Port Washington Public Library
Department Profiles - Text Only
The following
lists the Port Washington Public Library Department Profiles. Click on the
department in the list below for more information scroll down to read about
library services.
Children's
Services
Computer Center
ESL Program
Family Place Project
Health Information Center
Information Services
Local History Collection
Media Services
Young Adult Services / TeenSpace
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The Children's
Room is a "library within a library." It is the magical place where
Port's youngest readers and pre-readers receive their first glimpse of the
world of the library and all it has to offer. In this special place youngsters
encounter all the wonderful things that we hope will accompany them throughout
their lives: books, magazines, audio and video recordings, computer programs
and, of course, a lifelong love of the library.
The Children's Room staff serves youngsters from birth to sixth grade as well as their parents and caregivers. Our children's librarians provide young people with story
times, concerts, crafts, films, theater, dance, book discussions, reading
clubs, and more. Parents are offered parenting workshops as well as a comprehensive
parenting information collection. Staff members gladly answer reference questions,
assist with research, and are always eager to help a child find just the right
book for his or her reading enjoyment! Children's librarians regularly conduct
class visits and informal tours as well.
The materials available in the Children's Room serve a broad range of needs
and are available in many formats for many ages:
reference materials (encyclopedias and such)
fiction and non-fiction
picture books
easy readers (illustrated books for beginning readers)
holiday picture books
read alongs (book-cassette combinations)
foreign language books
paperbacks
magazines
a Parenting Information Collection (books on parenting, child health, and
parents' roles in their children's education and reading guidance)
computer software for ages 2½ to 12
reading lists for varied interests
cassettes
compact discs
audio books
videos
The Children's Services staff invites youngsters and their families to explore the wonderful world of learning, ideas, and just plain fun, that awaits them in the Children's Room!
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Computer
Center FAQs
(Frequently Asked Questions)
How many computers
do we have? What are they used for?
There are 18 PCs in the Computer Center. 13 are for internet, 3 are for word
processing and other applications. The 2 computers closest to the ESL office
are set up for the exclusive use of the English as a second language program.
Who can use the
computers?
All adults, and any students 7th grade and up, can use the computers in the
Computer Center. There are computers in the Children's Room for younger patrons.
How do I sign up?
How long can I stay on?
You can sign in at the desk. Just tell us whether you want to use an internet
or a processing computer, and give us your first name, and we'll tell you
which computer to use. No ID is required. You can use internet computers for
30 minutes, processing computers for an hour; if no one is waiting, you can
stay on as long as you like.
Can I get help
with the computers?
We can't provide in-depth training, but we can usually provide some simple
instruction and troubleshooting if you run into a problem. Not all staff members
know all aspects of the computers equally well; if the staff member who's
on duty can't help, he or she may be able to call someone who can, or tell
you when someone who can help will be at the desk.
What if I know
how to use the Internet, but I'm not finding what I want?
You may go to the Reference Room for assistance in finding specific information.
Do you have computer
classes?
Yes we do. Watch the library newsletter for dates! The classes here are single
session classes. If you're looking for something more in-depth, you might
try Adult Ed at the Port Washington Public Schools; catalogs are available
at the Library's Reference Desk or call at 767-4430.
Can I print from
the computers? Is there a charge?
You can print from both the internet and the processing computers. A debit
card called a TracCard is necessary to print. There is a 50-cent charge to
obtain a TracCard, and a 5 cents per-page charge for computer printouts. If
you wish, you can add value to your TracCard and use it to make photocopies
or microfilm copies.
Can I save my work
on the computers?
You can use a floppy disk to save your work on the processing computers or
to save a download from the Internet. If you need a floppy, you may buy one
at the desk in the Lobby for $1.
Can I plug in my
laptop here?
At this time, you cannot use your own computer to go online at the library;
however, there are tabletop outlets in the Reading Room and the Reference
Room where laptops can be plugged in and used off-line.
Does the library
provide e-mail accounts?
We don't provide accounts; however, using the world-wide-web access that we
provide, you can create a free e-mail account using a web-based e-mail provider,
such as Yahoo or Hotmail.
