+December 5, 2007
Citizen News Library Column
InfoAnytime
What is
it? InfoAnyTime is a real-time, web-based reference
service that provides live librarians to assist students, faculty and the
public in finding information to support their research. InfoAnyTime allows
students and patrons of the trial sites to connect to a professional librarian
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Sessions are conducted via online chat, using
pushing and co-browsing technology to display information found on the web and
in the iCONN databases. Anyone with a web browser can
access the service - there is no special software required.
How
does it work? Users of the service
click on the InfoAnyTime link on their library's web
site, enter their name and email address (optional), and wait a few moments for
a librarian to come online. Professional,
highly-trained librarians conduct reference interviews via online chat, and
provide answers and further resources in the form of web sites and online
database citations. These online resources appear directly on the user's
screen, next to the chat session window. The user may interact both with the
web sites provided and with the librarian until his/her question has been
answered satisfactorily. At the end of
each session, both the participant and the reference librarians
receive transcripts of the
session via email. This information has
been provided by the Connecticut Library Consortium and is a very valuable tool
when the library is closed.
RenewingReserving
Online
With our new computer system, you may now
renew/reserve library materials online. Go
to the library homepage at www.newfairfieldlibrary.org
and click on the link that says Catalog/Your Account which will then bring you
to Account Login. Type
in your library barcode number from your library card. The password you should use for the first
time is “userpass.”
The next screen prompts you to select your own password. Click on “My Circulation
Information.” If you haven’t
already done so through a library staff member, you can also type in your email
address in order to receive notification of what materials you have out on your
card. It’s wonderful! Please bear in mind when you are checking
your account, that any times listed are based on
Food in the Library
Please refrain from bringing food and
beverages in the library. We would like
to have the carpeting looking as good as possible for as long as we can. As much as we would like to recreate the
“Borders” look and ambience, we operate under a taxpayer’s budget versus free
enterprise. We sincerely appreciate your
cooperation in this matter.
The library will be closed on the following
days for this holiday season: December
23, 24, 25, January 1. The library will
close early on Monday, December 31, at 5 pm instead of 8 pm.
Free Movies
As the holidays and snow days (!) approach
and everyone wants to unwind in between the hustle and bustle or relax during
the school vacations, please bear in mind that the library has a great
collection of DVD’s and videos. There is
NO CHARGE to take out the movies. How
great is that? There is only a charge if the movies are returned late, $2.00 a
day with a maximum of a $10 fee per movie.
Movies are checked out for three days and can be renewed for another
three days. Although movies may not be
reserved, you can call us during the day to see if a particular movie is in. We will hold it for you with the stipulation
that it is to be picked up that day before we close. Stop by and check us out.
New Children’s Books
Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper; Leading Ladies by Marlee Matlin; Grimpow: The Invisible
Road by Rafael Abalos; Vampirates:
Tide of Terror by Justin Somper; Pony Problems by
Carolyn Keene; Snakehead (Alex Rider Adventure) by Anthony Horowitz; The Schwa
Was Here by Neal Shusterman; Day of Tears by Julius Lesster; Sleepover Sleuths by Carolyn Keene; Romeo and Lou
Blast Off by Derek Anderson; The Boy With Two Bellybuttons by Stephen Dubner; Edwina, The Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was
Extinct by Mo Willems; Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo; Sophie the Sapphire Fairy by Daisy Meadows; Max
and Ruby’s Christmas Tree by Rosemary Wells; Against the Empire by Jude Watson;
Santa’s Reindeer by Rod Green; The Darkest Hour by Erin Hunter; Nic Bishop
Spiders by Nic Bishop; Tippy-Tippy-Tippy-Hide! By Candace Fleming; Tough,
Toothy Baby Sharks by Sandra Markle; Penguins by
Seymour Simon; Full House: An Invitation to Fractions by Dayle
Ann Dodds; Angela and the Baby Jesus by Frank
McCourt; Kindness is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler by Margery Cuyler;
Five Little Chicks by Nancy Tafuri; The Lamb Who Came
for Dinner by Steve Smallman; Little Rabbit’s
Christmas by Harry Horse; Oliver Has Something to Say by Pamela Edwards; Little
Bo Peep Can’t Get to Sleep by Erin Dealey; Keep Love
in Your Heart, Little One by Giles Andreae; Rabbit’s
Gift by George Shannon; Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk; Sarah’s Little Ghosts by
Thierry Robberecht; Dogku
by Andrew Clements; Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve by Janet Morgan Stoeke; Toot and Puddle: Let It Snow by Holly Hobbie; Buffalo Wings by Aaron Reynolds; Alexander Fleming
and the Story of Penicillin by John Bankston.