Frankie's CFPL Blog

Free Income Tax Assistance (VITA) at CFPL

2007-01-23T16:44:00.000-05:00

For Your Information

Rutgers University Law Students will return to CFPL in early February to do the Free Income Tax Assistance Program they do every year.
Check their 2007 Schedule for the VITA Program is listed on our website in the Ongoing Events Page. See here for details.

Bye, Bye NY!

2007-01-08T12:40:00.000-05:00

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!

Maxthon 2.0 Beta Released!

2006-11-07T17:14:00.000-05:00

Finally, Maxthon 2.0 (Beta) has been released! "WooHooo!"

A'la Homer Simpson, I say; Mmmm, Maxthon 2.0!

New Maxthon 2.0 Beta download it here.

Do You Read Blogs?

2006-11-03T16:51:00.000-05:00

Do you read more than one Blog? Some times you visit a Blog thinking let’s see what new has been posted, but then there aren’t any new ones. You feel like you wasted time for nothing. If you happen to read more than one Blog like I do, you don’t want to waste your time going Blog by Blog to check them for new posts.

Well, I have a suggestion that will save you the time checking on through your favorite Blogs. Most Blogs and lots of Websites have what they call RSS Feeds (Really Simple Syndication) on them. The little orange icons with the “RSS” letters on them or similar. You can go to those pages and click on the RSS icon and Subscribe (free) to those RSS Feeds.

You have to have an RSS reader or aggregator. There are plenty of free ones both as a program on your computer or online. I like the online ones better because I use more than one computer at work. I can access the online one from any computer with Internet access.
I use is Bloglines and it’s real easy to use. You create an account, (supply a e-mail address, pick a user name and a password) pick a few blogs to subscribe to and add any other one you want to. You go to any Website or Blog with RSS icon on it, click on it then added to your Blog Roll (list of your subscriptions.)

After that, all you have to do is log on to your Bloglines account and Bloglines will go to each individual Blog for you and if there are any new posts on any of those blogs or sites, Bloglines will create a list for you. You can then go and read those new posts at without having to go Blog by Blog to check yourself. You can read the articles or summary of them, you can make a clipping of them to read them later, Blog them or E-mail those articles to anyone you want.

Once you’re logged on to Bloglines it will check periodically through all your subscriptions, (about every 5 minutes) and check to see if there are new posts saving you time and work. Bloglines has a search feature that you can use to look for Blogs of your interests no matter what your taste is. Hey, they even provide you with a Blog of your own, if you'd like.

Online Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus. Free access.

2006-10-20T15:44:00.000-05:00

Doing Homework? Need a Dictionary Quick? Then try the Free Online Dictionary.

Online Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus. Free access. (http://www.thefreedictionary.com)

Loves Pictures? Then You'll love Flickr!

2006-10-19T14:20:00.000-05:00

Read this article that explains it all about Flickr and how it works.

http://www.llrx.com/columns/tao8.htm

I'll bet if you use it, you'll love it.

On-Line Technology Tutorials From Around the World Wide Web

2006-10-10T12:54:00.000-05:00

Good site to keep in record. For all kinds of Online tutoring visit this site:
On-Line Technology Tutorials From Around the World Wide Web

This site has all kinds of tutorials for a bunch of different software usually used in office environment. They even have stuff on Apple/Mac Computers.

For MS Publisher 2000 see:
http://www.nisd.net/scobee/online_training/publisher/pub_training.htm

Blog for Reference suggestion

2006-10-03T16:21:00.000-05:00

I'm trying to start a blog for the Reference Dept. where we can keep Notes, Numbers, Links & Ideas maybe even who's in and who's out for the day. Rather than having PostIt Notes all over our desks & computer screens. That sometimes it's so many we can't tell the old notes from the new ones.
It's kind of like a Yellow-Pad where we keep our notes, but instead of everyone having their own notepad where we don't know what the other person has on his notes, it'll be one Blog Shared by everybody in Reference.
It can be accessed easily by all of us from any computer with internet. We can even post stuff we forgot to tell the other staff before we left. I think it would make it easy if we all cooperate on this. Like the 3 Musketeers, "One for All and All for One!"

