eResource News

February is Time Management Month

2012-02-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

Most of us start off the New Year by making resolutions. A common desire is to do a better job managing time and energy - at work and/or at home. Below are some e-resources that can help you focus on what is important and hopefully become more efficient in the process:

Stop bothersome telemarketing calls - sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry.
Get your name off junk mailing lists - contact the Direct Marketing Association.
Stop unwanted credit card solicitations with OptOutPrescreen.com.
Keep an online calendar - Google Calendar, for example, is a free, simple, effective online calendar tool that can be synchronized across all your devices (computer, tablet, smart phone, etc.).
Make an online to-do list, using a task management tool like remember the milk - you can use it with Google Calendar and get e-mail, SMS or IM reminders.
Evernote allows you to take notes, save web pages, clips, etc., capture ideas and make it easy to find, from any platform. If you are one of those people who have stickies and notes everywhere, and can never find what you're looking for, an application like Evernote might make life more manageable.

e-Resource of the Month: OneClickdigital e-audio books

2012-02-01T19:00:00.000-05:00

Heard any good books lately?
Check out OneClickdigital, where you can access thousands of downloadable e-audio books for adults, teens and children—all iPod®-compatible—including popular best-selling titles from your favorite publishers as well as exclusive Recorded Books titles.

Quick Facts:

No need to place holds - all titles always available!
Checkout period: 21 days
Maximum number of checkouts: 21
Titles may be returned early to allow for more checkouts
Supported audio devices
Help/Support

For more details, check out a tutorial video or sign up for a training webinar for library patrons 2/21 3:00-4:00 pm EST.

For all e-book and e-audio book services offered by the Fauquier County Public Library, check out our website at library.fauquiercounty.gov. Under Find Information (on left-hand navigation), you'll see e-books/e-audio books listed.

Black History Month - What's Online

2012-02-01T01:00:00.025-05:00

February is Black History Month. Whether you are looking for recommended resources to use in a report or in the classroom, or you would like to be better informed about this special month, here are some online resources to help get you started:

Note: Links marked with asterisk (*) require your Fauquier County Public Library card barcode to access.

findingDulcinea - Learning About African-American History is a well-researched collection of biographical articles and links to primary sources.
Biography In Context* has a special section dedicated to African Americans. Gale also has a free website (no library card required for access) with activities, quizzes and ebooks.
The World Book Online Info Finder* has thousands of biography articles. When you log in, go to the Biography Center and browse the pre-selected categories, including "Leaders in the American civil rights movement," "Notable African American..." and more.
Britannica Online's* Guide to Black History Month is part of the Featured Spotlight section.
HeritageQuest Online's* Freedman's Bank Records - Search for individuals in Freedman's Bank (1865-1874), which was founded to serve African Americans.
Tech Trends: Black History Goes Mobile is a free mobile application that helps you learn about local black history through your smartphone.
The Library of Virginia looks at African American Trailblazers in Virginia History.
History.com's Black History Month exhibit features video clips, great speeches and biographies of great African American icons. Try and ignore the numerous popup ads.
Biography.com hosts a number of black history videos, featured biographies and fast facts.
The Library of Congress has a number of resources from their collections, including images and audio/video.
The Smithsonian has a African American History Virtual Tour as well as a variety of Black History Teaching Resources for use in the classroom.
Find related lesson plans and resources, meet the people, places and stories of African American history on the National Park Service's Web site.
PBS has a number of online resources related to African-American history, including: African American Lives 2; Eyes on the Prize - America's Civil Rights Movement, 1954-1985; and PBS Parents' Embracing Black History.
Kaboose.com provides children and parents with fun crafts and activities to celebrate Black history and culture.
Fact Monster (from Information Please) provides history and timelines, biographies and other special features related to Black History Month.
Students will enjoy BrainPOP movies on Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Jackie Robinson and Civil Rights. You can watch a few movies for free before being prompted to sign up for a subscription.

All Fauquier County Public Library branches are also celebrating Black History Month with the Read, Write and Review program. Students in grades K-5 can participate by reading a biography of a prominent African-American, a nonfiction book about African-American history, a book by an African-American author, or an African or African-American folktale. Write a book review, then pick out a prize when you submit your review -- on paper at any library branch or when you use the library's online form (for students in K-5th grade).

Android Marketplace Users - Parental Controls

2012-01-28T09:55:00.000-05:00

If you have an Android device (phone, tablet) and are a parent, this article from Tech Recipes shows you, step-by-step, how to prevent your child from seeing and buying inappropriate apps.

Science Fair Success

2012-01-26T01:00:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again, parents. Most science fairs tend to happen during the second half of the school year. Is your child -- and more importantly, are YOU -- ready?

Online sources for project ideas include:

Access Science - All you need is your library card number and you can access supporting articles and research for your science fair projects and research papers. Their Study Guides section provide a program of study and reference. The topics covered are linked to all relevant material for that topic on Access Science including encyclopedia articles, videos, news and more.
Discovery Education's Science Fair Central - Includes over 250 project ideas, tips from judges and previous winners and display tips.
education.com's Science Fair Project Ideas - Search/sort by grade and topic.
Neuroscience for Kids - The Experiment section of the Web site allows users to model a nervous system, create experiments on reflexes and advice on creating a successful science fair project.
ScienceBob.com - Aimed at elementary and middle school students, includes videos and printable directions.
ScienceBuddies.org - Use their topic selection wizard to figure out the best project for you.

Search the online catalog to place holds/check out books for science project ideas, including:

1001 Ideas for Science Projects (library use only)
Spectacular Science Projects (series)
Silly Science: Strange and Startling Projects to Amaze Your Family and Friends
Robert Friedhoffer's Everything You Need to Know... books
Janice VanCleave's numerous titles

For more parenting resources, check out the Parents page on the library's website.

The Only Authorized Source for Free Yearly Credit Reports: How To Get Yours

2012-01-25T09:22:00.000-05:00

Check out this great article on How-To Geek (one of my favorite websites!) with step-by-step instructions on How To Get Your Free Yearly Credit Reports Without Getting Scammed.

Happy Lunar New Year!

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

January 23, 2012 kicks off the Year of the Dragon! Check out a book from the library and explore the following websites for background information, crafts, recipes and more.

