Women's History Month Guide

Posted: March 6, 2013

Our Women's History Month information guide has been revised and expanded to afford you an even greater opportunity to discover essential events and influential individuals who contributed in countless ways to our nation and our world.

Our guide features titles, persons, and topics you can quickly click to explore related items in the library catalog.

You can also browse numerous Web resources right away through our guide.

If you've never delved much into the topic of women's history, we encourage you to visit our guide so you might increase your awareness and appreciation for the many amazing things women have achieved - and continue to do - throughout history.

Their stories are sure to surprise and inspire you!

eBooks Update - Coming Soon It's Here!

Posted: February 6, 2013
Updated: February 21, 2012

OverDrive, our library system's eBooks provider, has updated its service (at efiles.rcls.org) to improve access to electronic books.

This update includes:

• A simple One-Step Checkout: log in and borrow an eBook in one click.
• OverDrive Read books instantly viewable in Web browsers (online or off)
• Synced reading across devices (e.g. start reading on a PC, continue on an iPad)
• A new and improved catalog for computer and mobile device users.
• Advanced searching, personalized reading suggestions, and more.

A video overview of the new features is also on YouTube. Please click here to watch it.

For more details, please visit OverDrive's Next Generation website.

To begin exploring the new eBooks website, please click here!

Received an eReader?

Posted: December 31, 2012

Did you receive an eReader - such as a Nook or a Kindle - as a gift over the holidays?

Or you are simply curious how you can begin to download eBooks?

Getting started is fairly simple...

All you need to do is click here and, when the next page appears, click on OverDrive Help Pages (the first choice on that page).

Later on, you can always reach that help page through our library home page: just click on the eBooks: help pages link once you're there!

OverDrive is the eBooks provider for our library system.

Once you're at the OverDrive website, please select your computer, eReader, or smartphone from the list for some simple instructions.

OverDrive also provides videos for certain devices. They can be very helpful!

Happy e-reading, and happy new year!

eBooks Update (September 2012)

Posted: Sept. 6, 2012

The RCLS OverDrive eBooks service will soon see some major changes!

Here are the details directly from OverDrive:

Business Database Update

Posted: August 29, 2012

The Business & Company database will soon be superceded by a new database (Business Insights: Essentials).

Here are details from the database provider:

Election Year Survival Guide

Posted: June 26, 2012

The newest addition to our Critical Thinking resources is a timely guide to the U.S. Presidential Election and elections in general:

• An Election Year Survival Guide
  (Adobe Reader PDF format)

In this printable guide you will find a mix of questions and considerations to keep in mind between now and November.

For even more information and potential insight, please visit our Election 2012 guide.

eBooks Update

Posted: June 14, 2012

Why aren't certain eBooks available in OverDrive?

It's in great part because a number of major publishers currently refuse to license eBooks to libraries.

Other publishers have proposed excessive limits on eBook borrowing or charge substantially higher prices for eBooks, as much as four times the cost of the same book in print!

eBook use still represents only a fraction of library items actively circulating. There is still a much greater demand for print, large print, and audio materials. Each library strives to meet the information needs and material preferences of its patrons within the fiscal limits of its yearly budget.

As the demand for eBooks increases, the library will allocate its materials budget accordingly.

For more information on the current situation between libraries and eBook publishers, please see these sites:

• Digital Book World: "Head of Library Association Appeals to Publishers to Sell E-Books to Libraries"
• eBooks for Libraries Petition
• National Public Radio: "Libraries Grapple With The Downside Of E-Books"
• The New York Times: For Libraries and Publishers, an E-Book Tug of War

Library System Catalog Update

Posted: June 5, 2012

SirsiDynix recently updated the Ramapo Catskill Library System catalog ("Enterprise").

Along with some new and improved features, such as alphabetized library lists and a "pick up by" date for reserved items, this particular catalog update (4.2) created some temporary issues for some library catalog users.

If, when logging into or using the library catalog, you see a blank or partial screen, please try the following:

• When at a partial / blank screen, press the F5 key on your computer's keyboard.
• If that does not work, hold the CTRL key down and then press the F5 key.
• If you still see a blank screen, you might need to clear your Web browser's "cache" (where it stores temporary files):
  • Firefox users: please click Tools, Clear Recent History, Time Period: Everything, check Cache only, Clear Now.
    
    If your version of Firefox is 5 or lower, please update your browser via www.mozilla.org.
  • Internet Explorer users: please click Tools, Internet Options, Delete Browsing History, check Temporary Internet Files only, then click Delete.
  • Other browsers: Please consult your browser's documentation / help file on clearing the cache.

If you experience any further difficulties, please notify our Reference Department at 341-5461 or through our online Ask a Librarian service.

Please note: on Tuesday, June 5, 2012, around 9 PM, SirsiDynix and RCLS will deactivate the catalog ("Enterprise") as they migrate it to new servers. At that time, the catalog will be temporarily unavailable until they complete their hardware upgrade (which they have indicated is being conducted in hopes of limiting future down-times).

RE:fresh! June 2012 Edition

Posted: June 1, 2012

A new edition of our Reference Department newsletter ("RE:fresh!") is available!

Topics include:

• New Health Reference Works - two new encyclopedias/online resources
• Virtual Reference Library Updates - travel guides and more
• Downloads & Apps
• Critical Thinking Skills
• Business & Personal Finance
• eBooks Help
• Library Catalogs - new browsing options
• Literary Criticism Resources
• Online Information Guide Updates
• Searching for Music
• Reference Collection Highlights
• Reader's Advisory
• and the new Testing & Education Reference Center

Please click here to visit our RE:fresh! newsletter page.

Print copies are also available in the library.

Search Engines:
What Are They Hiding?

Posted: May 18, 2012

When you search the Web, do you get the complete picture? Are the search results you see objective, authoritative, and balanced? The answer is not so clear these days!

Using various data such as your Web search history and social networking activities, some search engines now attempt to "personalize" search results in hopes of providing sites they calculate you might "like" - but not necessarily what you need to know!

Aside from denying you access to "all the facts," this situation, however well-intentioned and attractive as it might seem, also has the dangerous potential of keeping you unaware of important or useful information.

Your privacy is also at risk as search engines track you.

"Personalized" or "social" results can reinforce what you already think you know or want to believe, and in doing so they could prevent you from reaching the truth on any given topic.

One of the best ways to break out of this "filter bubble" and discover what you are not being show is to consult multiple information sources - and not just different search engines, but other sources available in various formats (digital, print, etc.).

A librarian can help you do just that! You could also try to take matters into your own hands and go beyond your favorite search engine by trying things like article databases, specialized encyclopedias, and the many other resources available at your library.

Remember, even the best search engines can only reveal a fraction of information available out there. You and your research deserve much better than that!

For more information - and to expand your awareness of research options...

• Ask a Librarian! - Ask a Thrall librarian in person or online!
• Critical Thinking Skills - Learn to evaluate information
• Databases & Encyclopedias - free research tools available
• Diversify Your Search and Not Online - two free publications from Thrall
• Don't Bubble Us - A fun illustrated guide from the DuckDuckGo search engine
• The Filter Bubble: What the Internet Is Hiding from You - a good book by Eli Pariser
• LightSwitch Search Tools - Discover/try specialized search engines
• Thrall Information Guides - Find topics online and in the library

(An online PDF edition of this post is also available.)

Library System Transition: A Progress Report

Posted: January 20, 2012

Over the past several weeks, the library system (RCLS) completed its transition from the old Horizon library software to a new system called Symphony.

Beyond the expected share of initial technical glitches and the human challenges involved in adjusting to a new system, we are happy to report on some of the more positive and exciting aspects of this transition:

• Free telephone notifications of reserves are now available! A robot (seriously!) can call you to let you know if a book you requested has arrived at the library.
• If you prefer, you can also opt to receive free e-mail notices instead.
• You can now pick up requested items at any RCLS library you want! Just indicate which library you prefer when reserving an item - either when you are online (at the Place Holds prompt in the catalog) or when you visit the Reference desk and ask a librarian to reserve an item for you.
• We have been able to establish new search and browse options in our own entrance page to the catalog. Some examples:
  • You can check the "Available Only" box to search for only those items which are immediately available (i.e. on the shelf and ready to be picked up).
  • You can limit your search to "newest items" under the Date option.
  • If you want only large print items, just check the Large Print box before searching.
  • Our Children's Catalog and Young Adults catalog entrance pages enable you to search expressly for Juvenile, Picture Books, or YA items (and keep the catalog set into Childrens or YA mode as you search).

