The Promise of Libraries | NoveList Blog | EBSCOhost

by Duncan Smith   
 
The library is not a building. It is not stacks of books or even a dedicated staff. It is a promise.  

The library is where a boy finds the Redwall series, goes on to become an engineer and has Brian Jacques’ world-building in the back of his mind as he constructs facilities for research institutes and health care.

It is a woman who when she reads Queen Sugar sees the parallels between Charley’s journey back home to a Louisiana sugar-cane farm and her own homecoming. Who recognizes that her work to revitalize down-town Durham is an extension of her own self-renewal. 

The library is a researcher who works to find ways to enrich the lives of children with autism and as he pours over his latest batch of data, Connelly’s Harry Bosch is peering over his shoulder lending his investigative skills.

The library is the covenant that a community makes with its citizens to provide them with opportunities that awaken new perspectives; validate their identity; provide reassurance, comfort, confirmation of their self-worth; help them see their connection to others and convey an awareness of not being alone; gives them courage to make a change; and increases their acceptance of themselves and others.

This week, in honor of National Library Week, I am rededicating myself -- and committing NoveList -- to helping you keep the promise that is the library. Let's help people find the books that inspire them to be their best selves.

Webinar: RA Programming for Kids
May 14, 2015,  2pm ET

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''The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers,''

Who needs a lawyer - we've got Gale Legal Forms - with Virginia and U.S. forms.

This is a huge database of legal forms, with more forms being added daily. There are forms for bankruptcy, bill of sale, contracts, divorce, landlord tenant, living wills, name change, power of attorney, real estate, sample letters, tax forms, last will and testament, and much more.

So, if you're getting married, renting a house, need to get bids from a contractor -- there is a form here for that. There are also Sample Letters, for all sorts of topics, so do Browse through that Category.

First search for the form you need, and if there is a form specifically for the State of Virginia, it will show in the results. Example: Name Change forms. If not, the form is accepted in most states of the U.S. Example:  Pet Sitting Agreement.

Or you get the combo platter - try a search for Bill of Sale Auto. There are some VA specific forms plus U.S. forms for additional situations.

Next, repeat after me:  "I'm sorry, but Library staff cannot give legal advice."  It's important to remember that while staff can assist patrons in searching this database, we can't advise on which form to use...just like with tax forms.

So, the next time a patron asks for a book of legal forms - think Gale Legal Forms. See our Resource Portal About page for more details. You can also direct them to the Lawyers page too!

So, I guess we really can't kill all the lawyers...BTW did you know this quote from Shakespeare was meant as a "compliment to attorneys and judges who instill justice in society" ?

Zinio Launches Great Improvements on March 10, 2015

How can Zinio get any better? By Making Things Easier! 6 New Changes

One Account

1. New Zinio Patrons now only need to create a SINGLE account to checkout and read their magazines (they no longer need to create a separate Zinio.com account) Current Zinio users no longer need the second account at Zinio.com

 HTML5 Viewer for PC/Mac

2.  Allows patrons to read their magazines right from a web browser (NO need to download the Zinio Reader software or app)

* Compatible with PC – IE10+, Chrome and Firefox
* Compatible with Mac – Safari, Chrome and Firefox
This is great news, since choosing and checking out a mag title still has to be done via the browser at our Zinio Collection site.


NEW Zinio for Libraries READ ONLY Apps


3.  Download this NEW app, (be sure it says "For Libraries") and Login with your existing library account to download and read selected magazines offline. You shouldn't have to Re-Login after this.

* Currently available for iPad and Android devices only - Coming soon for iPhone and Kindle Fire HD/HDX
* iPhone and iPod touch later this year.

Bye bye, Zinio.com!
4. Patrons may continue to use the Zinio.com app to manage their purchased collection – If patrons have magazines they purchased, they may still access them along with magazines they have checked out from your library by using the Zinio.com app.  Zinio.com apps will continue to be available for iPhone, Kindle Fire HD/HDX, Win8, PC, MAC

Fewer Steps to find and read a magazine
5.  Patrons can now manage their magazine collection from our own Zinio Library collection page – They will no longer be required to leave the site and go to Zinio.com to manage their collection.

Expanded Browse and Manage Display
6.  Patrons are now able set their own search preference to display 16, 40, 100 magazines at a time, by magazine cover or list view.


