NYPL Blogs: Community Information

May is National Mental Health Month

Laura Rietz, Multimedia Content — Fri, 10 May 2013 06:16:05 -0400

An estimated one in five adult Americans is living with a mental health problem, according to a recent survey by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Yet less than 50 percent of adults and children with diagnosable conditions receive treatment—not because it’s unavailable, but due instead to a lack of information about where to find mental health resources in local communities and due to the stigma that is often still associated with mental illness.

May is National Mental Health Month, dedicated to promoting the awareness, prevention, and treatment of mental illness. It’s the perfect time to learn more about mental health, reach out and help others who may be suffering, and find resources for treatment in your community.

If you feel that you or someone you know might benefit from a mental health assessment, both Mental Health America and the National Institute for Mental Health offer comprehensive resources for finding care. To find services in your area, call 1-800-662-HELP (4357). If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or visit its website to chat with someone who can help.

You an also take the time to educate yourself on mental illness, diagnosis, treatment, and support with these books available at The New York Public Library:

The Family Guide to Mental Health Care, by Lloyd I. Sederer, M.D. (2013)
What Is Mental Illness?, by Richard J. McNally (2011)
Helping Someone with Mental Illness: A Compassionate Guide for Families, Friends, and Caregivers, by Rosalynn Carter (1998)
Breaking Free from Depression: Pathways to Wellness, by Jess H. Wright, M.D., Ph.D. (2012)

We can all do our part for prevention as well by focusing on general mental health maintenance this month. Take time to relax, de-stress, and get to know yourself whether through meditation, exercise, art, hobbies, or reaching out to others. If you want more suggestions for promoting your own wellbeing and mental health, check out any of the following resources:

This Emotional Life: In Search of Ourselves… and Happiness, DVD by PBS (2010)
Meditation for Your Life: Creating a Plan That Suits Your Style, by Robert Butera (2012)
The Best Advice I Ever Got: Lessons from Extraordinary Lives, by Katie Couric (2011) e-book
For kids: What Do You Do with the Mad That You Feel?, a Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood DVD (2005)

Use this year’s National Mental Health Month as inspiration to make wellness a priority in your own life. With the resources of your community and the Library at your fingertips, you can help transform the stigma of mental illness into positive efforts towards prevention and recovery. Take care of yourself and each other—not just this month, but every month.

Cycling in the City

Jaqueline Woolcott, Ask NYPL — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:03:53 -0400

Cycling is not only great for your health; it’s better for the environment and less expensive than other forms of travel. Currently the city is working toward making NYC more friendly to cyclists and as a library we're trying to make information regarding cycling a little easier to find.

So, here are some helpful resources regarding cycling programs, biking clubs, books, blogs, and other practical guides. At the end of this post you’ll also find a list of library locations equipped with bike racks!

The Department of Transportation has lots of resources for cyclists on their webpage including maps, safety tips, and parking. Also keep an eye out for information regarding the city’s Bike Share programs. Citi Bike Share has been in talks for a while and due to open for the summer.

Knowing how to get where you're going can be a challenge. It's nice to know where you can find bike lanes, bike paths, or a greenway. NYC Bike Maps has what you need. Maps for each borough, for parks, and a few even outside the city. Map out your commute with the help of Ride the City. Ride the City helps to navigate NYC's Shared areas and Bike Lanes. Plus, the site includes bike shops and rentals on the map so you can find the supplies you're looking for when you're out and about.

As a cyclist, it's important to know your responsibilities and the rules of the road. The group Transportation Alternatives has some great links to bicycling laws and maps. They brought us Bikingrules.org which provides street codes both online and as a FREE PDF copy of Biking Rules (also available in Chinese and Spanish). They also have a list of "Cycling Savvy Lawyers." Plus, you can sign up to become bike friendly business and be added to the site's directory.

Also, check out Bike Blog NYC to keep up on cycling news, meet-ups, events, and other resources.

Transportation Nation has a section on bikes; it is a project from public radio stations that reports on the changing modes of transport in the U.S.

Looking for a social layer for your cycling adventure? Check out a Bike Club:

Five Borough Bike Club (5BBC)
New York Cycle Club (NYCC)
Fast and Fabulous - New York's GLBT Cycling Club

In case you missed it, Gothamist discussed bikelock etiquette and safety earlier this year and Lifehacker provided information for getting your neglected bike ready for the season and keeping it in shape for next year.

Need to take your bike on the subway? At some point you might need to. Perhaps your bike needs a repair, the weather has turned or you were injured. Keep in mind general etiquette for making the trip easier for public transportation travelers. The MTA website has information on the Bike & Ride page along with a bike safety and courtesy page.

Avoid rush hour, the trains and platforms are already crowded.
Yield to other travelers, bikes can be very difficult to maneuver around.
Enter at a booth station entrance and have a booth attendant unlock it (don’t lift over turnstiles).
Hold onto your bike, sudden movements might have it rolling away from you and hurting someone else.
Wait for stairways to clear and always carry your bike up and down the steps.
Listen to directions from police officers and MTA employees.

Pictures of cycles and cyclists in the Digital Gallery.

Library Books for Cyclists General

Holy Spokes!: A Biking Bible for Everyone Rob Coppolillo (2013)
Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding your Bike Grant Petersen (e-book, 2012)
The Cycling Bible: The Complete Guide for All Cyclists from Novice to Expert Robin Barton (2011)
Cyclopedia: It's All about the Bike William Fotheringham (ebook, 2011)
It's All about the Bike: The Pursuit of Happiness on Two Wheels Rob Penn (e-book, 2011)
Pedal Power: The Quiet Rise of the Bicycle in American Public Life J. Harry Wray (2008)
The Art of Cycling: A Guide to Bicycling in 21st-century America Robert Hurst (2007)
Complete Bike Book Chris Sidwells (2003)
Bicycling for Fitness Gustav Mark Gedatus (2001)

Care and maintenance

Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance Lennard Zinn (2013)
The Custom Road Bike Guy Andrews (2012)
One Gear: Converting and Maintaining Single Speed & Fixed Gear Bicycles Matteo Cossu (2011)
Bicycle Repair Manual Chris Sidwells (2008)

City cycling

Bike NYC: The Cyclists Guide to New York City Marci Blackman (2011)
The Bike to Work Guide: Save Gas Go Green Get Fit Roni Sarig (2009)
Biking to Work Rory McMullan (2008)
Why I Ride: The Art of Bicycling in New York (2007)
Urban Bikers' Tricks & Tips: Low-tech & No-tech Ways to Find Ride & Keep A Bicycle Dave Glowacz (2010)
The Art of Urban Cycling: Lessons from the Street Robert Hurst (2004)

Branches with Bike Racks (as of July 2012): Manhattan

58th Street
96th Street
Hudson Park
Mid-Manhattan
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Yorkville

Staten Island

Dongan Hills
Huguenot Park
Richmondtown
South Beach
Todt Hill-Westerleigh
West New Brighton

The Bronx

Belmont
City Island
Eastchester
Edenwald
Kingsbridge
Melrose
Pelham Bay
Soundview
Spuyten Duyvil
Van Cortlandt

April is National Donate Life Month

Maura Muller, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 09:15:10 -0400

April is National Donate Life Month. It is also National Volunteer Month. Becoming an organ donor could be the ultimate act of volunteering to help others.