Also...

If you have bookmarked any of the old catalog pages, including the old Library Account login page or AquaBrowser, please delete those outdated bookmarks (or "Favorites") and consider creating new bookmarks for either our home page (www.thrall.org) or main catalog entrance page so you can quickly reach the new catalog and our library services.

We updated our OpenSearch library catalog plugins for Firefox and Internet Explorer users, enabling you to access the new catalog (along with many of our other services) directly through your Web browser.

While the RCLS transition is "over," we still welcome your feedback and inquiries about RCLS's new catalog. If you have any questions, technical difficulties, or comments, please feel free to visit or call our Reference Department or to ask our librarians a question online.

As before, we will continue our efforts to help make finding books, authors, and information of all kinds easier for you to locate and enjoy!

Library System Migration Details

Posted: November 23, 2011

Soon, in December 2011, the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS), along with Middletown Thrall Library and other RCLS member libraries, will make the transition to new library system software called Symphony.

This transition will introduce some changes and options, including a new online library catalog, which you can read about at this link

New features you can look forward to include:

• The ability to request specific volumes or editions of an item from home! This includes DVDs, magazines, multi-volume works, yearly editions of popular works, and other publications.
• The ability to select where - at what library - you would like to pick up items you have requested!
• The ability to pay for fines at home through PayPal.
• Telephone notifications will become an option. If you are not signed up for our free e-mail notification service, an automated telephone call will let you know when a requested item arrives. If you'd rather avoid the computer voice, we'd love to e-mail you! Just ask us to update your library account!

Some other things to consider:

• You will be able to check out items during this migration.
• Most of our databases should continue to be available.
• Only items physically presented at the Circulation Desk can be renewed during the migration.
• No library cards will be issued / replaced during migration.

Library System Upgrade
and a New Online Catalog!

The Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS) will transition to new library system software in December 2011.

As part of this upgrade, Middletown Thrall Library (and all other RCLS libraries) will get a new and more capable online catalog!

We prepared a little preview of what you can expect to see in the new catalog.

Please click here to see the preview!

Election 2012 Guide

As we did for the previous presidential election, Middletown Thrall Library has prepared a special coverage guide covering the upcoming primaries, conventions, candidates, and eventual election (or reelection) of the next President of the United States:

• Election 2012

Topics include: Learn about Elections, Registering and Voting Procedures, Making an Informed Decision, Campaign Financing, Political Parties, Polls, Results, and Statistics, Presidential Candidates, and Conventions.

Our Election 2012 guide is a work in progress and will be updated as necessary.

A New Legal Research Tool

September 22, 2011

In addition to our existing (and admittedly challenging) subscription database known as Westlaw, we now offer access to WestlawNext Patron Access, which Westlaw promises will help simplify "your starting point for legal research."

You can use WestlawNext Patron Access to search in plain-English, using simple descriptive terms. You can search without having to choose a database first, as you would have to do within the standard Westlaw interface. Results are ranked by relevance.

Categories included automatically in your searches are: Statutes and Court Rules, Regulations, Forms, Briefs, Pleadings, Motions, Memoranda, Verdicts, Settlements, Proposed and Enacted Legislation, and much more.

Note: some search results may not be accessible because they are not included in our library's subscription plan.

We will still offer access to the original Westlaw database. Both Westlaw and WestlawNext can be accessed on any of the library's research or public Internet workstations.

eBooks FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

September 22, 2011

Those of you who have recently discovered the interesting (and occasionally technically frustrating) world of eBooks naturally have many questions, such as:

• Which format should I download?
• Can I renew eBooks?
• Why are so few titles available?

We provide answers to these and many other common questions on a free handout available in print at the library as well as at our website, in the eBooks section of our publications page.

American History Resource Guide

September 22, 2011

As part of our mission to make finding information online and in the library easier, quicker, safer, and more productive for you, we have thoroughly redesigned and expanded our American History guide.

This guide centralizes American history information you can access through Middletown Thrall Library.

In addition to direct links to our history databases, related virtual reference works, and American History subjects within the library system catalog, our guide includes numerous excellent resources in the following areas:

• Overviews of American History
• Founders and the Constitution
• Presidents, Vice Presidents, & First Ladies
• Images and Documents
• History by Period
• Native Americans

You can also access other specialized history resource guides our Reference Department provides.

Please click here to begin exploring our new American History resource guide.

Amazon Kindle eBooks Now Supported

September 22, 2011

Overdrive, the library system's eBook provider, just announced support for Amazon Kindle eBooks.

Here is a link to Overdrive's press release.

Amazon Kindle eReader users (or users with Kindle software on their computers or smart phones) can now access compatible titles with the RCLS eBooks catalog.

You can click here to jump straight to the eBooks catalog to browse Amazon Kindle eBooks for Thrall / RCLS library patrons.

Please note: you should always start out by logging in to the eBooks catalog (your "My eAccount") to see all titles available to you as a member of our library.

Downloading instructions and additional technical details concerning RCLS eBooks and the Kindle can be found at this link.

JDC: Our Shared Legacy

Our Shared Legacy: World War II and "The Joint" is the American Jewish Distribution Committee's archival collection of photographs and documents from the World War II era.

"JDC cared for hundreds of thousands of Jews in places from Cuba to Portugal during and after the Second World War - were you one of these people? Search a database of more than 500,000 names. View and tag 1,500 photos from 14 countries. Help JDC - known to millions as "The Joint" - fill in the blanks about its impact during this tumultuous time." From the American Jewish Distribution Committee website.

See also: Genocide: A Special Coverage Guide

Tax Forms

Looking for tax forms? Here are two quick links:

• IRS - Federal Tax Forms, Publications, Instructions
• New York State Tax Forms, Publications, Instructions

We still have some free copies of major tax forms (Federal and New York State) available in print at Middletown Thrall Library.

The forms are located in our Reading Room.

If you cannot find a specific form or publication, please come to our Reference Department and indicate which documents you need. Printing costs $ .20 per page.

eBook Checkout Periods

April 1, 2011

Did you know you can customize your eBook and eAudiobook checkout periods? You can!

How do you access and change this setting? First, log into you eAccount. Next click on Lending Periods (see example below):


Once the Lending Periods screen appears you can select 7 days, 14 days, or 21 days for each kind of electronic item you borrow.

Why would you want to do this?

The current library system (RCLS) limit for eBook checkouts is 8 items. If you read a lot, you can easily hit this limit and be *forced to wait until your items expire before you can check out any additional titles.

* Adobe PDF / EPUB books can usually be returned early (see instructions here)

The other advantage to reducing your checkout periods is that other eBook users will not have to wait so long for certain titles to become available!

Latest Reference Newsletter

March 18, 2011

The latest edition of our Reference Services newsletter ("RE:fresh!") is now available at this link.

Accessible eBooks Service

March 8, 2011

Overdrive, the eBook provider for the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS), recently made the following announcement:


Please click here for more details at the Bookshare.org website.

Women's History Information Guide

March 2, 2011

Thrall's Women's History Month information guide has been updated with new links to library items and Web resources.

We also restructured the guide into subsections so it can be more easily navigated and browsed with greater specificity.

Please click here to view our Women's History guide.

African-American History Resource Guide

February 1, 2011

In our continued honor of Black History Month, Thrall has updated and expanded its African-American History resource guide.

In the guide you will find links to both library system and Web-based resources covering all aspects of African-American history from the past to the present.

Please click here to access our updated guide.

Philosophy in the Library

(You Read, Therefore We Are)

January 10, 2011

Over the past year we have expanded our philosophy and ethics (moral philosophy) collections to include many new, interesting, and informative titles.

From reality to the ridiculous, our circulating philosophy collection collectively examines the great questions of life along with some of the funnier aspects of human existence.

Now "philosophy" and "fun" might seem like contradictory concepts at first, but, as some writers have effectively demonstrated, one of the most compelling ways to approach philosophy is to do so without taking things too seriously!

For example, these three books take a decidedly comical approach to philosophical matters:

• Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington: Understanding Political Doublespeak through Philosophy and Jokes by Thomas Cathcart, Daniel Klein
• Heidegger and a Hippo: Using Philosophy (And Jokes!) to Explain Life, Death, the Afterlife, and Everything in Between by Thomas Cathcart, Daniel Klein
• Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy through Jokes by Thomas Cathcart, Daniel Klein

Philosophy is not limited to the past or what people used to think. Philosophy is about us and our abilities to use it to learn about the present, the future, our world, our universe, ourselves and each other.

