Welcome to the NIOGA Library System Outreach Blog!

This was created to help in disiminating all the information I receive and hear about in my travels and hope this will make it easier for NIOGA member libraries to stay updated on outreach related information. Please comment and let me know what you think or share your ideas…and thanks for visiting!

Jennifer Morris, NIOGA Outreach Librarian

About Outreach Services

Outreach Services are mandated by the New York State Department of Education as a way to provide library services to target populations who are most in need and who often are not regular library users.

NIOGA targeted outreach populations:

• Individuals who are 65+ years old
• Individuals with visual, physical, or developmental disabilities
• Residents of institutional facilities
• Ethnic minorities
• Individuals with an educational disadvantage
• Job Seekers
• Individuals who are geographically isolated
• Incarcerated individuals and individuals with criminal records

The NIOGA Library System is a non-profit cooperative library system serving the public libraries in three counties. The library system takes its name from the counties that it serves – Niagara, Orleans and Genesee. The system, which consists of twenty-one public libraries, is one of twenty-three similar systems in New York State. It receives most of its financial support through the New York State Department of Education. The NIOGA Library System, which was chartered in 1958, helps to provide improved informational services to all residents of its three county area.

• Mission Statement - The mission of the NIOGA Library System is to extend and improve library services to the residents of Niagara, Orleans and Genesee Counties by assisting local libraries in meeting the information needs of their communities through leadership, education, inspiration, and enhanced resource sharing (Adopted September 1994)

• Vision Statement - The vision of the NIOGA Library System is to guide the member libraries through the 21st century by continuous research and implementation of appropriate services and technologies (March 2001).

• Where is NIOGA located? Google Maps

For more information about the NIOGA Library System, please visit http://niogalibrary.org/nioga/info.htm

New York State’s Public Library Systems brochure

CONTACT US

For Outreach Services questions, Large Print and Playaway group loans, or to request gaming equipment (DDR, Guitar Hero III & Wii) please contact:

Jennifer Morris

Outreach Librarian

Phone: 716-434-6167 x29

Fax: 716-434-8231

Email: jmorris@nioga.org

To request all other audio/visual equipment, including Bi-Folkal Kits please contact:

Kathy Horner

Senior Library Clerk

Phone: 716-434-6167 x28

Email: khorn@nioga.org

 

 

Audiobooks, E-readers and Accessibility

News Release from the National Federation of the Blind

Universities Will Not Deploy Kindle DX as Textbook Reader

• And more news from NFB on the partnership between K-NFB Reading Technology and Baker & Taylor.

• E-Reader reviews from Consumer Reports Electronics Blog

 

Orleans Transit Service

George Todd, the new Regional Manager for the Orleans Transit Service gave a presentation at the NY Connects Orleans County meeting yesterday.  Due to my poor note-taking during his talk, I copied some information from the Orleans County website

OTS is one of six regional properties that provide public transportation to the general public, individuals with disabilities and to various Human Service Agencies in the respective region. OTS operates under the umbrella of the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA).

In addition to its Loop Service in Albion and Medina, OTS offers the residents of Orleans County a County-Wide Demand Response Service Monday through Friday. The service provides those individuals who have limited access to private transportation more flexibility to schedule shopping, appointments (doctor, dentist, etc.) and any other visits throughout the County. To make a reservation, residents must call OTS 24 hours prior to the date and time they wish to be picked up. The fare is $3.00 per one-way trip.

more…

More information, including schedules and maps are available on the Orleans Transit Service website.

Community Missions of Niagara Frontier

The presenter at Monday’s Lockport Human Services meeting was Daniel Neal from Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, a non-profit, community-based service agency that provides residential and support services to adults and youth over 18.  Below are just two of the many programs offered that he talked about.

FUTURE VISIONS CLUBHOUSE

A club for people who suffer from a serious mental illness. The purpose is to help individuals participate as full citizens in their community and to provide an environment that is conducive to personal development and growth. Day program offers vocational skills training and life skills enhancements. Evening program develops social skills through recreational participation. Both day and evening programs offer meals and transportation.

Future Visions Clubhouse

344 Walnut Street

Lockport, NY 14094

716-433-1086

DROP IN CENTER

The Drop In Center Program is designed to provide 24 hour face-to-face support to individuals experiencing mental and emotional difficulties, that without supportive crisis intervention may result in emergency room treatment, or possible hospitalization.  The Drop In Center provides support for consumers beyond traditional service hours.

