Thursday, April 29, 2010

Become a Winner!

PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE FOR OLDER ADULTS 2010 AWARD

The Innovative Services for an Aging Population: Office of Commonwealth Libraries Advisory Committee (ISAP) and AARP are interested in recognizing and promoting library service for older adults in Pennsylvania. They invite public libraries, regardless of size, to share their success in serving older adults through innovative and/or creative programming. This award, presented by AARP, will recognize a public library, small, medium, or large, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that conducts innovative and/or creative programming for older adults.

The following criteria will be considered in selecting the award-winning library:

  • Realistic program goals, plans for continuation of the program and how the older adult, age 50+, is being served by the library.
  • Community involvement in designing library services for older adults.
  • Coordination and collaboration with community organizations serving older adults.
  • Intergenerational aspect of the service.
  • Can this program be replicated in other libraries and has is it been repeated more than once in the past year in your library?

The award will be presented at the Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania Library Association in October.

Nominations for the award must be received by July 23, 2010 to be considered. Please send applications by email to me: ckoenig@state.pa.us If there are any questions, please call me at 717-783-5747.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

You Could Be a Winner!

Is your library doing something amazing with a diverse group of older adults that could possibly be considered a for an award? There is only one way to find out, apply for the Marietta Y. King & Alberta Walden Still Diversity Award for Public Library Service to Older Adults in a Diverse Community for 2010.

This award honors the life and accomplishments of the late Marietta Y. King and
Alberta Walden Still. Both were persons of African American descent who served on the Library Service for Older Adults Task Force now Innovative Services for an Aging Population Advisory Committee (ISAP), sponsored by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, from its inception until their deaths. ISAP is seeking to recognize Pennsylvania public libraries that have promoted library service to a culturally diverse population of older adults. Public libraries of all sizes are invited to share their success in developing programs and services for an older population including ethnic or minority groups, especially African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans.

The Criteria for this award include:
  • Goals for strengthening and enhancing programs and services that attract older minority adults
  • A description of outreach activities to attract people of all races, every economic group and both genders in an effective way that benefits all people in the library’s service area. Outreach is important because many minorities live in a culture of isolation that has been fostered by racism or other factors contributing to a socially disadvantaged population. Many of these persons have lived in communities where they have been historically denied library service and may not view the library as a welcoming institution.
  • Examples of promotional activities to the target group to raise public awareness of the library.
  • Encouraging community participation in the design of library services for a diverse population, including working with community organizations such as churches to reach the target group.
  • Intergenerational programs that target diverse groups.
  • Can this program be replicated in other libraries and has it been repeated more than once in the past year in your library?

Public libraries of all sizes are encouraged to apply. The Award will be presented at the Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania Library Association in Lancaster at the Lancaster County Convention Center in October. Applications must be received by July 23, 2010.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Did Someone Say Free Money?

Thursday, April 22, 2010
By Ellen Hart

Yup, Sisters in Crime did. And not just any free money. I’m talking about the We Love Libraries Grant. Many of you already know about this program, but for those who don’t, this is the lowdown.

From January through December of 2010, Sisters in Crime will award a $1,000 grant. At the end of each month, a winner will be drawn from entries received at our website, http://www.sistersincrime.org. Only U.S. libraries may enter the drawing.

To enter, each library must complete the entry form and upload a photo of one or more of their library staff holding three books in their collection by Sisters in Crime authors. Libraries can find a list of our members by choosing the word Resources in the side menu on our web site, and then clicking on SinC Authors. (Click here for the link to the entry form.)

After the random drawing on the last business day of the month, the winning library will be contacted and announced. And then we’ll all pop corks to celebrate the winner! What’s not to celebrate about free money for books?

All branches within a larger system may enter. However, once a library in any given system wins, no other libraries within that system can win the grant. Those not successful in one month will automatically be entered for subsequent drawings. Grants must be used to purchase books and may not be used for general operating expenses. Book purchases are not restricted to the mystery genre, nor to those by Sisters in Crime members. All we ask is that we be allowed to post the winners photos on our website.