Thrall owns a number of titles from the "Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series" along with other many books which reveal how questions posed long ago remain incredibly relevant to contemporary interests in our society. Here are some titles:

• Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy: Curioser and Curioser by Richard B. Davis
• Basketball and Philosophy: Thinking Outside the Paint By Jerry L. Walls, Gregory Bassham
• Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts by David Baggett, Shawn E. Klein
• Hip Hop and Philosophy: Rhyme 2 Reason by Derrick Darby, Tommie Shelby
• Like a Splinter in Your Mind: The Philosophy Behind the Matrix Trilogy by Matt Lawrence
• The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy: One Book to Rule Them All by Gregory Bassham, Eric Bronson
• A Place for Truth: Leading Thinkers Explore Life's Hardest Questions by Dallas Willard
• Star Trek and Philosophy: The Wrath of Kant by Jason T. Eberl, Kevin S. Decker
• Superheroes and Philosophy: Truth, Justice, and the Socratic Way by Tom Morris, Matt Morris
• Terminator and Philosophy: I'll Be Back, Therefore I Am by Richard Brown, Kevin Decker
• X-men and Philosophy: Astonishing Insight and Uncanny Argument in the Mutant X-verse by Rebecca Housel, J. Jeremy Wisnewski

Many of these books assume you have little or no previous experience with philosophy, inviting you to learn and be entertained as you read along.

Readers with little free time on their hands might especially appreciate the "Very Short Introduction" series from Oxford University Press. These truly tiny editions can quickly acquaint you with key concepts and philosophers. Here is a sampling of many titles Thrall owns in this series:

• Ancient Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction by Julia Annas
• Descartes: A Very Short Introduction by Tom Sorell
• Existentialism: A Very Short Introduction by Thomas Flynn
• Free Will: A Very Short Introduction by Thomas Pink
• German Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction by Andrew Bowie
• Indian Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction by Sue Hamilton
• Nietzsche: A Very Short Introduction by Michael Tanner
• Philosophy of Law: A Very Short Introduction by Raymond Wacks
• Plato: A Very Short Introduction by Julia Annas
• Political Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction by David Miller
• Postmodernism: A Very Short Introduction by Christopher Butler
• Presocratic Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction by Catherine Osborne
• Socrates: A Very Short Introduction by C.C.W. Taylor
• The Meaning of Life: A Very Short Introduction by Terry Eagleton

For some more developed yet very readable and generalized introductions to philosophy, you might want to consider one or more of these titles:

• Breakfast with Socrates: An Extraordinary (Philosophical) Journey Through Your Ordinary Day by Robert Rowland Smith
• How Philosophy Can Save Your Life by Marietta McCarty
• Ideas That Matter by A. C. Grayling
• Philosophy by David Papineau
• Philosophy Bites by David Edmonds, Nigel Warburton
• Philosophy for Teens: Questioning Life's Big Ideas by Sharon M. Kaye, Paul Thomson
• Thinking of Answers: Questions in the Philosophy of Everyday Life by A.C. Grayling

Want to delve even deeper? Please be our guest! These are some of our most recently acquired titles:

• Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error by Kathryn Schulz
• The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi
• The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy by Peter Adamson, Richard C. Taylor
• The Cambridge Companion to Early Modern Philosophy by Donald Rutherford
• The Cambridge Companion to Medieval Jewish Philosophy by Daniel H. Frank, Oliver Leaman
• Chinese Philosophy by Peter H. Nancarrow
• Comic Relief: A Comprehensive Philosophy of Humor by John Morreall
• A Companion to Latin American Philosophy by Susana Nuccetelli, et al
• Conversations on Ethics by Alex Voorhoeve
• Conversations on Truth by Mick Gordon, Chris Wilkinson
• The End of Discovery: Are We Approaching the Boundaries of the Knowable? by Russell Stannard
• Epistemology: A Contemporary Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge by Robert Audi
• The Feminist Philosophy Reader by Alison Bailey and Chris Cuomo
• Feminist Thought: A More Comprehensive Introduction by Rosemarie Tong
• Gandhi on Non-Violence: Selected Texts from Mohandas K. Gandhi's Non-Violence in Peace and War by Thomas Merton
• Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter
• Greek Philosophy by Sophia Macdonald
• An Introduction to Africana Philosophy by Lewis R. Gordon
• An Introduction to Buddhist Philosophy by Stephen J. Laumakis
• An Introduction to Chinese Philosophy by Karyn L. Lai
• An Introduction to Political Philosophy by Colin Bird
• An Introduction to the Philosophy of Art by Richard Eldridge
• An Introduction to the Philosophy of Language by Michael Morris
• An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion by Michael J. Murray, Michael Rea.
• An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge by Noah Lemos
• The Mask of Africa: Glimpses of African Belief by V.S. Naipaul
• The Nature and Future of Philosophy by Michael Dummett
• A New History of Western Philosophy by Anthony Kenny
• The Oxford Handbook of American Philosophy by Cheryl Misak
• The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Mathematics and Logic by Stewart Shapiro
• Philosophy of Perception: A Contemporary Introduction by William Fish
• Quantum : Einstein, Bohr, and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality by Manjit Kumar
• Reinventing Knowledge: From Alexandria to the Internet by Ian F. McNeely, Lisa Wolverton
• Religion and Science: An Introduction by Brendan Sweetman
• Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Religion by Chad Meister, Paul Copan
• The Routledge Companion to Twentieth-century Philosophy by Dermot Moran
• A Shorter Summa: The Most Essential Philosophical Passages of St. Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica by Peter Kreeft
• Unifying Truths of the World's Religions by C. David Lundberg
• The Way of Wisdom by Margaret Silf
• Why Believe? by John Cottingham
• Wisdom: From Philosophy to Neuroscience by Stephen S. Hall
• The World Is Made of Stories by David R. Loy

In addition to these titles, members of Thrall can access the illustrated online edition of DK's Eyewitness Companion: Philosophy along with the Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center and Sirs Knowledge Source databases, which you can use to research philosophical, ethical, and other aspects of contemporary issues around the world.

For a greater selection of related library and Web resources, please see these sections within our Ready Reference guide:

• the Philosophy
• the Ethics (Moral Philosophy)
• the Issues & Viewpoints

Choosing an eBook Reader

December 20, 2010

Whether you plan to do some last-minute holiday shopping or are interested in exploring the possibilities of electronic books, purchasing an eBook reader (or "eReader") can be an interesting challenge even for experienced computer users.

For one thing, there are so many eReaders to choose from! Which one is "best" for you is a question only you can answer, since "best" involves personal preferences (screen size, specific capabilities) and, of course, price - how much you are willing to pay.

Then there are the inevitable *technical questions you should probably ponder before deciding to purchase an eReader.

In addition to obvious eReader criteria of potential concern, such as cost, there are less obvious issues to contemplate, such as legibility (how clear text appears on an eReader screen) and if you can comfortably view an eReader outdoors in direct sunlight or anywhere in low-light conditions.

Here's another question: will your eReader work with the free eBooks service provided by Thrall and other libraries within the Ramapo Catskill Library System?

In hopes of helping you make a more informed decision, we have prepared the following one-page guide:

• Choosing an eBook Reader (Adobe Reader PDF format)

* For specific technical guidance on eReaders compatible with the RCLS ebook system, please consult Overdrive's list of recommended devices:

• Compatible eBook Devices
• Compatible electronic audio devices

We hope you find our guide useful.

Some other publications you might like to check out include:

• Comparing eBooks and Books
• eBooks & eAudiobooks: A Quick Introduction

Even if you're not ready yet to buy an eBook reader, you can still participate in the free eBook service if you have a computer that can run the required (and free) software!

Online Learning Opportunities:
Universal Class and More!

December 1, 2010

Middletown Thrall Library has established a new license enabling us to offer members of our library free access to Universal Class, a service where you can attend free courses over the Internet!

What kinds of courses are available? Areas of study include:


About this Service:

• It is free to active members of Middletown Thrall Library (a library card is required).
• You can attend classes and complete assignments on your own schedule.
• Each course has a real instructor you can communicate with via e-mail.
• You can enroll yourself up to 5 courses.
• You have up to six months to finish each course.
• You can access courses at any time over the Internet.
• These are non-college-credit courses provided for your personal enrichment.
• Many courses offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) upon completion.

You can reach Universal Class several ways through our website:

• You can click here to go directly to the new service.
• You can access it through the Databases drop-down menu on our home page.
• You can also visit our Databases page, select Online Courses and then click Universal Class.

