New & Noteworthy @ WHPLibrary

Our questions in March asked about your familiarity with the library's online content. We expected that people who rarely use their computers would not fill out the survey (exactly one respondent indicated no online content accessed), but we were somewhat surpised that our many computer and wireless users also failed to fill out the survey. Only 15 people answered our questions, and 4 of those responses were submitted online. We are listening. Our next survey will not deal with technology in any way.

Not surprisingly, 80% of our respondents have seen or used our library website. To help you remember, the address of our website www.whplibrary.org is printed on your library card. 66% have accessed the Online Catalog either directly from our website or from its own unique address www.alisweb.org. 40% of respondents have tried our Research Databases, either for homework or genealogy research, or just to catch up on newspaper or magazine articles from many national and international sources.

33% have checked our Events Calendar or Newsletter online, and 33% have read one or both of our Blogs. One of our blogs, "West Hempstead Wants to Know!" is dedicated to these surveys and the other, called "New & Noteworthy" is our general library blog covering the latest information from our reference librarians regarding books, events, new media, or resources on the Internet, in the library, or in our local community, that interest and delight us.

26% of our respondents have viewed our Facebook pages. We have established 3 pages to cater to the Children's Room, Teens and the general Adult population. Even if you aren't interested in registering and interacting with us as a Facebook fan, you can still view our status updates just by viewing our library webpages.

Only one person was familiar with our Flickr and Picasaweb pages, but if you've seen our website, you may have clicked on the albums on the Teen pages, or seen the Photo Archives which are hosted by Flickr. These free sites are great places for presenting, sharing, and storing memories. Check them out! You may want to try them for yourself.

The question was: Which of the following online content have you seen or used? (Mark all that apply.) Here are the results in rank order:
12 = Library Website
10 = Online Catalog
06 = Research Databases
05 = Event Calendar or Online Newsletter
05 = Either of our 2 Library Blogs
04 = Any of our 3 Facebook pages
01 = Our photos on Flickr or Picasaweb

Our April survey concerns your favorite type of FICTION.

It seems that product recalls are becoming routine, and even our most trusted companies may be involved in bad business practices or come under question due to safety alerts or scams. What can the wary consumer do?

Here are some government websites to help you sort through all the scary talk.

Recalls.Gov (www.recalls.gov)
A "one stop shop" for U.S. Government recalls, with links for consumer products, food, medicine, motor vehicles, and more.

U.S. Consumer Protection Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov)
You can check Recalls and Product Safety News, by the month, by product type or company name and even subscribe to an RSS feed for categories such as Child Products (including Toys) or Household Products, etc.

Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov)
The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. Check these videos to learn about common scams and how to file a complaint.

New York State Consumer Protection Board (www.nysconsumer.gov)
The NY State site includes information on consumer debt, identity theft, home ownership and data security. There is also a kid's page and a kid's newsletter.

Nassau County Office of Consumer Affairs (www.nassaucountyny.gov)
Find the Office of Consumer Affairs in the Agency Directory listings under the home page heading, "Departments," or by clicking on Agency Directory under the home page heading "Most Visited Pages." Call the main office in Mineola (516) 571-2600 or one of the other departmental numbers.

PLEASE LET US KNOW. Answer our survey on SOCIAL MEDIA either online or in the library.

The February surveys are the little pink slips found at the Children's Reference Desk or at the Adult Reference desk in the main library.

We want to know more about you! Interact with us on our Facebook Fanpage.

So far 55 patrons have participated in our first survey of 2010. Multiple responses are allowed so the results add up to more than 55.

The Question is: What do you like best about the library?
- Free Internet access = 23
- Free Museum passes = 21
- Free DVD's, CD's, downloadable books = 30
- Free Programs for all ages = 27
- Free On-Line Tutoring = 08

If you haven't completed a survey for us yet, there is still time to give us your opinion. It'll take less than a minute. There are forms at the Reference Desk and in the Children's Room, or do it here!