Drop in Center

344 Walnut Street (rear of the building)

Lockport, NY 14094

716-433-6543

My New Favorite Website

News Release from Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina, Inc. and Goodwill Community Foundation:

GCFLEARNFREE.ORG Shows Increase in Online Learning During Tough Economic Times

Raleigh, NC- GCFLearnFree.org has always offered computer and life-skills training 100% free. We’ve had over 650,000 learners take advantage of this opportunity over the years. But during this recent rough economic time, we are seeing a dramatic increase in people signing up for online classes and taking our self-paced tutorials.

This year alone we’ve accommodated over half a million visitors on our English and Spanish sites. In 2009, we’ve already awarded over 1,500 Continuing Education Units in our online classes, which is 65% more than last year at this time. Among our Top 10 tutorials are Computer Basics, Microsoft Excel, Word, and Internet Basics.

Not surprisingly, our Career Development tutorial also continues to be in the Top 10. In this tutorial, learners can get tips on writing resumes and what to expect in an interview as well as other job-seeking strategies.

GCFLearnFree.org’s motto is, “Learn what you want, when you want, absolutely free.” Our program lives up to this motto by offering various ways of learning. Our self-paced tutorials allow a learner to step through a tutorial at their own pace on their own time. Our online classes are for learners who want more structure with guidance from our on-line instructors. At the completion of a class a Certificate of Completion and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are awarded.

GCFLearnFree.org is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) to offer CEUs for these classes. No matter which path a learner chooses, they are able to access all of our materials 24 hours a day at no charge.

We receive regular feedback from users such as, “I loved this class…it was difficult and challenging for me but a real sense of accomplishment followed every ‘Assignment’.” Another user commented, “I really enjoyed the class. Thank you for giving us a place where we can improve our skills for better employment.” And yet another wrote, “I believe that this website is a truly valuable tool. I recommend it to people all the time as a way to learn. The best part is it’s free!!” These are just a few of the testimonials that speak volumes, letting us and others know that we continue to have an impact on the local and global community.

For additional information on the learning opportunities offered by GCFLearnFree.org visit http://www.gcflearnfree.org/.

ABOUT GCFLearnFree.org- GCFLearnFree.org, formerly GCF Global Learning, is owned by the Goodwill Community Foundation, Inc. (”GCF”) and operated on behalf of GCF by Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina, Inc. (GIENC). GCF launched its website in 1999 and quickly began to share our free curriculum with learners all over the world. We believe that quality, innovative education helps people improve the quality of their lives. And through our computer, technology, and life skills training, our learners acquire the skills they need to do this.

Literacy Grant

From the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL):

The Better World Books/NCFL Libraries and Families Award will reward and enhance family programming in library settings. The three $10,000 grants awarded each year will connect more families to their local libraries and expand their literacy efforts in new and innovative ways.

One winner will be chosen from each of the three following categories: local Friends of the Library programs, public/academic libraries and urban libraries.

Free Webinar this Thursday: Understanding the ROI of Social Media

Date & Time: Thursday, August 13, 1:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. (eastern time)
Register: Online

You understand how to track the success of your programs, but when it comes to social media you’re at a loss. How do you show that this new technology is something worth the staff time invested? If you are interested in implementing a social media program (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Digg) but are unsure how to measure the impact or know what success looks like, attend this free TechSoup Talks webinar. Kami Griffiths will interview John Haydon and Chris Garrett to learn more about the impact we can expect to see from these tools, how it can be tracked, and how to adapt to get the most return on your investment.

This webinar is best suited for people new to social media or interested in learning how they can talk about this topic with their Board or Executive team. This will not discuss the specific tools or how they work, but will focus on how to measure their impact. For an overview of social media, watch this TechSoup Talks webinar: Basics for Beginners: Getting Started with Social Media Tools.

Consumer Health Information Specialist Program (CHIS)

The WNYLRC Committee for Health Information Access and the Hospital Library Services Program is pleased to announce the Consumer Health Information Specialist Program (CHIS) through the Medical Library Association.  The deadline to apply is Wednesday August 19th.

A series of three courses to satisfy the requirements (12 credits in approved courses) for the MLA CHIS basic level program (www.mlanet.org/education/chc) is being offered at WNYLRC,  4455 Genesee Street, Buffalo, NY, on Friday, September 18 and on Wednesday, October 14, 2009.

Please see attached program application and descriptions for details.

WNYLRC CHIS Program description

CHIS Program Application

• An application must be completed and submitted before acceptance into the Program.
• Upon notification of successful application, participants will be able to register for the courses on the WNYLRC website.
• Depending upon response, opportunities for individual course registrations may be offered to those not participating in the Program. Details will be forthcoming
• WNYLRC reserves the right to limit participation by institution in the event of a high number of applicants.