If free online learning is something you would like to explore, you have many more options available right through our website. Some examples include:

• Check out the OpenCourseWare (OCW) part of our Colleges & Universities guide for free college courses offered by major educational institutions.
• Consider the "Tell Me More" language learning service if you would like to learn a foreign language. This service is free to members of Thrall.
• Visit our own Self-Study Center to learn about basic but important topics such as critical thinking, computer viruses, and more.
• Explore our Online Publications to catch up on essential skills such as searching the Internet, analyzing information, making better use of library services, and more.
• Discover or rediscover literary classics through our own Literature guide.
• Browse through the How-to or of our Ready Reference guide and see if you can learn some new skills.
• Taking a major test? Our the Test Preparation page of our Ready Reference guide could help!
• If you want to improve your writing skills, the Writing section of our Ready Reference guide contains many helpful resources.
• The library system free e-books service (available to members of Thrall/RCLS) includes numerous nonfiction titles in subject areas including Business, Careers, Computers, Foreign Languages, Self-Improvement, and much more.
• Want to learn a new hobby or get creative? Try our Crafts guide.
• How about a new recipe, or just learning how to cook? Our our Cooking guide can get you started.
• Have some other topic in mind? Our information guides can help you find some Internet and library materials.

This might seem like a lot, yet all of this is merely a fraction of what you could access and learn through your library. Through the collective resources and services freely available to you at Thrall, you could learn - or master - nearly any topic you ever wanted! Great opportunities for advancement and personal enrichment await you!

We are eager to help you begin your learning adventure. Whever you are ready to start, we encourage you to visit our Reference Department and speak with our librarians. You can also call us at (845)341-5461 or ask us a question online. We look forward to showing you possibilties you never knew existed!

Empower Your Web Browser!
Install Thrall Searches!

September 21, 2010

If you use Firefox (version 2.0 or higher) or Internet Explorer (version 7 or higher) you can add Thrall searches to your Web browser so you can access them instantly, at all times, no matter where you are online!

These addable searches are free, very easy to install (just a couple of clicks does it!), and fast to use.

Searches include:

• Community Organizations Database
• LightSwitch Search Tools
• RAVES! Reading Recommendations
• Thrall Web Guides & Ready Reference Center
• Thrall Library Catalog (HIP or AquaBrowser)

We designed these "OpenSearch" foremost for our library users and online researchers, but we also included addable searches for members of other libraries within the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS).

To get started, please click here to visit our "OpenSearch Plugins" page. From there you can learn more about available searches and start installing one or more search engines in your browser!

New: Video Browser Service

August 31, 2010

Our recently updated entry page to the RCLS library system catalog includes a new service we have created:

Videos in the Catalog

On this new page you can search or browse for movies, television shows, and other video content available either at Thrall or other libraries within the Ramapo Catskill Library System.

When searching, you can limit results to show only items Thrall owns.

When browsing, you have quite a selection to choose from!

Here is a list of categories you can browse:

• Actors & Actresses
• Action & Adventure
• Animal Stories
• Animations & Anime
• Biographical & History Films
• Classic Films
• Comedy
• Crime & Mystery
• Directors & Filmmakers
• Disney
• Documentaries
• Drama
• Famous & Award-Winning Films
• Fantasy
• Genres & Topics
• Horror
• International
• Martial Arts
• Musicals
• Romance & Romantic Comedies
• Science Fiction
• Shakespearean
• Sports
• Television
• War
• Westerns

Titles include classic films as well as contemporary movies and recent DVD/Blu-ray releases.

If you browse by Actors & Actresses, you can view lists of movies according to celebrity names and find movies their either starred in or were involved with (voice-overs, direction, etc.).

An extenstive list of television shows and series are also included.

In addition to browsing the library catalog, you can also opt to browse reviews from Common Sense Media (great for parents who want to pre-screen movies and learn about any plot points of concern), the Internet Movie Database, and more.

We hope you enjoy this new service and that it prooves helpful and fun to you!

Please click here to try out the new video browser!

For those who prefer printed lists and browsing by hand, we have four new guides of popular titles you might like to see. Printed copies are available by the DVD video browser boxes.

Online editions of our "Popular Movie" guides also exist and can be found at this link.

LightSwitch Search Tools

August 5, 2010

We are excited to bring you new generation of educational and interactive Internet search tools called LightSwitch.

LightSwitch searches provide a flexible and innovative environment for online researchers.

Developed as part of our larger information literacy effort known as LIGHT, LightSwitch links you with some of the best specialized search engines available online.

Central to LightSwitch's design is the ability to switch quickly from one topic to another and to let users conduct more specific searches as opposed to relying on one general-purpose search engine. For example, if you switch the topic to Health and Wellness, the default search becomes MedlinePlus.

Additional subject-specific engines appear atop lists of search engines in each LightSwitch page.

For any given LightSwitch topic there is an expandable "enlightenment" panel of search terms which will appear when you click on an "enlighten your search" link. Once you do so, a variety of keywords, phrases, names, and subject headings appear, and you can select and add any of these words to your search.

For example, if you select Art, you can browse art terms, famous artists, notable works of art, and incorporate other related keywords into your query.

Some topics, such as Astronomy, Literature, and Mathematics, feature book titles as well.

The "enlightenment" panel also includes links to related Thrall Internet guides and subsections in those guides which might contain websites helpful to your research.

LightSwitch also provides a set of "keyword tools," which you can use to mark ("plus") keywords as mandatory, convert searches to phrases, and more. If you select Google as a search engine, additional tools for Google's search modifiers (e.g. site:) appear, allowing you to take advantage of that search engine's advanced commands.

As you search, you might also want to see what books, videos, and other items your local library might provide for your topic. With that in mind, LightSwitch lets you search any RCLS library's catalog: select "RCLS Library Catalog" as a search engine. Additional options (including the ability to limit results to the library you select) will appear.

LightSwitch also gives you the option of having search results displayed in their own window: just check the little box under the search engine list.

LightSwitch's predecessor, Proteus, was created with the intent of educating researchers and encouraging them to explore a diversity of search engines. Using Proteus, users could compare the quality of search results, adjust search strategies, and eventually graduate from Proteus and visit specific search engines as needed.

LightSwitch remains committed to this philosophy and offers a comprehensive "Help" page where researchers are encouraged to visit individual search engine sites (including help and "search tips" pages) to learn more about those searches.

LightSwitch is a public service we will continue to develop and refine. We hope you will find it useful!

Please click here to try LightSwitch Search Tools.

New Entertainment Guide

June 29, 2010

We have thoroughly revised and expanded our Entertainment guide.

In addition to television, movies, and theater resources, you can now access popular topics such as:

• celebrities
• comedy
• comics
• entertainment magazines (online editions)
• entertainment news
• family fun
• game shows
• performing arts
• radio shows
• trivia
• video games
• and more!

Our guide also gives you instant access to popular movies (VHS or DVD) within the library system as well as the ability to browse a wide variety of entertainment topics in the library catalog.

Please click here to visit the new guide.

New Reference Resources Online

June 25, 2010

We have some really exciting news for researchers!

We have acquired a number of new titles for our Virtual Reference Library:

• Encyclopedia of Scientific Principles
• Encyclopedia of Women's Health
• Eyewitness Companion: Great Musicians
• Eyewitness Companion: Photography
• Eyewitness Companion: Religions
• Global Viewpoints: Climate Change
• Global Viewpoints: Immigration
• Global Viewpoints: Religion
• Men's Health Concerns Sourcebook

Members of Thrall: Please click on each title to learn more about that reference work and to begin accessing it freely at home!

If you are not a member of our library, you can still access these within the library on any of Thrall's research workstations.

Some other updates:

Due to changes in New York State's NOVEL database offerings, the Proquest Platinum and Expanded Academic ASAP databases are no longer available. In their place you can now access:

• Academic OneFile
• General OneFile

Please take advantage of these great databases and reference works!

Database Update

April 9, 2010

Due to an upcoming change in our licensing agreement with the Newspaper Archive database vendor, the remote access option will no longer be available in the coming weeks.

The database will still be freely available to you at Middletown Thrall Library.

Diversify Your Search

March 19, 2010

This afternoon our Reference Department published a new document:

• Diversify Your Search
  (PDF format: view with Adobe Reader)

Intended for both readers and researchers, this one-page flyer offers tips (and links to tools we created) which you can use to:

• discover new authors (or authors similar to those you like)
• broaden your reading interests
• recognize and bypass limitations in research habits
• improve your Internet inquiries and search results

Accompanying this document is a new category in our Ready Reference Center:

• Search Engines & Web Resources

We encourage you to consider all of the above in hopes of inspiring you to take advantage of all the free tools and services we provide.

