WLS Director's Blog

WLS Legislative Breakfast

2008-06-22T14:46:00.003-04:00

On June 20th WLS hosted its first Legislative Breakfast to thank and acknowledge the many State and County legislators who have provided critical funding to WLS and its 38 member libraries. Through increased support for construction to important operating support that helps WLS provide important services to its member libraires our legislators have proven to be stalwart supporters of libraries and library services.

In the photo are State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer (second row center-white shirt), State Assemblywoman Sandy Galef (second row - Rose jacket), State Assemblyman George Latimer (second row-far right), County Legislators Tom Abinanti (last row-blue jacket) and Bill Burton (front center). From WLS are Board President Patricia Fontanella (front left) and myself (behind Tish Fontanella)

WLS's New Bookmobile has arrived

2008-06-13T18:52:00.004-04:00

We are currently taking the time to test and kick the tires, load it up with books and other library materials and technology. We expect to be on the road after the 4th of July. Look for it in a community near you.

Interesting effect of the Internet on research

2008-06-11T10:04:00.002-04:00

http://blog.wired.com/business/2008/06/ency.html

Attached is an interesting article on the overall effect of the Internet as a research tool and its impact on traditional reference resources.

Enjoy

Congratulations to Mary Louise Cox

2008-05-23T15:48:00.005-04:00

A very good friend of the Westchester Library System and the Mamaroneck Special Legislative Library District, Mary Louise Cox, has been named Mamaroneck's first Poet Laureate. We are truly thrilled for Mary Louise. Her poetry is quite expressive and beautiful.

In 2007 Mary Louise published a collection of her poems from 1935-2007 entitled Shards. Following is a selection from that collection:

Pretendings

After all these years
I still awaken
before
dawn
pretending
it's my turn on watch
as the world spins into light.
Until the sky
brightens
I pretend it's up to me
to see that the world
is kept safe.
I have wished
all these years that pretending
had more power!

Congratulations Mary Louise! You deserve it.

WLS Catalog versus WLS website

2008-05-13T17:07:00.003-04:00

During the month of May 2008 WLS posted an open-ended question on our website which asked visitors what they thought of our new website. The overwhelming number of respondents (approximately 30) commented on issues searching the WLS catalog which in all honesty will take us a while to solve. Many, however, commented on the challenges using the search function at the top of the left side of the home page. Please know that we are currently working on addressing this issue to include an easier way to find the materials you are actually looking for rather than be bounced to yet another search function. We are also reinstating the bestsellers list for adults, and will now expand the bestseller list to include teen and children's titles as well. Finally, per a number of comments, we are also looking at amending some of the categories in the "Online Resources" section. All in all, within a short period of time, many of the recommendations should be addressed in some fashion.

Please keep writing to let us know how to keep the website and catalog useful tools to help meet your educational, recreational and other interests.

Earth Day

2008-04-24T11:46:00.003-04:00

I recently came across a wonderful article regarding going green with your computer. It has helpful hints about shutting down, sleeping, or hibernating your computer when you're not using it, printing tips and suggestions for reducing the not-so-obvious drain on energy of all your computer peripherals. Click on the title of this blog (Earth Day) for the link to retrieve the article. As always, you should visit your local library for books, cds and dvd's which promote awareness of Earth Day and a more green environment.

Second Health Advocacy Resource Center Opens

2008-04-02T19:18:00.002-04:00

The Westchester Library System (WLS), in partnership with the Medicare Rights Center and the Sarah Lawrence College Health Advocacy Program, recently opened its second Health Advocacy Resource Center in Westchester County, located at the John C. Hart Memorial Library in Shrub Oak. The Health Advocacy Resource Center, a library-based health information center, was established to help older adults and their caregivers to navigate the confusing maze of health care information. It’s the first program of its kind to integrate a counseling component.

The first Center, located at the Grinton I. Will Branch Library in Yonkers, opened in November 2007. Both locations represent a new type of service for libraries and a unique collaboration among the project’s partners. Visitors to the Center have access to the vast array of WLS print and on-line health care resources, with guidance from trained volunteer counselors. The counselors assist older adults and their caregivers in finding up-to-date and reliable information and answer questions about health care, prescriptions, insurance coverage and claims, and other health topics.

Another resource of the Center is the interactive Health Advocacy Workshops, which are designed to train people to be health advocates for themselves and their peers. Among the topics addressed at these workshops are how to speak up for yourself and how to navigate a hospital stay.

Volunteer counselors are trained on Internet search techniques for consumer health information as well as on the WLS library system and health-related links on the WLS website. The Medicare Rights Center provided 15 hours of training, including how to use Medicare Interactive Counselor, its online resource for all Medicare information. The faculty of the Sarah Lawrence Health Advocacy Program provides expertise and assistance when volunteer counselors encounter questions that were not covered in their training. Additionally, the Medicare Rights Center offers a hotline staffed by trained counselors who can help people with complex issues, such as Medicare-related appeals.