Playing with RSS

2006-09-23T18:29:00.000-05:00

I’ve been reading some Blogs lately and a lot of them have links to subscribe to them. I use Maxthon as my default Browser which has a built in RSS Reader. I can subscribe to any RSS Feed with it and read them right there too, which is easy. I also found out about Bloglines and I subscribed to a few Blogs. I like not having to go to my favorite Blogs I visited and go one by one looking to see if they have new posts. Now, my curiosity is, how do they set that up so that anyone visiting their site can subscribe and get new post updates? Hum?
Well, my dad used to tell me "Don't tell me you don't know how to do something or that it’s too hard if you have never tried doing it." I guess, if I want to learn about this and how it works, I’m just going to have to just go ahead and dive into it.
So, I'm trying to learn a little bit about Feeds, how they work and how to set them up. I played a little with the settings on the template to this blog and got the feed to work. I also tried a suggestion from the Blogger’s Help page to try FeedBurner. It’s not to hard to set it up. Although I have to learn my way around all the different new features it has before I feel somewhat comfortable with it. I don't have to be an expert at it, right? I only need to get it up and running. I’m happy the subscriptions links for Atom and RSS Feeds are working, but know I have to work on how they look and feel a little. Please excuse me and the often changes or redundancy as I learn how to do this. Hopefully, I learn enough to be able to help setup a Feed for the library's new blog or if a library patrons ask me how or to set up theirs I’ll know where to point them to. For now I'll keep diving into all this Web 2.0 stuff and see how we can use it here at the library.
Wish me luck!
Frankie

Immigration Workshops @ CFPL Library

2006-09-15T14:17:00.000-05:00

Starting September 25, 2006 Rutgers University will be offering Free Immigration Workshops at the Camden Free Public Library. The workshops will be held on:

Monday, Sept. 25th

Wednesday, Oct. 11th

Monday, Oct. 23rd

Wednesday, Nov. 1st

Wednesday, Nov. 15th

All sessions will be at the Main Library at 418 Federal Street from 4:00PM to 6:00PM. For more Information call (856) 225-6406 or (856) 225-6608. There will be interpreters in some occasions.

Library's New Blog

2006-09-11T18:40:00.000-05:00

Hey CFPL library has launched it's new blog CFPLForum, Check it out!

WRITING WORKSHOP

2006-09-08T15:25:00.000-05:00

WRITING WORKSHOP with Alfred Encarnacion

Have you ever considered writing a poem, short story or essay? Writers, experienced and inexperienced, are invited to an informal weekly workshop on form, content and technique every Thursday from 6PM - 8PM in the Community Room of the Camden Free Public Library at 418 Federal Street beginning September 21, 2006.

CFPL Staff, FYI

2006-09-08T09:11:00.000-05:00

Any one from CFPL Staff interested in a one-on-one training session on any of the programs we use on our computers just let me know. I'm willing to sit for an hour or so as long as there is enough coverage in your department. For topic suggestions, see flyer in Staff Lounge.

Frankie

Thank You for the Donated Computers

2006-08-29T09:09:00.000-05:00

      Summer is almost over and I've been really working hard for the last few weeks. I'm tired! Like my friend Dave used to say; "I need Sleep!" I can't wait to go back to regular winter hours at the Library. I'll get to sleep late on Mondays & Wednesdays since I'm not due at work till 12:00 Noon.
      At our library we have quite a few computers, but most of them, old ones. Libraries in general are always having trouble with budget cuts so it's difficult to come up with money for different projects without cutting programs and other things. Thank God for all the different organizations that help us by means of donations and support.
      I'm pleased to say that even though it was a lot of work setting up over 30 computers. Having to replace most of our machines and add some new ones, I can now say "I see the light!" As of the 1st week of September we will have everything up and running. There will be 16 PCs for adult public (8 new ones 8 replaced), 3 PCs in the Kids room plus 2 staff ones that got replaced. At the front desk, replace 1 add 2 new ones. In Technical Services, replaced 2 old ones and added 2 new ones plus a laptop. At the Reference Department, all 3 staff PCs got replaced. Administration is getting 1 desktop replaced and added 2 wireless laptops. The computer room replaced 2 PCs added 1 laptop. Wheeew!
      Now that, that's done the fun beings. Have to format the hard drives and reinstall the Operating System on all the old computers that got replaced so they are wiped of any files laying around before we can get rid of them. If it were up to me, I would do it in an easier way. If they would only supply me with a sledgehammer, for all the trouble we went through with them old clunkers. However, there are people in our community that can afford to get new computers and our old PCs to them would be of great use for them.
      These much needed changes and upgrades to the library's computers were made possible thanks to donations from companies and organizations that came to our library's aide at times of need. Just like some members of our community will be able to use what we get rid off, we were able to use what somebody else did no longer need. "One's trash, is another's treasure." By way of donations or helping us in linking up to some donors our library will now be able to provide a better service for our community.
      Very Special Thanks go to the Rotary Club and to Blank Rome Law Firm for their donations and support to Camden Free Public Library.
We encourage other companies to continue helping public libraries with donations, grants and support. The same way we received help, other libraries can sure use a helping hand too.