In New York, nearly 10,000 people are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and every 15 hours, one of them will die due to the critical shortage in organ donors. Currently, New York ranks 48th in the nation with just 21% of residents enrolled as registered organ donors. Are you an organ donor?

Many people do not become organ donors until someone they know is directly affected by a tragedy. But why wait? Consider becoming an organ donor now. Registering to be an organ donor is a charitable act that costs nothing. It allows a donor to save up to eight lives through organ donation, and to save or improve the lives of up to 50 recipients through tissue and eye donation.

This year, The New York Public Library, The Brooklyn Public Library and the Queens Library are teaming up with the NYS Department of Health and the New York Organ Donor network to raise awareness and share information about organ donation in order to increase enrollment. To learn more, stop by your local library to pick up an informational brochure or visit HatetheWait.org. Don't keep a fellow New Yorker waiting — become an organ donor today.

Conquer Clutter in 2013

Lauren Lampasone, Reference and Research Services — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 08:14:09 -0500

Happy New Year's Eve! This year remember that the New York Public Library can help you in achieving any of your self-improvement or lifelong learning goals.

One of my favorite things about being a library user is that I don't have to go bankrupt with my info obsession. I can simply borrow anything that interests me, even a little bit! If it turns out to be a reference book or a beautiful work of fiction I can't do without, I can try before I buy. For someone who lives in a tiny New York City apartment with bookshelves already taking over most of the walls, this is a big deal.

Not only that, but I can borrow books digitally! Even less bookshelf clutter. But sometimes I still feel like other kinds of clutter can come into my life faster than it can be removed: junk Whac-A-Mole. Here are some tips on reducing physical and digital clutter:

Physical Clutter File Management

Get your paperwork in order. Consider investing in a handheld scanner to digitize important receipts and paperwork. Consult USA.gov's guide on how long to keep household records.
There are numerous scanner apps for iOS and Android that can adjust text and convert images from your camera to PDF.
Search for manuals for your appliances and electronic equipment online and recycle the paper version. Use Google Advanced Search to enter the name of the product and any model number, then limit the file type to "Adobe Acrobat PDF (.pdf)." Keep in mind that if you think you might end up reselling the item, it might be better to have supporting documentation intact.
More on what to documents to digitize and what to keep in paper at PCMag.
Another resolution idea: finish your taxes early this year!
There are lots of apps to manage membership and loyalty cards so you don't have to keep them in your wallet at all times — show them to the cashier on your phone. Did you know the NYPL app has your barcode saved on it? Tap the "More" icon.

Junk Mail

I get so little real mail nowadays, that I set a little time one day of the week to go through it — the night before my recycling day. At that point I shred things that have personal information on them, and log in to my account on Catalog Choice to get off whatever new mailing lists I am on. Catalog Choice uses your address and account number with the company to reach out to them on your behalf, so in a few days you might receive an email message from the company stating that you have been removed from their list. In the case of a company that doesn't let you do this by email, Catalog Choice will give you a phone number to call and tell you what to say. New York City is just as sick of junk mail as you are, and GreeNYC wants New Yorkers to take part in their effort to reduce waste and conserve resources. They have partnered with Catalog Choice to make it easy to get off mailing lists, so you can sign up with them right on nyc.gov. Catalog Choice also has an iPhone app.
You can also register with the Direct Marketing Association's (DMA) Mail Preference Service.
Enough credit cards already? Remove your name from lists used for credit offers with OptOutPrescreen.
Most of us probably Google search to find contact information these days... so you might want to opt out of delivery of the Yellow Pages (but we'll always keep our memories.)
My building has a sign, but that doesn't seem to stop the restaurant menus and circulars from ending up on the stoop. Learn how to file a complaint (this is in violation of the New York State Lawn Litter Law) and stop junk from piling up outside.

Stuff

How To Get Rid of Things might help, whether you're talking about possessions or a pesky cold.
NYCWasteLess has a guide to Get Rid of Stuff. Search by the name of the item you are trying to get rid of to find places to donate or special city rules for disposal.
NYC Stuff Exchange - Where to Donate
Take it Back NYC
E-Waste Program at Lower East Side Ecology Center
Kips Bay Library hosts a regular Clutter Support Group

Digital Clutter Notifications

One of the complaints that I hear about tablets (iPads in particular) versus dedicated e-readers is that the iPad is full of distractions. How can you read a book when your friend just pinged you about playing your turn in a game, or you need to check the number of likes on your Facebook status the weather, or some other alert pops up that you MUST attend to immediately? It's simple: turn off notifications. Turn them off! They can't distract you if you never see them.

Consider turning off email notifications for services like Facebook and unsubscribe to e-newsletters you're not really reading (except we know you'll want to keep ours.)

File Management

Consider using a cloud-based service to keep your files accessible and safe at the same time. Depending on the type of file (whether it's media, text, or images) there are many different services that you can try for free with limited features and storage space. Not endorsing any of these services in particular, but some of the more popular ones include: Evernote, Dropbox, Amazon Cloud Drive, Amazon Cloud Player, Apple iCloud, Microsoft SkyDrive, Google Drive, Google Picasa. You can have your digital content synced between multiple machines, including handheld devices, to access wherever you go.

For a much more thorough look at personal digital archiving, please see this extensive resource guide from the Library of Congress.

Here is a list of print books and ebooks in BiblioCommons about conquering clutter.

Any decluttering tips or tricks you'd like to share? What else will you try to do in 2013? Some ideas from past blog posts:

Learn a new language
Learn English
Apply to graduate school
Get your GED
Take online courses (at home or at the library)
Learn to cook or make your own food
Start a creative project
Start a new hobby
Get your finances in order
Learn a computer language
Practice yoga
Read more books

Have a happy and healthy 2013!

Why Save Languages? A Few Words About Language Extinction and Revitalization

Brigid Cahalan, Library Sites & Services/Outreach — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 07:28:42 -0400

There is no language like the Irish for soothing and quieting. —John Millington Synge, The Aran Islands

When I think of my father during my growing-up years, I usually picture him relaxing after work in a kitchen chair with a newspaper, next to the radiator. Did he sit there because its warmth took him back to the hearth that was the heart of the cottage he grew up in, in the rural west of Ireland?

Another memory is of him teaching me how to greet someone and a typical response, in Irish Gaelic. In the decades since I've often shared that brief bit of dialogue to show that Irish is not American English spoken with an Irish accent — which is sometimes called a brogue — but rather a completely different language. I later learned from the 1901 census that both of his parents were bilingual Irish Gaelic and English speakers. When I hear a song sung in Irish, or even one with an occasional word in the language, somehow it bridges a gap of hundreds of years for me, and I feel a connection with the lives of those forebears I never met.

Perhaps your grandparents also spoke a language that you do not know — and it may be one that is endangered, as is Irish. In Ireland, English largely supplanted the Irish language as a result of colonialism. There are various reasons languages become endangered and, in many cases, extinct. Globalization, cultural imperialism, and urbanization are a few I've seen cited. Some say language loss is inevitable and the number of languages has ebbed and flowed since the dawn of history.

