Uncategorized – Maxwell Memorial Library

Hello world!

January 29, 2025 By ml-admin

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing! Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing! Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing! Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing! Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing! Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!

Winter Reading Challenge 2023

December 28, 2022 By ml-admin

January 1 to March 31

Fill in our BINGO reading challenge cards for chances to win one of several Target gift cards. There are 2 challenges: 1 for children and 1 for adults. Simply read selections of your choice to match the many categories on the cards and submit when you complete a row of 5.

There are 3 different BINGO cards for the adult program, to make the challenge a bit more interesting!

Cards are available at the library or you can print them out from the links at the bottom of this post.

Enter as often as you like. All entries must be submitted by April 1. The drawing will be held April 5. Be sure to include your name and phone number on each card so we can contact you if you win.

Youth Winter Reading Challenge Bingo Card

Youth Winter Reading Challenge 2023 Download

Adult Winter Reading Challenge Bingo Cards

Adult Winter Reading Challenge 2023 Bingo Card (1)Download

Adult Winter Reading Challenge 2023 Bingo Card (2)Download

Adult Winter Reading Challenge 2023 Bingo Card (3)Download

Book drop

October 27, 2021 By ml-admin

The book drop will be locked from 3 PM Saturday, October 30 to 10 AM Monday, November 1.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Overdue fines will not accrue during this time.

Please do not leave library materials on the porch! Thank you.

Some fun statistics

October 21, 2021 By ml-admin

From Alyssa’s annual Director’s Report to the Board:

Circulation	59,461
Reference questions	3,863
New patrons	174
Computer assistance	521
Technology help	542
Children’s programs	162
Children’s program attendance	3,940
Adult programs	80
Adult program attendance	1,150
Hoopla downloads	3,264
OverDrive/Libby downloads	16,222

Image credits:
The Standard Normal Probability Distribution with shaded regions by D Wells
License: CC BY-SA 4.0

Broadband Internet

October 4, 2021 By ml-admin

The New York State Department of Public Service is conducting a study of broadband internet access in New York. One part of their data gathering for the study involves a short survey (takes less than 10 minutes) regarding how people use (or wish they could use) broadband services in the home, at work, and in the community. Along with the survey, you can also run an optional broadband speed test. The URL is https://www.empirestatebroadband.com/

Everson Pass

September 29, 2021 By ml-admin

Maxwell now has a family pass for the Everson Museum of Art available for check-out.

The pass allows up to 2 adults and 2 children free admission to the museum plus other benefits including the Empire State Reciprocal Museums Program.

It circulates on the same terms as our [NYS] Empire Passes and [Onondaga County] Explore Outdoors Passes:

Goes out for 3 days
Needs to be returned directly to the Maxwell circulation desk during open hours
Not reservable

2021–2022 Budget

September 29, 2021 By ml-admin

Maxwell’s Board has released the budget for FY 2021–2022 (begins October 1).

Maxwell – Budget – 2021-2022 Download

Image credits:
Budget time, a mashup of
Visorlayout by Cndrblw26 (License: Donated to the Public Domain) and
Casio calculator JS-20WK by Mc681 (License: CC BY-SA 4.0)

I-81 Viaduct Project comment period extended

September 16, 2021 By ml-admin

The New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration have extended their comment period on the I-81 Viaduct Project until Thursday, October 14, 2021, 5 PM EDT.

Additionally, there will be a Neighborhood Meeting on Thursday, September 23 from 6 to 8 PM at

Town of Camillus Municipal Building
4600 W. Genesee St
Syracuse NY 13219
43.04628818105921, -76.24251023084479

If you need an interpreter or have special needs, please contact Curtis Jetter at (315) 428-4351.

Maxwell is a repository for the I-81 Viaduct Project Draft Environmental Impact Statements and has the July 2021 draft available for in-library use.

For more information or to submit a comment online, visit https://www.dot.ny.gov/i81opportunities

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

July 22, 2021 By ml-admin

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is working with libraries to let people know about the resources they offer for helping people manage finances to prepare for or deal with natural disasters and scams.

You can visit their site at https://www.consumerfinance.gov/prepare to see how to:

Prepare your finances before problems arise
Protect or recover money
Rebuild after a disaster or scam

I-81 Viaduct Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement

July 14, 2021 By ml-admin

Maxwell is a repository for the I-81 Viaduct Project Draft Environmental Impact Statements. The July 2021 draft is now available for in-library use.