Mmmmm Del.icio.us

2006-04-20T17:09:00.000-05:00

I've been playing around with different web applications recently. I've had heard so many ravings about Del.icio.us but I had never tried it out myself.

At the library where I work, I've had to covered in other departments now and then. Because of this, I don't always use the same computer. If I was using a computer other that mine, I had to do all this hoping around through the LAN to access my favorites on my PC or run to my computer look up my favorites and jot a URL on scrap paper then run back to the other PC to get to it. A'la "Sneaker-Net". Remember that? Well, Not no More!

I discovered MmMmMm! Del.icio.us and now I have a place where I can keep bookmarked sites accessible from anywhere. I kick my self for not trying it before.

Now that Lets see how I can put it to good use at work and for my self.

Frankie0566

Book Reviews by CFPL Staff

2006-04-19T18:38:00.000-05:00

Here are some Staff Shelf Selections:

HELEN AND TEACHER, by Joseph P. Lash

Reviewed by Bob Sorrentino, CFPL Senior Reference Librarian, 04/13/06

Helen Keller was one of the most remarkable women who ever lived, battling handicaps that would have defeated anyone else to become one of the most accomplished women of her time or any time. No less remarkable was her teacher, Anne Sullivan Macy, the young woman who unlocked the territory of Helen's unexplored mind. Joseph P. Lash ("Eleanor and Franklin") here provides a fascinating dual-biography of the two of them, detailed and yet highly readable at the same time.

For those who Keller and Macy's stories primarily via William Gibson's play (and film) "The Miracle Worker," this book admirably fills in much of the background discussed therein. The poverty and privations of Anne Sullivan's child versus the privilege of Helen Keller's only serves to underline how alike these women were at heart, both battling the darkness of blindness (and, in Keller's case, deafness, as well) to prove that the handicapped did, indeed, have a place in the world and that DISabled did not mean UNable. This was a battle that Keller and Macy fought their whole lives, and they fought it triumphantly.

And biographer Lash, who knew both women, brings this to life on every page. By the time you're done reading this lengthy (but fast-moving) book, you feel not only as though you're read a book about both women, but that you KNOW both women.

Highly recommended.

SHADOWS & DELIGHTS, by Ted Kooser

Reviewed by Alfred Encarnacion, CFPL Reference Librarian, 3/29/06

Ted Kooser's Delights and Shadows, his Pulitzer Prize winning collection, contains all the pleasures that readers of the U. S. Poet Laureate have come to expect of him from his previous volumes. Concise, rhythmic narratives, Kooser's poems are never flashy or complicated for complexity's sake. Instead, his work exhibits the same poetic qualities that made Robert Frost and William Stafford such perennial favorites. Like those two quintessentially American writers, Kooser-by the authenticity of his poetic "voice"-seems to instantaneously engage his readers' attention. This is indeed a significant accomplishment for it allows, as James Dickey once pointed out in an essay on Frost, the poems to enter the reader's consciousness unchallenged.

Initially the poems in this volume may seem familiar in style and subject matter to the work of many contemporary American poets; however, what sets Kooser apart from the rest is his ability to effortlessly endow the poem with a greater emotional poignancy than might be expected. Even with such unpromising subjects as pegboards, the poet is able to surprise his readers by an uncanny ability to pivot the poem toward some deeper significance: in this case poetry is used not merely to describe the function of a pegboard but rather to create a metaphor which suggests the entire history of human technology, and all this is accomplished in a twelve-line opus of less than seventy words that never strains to make a statement. Likewise, in "Walking on Tiptoe," "Gyroscope," "Creamed Corn," "Home Medical Dictionary," and "In the Hall of Bones" Kooser places at the heart of his poems a distillation of meaning that offers readers a sudden moment of enlightenment.

