The Economic Power of Libraries
What is the economic power of libraries? Studies show that libraries return $5 into your community for every $1 invested.
[CLICK TO READ MORE]Homework Help and Live Tutoring for Free
Brainfuse HelpNow is an all-in-one suite of tutoring services designed for a wide range of academic needs whether it’s tackling a tough homework problem, mastering a particular topic, or writing a paper, brought to you thanks to the Lake Placid Education Foundation of the Adirondack Foundation. HelpNow services include expert academic tutoring and self-study tools to empower users to study at their own pace or collaborate with peers and teachers. Students access live, on-demand academic help and state-aligned skills building lessons from expert tutors. With HelpNow, tutors and students communicate in real time in our online classroom by typing, drawing, and marking-up lessons and web content. Plus, students can use our secure file sharing feature in the writing lab to submit writing assignments to our writing tutors any time of the day. The Brainfuse full-service test center offers practice tests for all levels in math, reading, and writing as well as college preparatory tests – including the SAT.
Get started by clicking here and entering your library card number.
[CLICK TO READ MORE]Making Music With RiverJack Z
Have some fun “Making Music with RiverJack Z” this summer! Sixteen area libraries will be hosting this free songwriting workshop for children and families. RiverJack Z (a.k.a. Jack Zucchini, the guitar-playing singer/songwriter from The Zucchini Brothers) will guide participants through the craft of songwriting by composing and recording a song that is uniquely their own. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate in this event that is fun for the whole family.
Each library will receive a high-quality audio file with the song to share. Participants will also be provided with an art activity that will be created at the event or sent home as a make-and-take project. The workshops will be held in outdoor spaces as an added precaution due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
[CLICK TO READ MORE]Gnoming Around Event
We invite residents in Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Counties to participate in our “Gnoming Around” event for a chance to win a prize bag. Our bookish gnome will travel to 20 member libraries starting May 5th. He will visit each location for about a week, so watch for his appearance outside of your local library. To be entered for a chance to win a prize bag, just snap a picture with him and post it on one of our social media pages (facebook.com/cefls or @cef_librarysystem) or send it to info2@cefls.org and we’ll do it for you. One winner will be selected from each location.
The prize consists of a drawstring bag containing a variety of goodies including a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut for ages 12 and under, a single scoop of ice cream from Stewart’s, a decorative mini clipboard, and more! We would like to express our appreciation to Pizza Hut and Stewart’s Shops for their generous donations.
The gnome’s itinerary will be: Dannemora Free Library, Wead Library in Malone, Lake Placid Public Library, Keeseville Free Library, Paine Memorial Free Library in Willsboro, Belden Noble Memorial Library in Essex, Keene Public Library, Wilmington E.M. Cooper Memorial Library, Au Sable Forks Free Library, Peru Free Library, Rouses Point Dodge Memorial Library, Mooers Free Library, Akwesasne Library and Cultural Center, Plattsburgh Public Library, Saranac Lake Free Library, Wadhams Free Library, Hammond Library in Crown Point, Black Watch Memorial Library in Ticonderoga, Schroon Lake Public Library, Keene Valley Library Association, and Chazy Public Library.
[CLICK TO READ MORE]Leaving Our Fingerprints on History
This is an invitation to share your experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone has a story to tell and these accounts provide insight into daily life during these challenging times. You are a witness to history. By collecting your stories, we are adding to the historic record. Just as we relied on information about the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1917-1918 to inform our response to COVID-19, future generations may benefit from understanding what we experienced.
How can you get involved? All you have to do is answer some questions about the challenges of the pandemic, how your life has changed, ways that you’ve adapted, etc. Feel free to share it with your friends, family members, and neighbors! The more people who participate, the better understanding we’ll have of the impact of COVID-19.
We would like to express our appreciation to the Southern Adirondack Library System for providing the opportunity to participate in this important project.
[CLICK TO READ MORE]New Ebooks to Read When You’re Stuck Inside
All of the local libraries are currently closed. Whether you’re stuck inside for physical distancing or just need an escape after finishing work since you’re an essential employee, we can help provide a slice of library experience to you. In order to provide additional support to area residents during this challenging time, CEFLS and Northern New York Library Network each contributed $3,000 to bolster the collection of ebooks and e-audiobooks available! We hope that these additional titles help you enjoy your downtime while staying safe and helping flatten the curve. Visit cefls.org/downloads to check one out today!
If you have any trouble accessing the online collection, you can email us at info2@cefls.org. We can take steps to either renew the card temporarily for the duration of the stay-at-home period or create a temporary account with the required information (your full name, date of birth, and a picture of a piece of mail sent to your local address as proof of residence). Of course, you can visit your local library once they’ve reopened to renew your card in full or grant you a new card.
To learn more about the COVID-19 coronavirus and what you can do to help stop it from spreading, check out our information guide at this link.
[CLICK TO READ MORE]The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth
You already know that not everything you read on the Internet is true. But where can you go to find out whether an article is accurate or not? The folks at MakeUseOf have written up the excellent piece entitled The 8 Best Fact-Checking Sites for Finding the Unbiased Truth.
[CLICK TO READ MORE]How do I…?
Get a library card? The best way to get a library card is to visit your most convenient library in person. You can find a map or a list of libraries in our region, and click on a library to find out contact information and open hours. We encourage you to call the library of your choice and ask about obtaining a card. All New York residents are eligible to receive a free library card and library services, even if the town they live … [CLICK TO READ MORE]
In with the New….
Out with the old, goes the old saying. Several years ago, our library system got a brand new online catalog, called Enterprise. It replaced our Classic Catalog, (also known as Horizon Information Portal) but we have kept both operating. It’s now time to retire our Classic Catalog, because it has become hard for us to maintain and keep up to date and secure. We plan to retire the Classic Catalog the last week of 2019. If you still use it, … [CLICK TO READ MORE]
Tale of 3 Book Benches
In the tradition of the “Little Free Library,” and to support reading wherever we can, CEFLS has been placing some book benches around the area. The first one is at the Ted K. Center in Plattsburgh, and we recently restocked it! The second one is in Constable. One of our Bookmobile stops used to be right across the street. If you are in the area, be sure to stop by and borrow a book. The third and last book bench is … [CLICK TO READ MORE]