But others feel keenly the loss of a language, seeing it as the loss of a culture. These are often the linguists of the world — those who traffic freely in terms such as patois, creole, dialect and cant. Many of them join forces with people who speak and cherish minority languages in order to revitalize them through efforts like the Alliance for Linguistic Diversity's Endangered Language Project, the Endangered Language Alliance, and National Geographic's Enduring Voices Project.

Cultural and political leaders may also spearhead efforts to bring back languages in danger; such was the case with Irish, I am happy to report! Children now learn Irish in schools in Ireland, and it is the first official language of the Republic of Ireland, while English is the second. And one local initiative available internationally (thanks to streaming audio) is Fordham University's weekly program for learning Irish, Míle Fáilte.

On Saturday, September 29, 2012, NYPL hosts an Endangered Language Fair, which will feature linguists involved in language revitalization as well as passionate lovers of languages such as Garifuna and Circassian, as well as Irish Gaelic and two of its fellow Celtic languages — Welsh and Breton.

Attendees will learn about local and international efforts to preserve languages, and find out how they themselves can start to learn these languages.

Alzheimer's Disease: Find Out How You Can Help, or Get Help, During World Alzheimer's Month

Brigid Cahalan, Library Sites & Services/Outreach — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:54:38 -0400

More than 35 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimers, a fatal disease without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression. With the help of NYPL, Alzheimer's Association, New York City Chapter would like to raise awareness about this devastating disease. September, World Alzheimer's Month, is your chance to join the global fight against Alzheimer's disease. Visit alznyc.org/worldalzheimersmonth for more information and show your support by wearing purple with a purpose on Alzheimer's Action Day —September 21.

We've asked Jed Levine, Executive V.P. and Director of Programs & Services for the Alzheimer's Association's New York City Chapter, to write a guest blog post on this important topic.

"Helpline. How can I help you?"

When our Helpline staff completes a call, this is what they hear: "I'm so glad I called." "I wished I had called five years ago." "Stefanie, (or Maggie, or Ann, or Matt), you are so helpful and kind." "You are the only one who really took the time to listen." "I left a message and you called back. In five minutes!"

From the beginning, the New York City Chapter was committed to having a human and a humane response to every person who called. We knew that Alzheimer's didn't go to sleep at ten, or take the weekend off, so our goal was to ensure that family caregivers had our support 24/7. In the first decades of the Helpline, dedicated volunteers supported the staff and answered calls from home on nights and weekends. As the calls got more frequent and the callers became more sophisticated, the questions required increasing expertise. Today, our Helpline is staffed entirely by professionals, including Amy Torres, who recently joined us to provide expert guidance on residential and other long term care issues.

In 2004, when the National Alzheimer's Association expanded their Helpline, we partnered with them to ensure that professionals would answer the phone. Today, if you call after business hours, a staff member at the National Contact Center in Chicago answers the phone, provides immediate assistance, and sends the Chapters a report so we can follow up the next business day with information and support.

One principle has guided the Helpline for over 25 years; the power of the human connection. When a family member or a person with early stage dementia is in need of guidance, information, or is in emotional distress, one of the most powerful tools is being able to talk about it with a caring, knowledgeable professional. Our Helpline staff has intimate knowledge of necessary resources that support caregivers and persons with dementia; from where to order incontinence supplies, to the intricacies of the arcane and ever-changing Medicaid regulations. Our staff is familiar with every caregiving challenge, and has the time and expertise the think through creative solutions. One recent example was a caller who was having difficulty getting her father to eat. A simple suggestion to use sweetener on his food solved the problem, and now he is eating, enjoying it, and gaining much-needed weight.

We know our Helpline staff is resourceful, practical, smart and caring, but their greatest gift is knowing how to listen. Family caregivers and people with the disease need to talk. Talking helps clear the air, gives breathing space, helps release some of the tension and worry family caregivers carry with them all the time; whether they are aware of it or not. Talking heals a wounded heart. Talking allows people to take the next steps. It's very hard to develop a care plan, if you are filled with feelings of fear, sadness, anger and guilt. Talking and being heard helps everyone feel understood and not alone. Too often, friends and family members pull away. Family caregivers feel there is no one to talk to, no one who will understand. We will listen. We will understand.

In addition to our 24-hour Helpline, we sponsor over 120 support groups for caregivers and people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease in the five boroughs offered at various times. All the support groups are free of charge, just like any of our programs and services. We love the wonders of modern day technology and social networking and we've made sure that Chapter staff has every state-of-the-art technological resource available, but in the end, nothing replaces the power of the human-to-human, voice-to-voice connection. That is the true value of our Helpline.

If you need our help, give us a call today. If you know someone who is struggling, give them this number; 800-272-3900. We are here to help 24 hours a day. Seven days a week. Our help will make a difference.

Boost your Budget with Help from a Food Program!

Brigid Cahalan, Library Sites & Services/Outreach — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 08:21:25 -0400

The following post was written by guest blogger Vanna Valdez, Benefits Outreach Worker, NYC Hunger Free Communities Consortium.

The New York City Hunger Free Communities Consortium (NYCHFCC) is a collaboration of New York City’s leading anti-hunger, nutrition, and aging organizations (AARP Foundation, City Harvest, Council of Senior Centers and Services of NYC, Food Bank for NYC, Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, NYC Coalition Against Hunger, NYC Department for the Aging, Public Health Solutions, and United Way of New York City). This project works towards the creation of a hunger free New York City, with a particular focus on aiding the especially vulnerable populations of households with children, the working poor, and senior citizens.

Food Stamps

If you need help buying food, you are far from alone. Tens of thousands of New Yorkers are reaching out for help in this tough economy. For them, the Food Stamp Program (also known as SNAP) is a simple dependable way to buy food in times like this.

Many New Yorkers are eligible for Food Stamps:

Those who are working. Many low-income working people think that because they work, they cannot be eligible, but many are.
Those 60 years of age or older: If you live in a household with people 60 years of age or older, you may be eligible even if you have a higher income.
Those who are unemployed. Food Stamps can help you get by between jobs.
People with disabilities: You may qualify for food Stamps even if you receive SSI/disability benefits.
Immigrants: Many immigrants who were not eligible before can now get Food Stamps. If you are an immigrant who is not eligible, you can still apply on behalf of your eligible children. Applying will not affect your immigration status.

Senior Programs

Congregate Meals
Senior Centers are open to all older adults aged 60 and over, and offer health and wellness, social, and educational programming along with at least one nutritious meal (usually lunch) during the week. There are over 200 senior centers in New York City. Call 311 for more information.

Meals on Wheels
If you are unable to get to a senior center, case management agencies provide access to home-delivered meals, home care attendants, benefits applications, chore services, and other in-home supportive services. Call 311 for more information.

Food Assistance Programs

If there are times that you don’t have enough food for yourself and your family, even if you are receiving other assistance, one of over 1,100 food pantries and soup kitchens in New York City may be able to help. Food pantries provide emergency food that can be prepared at home. Soup kitchens serve meals on-site. Most of these programs are operated by not-for-profit, community or faith based organizations.

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)

WIC (The Women, Infants, and Children Supplemental Food Program) provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to health and other social services to participatants at no charge. WIC Offers:

Food vouchers
Nutrition counseling
Breastfeeding counseling
Food preparation, and recipes
Physical fitness activities

WIC serves low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, and infants and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk. If you live in New York State, HFCC can help you determine your eligibility for the WIC program. Your household income must be within the federal income guidelines for the program but, if you already receive food stamps, Medicaid or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), you automatically qualify. You do not need to provide proof of U.S. citizenship to apply.