The two longer poems, "Pearl" and "The Beaded Purse," while not as intense as the briefer pieces, are still moving narratives in which the poet explores familial relationships. In the former, a trip to an elderly relative reveals the sad deterioration of a cousin's mental faculties and, by extension, the altered sense of reality many encounter when faced with the consequences of time and human mortality. The latter poem is a third-person account of a Kansas father who must transport his adult daughter's body home for burial after they had been estranged for a dozen years while she was pursuing an unsuccessful acting career in the east. Although reconciliation has come too late for the pair, still a reconciliatory act is performed by the father who puts a few bills into the expensive, but empty purse shipped back with his daughter's body so that his wife will be spared the knowledge of their daughter's indigent state. As in the shorter poems, Kooser's economical writing and musical phrasing create a credible poetic voice that compels the reader to suspend his disbelief in order to partake, in this instance, of the ironic insights offered at the conclusion of the poem.

Delights & Shadows (811 KOO) is one of a number of new poetry collections to be found on the poetry display table in the library's third-floor Nonfiction Dept. Along with Kooser's The Poetry Home Repair Manual, a practical guide for beginning poets, this book is highly recommended for poetry readers of all tastes.

CLOSE TO SHORE, by Michael Capuzzo

Reviewed by Pat Dillenschnieder, CFPL Librarian, 7/12/05

Almost hidden by the larger, picture-filled books on sharks in 597.3, is a small winner. CLOSE TO SHORE, by Michael Capuzzo, tells the gripping true story of a shark that somehow lost its way and swam down Matawan Creek in northern New Jersey. Mr. Capuzzo's account is horrifying but so well written and so interesting, it was impossible to put it down. The only thing that would make it better is pictures. So, be sure and check out CLOSE TO SHORE: THE TERRIFYING SHARK ATTACKS OF 1916 by the same Michael Capuzzo (J597.3) in the Children's Department. I don't know how the author did it, but this shorter version is still beautifully written and includes wonderful illustrations of the people, buildings, and articles from the newspapers of the time.

So, go back to the Jersey of 1916. "Seconds before the attack, a shiver traveled down his spine - humans are gifted, as are all large mammals, with the instinctive ability to detect that they are being hunted. As the creature's shadow merged with his on the bright, sandy floor of the sea, Charles experienced an adrenal explosion, the overpowering urge to live. He was in only three and a half feet of water, close to shore. Safety was at hand. But it was too late."

Web Site on a Budget

2006-04-13T15:11:00.000-05:00

When budget is tight and you can't afford to buy every software you need, you can try and use programs that you can either download free or use directly from the web. I know I do. Some are good, some are bad, you just got to look around and you will find some good programs out there that are very helpful.

I created the library's Old web site waaaay baaaaack with Netscape Composer. That's when it used to be Version 4.7 of Netscape Navigator. Trying to learn a little more here and there, I've used a lot of programs since that then. I've made simple web pages using other programs such as: Front Page Express, Front Page98, MS Publisher98, Front Page2000 and DreamWearver.

I learned about a program called NoteTab Lite from Fookes Software and with the help of Suzanne B. (Thank You Suzy!) had a lot of fun using it to create the library's New Web Site. I also learned a lot from doing it this way. Anyone that wants to know about an easy to use and easy to learn Editor, should try NoteTab Lite.

Here are some other programs I use:

To reduce picture sizes to thumbnails I use Easy Thumbnails, also from Fookes Software.

To make sure I don’t have any broken links I use Xenu Links Sleuth. It gives you a good detailed report. It tells you all your links by page, alphabetically, broken links list, not broken, redirected ones, the works!

When I get in a pinch with some HTML coding, I go to W3Schools and get very good help. There are also lots of good forums that provide help.

Making a website on a budget might sound cheap, but if you take your time and search you will find some good stuff on the web that won't hurt your pocket an at the same time help you learn some more and that my friend doesn't ever hurt.

Web Site Almost Done

2006-03-30T12:49:00.000-05:00

The Library's New Website is almost one. There's two maybe three pages that need to be updated. Once these pages are updated, we good to go.

Both the Library's Web Pages, the Old Website and the New Website are up and running online. I will keep the old site up for a while and try to update it as I can. I'm going to put links on both pages to go from one to the other.

I hope our site will be useful to our patrons. If you find any broken links, or if you have any questions or suggestions, Please post them to the Webmaster.