The public comment period runs from July 16 through September 14 at 5 PM.

Friends Forever Animal Rescue Shoe Drive

June 30, 2021 By ml-admin

Through July 24, Friends Forever Animal Rescue is collecting donations of new or gently used shoes at Maxwell (and other locations in Onondaga County). Your donation helps them raise money to help fund the organization.

Boots, slippers, sandals, flip flops, heels, sneakers, dress shoes, ….

Friends Forever Animal Rescue is a 501c3 non profit and NYS Registered RR426 animal rescue group dedicated to helping stray, sick and abandoned animals in CNY.

Since 2002, Friends Forever has placed over 10,000 homeless or unwanted pets into new homes.

Maxwell’s Hours are Back to Normal

June 1, 2021 By ml-admin

As of today, Tuesday, June 1, we’ll be open until 8 PM Monday through Thursday. Friday’s hours are 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturday’s are 10 AM to 3 PM.

Walk-In Visits: Our Top-Five List!

May 25, 2021 By ml-admin

Maxwell is open for appointment-free browsing!
The public computers in the adult room are also available for walk-in use.
Curbside pickup remains available as an option.
Library programming will remain virtual for a while longer, but the library’s study rooms may be reserved for one to three people, depending on the room.
Library hours will return to the normal Monday through Thursday closing time of 8 PM, effective June 1!

There is a limit on how many people can be in the building at one time. When capacity is reached, arriving patrons will be asked to wait until someone leaves before they come inside.

Visitors to the library must continue to adhere to accepted COVID-19 safety protocols, including

Proper wearing of facial coverings by unvaccinated people
Social distancing
Hand sanitizing

Thank you!

May 25, 2021 By ml-admin

Thank you, West Genesee residents, for supporting your libraries in the district vote and every day.

You are the best!

Sincerely,

Your Maxwell Library Staff

Maxwell to Reopen Open Again for Walk-In Visits on May 3

April 13, 2021 By ml-admin

Job hunting & skill building

April 8, 2021 By ml-admin

Baldwinsville Public Library has developed some resources for job hunting and for learning job related skills. They have graciously shared the resources with the other libraries in the Onondaga County Public Library System.

Their Employment Connection Resume and Cover Letter Class is a program that they are conducting each Thursday in April (at least) that covers resume and cover letter writing, job hunting strategy, and interviewing skills

The dates and times are Thursdays,

April 8, 1PM
April 15, 6:30 PM
April 22, 1PM
April 29, 6:30 PM

Call BPL (315-635-5631) for more information or to register.

The BPL Employment Connection Series consists of YouTube videos on a variety of basic computer skills required in much of the modern work life.

Phone number for Baldwinsville Public Library: 315-635-5631
Link to the Employment Connection Job Preparedness Kit (handbook used in the Employment Connection Resume and Cover Letter Class)
Link to the BPL Employment Connection Series of videos

Image:
Baldwinsville Public Library as seen from Genesee St.

Need help signing up for your COVID-19 vaccine?

March 23, 2021 By ml-admin

Maxwell Memorial Library can help!

Call the library at 315-672-3661 and sign up for a computer appointment.
Let the staff know you will need help signing up for a vaccine.
Appointments are available during the following hours:
Monday–Thursday 10–6
Friday 10–4
Saturday 10–2

Browsing appointments to return are back!

February 12, 2021 By ml-admin

Beginning Tuesday, February 16, Maxwell will again be able to offer patrons the ability to come into the library to browse the collection or to use the computers.

The structure will be the same as it was in the fall:

You will need an appointment. Call us at 315-672-3661 to set one up.
Appointments are for 45 minutes, beginning on the hour
Everyone in your group aged 2 and above will have to wear a mask covering their mouth and nose

The statistic that the Board and Director are watching in deciding whether to remain open is Onondaga County’s 14 day rolling average for the proportion of Covid tests coming back positive. Barring other monkey wrenches, we plan to offer physical access to the library as long as that number stays below 4%. This is the same criterion that the Syracuse libraries and many other suburban libraries are using in making their decisions about reopening and remaining open.

You can follow that number at https://forward.ny.gov/percentage-positive-results-county-dashboard

Maxwell is closed today (Saturday, January 23) because of the storm.

January 23, 2021 By ml-admin

Martin Luther King Day

January 5, 2021 By ml-admin

Maxwell Memorial Library will be closed for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 18.