Where do individual members of sisters in crime come in? Most of us live in cities or towns with one or more libraries. Why not visit those libraries and give each one the message about the We Love Libraries Grants in person. You’ll not only look like a star, but you might get one of your books into the library photograph. To me, this is what Win/Win looks like!

Here are the winners so far.
January: Kingstowne Library in Alexandria, Virginia
February: Kraemer Family Library, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado
March: Pineville-Bell County Public Library in Pineville, Kentucky

In just a few days, our newest library winner will be announced, so stay tuned.

We all know that librarians rock. Without a vibrant, active library system in our communities, all of our lives would be greatly diminished. So lets get out there and spread the word. Sisters in Crime loves libraries!

Thanks for Mary Alice Gorman at Mystery Lovers Bookshop for sharing this information with local public libraries.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Baseball & Libraries

An odd combination but...

Join the Southwest Chapter for our 8th Annual Library Night at PNC Park. This July 20th the Pittsburgh Pirates will be taking on the Milwaukee Brewers at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are only $8.00. Come on out to the ballpark and share a great night of baseball with your colleagues and friends!

For more information here is a link to the SW Chapter event page….
http://pala.affiniscape.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=70

To access the ticket order form and on-field registration follow this link…
http://www.pennhighlands.edu/library/SWPala/pirates.htm

If you have any questions, please contact Barb Zaborowski at 814-262-6425.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Some Facts Related to the Aging Process

Facts on Aging quiz is a fun and interesting way to see how well you are dealing with aging or others who may be aging around you. The answers are provided in a link at the bottom of the quiz page.

Test yourself and see what you can find out about yourself and your aging process.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Rx Savings for Mother's Day

If you are wondering what to get your mother for Mother's Day the Social Security Administration has some ideas. ‘A new “Twist” in the law makes it easier than ever to save on your prescription drug costs’ an article from the Social Security Administration. Also check out the Chubby Checker PDF for more information on the changes to the plan. Here is what Joseph Mieczkowski the Social Secutity Area Director from Harrisburg has to say about the new program.

Mom has always been there to nurture and take care of you. Mother’s Day is the perfect time to give back and look out for her. If she’s having a hard time paying for her prescription drugs, tell her about the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan and the extra help available through Social Security. If your mother, or any special woman in your life, is covered by Medicare and has limited income and resources, she may be eligible for extra help to pay her monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments. The extra help is worth an average of $3,900 per year. Perhaps you’ve looked into the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan for Mom before, and discovered that she did not qualify due to her income or resources. In 2010, the law has changed. As Chubby Checker will tell you, a new “twist” in the law makes it easier than ever to qualify for the extra help.

It’s easy to figure out whether Mom is eligible for the extra help. To qualify, she must be receiving Medicare and:

· Have income limited to $16,245 for an individual or $21, 855 for a married couple living together. Even if her annual income is higher, she still may be able to get some help with monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments. Some examples in which income may be higher include if she or her husband:

—Support other family members who live with them;
—Have earnings from work; or
—Live in Alaska or Hawaii; and

· Have resources limited to $12,510 for an individual or $25,010 for a married couple living together. Resources include such things as bank accounts, stocks and bonds. We do not count her house or car as resources.

Thanks to this new “twist” in the law, we no longer count any life insurance policy she has as a resource, and we no longer count as income any financial assistance she receives regularly from someone else to pay her household expenses like food, mortgage or rent, utilities or property taxes. Don’t take our word for it, see Chubby Checker’s rocking message at
www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp.

While you’re there, you can fill out an easy-to-use online application for your mom at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp. To apply by phone or have an application mailed to you, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (SSA-1020). Or go to the nearest Social Security office.

If you’d like to learn more about the Medicare prescription drug plans and special enrollment periods, visit http://www.medicare.gov/ or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048).