School Breakfast Program

For children, eating breakfast regularly can boost test scores, improve concentration, and enhance learning among other rewarding effects. When schools participate in school breakfast programs such as Breakfast in the Classroom or Grab and Go breakfast, students eat a healthy and nutritious breakfast regularly. Only 24% of New York City public school students currently participate in the school breakfast program. All students are eligible for a nutritious and delicious breakfast that is convenient and a bargain! Breakfast is free to all students. To learn how your child’s school can start a Breakfast in the Classroom Program, call 1-855-692-HFCC (1-855-692-4322) email info@nychungerfree.org. Representatives speaking the following languages are available: English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole and Russian.

How Do I Apply?

If you are interested in finding out if you qualify for benefits or to find a senior center or food program near you, please call: 1-855-692-HFCC (1-855-692-4322) or email info@nychungerfree.org. If your organization is interested in participating in this project, please call Vanna Valdez at 212-825-0028 x232, Marie Vincent at x220, or Xuya Fang at x205. There will be opportunities to participate on various levels, including but not limited to: receiving outreach materials to distribute to your client population hosting representatives from project partners to perform on-site pre-screenings and/or application assistance having your own staff/volunteers trained to do benefits outreach & pre-screening.

Visit us at our website http://nychungerfree.org This project, in partnership with United Way of New York City, has been funded at least in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The contents of this blog post do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Beyond 311: How to Direct Complaints to NYC, State or Federal Agencies

Matthew Boylan, Ask NYPL — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 12:09:07 -0400

Landlord-Tenant Disputes: Heat and Hot Water, Eviction, Foreclosure
Complaints with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTA)
Consumer Fraud and "Rip Offs"
Discrimination based on Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation

Landlord-Tenant Disputes: Heat and Hot Water, Eviction, Foreclosure

Landlord-tenant disputes are a fact that a large percentage of New York City residents must confront at one time or another if they live in this city. It is, for many, a frustrating experience. If more New York City residents knew exactly how and where to go with their specific complaint, they might not find the experience as challenging as most do. For example, landlord-tenant issues in New York may involve rent stabilized or rent controlled apartments or a residence not subject to any form of rent regulation.

One source of useful information about events affecting all city tenants is Tenant.net. Landlord-tenant issues affecting rent stabilized or rent controlled apartments in New York City come under the jurisdiction of The New York State Homes and Community Renewal Agency. And you can contact that Agency with complaints at 718-739-6400.

If you are of limited means or are indigent and qualify for the "Section 8" housing program administered by New York City Housing Authority you can contact the City Housing Authority at 212-306-3000 about your landlord or the condition of your apartment. Finally, if you have a complaint about heat and hot water (or the lack thereof) file a complaint anonymously and without giving your apartment number to the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development ("HPD") and ask for the "complaint number" in case you need to follow up on it. And if a complaint has been filed — or an inspection performed — and there is no action by the New York City HPD, then follow up by contacting the New York State Homes and Community Renewal Agency at 212-863-8307.

If you get in a legal dispute with your landlord or face eviction you should review this post on free or low cost legal services in New York City. And if you live in "Mitchell-Lama" housing in the City there is a complaint Line at 1-866-463-7753.

If you are in danger of foreclosure because of default on mortgage payments you may qualify for free legal advice or a re-negotiation of the loan at the Subprime Foreclosure Prevention Hotline: 1-866-760-3745 and 1-888-736-8457 (in Spanish).

Complaints with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTA)

One can file a general complaint with the MTA at: 718-330-1234 Option 4. However, it is more effective to complain about a specific issue involving a bus, subway, transit delay, crime or an ADA compliance issue or contact the MTA's Lost and Found.

However, another remedy is to use resources compiled by the Straphanger's Campaign: a targeted list of MTA staff and other agencies that take complaints and tips on how to make the complaint more effective — and exactly who to address them to including the MTA's President, your subway line's General Manager and how to identify and contact your city councilman.

Consumer Fraud and "Rip Offs"

If you believe that you have been the victim of consumer fraud or have paid money for services either not rendered or performed incompetently there is a remedy. You may file a Complaint with the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs ("D.C.A.") or call (212) 487-4140. If you have been the victim of consumer fraud, it may also be a good idea to report the fraud to the New York State Attorney General's Office of Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau (that also deals with credit card fraud; identity theft; investment or securities fraud and online business or charitable fraud) or call 1-800-771-7755.

As to the growing problem of identity theft, consumers should immediately notify all banks or other issuers of any credit or debit cards of loss, misuse or theft. Next, it is a good idea to request that a "Fraud Alert" be placed on credit applications in your name for varying periods of time to the three primary credit rating agencies: Experian; TransUnion and Equifax. Also report fraud to the New York Police Department — they may or may not find the culprit, but you will definitely want to obtain a written police report in order to make any insurance or other claims on your losses. Finally, don't forget to contact issuers of basic identification materials lost or stolen: New York State Driver's license; Social Security Card; New York Public Library Card and any other relevant agencies.

Discrimination based on Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation

This includes employment discrimination, housing discrimination or discrimination by a business, restaurant, bar, retail store or governmental or non-profit entity or by their employees. If you encounter discrimination based on race, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status you may file a complaint with the New York City Human Rights Commision or telephone: 212-306-7450.

You may file a complaint with The New York State Division of Human Rights at (212) 961-8650 or a complaint with the New York State Attorney General at (800) 771-7755 or use the Complaint Referral Service of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission at 1-800-669-4000.

Free Job Training for Community Health Workers

Magdalene Chan, Science, Industry and Business Library — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 08:54:45 -0400

Are you 24 or over and looking for a career in the healthcare field?

LaGuardia Community College’s CareerPATH program is offering a free program starting in September 2012 for qualified students interested in becoming Community Health Workers (CHW). The program is 16 weeks in length with a required 2 month internship.

CareerPATH program will be hosting two information sessions in July for prospective students to learn more about the CHW program, as well as have an opportunity to immediately start the admissions process if interested in joining the training program.

The two information sessions will be held on Tuesday, July 17th, and July 31st 2012 from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. In Room BA-18 at LaGuardia Community College, CUNY. Please call (718) 730-7569 to reserve your seat.

The requirements for participating in this program are as follows:

At least 24 years of age
Unemployed
High School Diploma or GED
Bilingual (preferred)
Ability to read and write in English (must pass a screening test)
Good physical health
Eligible to work in the U.S.
No criminal record
Drug test clearance
Not currently a college student

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are public health professionals who help bridge gaps between different populations and healthcare or social service systems by providing outreach, basic health education, referrals and follow-up service, case management, advocacy and home visiting services.

The following information will help you learn more about careers in public health:

Professionals in public health will work to improve the health and quality of life for entire communities and increase awareness of public health and safety issues in order to prevent illnesses and injuries.

Public health is a broad field that includes health educators, medical scientists, social workers and statisticians.

The following are facts on Health Educators form the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2012-2013:

Health educators teach people about behaviors that promote wellness.
A bachelor’s degree in health education or health promotion is required for entry-level positions.
The median annual wage for health educators was $45,830 in May 2010.
Employment of health educators is expected to grow by 37 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations.

