Category Archives: News from the Field

2008 Polaris Enhancement Vote

Greetings, all,

Site-contacts’ input is again invited on enhancements to the Polaris system.

Attached is a ballot with instructions for viewing and voting for enhancements that have been submitted by Polaris users nationwide. We will tabulate votes from MVLS and SALS users for Michele Largeteau, who is our voting representative to the Polaris Users Group. You are encouraged to talk with other staff about the enhancements.

Please view enhancements online at:

The Polaris Extranet

Click on Customers / Polaris Users Group / PUG 2008 Enhancements Lists

If you forgot the user ID and password see the instructions on the JA Intranet

Please return your ballot to Jennifer Ferriss by courier (code) SAL, fax 518 587-5589 or email no later than Tuesday September 2nd.

If you have any questions, please contact your system trainers.

Ebsco Database Training

It is always difficult for people to leave their libraries to attend training, and with the cost of gas, travel is becoming more prohibitive for many libraries.  Given that, several online webinar training sessions have been schedule for this fall.  This is the first time we have done database training via a webinar, so consider it an experiment.  We will see how it goes – if folks feel that additional in-person sessions are necessary, we will schedule those at a later date.

The first round of sessions will focus on EBSCO products, specifically NoveList Plus and Masterfile Select.  Both of these products have brand new interfaces and many added features.  Tentative dates and times are:

Wednesday, Sept 17 – 10:30 AM
Monday, Sept 22 – 3:30 PM
Wednesday, Oct 1 – 1:00 PM

More information will be forthcoming as the dates get closer.  Expect each session to last approx 1 – 1 ½ hours.

I hope that the variety of dates and times for training will allow most libraries to work one of these sessions into their schedules.  Please watch for further emails about training in the next couple of weeks.

Comments and Suggestions Sought for NYLA CE Proposal

NYLA has developed a proposal to require new certified public librarians starting in 2010 to obtain 60 hours of professional development over a five year period. Anyone who already has a public librarian certificate would not be covered by this proposal, only those applying for a public librarian certificate in 2010. Information about the proposal can be found on NYLA’s website at www.nyla.org . After carefully reading the proposal, comments, suggestions, and recommendations on the proposal are welcome and should be sent to NYLA