The Library now has available two essential databases for genealogical research. The first is HeritageQuest. Access is available from the library’s website homepage both in the library and at home. If you are accessing the database from outside the library, authentication will be via your library card. If you are accessing from inside the library, connection will be immediate.

The second database is Ancestry.com Library Edition and access is available only in the library, not remotely from home. Every Library computer has a desktop shortcut which takes you directly to the Ancestry homepage. Ancestry is also available in the library via the Library’s wireless network. If you bring in your own laptop computer, you can access it from this URL: http://ancestrylibrary.proquest.com.

Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest Flyer

Please Welcome Susan Hansen

You may notice a new face at the Library.  Please join us in welcoming Susan Hansen.  Susan is a professional librarian and her main duties are to provide Reference and Information Services, along with our other long time reference librarian, Dennis Kininger.  Susan was an instructor in Information Literacy and Research at Bryant and Stratton College and was also a Technology Instructor at Oswego Public Library.  This program at Oswego was funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act and is entitled the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP).  She worked in Adult Information Services at Broome County Public Library and was also a Trainer for the Polaris Integrated Library System.  She has a BA from SUNY Cortland and an MLS from SUNY Albany.  She is currently matriculated with Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies for a Certificate of Advanced Studies in School Media.

Her interests are technology and teaching literacy. She is an avid blogger with the Fiction Readers on Fiction L and enjoys helping fellow librarians help people find what to read next.

She says: “I look forward to meeting the Dunham Library community.  I already feel very welcomed.”

A Very Successful Book Sale

January was Book Sale month and what a sale it was!  After a lapse of about a year and half, our library community embraced the book sale with open arms.  We had a very dedicated cadre of volunteers and when all of the sums were calculated, the Library realized a profit of $4,353.  Many thanks to all who came and purchased books and much gratitude to all who assisted with their time and boundless good will.

Future book sales are scheduled for January, 2013, October, 2013 and May 2014.  Mark your calendars and plan ahead.

No More DVD Rental Fees

At its February meeting, the Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously to eliminate the $1.00 rental fee for DVDs and VHS tapes.  The resolution reads: in consideration of the fact that library media of all kinds is provided as part of the Dunham Public Library’s primary mission “to promote reading, knowledge, cultural enrichment, and a sense of community” and in congruence with both the Freedom to Read and Freedom to View statements which are endorsed by our Board and also with the affirmation that access to public library resources should be ubiquitous and equitable, all rental fees for materials including DVDs and VHS tapes will be eliminated.”

IMPORTANT: Please note that although there are no more rental fees, fines for late return of these items are still in place.

Do you have the urge to learn a foreign language, but don't have the money to purchase an expensive program?  The Library has come up with a way for our patrons to learn a new language easily.  We now have a subscription to the individualized language learning service called Mango Languages. Like the Rosetta Stone service which many people are familiar with, Mango can track your progress and combines visual and auditory learning.

The programs are available in basic for beginners and more advanced for those with experience. Local library cardholders are now able to learn Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Farsi, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Pashto, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese and many others. Speakers of French, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Cantonese), Italian, Arabic, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Greek, German, Spanish and Portuguese speakers can also use Mango for learning English as a second language.

Mango Languages uses real-life situations and actual conversations to more effectively teach a new language. By listening to and repeating after material designed from native conversations, you'll not only learn the individual words and phrases, you'll know how they're used in practical situations and conversations. You'll learn more than grammar, vocabulary and conjugation, you'll learn how to communicate.

All you need is your library card and you can access Mango from the library or from home. Click on "Try Mango!" or find the "Learn a language now!" link on the right side of this page.