Get all the info about Zinio for Libraries from our Zinio page
Or zip on over to our own Zinio Collection site

If you haven't already tried Zinio - get with it!  Free magazines to read instantly on your computer, or to download and keep...Only the public library has deals like this  :)

Questions?  ask Sally...Or watch this video which explains all the new features.

Problems?
Please report any problems you discover with the new MMD Ticketing systems:  SQUIRREL / Report a Problem / Materials Management / Premium Sites

For Patron problems - please always direct them to the HELP link at the bottom of each Zinio page - for  Support directly from the  RB Digital vendor.

lynda.com - now from home or work!

It Finally Happened! 

Patrons can NOW access our lynda.com subscription outside the Library, 24/7.  

Yes, it has some new quirks --like ALWAYS needing a Library card and PIN--EVEN in the Library. It may seem annoying but licensing for lynda.com is very strict, so that's how we have to do it, or we couldn't have remote access.

Once a patron (and staff can be patrons too!) has Logged in with a valid card and PIN, they create a separate (free) lynda.com profile. Once you've created your own personal profile, you'll notice that lynda.com is remembering your profile name--as soon as you enter your card and PIN.

That's why it's so important about valid Library cards. And why you can't just "share" a cardnumber with a visitor who's dying to see lynda.com in action.

The Good News?

• This profile will keep track of which video was last viewed, where it left off, etc. 
• You can make Playllists of things you want to watch later or...find easily.
• Certificates of Completion will now be available from a lynda profile...once a complete course has been viewed, naturally.
• Any exercises for a course can now be downloaded easily.
• An entry in the Library catalog!  Keyword searches for relevant topics show lynda.com in the results. Try a search for web design or job search.  Just be sure to use the Format limiter for Premium Site

Is lynda.com new to you?  See our Topic Guide for more details.

What's Next?
Today it's live, but without any big fanfare or announcements on our website.  We'll be doing lots of marketing starting next week.  I'll send around some flyers to each branch.

So you have some time to get to know lynda.com yourself. There are over 3,000 videos on all sorts of topics...and plenty to learn :)  Me, I'm starting with a Time Management course.


Questions?  Let me know
Problems?  Please report in the Ticketing options on Squirrel.


Sally

Helping our readers find books they like

A Valentine from NoveList - our catalog just got even more helpful thanks to new NoveList Select (NLS) content. NLS is the source of most of what appears in the full record display for most fiction titles--all intended to help users (and staff!) find something they *want* to read that's ALSO available.

You Might Also Like These, GoodReads ratings/reviews,
Recommended Lists & Articles from NoveList--these we already have appearing

View full record for To Kill a Mockingbird

Now, they've just added Appeal Factors and Lexile matching.

The real deal clincher for the NLS links in our catalog--they should ONLY link to titles we OWN and that are AVAILABLE!
If you run across a link that ISN"T Available--let me know right away.

Appeal Factors and Lexiles





Any links under Appeal can lead you to similar titles.



 I do the best I can, but I'm not a YS Librarian. As for Lexiles...well, some librarians (um, not me) know these well and how to use them.

But NLS has made Lexiles a searchable feature in our catalog, just by clicking on the Lexile listed for a book ...THAT I can manage.
See these titles in our catalog for examples of these:
Harry Potter and the half blood prince  or The Crossover or The adventures of Beekle  For adult readers, especially when searching for more "gentle reads" like  The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency  or Chestnut Street

What does this mean to you?
Well, when we have a parent or child at the desk, and they (or their auntie) just loved such and such book, and want to read all the other books just like it...we now have an even better chance or finding something for them.

If you enjoy Reader's Advisory, you can sign up  for the free NoveList newsletter, or take free webinars on things like book display. It's all about getting books into the hands of our patrons.  And don't forget to use the full-on NoveList from our Premium Sites! While it covers more than titles in our own catalog, it has more features and searchable options.

Why are the NoveList links and entries better than the average computerized recommendations?

Because they are created by people. NoveList staff actively catalog, curate and create new information about books.
Me, I love technology.  I love it when Amazon suggests more books like the one I gave someone as a gift....But I love it more when smart people make it easier for libraries to help their patrons, and use technology to do it.

I ♥ NoveList

Questions about NoveList or any of our Premium Sites?
Ask Sally!

Value Line Investment Survey - Print edition dropped.