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English
as a Second Language Program
The Port Washington Public Library's
English as a Second Language program was established in 1992 to serve residents
of Port Washington who want to improve their skills in speaking and reading
English. Instruction takes place in small, conversation-based group led by
trained volunteers. Computer software, books, cassettes and professional materials
are also available for participants and the general public.
Who may participate
in the instructional program?
Anyone who lives or works in Port Washington and wants to improve their English may enroll in
the program. Volunteer tutors do not have to reside in Port Washington.
Students
After contacting the ESL Coordinator, each student will take a simple test for placement in a beginner, intermediate or advanced class. When space becomes available, students will
be assigned a teacher and a regular meeting time. Classes are held at the
library once a week for two hours. In some cases, a volunteer tutor will work
with two students. Once students are enrolled, they are expected to attend
classes regularly. Students will be issued books for their class that need
to be returned upon completion of their instruction.
Instructions
Anyone who is a high
school graduate and is interested in helping people may apply to be an ESL
instructor. The type of person who works best with ESL groups is flexible,
patient and has a good sense of humor. Tutors should be willing to commit
to a 10-week training session, 2 hours a week. After their training, participants
will meet with their assigned students once a week for two hours. Except for
vacations and sickness, the groups usually run from September-December and
January-June. Summer instruction is optional. ESL professional books are also
available to provide teaching ideas and techniques.
Are there materials
available to help students learn?
Yes, the English as
a Second Language program includes a collection of books and book and tape
packets that may be used by students, instructors and the general public.
The material may be borrowed for 28 days with a library card. To help students
select materials that are appropriate for their level, the cassette materials
are color coded.
Computers
The program also offers
ESL instruction through computer programs which can be used as self-help tools
to develop skills such as grammar, vocabulary, idioms, spelling, pronunciation,
reading TOEFL and Citizenship. Computers are available to all ESL students
on a first-come, first-serve basis.
How can I sign
up to be a student or a volunteer instructor?
You may call Peggy
O'Hanlon, ESL Coordinator, for information about signing up for classes or
becoming a tutor. She can be reached at 883-4400, Ext.147.
In an effort to develop a variety of family-centered library services, the Port Washington Public Library has partnered with the Middle Country Public Library to promote the Family Place Project in Nassau County. The Family Place Project is a national initiative designed to strengthen library services for children and families. The Port Washington Public Library currently offers the following Family Place services:
The Parenting
Information Center
The Port Washington Public Library Information Center has been providing accurate
and up-to-date information to parents since 1992. Established with a $50,000
grant from the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning council,
the Information Center contains resources that address a variety of topics
including discipline, behavior modification, educational advocacy, disability
awareness, coping skills, and socialization. Located in the Children's Room,
the Information Center consists of three key components: The book collection,
the video collection and parenting programs.
The Parent-Child Home Program
The Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP) is an innovative, home-based literacy
and parenting program serving families challenged by poverty, low levels of
education, and language barriers. Established in 1998, Port Washington Library's
Parent-Child Home Program currently serves twelve families in the Port Washington
Community. The PCHP prepares children for academic success and is a proven
tool to prevent high school dropouts. 84% of students who complete the Parent-Child
Home Program graduate from high school.
The Parent-Child Workshop
The Parent-Child Workshop is designed so that the library provides the setting
in which the child and parent can work and play together. Community resource
professionals and librarians are on hand to discuss speech and language, physical
fitness, literacy, nutrition and behavior.
The Parent-Child Workshop has been in place at the library since 1997. It
is offered, free of cost, approximately four times a year and serves 25 families
per session.
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What is the Health
Information Center?
The Health Information Center is a special health resource
established in 1988 in response to the community's need to become better informed
about health and medical care issues.
What Materials
are Available?
Medical dictionaries
Directories of doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, HMOs, hospices, drug treatment
centers and self-help groups
Books, magazines, health newsletters and pamphlets on prescription and nonprescription
drugs, diseases and current treatments, health promotion, mental health and
other topics
Health indexes
Videotapes on health topics
What Services are
Available?
Reference librarians to assist you in locating information and using the materials
Telephone reference services is provided for those who cannot visit the library
in person
What Else Will
I Find at the Library?
Health-related programs
Health screenings
Health-related articles
in our library newspaper
What is the Health Advisory Council?