Image credit:
Martin Luther King Jr NYWTS 6 by Dick DeMarsico (New York World-Telegram and Sun staff photographer)
License: Donated to the Public Domain

New Year’s

December 28, 2020 By ml-admin

Maxwell Memorial Library will be closed for New Year’s on Thursday, December 31 and Friday, January 1.

Covid Vaccine Scam Alert

December 22, 2020 By ml-admin

With the Covid vaccines’ becoming available, JoAnne Spoto Decker, Deputy Commissioner and Executive Director of the Office for Aging has shared the following alert:

It is life-saving news that the COVID-19 vaccine is starting to be administered in our area, across NYS, our country and the world.

At this time, the Office for Aging is concerned that our senior population may be targeted with COVID-19 vaccine related scams. It is essential that we alert the public of likely schemes and provide them with information on how they can protect themselves:

You likely will not need to pay anything out of pocket to get the vaccine during this public health emergency.
You cannot pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine.
You cannot pay to get early access to the vaccine.
No one from Medicare or the Health Department with contact you.
No one from a vaccine distribution site or health care payer, like a private insurance company, will call you asking for your Social Security number or your credit card or bank account information to sign you up to get the vaccine.
Beware of providers offering other products, treatments, or medicines to prevent the virus. Check with your health care provider before paying for or receiving any COVID-19-related treatment.
If you get a call, text, email — or even someone knocking on your door — claiming they can get you early access to the vaccine, STOP. That’s a scam.

Please reach out to the Office for Aging (315-435-2362) if you become aware of any local, COVID-19 vaccine-related scams.

Image credit:
Illustration of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
by Alissa Eckert and Dan Higgins (both with CDC)
License: Public Domain

Library Services During the Pandemic — Update

December 14, 2020 By ml-admin

Camillus is still in a Yellow Zone, as determined by New York Forward, but our Board has decided to get ahead of the curve by returning to curbside service only.

Effective Monday, December 21, we will no longer be available for browsing, computer use, or study room use. We will still have:

Curbside pickup

Reserve material either online or by calling us. When it is ready for pickup, the system will notify you. Then you can call us and schedule a time to pick it up.

Ebooks, eaudio, and so on

Overdrive, Hoopla, the databases that OCPL subscribes to, …

All of these electronic resources will continue to be available.

Library Services During the Pandemic

December 1, 2020 By ml-admin

Camillus is now in a Yellow Zone, as determined by New York Forward, but the Yellow Zone restrictions still allow us to continue the level of services we have been providing. Those services are:

Curbside pickup

Reserve material either online or by calling us. When it is ready for pickup, the system will notify you. Then you can call us and schedule a time to pick it up.

Coming into the library to
- Browse for material to check out
- Use a computer
- Use a study room

We have limited capacity for patrons to come in, so we ask that you call ahead (315-672-3661) to schedule a time.

Ebooks, eaudio, and so on

Overdrive, Hoopla, the databases that OCPL subscribes to, …

All of these continue to be available.

Overdue notices

October 5, 2020 By ml-admin

In line with results from the REALM Project, OCPL libraries have been quarantining returned material for 7 days instead of the 3 or 4 day period we had used for a while. Unfortunately, adjusting the time period the computer waits before sending overdue notices out had gotten overlooked, so many patrons were receiving overdue notices for material they had returned but that hadn’t yet been checked in.

Downtown has now adjusted the schedule for overdue notices to be in line with the quarantine procedure, so there shouldn’t be any more premature notices. The downside to this, though, is that if you actually do have an overdue item, you won’t get a notice until it’s already 10 days overdue.

One solution is to keep track of due dates for your items by regularly logging into your account through OCPL’s catalog. Another possibility is to set your account so that you receive a notice a few days before items come due. To do this you’ll need to go your account settings page. You can get there by using the link just given and logging in, or you can log in as usual and click your name near the top of the sidebar under the My Account heading. You should see something like this:

Click on the arrowhead next to Contact Information and Preferences. That will open a long list of settings. Scroll to the bottom, check the box for Almost overdue reminder notices, and click the Submit Change button.

Now you will get a notification a few days before items come due.

Library Gerbil Update

September 30, 2020 By ml-admin

Our girls finally have names! Introducing Beezus (the white one on the left) and Ramona (the black one on the right)!

Thank you to everyone who voted on names for them! Be sure to stop and say hi while you are at the library for your browsing appointment.