Printed copies of "Diversify Your Search" are also available by our Reference Department.

If you haven't done so already, please also check out our Why Search? publication whenever you get the chance.

Interlibrary Loan Service: A Friendly Reminder

January 20, 2010

The ability to request an item (via interlibrary loan) is both a free service and a privilege enjoyed by many members of Middletown Thrall Library.

Through this service you can access materials other libraries choose to share for the mutual benefit of all library patrons.

When requesting items, please be sure you truly want each item and can pick it up when it arrives.

You can track locally requested items through the online library catalog by logging in with your library barcode number and PIN (usually the last four digits of your phone number).

Overdue materials result in fines, and interloan privileges could be suspended if you frequently fail to pick up items.

Please help us to preserve this essential service for everyone by requesting items mindfully and by returning materials on time.

If you cannot pick up or return an item on time, please call Circulation at (845) 341-5454 to learn of available options, if any.

For more information, please call (845) 341-5487 or 341-5454, ext. 5479.

New Haiti Earthquake Information Guide

January 13, 2010

Our Special Coverage Center is where we present key online and library resources on major current topics and world events.

The latest guide in our Special Coverage Center focuses on the current situation in Haiti after the earthquake of January 12, 2010.

Sections in the guide include:

• About Haiti
• About Earthquakes
• Charity & Relief Organizations
• Contact Information
• Embassies & Consulate
• Health Information & Issues
• Images & Photographs
• Maps of Haiti & Earthquake Zone
• Missing Persons Searches
• News & Special Coverage
• U.S. Government Information
• U.S. Military Support Missions
• United Nations (UN) & International Information
• Library Resources & Research Keywords

Please click here to access the Haiti Earthquake guide.

New Online Music Services

January 6, 2010

Music lovers, we have some great news for you!

Members of Middletown Thrall Library / RCLS have two new online music services to enjoy:

• Jazz Music Library
• Music Online

The database provider (Alexander Street) intends for the Jazz Music Library to be the "largest and most comprehensive collection of jazz available online" said to include "thousands of jazz artists, ensembles, albums, and genres."

Music Online enables you to browse or search all Alexander Street music databases we subscribe to through one website. These databases include:

• African-American Song
• American Song
• Contemporary World Music
• Classical Music Library
• Jazz Music Library
• Smithsonian Global Sound

In other news: Alexander Street has merged the African-American Song database with American Song. Previous users of African-American Song can click here for information on accessing any playlists or folders they have created (now found in American Song).

If you have yet to explore Thrall's own Music information guide, please do so when you get a chance. Besides links to fun and informative websites, you will find direct links to music materials available in our library system and more.

New Language Learning Software

December 22, 2009

Middletown Thrall Library has purchased Transparent Language learning software in a USB drive format for the following languages:

• Spanish
• English (For Spanish Speakers)
• Chinese (Mandarin)
• French
• German
• Arabic

Members of Thrall may borrow this software for three week loan periods.

Here's how it works:

• The USB drives are compatible with both MAC and Windows operating systems.
• You plug it into the USB port of your computer and follow the prompts to install the software.
• Your work is stored on your computer and can be accessed anytime the USB is plugged in: you can borrow it, return it, and start from where you left off the next time you borrow it.

As you would do when browsing our DVD collection, simply locate a Transparent Language browser card (located in their very own bin before the DVDs) and bring it to the Circulation desk.

At this time, these materials will not be interlibrary loaned.

You can check on availablity and place reserves by following these library catalog links:

• Transparent Arabic
• Transparent Chinese (Mandarin)
• Transparent English (for Spanish Speakers)
• Transparent French
• Transparent German
• Transparent Spanish

New Special Coverage Guide: Afghanistan

December 3, 2009

Our Special Coverage Center is where we present key online and library resources on major current topics and world events.

The latest guide in our Special Coverage Center focuses on the current situation in Afghanistan.

Sections in the guide include:

• About Afghanistan
• About Hamid Karzai
• Afghanistan Government
• European Union and NATO
• Military Operations
• U.S. Government
• News & Special Reports
• Resources in The Library Catalog
• Research Databases

Please click here to access Special Coverage: Afghanistan.

Expanded Virtual Reference Library

December 3, 2009

Our Virtual Reference Library is a collection of electronic reference books we own that members of Middletown Thrall Library can freely access.

These books can be browsed like regular books (complete with tables of contents, indexes, and appendices). Individual articles can be printed or e-mailed as well.

The VRL is accessed right through our website.

A number of new titles are available as of today. All of these works can be accessed in the library as well as at home by Thrall cardholders:

• Business Plans Handbook, Vol. 12, 2007
• Business Plans Handbook, Vol. 13, 2008
• Business Plans Handbook, Vol. 14, 2008
• Business Plans Handbook, Vol. 15, 2009
• DK Eyewitness Companion: Art
• DK Eyewitness Companion: Film
• DK Eyewitness Companion: Mythology
• DK Eyewitness Companion: Philosophy
• The Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery and Medical Tests, 2nd ed., 4v, 2009
• Holidays Symbols and Customs, 4th ed., 2008
• Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life, 2nd ed., 5v, 2009

You can reach these titles through our eBooks, Databases, and VRL entry pages:

• eBooks - follow the right-side link
• Thrall Databases - click on Virtual Reference Library
• Virtual Reference Library (main page)

Please be sure to check out the many other titles available in the Virtual Reference Library and take advantage of the excellent information to be found there!

New Database: Critical Insights

November 6, 2009

Middletown Thrall Library recently acquired a new series of literary criticism books from Salem Press called Critical Insights.

This encyclopedic series consists of two parts:

• Works
• Authors

Works focuses on major literary works, while Authors examines the lives and writings of classic and contemporary authors.

As part of this acquisition, patrons of Thrall can also access these books over the Internet (either in the library or at home by logging in with their library card) in the form of a database which can be searched or browsed.

Please click here to read more about this database or to log in and begin using it.

This database was made possible by The Friends of Middletown Thrall Library.

New Issue of RE:fresh!

October 23, 2009

As you might already know, Middletown Thrall Library's Reference Department has its own newsletter called RE:fresh!

For those new to RE:fresh!, this is where Thrall's Reference Department updates you on some of our most recent and notable efforts to expand services and enrichment opportunities for our patrons.

RE:fresh! exists both online and in print at the library, and the newsletter complements this blog while extending Reference news to persons not yet online or followers of this blog.

The epic, exhaustive, and ongoing efforts we report on arise from our tireless and inspired mission to advocate and improve our services as well as your informational well-being.

Unlike impersonal, overly generalized, and profit-driven search engines focused more on serving ads and "sponsored links," we care deeply about the quality of information you encounter, and we work daily on your behalf.

This afternoon we published the fourth issue of RE:fresh!
(PDF format: view with Adobe Reader)

We deliver this newsletter with great enthusiasm and hopes of helping you connect more quickly and easily with better information.

After well over 100 years of serving our community, you still are, and always will be, our greatest priority.

In case you missed them, previous issues of RE:fresh! can be found at this link.

New Database: CAMIO

September 11, 2009

CAMIO, the Catalog of Art Museum Images Online, is a newly available database that can be accessed at Middletown Thrall Library.

This database features works from "prominent museums around the world," spans thousands of years, and contains nearly 100,000 works of art.

Topics include architecture, costumes, drawings, decorations, jewelry, paintings, photographs, sculptures, and more.

Please click here to read more about the database.

The next time you visit the library, we encourage you to explore this wonderful electronic resource!

Music: A New Collection & Information Guide

July 20, 2009

Music lovers, we have two great news items for you:

A New Music Wellness Collection

A New Music Information Guide

A New Publication: "Why Search?"

July 20, 2009

In continuance of our ongoing information awareness and literacy endeavors, we published a new document (in print and online at this link in the "Critical Thinking" section) examining online research and the use and abuse of search engines.

As a recognized pioneer of Internet research services and resource guides, within and well beyond our library system, we know the benefits online research can often provide.

We are also aware of potential issues researchers can face on the Internet, especially wherever there might be a heavy reliance on general Web search engines instead of more appropriate sources and research services.

It is that awareness we wish to pass on to you, to empower you, so you can take better advantage of the many superior tools and resources freely available to you at Thrall.

There are often much better paths to the information you seek, and our librarians will be happy to show you the way!

New Job Search Computer

July 20, 2009

Job seekers and others interested in pursuing new career opportunities now have their very own workstation at Thrall.