Tech Trends: Black History Goes Mobile

2012-01-19T12:21:00.001-05:00

Tech Trends: Black History Goes Mobile - A free mobile application that helps you learn about local black history through your smartphone via augmented reality (AR), which adds a layer of digital info over the scene in your camera's viewfinder. Cities include Baltimore and Washington, DC. With Black History Month coming up, now is a good time to download and check it out on your next visit to DC.

*See also related posts on black history

Fauquier County Public Library e-books "how-to"

2012-01-11T11:16:00.002-05:00

If you haven't taken advantage of the library's e-book service through OverDrive/the Blue Ridge Download Consortium, we have a "how-to" guide, specific to Fauquier County Public Library card holders, that will get you up and running in no time. These directions are specific to the three main types of e-readers:

Checking out e-books on a Kindle device/app
Checking out e-books on a NOOK, Kobo or other non-Amazon e-reader
Checking out e-books on a tablet (iPad, Xoom, Vizio, etc.) or mobile device such as a "smart phone"

If you get stuck or have questions, be sure to stop in at one our drop-in sessions beginning Jan. 18:

Warrenton Library: NOOK/Sony/Kobo, etc. - 2-3 p.m. Tuesdays
Warrenton Library: Kindles - 2-3 p.m. Wednesdays
Warrenton Library: iPads/Tablets - 2-3 p.m. Fridays
Bealeton Library: Kindles - 7-8 p.m. Mondays
Bealeton Library: NOOK/Sony/Kobo, etc. - 2-3 p.m. Tuesdays
Bealeton Library: iPads/Tablets - 2-3 p.m. Thursdays

What do you need to bring with you to a drop-in session? (1) A laptop if you are using a NOOK, Sony or Kobo; (2) any cords in case you need to connect to your laptop or your battery isn't charged; (3) your usernames/passwords for your e-mail account(s), Amazon account (if using Kindle or Kindle app), Apple ID (if using Apple device), etc.

If you can't make it to a drop-in session, call your local library (422-8500) and ask to speak with reference staff. Once you're set up with the OverDrive software and familiarize yourself with the checkout process, you'll be on your way to e-reading for free with the library's e-books.

For all e-book and e-audio book services offered by the Fauquier County Public Library, check out our website at library.fauquiercounty.gov. Under Find Information (on left-hand navigation), you'll see e-books/e-audio books listed.

Ancestry - Coming Attractions in 2012

2012-01-10T12:30:00.000-05:00

Ancestry recently announced 12 things to expect from them in 2012, including access to the 1940 federal Census, new U.S. and international church records and millions of new occupation-related records.

To access the library's AncestryLibrary database, visit any local branch. You can access the database from any public access computer or the special "database" computers located at the Warrenton (including the Virginiana Room) and Bealeton branches.

For additional information on the library's local history and genealogy resources, visit our Local History & Genealogy page on the library's website.

e-Resource of the Month: Books & Authors

2012-01-01T01:00:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to spending the cold winter nights with a good book. If you're wondering what to read next, give Books & Authors a whirl. Books & Authors provides a number of predefined search and browsing options.

Browse by title, series title, author or genre;
Who? What? Where? When? Search allows you to search by character, subject, location/setting and/or time period;
Recommended reading lists include award winners, expert picks and librarian's favorites;

Books & Authors also recently launched a My Reading Room feature that allows you to create, maintain and share lists of your favorite authors or titles as well as your own book reviews.

Find Books & Authors on our Articles & Databases page (under Literature & e-books) as well as on our Readers' Tools page, which includes links to library staff picks, read-alikes, best seller lists and more.

Tax Forms Online vs. the Library

2011-12-19T13:49:00.000-05:00

It's that time of the year again -- patrons are already asking the library about the 2011 tax forms (which haven't arrived as of Dec. 19). Patrons can pick forms up at the library starting January 3. While the library receives some federal tax forms and instructions to hand out to patrons for free (while supplies last), we don't receive every federal form/instruction booklet. Also, as usual, we will not get any Virginia state tax forms or instructions. Any form not available at the library will cost you $0.15 per page (printing from Web site) or $0.15 per page if you opt to copy from Package X (the master booklet for forms/instructions), which doesn't usually arrive at the library until February. Thus, if you have a computer and a printer at home, save yourself a trip to the library and print them out (for free) at home.

Forms

Federal - See www.irs.gov - Click on Forms and Publications; includes a detailed summary of how to view and download tax forms from the IRS Web site, how to order online or via phone (1-800-829-3676).

Virginia - See www.tax.virginia.gov - Click on Need a Form? under Services; download forms or have them mailed to you. You can also contact the office directly by several different methods/numbers. The Commissioner of the Revenue should receive some forms, so you can check with them, as well.

Other State Tax Forms - See http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/link/FORMS.html or 1040.com for tax forms from other states.

Tax Assistance
The IRS provides tax help for individuals. Just call 1-800-829-1040.

You can also make an appointment with the Foundation for Tax Assistance. Please note that some restrictions may apply. Contact the Literacy Volunteers of Fauquier County directly at 540-422-8465 to make an appointment. Appointments will take place at all library locations per the schedule below:

John Marshall Library: 4-7 p.m., Mondays (Feb. 6 - April 12)
John Marshall Library: Noon - 3 p.m.. Tuesdays (Feb. 7 - April 10)
Warrenton Library: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Wednesdays (Feb. 8 - April 11)
Bealeton Library: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Thursdays (Feb. 9 - April 12)

How to Pick an Ereader This Holiday Season

2011-12-15T12:44:00.000-05:00

How to Pick an Ereader This Holiday Season

The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

2011-12-13T09:38:00.000-05:00

The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, which aims to "provide a comprehensive, scholarly and critical guide to science fiction it all its forms" launched an expanded online "beta" edition in October. You can browse entries covering awards, authors, characters, themes, etc., or use the search tool that's located at the top of each page.

Fauquier County Public Library's science fiction collection is located in adult fiction, with the call number prefix SF. New titles are added regularly.

e-Reader Workshops - Sign Up Today!

2011-12-07T10:28:00.005-05:00

Own an e-reader (or plan on purchasing one) and wondering how you can take advantage of the library's collection of e-books? The library is offering two workshops that will include a brief overview of e-books and e-readers and staff will demonstrate how to download e-books from the library website. After the presentation library staff members will assist Fauquier County Public Library card holders with setting up their laptops and/or e-reader devices.

Where: Warrenton Library Program Room
When: Saturday, Jan. 7 and Jan. 21
Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Registration is required. Please call (540) 422-8500, ext. 6862, to reserve your spot. Workshops are limited to 10 patrons, so sign up today!