Frankie

Website Progress

2005-08-03T13:45:00.000-05:00

I'm glad to say that the Website project is coming along good. The hardest part of it is done already. Except for a few minor things here and there that need editing, it's almost done.

The Content and Design of the website was done in partnership by Suzanne Bernsten and myself. It's been a while and I'm glad it's almost done, but I can not finish this project without saying thanks to all those who in any way helped.

I want to thank Suzanne for all her hard work and dedication to the making of this site. She has worked on it even beyond the call of duty to make this project possible. I've wouldn't done it with out you Suzy. Also, to all the CFPL staff, who had their input, comments, suggestions, posses "Say Cheese!" in one way or another. To all the patrons that accepteded their pictures taken for the site, Thank You guys!

Frankie Matos

What makes a Library

2005-05-24T11:41:00.000-05:00

What makes a Library a Library?

Is it the building? Is it all the books on their shelves? Is it simply because the sign out front says “LIBRARY” in bright blue letters? Or maybe because they have one of those old fashioned Card Catalog Drawer Chest.

Well, to me it’s none of those. A Library is all about the service they provide to the community it serves and how they provide it. A Library is a library that provides not just service, but quality service.

Look at it like this:

A patron goes to the library hoping to find the book or information they need. They approach the front desk to where the person behind the counter checking in new magazines that came in the days mail and shyly ask, “Excuse me where can I find a book on “Baby Names?”

The library person walks to the counter and tells the patron “that will be on the 2nd floor. Someone upstairs can help you find it.” The patron then goes upstairs and starts looking around. There are Tons of books on the shelves. Their thoughts, “Wow there’s so many books. How am I ever going to find this book in this ton of books? Let me ask for help.” They again go to a desk. This time the desk on the 2nd floor and ask again, “Excuse me where can I find a book on “Baby Names?” The librarian tells the patron, “Err, Umm, I’m looking up some information for another Patron, but if you look up babies in the card catalog under the Subjects you will find where Baby Names Books are.” That was a correct answer. However it was not the right answer. The patron’s response, “Ok Thank You.” Patron’s mental response, “That’s why I asked you in the first place because I need help. Thanks for nothing!” That response sounded more like “Look for it over there. I’m busy right here.”

For a more helpful and hopeful response, the librarian’s response should have been. First step; “Ok, let’s see how WE can find you a book on what you are looking for.” Never show a patron how tired or busy you feel you are. You don’t have to have a grin from ear to ear, but try to provide them the service they are entitled to. You can help them by saying something like; “First, lets find out where they are located in the shelves by checking the card catalog.” You just don’t give them a fish. You show them how to fish. By doing this you educate them and you not only help them find the book you are also giving them a lesson in for their next visit on how they can help themselves find other books. It makes you sound more helpful too. Next time, they can catch their own fish.

Next step; After both Librarian and Patron find out in the card catalog the Dewey Number for the books on Baby Names (929.4) make a quick note on scrap for the patron and in your head for future use. You both go to the shelves and point it out for them. “Here are books on Baby Names 929.4 you are looking for. Check through them an see which one is more to your taste.” Now you can go finish doing the search you were doing when the patron approached you for help. You have helped the patron find the books they needed, you helped them learn how to find books and you also let them browse on their own so they can feel comfortable enough to look around with out your help.

Now that’s service. Service the smart way.

Now this patron found his or her book, learned how to find them on the shelf for a next time and there wasn’t someone on top of them controlling what they were doing. Now the next time this person need information or where do you think they’re going to go back to? The same place where they had a good experience before.

Libraries main service is to provide information amongst other things to the people it serves. Whether the information comes from books, magazines, maps, journals, etc. It’s all about what you offer and the quality it is offered. The people expect to find the quality information that they need and how quick and efficiently they can get it. We have to provide service worth coming back for.

With the Internet providing so much information and so fast and easy, Libraries are in need to make sure we stay on the ball. Providing good quality service in order to be able keep proving our worth. If we don’t, they won’t come to us. If they can find information somewhere else and the service is not of quality. They will go somewhere else. Then why are we here for? We have to provide service that’s worth coming back to us when you need more. Provide them with the right quality service and the right tools to find it, but that’s another story. For now, keep providing good quality service that is worth coming back for. That’s a good Library.

Frankie Matos
Sr. Library Assistant
Camden Free Public Library

New Addition to JerseyClicks!

