State, FBI, and Army) to see specific material. Just to let you know that your government is keeping up with new technology. Click to explore govfresh.com

And at USA.gov you can explore hundreds of Blogs from the U.S. government by organization or by topic - and the list of topics seems endless. And there is a whole section on how to contact government agencies.

Can you Guess These Book Titles?

2009-06-04T15:59:00.000-04:00

Just for Fun...

answers tomorrow!

Bee Season and Kite Runner

CareerOneStop.org and Job Search Seminar June 16

2009-06-03T20:38:00.000-04:00

Times are uncertain and many of us are rethinking our careers or just plain job hunting. CareerOneStop is a great website to explore. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and the State of Minnesota, it assists job seekers, students and businesses in exploring careers, writing résumés, interviewing, and locating jobs. Check out its resources. The site was named one of the best free reference sources of 2008 by Library Journal.

And if you are investigating a career or job hunting, please attend a free seminar here at the library, 10-01 Fair Lawn Ave., on Tuesday, June 16, from 7:00-8:45 p.m. Rick Pascal & Bob Richards will offer a free career development/job search/unemployment seminar. Pascal has been a professional executive recruiter, interview coarch and resume writer for the last 25 years. Bob Richards is a Human Resources Professional with over 25 years of experience. They will address unemployment, career goals, job hunting, resumes and interview techniques. This is a program for the education of the community, not sponsored by the library, and is free.

Library advocacy works!

2009-06-02T21:17:00.000-04:00

In Mid-May we wrote about the treat to NJ library funding with Senate Bill 2775 which called for a reduction in minimum funding from a barely adequate 1/3 mill to a 1/6 mill. Now we're delighted to tell you that thanks to your efforts and the specific work of theHoboken Public Library Board of Trustees (JoAnne Serrano, President), the Friends ofthe Hoboken Library, and Library Director Lina Podles, Senator Stack has withdrawnS. 2775, which would have cut the minimum funding for public libraries in half.More than 2,200 messages were sent in specific opposition to S. 2775. The fieldwork of the New Jersey Library Association and the New Jersey State Library inproviding support and communications are integral elements in keeping both the
citizens and the legislature informed.

Many library users have signed up to become Library Champions and advocate for public libraries. BCCLS Library Champions now represent all 75 BCCLS member libraries, and more than 900 of you have signed up. We are well on our way to our 2009 goal of 2,000champions from BCCLS libraries. Thank you for your past support, which was invaluable in stopping the Assembly Bill, and now stopping the Senate version. We are grateful to the many library boards and town councils who have passed resolutions opposing any change in the current minimum funding law and of course to you in your continuing support for public libraries.

If you would like to sign up as a Library Champion please click on this link http://www.bccls.org/champions/ and join us. Thanks to BCCLS Executive Director Robert White for the text of this message. And thanks to our readers for your ongoing support.

ALA's 2009 Notable Books

2009-05-27T17:47:00.000-04:00

Every year the American Library Association compiles a list of notable books selected for their significant contributions to the expansion of knowledge or for the pleasure they can provide to adult readers.

You can find these books at Fair Lawn and the other BCCLS libraries. Click on the picture to see the list.

Reader's Corner - What to Read Next Lists

2009-05-24T07:26:00.000-04:00

I hope you are welcoming summer with some outside activities (if it doesn't rain), as well as inside activities. And what stands you in better stead in any situation than a book. Should you need some reading suggestions click on over and try out these Internet reading suggestion lists. They not only provide matches to books you have enjoyed in the past but offer plenty of other content as well.

Ever Tried NoveList?

Search NoveList for your favorites, and find more info, reviews, or similar books. This is a library-paid subscription from Ebsco so you'll need to enter your library card number if you are search from home. You find reading lists, book discussion guides, news and much more for adults AND for kids.

And here are some additional resources, some from other libraries, that I know you'll enjoy.

Hennepin County bookspace - Find a good Book

Manchester (CT) Public Library What Do I Read Next?

WhatShouldIReadNext.com

The Reader's Corner from the Morton Grove Public Library's Webrary

There are many more out there so send me YOUR suggestions!

MedlinePlus - my favorite health database

2009-05-20T06:29:00.000-04:00

MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, offers almost everything one needs in health information... a medical encyclopedia, drug & supplement information, links to directories of doctors & dentists & hospitals, links to other resources, clinical trials, links to local resources, videos, slide shows and more and more. And it's well arranged and easy to use. This is where I begin when looking for medical information. Try it and discover the weath of medical information the Internet and your tax dollars provide.

Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science, Magic and Medicine

2009-05-18T07:16:00.000-04:00

In 1997, British author J. K. Rowling introduced the world to Harry Potter and a literary phenomenon was born. For all you Harry Potter fan's out there the National Library of Medicine has created this website to accompany a travelling exhibit. If you've been fascinated by Harry Potter's world, you'll enjoy exploring the link between Harry Potter and the history of science. Click on over and enjoy!