Usage time is a minimum of two hours, and you can stay on longer if no one is waiting to use it. Two people can sit at this computer. A printer is attached for prints ($ .20 / page). If interested, please stop by our Reference Department.

On the computer are tools and services addressing all aspects of job searching, from cover letter and resumes (including several word processors you can use) to direct links to job search sites on the Web and interviewing tips.

We developed a number of free informational flyers (also available at that workstation) to help job searcher's make the most of their time and these technologies.

As part of this effort, we also redesigned InterJob Search guide, which anyone can access by clicking here.

Real Time News and Analysis

June 24, 2009

Turn to any news media outlet these days, and you are bound to hear words such as Twitter, Facebook, feeds, streams, and real time news.

What does it all mean?

Twitter is a website where friends, family, and co-workers can update others on what they are doing at the moment.

Each message in Twitter (called a "Tweet") can contain up to 140 characters (letters or numbers).

Twitter was born out of the world of social networking, allowing friends and family to keep track of each other. (for more on social networking, please click here)

Facebook is a comparable social networking website.

Due to the popularity and expediency of both websites, Twitter and Facebook are now also used by news agencies, corporations, and even the U.S. Government (more details at this link).

Anyone can establish a "feed" (sometimes called a "news stream"), and post messages which can be informal comments (often abbreviated) or more formal updates with links to full news pages at other websites.

All of this tends to happen in "real time," which usually suggests information is posted the moment it becomes available or known. The variable quality of such information is worth noting.

The prospect of "real time news" is fascinating, but it should also inspire questions of quality, authority, and accuracy.

As the speed and amount of information increases, potential for human error at all levels can heighten. Mistakes, misperceptions, and misinformation can multiply as the desire to provide "breaking news" or consume up-to-the-minute information escalates.

Under such circumstances, even sources deemed reputable or "official" could potentially find themselves in the midst of inaccurate, incomplete, or questionable information.

At any speed, firm facts and objective information can be difficult to determine or locate!

Such situations, of course, predate the Internet, but the sheer speed of online data transactions and increased informality of information exchanges can lead to more mishaps, especially as people might react to unconfirmed reports or make decisions based on erroneous statements.

To act upon any information, "real time" or other, without any consideration can be problematic, if not regrettable or simply dangerous.

Our Current Interests Center exists to help you explore the world of news by topic and to give you not one but several key sources to consider.

We recently established a Twitter Feeds section there.

We encourage you to visit our new Media Watchdogs section as well. There you can enjoy a deeper analysis of current events, not only in terms of actual headlines but also their sources.

At the end of that section you will find links to the "General Research Considerations and Evaluating Information" and "Online Research" areas of our Ready Reference Center where topics such as critical thinking are explored.

Critical thinking involves actively considering key aspects of information as you encounter it. Critical thinking, on or off the Internet, is essential.

We will expand upon this theme later this year in an information literacy project called LIGHT (Learning Information Gathering and Handling Techniques).

For now, you can read some related publications we provide freely at our website:

• Critical Thinking Skills
• Web Checklist

New Literature Database

May 12, 2009

We have a new addition to our Literature databases:

Something about the Author

This database, which specializes in information on children's and young adult authors and illustrators, provides access to Volume 187 of Something about the Author and forward.

Thrall has the earlier volumes of this ongoing series in print at the library.

This database is available at Middletown Thrall Library and freely accessible at home for members of Thrall.

Please click here to learn more about Something about the Author and to begin using this database.

Reference Updates for Spring 2009

April 24, 2009

Happy Spring 2009! Here are some recent updates we would like to share with you:


New York State NOVEL Databases




New & Improved: Thrall Web Guides and Web Resource Search Engine




Coming Soon: Library Catalog Update

Genocide Awareness and Prevention

March 27, 2009

April 2009 has been designated "Genocide Prevention Month." You can read more about the designation in this press release from GenocidePreventionMonth.org:

"Survivors of Six Genocides Declare April 2009 Genocide Prevention Month"

To honor this month and to promote public awareness of past and contemporary genocidal atrocities, we have established a display at Thrall (outside of the Reference Supervisor's office for the month of April) as well as a web guide.

The Special Coverage: Genocide web guide contains links to definitions and histories of genocide as well as articles, books within our library system, and more.

You can click here to access the Genocide awareness guide.

Reference Telephone Numbers

February 9, 2009

Thrall's telephone system was recently upgraded, and some numbers were converted to extensions.

To reach any Reference persons below, please dial (845) 341-5454 (or just 341-5454 if you live locally), wait until the welcome message begins, then dial one of the following extensions:

• 5467 - Head of Reference Services
• 5465 - Government Information
• 5483 - Local History
• 5479 - Adult Programs Coordinator

Please note: Our main Reference Desk telephone remains unchanged at 341-5461. This is the number you can call whenever you have a reference question.

While our 341-5462 number is no longer in service, we still have two telephones at Reference to ensure you can still get through to one of our librarians.

As a reminder, you can always ask questions through our free electronic reference service.

Introducing the "Feed of Feeds!"

February 2, 2009

You now have the option to subscribe to ALL of Middletown Thrall Library's blogs at once in one convenient RSS feed!

Topics will include Library Announcements, Library Programs, quarterly "Beyond the Box Office" reports, Booklovers, Consumer Information, Environment, Government, Health and Nutrition, Reference Service News, Science and Technology, and Youth Services News.

If you are new to RSS feeds, you can click here to learn more about RSS.

To subscribe to the "Feed of Feeds," please visit our main blogs page and scroll down to the "Subscription Options" section. You will see a link to "Subscribe to all of our blogs" in that area. Quick instructions are included there.

Historical New York Times

December 9, 2008

Middletown Thrall Library now subscribes to Historical Newspapers: The New York Times.

The subscription gives library users access to cover to cover full page images of The New York Times from 1857 through the current year minus three, i.e. currently it covers through 2005.

The database can be searched by keyword or browsed by topic or decade. Searches can be limited by date, author, and article type.

This database should delight historians and students as well as those looking for historical stock quotes and classifieds.

The database is only available for use within the library. The library's subscription to The New York Times on microfilm will be discontinued as of December 31, 2008.

Salem History Encyclopedias

November 5, 2008

The Reference Department at Middletown Thrall Library recently purchased a number of encyclopedic sets from Salem Press in addition to others we acquired over the past couple of years.

Titles in the "Great Lives from History" and "Great Events from History" series include:

• The Ancient World and The Middle Ages
• The Renaissance and Early Modern Era
• The 17th , 18th , 19th and 20th Century sets
• The Fifties, Sixties, Seventies, & Eighties in America
• Notorious Lives

These and many other related encyclopedic sets can be found throughout the 900s section (History) in the Reference Department at Thrall.

Members of our library can access most of these titles freely on the web until December 31, 2011 as part of an offer from the publisher.

To get started, go to the History section of our databases and click on "Salem History."

Enjoy them while they last!

For even more history information on the web, check out our American History web guide and the History section of our Ready Reference web guide.

Members of Thrall can also log in with their library cards to access numerous history reference works in the History section of our Virtual Reference Library.

New Economy Information Guide

September 29, 2008

Middletown Thrall Library has created a new Economy information guide.

Our guide contains three sections:

• National & International Economic Information
  • Learning about the Economy
  • Economic Indicators
  • Global Economic Crisis Coverage
  • Economic News (U.S. & Global)
  • Government Information
  • International / Global Economies
• Personal Finances / Consumer Interest Topics
  • Banking
  • Credit & Debt
  • Energy
  • Food
  • Housing Crisis / Mortgages / Subprime Mortgages
  • Investments
  • Labor & Unemployment
• Economy Information and Related Topics in the Library Catalog

The Government Information of our guide section indexes extensive information per U.S. Government agency concerning the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

The Housing section contains information concerning mortgages, foreclosures, foreclosure avoidance, as well as information concerning the new "Hope for Homeowners" program.

Please click here to access the Economy information guide.

You can also find links to the guide from our home page and Special Coverage Center

It is our hope you will find this guide helpful and time-saving.

If you need any more information, on the economy or any topic, please contact Reference or use our Ask a Librarian service on the web.

New 24/7 Reference Service

September 19, 2008

The reference staff at Middletown Thrall Library has been providing reference services via e-mail through our Ask a Librarian service for several years.

If the library is not open or you do not need an immediate answer, this method offers you the ability to submit a question through a web form and receive an e-mailed response usually within 24 hours Monday through Friday.