2005-05-18T18:25:00.000-05:00

I had mention JerseyClicks! on a previous post about our Databases. There is now a link to JerseyClicks! at the bottom of the Library's Home Page.

I'm re-posting it here to mention the new addition of Reference USA, which is good for finding information on US Businesses, US Residential, Health Care Databases and also Canadian.

Under the Health tab you can search for Doctors or dentists Name and see whether they are Board certified or not, how many cases they tend to per week and what type cases.

Below is a re-post of the Databases.

Previous Post:
Our patrons at the library have access to some Reference Databases. These are provided to us by the NJ State Library for library patrons use. Patrons at CFPL have access to Jersey Clicks! and EBSCO Publishing. You can also get Live Homework Help from QandANJ.

In order to have access to any of these you have to be a patron at any Library in New Jersey. All of these Databases can be used from our public computers. These Databases provide access to Full Text Articles from all sorts of Magazines, Journals and others. Ebsco even has a Kids Version called Searchasaurus. You can also search newspaper articles from Spanish Newspapers by using Informe.

If you're a member of Camden Free Public Library you can also access these from your home computer. For more Information call CFPL at (856) 757-7640.

Mozilla's Firefox Flaw

2005-05-09T08:51:00.000-05:00

For anybody out there who uses Mozilla's Firefox Web Browser, here is the link to Mozilla's announcement of the flaws discovered on the Firefox Browser. It includes a work around and how to avoid the problem.

http://www.mozilla.org/security/announce/mfsa2005-42.html

Frankie

Working on a Web Page?

2005-04-28T10:55:00.000-05:00

For anybody who is interested in working on a web page or simple web site, there is a Web Editor Program called Notetab Lite (V. 4.95) which you can get from http://www.notetab.com This is a FREE Download from Fookes Software http://www.fookes.com and it is easy to use.

I was introduced to this web page editor program by one of our Reference Librarians here at CFPL and I really like Note Tab Lite. We are currently using it now as we are working on our site giving it a simpler and easier to use look. If you know at least some basic HTML, this program is great. If you are working on a web page or simple web site Note Tab Lite would get the job done.

Fookes Software site also has a program named 'Easy Thumbnail', which lets you create thumbnails of your pictures from just a few steps. Which is cool when you have big pictures that take longer to load on a page.

Check it Out!
Frankie

Whats New! Free Seminars

2005-04-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

Come join us on our Free Seminars at CFPL

Landlord/Tenant informational Matters

or

How to file an Expungement

For more information follow the link bellow:

http://www.geocities.com/cfpl418/whatsnew.htm

Or Visit our Web site at:

http://www.geocities.com/cfpl418/index.htm

and click on What's New.

Black History Film Festival

2005-02-18T16:27:00.000-05:00

From 3:00 - 5:00 PM at the Main Library

Salute to Paul Robeson Tue., Feb. 22nd, 2005

Paul Robeson Biography Song of Freedom

Early Black Musicals: Wed., Feb 23rd, 2005

The Duke is Tops (Lena Horne's film debut)

Moon Over Harlem

Native Son Thurs., Feb. 24, 2005

Once upon a time...When we were colored Fri., Feb. 25, 2005

The Color Purple Mon., Feb. 28, 2005

Resume Workshop

2005-02-18T16:13:00.000-05:00

FYI: On the 3rd Friday of every month there is an on going Resume Workshop here at the Library. The NJ Department Labor’s Unemployment Office (WNJPIN) in Camden sponsors it. Anyone interested in creating or updating your Resume is welcomed to come. Best of all, its Free!

Free Income Tax Assistance and Immigration Orientations

2005-02-14T14:04:00.000-05:00

Through a Program called VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Rutgers University Law Studens will be at CFPL to provide Free Income Tax Help to City Residents. Also in another program scheduled they will be providing answers to Inmigration Questions. See Link for more info.

http://www.geocities.com/cfpl418/whatsnew.htm

Income Tax Season Is Here

2005-01-26T11:58:00.000-05:00

Hey It's tax season again and we have all the tax forms you might need to file your taxes.

Tax Forms

We have Federal Income Tax forms and New Jersey State forms. In the NJ State forms there is included what used to be called the "Homestead Rebate Application" now called the "Fair Rebate Application (for Tenants ONLY).

Home owners have to wait until sometime in April to receive a from in the mail instead. Home owners will have to fill out to that form to see if they qualify for a Rebate. Previously, both tenants or home owners used the same form."