If you want to learn more about careers in public health, please visit the Job Search Central online or in person at the Science, Industry and Business Library at 188 Madison Avenue and 34th Street.

World Refugee Day 2012

Brigid Cahalan, Library Sites & Services/Outreach — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 13:09:02 -0400

In 1951 the U.N. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugeesdefined who is a refugee, their rights, and the legal obligations of governments. On the 50th anniversary of that historic convention, the U.N. General Assembly designated June 20th as World Refugee Day and it has been celebrated as such each year since 2001.

In his 2011 World Refugee Day message, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated: "No one wants to become a refugee. No one should have to endure this humiliating and arduous ordeal. Yet, millions do. Even one refugee forced to flee, one refugee forced to return to danger is one too many."

So, just who is a refugee? According to the Convention, "A refugee is someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion." The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) website also gives definitions for Internally displaced persons, returnees, stateless persons, asylum seekers, and economic migrants. The UNHCR leads and coordinates international efforts to protect refugees and resolve problems.

Each year the President of the United States meets with Congress to determine the maximum number of refugees from each region of the world that will be admitted to the U.S. during the Federal fiscal year. Nine non-governmental resettlement agencies currently work with the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement to re-settle refugees to the U.S. One of these is the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which was founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein and today works in 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities. Another, the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants started over 100 years and now does its important work throughout the world in partnership with civil society groups such as International Institutes, and local nonprofits such as CAMBA. Yet another has an even longer history: the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) grew from organizations founded in 1881 on Manhattan's Lower East Side, Though much of their work during this long history focused on settling and integrating Jews, they work with refugees of any nationality, religion, or place of origin.

Want to know more? The IRC has an interactive course, complete with pre-assessments and quizzes, and the organization Bridging Refugee Youth & Children's Services has put together Refugee 101: FAQs; a flowchart of the refugee process in the U.S.; and links for sources of statistics and more information. Also, this blog post lists some memoirs about the refugee experience.

Navigating Health Care in New York: Researching Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and Providers

Matthew Boylan, Ask NYPL — Wed, 30 May 2012 07:31:57 -0400

Many New Yorkers no longer have much choice about who their health care provider is. Many times New Yorkers — if they are fortunate enough to have an employer sponsored or other health care plan — may be asked to choose from among those health care providers who belong to a particular heath care maintenance program or other health insurance program.

Other New Yorkers may be enrolled in the Medicare Program if they are over a certain age — which in many cases means that your health care may also be provided by a private insurer who has a contract with New York State (or you may possibly have a Medigap plan for the many areas of health care that Medicare does not pay for; evaluations of various Medigap plans are provided by Consumer Reports that is accessible on one of the many databases available from the New York Public Library that are available from home).

If you have limited means, you may determine whether you are eligible for Medicaid in New York City. In New York state Medicaid may be administered by private health insurance plans for profit. And a substantial number of New Yorkers have no health insurance plan at all but still need to see a doctor, a dentist, a physical therapist or a psychotherapist or a number of other providers of what is broadly defined as "health care."

Whether one's health care provider must be chosen from a health maintenance organization or insurer, may provide health care as part of Medicare or Medicaid, or is recommended by family or friends, it is always wise to find out more about the health care provider. If your doctor practices in New York State, s/he is licensed by the New York State Department of Health and a good deal of basic and supplemental information is available about him or her in their New York State Physician Profile. In order to search the Physician Profile, it is necessary to have the proper spelling of the physician's name which should be available from either your health insurance provider or from the office of the doctor. This site provides such basic information as whether this physician is licensed by the State of New York, whether the doctor went to an accredited medical school in the United States, where s/he did a residency or internship (a period of from one to several years of training after medical school but before receipt of a medical license) and whether s/he is "Board Certified" in the field. That is, after finishing formal medical training, s/he received post graduate training and supervision that indicates additional training in a specific medical field such as orthopedics or psychiatry. It should also indicate where his or her medical office is, what hospitals licensed in the State of New York s/he can practice in, whether s/he has published research papers in his medical field or has been teaching medicine or providing community service.

One can also determine if a doctor takes one's form of private health insurance or if the doctor provides care to those enrolled in Medicare. Note that certain doctors accept Medicare payments as payment in full while others only accept it as partial payment and you are responsible for the balance. You should also confirm in advance whether a doctor takes any form of private or public medical insurance, and to what extent, by contacting the doctor's office. Only certain doctors in New York accept Medicaid patients. However, if a doctor accepts any Medicaid patient in New York he must accept all.

One may determine if a dentist is licensed to practice in New York from the Office of Professions. And one may determine if a doctor or dentist is licensed to practice outside the state of New York from the database Reference USA available at certain NYPL locations. Physical therapists should have a license from the state of New York. Psychotherapists may be psychiatrists who are licensed physicians in New York who may treat patients and prescribe medication. Clinical psychologists are licensed by the state of New York and usually possess a doctorate from an accredited University training program. Licensed clinical social workers (who possess a Master's Degree in Social Work and three years of post-degree supervised experience) and licensed masters of social work (who possess a Master's Degree in Social Work) are also registered with New York state. Note that there are numerous other accrediting agencies, especially for psychotherapists.

Resources for Senior Care and Senior Activism

J. Soucé, AskNYPL — Tue, 29 May 2012 08:40:13 -0400

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive degenerative disease. Actually it can be viewed as a group of disorders that results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior and affects approximately 4 million Americans and as many as 15 million through out the world. Medical care, education and a support strategy can make the difference and help family and loved ones cope.

Alzheimer's Disease. (2004). In The New Harvard Guide to Women's Health. Credo Reference.

The Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading, global voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care and support, and the largest private, nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research.
225 N. Michigan Avenue #1700
Chicago, IL 60601
1-800-272-335-5886

Gray Panthers Project Fund
1319 F Street NW, Suite 302 Washington, DC 20004
1-800-280-5362
In New York, 165 West 86th Street
1-212-799-7572
http://graypanthersnyc.org
Work for social and economic justice and peace for all people.

Administration on Aging
Washington, DC 20201
One Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Aging: 1-202-401-4634
Public Inquiries: 1-202-619-0724
Eldercare Locator (to find local resources): 1-800-677-1116
aoainfo@aoa.hhs.gov
The mission of AoA is to develop a comprehensive, coordinated and cost-effective system of home and community-based services that helps elderly individuals maintain their health and independence in their homes and communities

National Institute on Aging
Public Information Office Building 31, Rm: 5C27
31 Center Drive MSC
Bethesda, MD 20892-2292
1-800-222-2225
Federal Government Social & Human Services Resource.
Find legal resources, support services nationwide and information about reporting elder abuse and prevention.

National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (Formerly NCCNHR National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform)
The Consumer Voice
1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 425
Washington, DC 20036
1-202-332-2275 (phone)
info@theconsumervoice.org

These resource centers supports the continous development and operation of federally mandated nationwide long-term care ombudsman programs. The Consumer Voice can connect you to state and local resources that might be able to help. Citizen advocacy groups, ombudsmen, state agencies and other resources are available through this website.

USA.Gov: Government Made Easy
Find government resources for seniors on money, housing, health, consumer protection, and more. The site's resources can be useful for seniors and caretakers.

