June 30, 2009
All we can say is WOW and THANK YOU SAG HARBOR! We are thrilled by the community’s overwhelmingly positive (642-137) response to the renovation and expansion plan.
If we were surprised by the numbers (and some of us were), we shouldn’t have been. After all, this is a plan developed jointly with the Sag Harbor community. Consistently, you have been there for the library over the last several years, attending meetings, calling with your suggestions and ideas, asking thoughtful questions, and expressing your support for the library. We believe this is your plan as much as it is ours. Your fingerprints are all over it, and we hope they will continue to be as we continue to refine and improve the plan through the rest of the desgin process.
As happy as we are with the result of the referendum, yesterday was a very special day here for another reason. Everyone who worked at the library throughout the day was deeply moved not only by the number of people who turned out to vote, but also by their spirit. What a great community Sag Harbor is, and how happy we are to be a part of it. So many of you came to vote, and then stopped to chat with staff members, and other friends from the community who were here as well. The neighborly atmosphere was infectious, cheering us throughout the day. Gradually, too, we were instilled with a sense that on one level the outcome of the vote didn’t matter at all, because the mission of the library — to serve our community — was being validated over and over throughout the day, as many who came to vote, also stayed to take out books, DVDs and more. Not a few people also used the opportunity to sign up for or renew library cards. It was quite a day.
Well, we’re celebrating today, but much hard work remains. In the months ahead, we’ll be applying ourselves to the task of making sure the “new” John Jermain Memorial Library continues to provide the best possible service to our community. As always, your input and participation in the process is not only happily accepted, but also actively encouraged.
May 27, 2009
A list of Frequently Asked Questions (and answers to those questions) is now available in the Renovation and Expansion Plan section of this blog. Click on the link below to view it now.
Frequently Asked Questions
And be sure to let us know if we missed anything that you are curious about by asking your question in the big box at the bottom of the page under the words “Leave a Reply.” We’ll post an answer online right below your question. (No personal information about you will appear online.) Of course, if you prefer, you can call Library Director Catherine Creedon directly at 631 725-0049, ext. 23, or write to her at catherine@johnjermain.org. And, you’re always welcome to stop in and ask for information from Catherine or any of our staff members.
May 1, 2009
The second public meeting to discuss JJML’s plans for renovation and expansion will be held on Wednesday, May 6th at 5:15 p.m. in the rotunda on the Library’s third floor. This meeting is an opportunity for community members to be brought up to date on the Library’s plans for renovation and expansion of its building at 201 Main Street. Participants will have an opportunity to review evolving floor plans and a preliminary exterior design. Information regarding the estimated cost of the project will also be presented. The library is looking forward to the opportunity to receive feedback on the plan from the community.
If you have any questions about this meeting, please call Library Director Catherine Creedon at 631-725-0049, ext. 23.
April 14, 2009
If you look at the top of this page, under and slightly to the left of the words “It’s Germane,” you will see a link to a new seciton of this blog called “Renovation & Expansion Plan.” News about the Library’s plans for our building will be posted there. You may also leave questions and comments. Library Director Catherine Creedon has started the section off with an review of what’s been done so far, a short overview of upcoming events, and few personal thoughts. Click on the link above to read her introduction and/or to ask us a question.
March 31, 2009
Library patrons in grades K-12 may now access Suffolk Homework Help for live online tutoring in all major subject areas. The service, provided by the Suffolk Cooperative Library System is available to help students in both English and Spanish from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week with the following exceptions:
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Students must have a library card from a Suffolk County library to use the service. They will, however, be asked for their first name only when communicating with a tutor. Transcripts of sessions will be available to those entering an e-mail address, as well as to Suffolk Cooperative Library System (SCLS) staff monitoring the service. SCLS Youth Services librarians will spot check transcripts and follow up on any questionable issues.
February 23, 2009
On Sunday February 1, 2009, The John Jermain Memorial Library hosted
Gloria Brown reads at African American Read-in. Photographed by Kathryn Szoka.
the 20th Annual African-American Read-in. Sag Harbor Mayor Greg Ferraris started the afternoon’s readings with a selection about the African- American communities in Sag Harbor from Stephen Longmire’s Keeping Time in Sag Harbor. Over thirty people attended the Read-in, many of them sharing a favorite piece of writing authored by an African- American. Herbert Randall, whose photographs are featured in our gallery during the month of February, also attended. Gloria Brown (pictured) read a selection about coming of age in church from Henry Louis Gate’s memoir, Colored People. A reception for the opening of Mr. Randall’s photography exhibit followed the readings.
February 2, 2009
We love our patrons, and so want to give a little back to the community that nurtures and supports JJML. So, during February, any overdue items returned will be fine-free if accompanied by a donation to the Sag Harbor Community Food Pantry. Just bring in your donation of food along with your overdue library items and, poof! Your fines vanish along with hunger in our community. For more information, call the library at 725-0049.
In a further, but decidedly less serious, effort to show some love to our hungry patrons, we encourage you to stop by during the week of February 9-14, which is Love Our Patrons Week, to enjoy a cookie or two along with a reviving warm beverage. Our treat all week.
January 26, 2009
Income tax time approaches and JJML is ready to help. While we can’t offer advice about tax law or procedures, we have got all the tax forms that you could possibly need, both for your federal filing and New York State return in both pre-printed and online form. On the library’s first floor we have multiple copies of all the most commonly used forms. In addition we have single copies (that you can Xerox) of those that are less in demand.
If working online is more to you liking, each of our seven public computers has the complete collection of Federal and State forms. Many can be filled out right on the computer, and then printed (although you have to do the math yourself.) Others can just be printed and filled out by hand. Our public computers also offer links to the State Department of Taxation and Finance website, and to the IRS “Free File” webite, where you can choose from a variety of providers (including Turbo Tax and Tax Cut) that offer access to free tax software that helps you with your income tax reporting. These programs do the math too! You must meet certain qualifications in order to use the free software: all the information is available on the IRS website.
And, as always, we have a selection of books to help you work your way throught the filing process. So, don’t despair, all the tools your need to prepare your income tax returns are as close as your local library.
December 11, 2008
A number of new services will become available on Suffolk Wave on Monday, December 15th. They include:
MP3 Audiobooks
MP3 Audiobooks do not have DRM – Digital Rights Management – and therefore can be transferred to a wide range of devices, including the iPod®, iPhone™, iPod Touch and Microsoft Zune. You still will be expected to comply with the accepted agreement to delete items from their computers and devices after the 7 day loan period. Not all audiobooks are in MP3 format. Those that are not cannot be downloaded to the iPod family of devices.
OverDrive Media Console for the Mac
Suffolk Wave MP3 Audiobooks can now be downloaded to Macs where they can be played and transfered to MP3 devices. MP3 Audiobooks can also be accessed from the patron’s iTunes software.
eBooks
A collection of fiction and light non-fiction titles in the Adobe and Mobipocket eBook formats has been added to the collection. These are downloadable text-only books. You can read them on your PC or handheld device (with a screen), but you cannot listen to them.
My Wish List
Suffolk Wave users can now add titles to a personal list for later consideration.
If you like this title, you might also like…
Another new feature is a book-jacket display of suggested titles based on genre, subject and/or author and relating the the book you are currently viewing on Suffolk Wave.
Don’t forget these features are not available until December 15, 2008. Click here to visit Suffolk Wave now.