Maybe it’s been a few years since Mom has taken to the dance floor to do The Twist. But saving an extra $3,900 a year on prescription drugs may cause her to jump up and dance. What better gift could you give her this Mother’s Day?

Information provided by Claudia Koeing from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Display


The Blind & Vision Rehabilitation would like to offer libraries the opportunity to host a display which will cover 100 years of history and highlights using pictures and text on corporation Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services to Pittsburgh. The structure will be about 4 feet long and will require a table for the display to rest upon. In addition to the display several Lucite boxes will house artifacts. Lastly, special glasses will accompany the materials that will allow well sighted persons to experience what it is like for those who have difficulties with their vision. Vision problems like cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, stroke, and macular degeneration will be made available for use. Hands-on artifacts might also be available for those that are interested and of course brochures for patrons to take home with them. For more information about BVRS please visit, http://www.blindvr.org/

The organization Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services to Pittsburgh would like to place these parameters for the hosting libraries;
· The display would travel on a monthly basis, and could remain longer if requested.
· BVRS will deliver and set up the display.
· BVRS will disassemble and remove the display and take it to the next library.
· We will be happy to leave whatever the library has room for: only the Lucite containers with a brief history inside the boxes or on a small table top easel, or the display with the ancillary material.
· Speakers could be provided as well on a variety of topics such as “Age related vision loss, help is available.” We also have blind speakers who, accompanied by their guide dogs, speak about how the independence building programs at BVRS helped them toward independence, or, to children’s groups, what blindness is like.

If your library is interested in hosting the Blind & Vision Rehabilitation traveling historical display please contact Deborah Mendenhall of Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services to Pittsburgh DMendenhall@PGHVIS.ORG or Phone: 412-368-4400, ext. 2287

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Senior Celebration in the Park


May 5th, 2010
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
@ the South Park Fairgrounds.

Join us at ACLA table #58, located in the Home Economics Building near the Nature Center, which will feature countywide programs and services in addition to information on this year's One Book One Community initiative. The theme of this years event is Live Strong! Live Long! Almost 40 organizations will be present to offer health screenings and demonstrations, on-going LIVE entertainment, dancing, and much more will be available for the 61 Allegheny County Senior Centers participating in the event. Morning refreshments and enhanced boxed lunches will be provided.
Join ACLA and your library colleagues in the celebration!

If you or your library in interested in participating in the Senior Celebration in the Park please contact Charity Leonette at 412-921-1123 or leonettec@einetwork.net for more information.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Festival of Mystery

May 3rd, 2010 marks the 15th annual Festival of Mystery. This special occasion hosted by the Mystery Lovers Bookshop, recent winners of the Raven from the Mystery Writers of America, will include 44 writers this year. Visit their website for more information on the event and the authors scheduled to attend. Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance for $7.00 or at the door for $8.00. Lines start forming around noon and the first 100 people will receive a 'bag-o-books' complimentary of the publishers. In addition to the door prizes there will be raffle prizes including gift baskets and BOOKS! Join media sponsor WDUQ and Mystery Lovers Bookshop at 4PM in the Greek Orthodox Church in Oakmont.

Location Address:
12 Washington Street
Oakmont, PA 15139

For more information please contact Mary Alice Gorman at 412-361-3581 or maryalice@mysterylovers.com

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Go Red For Women

To raise awareness about heart disease as the number one killer of women local Pittsburghers, men and women are featured in a wonderful and informational video. The video discusses how lifestyle modification can really reduce one's chance of having heart disease and may even prevent heart disease. Take action for your own health and the health of someone you love!Please share this video with your friends and family!

To learn more about Go Red For Women, please visit http://www.goredforwomen.org/

A very special thank you goes out to all the volunteers who participated in the video and to Eventures Live for giving so generously of their time and talent to the American Heart Association.

Thank you to Wendy McCabe the Go Red for Women Director of the American Heart Association

Monday, April 12, 2010

Commonwealth Speakers

For more than 20, the Commonwealth Speakers program has contracted artists, educators, and scholars from around the state to provide quality presentations on a variety of topics including music, folk and traditional arts, and American history. Many of these FREE presentations encourage audience participation, target family audiences and cater to popular interests.

