New & Noteworthy @ WHPLibrary

In our new library we have created two rooms for the purpose of tutoring. Both the tutor and the student must register at the Information Desk on the second floor and present identification prior to using these rooms.

The tutoring rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but preference will be given to West Hempstead patrons. West Hempstead patrons also have the privilege of reserving a tutoring room 24 hours in advance. Rooms may be used for a maximum of 3 hours in any day.

Please call 481-6591 and ask to speak to a reference librarian for more information about library guidelines regarding the use of these rooms.

Patrons have been seeking a quiet zone in the library for many years. At last, we are able to accommodate this need in our new building.

We have designated the space on the second floor outside the Tutor Rooms and in the Periodicals (magazines and newspapers) Section as our Quiet Study Area. Here you will find individual study carrels similar to those you find in university libraries, large tables where you may spread out your materials, and easy chairs where you can sink in and get comfortable.

Patrons in this area must maintain reasonable silence. Conversational noise is allowed only within the Tutor Rooms. No audible tutoring may take place in the Quiet Study Area. Groupwork is likewise banned from this area and should be carried out elsewhere in the library. There are areas on the first floor to accommodate these needs.

Persons making noise or in other ways disturbing the Quiet in the Study Area will be instructed to leave this area immediately.

Please respect our "Silence is Golden" policy.

Our first book discussion in the new library will be held in the second floor Board Room on February 7, 2008 at 7 pm.

Our selection, The Awakening by Kate Chopin, shocked the public and was harshly criticized when it was first published in 1899. It re-emerged from obscurity in the late 1960’s as social and cultural changes led to the recognition of Chopin as a classic writer who addresses many of contemporary women's concerns.

According to biographer, Emily Toth, "Kate Chopin anticipated so much: daytime dramas, women's pictures, The Feminine Mystique, open marriages, women's liberation, talk shows, Mars vs. Venus, self-help and consciousness raising. But in 1899, she was a lonely pioneer."

Here are some links to whet your appetite:
Editorial Reviews, courtesy of Amazon Books
The Kate Chopin International Society
PBS Program "Kate Chopin: A Re-Awakening"

Join us as we explore our own reactions and share insights on the themes of personal freedom, alienation and loneliness, public identity vs. private needs, and more.

Books will be available at the circulation desk in January. Please stop by the Reference Desk or call 481-6591 to register.

We offer a great resource that may help you find the career that is perfect just for you!

You can access the Career Cruising database at home or in the library to find jobs that match your unique interests, learn about different occupations, and find out how to get the best education to jumpstart your new career!

The Career Cruising database is updated frequently with new features and content to stay relevant. Here are just a few of the new occupational profiles recently added to the Explore Careers section.

We do! We love reading. We love books. We love our library!
If you do, too, consider a library career.

The library world is rapidly changing as a result of the Internet and the easy access it gives to information and social networks across the globe.

Our mission and our skills as librarians place us in the forefront as guides to the ever-challenging task of organizing, evaluating, and delivering the myriad volumes and forms of information that overwhelm us on a daily basis.

Read some librarian blogs to get insight into what we do in public libraries, school libraries, academic and corporate settings. Find out if librarianship is right for you!

Here is a little quiz to see if you know what librarians do!

"Staffmember Matthew DeGuglielmis began working as a page in the West Hempstead Public Library starting in June 2000. This is the picture taken of him for his employee badge. To many of us, he was more than a co-worker. He was like a brother, or son, or grandson.

We were privileged to witness his growth into manhood. He was full of spirit and liked to test the limits, and often did so. We will always remember his love for cars, his passion for life, and the courage with which he met each day.

We mourn his loss on December 10, 2007." Linda Joe

"Matt had dreams. One he shared with me was his hope to find a career or job in which he could help others. He considered working in some capacity in patient support, knowing that his experiences made him well-qualified to support and encourage the sick or disabled.

Matt was a Yankees fan, but he was gentle with us suffering Mets loyalists. He endured our teasing as he pursued his driver's permit and license. He loved to strut his car around the library parking lot - putting all our non-descript vehicles to shame." Barbara Dreher

"Matt was a special friend to me. I plan the adult programs and his first words to me when he came to work were, 'OK, so what do we have today and where do I set up?'

I guess you could say he was my sergeant at arms and more than that, my buddy. I always called him 'Mattress' and he thought that was so funny. Matt was a great kid with a wonderful smile and a multitude of problems, yet showed great strength and never whined. I will always be thankful that I was lucky to have his friendship and will remember him with fondness and love.