Free Tax Assistance

New Jersey residents who can not afford to pay to get your tax forms filled, there is Free income tax assistance at the Library. Assistance is provided by VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) a program from Rutgers University. For information on the VITA schedule call Camden Free Public Library at (856)757-7640

So don't wait for April 15th to get here, beat the rush. Come get your forms or free assistance early and get it out the way! The sooner you do it, the sooner you will have that refund check in your hand.

2005-01-11T13:52:00.000-05:00

Me at Work (Picture)

Reference Databases

2005-01-11T09:25:00.000-05:00

Our patrons at the library have access to some Reference Databases. These are provided to us by the NJ State Library for library patrons use. Patrons at CFPL have access to Jersey Clicks! and EBSCO Publishing. You can also get Live Homework Help from QandANJ.

In order to have access to any of these you have to be a patron at any Library in New Jersey. All of these Databases can be used from our public computers. These Databases provide access to Full Text Articles from all sorts of Magazines, Journals and others. Ebsco even has a Kids Version called Searchasaurus. You can also search newspaper articles from Spanish Newspapers by using Informe.

If you're a member of Camden Free Public Library you can also access these from your home computer. For more Information call CFPL at (856) 757-7640.

PC's and Web Site Updates

2005-01-10T18:56:00.000-05:00

The computer known as Lab1 in the Reference Section has been working fine after it got Win98 2nd edition installed in it. The computer had Win95 and been running as a test in Dual Boot, Win2KPro. Worked fine except for small Hard Drive in it. It hasn't had any problems after I formatted the HD and installed Win98 on it. I also added AdawareSE Personal for spyware detection and removal. All critical updates are up to date.

From all of the 8 PC in that section I haven't had any major problems with any of them so far.

All the computers in the reference section have been relabeled From #1 to #14 to make it easier assigning them to the public.

About the Library's Web Site, we still working on it. Lots of work, little time. By the way, I thank my co-worker who has been a really big help with this project. You know who you are.

Until next time...Surf's Up! Connect@ Your Library!
Frankie

Back to the Fun and Games

2005-01-07T14:07:00.000-05:00

It's been a while. I've been slacking because of Christmas holidays hours and stuff. The year is over and 2005, the New Year is here. Wow 2005! Last year went to fast. Now is back to business. Start working organize things a little more and things work go better. I'm starting to do some early Spring cleaning. Since I don't know what I would do without a computer, I got to make sure it's in tip top shape before anything else.

First things first. I'll look through my old files and see what I really need to keep what can be deleted. What I'm keeping save it to Floppy or burn them to CD's. Pics to CD's Documents to Floppy as not all the PC's I use have CD burners. After I clean out that I'll run AdawareSE Personal from Lavasoft to remove any spyware that might be lurking around. Then run Disk Cleanup (Start, Run, type in: cleanmgr)to get clean out the Temporary Internet Folder, empty the Recycle Bin, Etc. Next I'll run Scan Disk (Through, Automatically Fix Errors.) When That's done Defragment the Hard Drive so it can re-organize my drive too. Then I'll go to Windows Update and do any Critical Updates, any Windows updates I might need. I'll check the Antivirus program, make sure it's up to date with the latest virus definitions. When I finish that I'll turn it off unplug the keyboard and mouse wipe'em clean, Re-Boot then clean the Floppy drive and CD Drive with the Drive Cleaning Kit. Reboot one last time and Done!

Then I guess I'll have to tackle my desk and office too huh. Oh Man! Hey got to do what I got to do! Make sure you do your cleaning too. Nobody gonna do it for you so...

Untill next time.

I'll See You When I See You!
Ghostman

CFPL's Web site

2004-11-03T18:23:00.000-05:00

Right now we are currently working on a new look for CFPL's Web Site. The Current site is located at http://www.geocities.com/cfpl418

The site's update is still a work in progress. I hate when I go to a site and the home page works fine but when you click on a link to another of it's pages it's not working or not found. So I will not upload the new website until we know for sure it's all completed.

It's nice to go to websites and find what you are looking for, but creating or maintaining them is another story takes a lot of work and effort. It's been a little slow as time is in short supply. Everything has to be set perfect; links checked, spell checked, web forms created, pictures uploaded, and sized for quicker downloading of pages. and at the same time simple enough that if any one using a older web browser everything loads right. A lot of work, but its coming along good so hopefully soon it will be up and running.