Commonwealth Speakers applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but libraries must submit at least 12 weeks prior to the desired event date.

To apply, visit http://www.pahumanities.org/resources/speakers.php.

For more information contact Emilie Haertsch at ehaertsch@pahumanities.org.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Domiciliary Care Program

Allegheny County Department of Human Services Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is now recruiting both home providers and residents for its Domiciliary Care (Dom Care) Program. Dom Care is a foster care program that allows caring individuals to receive a monthly payment in return for providing a safe home to older adults, or younger adults with special needs.

Dom Care providers offer room and board along with supervision with self-help skills, such as personal hygiene and grooming, and three nutritious meals a day. They also provide housekeeping and laundry services to their residents. If the resident takes medications, the home provider makes sure that he or she gets the correct dosage at the right times. Providers are permitted up to three Dom Care residents in their home at one time.

To become a Dom Care provider an approval and certification process must be completed. It includes home inspections by both a care manager and the Allegheny County Health Department. Providers are also required to have certification in First Aid and CPR. Additionally, they must present personal and financial references, submit to a police record search and obtain a medical clearance from a physician. Care managers are available to help applicants through the process.

Anyone interested in becoming a resident in a Dom Care home can inquire on their own or they can be referred by someone else - including family members, health care professionals or agencies that serve people with disabilities.

In return for the room, board and personalized care they receive, Dom Care residents pay a monthly set fee. Those who are on a limited income, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), may be eligible for a financial supplement to assist with the payment and to assure that they have personal spending money.

The benefits of being a Dom Care provider include companionship, support from professional staff, and a monthly payment for the services they give. But most importantly, it is a feeling of satisfaction and well-being for being able to share a warm and caring home.

To learn more about the Dom Care Program, to make a referral for a consumer or to find out how to become a provider, call the Allegheny County Department of Human Services Dom Care Program at 412-350-5105 or visit: http://www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/adultfoster.aspx

Thank you to Jean Driscoll the Care Manager of the Dom Care Program for providing this information.

For Dom Care flyers to post in your library please email watsonc@einetwork.net.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Medicare Dashboard Launch

Today, in response to the White House’s Open Government Directive for executive departments and agencies to take action to implement the principles of transparency, participation, and collaboration, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) debuted an initial Open Government Plan. As part of this initiative to promote open government, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the Medicare Dashboard Beta, an electronic tool that uses inpatient hospital payment and volume information to visualize trends in the use of and costs for certain covered services under original fee-for-service Medicare.

By simplifying and making data more accessible through tools like the Dashboard, CMS hopes the questions asked and answered by researchers and policymakers will continue to accelerate efforts to improve the nation’s health care delivery and payment systems. For example, the Dashboard can help decision makers quickly compare utilization rates of hospitals around the state and country to help them address issues of utilization and costs.

Because the data is collected as part of the claims processing cycle, the data may change over time as claims become finalized. The data contained in this Beta version is current as of March 2010, for inpatient discharges from January 2006 to December 2009. The Dashboard does not include any inpatient spending for beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.

The new tool is available at http://www.cms.gov/dashboard/

In addition, to promote transparency and improve public understanding of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, CMS will be making available to the public, free of charge, basic Medicare utilization and Medicaid State Plan documents.

In addition, significant improvements have been made to the user interface and analytical tool to access existing CMS COMPARE data on provider quality (at data.medicare.gov). Along with other HHS agencies, CMS will participate in the new Community Health Data Initiative, which will include state and regional aggregate indicators of Medicare health care costs, quality, prevalence of disease, and utilization of service.

The Open Government Plan is available at www.hhs.gov/open. At 12pm, Wednesday, April 7th, there will be a live webcast presentation of the Plan at www.hhs.gov/live.

Information provided by Monique Scott of the Office of External Affairs and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Friday, April 9, 2010

Read About It!

FREE BOOKS are available for your library!

