Nancy Moskowitz's blog

Better Than Google

Nancy Moskowitz — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:49:53 +0000

In today's topsy turvy financial world, investors have a right to be nervous. How to invest and what to invest in is a big dilemma for most of us. Where does one turn for the right advice? Since 1965, the answer to that question is Value Line. According to their website, their mission is "to provide investors with the most accurate and independently created research information available, in any format they choose, and teach them how to use it effectively to help meet their financial objectives". Well, for many years, that format was print only. That was fine for a long time, but there were drawbacks: Only one person could use it at a time, there were three different volumes to look through, and issues could be delayed in the mail or even stolen. When I previewed the on-line version, I was impressed. Patrons could use it at home or at work, mutual funds were included, and the print-outs of the reports was sharp and clear, better than a photocopy.

New Mysteries May 2013

Nancy Moskowitz — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:56:26 +0000

Fangs Out by David Freed
Unintended Consequences by Stuart Woods
Going, Going, Ganache by Jenn McKinlay
Frozen Shroud by Martin Edwards
Aunt Dimity and the Lost Prince by Nancy Atherton
Lucky Stiff by Annelise Ryan
Baker Street Translation by Michael Robertson
Follow Her Home by Steph Cha
Untold Damage by Robert K. Lewis
Walk With the Dead by Sally Spencer
Widow's Tears by Susan Wittig Albert
Golden Egg by Donna Leon
Murder at Rosamund's Gate by Susanna Calkins
Beyond Confusion by Sheila Simonson
Paris Deadline by Max Byrd
Music of Ghosts by Sallie Bissell
Midnight at Marble Arch by Anne Perry
In Broad Daylight by Seth Harwood

Better Than Google

Nancy Moskowitz — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:45:58 +0000

Thanks to the excellent schools in Clarkstown, we librarians have faced many challenges in helping our students. We have dealt with numerous difficult assignments over the years, involving the Supreme Court, the penal code, shark taxonomy and those ever-popular math honor reports. An important part of a librarian's job is to see that we have sufficient materials to supply to students so that they can successfully complete their work. It is important that we provide that support for students who come to us for help, and we take thiis responsibility very seriously.

New Mysteries April 2013

Nancy Moskowitz — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:52:10 +0000

Cage of Bones by Tania Carver
Sweet Tea Revenge by Laura Childs
Nickled-and-Dimed to Death by Denise Swanson
Book of Killowen by Erin Hart
Death of Yesterday by M.C. Beaton
Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths
Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear
Assaulted Pretzel by Laura Bradford
Missing File by D.A. Mishani
Blood, Ash, and Bone by Tina Whittle
Killer Honeymoon by G.A. McKevett
Farewell to Freedom by Sara Blaedel
Hand for a Hand by T. Frank Muir
Josh Whoever by Michael Guillebeau
Rage by Gene Kerrigan
Some Enchanted Murder by Linda S. Reilly

Better Than Google

Nancy Moskowitz — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:16:32 +0000

Gale Virtual Reference Library is listed on the first page of our database offerings. The description says that it is "a general interest database that integrates a variety of sources in one easy-to-use interface." This rather bland explanation does not indicate the wonderful sources of information it contains.In fact, Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL), was voted “Best Overall Database” by the readers of Library Journal magazine. GVRL’s user-friendly features include an interface that is available in more than 30 languages, ReadSpeaker technology (text-to-speech functionality) for 19 languages, article translation capability, a multi-page viewer for a book-like experience, and the ability to download articles as PDFs to ereaders or MP3 players.