Library Gerbils

September 15, 2020 By ml-admin

Maxwell has added 2 new members to our Maxwell family! The library has 2 pet gerbils — both are girls, one is black, and one is white! We want all of you to help us name them! Submit name suggestions on our Facebook page or by email (maxmemlib@yahoo.com), and then next week we will have a vote!

Next time you’re at the library, make sure to stop and visit them!

Mischievous Memories

August 12, 2020 By ml-admin

Image from: Sweet, Homer D.L. Sweet’s new atlas of Onondaga Co., New York. New York: Walker Bros. & Co., 1874.
License: Public Domain

Mischievous Memories is the transcript of a series of 14 hour-long interviews Lee Goetcheus conducted with Tino Martin between September 2012 and May 2014. It’s both an oral history of the West Hill area of Camillus and a memoir by a talented storyteller.

The book can be borrowed from Maxwell’s Local History collection, but we also have a number of copies for sale at $10 each.

Banner image credit:

Excerpted from the map of the Village of Camillus from Sweet, Homer D.L. Sweet’s new atlas of Onondaga Co., New York. New York: Walker Bros. & Co., 1874.

License: Public Domain

July/August Desk List

July 14, 2020 By ml-admin

The July/August Desk List is now available. You can visit our On the Shelf page for the interactive version or download a copy of the PDF version.

Onondaga County Executive Briefings

June 4, 2020 By ml-admin

To see press releases, news, and emergency notifications from the county executive, visit the County’s Communication Announcements page.

Low-cost Internet

May 28, 2020 By ml-admin

The offer locator tool at EveryoneOn helps people find low-cost internet offers. Type in your zip code and check any applicable boxes about household status. The tool then shows programs in your area that you might qualify for.

EveryoneOn is a nonprofit with the goal of getting everyone in the US connected to the internet and technology.

Governor Cuomo’s Daily Briefing

May 18, 2020 By ml-admin

Governor Cuomo has a daily briefing on the current state of his office’s response to the pandemic at https://www.governor.ny.gov/news

Update on Reopening

May 18, 2020 By ml-admin

Alyssa posted the following on our Facebook page:

Dear Maxwell Memorial Patrons,

The staff at Maxwell misses you all and wanted to provide you with an update regarding reopening. Many of you have probably heard that the Central and city branch libraries would be opening May 26th for curbside pickup. It’s important to note that Central and city branches are a department of the County government. Maxwell does not fall under this jurisdiction, and therefore must wait for guidance from the Governor’s phased reopening plans.

When… guidance does come, Maxwell will be open for curbside pickup of materials only (for the time being). We will do this carefully. Our biggest concern is the health and safety of staff and patrons. Our plans for reopening are being solidified, and we will keep you informed of developments. If you haven’t subscribed to our enewsletter, [use the form in the right-hand sidebar] to add your name and email.

If you have questions or concerns, please email director@maxwellmemoriallibrary.org. I will do my best to assist you. We look forward to serving our community again, and appreciate your kindness and understanding.

Warmest regards,
Alyssa Ali
Director

Dewey Decimal and Covid-19

May 12, 2020 By ml-admin

Like most public libraries in the US, Maxwell arranges its nonfiction using Dewey Decimal Classification (001–099 for General Reference, Information & Computers, 100–199 for Philosophy & Psychology, and so on). Though its general outline is much the same as it was when Melville Dewey first published it in 1876, the system evolves all the time: it’s now in its 23rd edition, and gets frequent tweaking between editions.

So it comes as no surprise that there is a new Dewey call number for Covid-19. Well, not just for Covid-19 but for all viral pneumonia. The classification 616.241 Pneumonia has been split into 3 new subdivisions:

616.2412 Bacterial pneumonia
616.2414 Viral pneumonia
616.2416 Fungal pneumonia

You can read about it over at 025.431: The Dewey blog

Illustration credit: The Dewey Decimal System Guide by Makayla Eads, CC BY-SA 4.0

Absentee Voting for All

April 24, 2020 By ml-admin

With absentee voting for all being offered, Rena reached out to the Board of Elections to find out whether requesting an absentee ballot committed you to voting absentee. Allison M. Wright sent us the following reply:

You are not committed. If you apply for an absentee and even mail it back and then decide you would rather vote in person you can. When signing in at the polling place your name will show up as voting absentee. What then happens is we run a report of who voted in person and we will pull your ballot so that only your vote in person will count. Thank you for helping us spread the word. It helps us out a lot.
Allison M Wright
Administrative Assistant to Dustin Czarny
Onondaga County Board of Elections

Math/Statistics/Epidemiology Lesson

April 14, 2020 By ml-admin

From FiveThirtyEight, A Comic Strip Tour of the Wild World of Pandemic Modeling by Zach Weinersmith, Maggie Koerth, Laura Bronner, and Jasmine Mithani

It’s a long read, but it explains why some of the numbers we’re hearing for COVID-19 seem to be all over the map.

