New Look for HOMEACCESS

Stop Searching. Start Finding has been the motto on our database bookmarks for the past year, and starting today you will see improvements made to the HOMEACCESS interface page that are designed to connect patrons to what they are looking for, quicker.

Features include:
· Overall vertical organization of the page is easier on the eye than the former grid format.
· More holistic initial listing of what is included found at the top of the page.
· Products listed both by vendor/product name and content area (example: Price It! / Antiques & Collectibles are both shown in an alphabetic list)
· Highlights the depth of the magazines available, pulls popular titles out to the forefront; makes better use of the A-Z listing of magazines/journals available by using Serials Solutions
· All new e-reference books have been integrated into the categories.

HOMEACCESS is a collection of high-priced databases underwritten by New York State, Southeastern New York Library Resources Council, MHLS Central Library Funds and member libraries. From hundreds of full-text newspapers, thousands of full-text magazines and journals to specialty products like HeritageQuest and Chilton’s Auto Repair Manuals, HOMEACCESS provides a wealth of information that patrons have to see to believe.

The new look to the page was approved by the MHLS Marketing & Program Advisory Committee. This committee routinely works on ways to improve patron access to electronic resources shared by all members.


MHLS Libraries
The Kingston Library has purchased two bilingual early literacy computer stations thanks to a grant for $8,000 from the New York Newspapers Foundation. The stations are designed by Alternative Work Environment Inc. and are specially made for children ages 2-8. The stations include 20 educational software programs in English and 20 programs in Spanish.

“[Pine Plains Town Supervisor Gregg] Pulver also acknowledged the work of librarian Marguerite Hill to loud applause from the crowd. "One of the reasons this was a great project is because we have a great librarian," said Pulver. "You'll appreciate this more than anyone," he said to Hill. "Your work does not go unnoticed."
-“Work starts on library, community center,”
Daily Freeman, by Darryl Gangloff, 4.14.08

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
Findings from the 2008 State of America's Libraries report [http://www.ala.org/2008state]:
· Americans check out more than 2 billion items each year from their public libraries.
· The average user takes out more than seven books a year, but patrons also go to their libraries to borrow DVDs, learn new computer skills, conduct job searches and participate in the activities of local community organizations.
· Average bill to the taxpayer for this “remarkable” range of public services: $31 a year, about the cost of one hardcover book.
· Teenagers are regular users of public library services
· More than half of libraries employ at least one full-time staff equivalent in this area (youth services), a sharp increase in the past decade.
· 78 percent of the libraries reported Spanish as the top-priority non-English language to which they devote services and programs; Asian languages ranked second (29 percent).
· Ebooks continued to emerge as a regular feature of libraries of all types

Reference & Collection Development
The New York State Library has renewed and enhanced its license agreements with Gale Cengage Learning (formerly
Thomson/Gale) for NOVELny databases in the areas of health, business and newspapers (see below for the list of specific databases). The agreements with Gale Cengage Learning will continue through March 31, 2009. All NOVELny offerings are included under HOMEACCESS. In the list below, primary content is typed in all capital letters and attached additional content is typed using lower case letters. New titles/databases are denoted with an asterisk (*):
Health:
HEALTH AND WELLNESS RESOURCE CENTER (with ALTERNATIVE HEALTH MODULE)
HEALTH REFERENCE CENTER ACADEMIC
NURSING AND ALLIED HEALTH COLLECTION*
Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine (2005)
Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer (2006)
Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders (2006)
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine (2006)
Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health (2007)
History:
Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy (2002)*
French and Indian War (2003)*
Harlem Renaissance (2001)*
Mexican American War (2003)*
St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture (2000)*
War of 1812 (2002)*
American Civil War Reference Library (2000)
American Revolution Reference Library (2000)
Americans at War (2005)
Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa (2004)
Europe, 1450-1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World (2004)
Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations and
Footwear through the Ages (2004)
History Behind the Headlines: The Origins of Conflict Worldwide (2003)
Major Acts of Congress (2004)
Encyclopedia of Population (2003)*
Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America (2000)*
Renaissance: An Encyclopedia of Students*
Business:
BUSINESS AND COMPANY RESOURCE CENTER
InfoTrac Junior Edition
Business Plans Handbook (Vols. 1-10) (1993-2004)
Encyclopedia of Small Business (2002)
Gale Encyclopedia of E-Commerce (2002)*
Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History (1999)*
Newspapers:
INFOTRAC CUSTOM NEWSPAPERS
NATIONAL NEWSPAPER INDEX
Informe Revistas en Español
More:
Twayne’s Authors Series
Biology (2002)
Contemporary Novelists (2001)*
Contemporary Poets (2001)
International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers (2001)*

NOVELny is a pilot project for the Statewide Internet Library. It is a powerful virtual library that gives New Yorkers full computer access to thousands of national and international newspapers and magazines, health and medical magazines and resources, valuable business and investment information, and fun and educational material for adults and youngsters- all free via their local library. It connects New Yorkers in every community to state-of-the-art information without regard to economic, geographic, or physical barriers.

OnGuardOnline.gov: The federal government and the technology industry have teamed up to create http://www.OnGuardOnline.gov, a site to help computer users guard against Internet fraud, secure their computers, and protect their personal information. Consumers can minimize the chance of an Internet mishap by adopting OnGuard Online’s seven practices for safer computing. The Federal Trade Commission manages OnGuardOnline.gov, and encourages libraries to help fight Internet fraud, scams, and identity theft by sharing the information on the site with the public. You can link to the site, reprint information from it, order publications, or post the quizzes. OnGuard Online materials also are available in Spanish, at http://AlertaenLinea.gov. Additionally, information for teens regarding responsible use of credit cards can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/gettingcredit

Administration & Management
Small Libraries Take Note: There is a new “Rural and Small Libraries Roundtable” of the New York Library Association! The roundtable will need officers and nominations are currently being accepted. Individuals interested in working on a roundtable newsletter, developing NYLA Conference programming or starting a listserv are also needed. Participation at any level is welcome. Membership in this roundtable is open to all NYLA members for an additional $5. Anyone interested in joining this new roundtable should contact: Joan Pellikka, North Country Library System, jpellikka@ncls.org.

Member Libraries are welcome to submit items of interest and job openings to the MHLS Bulletin: bulletin@midhudson.org. The MHLS Bulletin is available on line at http://midhudson.org/bulletins/main.htm.