New Mysteries March 2013

Nancy Moskowitz — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 21:45:27 +0000

Birthdays for the Dead by Stuart MacBride
Bad Blood by Dana Stabenow
A Medal for Murder by Frances Brody
In the Darkness by Karin Fossum
Scent to Kill by Chrystie Fiedler
The Woman Who Wouldn't Die by Colin Cotterill
The Golden Calf by Helene Tursten
Shatter the Bones by Stuart MacBride
Out of Circulation by Miranda James
To Brie or Not to Brie by Avery Aames
Cat Trick by Sofie Kelly
Disciple of Las Vegas by Ian Hamilton
Stakeout by Parnell Hall
Brooklyn Bones by Triss Stein
Domestic Malice Mystery by Donald Bain
Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Easter Bunny Murder by Leslie Meier
Holy Smoke by Frederick Ramsay

Better Than Google--I Still Believe

Nancy Moskowitz — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:51:12 +0000

I recently had a conversation with one of our database representatives. We were discussing the disappointing usage of his product. Why was it not getting more use? The rep offered to send me posters and bookmarks, offered to come in and do a demonstration for the staff, and even for the public. I declined all these kind enticements because, frankly, it would be a waste of time. Much as I hate to admit it, our databases are mostly under utilized. This has nothing to do with the quality of the databases, their ease of use, or the spectacular information they contain. The sad and unsurprising fact is that people eschew the databases to simply "google it". People google everything and who can blame them? As a librarian, I find this frustrating and understandable. A google search is the fastest and easiest way to find information, no question. But does fast and easy necessarily translate to accurate and reliable? Heck, no!

New Mysteries February 2013

Nancy Moskowitz — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:44:58 +0000

Proof of Guilt by Charles Todd
Unnatural Habits by Kerry Greenwood
Speaking From Among the Bones by Alan Bradley
Ice Maiden Cometh Not by Alistair Boyle
Bear is Brokem by Lachlan Smith
Out of the Black Land by Kerry Greenwood
Watching the Dark by Peter Robinson
Wrong Turn by Diane Fanning
Nightrise by Jim Kelly
Footprints in the Sand by Mary Jane Clark
Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman
Bughouse Affair by Marcia Muller
Good Bait by John Harvey
Arsenic and Old Puzzles by Parnell Hall
Standing in Another Man's Grave by Ian Rankin
After Clare by Marjorie Eccles
Hammett Unwritten by Owen Fitzstephen (pub date 2/12)
Hit Me by Lawrence Block (pub date 2/12)
Guilt by Jonathan Kellerman (pub date 2/12)
Three Graves Full by Jamie Mason (pub date 2/12)
Sound of Broken Glass by Deborah Crombie (pub date 2/19)
Calculation in Death by J.C. Robb (pub date 2/26)
Dance of the Seagull by Andrea Camilleri (pub date 2/26)
Gods and Beasts by Denise Mina (pub date 2/26)

Better Than Google

Nancy Moskowitz — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:53:37 +0000

Goodbye Westlaw! Hello LexisNexis! The new year brings us an exciting, new database, the LexisNexis Express Library. For the past six years, we had subscribed to Westlaw due to the fact that it was a great alternative to print. Instead of shelves and shelves of McKinneys Statutes and U.S. Code Annotated, we could now access them on-line. Although some people missed the books, most of the lawyers were happy to use Westlaw, something they used in law school and at work. Recently, LexisNexis decided to produce a product to appeal to the public library market. It is not only more affordable, it is more comprehensive (laws and cases of all fifty states are included, not just New York) and it can be used by more than one person at a time. Although the legal portion can only be used in the library, the business and news modules are available remotely.

New Mysteries January 2013

Nancy Moskowitz — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 19:18:12 +0000

Extra Credit by Maggie Barbieri
Dying on the Vine by Aaron J. Elkins
Safe Home by Chris Ewan
Blood Never Dies by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
Sanctity of hate by Priscilla Royal
Best Place to Die by Charles Atkins
What a Ghoul Wants by Victoria Laurie
Book, Line and Sinker by Jenn McKinlay
Fonduing Fathers by Julie Hyzy
Corpse on the Court by Simon Brett
Kinsey and Me by Sue Grafton
Start of Everything by Emily Winslow
Illegally Iced by Jessica Beck
Bubble Gum Thief by Jeff Miller
Dead Shall Not Rest by Tessa Harris
Bewitched, Bothered and Biscotti by Bailey Cates
Wrath of Angels by John Connolly
Revenge of the Crafty Corpse by Lois Winston