General information about the Library is at 

http://www.dhses.ny.gov/ofpc/training/fire-academy/library.cfm but

anyone in NY State may borrow or call anytime for help...not just fire service personnel! 

The online catalog is at http://afs.mlasolutions.com/oasis/catalog/?installation=AFS

Instructions on how to find and order are HERE

Short, step-by-step video tutorials:

• "Quick Tour" of the NYS Fire Academy Library's online catalog http://screencast.com/t/VJ6HQcrJ8P   

• "How to Search & Order" (from the NYSAFS online catalog) http://screencast.com/t/2EkFZcIjrK   

• "How to find who in the world will lend you a book or DVD” (using WorldCat.org) http://screencast.com/t/hwf7XNnrEj

Note: this one will help you find stuff you want in any library. Examples are shows from the NYS Fire Academy Library and the National Emergency Training Center holdings, but same process for public & college libraries.

ONLINE CATALOG TIPS AND TRICKS: 

• How do I find new stuff?  Your choice of 3 ways:
•  Easy:  In the catalog, choose Visual Search, then New Arrivals
• Sneaky: Every record added in the last few years has a bit of hidden script which places it in the year and quarter it was added.  Just set your search to look "anywhere" for NewSummer2014, NewFall2015, NewWinter2014, NewSpring2015...you get the idea.  Since we add materials every quarter, try combining that code with other search terms.  It's not the DaVinci Code, but it works!  NOTE:  We stopped adding journal articles to the database in April 2012.  For those, please use the NFA catalog at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/library . 
• Delivered:  Sign up for monthly notification of new print, video & Internet resources by email.  Just ask!  (Will not include most online videos or articles.)  It's also under the "Welcome" tab at http://www.dhses.ny.gov/ofpc/training/fire-academy/library.cfm 
• Online videos?   We're not talking about incident footage, pirated DVD clips or cheesey YouTubes.   We've looked at the best websites for high-quality instructional video and included hot links in our catalog.  
• Continuing education:  If you want materials you can read (or watch) and then be tested on, set your search field to "anywhere" and look for CEU . Fire Investigators looking for certification credit should search for cfiTrainer for video modules with reading lists.
• AV support for OSHA training:  In the catalog, choose Visual Search, then click on the yellow helmet.

WORLDCAT System:  You can also find our holdings for all but VHS tapes and magazine articles at http://www.worldcat.org .  (See screencast link above.) WorldCat is the backbone of the interlibrary loan system.  You can search for an item and locate which libraries own it -- including ours!  WorldCat will generally use your computer's last known location or home base to rank by proximity.  If you want to rank items by our location first, either use our zip code (14865) or Montour Falls NY.  You can also list us as a "favorite" location, but that takes a few more steps.   The great thing about WorldCat is that it'll show you whether an item is available close-by, in our library, at the National Fire Academy or some other library.  If you find an item which does belong to us,  you can click to link straight to it in our catalog and quickly order online. Neat, huh?