Anyone interested in the rich culture of European Jewry should visit the West Hempstead Public Library and spend an afternoon in one of our comfortable chairs exploring an encyclopedia that provides a living history of the Jews in Eastern Europe.

The YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe is the definitive reference work on all aspects of the history and culture of Jews in Eastern Europe, from the beginnings of their settlement in the region, to the present. Included are over 1,000 illustrations and 55 maps. The articles were written and edited by internationally recognized scholars and cover events, people, places and related topics.

This comprehensive resource is located in the Reference Area on the main floor of the library at call number R 940.04924 Y.

For over a century, from the first flights by frail biplanes on the Hempstead Plains, to man’s walking on the Moon, Long Island has been on the leading edge of America’s aviation and space adventure.

History will come alive when you see the exhibits at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City and experience the IMAX movies that open up the world of science to young people.

Borrow the library's newest Museum Family Pass and find out about the aviation history that took place right in our own backyard!

Got questions? Click through to our Live Librarian® service anytime, day or night, if you have basic reference questions and would like a private, one-on-one, CHAT session with a Reference Librarian.

The Live Librarian® Reference Librarians cannot provide legal, medical or tax advice, or computer technical support. What they will do is use a variety of online subscription products and the Internet to answer your questions and help you with your Internet searches.

When the question requires more in-depth research tools than are available online, the Live Librarian® may refer users to their home library. Find our Live Librarian® logo on the left side panel of our West Hempstead Public Library website, www.whplibrary.org/

COMPS INC is a company in Glen Cove, New York, that markets products and tools for real estate professionals, including real estate brokers, appraisers, banks, investors and mortgage companies. Check their website at http://www.compsny.com/.

To assist sellers and buyers of homes in our community, beginning in October 2008, the West Hempstead Public Library began purchasing the monthly COMPS Sales Report for South Nassau communities. It contains sales data for recent houses in this area that may help you estimate the current value of your home.

Villages and towns in this report range from Amityville to Woodsburgh. The report includes the property address and other identifying information, sale price and date, seller and buyer data.

To view our COMPS INC - SOUTH NASSAU SALES REPORT, please ask at the Reference Desk.

We are pleased to announce that the Library is now a "Season Ticket" Holder to the Sports Museum of America.

Sports fans, coaches, and athletes will love the interactive exhibits, multimedia experiences, and more than 800 artifacts, 1,100 photos, and 20 original films within the 19 galleries representing a multitude of sports, from baseball to football, basketball to soccer, figure skating to extreme sports, and everything in between.

We have added the SmA to the Museum Family Passes that we lend, like a book, to our West Hempstead Public library patrons in good standing. This season we have a grand total of 8 museums in our family pass lineup and one that we offer by a lottery system.

Stop by at the reference desk to reserve a pass, or call 481-6591 for more information.

Check here for facts about seasonal flu and vaccinations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

To schedule your own flu shot check the American Lung Association at http://www.flucliniclocator.org/ for locations and times in your local area.

You must make reservations at these flu shot locations in Nassau County for 60+ Seniors only, so be sure to call ahead.

CVS Minute Clinics give flu shots every day. For us, the closest CVS Minute Clinic is in Syosset.

Connect to online tutors for FREE from 2:00 PM until 10:00 PM every day.

Simply visit our library website www.whplibrary.org and click on the Live Homework Help® ! icon to reach expert tutors in the following subjects:

• Math: elementary, algebra I, algebra II, geometry, trigonometry and calculus
• Science: elementary, earth science, biology, chemistry, physics
• Social studies: American history, world history, political science and more
• English: spelling, grammar, book reports, writing center, and more

Anyone with a West Hempstead Public Library card is eligible for this service, from students in Kindergarten – 12th grades through students taking college introductory level courses - including parents and adult learners.

Use it to get tips for upcoming projects and Science Fairs and prepare for those pesky midterms and finals that are just around the corner!

Don't wait! Give it a try today!

Is the political rhetoric of the Presidential Campaign of 2008 getting you down? How do we know how to evaluate what we hear in the media? What is the truth behind the words and images?

Here are some websites that try to separate fact from fiction:

http://www.factcheck.org/
The Annenberg Political Fact Check is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, "consumer advocate" for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/
The distinguished Washington Post writer Michael Dobbs is the author of The Fact Checker.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/
Truth-O-Meter provides a "scorecard separating fact from fiction."

http://www.nationaljournal.com/
Nonpartisan reporting on the current political environment and emerging policy trends.

http://www.opensecrets.org/
The Center for Responsive Politics tracks money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy.

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/
Information from nationally recognized experts in tax, budget, and social policy.

http://ontheissues.org/
Non-partisan information for voters on issues rather than on personalities and popularity.

Have you heard about our new Book-a-Librarian service?

Whether you need help tracking down consumer information, tracing your family roots, or exploring ideas on what to read next, we can help.

With our Book-a-Librarian service you may reserve a free 30-minute session with a professional reference librarian to help you navigate through the many informational resources available to you in the library, through our catalog, in our databases and on the internet.

Just fill out a Book-a-Librarian Request Form in the library or email or call the Reference Desk at 516-481-6591 to request the service. Each request will be given to a Reference Librarian who will schedule your personal appointment at a mutually convenient time

Book-a-Librarian appointments must be scheduled in advance and are restricted to West Hempstead Public Library cardholders.

February 29, 2008 is a Leap Day, also known as Leap Year Day.

(photo downloaded from Leapzine.com)

Browsing the Internet is a great way to learn about both the science and the traditions associated with Leap Year. Using a search engine, like Google, when you enter the words "Leap Year" you get approximately 2,180,000 results, far more than most people would have the time to research. A quick review of the ten on the first page and a cursory look at the ten on the second page gives a taste of what can be found on the subject.

To help you focus your research, Google has included additional search terms at the bottom of the results page under the heading "Searches related to: Leap Year". Use these hints to modify your own search terms, based on your specific interests. For example, adding "trivia" to your search, reveals a set of appproximately 110,000 results or adding "traditions" reveals another 138,000 results.

The Yahoo search engine also provides related searches under the heading "Also try:..."

These are some of my favorite picks:

Leap Year 101 for an overview.
If you were born on a Leap Day, check out the Leapzine website and Leap Year Capital of the World.
Sadie Hawkins Day which is actually celebrated in November.
Online Conversion Calculator for figuring out which years are Leap Years.

At a recent symposium, local academic and law librarians suggested the following sources if you need information on laws or the policies/issues behind legislation and court decisions:

www.law.cornell.edu
This website is sponsored by Cornell University Law School's Legal Information Institute and covers federal and state laws. You will find easy navigation and helpful links.
www.Findlaw.com
This commercial website provides background information on personal legal matters and can assist you in finding a lawyer.
www.nycourts.gov
This government website provides information on New York State courts. For a layman’s introduction to the NY court system, click on the COURT HELP link on the bottom row of the options.
http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/research/index.cfm
This resource, sponsored by Georgetown University Law School provides topical guides, legal research techniques and much more.

Of course, for serious personal legal issues, the best course is to seek legal counsel.

Here are some reliable resources for classroom assignments related to biomes.

Some are Reference Books (for use only in the library). Others are Non-Fiction Books you can check out (Use the Dewey numbers to find them). Database links may be used in the library or from home to access resources such as Groliers New Book of Popular Science.
We have also included a select list of web sites. (Point to the links with your mouse to open the websites.)

Questions? Need help using these research tools? Call the reference desk (481-6591), drop in, or ask a reference librarian.

April is National Poetry Month!

In April of 2007, we celebrate the holidays of Passover and Easter with closings on Friday, April 6 and Sunday, April 8. A late opening is scheduled on April 19 for a staff meeting. On that day, the doors will open at noon. HAPPY SPRING!

Two Tramps in Mud Time (1936)

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March.

by Robert Frost (1874–1963)
as quoted in Infoplease.com