The Health Advisory Council is appointed by the library's Board of Trustees to advise on policies
and programs that serve the health interests of the community. Currently,
the members of the Health Advisory Council are:
Charles E. Rogers,
M.D., Chairperson
Christine Alley, R.N.
Edward Athanasian, M.D.
Myron Blumenfeld
Nancy Axelrod Comer
Joan G. Easton, M.D.
Sarah Hogenauer, R.N.
L. Harvey Levine
Judy Mulry, R.N.
Kathy Somerville
Brenda Turok
Trudy Friedman, Coordinator
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Welcome to the Information Services Department. It is our task to evaluate, acquire and organize information sources in all formats. We seek to utilize these materials to their fullest extent, and to provide accurate, prompt responses to each query we receive. All inquiries are of equal significance to us, and we encourage the public to bring us questions on any topic. The reference room houses conventional print sources in all subjects, and our shelves hold a total of approximately 21,000 volumes. For ease of use, several of our subject collections are shelved separately: law; encyclopedias; business and investment; atlases and maps; consumer materials; print indexes; and Long Island history.
We maintain several notable small collections - our local government documents include regulations, codes, reports and miscellaneous publications issued by the Town of North Hempstead, as well as the local villages of Baxter Estates, Manorhaven, Flower Hill, Sands Point and Port Washington North. We also keep the Board minutes, policy statements, reports and publications of local School District 4.
Our periodicals department receives over 600 magazines, journals, newspapers and newsletters, and maintains this extensive collection in print and microfilm. We seek to provide a balanced collection of popular and research titles, as well as material of local interest. (Periodicals holdings may be viewed by title or subject online.)
A number of electronic indexes, which vary widely in their subject coverage, can be accessed through our reference room computers, and we are happy to provide guidance in their use. We are also willing to provide assistance with Internet searching, and have accumulated a collection of reference guides to recommended Internet sites.
The following subscription
databases are available in the reference room:
Community Resource Database of Long Island - Profiles more than 4,500 community
services and resources available in the Long Island area.
Encyclopedia Brittanica - Offers more than 72,000 articles, 10,000 illustrations
and 75,000 definitions.
Long Island Union List of Serials - Contains the Union List of Serials for
participating Long Island libraries.
Newsday - Search Newsdays archives for full-text articles from 1985-present.
Click here for access to all of our Online Databases
and Resources.
The reference department provides interlibrary loan service, and our staff can request books, as well as journal articles and government documents, from public, college and university libraries. We also participate in the Research Loan Program, coordinated through the Long Island Library Resources Council, which makes it possible for students and adult learners to gain access to academic, special and corporate libraries on Long Island with strong subject collections in their field of study.
We encourage you to visit, but if you are unable to do so, we will be happy to assist you by telephone, or to answer your questions via e-mail or conventional mail. It is our goal to help you to utilize our collection of reference materials, and we are eager to hear your suggestions.
The Library's new Local History Center, located in the Reference Room, houses the Library's special collections and archives, as well as our Oral History Office. The American Library Association defines a special collection as "a collection of library materials separated from the general collection because they are of a certain form, on a certain subject, of a certain period or geographical area, or are rare, fragile or valuable." It is our goal to collect, preserve and manage materials that are special or unique, with a strong emphasis on items of local interest.
The Library currently houses 48 special collections, which have come to us from various sources since the founding of the Library. This material has been donated, purchased and bequeathed over the Library's 100-year history. Our first special collection consisted of a small number of books from the North Hempstead Library, the original library in this area. These volumes date from the late 1700s and early 1800s, and were presented to Wilhelmina Mitchell, our first librarian, after the Library's establishment in 1892. Our collections include items in a tremendous variety of formats: artifacts (such as a fireman's uniform and sailing trophies); manuscripts and letters; pictures and photographs; documents; maps; printed books and pamphlets; postcards and scrapbooks.
The Library has received collections from many sources in the community: cultural organizations the Cosmos Club and the Play Troupe), civic groups (the Village Welfare Society and the Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington), official agencies (the schools, post office, police and fire departments), families and individuals the Hewletts, Dodges, Reids and Monforts), and local businesses (the Mason Photography Studio and Larsen Sailmakers). Acquisition, preservation, identification, cataloging, indexing and access are our major concerns. Items from special collections are used for reference and research, and in publications, presentations and exhibits. We encourage the public to feel free to utilize these fascinating collections.