Senior Net
One Kearny Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104
1-800-747-6848
SeniorNet is a nonprofit educational 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded to teach and access computer technologies to share their knowledge and wisdom.

Subject:

Older people -- Care -- United States.
Aging parents -- Care -- United States.
Caregivers -- United States.

Get Moving NYC: Where’s Your Fitness Fun?

Jaqueline Woolcott, Ask NYPL — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:35:28 -0400

Every year, spring sparks my desire to get out of my stuffy apartment, stretch my legs, and enjoy what the city has to offer. I want to enjoy a little time outside or find an event that requires some movement.

Certainly getting out, exercising, and discovering a new activity has many great benefits to your general health, but finding the activity that puts a smile on your face can also give you something to look forward to after a hard day at work or add a little fun to your Mondays.

With so many positives, how can you argue?

My first spring in the city I was bit lost where to start but spotted an ad for New York City Parks and Recreation. Deciding to check it out and see what my new city's parks have to offer, I found lots of free and inexpensive fun all around the boroughs. There are some real gems out there if you're willing to go a tad off your normal trail and try something new.

Enjoyable activities in the NYC Parks and recreational centers are plentiful and waiting for you. Take a walk, join in on some African Dancing, learn to swim (or join the swim team), you can even have an adventure with a Park Ranger.

Are the programs offered not your pace? BeFitNYC invites you to create your own activity with their Facebook App.

Love the parks and want to be even more involved this season? There are lots of volunteer oppourtunities.

Parks and Rec doesn't actually plan activities for all the parks in the city. You'll want to check the offical calendars for some of the different parks throughout the city.

For instance, Bryant Park offers yoga, fencing, juggling, tai chi, and other fun activities.

Central Park has several events each month. While they don't share the same popular appeal as the events Bryant Park offers, they are a great excuse to get out and try something different or learn something new about a favorite spot. I always keep an eye on the Central Park Calendar for new and interesting walks and events.

Same goes for Prospect Park Events in Brooklyn.

New York Public Library also has health and wellness events at a few of our branches. Check out our events calendar for more information.

Need some music to get you moving? Download DRM-free music for your iPod or MP3 player with Freegal and your library card.

If these events don't fit your schedule, I've included some library materials you might find helpful.

Children's Books

The Busy Body Book: A Kid's Guide to Fitness
Rockwell, Lizzy

From Head to Toe
Carle, Eric

Get up and Go!
Nancy L. Carlson

Keeping Kids Fit: A Family Plan for Raising Active, Healthy Children
Len Saunders

Strong Kids, Healthy Kids: The Revolutionary Program for Increasing your Child's Fitness in 30 Minutes A Week
Fredrick Hahn

Teen Books

Seventeen Presents 500 Health & Fitness Tips

Breathe: Yoga for Teens
Mary Kaye Chryssicas

Toning for Teens: The 20-minute Workout That Makes You Look Good and Feel Great!
Joyce L. Vedral

Adult Books

Working Out Sucks! (and Why It Doesn't Have To) (also available as an eBook)
Chuck Runyon

LL Cool J's Platinum 360 Diet and Lifestyle: A Full-Circle Guide to Developing your Mind, Body, and Soul
LL Cool J

The Longevity Prescription: The 8 Proven Keys to A Long, Healthy Life
Robert N. Butler

Champions Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength

Strength for Life: The Fitness Plan for the Best of your Life
Shawn Phillips

T.O.'s Finding Fitness: Making the Mind, Body, and Spirit Connection for Total Health
Terrell Owens

NYPL has more resources and fun stuff for you to check out. One of my favorite blog posts: Start a New Hobby with the Help From NYPL's Periodical Collections!

This post on 50+ Fitness Fairs also has information on local organizations that promote fitness for all ages.

Have any hidden treasures in the city for us to discover? Share in the comments.

See you outside!

Government Information: A Quick Overview of Core Resources at NYPL

Kenneth Johnson, Science, Industry and Business Library — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:59:31 -0400

Let's face it; many different research tasks cause people to want, and in a lot of cases need, government information. Government information is on the Internet: result - happiness. Government information disappears from the Internet (or becomes nearly impossible to find, which is sort of the same thing): result - unhappiness. And then there are libraries.

Libraries, and in particular the New York Public Library, have traditionally played a major role in providing government documents and other government information to researchers. NYPL has been a Depository Library (a place where government information has been officially deposited for public use) for:

United States Federal Government Documents since 1884; and
New York State Government Documents since 1956.

New York City: Although we are not a depository for New York City (for that, visit the City Hall Library), we have thirstily collected local documents and information as fully as has been feasible.

Other States and Local Jurisdictions: NYPL, primarily in the General Research Division at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, has selective holdings of older, historical, legislative materials from other states — a fabulous trove of resources available at few other institutions. SIBL has a strong collection in labor and other economic data for other states, including through our statistical databases.

International Organizations - a quick list:

United Nations: full depository since 1946; partial depository since 1995.
European Union: depository since the mid 1950s.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
International Monetary Fund
World Bank

Other Countries: Last but not least, SIBL has substantial holdings for financial, labor, economic and general statistical material, including Central Bank publications. Holdings for legislative materials of other countries are currently part of collections in the General Research Division at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.

As the title of this post states, this is only a very quick overview of government information sources. It will be the first entry in a series of explorations of government information, and in particular of the highly in demand historical legislative materials available at SIBL and other NYPL locations. So stay tuned...

How to Research and Employ an Attorney

Matthew Boylan, Ask NYPL — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:10:21 -0400

At some time in their life, most New York City residents will need to employ an attorney. This may reflect the need to make a will, a landlord-tenant dispute, a divorce, an accusation that one has committed a crime or as a result of a foreclosure or a business dispute. While there are certain legal resources available to those who have limited financial means and there are always attorneys from the larger and more expensive law firms who are employed by landlords, banks, corporations or the wealthy, many other New Yorkers may have a need for legal representation and may not know how or where to find it.

In New York City, there are resources for those of moderate means who need to find an attorney, and then wish to find out more about that attorney. For example, one can obtain the name of a lawyer or law practice, contact information and often certain other background information including education and practice specialties at the Science, Industry and Business Library ("SIBL") of the New York Public Library by consulting the current and back editions of the Martindale-Hubble Law Directory in print or online. It is also possible to do one's own legal research at SIBL. Other online directories that permit you to search for an attorney by practice area and location are the FindLaw Lawyer Directory and HG.org.

If you are thinking of employing any attorney — whether obtained from a directory or other source — you should first verify the most basic information about him or her: whether the lawyer is licensed to practice in the State of New York; office location, the number of years in practice, and law school. This information is always available at the Attorney Search database maintained by the Uniform Court System of the State of New York or by contacting attyreg@courts.state.ny.us or 212-428-2800.

You may wish to contact the Referral Service of the New York City Bar ("LRS") that is available by telephone at: (212) 626-7373 and in Spanish at: (212) 626-7374. There is no charge for the conversation or the referral. Any attorney that LRS refers you to holds a license, is not the subject of any malpractice or disciplinary proceeding and has experience with the relevant legal issue. You are then entitled to an initial consultation of up to a half hour with the lawyer you are referred to. That consultation is free if it concerns an injury due to an accident or a faulty product, the negligence of a doctor, or a worker's compensation or Social Security claim. If you obtain a referral about any other legal problem, a half hour consultation will cost $35.

