Goshen Public Library & Historical Society | 203 Main St Goshen, NY 10924 | Phone: 845.294.6606 | Fax: 845.294.7158 | RCLS MemberWith school just around the corner--and homework inevitably to follow--the Reference staff here at the Goshen Public Library would like to remind students that homework help is near at hand. By accessing our website at www.goshenpubliclibrary.org, and rolling your mouse over the Reference tab, then clicking the General Reference tab, the user will be presented with a list of databases. Under the "General" tab, there is a cluster of databases geared specifically toward those seeking information on the high school and college level, and a second geared toward younger students up through sixth grade. This installment will attempt to offer an overview of the virtues of just one product from the first group, Gale Expanded Academic ASAP.
This is an excellent general resource culling full-text articles from a variety of fields, including the hard sciences and technology; the humanities and social sciences; the arts, and more. The articles offered are from a spectrum of resources--including both consumer-oriented magazines and academic journals. For any Internet savvy user, the interface is quite friendly and the database fairly easy to navigate. Articles can be accessed in several ways: by subject, keyword, or specified journal title. Subject searches are often the most fruitful--but sometimes a little tricky for the beginner. Keyword searches are easier, but less accurate--often resulting in a long list of "hits" -- a fraction of which end up actually useful. Keyword searches can be confined to the title/citation/abstract. To cast an even wider net, one can include a search of the full text. A third way to navigate the database is by journal title. This feature allows the user to pull up a specific journal and browse its contents by publication date. It sometimes takes a combination of these three approaches to really get the most out of this excellent database, but the effort is almost always worth it. If you would like a quick tutorial, feel free to stop by the Reference Desk or call 294-6606.
This is an excellent general resource culling full-text articles from a variety of fields, including the hard sciences and technology; the humanities and social sciences; the arts, and more. The articles offered are from a spectrum of resources--including both consumer-oriented magazines and academic journals. For any Internet savvy user, the interface is quite friendly and the database fairly easy to navigate. Articles can be accessed in several ways: by subject, keyword, or specified journal title. Subject searches are often the most fruitful--but sometimes a little tricky for the beginner. Keyword searches are easier, but less accurate--often resulting in a long list of "hits" -- a fraction of which end up actually useful. Keyword searches can be confined to the title/citation/abstract. To cast an even wider net, one can include a search of the full text. A third way to navigate the database is by journal title. This feature allows the user to pull up a specific journal and browse its contents by publication date. It sometimes takes a combination of these three approaches to really get the most out of this excellent database, but the effort is almost always worth it. If you would like a quick tutorial, feel free to stop by the Reference Desk or call 294-6606.
Across the Support Services Desk - Debbie Maynard
Migration at the Goshen Public Library
As a member of the Ramapo Catskill Library System, the Goshen Library will be upgrading to the new software system Horizon on August 18.
This means that catalog screens may look different. In order to accomplish this, the library will be offline August 15-18. During that time, we will only be checking out materials. A library card will be needed to check out library materials. From August 15-18, the online catalog will not be available and circulation staff will not be able to check in library materials.
New holds can’t be placed from August 1 through about August 21. (Holds already in the system will be kept and processed in the order they were received.) Holds will resume on August 22.
Once Horizon is in place, it may take a little more time checking in or out as our staff becomes familiar with the new software. The result will be an improved catalog.
Thank you for your patience during this transition and please remember your library card when checking out materials.
As a member of the Ramapo Catskill Library System, the Goshen Library will be upgrading to the new software system Horizon on August 18.
This means that catalog screens may look different. In order to accomplish this, the library will be offline August 15-18. During that time, we will only be checking out materials. A library card will be needed to check out library materials. From August 15-18, the online catalog will not be available and circulation staff will not be able to check in library materials.
New holds can’t be placed from August 1 through about August 21. (Holds already in the system will be kept and processed in the order they were received.) Holds will resume on August 22.
Once Horizon is in place, it may take a little more time checking in or out as our staff becomes familiar with the new software. The result will be an improved catalog.
Thank you for your patience during this transition and please remember your library card when checking out materials.