Until the next post I'll see you when I see you!
Frankie

New CFPL Staff

2004-10-25T12:48:00.000-05:00

Welcome to CFPL Jackie, Migdalia and Xiomara, the new staff members here at the CFPL.

I am so glad we have 3 new people her since we were kind of short for a while. With these new people there is more cover now in the two departments that were needed the most. This will give us some relief and I can concentrate more in what I been slacking off for lack of time. Hope you guys have a wonderful time here.

Oh Hey! I can't close this post without this:

"YOU GOT TO BELIEVE! GO RED SOX!"

To all Non Believers RED SOX WIN WORLD SERIES IN GAME 5!

I HATE Register.com! Rrrrrrg!

2004-10-06T12:51:00.000-05:00

Yesterday the day started normal until I went to check my e-mail. I opened Internet Explorer, went to Yahoo's main page, clicked on mail...Coming Soon register for this URL at Register.com RRRG! Not just did I could get to the page I wanted, but I also got 2 extra pop up windows of crap. Same thing everytime that Coming Soon page loaded. Rrrrrg! Fleep!

Ok Fine! Alt+D went to address bar typed mrd.mail.yahoo.com" Enter. Cool! I'm in I figured. Typed in Yahoo ID, Password, Enter...Page just reloaded asking for ID and Password again. Lets try this again... ID, Password, Enter...

...Coming Soon RRRRRRRG ! Bleeep, bleeep, bleeep! Back to main Yahoo page. Signed in right on that page. worked. Scrolled down clicked on (Local Yahoo Americas) U.S. In Spanish. Ok Yahoo in Spanish, cool. Clicked on "Correo" took me to mail sign in page signed in. Typed ID, password, Enter...Bienvenido, Name. YES! I'm in. clicked on Inbox...AAAAHH RRRG! BLEEEP BLEEEP BLEEP! Look, forget it!

Alt+Home back to my home page. Ah, at least Google works. Closer the browser. Ran Spybot search and Destroy, No threats found. ran Ad-Aware just a couple. Quarantined those. Ran Symantec's Antivirus. Scan Complete, nothing. What the hell. There went my morning.

Came back from lunch and thought "let me try Yahoo again see what happend." typed Yahoo's URL, Enter, Mail page... ID, Password, Enter...Freaking thing work like nothing. Oh Crap! I'm in. Clicked Inbox and everything was back to normal.

Now, why couldn't I get in before? Why did I get that darn Coming Soon Page? Why did I get redirected? Can anyone tell me what happend?

Troubleshooting a computer?

2004-10-01T10:20:00.000-05:00

On a previous post I had said that once in a while I would post some links. This will be the first one.
Some times when I have a problem with a computer and I'm not sure what to do or what to try, I go to Computing.Net's Web site for ideas.

Computing.Net http://www.computing.net

At Computin.Net you will find answers to all sorts of topics, a How to section Basic or Advanced, a Novice sections, Forums all kinds of ways to look for solutions. It's Free and you don't have to be registered to read the posts or the answers to questions, but if you want to post a question, then you have to register.
As with any advice you get either online on the real world, just because someone tells you to try something doesn't mean you should. Always get second opinions and read more on the subject before you venture into whatever you are about to try.
Till next post, Happy Surfing
Frankie

Links and Stuff

2004-09-30T15:26:00.000-05:00

I will try to post some links to cool websites here from time to time so check back often for new Postings. Happy Surfing.

Working on computer "Lab1"

2004-09-30T09:16:00.000-05:00

The computer known as "Lab1" was an old Compaq Deskpro 4000 that came to us as a donation. It had Windows95 on it. I had upgrade it to Win2KPro. It worked fine, but the hard drive was only 2GB and didn't have room for too much. I couldn't even Install some of the Critical Upgrades, so...today I'm reverting to Windows98 Second Edition.
Windows98 2nd Ed. will be installed as a clean install and I'll have more space left in the hard drive. Not much but it's enough. Since it's going to be a public PC it will not need to much space to save anything. All documents saved will be deleted on a weekly basis.
Well, Till next post, Later!
Frankie

Welcome to CFPL's Blog

2004-09-29T17:08:00.000-05:00

Welcome to CFPL's Blog. It was created with the purpose to post notes, comments and ideas for easy access to the CFPL.
Feel free to post comments.
Till the next time,
Frankie