Click here for our online Local History link for more details.
The hours of the Local History Center are: Monday - Wednesday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
For information
about using these collections, please call 516-883-4400, Ext. 167.
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Meet the Staff
Jonathan Guildroy taught the library's super-8mm animation workshops for children
in 1976. He was a part-time projectionist in 1977 and a full-time Audio-Visual
Specialist in 1981. Jonathan became a librarian in 1994, Assistant Director
of Media Services in 1996, and Director of Media Services in 1999. Tony Traguardo
joined the Media Services staff in 1998 as a Library Aide. He is currently
pursuing his Masters in Library and Information Science degree at Queens College.
His background is in music sales, graphic design and writing. Reno Bracchi
joined the Media Services staff in 2001, bringing his expertise in music and
an interest in film. He is also pursuing an MLIS at Queens College.
Photography
Since 1976, the Media Services department has presented over 175 photography
exhibitions. The Library provides one of the few opportunities to view fine
art photography on Long Island. The selection of photographers is based on
artistic merit and cultural diversity. We have exhibited the work of masters
like Berenice Abbott, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Walker Evans, and Paul Strand,
as well as group exhibitions on themes like dance photography and contemporary
black and Latin American photographers; we have also provided exposure for
many emerging talents. Slide talks give the public an opportunity to meet
photographers and learn about their processes and philosophies. Over the past
twenty years, many local photographers have displayed their work in our annual
Photography Club of Long Island show. Media Services develops the photography
book collection, which includes monographs, thematic studies and instructional
titles; we also purchase and review photography journals.
Film and Video
Media Services aspires to present outstanding and challenging feature films,
documentaries and video artworks to our audiences. Most of these films and
videos are not shown anywhere else on Long Island. Since 1976, financial support
from the New York State Council on the Arts has enabled us to bring over 500
filmmakers and over 100 videomakers to the Library to discuss their work with
our audiences. We have also screened hundreds of Hollywood classics, foreign
films, documentaries, experimental works and thematic series. Viewers can
learn more about film and video through the book collection that Media Services
has built. We also purchase and review media journals.
Circulating VHS,
DVD and Compact Disc Collections
Although the circulation of videotapes is overseen by Collection Management,
the selection, purchase, cataloging and promotion of videos is the function
of Media Services. We are proud to offer Port Washington borrowers approximately
16,000 of the very best in Hollywood classics, foreign films, current releases,
documentaries, arts programs and instructional tapes. The collection now also
includes over 1,500 DVDs.
The Media Services department also houses the Library's extensive compact
disc collection, and the media staff is responsible for purchasing, cataloging
and maintaining it. The constantly expanding selection features a wide assortment
of genres, including: Classical, Rock, Country, Folk, Pop, Rhythm and Blues,
Rap, Jazz, Shows and Movies, World Music, Spoken Word and Holiday.
Technical Support
The Library presents a wide variety of events each month (films, lectures,
performances) that require technical assistance. Media Services generates
some of these events, others are organized by the Library's other programmers,
and more still are sponsored by outside organizations. Technicians must be
familiar with 16mm film projection, 35mm slide projection with single and
double projectors, synchronized slide programs, VHS and DVD playback with
single and double monitors, video projection, overhead projection, opaque
projection, computer projection, microphone amplification, wireless microphones,
graphic equalizer, digital effects, portable sound system, compact disc playback,
audiotape recording and playback, infrared listening assistance system for
the hearing impaired, stage lighting, audio and video dubbing, and much more.
In 2000, the Library
received funds from the Library Foundation to renovate the Meeting Room. The
newly designed facility features acoustic panels, a Crest mixing console,
and Meyer Sound speakers. Adding these to the recently purchased Audix microphone
package, Sony DVD player, JVC S-VHS machine and Proxima digital projector
make for a state-of-the-art public meeting area here in Port Washington.