Summer Wrap-Up
453 members, over 3000 books read, and over 1000 kids attending programs are just some of the statistics for our "Tune In At Your Library" 2005 summer reading program. Members listened and danced to music, made musical instruments and learned a bit about the history of music and even did some experiments to learn about the science of sound. We read books, made crafts, played games and enjoyed performers as part of the summer’s fun. Children received stickers, prizes and many pats on the back for their reading efforts; and hopefully, they also realized that a good book can be one of their most exciting and enjoyable summer "playmates."
This highly successful program could not happen without help and support from a variety of sources. Programs and materials were made possible in part by funds provided by the Friends of the Goshen Public Library. Several local businesses donated prizes, including Bank of New York, Ask Tamara, Linda's Office Supply, Burger King, NY Renaissance Faire, and Liz's Hair Salon. The participation and cooperation of parents, staff, kids and teen volunteers also helped insure a program that was in tune with the fun and enjoyment that our club members have come to expect when they sign up each summer. Thanks also to Daria Murphy, Christine Banuls and Sally Sopalsky for the use of the Scotchtown Avenue Elementary School Library and their assistance in running the Jivey Jammers programs. Our summer reading program is a joint community effort that yields great benefits for all participants and we are already making plans for next summer! So if you missed the fun this time, plan to join us next year for "Books–a Treasure."
August Events
Several programs are happening in August. Musical Munchkins will be offering a free sample of their popular local program which helps toddlers and preschoolers explore their natural musical abilities. These will take place on Thursday, August 11 in the library meeting room. Children ages 2 &3 will meet from 10-10:45 and ages 3-5 will meet from 11-11:45. A parent or caregiver must accompany the children. Registration starts Thursday, August 4 by phone (294-6606 X 5) or in person.
Hooray for Kindergarten is for children entering Kindergarten this year. We'll help children get excited about going to school through stories, games and crafts. This program will take place on Wednesday, August 24 from 10:30-11:15 in the library meeting room. Registration starts Wednesday, August 17 by phone (294-6606 X5) or in person.
Teens and their parents can learn about the PSAT, SAT, and ACT exams by attending “Testing, Testing” on Thursday, August 18 from 6:30-8:00pm here at the library. Registration begins August 10 by phone (294-6606 X15).
453 members, over 3000 books read, and over 1000 kids attending programs are just some of the statistics for our "Tune In At Your Library" 2005 summer reading program. Members listened and danced to music, made musical instruments and learned a bit about the history of music and even did some experiments to learn about the science of sound. We read books, made crafts, played games and enjoyed performers as part of the summer’s fun. Children received stickers, prizes and many pats on the back for their reading efforts; and hopefully, they also realized that a good book can be one of their most exciting and enjoyable summer "playmates."
This highly successful program could not happen without help and support from a variety of sources. Programs and materials were made possible in part by funds provided by the Friends of the Goshen Public Library. Several local businesses donated prizes, including Bank of New York, Ask Tamara, Linda's Office Supply, Burger King, NY Renaissance Faire, and Liz's Hair Salon. The participation and cooperation of parents, staff, kids and teen volunteers also helped insure a program that was in tune with the fun and enjoyment that our club members have come to expect when they sign up each summer. Thanks also to Daria Murphy, Christine Banuls and Sally Sopalsky for the use of the Scotchtown Avenue Elementary School Library and their assistance in running the Jivey Jammers programs. Our summer reading program is a joint community effort that yields great benefits for all participants and we are already making plans for next summer! So if you missed the fun this time, plan to join us next year for "Books–a Treasure."
August Events
Several programs are happening in August. Musical Munchkins will be offering a free sample of their popular local program which helps toddlers and preschoolers explore their natural musical abilities. These will take place on Thursday, August 11 in the library meeting room. Children ages 2 &3 will meet from 10-10:45 and ages 3-5 will meet from 11-11:45. A parent or caregiver must accompany the children. Registration starts Thursday, August 4 by phone (294-6606 X 5) or in person.
Hooray for Kindergarten is for children entering Kindergarten this year. We'll help children get excited about going to school through stories, games and crafts. This program will take place on Wednesday, August 24 from 10:30-11:15 in the library meeting room. Registration starts Wednesday, August 17 by phone (294-6606 X5) or in person.
