Handy Information

In American Libraries Direct (2/17/10) I read an article originating in WebWorkerDaily, Feb. 16 about finding mailboxes for outgoing mail.


"I do a lot of my correspondence electronically, but sometimes I still need to mail a letter. I know where the blue US Postal Service mailboxes are in my neighborhood, but it’s getting harder to find pickup locations when I’m on the road, since USPS has removed over half of its boxes in the past 20 years.

So I’m pleased that I’ve discovered MailboxMap. It’s a simple web site built around a Google Maps mashup. Just enter an address or zip code, and it will display a map showing the locations of mailboxes in the neighborhood. Click on a mailbox icon, and it will display pickup times.
MailboxMap also shows post offices and UPS locations, complete with hours. And there’s a mobile version, which has the advantage of displaying search results in a list, making it easier to skim for late pickups. It would be nice, though, if one could search for, say, pickups after 3:00 pm, or for Saturday pickups.

It’s not a perfect service; for example, it locates Seattle’s downtown post office on the wrong side of the street. Google Maps itself locates the same address correctly, so it’s unclear what the problem is. Nevertheless, MailboxMap is a useful service.

The site has been around for a couple of years, but it seems to be up to date, as it shows a recent pickup time change for my local box. It’s probably too much to hope that USPS will buy this site and add it to usps.com."

New Item

• The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen and Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting

FYI: "This innovative and practical kit, put together by two well-know specialists in the field of early literacy, contains everything storytime presenters for children from birth to age five need to spread the word about school readiness skills to adult caregivers." -from the back cover

New Book

• Moving Your Library: Getting the Collection from Here to There by Steven Care Fortriede

FYI: "Everything you need for the move is included - even specifications for boxes, moving carts, sorting trays, and a worksheet to calculate shelving layouts and growth rates. Moving Your Library is the complete kit for any librarian facing the daunting prospect of moving a library collection." - from the back cover

New Book

• Fundamentals of Library Supervision (2nd ed.) by Joan Giesecke and Beth McNeil

FYI: "Guiding supervisors through the intricate process of managing others, this comprehensive handbook addresses the fundamental issues facing new managers. It also serves as a welcome refresher and reference for experienced managers confronting new challenges in this complex and changing environment." - from the back cover

New Book

• User-Centered Library Websites: Usability Evaluation Methods by Carole A. George