Seymour Library

Bring those books inside

Returning books or other materials to the library when the building is open? Just take a few steps more past the book drop and bring them inside. From now on, the book drop will be locked when the library is open. To make it more convenient to return materials, we have relocated the indoor book return - it's just to the right of the self checkout machine. Locking the outdoor book drop during library hours will help ensure that the date the materials are returned is accurately recorded. Our front desk staff members report that patrons have adjusted to the change quickly - thank you!

 

A new look for digital downloads

If you download books from our web site, you'll notice the eBook pages look significantly different - and they work a little differently, too. The download instructions are somewhat streamlined, and once you get accustomed to the changes, it's likely you'll find the process easier. There's help available right on the page (just look for the big question mark on the top right), and we have cheat sheets available, too, at the Main Desk and here:

Borrowing Library eBooks: Directions for the Kindle and Nook 

Borrowing Library eBooks: Directions for smart phones and tablets

Keep that new book a little bit longer

Seymour Library has made some significant changes to its borrowing policies, in an effort to simplify the rules and make them consistent with libraries throughout Cayuga County. The biggest change is in the borrowing period for all books. They now may be checked out for 21 days. Previously, new books could be checked out for 14 days, and all other books could be checked out for 28 days. Although the borrowing period will be shorter for older books, the newer books can be borrowed for an additional week.

As always: If you want to know when your items are due, check your account online or your receipt. Our borrowing and fine policies are listed here.

Fresh books, free!

Do you have children's books that you no longer need? Bring them in and swap them for some new ones at our Children's Book Swap. The new book swap is located just outside the doorway to the Children's Room, on the bright blue shelves. The books on these shelves don't need to be checked in or out. You don't need to make a donation to take a book. (Although we do welcome donations - only gently used books, please.) And if you're looking for more advanced reading, check out the always popular Paperback Exchange on the main floor, near the old entrance. Happy reading!

Documentary on immigration policy next in movie series

Next up in our series of movies on immigration is the documentary Border War, showing at 3 p.m. Friday, March 8. It travels through smuggling tunnels, to migrant halfway houses, and to the halls of Congress to explore the volatile issue of immigration policy. The documentary is about an hour and a half long.

Immigration is the focus of this year's CNY Reads project, and of a series of movies that we'll be showing every Friday in March at 3 p.m. All of the movies are free, and no registration is needed. Here's a look at upcoming movies: 

3 p.m. Friday, March 15: A Better Life. A father and son embark on a physical and spiritual journey where they discover that family is the most important part of the American dream. (98 minutes)

3 p.m. Friday, March 22: In America. A poor Irish family searches for a better life in America. Through their daughters, two anguished parents find hope and the ability to believe in love and magic. (105 minutes)

3 p.m. Friday, March 29: Frozen River. Set in the Mohawk territory of Northern New York, the movie tells the story of a desperate woman who resorts to smuggling illegal immigrants into the U.S. The movie was a best dramatic feature winner at the Sundance Festival. (97 minutes)

This year's CNY Reads selection is The Tortilla Curtain by T. C. Boyle. Copies of the book are available at Seymour Library.

 

Libraries, by the numbers

You might associate libraries more with words than numbers - but we need to share a few statistics with you:

- Visits to libraries in New York state are up 6.3 percent.

- Circulation in libraries in New York state is up 3.36 percent.

- The cost of books is up 3.89 percent.

- Library funding in New York state has dropped 23 percent since 2008.

Those of us who work in libraries understand that tax dollars are precious and public funds are tight. We also know that during lean economic times, the demand for our services increases. We know, too, that of all the public services that are provided to people, libraries are among the most cherished: A recent study by the Pew Research Center found that 91 percent of those surveyed rated libraries as either very important or somewhat important to their community.

Few public services offer as much direct value to citizens as libraries. (You can calculate the actual dollar amount by using this Library Value Calculator.) Yet when it comes to state funding, libraries are cut first and cut deepest.

Libraries across New York are looking to you to help us reverse this trend. Please contact your legislator and ask them to restore library aid to $102 million in this year's budget. Let them know what your library means to you.

We have postcards and more information available at the library, or you can use these links to contact your legislator directly:

Assemblyman Gary Finch
Senator John DeFrancisco 
Senator James Seward

 

 

 

Get e-book help Friday

Our post-holiday e-book help sessions are winding down, so if you'd like to sit down with a librarian and learn how to download free e-books, be sure to stop at the library Friday afternoon. Librarian Mary Lovell will be available in the Reference Room from 1 to 3 p.m. to show you how to download books from the library and other web sites. Be sure to bring your library card, your e-reader, and any cables that came with it. The session is designed for people who have mastered the basics of using their e-reader. Can't make it Friday? Help is available any time when you click on the e-book help tab.

Two ways the library can help you save money

Just using the library saves you money, when you borrow a bestseller instead of buying it, or when you borrow a DVD instead of renting one. Here's another way Seymour Library can help you save money: come to one of our coupon group meetings! Two groups meet monthly at the library, one a weekday group, the other a Saturday morning group. The weekday group meets at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7,  in the Children's Room; bring your kids along so they can read and play while you meet with other couponers. The Saturday morning group meets at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, in the Small Reference Room. All are welcome. Bring your questions and your best money-saving strategies, and plan to leave with ideas for saving even more. 

Book recommendations for February

Looking for some reading ideas? Pick up a copy of this year's CNY Reads selection, The Tortilla Curtain, by T. C. Boyle, or follow the lead of our book clubs and read one of the titles their members have chosen.

Lots of patrons have picked up a copy of The Tortilla Curtain in recent days, and we hope there will be a good turnout for the book discussion this week. It's at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Our Coffee and Crime mystery book club, which meets at noon Tuesday, Feb. 12, is reading mysteries in Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley series. Inspector Lynley is part of a grand tradition in mystery - the detective who is also an aristrocrat.

The Monday night Coffee and Conversation book club is reading a book off the bestseller list: The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, by Ayana Mathis. It chronicles fifty-some years in the life of an African-American family, starting with Hattie Shepherd, who leaves Georgia for Philadelphia in 1923. New book club members always are welcome to join the discussion. The club meets this month at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25.

The Thursday morning Coffee and Conversation book club is reading The J. M. Barrie Ladies' Swimming Society, by Barbara Zitwer, a story of swimming, friendship and a group of feisty old ladies. The club meets at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, and new members are welcome. 

 

Couponing groups meet in March

If you already use coupons, or wish you could make better use of them, come to one of our coupon group meetings! Two groups meet monthly at the library, one a weekday group, the other a Saturday morning group. The weekday group meets at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7,  in the Children's Room; bring your kids along so they can read and play while you meet with other couponers. The Saturday morning group meets at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, in the small reference room. All are welcome. Bring your questions and your best money-saving strategies, and plan to leave with ideas for saving even more.

And if you don't use coupons, or have more than you need, bring them to the library. We have a drop box for them in the room just outside the large reference room.