Teens and their parents can learn about the PSAT, SAT, and ACT exams by attending “Testing, Testing” on Thursday, August 18 from 6:30-8:00pm here at the library. Registration begins August 10 by phone (294-6606 X15).
By visiting goshenpubliclibrary.org, and clicking On-line Reference, you will be taken to the Gerenal page, which lists five databases. One of the resources listed here should be familiar to most of us: The Encyclopedia Britannica. The online edition, however, boasts some bells and whistles lacking in the forgotten and mildewed set you perhaps last saw somewhere in your attic or at a library book sale.
To begin with, it is full-text searchable--as would be expected--but it is also browsable in a number of ways: by an A-Z index; by an alphabetical arrangement of articles; by subject categories; and by the year a particular event occurred. This provision of multiple access points allows for a far more comprehensive search, while the time spent researching is often a fraction of what it would have been had the researcher been confronted with the challenge of wrestling with a multitude of print volumes. Audio-video elements now supplement the traditional text and illustration, greatly enhancing the richness of the information retrieved.
The Encyclopedia Britannica Online also includes a Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary and Collegiate Thesaurus, an excellent world atlas, and an interactive timeline. By including the Britannica Student Encyclopedia and the Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia, researchers can tailor results for age-appropriateness.
To get a better sense of the Encyclopedia’s power and versatility, try logging in from home at the above address. Or, feel free to visit the library and ask an attending librarian for a tutorial. If you have further questions, please email us through our website, or call us at 294-6606.
To begin with, it is full-text searchable--as would be expected--but it is also browsable in a number of ways: by an A-Z index; by an alphabetical arrangement of articles; by subject categories; and by the year a particular event occurred. This provision of multiple access points allows for a far more comprehensive search, while the time spent researching is often a fraction of what it would have been had the researcher been confronted with the challenge of wrestling with a multitude of print volumes. Audio-video elements now supplement the traditional text and illustration, greatly enhancing the richness of the information retrieved.
The Encyclopedia Britannica Online also includes a Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary and Collegiate Thesaurus, an excellent world atlas, and an interactive timeline. By including the Britannica Student Encyclopedia and the Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia, researchers can tailor results for age-appropriateness.
To get a better sense of the Encyclopedia’s power and versatility, try logging in from home at the above address. Or, feel free to visit the library and ask an attending librarian for a tutorial. If you have further questions, please email us through our website, or call us at 294-6606.
Over the last several installments of Across the Reference Desk we have defined the Internet as a vast physical network, which, along with a suite of protocols, establishes an infrastructure connecting over 100 million computers and providing access to an unprecedented amount of information. The most important distinction we've so far made—one which bears reiteration—is that the Internet is only the means to a variety of information resources, among the richest of which are proprietary databases. These are not freely available on the Web at large, but are available to you, the Goshen cardholder, through your library's website.
By visiting www.goshenpubliclibrary.org, and rolling your mouse over the Reference tab, then clicking the General Reference tab, a list of twelve general databases will appear. The first thing to note is the heading: General. Most of the databases listed here are general in the sense that they are helpful for research across a variety of disciplines and academic levels. The "general" designation also points to the eclectic collection presented: a full-text encyclopedia; several multi-format article databases; a classical music database with downloadable music files; a general database for Spanish speakers and more.
Take a look at Learning Express, for instance. This is actually much more than a test preparation site, and includes a number of tutorials for students seeking to sharpen their skills across a range of disciplines. It also boasts a bank of interactive tools designed to aid the job-seeker. The range of available practice tests is impressive, covering civil service; college entrance; law enforcement; military; nursing; real estate; TOEFL; U.S. citizenship; and much, much, more.
By visiting www.goshenpubliclibrary.org, and rolling your mouse over the Reference tab, then clicking the General Reference tab, a list of twelve general databases will appear. The first thing to note is the heading: General. Most of the databases listed here are general in the sense that they are helpful for research across a variety of disciplines and academic levels. The "general" designation also points to the eclectic collection presented: a full-text encyclopedia; several multi-format article databases; a classical music database with downloadable music files; a general database for Spanish speakers and more.
