Category Archives: News from the Field

New BARD Mobile App

People who are blind, visually impaired or have a physical disability may now download audio and braille books to their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, if they are registered with the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) in the Library of Congress.

The Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) Mobile app is now available through the Apple App Store. The app, which is free, allows readers to download audio and braille books from their NLS BARD accounts. Access to BARD is provided through local cooperating NLS network libraries. BARD contains nearly 50,000 books, magazines and music scores in audio and braille formats, with new selections added daily. BARD Mobile will operate on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 4.3 or later.Continue reading→

Basic Library Law for Trustees – Free Webinar

On Friday November 8, from 10 am to 11 am, the New York State Library and the Library Trustees Association of New York State will offer a free one hour webinar by Jerry Nichols, editor of the Handbook for Public Library Trustees of New York State and Director of the Palmer Institute for Public Library Organization and Management; Long Island University.

Basic Library Law for Trustees

This webinar will introduce public library trustees to the critical laws and regulations that govern their library.  Topics will include the legal structure of libraries; the By-Laws and other critical documents; conduct of meetings and FOIL; policy fundamentals; trustee liability; and legal resources for trustees.

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Captivate Curious Minds with a Library Geocache

Entice the public to your library by creating a library Geocache.  What is a Geocache you say?  Well, it is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices.  Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.

A log sheet and small trinkets are often placed inside the cache; a library cache could include bookmarks or other items with library information on them.  Or, why not make it a book trading geocache?  The options are limitless.  Geocaching is a great community activity that can put your library on the map!  To learn more about Geocaching and hide/seek one, click here.