Through the Read About It! program your library is eligible to receive free reading materials. Read About It! involves communities in the reading and discussion of literature. Libraries can choose from five programs:
  • Pennsylvania Writers
  • Detecting Women
  • Books on Screen
  • American Life Stories
  • Facts in Fiction: The Civil War Era

Catch: Applications must be submitted by May 15, 2010.

To apply visit http://www.pahumanities.org/resources/read.php

For more information about the program email Jennifer Miller at Jmiller@pahumanities.org.

Keys to Engaging Older Adults @ your library

The latest toolkit from the ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS), Keys to Engaging Older Adults @ your library®, is now available in print and as a free download. Keys to Engaging Older Adults @ your library responds to the needs of librarians across the country who provide services to the older adults in their communities every day.

The toolkit provides tips and tools to better understand and serve this important and growing segment of the population, covering topics ranging from programming, funding, publicity, accessibility, best practices and much more. The toolkit is also available in a large-print downloadable version. Keys to Engaging Older Adults @ your library is the fourth in a series of outreach advocacy toolkits available from OLOS.

Other available toolkits include The Small but Powerful Guide to Winning Big Support for Your Rural Library, The Guide to Building Support for Your Tribal Library and How to Serve the World @ Your Library: Serving Non-English Speakers in U.S. Public Libraries. All of the advocacy toolkits are available in print and for download.

To learn more about Keys to Engaging Older Adults @ your library®, please visit http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/olos/toolkits/olderadults.cfm.

To see the full list of OLOS toolkits, visit www.ala.org/olos.

Keys to Engaging Older Adults @ your library® was produced by the Office for Literacy and Outreach Services Advisory Committee and the OLOS Subcommittee on Older Adults. The mission of OLOS is to identify and promote library services that support equitable access to the knowledge and information stored in libraries. OLOS focuses attention on services that are inclusive of traditionally underserved populations and people generally discriminated against based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, language and social class. The Office ensures that training, information resources and technical assistance are available to help libraries and librarians develop effective strategies to grow programs and services for library users.

Information provided by John L. Amudnsen of the ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Robots for the Older Adult Population

As we all are getting older issues of independence may become a big concern for many older adults or their families. Well in scientific news there may be a way to maintain ones independence with the assistance of a robot helper. The article entitled, "Could Robots and Smart Devices Help Older People Look After Themselves?" discusses several technologies that may make the idea a reality some day. The international project is still in the testing phase but could soon be on the market for the everyday consumer. The main technologies will be a health status monitor, secure tele-alarm and health reporting system, and a nutrition support system. The robots will also have communication capabilities so that in general the older adult could maintain contact with family and friends as well as perform certain tasks verbally. Check out Science Daily for more information on this intriguing project.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

OASIS Connection Computer Programming

If you or your library are interested in learning more about computers and how they work check out the OASIS Connection Computer Programs listed below. Also please take a look at the flyer for more information on these wonderful programs.

Introduction to Computers
Let's Do Windows
Getting Acquainted with the Computer
Computer Survival Skills
Looking at Windows
Picture This
Safety First
Introduction to Microsoft Word
Your Resume
Introduction to PowerPoint
Get Connected: How to Use Your Cell Phone
Exploring Google
Gone Blogging
Joining the Online Community
Introduction to the Internet
Surfing, Shopping and Beyond
Exploring the Internet
Keeping Your Email Organized
Healthy Living Online
Me, My Family and I
Going, Going, Gone: An Introduction to eBay
Introduction to Microsoft Excel
The Job Search: Online
Introduction to Quicken
Introduction to Publisher
Social Networking Online
TV Switch
Intermediate MS Word
Fantastic Photos with Picasa
Going Wireless: How to Use Wifi

In addition to the Computer Classes through OASIS, other programs like the Intergenerational Tutoring and the Active Generations are available, check out the articles for more information.

For further information please contact Shirley Fisher if OASIS Health Stages Manager at sfisher@oasisnet.org or 412-232-2023.