New Jersey State Library Newsletter

Associate State Librarian for Library Development Kathleen Moeller-Peiffer is pleased to announce that Alka Bhatnagar has joined the Library Development Bureau effective September 8, 2008.

Ms. Bhatnagar joins the State Library from the Camden County Library system (NJ), where she has worked since 2000 in the position of reference librarian and, since 2005, as a principal librarian. In her roles at the Camden County Library she has been responsible for negotiating, acquiring and maintaining database collections; she has served as their project manager for QandA NJ, the state’s 24/7 virtual reference service, as well as the NJ statewide reference center; and has, also, provided training for the library system, the South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative and many other organizations.

Ms. Bhatnagar holds an MLS from the University of Rhode Island, an MS in Cytology and Genetics from the University of Bombay (India) and an MBA from the Datamatics Institute of Management, also in India. She is fluent in English, Hindi and comprehends spoken Gujarati and Punjabi. At the State Library, Ms. Bhatnagar will be utilizing her background in science, business management and information retrieval to provide the New Jersey State Library and the New Jersey Library Network with trends analysis and statistical information, as well as to lead the New Jersey Knowledge Initiative team.

On September 18, State Library staff members gave a presentation to New Jersey Administrative Law Judges and clerks. Fifty people attended the program which covered legal resources, how to determine legislative intent, and the services of the New Jersey State Library. According to the day’s coordinator, Sandrya Porter, assistant director, Legal Research, Library and Continuing Education, “Everyone was commenting about the great nuggets of information they got from the wonderful presentation.”

Pictured, from left: Cynthia Warrick and Leslie Witko, New Jersey State Library staff, Toni Telles, law clerk, and Laura Sanders, director and chief administrative law judge.

The historical genealogy of many New Jersey towns is, very often, found housed at the local library. Historical journals, military and government documents, and cultural artifacts that deserve attention and care, usually find their way to the library to be preserved and protected for future generations. Because many librarians serve as the stewards of these irreplaceable collections, the New Jersey State Library has brought together a number of resources in one Website to help with preservation and disaster planning. FULL STORY

The New Jersey State Library, the New Jersey Library Association and the Potter Library of Ramapo College of New Jersey are bringing Seth Godin to speak to New Jersey librarians and others.

Seth Godin is known as one of the most innovative marketing gurus in the world. As one of today’s hottest speakers, leaders from Google, Disney, TED* and Universal have all hired him for his unique insights and ideas about the newest marketing trends.

Godin is the author of ten books that have been best sellers around the world and New Jersey libraries will have the “once in a lifetime� opportunity to hear him speak on October 28 at 11 a.m., at Ramapo College.

He’ll be speaking about the ideas in his newest book, Tribes (launching around 10/23) and taking questions from the audience. Seats are very limited.

Click here for the Registration Form
Cost: NJLA members $15, nonmembers $25
Questions? Email Nancy Dowd, NJSL Director of Marketing
ndowd@njstatelib.org
609-278-2640 x 122

* TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an invitation-only event where
the world’s leading thinkers and doers gather to find inspiration

Scherelene Schatz, a project manager for the New Jersey State Library, has been recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who for her expertise in library technology, and leadership in implementing and administering library software applications on a statewide basis. As project manager, she oversees JerseyCat, the statewide interlibrary loan system; Jersey Clicks; and conducts training on the use of online resources. FULL STORY

Andrea Simzak has joined the State Library Information Center as a Library Associate in the Reference Services Section. Her responsibilities will include scheduling the State Library’s Training Lab, coordinating staff training, scheduling presenters for training sessions and working on staff development programs, in addition to serving as a reference librarian. MORE

Maria Baratta has been named Assistant Director of the New Jersey State Library’s Library for the Blind and Handicapped, bringing her extensive experience in library administration to the position. She has worked in a variety of library settings, including the State Library’s branch at the Department of Environmental Protection, and comes to LBH from the NJ Attorney General’s Office, where she was library director. Her vast knowledge of library operations and of library networks in New Jersey will be a definite asset in overseeing the day-to-day activities of LBH. MORE