The News
Starting January, 2015, we will no longer get any print copies of the Value Line Investment Survey and these other Value Line publications. 

This decision was made after two years of evaluation of the decrease in use for the print edition - balanced against the rising cost of the print subscriptions.

In addition, we have seen a large increase of usage of our online Value Line Investment Center in recent years. As a result, we opted to cancel the print Value Line Investment Survey.

Note that this reflects the longstanding trend for publishers and libraries alike - moving from print to online. For example, the publisher of the Morningstar report ceased publication of its print edtion, and only provides online access now.

What's good to know

Access to the Value Line Investment Survey is available 24/7 from the Research Portal and offers additional functionality beyond the print editions such as screeners, the ability to sort, etc.  It is also well suited to tablets and iPads.

Patrons who do not have computers can visit any branch for access.  If they wish, they can visit the DC Public or the Falls Church Mary Riley Styles Library to read the print ed. of the Investment Survey.

To help with this transition

See our Value Line webpage for tips and tutorials. - where you can feel free to print this tip sheet 

Find it quickly in the Library catalog - Value Line Investment Survey

Patrons are also encouraged to attend this class at Central, on January 13, 2015 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Tech Class: Free Tools for Investors-Value Line and Morning Star

While instructions on using Value Line is NOT a Tech Help appointment option, patrons CAN book an appointment with Business Librarian Alexandra Fox, from the Ask a Librarian page. They should indicate in Box #7 that this is for a Value Line tutorial.

If any patrons have more questions than covered here, they should contact:

Alexandra Fox, Business Librarian
Sally Dewey, Electronic Resources Manager

(Central Staff, please give them a business card)

Finally - the records in the catalog still indicate the print titles are being received.  This will be updated soon.



Interested in this trend? Check it out

In what movie did  Dr. Egon Spengler declare "Print is dead."

If you guessed 1984's Ghostbusters - you are right!
While that was fairly prescient, how about....

"The economics of publishing on the Web is prompting a shift from ownership of a local print copy to access to a remote electronic copy. It is more efficient for
publishers or vendors to host content on the Web, in a location that users can access from any place at any time, than to sustain the print model, where materials are printed, distributed, bound, and retained locally. Libraries are questioning the need to retain print copies locally when material is reliably available online."
The Council on Library and Information Resources
pub115, III. TRENDS IN ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING; April 2003

More recent
The Current Budget Environment and its Impact on Libraries, Publishers and Vendors, T Collins - Journal of library administration, 2012 - Taylor & Francis

Zinio - New Year, New Titles Added!

In case you didn't know, Zinio digital (and downloadable) magazines are one of the most popular items in the eCollection basket. This is likely to continue in 2015 because the Collection Development folks just added 20 new titles which are sure to please. You can find these already appearing on our Zinio collection page, where holdings will begin with the current issue (no backfile.)  If you start with our own Zinio page, you can click on the link to see the PDF list of all current titles. Tip:  this is a fast way to tell if we're currently receiving a certain title or not.  Here are the new titles:

Allure
The Artist's Magazine
Brides
Conde Nast Traveler
Diabetes Forecast
FamilyFun
Games
Glamour
Harper's Bazaar
HGTV Magazine
KIWI Magazine
Lucky
The New Yorker
SELF
TV Guide Magazine
Teen Vogue
Vanity Fair
Vogue
WIRED
Writer's Digest

Of course, we see other titles going away...although in Zinio fashion they will still appear on our Zinio site with back issues only.  These were either withdrawn by the publisher or dropped due to very low usage:

Bloomberg Businessweek-Europe Edition
chickaDEE   
Cosmopolitan en Espanol
Familia Saludable
Girls' Life
Good Housekeeping-BuenHogar
Interweave Knits
Ladies Home Journal 
Nation
Publishers Weekly
Quien    
Scholastic Parent & Child
Ser Padres
Seventeen - Mexico
Vanidades USA
Vibe Magazine

Once you get used to it, checking out and downloading magazines doesn't seem so tricky.  But if you've never done it -- be sure to check out our own Zinio page -- and download the Zinio Step by Step handout before you start.

For patrons who might need help getting started--let them know they can book a Tech Help appointment. (And when you want to find that booking page--remember to click on the Ask a Librarian website link at the upper right corner.)

Me, I'm busy reading the latest issue of the New Yorker on my Kindle Fire--woo hoo!