Electronic and Government Information Services - 603-271-2143

The new Gates Computer Training Lab at the New Hampshire State Library will help librarians stay connected starting this fall. Fourteen workstations and a teacher’s workstation have been installed and are up and running. The new lab will allow for training in the 2003 Microsoft Office applications including Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher.

In addition to the Office Products, training will also be offered in HTML , Photoshop and Computer Security. Course catalogs will be out in early September so keep your eyes open for these new training opportunities.

Library Development Services - 603-271-2865 (Concord) - 1-800-462-1726 (Lancaster)

WebJunction New Hampshire (http://nh.webjunction.org) went live on 20 June 2005. If you were already a member of WebJunction Global from NH, your membership was automatically transferred to WJ-NH. If you are not a member, please join now. It is FREE (paid for by the NHSL).

Library Services to Persons with Disabilities - 603-271-1498

On Wednesday (June 29th, 2005) Governor John Lynch signed House Bill 478 assuring the availability of NFB-NEWSLINE® in New Hampshire.

NFB-NEWSLINE® is a service of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB)--is a free newspaper reading service for people who cannot read regular newsprint due to a disability. Subscribers are able to access over 150 newspapers such as USA Today, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and the Wall Street Journal, as well as local papers from throughout the United States whenever they wish by picking up a push-button phone, dialing into the system, and following the voice prompts. Keeping up with current events and local news helps a person become an informed citizen, a successful employee or employer, and a valuable participant in community life.

Anyone who cannot read conventional print due to a disability is eligible for this free service and can subscribe by filling out a simple application form. Children who are blind or visually impaired or who cannot physically hold a newspaper will be able to research their own civics assignments to do their homework independently. Seniors who find that reading the daily newspaper is no longer possible due to vision loss will once again be knowledgeable and able to participate actively in community affairs. Professionals with disabilities will be better-informed and able to converse about topics critical to their professions. No one with vision loss need be left out at social functions when the latest editorial or current affairs topic is discussed. NFB-NEWSLINE® is at last making it possible for individuals with disabilities to gain ready access to information at the same time as their colleagues, friends, and family members.