Thanks to a Library Services Technology Act (LSTA) grant, our patrons now have another choice when they need immediate reference services.

"Ask Us 24/7" is a cooperative virtual reference service that provides the ability to chat with a librarian online and receive one-on-one reference assistance.

The librarian you chat with will most likely not be local, but will have access to information about Middletown Thrall Library's holdings and policies.

Your best choice for reference services is to call us at 341-5461 or visit us at the library.

If that is not possible, using the Ask A Librarian! e-mail service ensures that you will receive reference assistance from our librarians.

If you need to communicate with someone immediately, however, and the library is not open, or the telephone is not an option, we are proud to provide you with access to "Ask Us 24/7."

The link to "Ask Us 24/7" may be found at the bottom of the Ask a Librarian web page.

Thrall Databases Revised and Expanded

September 17, 2008

We have completely redesigned and expanded the Thrall Databases section of our website with the following major goals in mind:

• We want our patrons to have clear and easy access to every databases provided by or through the library.
• We want our patrons to learn more about and have instant access to other related electronic resources available on any given research topic.
• Each database would have its own dedicated web page.
• Each database page would offer a detailed description of its main contents and bring to your attention any notable secondary features.
• Each database page would contain tips and other noteworthy information that could help you learn and get more out of each database.
• Each database page would clearly state who could access it and from where (e.g. only at Thrall, or only available to Thrall users).
• Each database page would draw attention to any special technical considerations (such as the need for additional software/plugins) as well as information concerning printing at the library or e-mailing articles.
• Each database page would have a "See Also" section allowing you to quickly access other related databases as well as specific web resources indexed in our web guides.
• All databases should be instantly and easily reachable from any other database page.
• Databases would be listed by both topic and alphabetically everywhere through simple "drop-down" menus.
• Each of our Virtual Reference Library titles would be individually and instantly accessible, so you can log into specific reference works whenever you need them.

We really want our patrons to make use of these excellent research tools and reference works! They contain very high quality articles and information you will not find elsewhere on the Internet.

The next time you want to look up some information, rather than go to a general web search engine, try these databases, encyclopedias, and reference works instead!

You can reach our databases simply by clicking the "Databases" link on our home page.

We invested in these resources for your benefit, your informational empowerment, so please take advantage of these services.

If you have any questions, feel free to stop by our Reference Department at the library or to call our librarians at 341-5461 for further assistance.

New Thrall RSS Feeds and Subscriptions

July 11, 2008

All of our blogs now offer you the option of being able to subscribe to them through their individual RSS feeds.

This means you can receive automatic updates about any topic you like, including library programs and announcements, government information, health, science, or updates concerning new books and authors.

What is an RSS feed? RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication." An "RSS feed" provides software such as a web browser (for example, Firefox or Internet Explorer 7) a list of headlines, which are automatically updated as the feed is updated by its publisher.

After you subscribe to such an RSS feed, you will be able to review the headlines and click on those that interest you. Clicking on a headline takes you to the website (in our case, Thrall's website), where you can then read the complete story attached to the headline.

"Unsubscribing" yourself from an RSS feed in Firefox is as easy as deleting the bookmark created by a subscription.

In Internet Explorer 7, clicking the star ("Favorites Center" icon) and then clicking Feeds allows you to manage or delete your feed subscriptions.

Opera and Safari users can subscribe by going to the actual blog pages and clicking the RSS icon button that appears in the location bar (where you type web addresses). Unsubscription is easy as well: click on "Feeds" on the Opera menu, then click on "Manage Feeds." In Safari, just delete your RSS bookmark in the Bookmarks organizer.

Some 3rd party RSS/news agent software might instead require you to directly enter the URL (location or "link") of the RSS feed you'd like to join. In those cases, simply right-click (clicking with the right mouse button) on one of the subscription links above and then click on "Copy Link" (or "Location" if your browser says that).

Once back in your other RSS software, click in the box where you need to paste the link, and then either right-click and then click on "Paste" or press these keys together: CTRL V

Our feeds are updated along with our blogs, so this is one convenient way of keeping up with some of the many latest developments at Thrall!

If you have any questions, please click here to ask us a question or call us at (845) 341-5461.

New Reference Blog

July 7, 2008

To keep our patrons informed of recent and past updates to information services at Middletown Thrall Library, we have established this blog.

There are several benefits to this move, including the ability to archive prior announcements for your review and the possibility, in the future, for you to be able to subscribe to individual blog RSS feeds.

Below you will find recent and past archived Reference updates previously posted on our library news page.

Please check back periodically, as we intend to keep you posted on new research services and notable news from our Reference Department!

If at any time you have a question about any of our services, please call us at 341-5461 or contact us through our free Ask a Librarian service.

Podcasts

July 7, 2008

On our Current Interests page there is a new category for Podcasts.

Podcasts are audio and/or video broadcasts published on the web. They can be several seconds to several minutes long and can be on nearly any topic imaginable.

Some broadcasts are daily, while others might be weekly or published at irregular intervals.

Podcasts can be viewed or heard on computers or portable media players, such as an MP3 player.

Podcasts can be published by individuals, major media sources, educational institutions, news and government agencies -- essentially anyone!

Some podcasts are for fun or can be rather subjective, while others might attempt to be more informative, objective, or formal in their presentations.

Podcast publishers listed in our Current Interest directory include such sources as NPR (National Public Radio), C-SPAN, NASA, National Geographic, the New York Times, and the U.S. Government.

Click here to check out the new Podcasts category!

Library Catalog Update

July 2, 2008

As some of you might have noticed by now, the library catalog has been updated. This update, performed by the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS), was pursued in hopes of bringing greater stability to the online library catalog ("HIP"). So far, the upgrade appears to be a success!

As a result of the upgrade, all library catalogs, including Thrall's, changed slightly in appearance. Two new tabs at the top of the catalog give you easy access to our popular RAVES! and Booklover's Blog services.

To access your account in this version of the catalog, you must use your library card's barcode number as your user name. Your password (PIN) will be the last four digits of your telephone number, unless you changed it.

If you have any questions about the catalog, please contact Reference at 341-5461 or online through our free Ask a Librarian service.

Beyond the Bestsellers

July 2, 2008

Our latest quarterly issue of Beyond the Bestsellers has just been published! Discover books and authors not always found on "bestseller" lists. You can find printed copies of it at Reference or by our New Books section.

We also have an online edition you can check out.

The online edition features links you can follow into the catalog, where you can often find reviews, chapter excerpts, or book summaries.

If you like an item, you can request it and have it set aside for you when it becomes available. If you've never done this before, just come to Reference, and we'll be happy to assist you!

Thrall Blog Updates

(archived post)

As part of our ongoing effort to bring you interesting and important information as it becomes available, we continue to update our blogs with links to items on the web or in our library system.

We have blogs for categories such as Health & Nutrition, Science & Technology, Consumer Information, Government Information, Booklovers, and the Environment.

Our main blogs page can be reached at this link.

Global Food Prices/Crisis Guide

(archived post)

Information about global rising food costs and related issues is now available in our Special Coverage Center:

Click here to access our new "Special Coverage: Food" guide.

Special Coverage Center Update

(archived post)

Our recently updated Special Coverage Center now has an additional two information guides on the follwing topics:

• Bees / Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)
• Oil / Peak Oil

The bees/CCD guide can help you learn about current questions scientists are investigating about bee populations and the phenomenon of "Colony Collapse Disorder."

The oil guide focuses on current issues of oil production, gas prices, and related ideas.

Myanmar / Burma Cyclone Web Guide

(archived post)

As we have done in the past, after Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 tsunami, the Reference Department at Middletown Thrall Library has created an information guide on the web. This guide covers the current situation in Myanmar/Burma in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis that took place in early May 2008.

Included in the guide are links to news coverage from national and global media sources, blogs, information about the country and the topic of cyclones, and humanitarian relief agencies.

Please click here to access this special coverage guide.

New York State Web Guide

(archived post)

Our New York State and City information guide on the web has been revised and expanded.

Some of the many categories include Arts, Business and Finance, Consumer, Education, Emergencies and Natural Disasters, Environment, Government, Health, Labor, Law, News, Taxes, Travel and Tourism, Vital Records, and Weather.

You can reach it through our home page or by clicking on this link to the New York State guide.

New Music Services

(archived post)

Members of Middletown Thrall Library can now freely enjoy two new music services through our website: "American Song" and "Contemporary World Music."

The "American Song" music service is described as "music relating to almost every walk of American life, every ethnic group, and every time period."