The LRS also frequently runs at no charge a "Monday Night Clinic." At this clinic — which does require an appointment in advance at LRS telephone numbers above — an attorney will meet with you for a half hour at no charge to discuss specific issues: Landlord-Tenant; Family Law (Divorce; Child Support; Domestic Violence); Consumer Rights (including Foreclosure, Credit Card Debt and Consumer Fraud); Bankruptcy Proceedings and Employment Rights and Discrimination in the Workplace (as to Race, Sex or Sexual Preference).

Other ways a New York City resident may obtain legal representation:

If you employ an attorney to represent you, any fee — whether in a civil or a criminal action — may be the subject of a negotiation.
There are a number of programs for those over age 60 with no means test, including those of the New York City Department for the Aging. Other programs address: Medicare, Medigap and Medicaid, Consumer Fraud, Living Wills and Powers of Attorney and other legal issues that affect those over 60.
Contingent Fee Matters where there is no "upfront" payment by the client. If you have been harmed by another (e.g., in an automobile accident, at the workplace, or by a doctor) an attorney may represent you on a contingent fee basis (at no cost to you — unless you obtain a Judgment or Settlement from the responsible party — in which case the attorney may receive up to one third of the recovery.) Attorneys advertise to obtain clients on this basis. However, it is always a good idea to check the attorney's level of experience, areas of expertise and honesty.
There is also an effort to provide those of moderate means with greater access to legal assistance on certain matters: Consumer's Rights, Family Law Issues, Home Mortgage Foreclosures, Bankruptcy, and Small Business issues. Many organizations that provide legal assistance to those of lesser means are flexible with respect to means tests.

How to Find Free or Low Cost Legal Services in New York City

Matthew Boylan, Ask NYPL — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:20:04 -0400

These services are generally available only to those of limited financial means. However, there are also certain legal services that are available for those of moderate means. If you are a person of limited financial means who faces a civil legal issue — one that is not a criminal offense — certainly the most comprehensive source of information about your legal rights is LawHelp.org. Its assistance is also available in Spanish at AyudaLegalNY.org. If you click on words, terms or agencies on this website, you will encounter a variety of providers of legal assistance to tenants, consumers, senior citizens, small business owners and victims of discrimination. Certain organizations specialize in providing legal assistance to persons who encounter specific problems with the law. A very partial list of these organizations would include:

Civil and Other Actions

Landlord-Tenant Disputes: Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens
Divorce: Basic Information, Child and Spousal Support, Other Legal Channels and Custody and Visitation
Gender: Sex Based Discrimination, Filing a Complaint: Federal, State, New York City
Sexual Orientation: Filing a Complaint: State, City and Civil Rights Generally
Domestic Violence: Hotline: 800-799-SAFE, Legal Assistance and Shelters
Immigration Issues: "Green Card", Working, Deportation and Removal
Discrimination and Civil Rights: Racial or Ethnic, at the Federal, State and City levels
Disabilities: Rights and Representation, Filing a Complaint: Federal, State and City
Other Civil Actions: LawHelp.org and Legal Services NYC

Telephone Help: Another immediate source of free legal advice for income for New York City residents in English or in Spanish is the New York City Bar's Legal Hotline that operates Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at: 212-626-7383. And another excellent source of information for those of low income facing civil or criminal issues is The Legal Aid Society of New York and you may telephone that organization in English or in Spanish at: 212-577-3300.

If you wish to research the law yourself, a great deal of New York legal research may be conducted at The Science, Industry and Business Library of The New York Public Library.

How is "Limited Means" defined by those who provide legal services to New York City residents?

The various providers of legal services to the indigent generally define this by the use of specific "Income Guidelines" that — in an attempt to recognize the high cost of living in New York City — are often set at 125% or 187.5% or 200% of what the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services determines are the 2012 poverty guidelines.

"Moderate Means" There has also been an effort by The New York City Bar Association Justice Center and other organizations to provide people of moderate means with greater access to legal assistance with certain family law issues, home mortgage foreclosures and certain issues confronting small business owners.

Criminal Actions

Every person charged with a crime of consequence in the State of New York has the right to an attorney. In the Unified Court System of the State of New York and within the New York City Criminal Court the court may appoint an attorney to represent you. Many of those with limited financial resources charged with various criminal offenses at the state and city level are represented by members of The Legal Aid Society that has branches in all five boroughs.

In certain cases, the court may also appoint a lawyer under a program commonly known as "18B." A variety of other organizations also provide free or low cost representation to criminal defendants including in Manhattan the New York County Defender Services, Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defenders and the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers maintains a Directory of other organizations that represent indigent defendants.

At certain times an attorney in private practice may be appointed or otherwise represent a criminal defendant "pro bono" — that is, in the public interest and not for a fee. If you are charged with a federal crime, the federal district court or appellate court may appoint a member of the Federal Defenders of New York for the Southern and Eastern Districts that provides counsel to residents of all five boroughs.

The Correctional Services Program of the New York Public Library also provides a variety of books and other useful information to those who are currently incarcerated in federal, state and city facilities as well as Connections [PDF] to help the recently released seek work.

LawHelp.org also assists those who need to understand the civil consequences of a criminal charge or conviction.

Legal Resources at NYPL and Elsewhere in New York City

Matthew Boylan, Ask NYPL — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:28:53 -0400

Without a doubt, the best location in the New York Public Library to conduct legal research about legal issues that arise in either the state or the city of New York is the Science Industry and Business Library. SIBL has a selective law library that contains such essential New York legal research tools as McKinney’s Consolidated Statutes of New York (annotated with New York and federal cases and state agencies that cite the statutes) and these statutes online without annotations.

Visit the Science Industry and Business Library for:

most of the decisions of the Unified Court System of the State of New York including the decisions of this state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, that are available in print and online since 1990, the Appellate Division decisions are also available in print and online since 2003 and the New York Supplement also includes certain other New York decisions.
many New York City laws including the Charter and Administrative Code that includes the Building and the Construction Codes with a print index or that are available online as well as the Zoning Resolution and Updates and the local laws and many other New York City ordinances and regulations.
all published opinions of the federal courts including the United States Reports of the Supreme Court in print and electronically since 1893, the Federal Reporter Series, the Federal Supplement and a comprehensive guide to research in the Congressional Record.
a number of legal manuals and other works designed for the non-lawyer that are useful for legal research that may be found in the Catalog as well as useful pathfinders Legal Materials on the Web and Government. And there are numerous NYPL databases that address law and related matters as well as good sources of information on the internet.

SIBL does not have access to Lexis. SIBL does have access to a version of Westlaw that permits one to conduct onsite research of New York state and federal statutes, case law and regulations. Note that a great deal of legal research can be conducted online at FindLaw’s Cases and Codes that provides access to many federal, state and municipal decisions, statutes and ordinances. Also, those in need of the law of other jurisdictions and more obscure practice manuals or law reviews may obtain a METRO card from the NYPL for onsite research at law school libraries in New York City.