UPDATE 12/21: This class is now full. We do have a waiting list in case of cancellations.

When you register, you will be asked to confirm the following:

You have a valid, permanent Fauquier County Public Library card
You have a valid e-mail address
The type of device/e-reader you own (Kindle, Kindle Fire, iPad, Nook, etc.)
Some devices/e-readers (Nook--including Nook Tablet, Kobo, Sony, etc.) require you to first download your e-books to a computer and transfer via USB; if you own such a device, you will also need to bring a charged laptop and the USB cord for the device; Kindle, tablet and mobile device users do NOT require a laptop
An Adobe ID is required for the free Adobe Digital Editions software - you can set up before or set one up at the workshop
If you use an Apple device, you'll need your Apple ID/password
If you use a Kindle device, you'll need your Amazon username/password

e-Resource of the Month: Oxford English Dictionary (OED)

2011-12-01T00:01:00.002-05:00

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language. It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600,000 words—past and present—from across the English-speaking world. When you look up a word/term in the OED, not only do you get the definition and pronunciation guide, but links to specific quotations. You can also view your results as a timeline, for historical context.

Quarterly updates (March, June, September and December) revise existing entries and add new words. And each month the OED adds to the OED Online ‘Aspects of English’—a growing series of features offering routes into the dictionary—as well as topical takes on words (current and historical) via the OED homepage. Altogether it's a wonderful resource for students and teachers of English language—past, present, and worldwide—as well as English literature, history, law, and many other subjects.

To get the most out of the OED, view the slide version of the online tour and be sure to subscribe to the OxfordWords blog.

DIY Gifts

2011-11-25T06:00:00.002-05:00

Note: This is an updated version of my post from 2009

Holiday gifts from the heart (versus a big box store) are more personal and probably less expensive than anything you could buy, and are probably more appreciated, as well. Consider labeling your creations as artisan or handcrafted, as these are words that are often used in advertising to describe creations (food, beverage or otherwise) that are made by hand, usually in small batches. Sounds a bit more posh than homemade, don't you think?

One of my favorite Web sites for craft ideas (except for the annoying video ads) is Kaboose.com. Aside from making great gifts, these crafts will give something for kids to do before the holidays arrive. Consider outsourcing the table centerpiece or napkin rings to the children in your family. Check out their Christmas 2011, Chanukah and Kwanzaa pages.

Other good sites for holiday/Winter craft projects include:

Disney's FamilyFun.com -- see Cold Weather Crafts and Christmas Gifts, Cards & Decorations
Better Homes and Gardens -- if you can ignore the "subscribe now" messages, you'll find that Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are all covered
Martha Stewart Holidays has "good things" for Christmas and Hanukkah, as well as a number of other handmade gift ideas; I may try my hand whipping up some Bath Fizzies

Resources at the library to help get you started on a "handcrafted" holiday:

Browse the 745.5 section (in adult, young adult and children's departments) for books with craft, homemade gift ideas, directions
If you're a beginner, try your hand at craft projects geared at kids, which may be easier to master than say, Martha Stewart's craft projects
Edible gifts are always appreciated, so be sure to search the catalog for "Christmas cookery"
Check out a back issue of Crafts 'N Things, FamilyFun, Knitters or Martha Stewart Living for ideas

If you find you have a knack for creating, you may want to consider selling your wares on Etsy.com, an online "marketplace full of the best handmade and vintage goods."

Read-Alikes Tool - Literature Map

2011-11-14T12:08:00.000-05:00

Literature Map allows you to input a name of a favorite author and then provides you with a "web" of authors you may like. Author names closest to the author's name you entered are probably your best bets.While the results may not always be spot-on, this is an interesting discovery tool and will surely expose you to authors you may never have considered.

You can also pick up read-alike lists from your local library - ask at the reference desk - or consult those our staff have put online via the Book Notes blog (see right side of blog, section labeled "Read-Alikes."

Celebrate Geography Awareness Week (November 13-19)

2011-11-13T00:01:00.002-05:00

According to AccessScience, geography is the "study of physical and human landscapes, the processes that affect them, how and why they change over time" and geographers "consider, to varying degrees, both natural and human influences on the landscape."

Geography Awareness Week, which was established 25 years ago, is an annual public awareness program, organized by National Geographic Education Programs (NGEP), which encourages citizens young and old to think and learn about the interconnectedness of our world. Celebrated during the third week of November, students, families, and community members are invited to focus on the importance of geography through events, lessons, games, and challenges.

Resources at the library
In the non-fiction section, the 900s cover geography and history, with geography and travel specifically located in the 910s. If you have a specific region or country in mind, check the catalog (try a keyword search) or ask library reference staff to assist you. Atlases, specifically world atlases, can be found in the 912s, in both the adult and juvenile (children's) areas of your local library. A subject search, nature -- effect of human beings, will bring up many choices for exploration.

If the personal aspect of travel (versus geographical facts or "travel guides") are more your thing, be sure to check out the worldly (and often witty) observations of writers such as Paul Theroux, William Least Heat-Moon and Tony Horwitz or an anthology like The Best American Travel Writing, edited by Bill Bryson.

Electronic resources (use your library card to access):

AccessScience - Discover research updates, in-depth biographies of leading scientists and news on the latest breakthroughs
World Book Online Info Finder - Check out Interactive Earth, atlases and more
Byki Online Language Learning - If you're inspired to travel, learn the language before you hit the road

Resources on the web:

Keep 'Em Busy

2011-11-10T15:03:00.000-05:00

Are children part of your guest list at the holiday table? Here are some great craft sites to help you plan kid-friendly activities to keep little ones busy while the adults enjoy the meal...

Note that Kaboose has video ads throughout their site, which automatically start playing. Be sure to click on the volume icon and mute unless you want to go insane. Aside from that minor annoyance, they offer an abundance of crafts, coloring pages and decorations for kids to create. They also cover other winter holidays such as Kwanzaa and Chinese New Year.

If you'd rather consult craft directions in print, place a hold/pick up one of these titles from your local library.

CR reviews e-readers, tablets

2011-11-08T15:13:00.003-05:00

The December 2011 issue of Consumer Reports is now available at your local library. Just in time for your holiday shopping, this issue includes the latest e-book reader ratings and buying advice, as well as recommended tablet computers (there are other tablets besides the iPad!).Check in at the reference desk to access the latest ratings from the December 2011 Consumer Reports. Be sure to also ask about the library's e-book/e-audiobook services.