Departmental History
The Port Washington Public Library first developed a media department in the
early 1970s. When we authored the Library's first New York State Council on
the Arts grant in 1970, the award of $31,000 enabled us to originate a pioneering
video production project. For a period of seventeen years we trained residents
to make tapes about their community. NYSCA funding supported photography exhibitions
in a new media gallery, and brought filmmakers and videomakers to screen and
discuss their work. Whenever artists visited, we videotaped their presentations
and recorded interviews with them. Our other activities included a film screening
program and photography classes; we also circulated 8mm films, filmstrips,
slides, audiotapes, talking books, a/v equipment, and 16mm films from the
Nassau Library System. Media Services began its circulating VHS collection
in 1984. The initial 200 tapes proved so popular that the collection has grown
to more than 15,000 titles. A continually expanding DVD collection, launched
in 2002, also offers a wealth of titles in state-of-the-art quality.
Media Services, now located on the newly renovated lower level, continues
to present notable photography exhibitions, motion picture screenings, musical
performances, circulating videocassettes and DVDs, compact discs, and media
books and journals.
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Young Adult Services / TeenSpace
The goal of the Young Adult Services department, housed in TeenSpace, is to meet the educational, informational, and recreational library needs of Port Washington's teenage population (grades 7-12). Just as adolescence is a transitional period in a young person's life, the Young Adult department attempts to bridge the gap between the Children's library and the adult collections by means of the special services, materials and programs provided for teens.
Adolescence is a time for teens to move from the library microcosm in the Children's Room into the rest of the library. The Young Adult department helps to ease this transition and insures that teens are not left at sea during a turbulent period in their lives. Indeed, the teen years are marked by myriad physical and emotional changes, as well as added pressures at school, home, and from peers. In view of this, the Young Adult department aims to create a welcoming atmosphere that encourages adolescents to use the library and read for pleasure throughout their teen years, thereby insuring that recreational reading and library use will remain lifelong habits.
Services: The Library's TeenSpace room provides a place for teens to study, read, or simply relax. Librarians who specialize in services for this age group are on hand for consultations regarding selection of materials. To this end, the YA staff prepares and distributes lists of recommended materials for teens. While TeenSpace does not house all the materials students are likely to need for their school work, it is a good first stop in the research process, as the staff can offer tips on how to approach the assignment. Teens are also encouraged to make use of the Library's Reference Room, Adult collection, Computer Center and Media collections.
We are happy to arrange class visits and library tours for school groups. However, in order to arrange for adequate staffing to insure the most productive experience for students, teachers must submit their requests at least two weeks in advance of the intended visit. Teachers are also encouraged to alert the YA staff of upcoming assignments a few days prior to the date students receive them. When necessary, YA librarians can assemble temporary reserve collections to allow for equitable access to limited resources.
A priority of all YA staff members is to act as youth advocates, upholding the rights of young people within the Library and throughout the community.
Materials: The Young Adult librarians select materials (including fiction, nonfiction, periodicals, biographies, CDs, videos and audio books) targeted specifically for this age range, through the use of professional reviewing sources. Fiction written just for teens, as well as fiction audio-books, is located in or near TeenSpace, along with several specialized collections of nonfiction, including:
periodicals
self-help books
graphic novels
poetry
illustrated books
biographies
test prep titles
The YA staff also selects materials appropriate for teens that are located in the adult nonfiction collection, Reference Room and Media Services Department. Teens are expected to make full use of the Library's extensive holdings as well as the services of the Computer Center. Teens are also welcome to choose videos, CDs and audio-books from the Library's Media collection.
The Young Adult department is also responsible for the Library's teen web site, TeenSpace. The site features links (related to homework, college and careers, reading, and more) that have been reviewed and selected by the Young Adult librarians.
Programs: The Young Adult department offers a variety of programs of interest to teens. Most popular is our annual babysitting workshop offered each fall. Teens who attend all four sessions are eligible for inclusion on the Library's babysitters list, which Port adults are welcome to consult. The department also sponsors occasional filmns, a summer reading club, and activities related to Teen Read Week. We have also offered cooking and craft workshops, Mystery Weekends, Science Fiction Festivals, college information programs, and more, all specifically targeted to this age group. Suggestions from teens are always welcome, and in the future, we hope to revive our Youth Advisory Council. This group offers suggestions related to programming and materials selection, reviews books, contributes to TeenSpace, helps publicize Young Adult activities, and more. Those interested should contact TeenSpace.
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