"Contemporary World Music" features "contemporary reggae, worldbeat, neo-traditional, world fusion, jazz, flamenco, Bollywood," and many other genres.

To begin enjoying these services, go to the Music section of our Databases page and log in with your Thrall Library card number.

While there, be sure to check out other premium music services we subscribe to on your behalf, including Classical.com, African American Song, and Smithsonian Global Sound. You have free access to all of these!

We also invite you to browse our extensive and ever-growing audio CD music collections at the library.

New Language Learning Service

(archived post)

Members of Middletown Thrall Library can now enjoy free access to an online language learning service called Tell Me More. You can reach it right through our website by clicking on the Databases link on our home page.

If you ever wanted to easily and interactively learn languages such as Spanish, German, Dutch, Italian, American English, or French, now's your chance!

When you first log into the service with your Thrall Library card number and create your own user name and password, your computer will be evaluated to ensure it meets the "Tell Me More" requirements.

You will be prompted to download and install the "Auralog components."

Please pay attention to any web browser warnings and allow the installation process to continue uninterrupted. If you do not approve the installation of the required "Activex" components, you may not be able to use the service completely or at all.

The service does make use of "pop up" windows, and Internet Explorer users will be asked to permit "pop ups" for the Auralog.com/TellMeMoreCampus website.

After you select a language, you can choose from a variety of activities, including learning how to pronounce words, associating images with words and phrases, and forming complete sentences in another language.

Within just a few hours every few days you can be well on your way to learning another language!

This is not nearly all that Thrall offers to language learners.

If you...

• don't have a computer
• have a computer but don't have Internet access
• have a computer but it does not meet Tell Me More's system requirements
• prefer to learn through more traditional methods
• would like to know what else we offer

we invite you to check out Middletown Thrall Library's language learning collection.

Here are some examples of language materials we offer at Thrall:

• Introductory materials - Just the basics, fast and easy!
• Travel phrase books - Traveling abroad? Learn helpful words and phrases!
• Dictionaries - Translate words between major languages like Spanish, Italian, and English
• Comprehensive language courses - For serious and advanced language learners.
• Audio cassette and Compact Disc (CD) language learning materials - Listen and learn!
• LIT collection - Very easy reading materials for English language learners
• Spanish language materials - Books, newspapers, videos, a web guide, and more!
• Oxford English Dictionary - Entire etymological and usage histories of words
• Specialized Terminology Dictionaries - Technical, trade, and other terms to learn.
• Computer programming languages - Learn how to "talk to" computers! Really!

We also can connect you with an entire library system of language learning materials as well as informative web resources, such as government information in Spanish, and electronic translation services that attempt to translate words, phrases, and even entire web pages from one language into another!

If someone you know already speaks English but wants to learn how to read and write, we can refer you to literacy resources and literacy organizations that can help you.
Help is what we are all about! Ask a librarian today, and we will happily start you on your way to learning another language or anything else you ever wanted to know!

The Virtual NewsStand

(archived post)

We have created a new area at our website called the Virtual NewsStand.

The Virtual NewsStand offers a clickable list of many popular publications we currently subscribe to at Thrall.

These publications include popular magazines, journals, newspapers, and newsletters.

A major benefit of this list of publications is that you can, from one page, access our most popular periodicals in up to three locations: the publication's home page on the web, issues of publications listed in our library catalog, and, wherever available, articles from the publication indexed in our general article databases.

You can read more about our Virtual NewsStand by clicking here.

World Book Encyclopedia Update

(archived post)

When we renewed our online World Book encyclopedia subscription, we upgraded it to include a new suite of features called "World Book Advance."

You should notice the link to World Book Advance in the right hand corner of the World Book home page after you log in to World Book.

Once there, you will be able to access the new content, which includes e-books (classics), text of Supreme Court Cases, U.S. Presidential papers, primary source material, and some other research tools including pathfinders and timelines.

A "kid's version" and a Spanish Language encyclopedia are also available to you through this service.

Thrall Library members can click here for the link to log in to World Book Encyclopedia through our Databases page.

You can easily access this service from our home page as well by following either the "Databases" or "Encyclopedias - General" links.

If you are at the library, you may access World Book from any of our designated public research workstations or Internet terminals.

We maintain subscriptions such as these to help empower you as a researcher and so that, through us, you may freely enjoy access to excellent research tools and information of a substantially higher caliber and relevance than what you might typically encounter in general web searches.

With that in mind, we encourage you to visit our Databases page to discover even more services freely available to members of our library.

Future Title Watch

(archived post)

As part of our reader's advisory service for our patrons, we have created a new free monthly publication called "Future Title Watch," a series of featured fiction and nonfiction titles from noteworthy authors appearing throughout the year.

Free printed copies of "Future Title Watch" are available at the library. Electronic editions are also available for downloading and printing in the Thrall Documents portion of our website.

You can also browse our monthly title features in our Booklover's Blog and click on titles you like to review and, if you want, to reserve for pickup at the library. If you are unsure how to do this, you can call our Reference Department at 341-5461, and we will be happy to help!

Playaways & MP3 Players

(archived post)

As more readers express interest in electronic formats such as eBooks and eAudio, we continue to expand and modernize our collections and your ability to access those new items.

We are pleased to report that Playaway" and MP3 players are now available for borrowing.

"Playaways" are self-contained and simple-to-use electronic audio books. It's easy: Just plug in your headphones and press play!

While "Playaways" are perfect for those of you who are new to electronic audio books, computer users may be more interested in our circulating MP3 players, which can be used along with Overdrive's Media Console to transfer e-audio titles you have requested through our eBook service.

Playaways are located in the audiobooks section of the library. Checkout cards for MP3 players can be found at the end of the nonfiction section of our DVD browsers located near the Circulation desk. Our librarians will be happy to help you locate these items.

Notice to Rosetta Stone Users

(archived post)

The Rosetta Stone language learning service is no longer available due to the vendor's decision to no longer offer subscriptions to public libraries.

Thrall is exploring another service to ensure our online language learners can continue with their online education!

New Library Home Page!

(archived post)

Our home page has been expanded and refined in several ways. The home page now opens to the full horizontal width of your web browser and monitor, and you now have direct access to more of our online services, including our reader's advisory guides, and our blogs.

A new section called "Booklover's Lane" features links to bestseller and forthcoming title lists as well as recent "RAVES!" from readers finding certain books and authors enjoyable. You can submit your own recommendations through this free service as well. Discover fiction, nonfiction, biographies, and more through RAVES! today!

As more of our online users are using widescreen and higher resolution monitors, it is our intention that this expansion can enable you to see and do more at our site.

We truly want to be your first and best step for information in any form. We encourage you to make our home page your web browser's start up page. We can show you how to do that if you like, or you can click here for easy instructions.

New Special Coverage Guides

(archived post)

At our website we offer several new information guides to help you find news and articles on specific topics:

• U.S. Presidential Election 2008
• Human Rights
• Homelessness

You can access these guides by clicking their titles above or by clicking here.

Our Current Interests page has also been enhanced and expanded to give you improved and immediate access to important news (such as product recalls) along with enriching and entertaining information.

Newspaper Archive Online

(archived post)

Some great news for local history, genealogy, and all other researchers: Thrall has a new subscription to the Internet-based Newspaper Archive. This subscription enables you to search many old local area Middletown newspapers back to the 1800s up to the 1970s. You can also access articles in other newspapers from other states that have been indexed in Newspaper Archive.

To get started, simply click here to access our Databases page. Once there, select the "Newspapers" topic, and click on Newspaper Archive. Log into the service using the barcode from your library card.

While this service is only available at home to Thrall users, anyone can come to the library and access the service on our computers. Please inquire at the Reference Department, and we will direct you to a computer where you can begin your research.

Salem Health: Magill's Medical Guide

(archived post)

A new print subscription to Magill's Medical Guide has also entitled us to three years of access to Salem Health on the web. In addition to monthly highlighted health topics, this consumer-friendly resource enables you to find information about nearly every health topic imaginable.

This service is only available in the library, and you may access it on any of our research computers by clicking on our Article Databases link and then following the "Salem Health" link in the "Health" section of the page. At Reference we also have the complete print edition ready for you to read.

Spanish Information Web Guide Updated

(archived post)

Our Spanish (en Espanol) information guide on the web has been revised and expanded to enable our Spanish-speaking communities to find information in Spanish on the Internet. The web guide can be accessed through our home page or by clicking here.

Spirituality Information Guide

(archived post)

A new guide at Thrall.org highlights informative spirituality websites as well as information available at the library, including print materials, and article databases.