Take a look at Learning Express, for instance. This is actually much more than a test preparation site, and includes a number of tutorials for students seeking to sharpen their skills across a range of disciplines. It also boasts a bank of interactive tools designed to aid the job-seeker. The range of available practice tests is impressive, covering civil service; college entrance; law enforcement; military; nursing; real estate; TOEFL; U.S. citizenship; and much, much, more.
Memorial Day is upon us and for most people that means vacation is right around the corner. With that in mind, why not read a book while flying or driving to your vacation destination?
Well…reading in a car or on a plane makes you sick, you say. Then check out an audiobook from the Goshen Public Library to take along with you. Even the driver can listen!
According to the National Endowment for the Arts, “fewer Americans are reading books than a decade ago, but almost a third more are listening to them on tapes, CD’s and iPods.” Audiobooks are a great way of digesting a book you’re curious about, but don’t want to spend the time reading. Give an audiobook a try on your vacation journey or while walking the dog.
The Goshen Public Library has a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction audiobooks available in cassette and CD format. The best thing about audiobooks from the library is that they are free. These audiobooks are available now or will be at the library soon:
HAPPY LISTENING!!
Well…reading in a car or on a plane makes you sick, you say. Then check out an audiobook from the Goshen Public Library to take along with you. Even the driver can listen!
According to the National Endowment for the Arts, “fewer Americans are reading books than a decade ago, but almost a third more are listening to them on tapes, CD’s and iPods.” Audiobooks are a great way of digesting a book you’re curious about, but don’t want to spend the time reading. Give an audiobook a try on your vacation journey or while walking the dog.
The Goshen Public Library has a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction audiobooks available in cassette and CD format. The best thing about audiobooks from the library is that they are free. These audiobooks are available now or will be at the library soon:
- 1776 by David McCullough
- Alice in Jeopardy Ed McBain
- Broken Prey by John Sandford
- The Broker by John Grisham
- The Closers by Michael Connelly
- The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
HAPPY LISTENING!!
The Internet is best understood as a gateway to information rather than a destination providing access to personal, governmental, organizational and commercial websites which deliver their content through text, image, and increasingly video. Although, undoubtedly, many of these sites are valid and helpful, there is always the danger of information gleaned from unknown sources being erroneous or even worse.
Proprietary databases are among the best resources available to researchers using the Internet. Their offerings are increasingly full-text with content drawn from newspapers, magazines, journals, and reference books. The information supplied by such databases generally comes from previously published sources, so the researcher can feel secure in knowing that the materials presented have undergone rigorous editorial scrutiny. These tools, however, are expensive and are generally only available to those affiliated with an agency that has purchased subscriptions. Access requires proof of affiliation with the subscribing agency, so a password is necessary for access. Here at the Goshen Public Library and Historical Society we have made available to you a wide array of excellent databases offering coverage of a variety of subjects including health, business, literature, biography, science, history and much more! Your proof of affiliation is the barcode on the back of your library card; your PIN number is the last four digits of your telephone number. Feel free to visit goshenpubliclibrary.org, and click on On-line Reference. If you need assistance, please contact us at 294-6606.
The next few upcoming articles will offer a more in-depth discussion of the databases available through your library.
Proprietary databases are among the best resources available to researchers using the Internet. Their offerings are increasingly full-text with content drawn from newspapers, magazines, journals, and reference books. The information supplied by such databases generally comes from previously published sources, so the researcher can feel secure in knowing that the materials presented have undergone rigorous editorial scrutiny. These tools, however, are expensive and are generally only available to those affiliated with an agency that has purchased subscriptions. Access requires proof of affiliation with the subscribing agency, so a password is necessary for access. Here at the Goshen Public Library and Historical Society we have made available to you a wide array of excellent databases offering coverage of a variety of subjects including health, business, literature, biography, science, history and much more! Your proof of affiliation is the barcode on the back of your library card; your PIN number is the last four digits of your telephone number. Feel free to visit goshenpubliclibrary.org, and click on On-line Reference. If you need assistance, please contact us at 294-6606.
The next few upcoming articles will offer a more in-depth discussion of the databases available through your library.