His folks did a great job raising him." Beni Argis

"I'll remember Matt with fondness and love. When he first came to work with us as a page, Matt was so easy to train. He was enthusiastic and took to 'paging' with intelligence and a quiet demeanor. He was very polite as a young boy of 16!" Ruth Weber

"Matt will always be remembered to me as 'Buddy'. When I first met him several years ago, we hit it off big. For some reason, I called him Buddy and every time after that I, along with my children, would always exclaim 'BU-DDY!!!' to greet him.

When I worked at night, we would always talk about everything, from cars to girls. I remember him planning for his prom - it brought back memories. Since I didn't have a brother, it was like him looking up to me for advice. I also remember the Mustang, especially when he installed the air induction unit- he wanted more horsepower! Matt would tell of his dad's plans for the car and how he wanted different modifications.

I'll miss him, as we all will. God bless you Buddy, and my prayers go out to your family. Rest in Peace." Tommy Mascia

"Matt was a source of light for our library with his youthful charm and friendliness. He was a brave young man whose personal battle with cancer infused him with an empathy for the 'patient.' This was to be a path for a future vocation...if only. Miss you, Matt." Peggy Libby

"We will always remember Matt's infectious smile and constant friendliness. He will be always missed and never forgotten." Dave Whelpley

Check out the visual cues included in our Online Catalog to help you make sense of the different types of materials you may find in our Library System or from our Online Library Resources.

When you do a title, author, keyword or any search that brings up a list of items, in the rightmost column you will see icons that indicate that we offer much more than just books. Take a look, and see!

Icon for books and magazines in the library

Icon for audiobooks - sound recordings in audiocassette or CD formats

Icon for electronic resources linking directly to full-text online books
HINT: Try a Keyword/Simple Boolean search on "Gale Virtual"

Icon for musical recordings - cassette or CD formats

Icon for videorecordings - movies or tv shows in videocassette or DVD formats

Icon for special combination kits, such as "Bookclub in a Bag" or children's multimedia packages

June C. Buckman died on December 5th, 2007, at the age of 88. Born in West Hempstead, NY, on August 9,1919, she was the only child of Jennie Renelt and Arthur Ely Clayton. In 1979, she married Raymond L. Buckman, who died on December 10th, 2001.

Mrs. Buckman leaves two daughters from her first marriage to Dr. William W. Quast – Janet C. MacDonald and Diane Q. Forti – and two grandsons, Jeffrey and Greg Armstrong.

Her daughter, Diane Quast Forti, visited from Massachusetts recently and wrote that "Unfortunately, my last visit was in November, 2007, and the new library was closed for Veteran's Day. From what I could see, the building looks wonderful, and my only regret is that my mother never got to see the fruits of her early labors."

Diane grew up in West Hempstead and attended Chestnut Street School and WHHS. Her father, William Quast, had a dental practice on Hempstead Avenue for many years. Her mother was dedicated to education and serving her community and was instrumental in establishing the West Hempstead Public Library.

Diane sent us newspaper clippings from 1956 documenting the efforts of her mother, Mrs. William Quast, as the library's book committee chairman, and her youthful volunteers, eight-year-old Diane and sister Janet, 10.

At Mrs. Buckman’s request, Memorial Donations may be sent to the “West Hempstead Public Library” at 500 Hempstead Ave., West Hempstead, NY 11552 (516-481-6591), Attention: Regina Mascia, Director, for the purchase of new books.

We are grateful to Diane for sharing her memories of her mother. Thanks to June Buckman and her daughters and other volunteers, the West Hempstead Public Library was established and has continued to develop and thrive. We are indebted to the many people who contributed their dreams and their labors to making our library what it is today.

Our very popular two-day AARP Driver Safety Class for drivers age 50 and over has been scheduled for Tuesdays, February 5 & 12 from 9:30 a.m-1:30 p.m. in the Community Room on the Lower Level, accessible by stairs or elevator. You must attend both sessions. The cost is a reasonable $10.

Registration for West Hempstead residents begins Tuesday, January 22 at 9 a.m. at the Reference Desk. Make your check payable to: AARP. Non-residents may register beginning on Tuesday, January 29.

Registration begins Monday, February 4 at the Young Adult desk.

This is a six-week math and verbal course to help high school sophomores and juniors prepare for the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Classes will be held Thursdays: March 6, 13, 27, April 3, 17, and May 1 from 6:45-8:45 p.m. Class will not be held on March 20, April 10 and April 24.

An $80 check, payable to Melissa Bielawski, is required at registration. Students are required to bring to class McGraw Hill’s SAT I, 2008 edition, by Christopher Black & Mark Anestis. The ISBN is 978-007-149-3390. Please be sure to bring the book to each class.