Outside the New York Public Library, each of the five boroughs of New York City are also separate Counties of New York State. And each one has a Public Access Law Library listed by county name: Manhattan (New York County), the Bronx (Kings County), Staten Island (Richmond County), Brooklyn (Kings County) and Queens (Queens County) that can be found in this Directory of the New York State Unified Court System that are open to the public during business hours and that do have access to Lexis/Nexis and limited access to Westlaw.

The Legal Information Institute of Cornell Law School also includes a wide variety of federal and state case law and legislation. And the United States Department of Justice maintains a list of “Open Access” law reviews and journals. Google Scholar also provides access to certain law journals and the alumni of any university that has a law school may have access to its law libraries.

50+ Fitness Fairs: Free and Low-cost Activities to Get (or Keep!) You Fit

Brigid Cahalan, Library Sites & Services/Outreach — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:01:57 -0400

It’s official: Spring is here! As I peer into its etymology, I see the English word "spring" comes from the Old English "springan," which means “to leap, burst forth, fly up.” I have indeed been seeing New Yorkers bursting forth from their abodes in short sleeves and sandals, ready to enjoy the (even) warmer weather. Maybe the leaping and flying up will come later.

Three of NYPL’s branches will be hosting 50+ Fitness Fairs to share spaces and ways for New Yorkers to not only leap, but walk, hike, canoe, swim, lift weights, kayak, exercise, and enjoy nature right here in the Big Apple. St. Agnes Library will kick off the fun on Wednesday, April 11, followed by Mosholu Library in the Bronx on Saturday, April 14, and 96th Street Library on Saturday, April 28.

What’s happening at the fairs? A lot of organizations will be coming with — or sending — information, including maps and schedules of upcoming activities.

Find out what’s happening at:

There will be exercise demonstrations/workshops, giveaways, free raffles, inspirational presentations, and FUN!

See you there!

Winter Storms Can Be Hazardous to Your Federal Benefit Check!

Brigid Cahalan, Library Sites & Services/Outreach — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:58:37 -0500

I'd like to share an important message on behalf of Go Direct®, a campaign of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Bank from guest blogger Michelle Kloempken, campaign manager for Go Direct®.

With electronic payments, you can count on your money despite severe weather.

If you get federal benefit payments by paper checks, you should know that you are required by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to switch to an electronic payment method. By getting your money electronically, you will help save taxpayers millions of dollars each year. You must make the switch by March 1, 2013, but you don’t have to wait for the deadline. The winter months are the perfect time to switch and take advantage of the reliability and ease of electronic payments.

Ice, snow, and subzero temperatures can leave you trapped in your home and temporarily interrupt important services like mail delivery. If you rely on paper checks for your federal benefit payments, a winter storm can leave you without access to your money at a time when you need it most.

With electronic payments, your money won’t be slowed down by winter weather and you won’t need to leave your home to cash or deposit a check. To switch to direct deposit or the Direct Express® card, contact your federal benefit agency office, visit the Treasury Department’s Go Direct® campaign website, or call the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center at (800) 333-1795. For direct deposit to a checking or savings account, you can also make the switch at your local bank or credit union.

Also, see this blog post on the topic from Rosie Rios, Treasurer of the United States.

Legal Aid and Information in New York City

Ursula Murphy — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 09:42:12 -0500

From criminal cases to income tax law, legal issues are part of our everyday life. Finding the information you need can be confusing and difficult. Luckily there are organizations in the city to help you out at no or low cost. Here are a few to turn to if you need legal help.

New York Bar Association Services
The New York Bar Association offers a number of free services to the public: legal referrals, an advice hotline and access to a variety of informative legal clinics. If you need a lawyer and don’t know where to turn, the Bar Association makes referrals for insured, interested attorneys, who have been pre-screened for suitability and experience for your specific legal matter. There is no cost for a referral. Call 212-626-7373 (Hablamos español? 212-626-7374)

The City Bar Justice Center Hotline (212-626-7383) is a free advice telephone line dedicated to low-income NYC residents. The hotline connects you with counselors, attorneys and paralegals. Counselors will provide free simple legal advice on a range of civil issues such as family law, consumer debt, bankruptcy, employment and landlord-tenant law. Counselors are available to answer questions: Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 pm. New York Bar Association Law Clinics Monday Night Law Clinic This free clinic runs from October through August. It is scheduled on specific nights throughout each month. At the clinic, attorneys will meet with clients for one-half hour appointments to discuss a variety of legal topics, such as bankruptcy, consumer issues, matrimonial, basic employment and landlord-tenant. There is no charge for this service. A client must schedule an appointment for the Monday Night Clinic through the LRS hotline 212-626-7373 (English), 212-626-7374 (Spanish). Walk-ins are not permitted. Brown Bag Law Lunch The Legal Referral Service sponsors a speaker’s bureau called Brown Bag Law Lunch. Through this program, your office, community group, school, or organization can schedule a skilled attorney to give a free presentation on any area of law you may wish. Each presentation is followed by a question and answer session, and the entire program can be completed in one hour. Brown Bag Law is a public service; attorney speakers will not solicit business from workshop attendees. Our enjoyable, innovative presentations are designed to answer basic questions about topics ranging from “When and How to Hire a Lawyer” to “Estate Planning” to “The ABC’s of Buying a House/Coop/Condo.” Legal Referral Service is happy to tailor a speaking engagement to suit your needs, and we look forward to having an opportunity to visit with your group or organization. For more information or to schedule a guest speaker, please contact Allen Charne at 212-382-6775. Tax Clinic The Tax Clinic is a component of Monday Night Law and meets on designated dates each month. At the Tax Clinic, individuals may meet with a lawyer for a one half-hour session to discuss their federal, state or city tax questions and concerns that affect their individual or business tax status. There is no charge for this service. A client must schedule an appointment for the Tax Clinic through the LRS hotline 212-626-7373 (English), 212-626-7374 (Spanish). Walk-ins are not permitted. The New York Bar Association also publishes informational materials on subjects from Animal Rights to Wills and Estates. Legal Services NYC Legal Services offers free legal help to the public for housing, family, domestic violence, public benefits, income tax, employment, education, consumer rights and economic development issues. Legal Services NYC is “the largest organization exclusively devoted to providing free civil legal services in the United States, with neighborhood offices in every borough of New York City.” For more detailed information, visit their website. Legal Aid Society The Legal Aid Society also provides legal services to low income families and individuals living in New York City. They have a “comprehensive city-wide legal services program for clients centering on three major practices - Civil, Criminal, and Juvenile Rights. Society staff members represent clients at literally every level of the State and federal trial and appellate courts as well as in State and federal administrative proceedings.” "The Civil Practice represents low-income families and individuals in legal matters involving housing, benefits, disability, domestic violence, family issues, health, employment, immigration, HIV/AIDS, prisoners' rights and elderlaw. The Criminal Practice provides representation in criminal trials and appeals as well as parole revocation defense hearings. The Juvenile Rights Practice provides representation for children who appear before the Family Court in matters involving child protective proceedings, juvenile delinquency, and PINS (people in need of supervision) and in appellate cases involving children.” LawHelp.org An online tool to connect the public with legal information nationwide, “LawHelp.org provides referrals to local legal aid and public interest law offices, basic information about legal rights, self-help information, court information, links to social service agencies, and more in your state.” Contact nyinfo@lawhelp.org for more information. For Spanish, visit www.ayudalegalny.org.