For answers to questions, please contact Grace Di Virgilio at gracewnylrc@gmail.com or 716-633-0705 ext. 120

Nioga Fall Outreach Workshop

From the Ground Up: Creating a Successful Volunteer Program

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

9:00 am – 12:00 pm (8:30-9:00 registration)

Presenter:  Deidre Dowling, Nylink Education and Consulting Services Coordinator

For many libraries, volunteers of all types provide vital and needed library services.  Yet, successfully managing and utilizing volunteers can be a challenge.  Questions that need to be considered are: what projects need volunteers?  What types of skills are needed?  Where will this person work?  Is this person the right fit for what we need?  Through discussion and exercises, this seminar will explore how to create the framework necessary for a dynamic volunteer program.

Students will learn:

• The benefits of using volunteers
• The challenges of using volunteers
• The unique characteristics of different types of volunteers and how to address them
• How to design a successful volunteer program
• How to recruit and retain volunteers

Audience:

Anyone who currently has or is planning to have volunteer or student workers

Please register online at http://niogalibrary.org/nioga/workshop.htm

Print PDF Flyer-Nioga Volunteer workshop

Outreach Updates…

The following comes via NYS Library’s Division of Library Development

Libraries Lend A Hand In Recession

In June, NBC’s Today Show aired “Libraries Lend A Hand In Recession,” a segment highlighting the important role of libraries in helping unemployed and underemployed people find work during recessions.

Includes information on NYPL and NYC.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/31237988#31237988

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Visiting the NYC Great Stories Club

A June 16 blog entry to the Programming Librarian entitled “Visiting the NYC Great Stories Club” describes YA author Paul Griffin’s visit to Crossroads juvenile detention center in East New York, Brooklyn. Griffin shares advice he offered to the young writers at the Passages school at Crossroads, as well as his experiences with the kids and staff.

http://www.programminglibrarian.org/blog/2009/june-2009/visiting-the-nyc-great-stories-club.html

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Spanish Language Outreach Program Update

Check out WebJunction’s “Spanish Language Outreach Program Update.”

http://www.webjunction.org/slo-update/-/articles/content/67550501;jsessionid=A908DF1387161F91ADCFD1A52C8FB6FB.oh1xpwjap03_a

Headlines include:

* Webinar: Bilingual Story times to Build Early Literacy

* Latino Perceptions Report Panel at ALA

* Montana SLO Webinar Brings New Resources to WebJunction

* Webinar: Living Libraries, Understanding Diversity

*Criticas Spanish-Language Author and Book Reviews

Download the WebJunction Final Evaluation Report on the national Spanish Language Outreach Program at http://www.webjunction.org/slo-overview-and-reports/articles/content/33794240

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2009 NYLA Conference: Diversity Fair

NYLA has released the list of exhibits/presentations for the Diversity Fair at the upcoming conference (October 14 – 17)  in Niagara Falls. The Diversity Fair showcases successful diversity projects in New York’s libraries and offers examples for libraries that are searching for ideas appropriate to their communities.

http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=1799

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“Getting a Job in a Tough Economy” — New ALA Web Site

[ALA's] “Getting a Job in a Tough Economy” toolkit is an interactive website with tips, narrative and suggested links and readings, a blog, podcasts, time lines and activities/checklists for new librarians and support staff, those looking to change position, people who have been laid off, and others who are having difficulty finding the right position.” http://www.getajob.ala.org/

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Career Connections by ALA — New Resource for Library Careers

ALA’s Career Connections is an online community “To help librarians at all career stages advance in their careers and meet, mentor and connect with their peers.” Log in and upload your resume and cover letter to receive peer advice and optimize your chances for landing your next job.

http://connect.ala.org/node/68527

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“Libraries to the Rescue” Podcast — IMLS Interview with Bernard Margolis

The Institute of Museum and Library Services recently interviewed NY State Librarian Bernard Margolis, along with four other State Librarians, to discuss steps that libraries have taken to help their communities. The interview was part of a podcast called “Libraries to the Rescue”.

http://www.imls.gov/resources/podcasts_Jun09.shtm

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Libraries and Autism: We’re Connected.

The Scotch Plains Public Library and the Fanwood Memorial Library, both in New Jersey, produced a customer service video for library staff to help them serve individuals with autism and their families more effectively.

The video and related resources can be found at http://thejointlibrary.org/autism/

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VETERANS INFORMATION@your library

Find out all about the new GI BILL that will go into effect August 1, 2009. ALA has created a wiki to be used as a tool to locate various types of veteran’s information.

http://wo.ala.org/veteransinfo/index.php?title=Main_Page