HarperCollins Puts 26 Loan Cap on Ebook Circulations

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

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

Mapping America, Every City Every Block

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

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

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

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?

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!