Information Overload?

April 1, 2020 By ml-admin

The American Association for the Advancement of Science reminds us that having a certain critical control over our information sources (as opposed to those 2 opposite extremes of opting in to every push-source or opting out of everything) is essential in crises. Professor David Bawden and Dr. Lyn Robinson of City University of London’s Department of Library and Information Science note that “reading that the coronavirus was genetically engineered by the Illuminati as a means of world domination, but that it can be defeated by drinking hot water, is somehow more attractive than seeing more sensible reminders about staying in and handwashing.”

General links

March 23, 2020 By ml-admin

The Thrall Public Library in Middletown, N.Y. is maintaining a page with links relevant to COVID-19 at https://www.thrall.org/corona/

Online Security

March 20, 2020 By ml-admin

The FBI is reminding us that various scammers are preying on people online during the crisis. Their release talks about extra vigilence with respect to some of the garden variety scams one sees every day like phishing and spoofed email but also notes crisis-specific frauds like promotion of fake virus tests or fake cures. You can see the full press release at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center’s Website.

Chemistry Lessons

March 18, 2020 By ml-admin

The Reactions YouTube channel of the American Chemical Society has several short (mostly in the 4–10 minute range) videos about chemistry that start from questions like “What if humans could photosynthesize?” or “Why is pizza so delicious?” The latest asks “Can soap really ‘kill’ the coronavirus?”

SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 Information & Links

March 16, 2020 By ml-admin

This is the first Maxwell post in the category Covid-19. The category is for posts during the SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 pandemic related to the virus, the syndrome, to Sheltering at Home, and so on.

The idea is that even while the library’s building is closed, the library itself will continue to carry out its mission: to be

… a primary resource for a diverse community seeking good books, accurate information, lifelong learning, access to technology, and programs for all.
Maxwell Memorial Library Mission Statement

Library closed due to COVID-19

March 16, 2020 By ml-admin

Illustration of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
Credit: Alissa Eckert, Dan Higgins (both with CDC)
License: Public domain

In order to help “flatten the curve” of the spread of COVID-19, Maxwell Library will be closed until further notice.

Important updates for OCPL cardholders: All due dates have been changed to May 1 and account notifications have been turned off. Your local library will continue to store any holds that you request until May 8, but they will not be available for pick up until libraries reopen. Remember, we are not charging any overdue fines at this time.

We ask you to please keep library items at home until we reopen. Also, please do not drop off any book donations at this time.

For updates on the general situation and on resources we are able to provide remotely, you can monitor our COVID-19 page, our social media, or our enewsletter.

We apologize for any inconvenience this causes.

Preventing ransomware

July 18, 2019 By ml-admin

In light of the ransomware attack on OCPL’s systems, here’s a list of the basic recommendations from computer security experts to reduce the chances of having your devices subjected to an attack:

Install recommended updates to all your software once the updates are released.
The best way to do this is to have your settings set to automatically install updates.
Don’t install new software unless you know what it does and can trust the source you’re getting it from.
Similarly, don’t grant administrative privileges to software unless you know why you need to.
Install antivirus software and keep it up-to-date.
Backup frequently.
As with software updates, it’s best if you have a way of automating the backup process.

Source: Fruhlinger, Josh. “What Is Ransomware? And 4 Steps to Prevent These File-Locking Attacks.” CSO Online (blog), December 19, 2018. https://www.csoonline.com/article/3236183/what-is-ransomware-how-it-works-and-how-to-remove-it.html

Phone Scams

March 13, 2019 By ml-admin

You may have gotten “sales” calls that caller ID showed as coming from your own neighborhood (or not too far away) but turned out not to be from the number that was shown. Perhaps you called that number to give the scammers a piece of your mind (as one understandably irate patron recently did after getting such a call that showed Maxwell as the purported caller), only to find that the people at that number had no idea about the call.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a few articles and blog posts about this sort of scam:

If you get such a call, the FTC recommends reporting it to them and to the FCC: