Reference@TBML

Myspace / Facebook Smackdown! @ Branigan Library

Myspace, Facebook--Which one is better?  Thomas Branigan Memorial Library invites teens in grades 6-12 to attend this program on the differences between the social networking sites Myspace and Facebook.  The two-part program will be on October 22 and 29, 2009 from 7:00-8:00pm in the Computer Training Lab. 

We will create profiles, discuss the differences between the two networks, offer up tips and advice on improving personal pages, and talk about providing personal information and general safe use. 

In-person pre-registration is required, as well as a signed parental permission slip.  For more information call the Young Adult department at 528-4102. Teens can sign up for the program at the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library Young Adult Department.

Download the flyer here.  Download Myspace102209

Columbus Day Closings

Thomas Branigan Memorial Library will be closed on Monday, October 12th.

The library will observer regular hours on Saturday, October 10th and Sunday, October 11th.

Saturday hours are from 10 AM-6 PM and Sunday hours are from 1-5 PM.

New York Times Best Sellers in September

Are you interested in reading the latest New York Times Best Seller only to find out there is a long waiting list for it? After you have added your name to the list, why not read other New York Times Best Sellers that you may have missed while you wait. Well now is your chance!

This month, Branigan Public Library is featuring New York Times Best Sellers from the early 1990’s in its What Do I Read Next book display located on the wall between the fiction and non-fiction selves.  Each month, the What Do I Read Next book display features library material with a different theme.  Just ask one of our librarians to direct you to this display or to help you with any other reading suggestions.

Some of the material featured this month includes:

The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum

Sum of All Fears by Tom Clancy

Four Past Midnight by Stephen King

The Civil War by Geoffrey Ward with Ric and Den Burns

Chutzpahby Alan Dershowitz

Den of Thieves by James Stewart

VM

Picturing America

 

Paul Revere, 1768--John Singleton Copley

Thomas Branigan Memorial Library will host a print collection of America’s most notable art works.  The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded this important grant to the library and will bring works of American art to schools, libraries and communities throughout the country.  Picturing America allows us us to understand and experience America’s history through its art. This exhibit will be held at the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library’s Terrace Gallery during the entire month of September.  We invite everyone to experience this cultural event. 

The Terrace Gallery is located on the second floor of the library and will be open: 8 AM-9 PM Monday-Thursday, 8 AM-6 PM Friday, 10 AM-6PM Saturday, and 1-5 PM Sunday.

Anyone who will require accommodation for a disability to attend this event, please notify the library 48 hours in advance at 528-4005 or 528-4008 TTY. 

Visit the Picturing America site online for more detailed information the program, art, and American History.

Computer Classes in September at Branigan Library

Download the flyer here: Download September 2009 Computer Classes

Registration begins at 8 A.M. on Tuesday, September 1, 2009.
Registration will be IN PERSON ONLY from 8-9 A.M.
After 9 A.M. telephone and online registration will be accepted.
Call 528-4005 or 528-4026 to register or to ask a question. 
Visit our online Events Calendar for more information or to register after 9 AM. 
Class size is limited to 6 participants.
Registration is required to attend all classes
Participants are allowed to register for 2 classes and 1 Practice sessions per person

September Classes

Know Your PC—Group 1
A Three-Part Class
Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16
11-1 PM

Know Your PC—Group 2
A Three-Part Class
Fridays, Sept. 4, 11, 18
9-11 AM

Know Your PC—Group 3
A Three-Part Class
Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16
2-4 PM

Internet for Beginners—Group 1
A Three-Part Class
Thursdays, Sept. 3, 10, 17
1-3 PM

Internet for Beginners—Group 2
A Three-Part Class
Fridays, Sept. 4, 11, 18
1-3 PM

Internet for Beginners—Group 3
A Three-Part Class
Tuesdays, Sept 8, 15, 22
9-11 AM

New Media and You
A Two-Part Class
Wednesdays, Sept. 23, 30
2-4 PM

Email For Beginners
A Two-Part Class
Wednesdays, Sept. 23, 30
9-11 AM

Know Your Library Online
A Single Class
Thursday, Sept. 10
9-11 AM

Word 2007—Group 1
A Three-Part Class
Tuesdays, Sept. 8, 15, 22
1-3 PM

Word 2007—Group 2
A Three-Part Class
Mondays, Sept. 14, 21, 28
9-11 AM

Excel 2007
A Three-Part Class
Wednesdays, Sept. 9, 16, 23
6:30-8:30 PM

Practice Sessions
(Register for 1)
Single Sessions
Mondays, Sept. 14, 21, 28
1-3 PM

BES

More for iPod Users on the Library's eAudiobooks Database

Our 24/7 online library just got a little bigger!  The library's eAudiobook database is already full ofgreat titles on audiobook and now, we are pleased to announce that over 1,200 new titles are available to iPod users.  

This means that a greater number of eAudiobook files are now in the MP3 format.  For some of you, the different types of files may be a new concept.  Here is ashort breakdown of the file types:  WMA (Windows Media Audio) files are encoded with DRM (Digital Rights Management) which restricts access to users.  WMA files may only be used on Windows-based systems and Windows-based media players.  MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3) files are compatible with almost any system or media player (including iPods) and comes DRM-free, or with no user restrictions. 

And for those of you just hearing about our eAudiobook database for the first time, read on for a brief summary of the service.  eAudiobooks is a database full of audiobooks for your computer or portable media player.  You may either access the database using our online gateway (allows you to download to your computer and then transfer to your portable device) or download the Netlibrary MediaCenter (which allows you to download directly to your device).  eAudiobooks may be checked out for 21 days (no late fees!) and you may check out 10 eAudiobooks at one time.  Download this flyer for more information:  Download Eaudio HANDOUT

Feel free to stop by our Media Department to talk with our knowledgeable staff about the eAudiobook database.

BES

A Media Dispatch: Patron Suggestions

Suggestion boxes are a tried and true way to get feedback from the people we are serving.  The Media Department has kept a suggestions box since 2005 and has received all kinds of requests and comments.  While going over these suggestions, we noticed that several were repeated over and over again.  Here are a few (with responses) from the vaults:

Why don’t you buy the latest blockbuster movie releases?
 The number one reason we do not chase the latest and greatest movie releases is money.  The library’s media budget is small and has to pay for movies as well as audio books and music. Additionally, the goal of our media department is to complement the big commercial video rentals, not compete with them.  To read more about what the library collects read Media collection development policy, click here.

Why can’t you shelve the CD audio books separately from the tape audio books, or keep the DVDs separated from the VHS tapes?
There are two main reasons; one is that our space is quite limited and breaking out items into separate areas eats up more space. And secondly (and more importantly), we are a library and libraries tracing back to their inception are about classifying and organizing collections.  They are organized to allow anyone to locate any specific item by using the key (the library catalog) breaking these item apart by format creates confusion as to exactly where the item is located.

Why don’t you shelve the fiction by genre?
 Shelving by genre can get very messy very quickly.  Just assigning one genre can be too subjective.  For example, what I consider a horror film someone else might consider just a mystery. Shelving by title is straightforward and there is no confusion as to where the movie might be. Again, the library gives you a key to the shelves and that key is the library catalog.  In the case of movies, you can search by genre, title, and author (which in the case of a movie can be an actor, the director, or the producer).

Why aren’t you adding new audio books on cassette to the collection?
The companies which produce audio books are no longer offering new titles on cassette.  See this post for more information.

Please can you get Rosetta Stone?
No, the reason being Rosetta Stone is a software to learn a language and is licensed for home use not for the multi-use check out of a library. 

Why can't you give me a paper list of every DVD the library owns?
We do not generate paper lists because a paper list would be expensive to print.  There are currently over 1000 Fiction DVDs in the library collection and it would be incorrect the moment it is printed (items are constantly being removed from and added to the collection daily).

Why can’t I get a list of new items?
The library generates several monthly lists of items.  This "Featured Items" list is available through our catalog or from the "Catalog" link on the Library's Home Page Library.  Click here to see the lists.

I suggested that you buy a movie.  What happened to that suggestion?
All media suggestions are reviewed and if we deem a movie as fitting within our collection guidelines and we have the money, we buy it.  If you make a suggestion and you want to know what happens to that suggestion, please, please, PLEASE attach your name and a way to contact you.  Also, consider using this form to suggest a purchase.  If we decide to purchase a media item and we have your name, we’ll put you on hold for the item—it’s that easy! 

EV

Between the Pages of TBML Books: We Kid You Not

Here at the library, we love it when people check out books, read them, AND return them.  It makes us a happy group of library workers to see people in our community reading and sharing with others.  But when your business is books, you tend to see the dark side of reading too--in this case, what passes as a bookmark.  Our Circulation Staff has seen all manner of items used as a bookmark and then returned in the book.  Below is a short list of the common and not-so-common items we have discovered between the pages of TBML books.  Enjoy!  And check your book before you return it!

Driver’s Licenses
Library Cards
Another Book
Prayer / Memory Cards
Embarrassing Photos
Post Cards
Menu for Chico’s Taqueria in Farmington
Folded Toilet Paper
Q-Tips
Sonogram Pictures
Bills
Pencils/Pens
Social Security Check
Cash
Wedding Invitations
Beef Jerky
Candy Wrappers/Popsicle Sticks
Receipts
Birthday Cards
Sticks and Leaves

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Trying to find the next book in your favorite series?  That task is now easier thanks to the library's NoveList Plus Database.  Using NoveList Plus is easy.  Simply select NoveList Plus from the list of databases on the library's Databases Page.  Once in the database, type in the series name or author's name in the Find box.  After a list of titles appears, simply click the series title from the right side of the page.  This will display a complete list of titles within the series. 

Another helpful feature of NoveList Plus is the lists of award winners.  NoveList Plus lists several popular awards such as the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Awards, Agatha Awards and the Caldecott Honor Books.  To find award winners, click on the Award Winners link under the appropriate age group on the menu on the left side of the page.  A list of award topics will be displayed from which to select.  Once an award topic is selected simply select the award name and year to find the list of titles.

For more assistance on how to use NoveList Plus, please feel free to speak to a Reference Librarian in the library, call us at 529-4026, or email us at braniganreference@gmail.com.

VM

Building Improvements Update

We’re continuing to improve to serve you better here at the Branigan Library.  This summer our HVAC system was replaced so that we’re cooling better and more efficiently.  I’m sure you’ve noticed other construction activities as well.  As soon as the project to improve accessibility around the outside of the library was completed a new project was started. 

This one incorporates legislative funding designated for building expansion and to increase space for children’s programming.  The Kiva Room, adjacent to the Children’s Room, is being renovated to make it more practical for all kinds of programs.  The room has always been equipped with a great puppet theater, but the room was not the best for small children or older people.  The steps around the room will be eliminated so the floor will be level and the ceiling will be raised to create a more spacious and safe environment for small scale programs.

A new meeting room is being constructed on the Campo Street side of the building.  The current meeting room (Dresp Room) on the first floor will be converted to a public computing area to eliminate the crowding we now experience with the configuration of our public access computers.  The room will be completely redone.  New wall, window and floor treatments will offer a much more pleasant and relaxed atmosphere for our users. 

Our goal is to make the Branigan Library experience more pleasant and hope in the near future to continue with our plans for improving both the building and service.

--Kathleen Teaze, Library Administrator