Another source you may want to check out - 2011 Best eBook Reader Comparisons and Reviews - includes rankings by CNET, Consumer Reports, PC Magazine and PC World.

Before you buy that holiday gift...

2011-11-07T12:40:00.000-05:00

...you might want to first consult the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website, which provides the latest list of recalls, including specifically toy hazard recalls and infant/child products NOT including toys. Search by product type or month/year or sign up for recalls by e-mail.

Five Free Resources for Developing Typing Skills

2011-11-07T12:14:00.002-05:00

Five Free Resources for Developing Typing Skills

-Note - link takes a minute to load
-From Free Technology for Teachers (freetech4teachers.com)
-See also http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/keyboarding_games/jumping.swf

Celebrate American Indian Heritage Month

2011-11-01T12:45:00.004-04:00

American Indian Heritage Month began with an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the "First Americans" made to the establishment and growth of the United States. This effort, which began in the early part of the 20th century, resulted in the month of November being designated for that purpose.

Suggested Databases

The library subscribes to several online databases that can help you with research on Native Americans/American Indians:

Biography in Context alows you to browse for biographical information on the category Native Americans;
Both Britannica Online and World Book Online (kids' and regular/student versions) include in-depth research articles on Native Americans;
In Bloom's Literary Reference Online, you can search on the terms "native american" and get a host of resources, including Bloom on Native-American Writers, background on Native American literature and short fiction, and more;
Ancestry Library (in-library use only) has a number of databases available that cover specific Native American tribes as well as U.S. Indian Census Schedules;
Go to America's Newspapers/Newsbank and select Indigenous Cultures - Native American Indians under the Special Reports section;

Recommended Web Sites

Native American Heritage Month - The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans;
American Indian Heritage Month - This Infoplease site offers biographies, quizzes, crosswords and facts about various tribes;
American Indian Heritage Month - Fact Monster is the kids' version of the aforementioned Infoplease site;
American Indian Heritage Month - Coloring pages, crafts, etc., from Crayola;
National Register of Historic Places Program: National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month - The National Park Service has put together a list of featured American Indian properties as well as lessons/exhibits of American Indian Heritage in our nation's parks;
Online Exhibitions - Visit the National Museum of the American Indian...online!

Web Sites for Teachers/Educators/Homeschoolers

Native American Heritage Activity Set - From Scholastic;
Native American Heritage Month - Lesson plans and more from Thinkfinity;
American Indian Heritage Teaching Resources - From Smithsonian Education;

And of course, you can always check the library's online catalog for books and materials to check out/take home.

e-Resource of the Month: America's Newspapers/Newsbank

2011-11-01T01:01:00.001-04:00

While many newspapers, including the Washington Post and the New York Times, have online editions of their newspapers available for free via the Internet, access often requires registration and the acceptance of targeted online advertising. In addition, in some cases the archives (articles older than say, two weeks) are only available for a fee. With your Fauquier County Public Library card, you can access more than 1000 regional and national newspapers, ad-free, including their archives, through America's Newspapers from Newsbank.

Coverage includes:

Baltimore Sun — from 9/1990 - current
Culpeper Star-Exponent - from 3/2007 - current
Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star - from 1/2004 - current
New York Times — from 1/2000 - current (includes the New York Times Book Review and the New York Times Magazine sections)
Philadelphia Inquirer — from 1981 - current
Richmond Times Dispatch — from 8/19/1985 - current
Washington Post — from 1977 - current
Washington Times — from 1990 - current
Winchester Star - from 2/2001 - current

The library's subscription also includes access to America's News Magazines, which covers U.S. and international news, business, lifestyle, entertainment, sports, and science and technology from familiar magazines such as TIME, U.S. News & World Report, People Weekly, Fortune, Popular Science and Sports Illustrated. In many cases, access includes articles from as far back as the early 1990s.

Teachers/educators will appreciate the Special Reports section, which focus on topics such as the 2012 presidential election, world politics, conflict and terrorism and natural disasters.

Byki Online about to get even better!

2011-10-27T15:40:00.000-04:00

Many of our patrons have used Byki Online to help them learn a foreign language. Starting on November 19, Byki Online will become Transparent Language Online, which includes the entire collection of Byki material currently offered, as well as a whole suite of new features, including the new Essentials courses, a fully-guided learning experience that is sure to get your learning off on the right foot.

Starting November 19, you will still log in to Byki the way you always have, but you will be offered the option to either continue using “Classic” Byki or start using the new/enhanced Transparent Language Online service. All of the items you have learned in Byki will transition over to the new system.

Transparent Language Online is packed full of pronunciation, speech, grammar, writing, and vocabulary building lessons for over 80 languages. Featuring top-of-the-line coursework combined with extensive social media resources, Transparent Language Online is the most complete language-learning system available to library patrons.

Don't have internet access at home or prefer not being "online?" Try our Transparent Language interactive language instruction series via USB flash drive. Simply plug the flash drive into your computer, download the Transparent Language software and you're ready to go. No data plan necessary!

Microsoft Academic

2011-10-18T11:40:00.002-04:00

Microsoft Academic Search (MAS) is a free academic search engine covering scientific disciplines (MAS dubs them "domains") including engineering, computer science and economics. The database provides full-text access to academic publications, authors, conferences and journals, with the goal of connecting millions of scholars, students, librarians, and other users. The service is in beta, but definitely worth a look by students and researchers.

World Book E-Book Collection

2011-10-12T12:45:00.001-04:00

Paper due tomorrow on Homer's The Iliad? Access hundreds of fiction and non-fiction "classic" e-books, including the works of Homer, with selections in nine (9) languages via the World Book Online Reference Center.

Using your 10-digit Fauquier County Public Library card, log in to the World Book Online Reference Center
Under Research Tools, click the link for E-book Center
Search or browse by title, author, genre or language
More details on how to download the ePub- and Mobi-compatible e-books, including a list of compatible devices, can be found at http://www.worldbookonline.com/assets/common-asset/pdf/using_wb_ebooks.pdf

The library catalog - now on your smartphone

2011-10-03T13:23:00.000-04:00

Fauquier County Public Library is pleased to announce an alternative interface of the library's online catalog for patrons using advanced handheld devices such as the Apple iPhone™, BlackBerry® Storm™, Palm® Pre™, and Google's Android™ OS phones. If you're a smartphone user and visit the library's online catalog, you will be automatically redirected to the library's mobile catalog, optimized to help you quickly find the items you're looking for, check your account and access the library's hours of operation.

e-Resource of the Month: eLibrary®

2011-10-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

eLibrary®—the user-friendly general reference tool—delivers one of the largest general reference collections of periodical and digital media content designed to support every range of user, including elementary students, college-prep and college-level researchers, and professional educators.

eLibrary’s interface and features make research easy. Researchers will find the answers they need from more than 2,000 full-text magazines, newspapers, books, and transcripts, plus thousands of maps, pictures, weblinks, and audio/video files.

Titles cover a wide range of subjects including business, education, general interest, health, language arts, sciences, social sciences, and many other curriculum-specific subject areas.

Every magazine, journal, newspaper, book, and transcript is provided in 100 percent full-text—saving valuable search time and reducing the frustration of abstract-only results. Plus, the variety of multimedia content supplements and enhances text-only information.

Access to this database requires a Fauquier County Public Library card number. If you do not have a library card, apply for one online and gain instant access to this database.

Like all the library's premium online resources/databases, you can find this at http://library.fauquiercounty.gov, under Find Information... Search for Articles and More. eLibrary is listed under Magazines, Journals & Newspapers.

Get your fiction fix with the library's e-book collection

2011-09-30T00:01:00.000-04:00

Looking for the latest Stephanie Plum series for your e-reader? The Fauquier County Public Library has you covered. Even if the library is closed, you can access the library's e-book and e-audio book collection any time. Fiction lovers will find a large selection of downloadable e-audio books and e-books through the Blue Ridge Download Consortium powered by OverDrive. And, as of Sept. 21, the library's e-book collection through OverDrive is compatible with the Amazon Kindle. Watch a how-to video to see how easy it is to get e-books for your Kindle.

What you'll need to access e-books and e-audiobooks through Fauquier County Public Library's OverDrive collection:

A valid, permanent library card (temporary cards are not accepted)
Access to the Internet
For e-audio books - OverDrive Media Console, free software for the computer and/or device on which you wish to download to
For e-books - Adobe Digital Editions account and software; Kindle users do NOT need this software, will access the e-books through their Amazon/Kindle account

If you have questions about the library's e-book/e-audio book collection, reference staff would be happy to assist you.

Explore health and medical science careers

2011-09-29T12:45:00.000-04:00

The National Institutes of Health, Office of Science Education's LifeWorks® is an interactive career exploration web site where users can browse for information on more than 100 medical science and health careers by title, education required, interest area, or median salary. Alternatively, the "Career Finder" can be used to generate a customized list of careers especially suited for users' skills and interests. LifeWorks® promotes awareness of the wide variety of occupations in health and medical sciences and the range of opportunities at different education levels. The site complements its factual career data by highlighting true stories of successful people in the field. They illustrate the variety of real-life career pathways, from the carefully planned to the unpredictable.

While the site is designed for middle and high school students, and those helping them make decisions about their future, it would also be useful for individuals who are considering a career change and looking at the health care field.

Schoolhouse Rock

2011-09-29T09:58:00.000-04:00

Get all your favorite Schoolhouse Rock videos in one place on the Schoolhouse Rock YouTube channel. For the lyrics, check out the Schoolhouse Rock Lyrics site.

Free children's e-books

2011-09-06T11:19:00.000-04:00

Access beautifully-illustrated children's e-books by author/illustrator Hans Wilhelm in English and many other languages via childrensbooksforever.com. You can view the books online or download as PDF files to your computer. Teachers and homeschoolers - for tips on how to integrate Children's Books Forever in your classroom or home learning environment, see Kelly Tenkely's post on iLearnTechnology.com.

Hispanic Heritage Month

2011-09-01T12:12:00.003-04:00

Hispanic Heritage Month runs September 15 through October 15. Here are some online resources you can use at home, in the classroom or to help you with your homework.

HispanicHeritageMonth.gov - A variety of images, lesson plans and online features from the Library of Congress, the National Gallery of Art and more
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage - From Scholastic, geared at elementary school teachers and their students
Hispanic Heritage Month on Biography.com - Compelling photos and videos as well as biographies appealing to students (celebrities, etc.)
Hispanic Heritage - Biographies - From Gale; find more in Biography In Context, a database you can access with your library card
Hispanic Heritage Printables - Coloring sheets from Nick Jr.
National Hispanic Heritage Month - Coloring pages, crafts, cards and lesson plans from Crayola
Other relevant databases students can explore using the library card include Britannica Online, Britannica Online for Kids, World Book Online for Kids and the e-Resource of the Month, World Book Online Reference Center

e-Resource of the Month: World Book Online Reference Center

2011-09-01T00:01:00.024-04:00

World Book Online Reference Center is a powerful reference tool for advanced researchers and information seekers. The site features tens of thousands of articles and hundreds of thousands of primary source documents and features developed especially for public library patrons. Key features of the World Book Online Reference Center include:

1. Search all encyclopedia, multimedia, periodical, e-book, and primary source databases in a single search, or use our image search to focus on the site’s rich multimedia.

2. Research tools, including dictionary, My Research, and powerful search and browse interfaces to locate e-books and primary sources, help users compile the data and information they need to complete their assignments and background research.

3. Customize your home page with the two newsfeeds of your choice

4. Browse images from newly added articles. Click on the images for direct access to the latest World Book content.

5. Computer and Web Tutorials make technology accessible even to the most basic users.

6. How To… documents contain a wealth of practical information and real world examples to build skills for living.

7. Customized Government Resources display web links to local and federal government institutions.

8. Explore Interactive Earth to access World Book content integrated into Interactive Maps, the World Book Atlas, and comprehensive resource guides on continents, countries, states, and provinces.

9. Timelines gives users the option to view pre-made timelines or create their own.

10. Build citations in MLA, APA, and Harvard citation format with Citation Builder.

11. How to Do Research provides tutorials and exercises for students and educators on 21st century information literacy skills.

Access to this database requires a Fauquier County Public Library card number. If you do not have a library card, apply for one online and gain instant access to this database.

Like all the library's premium online resources/databases, you can find this at http://library.fauquiercounty.gov, under Find Information... Search for Articles and More.

Back to School - Study Jams

2011-08-19T16:40:00.000-04:00

Along with the notebooks, calculator, pencils, pens, laptop, iPad, etc., remember to bookmark Scholastic's Study Jams website. Aimed at elementary school students, the site uses catchy jingles and video to provide step by step explanations for various math and science topics. Each "Jam" incodes a video/slide show, vocabulary terms and a "test yourself" application to practice what you've learned.

Gov to Go

2011-08-04T14:09:00.000-04:00

Mobile Apps from USA.gov provides you with all the mobile applications produced by the federal government. Apps include a body mass index (BMI) calculator, an embassy finder, a Food-a-Pedia to help you count your calories and an app that allows you to view the FBI's Most Wanted.

A Cache of Cartoons

2011-08-03T16:32:00.000-04:00

Step back in time and watch your favorite episodes of Looney Tunes, the Flintstones, Fat Albert, the Simpsons and many, many more on the Big Cartoon Database.

Boasting over 120,000 cartoons as well as information on over 7,000 series, the database allows you to search by title, character, voice, studio, director, animator and more.

August 2011 e-Resource: Ancestry® Library Edition

2011-08-01T00:01:00.003-04:00

Thanks to television shows such as Who Do You Think You Are? and History Detectives, genealogy has become a popular pastime for many individuals and families. Patrons interested in unlocking their own family secrets should head to any of Fauquier County Public Library branches, which offer access to Ancestry® Library Edition. Ancestry® Library Edition includes more than 7,000 available databases containing sources like censuses, vital records, immigration records, family histories, military records, court and legal documents, directories, photos, maps and more. Popular collections include:

U.S. collections - hundreds of millions of names from sources such as federal and U.S. censuses; birth, death, and marriage records including the Social Security Death Index; and U.S. border crossing and trans-ocean ship records.
Canadian collections - nearly 60 million records from the Census of Canada; and key vital records, such as the Drouin Collection (1621-1967), which includes nearly 30 million baptism, marriage, and burial records from Quebec.
U.K. collections - censuses for England, Wales, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, and Scotland, with nearly 200 million records; Births and Baptisms (1834-1906), Marriage Licenses (1521-1869), Deaths and Burials (1834-1934), and Poor Law Records (1840-1938) in London; and more.
Military collections - over 150 million records containing information often not found elsewhere; and includes records from the colonial to the Vietnam era.
Multimedia collections - millions of files ranging from family and gravestone photos to postcards and newsreels.
Other international collections continue to grow with more than 46 million records from German census, vital records, emigration indexes, ship lists, phone directories, and more; Chinese surnames in the large and growing Jiapu Collection of Chinese lineage books; Jewish family history records from Eastern Europe and Russia; and more.

All this, plus an intuitive search interface, detailed search indexes, and helpful tools make Ancestry® Library Edition an indispensable resource for genealogists and family historians.

Access is available in-library only (no remote access) -- just ask at the reference desk.

Show Me What's Wrong

2011-07-29T13:23:00.001-04:00

Show Me Whats Wrong - Passing along this handy, free tool that will help you in your role as tech support for your family, friends and co-workers. Just another great tip from Free Technology for Teachers.

Today in Civil War History: First Battle of Bull Run

2011-07-21T10:11:00.001-04:00

Image courtesy of HistoryCentral.com

Today marks the 150th anniversary of what has been called the first major land battle of the American Civil War, the First Battle of Bull Run (also known as the Manassas Campaign/First Manassas). To call attention to the battlefield and provide visitors integrated maps, historical information and video, the Civil War Trust has recently added the Bull Run app (for iPhone) to their Battle Apps collection. For more on this week during the Civil War and the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), check out History.com.

For information on the Civil War in Fauquier County, including upcoming events and tours, see http://www.fauquiercivilwar.com.

Couch Potato Time

2011-07-21T09:48:00.000-04:00

If you're a fan of Charlie Chaplin, Our Gang, Abbot & Costello and the Three Stooges, check out the Comedy Films on the Internet Archive's Moving Images Archive of Feature Films. Other genres include Noir and Horror. You can sort films by date, date added to the collection, average rating and download count (popularity?). The camp value of classics such as Ed Wood's Plan 9 from Outer Space make this online resource worth a look.

Aside from feature films/movies, the Internet Archive's Image Archive includes cartoon classics (the Film Chest Vintage Cartoons collection, for example, provides access shorts of Felix the Cat, Woody Woodpecker and Betty Boop); documentaries and educational films; and classic TV commercials (remember Shasta?).

Free eBooks from ManyBooks.net

2011-07-05T10:20:00.000-04:00

ManyBooks.net offers readers almost 30,000 free ebooks (they have been licensed for free distribution or are in the public domain) that can be downloaded in a variety of formats (epub, PDF, rocket book, etc.). You can browse by author, title or genre, as well as peruse the recent additions to the collection. This site is easy to use and is great for loading your ereader or tablet with classics like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, etc. Enjoy!

e-Resource of the Month: TumbleBook Library

2011-07-01T00:01:00.006-04:00

TumbleBooks are animated, talking picture books that have been created from existing picture books from well-known publishers and authors and converted to the TumbleBook format. Also included in the TumbleBook Library are:

Read-Alongs - combine adjustable text and color with complete narration and sentence by sentence highlighting
Non-Fiction Books - science, math, history, animals and geography come alive
Language Learning - a collection of children's books, mostly in French, and Spanish
Puzzles & Games - a set of puzzles and games to play after reading a TumbleBook

To access the full version of Tumblebooks, go to the library's youth services web page and see the TumbleBooks link. You can also access the TumbleBook library from any of the library's public computers. After logging into the computer and opening up the web browser, click on Games for Children for access to TumbleBooks and other age-appropriate games and activities popular with children.

* NOTE: TumbleBooks are created in Flash animation and require the Flash plug-in to view and hear the animation. The great majority of computers and operating systems are already preloaded with Flash, however, if you are unable to view the books you can download the Flash plug-in for free from Adobe.

Caribbean-American Heritage Month

2011-06-08T13:23:00.000-04:00

This year marks the sixth anniversary of June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month. The proclamation marks the official recognition that since the 16th Century, the destinies of the peoples of the Caribbean and the American continent have been inextricably linked. According to the Institute of Caribbean Studies, "Caribbean immigrants have been contributing to the well-being of American society since its founding. Alexander Hamilton, the First Secretary of the Treasury was from the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. We count among our famous sons and daughters, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Cicely Tyson, WEB Dubois, James Weldon Johnson, Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier to name a few."

How to celebrate?

Peruse a list of American people of Caribbean descent found on Wikipedia and then check out a biography from the library
Try cooking something "the Caribbean way"
Create crafts inspired by the beach

National Jukebox of Historic Sound Recordings

2011-06-06T07:00:00.002-04:00

The National Jukebox is a new website of over 10,000 rare historic sound recordings available to the public in digital form for the first time. Developed by the Library of Congress (LOC), with assets provided by Sony Music Entertainment, the National Jukebox offers free online access to a vast selection of music, including early jazz, blues and "novelty" songs, recordings made for distinct ethnic groups (i.e., Irish songs), as well as spoken-word recordings produced in the U.S. between the years 1901 and 1925.

You can search by artist or genres or just browse all recordings. Jukebox Day by Day let's you hear what was recorded on any given day of the year (i.e., your birthday, anniversary, today's date, etc.). There are also playlists compiled by LOC curators and guest experts. For example, a collection of songs by Irving Berlin. The LOC even allows the public to contribute playlists, so if you're an early/historic music aficionado, you may want to submit your favorites.

Take a European vacation

2011-06-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

Can't get away to Europe this summer? Check out the Toporopa: Geography of Europe website. There are a number of addictive games/quizzes that will help you learn the countries, capitals and monarchies of Europe. This would be a great resource to study before embarking on a trip overseas or for any student of European history.

For more online educational resources covering geography, history and social studies, along with other subjects, see our Educator Resources section of our website.

June 2011 e-Resource: Gale Legal Forms

2011-06-01T00:01:00.005-04:00

For the month of June, let's focus our attention on the library's subscription to Gale Legal Forms. Gale Legal Forms provides library patrons access to thousands of legal forms available, including Official, State Specific, Federal, Business, Personal, Real Estate and General forms, covering hundreds of legal subjects and issues. Some of the most popular forms downloaded include those related to bankruptcy, divorce, name change, power of attorney and wills.

Forms available on Gale Legal Forms include forms drafted by attorneys for a particular legal matter, forms from public records and participating companies and attorneys. "Official" forms for many states, including Virginia are also included.

Basic Legal Forms
Some of the "basic" forms provided on this site cover the following categories: (1) Real Estate, (2) Leases, (3) Corporations, (4) Employment, (5) Wills, (6) Sale of Property, (7) Loans & Financing and (8) Other Business Forms.

While "basic" or "standard" forms can generally be used with minor modification and are sometimes referred to as "fill in the blank." many of these types of forms differ from state to state, so choosing the correct standard form is important. And although many of the forms may be considered basic, you are advised to consult an attorney in your State to review any form you prepare.

Complex Legal Forms
There are also many forms available that are "complex" and should be used only as a guide and are better suited for attorneys than individuals. Most of these forms are litigation type forms or complex contracts. These forms require major modifications to fit a particular case based upon the facts of that case. Attorneys commonly use these forms as guides when drafting pleadings and contracts for their clients.

If you prefer print materials, the library system also has a number of books containing sample legal forms available for checkout. Also, be sure to check out all the library's legal e-resources, including helpful links to various laws, codes and regulations on our Legal Resources page.

Begin your family research at the library

2011-05-25T07:00:00.002-04:00

Need help getting started finding your ancestors? The Warrenton Library's Virginiana Room houses a number of state and local resources, and reference staff is available to assist you in person, on the phone or by e-mail. The library also hosts occasional classes and genealogy one-on-one sessions, so be sure to check our program offerings.

Here are some tips to get you started with your family tree:

Start with yourself and work backwards in time; list your parents, grandparents, great grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc.
Consult censuses and vital records. The United States Census records are made available after a 72-year privacy period. Many of these records and more can be found using online resources such as Ancestry Library Edition (library database available at all locations); HeritageQuest (available in the library and from home using your library card) and FamilySearch.com (website). For more online resources and recommended websites, see our Local History & Genealogy page.
Always try to find original records such as marriage certificates, wills, deeds, military records and passenger lists to verify the facts you find. When you do find something, make a copy and note the source; you may need to return to that source later, or you may share your research with other family members.
As not everything is on the Internet, you will probably need to look at records on microfilm or paper. Court records are particularly useful. Contact public libraries, genealogical societies or county courthouses in areas where your ancestors lived -- they may have unique tools such as obituary and newspaper indexes, local histories, maps and manuscript collections and clipping files. Virginia and Fauquier County-specific resources are housed in the Warrenton Library's Virginiana Room. Reference staff at the library may also be able to obtain some of these materials for you through interlibrary loan.
Learn about the times and places your ancestors were living. Historical newspapers can be found on microfilm and in some cases, online. Local libraries and historical societies often index these papers. For example, the library has the Fauquier Democrat/Times-Democrat on microfilm from 1907-present, and staff and volunteers maintain an online index of life events (birth, marriage, death, etc.). The library also subscribes to ProQuest's Historical Washington Post: 1877-1993.

Best of luck on your family research!

Learn computer basics, job skills

2011-05-20T03:01:00.001-04:00

Last Friday, U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced the department's new website, DigitalLiteracy.gov, that provides libraries, community colleges, schools and workforce training centers a variety of resources and tools for teaching computer and Internet skills, including:

Learn the Basics - Access tutorials on using Google Documents, MS Office, text messaging, setting up virus protection and more.

Learn Job Skills - Get help finding a career, build a resume and connect with career resource centers in your region.

If you have a relative or friend who needs help with his/her computer skills, or your job requires you to teach people how to use technology, these online tutorials can help make the job easier.

Databases vs. websites

2011-05-19T12:06:00.005-04:00

What is the difference between a database and a website?
Websites can be created by anyone and can contain anything, regardless of accuracy. Databases, on the other hand, are an online subscription (sometimes referred to as "premium") version of reference books, magazine articles, journal articles, data, audiobooks and videos that you won't find with a search engine like Google or Bing. The library subscribes to these databases either individually or through Find It Virginia. You can access these databases in the library (ask reference staff for assistance) or through our website with your library card number (10 digit number on the back of your card).

This is not to say there aren't a lot of informative, educational websites out there. Library reference staff has put together a list of recommended websites organized by subject/category, so be sure to bookmark/refer to these as well as you do your research.