New Library Teen Page and Blog libraryteenz

2009-05-15T11:37:00.000-04:00

Meet LibraryTeenz - our library's new Teen webpage and blog. Created by Mary Kirsch, library staffer and MLS student, it actively invites participation by teens. Take a click over and find out about library activities for teens (and register online), teen reading suggestions, new books and homework help. You can join the free forum in Rants and Raves and we're on Twitter. Tell your teens and everyone else!

NJ Library Funding Still Under Legislative Threat

2009-05-13T16:26:00.000-04:00

Here in Fair Lawn we are lucky and grateful that our Council and town support the public library more than is required by law, but other libraries are not so fortunate. This bulletin from the New Jersey State Library Association needs action to preserve the libraries we value.

We need your help now!
Once again legislation modelled on the NJ League of Municipalities resolution has been introduced. This legislation would devastate public library funding for municipal libraries. Senate Bill 2775 calls for a reduction in minimum funding from a barely adequate 1/3 mill to a 1/6 mill.

The simple facts are that very few libraries in New Jersey could stay open if funded at 1/6 mill. Current law allows those rare communities that generate excess funding for public libraries to return that money to the taxpayers. To date no credible research has been done that establishes the need for such a drastic change to public library funding.

Did you know that in a single day in just 250 of the state's libraries:
161,367 people walked through the doors
156,793 books, movies and more were borrowed
27,742 people used computers
18,537 questions were answered
1,245 people got employment help
1,241 programs were offered
984 people learned computer skills
How can the Senate think about a devastating cut to public libraries especially at this critical time?
Please ask you state senator to oppose S2775. NJ residents are using public libraries in record numbers. They are counting on you to support the current level of funding for public libraries.

Thank you for your attention to this issue. A click here will take you to the NJLA page with a Take Action form you can e-mail.

BooksNJ2009

2009-05-12T10:35:00.000-04:00

Join us at BooksNJ2009: a celebration of books and the readers who love them, sponsored by BCCLS and the Paramus Public Library at the Paramus Library on Sunday, June 14, from 1-5 p.m. BooksNJ2009 brings together writers and readers with more than 70 authors, illustrators, and poets up close and personal talking about their books and their craft! There will be readings, panels, crafts for kids, storytelling. The event is free and open to everyone. Hold the date. Click for more information.

Listen NJNW Downloadable Audiobooks

2009-05-08T10:06:00.000-04:00

Are you an audiobook fan with just a little bit of technical expertise, a computer and a fairly fast connection to the Internet? If so, we want to make sure you know about Listen NJNW, a downloadable audiobook project of the Highlands Regional Library Cooperative (your state tax dollars at work). Go to http://www.listennjnw.org/ Begin with "Getting Started with Digital Media." Read all the ins and outs. There's even a streaming video to help explain. Download and listen to best selling and classic Audiobooks 24/7 on your PC, laptop, PDA or MP3 player at home, in the office or anywhere in the world. Your library is always open!

Great website to encourage kids reading

2009-05-06T20:21:00.000-04:00

James Patterson's ReadKiddoRead.com

Here is a website dedicated to making kids readers for life.

It's full of reading lists, interviews, blogs and lesson plans. Join the community or just use the content. The look alone is exciting!

Dancing With The Stars

2009-05-06T10:34:00.000-04:00

As the popular show "Dancing with the stars" approaches its final weeks, you may want to learn some dancing steps of your own with one of the library's dance DVDs. A few of the titles available are Hot Salsa Lessons, Ballroom Dancing Basics and Latin Dancing for Beginners. Non-fiction DVDs may be borrowed for one week and are on Level D of the library.

LIBRARY BOOK GROUP

2009-05-05T12:52:00.000-04:00

Join Librarian Leslie Kruegel on Thursday, May 28th at 2pm for a discussion of Little Heathens by Mildred Kalish. Kalish recounts her experiences growing up on an Iowa farm during the Great Depression. Copies of the book are available at the library and new members are always welcome.

Commemorate that special someone

2009-05-04T18:10:00.000-04:00

With a bookplate! We have types for almost every occasion-anniversary, birthday, graduation, you name it. They're only $10. Stop by and see us at the front desk for details.

Movie Night

2009-05-04T17:59:00.000-04:00

Next Thursday (5/14) is the premiere showing of Slumdog Millionaire here at the library. It's rated"R" so it might be a good night to get a babysitter and have a "date" with your honey! The movie starts at 7PM downstairs in the meeting room. See you there! BTW, it's free of course!

The Summer Reading List is out!

2009-05-04T17:13:00.000-04:00

Summer's just around the corner and we have your middle/high school summer reading list! All of the titles can be found up in the Young Adult area on level C. While you're up there, don't forget to check out the newly renovated YA area.

Libraries are Changing

2009-05-04T15:55:00.000-04:00

Used to be that the library was open some 60 hours a week and that was that! But not anymore. Since the Internet you can search the library catalog and databases and request books 24/7. Once upon a time the library's collection was housed within 4 walls. Now with the Internet and databases, a whole new world of information is at our fingertips.
In our blog, we talk about what's new with libraries, and point out services and sources of information we enjoy and hope you will, too.