Watch documentaries online for free

2011-05-11T00:05:00.000-04:00

SnagFilms provides free online access to documentary films from established filmmakers as well as first-time documentary producers. Films are streamed, meaning there is no software installation or downloading required. All you need is a decent broadband connection. You can browse documentaries by topic, by channel (although I find the channel names somewhat vague), or check What's Hot or the A-Z list. There's also a search, if you know the name of the film you're looking for.

SnagFilms also has a division, SnagLearning, which contains educational videos for teaching and learning. The educational videos and documentaries are organized by grade level and classroom subject. There are also channels that include content from National Geographic and PBS. Helpful "learning questions," and in some cases, lesson plans, are included along with the films/video content.

So how 'bout taking a break from junk food t.v. and watch something a bit more nourishing for the mind and soul?

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

2011-05-06T00:01:00.000-04:00

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrates the achievements of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the United States. Comprising many ethnic groups, including Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Hawaiian, and peoples of more than 20 other ethnicities, Asian Americans enrich the national landscape with their respective histories, traditions and cultural heritage. To learn more, check out these online resources:

View online exhibits from the Library of Congress, National Endowment for the Humanities and others
Students, check the library's online databases, including encyclopedias and the Gale Biography In Context, for additional information and features related to Asian Americans
Teachers, use these teaching resources in your classroom
Take a journey to discover the richness and diversity of the Asian-American experience with PBS' Searching for Asian America
Watch over 800 videos on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month using the Google Video search
Create Asian crafts
Visit historic properties highlighting important aspects of the Asian and Pacific experience in America

Get library notices sent to your mobile phone

2011-05-02T09:30:00.005-04:00

Did you know that the library can send you notices (courtesy, hold pickup, etc.) to your mobile phone?

Log in to your account
Click on Update Contact Information
Select to receive your notices by e-mail
In the E-Mail Address field, enter your e-mail address (if one is not currently listed), followed by a comma (,) and NO SPACES and then your cell phone number@cell phone carrier...

Example: john.doe@isp.com,5401234567@phoneservice.com*

No hyphens/dashes should be included and there is no need for a “1” to be included at the beginning of the number – limit to 10 digits.

*Here are the e-mail addresses for the most popular cellular phone carriers, where phonenumber = your 10-digit mobile phone number:

AT&T: phonenumber@txt.att.net
Cingular: phonenumber@cingularme.com
Nextel: phonenumber@messaging.nextel.com
Sprint: phonenumber@messaging.sprintpcs.com
T-Mobile: phonenumber@tmomail.net
Verizon: phonenumber@vtext.com
Virgin Mobile: phonenumber@vmobl.com

An extensive list of cell phone carrier e-mail addresses can be found at http://www.notepage.net/smtp.htm. You may also call your local library for assistance updating your account.

Things to keep in mind when opting to receive text notices:

Charges may be incurred from your cellular provider for text messaging. Patrons are encouraged to check the terms of their contract for details on charges related to receiving text messages.

Courtesy notices are sent out (automatically) daily at 8 AM EST. “Preferred Search” notices are sent out (automatically) on Sundays at 12 PM EST. All other notices (hold pickup, overdues, etc.) are generated by staff when the library is open and times will vary.

SMS/Text notices are limited to approximately 140 characters. So for a hold pickup notification, for example, you may only get the part of the message that you have a hold to pickup. In some rare cases, your provider may send multiple text messages for each notice. For additional details, such as what the title/author is, you’ll need to check their e-mail.

While e-mail is not required, patrons should be strongly encouraged to also have their e-mail address included. Because library notices include more information than will fit in a standard text message, patrons will want to check their emailed notices for complete/additional information.

If you have Bulk SMS set to "Disable" on your phone, library notices will likely fail. Some phones may come this way by default; check with your service provider and make any changes before attempting to sign up.

As with e-mail notices, text notices will be generated from the address circadm@innopac.fauquiercounty.gov

Jewish-American Heritage Month

2011-05-02T00:01:00.003-04:00

May is Jewish-American Heritage Month. Explore Jewish-American history, culture and society with these online resources:

e-Resource of the Month: Testing & Education Resource Center

2011-05-01T00:01:00.002-04:00

With the SATs just around the corner (May 7 and June 8), what better resource to spotlight than the Testing & Education Resource Center (TERC).

In addition to online practice tests covering critical reading, math and writing and test prep e-books such as Peterson's Ultimate SAT Tool Kit, TERC includes:

A college search tool with over 4,200 4- and 2-year colleges;
An extensive databasse of accredited schools and programs that offer distance learning options;
An undergraduate nursing programs search;

For high school students not ready or interested in pursuing college/university, TERC also includes a Career/VoTech Search. Students can explore a specific vocation or trade, search for more than 36,000 non-degree certificate, diploma, and licensing programs offered by more than 4,300 trade and technical schools and colleges.

For more resources for the college-bound, visit the library's website (Teens: For the College-Bound).

Yom HaShoah

2011-04-30T00:01:00.000-04:00

Congress established the Days of Remembrance as the nation’s annual commemoration of the Holocaust and created the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as a permanent living memorial to the victims. This year's Holocaust remembrance week is May 1–8, 2011. The theme for the 2011 observance is Justice and Accountability in the Face of Genocide: What Have We Learned?

What can you do to ensure the remembrance of the Holocaust?

Check out and discuss library materials related to the Holocaust;

Organize a Holocaust Remember Day by holding a names reading ceremony, promoting an essay contest, displaying recently published Holocaust books. See also ideas in the site's education collection;

Explore Yad Vashem's digital collection of photographs and interactive documents. The collection will soon expand to other parts of the memorial's vast archives, including survivor testimonies. A social network-like component allows viewers to contribute to the project by adding their own stories, comments, and documents about family members who appear in the online archives. The site includes a number of educational materials for use in the classroom;

Be a history detective

2011-04-28T14:57:00.000-04:00

Who Am I?: A History Mystery is part of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's "The Price of Freedom: Americans at War" online exhibition, and presents players with six historical characters that they have to identify using the text and image clues provided. To solve the mystery players have to match the visual artifacts to each character. Find out how well you listened during your history class lectures by trying out this fun and challenging activity:

There are also a number of other learning resources associated with this exhibition - teachers/students...check them out and enhance your knowledge of America at war.

Can't get away? Visit these historic sites online!

2011-04-12T11:27:00.005-04:00

Want to explore some of our nation's historic treasures, but gas prices are just too high? Then check out HistoryBuff.com, a nonprofit organization devoted to providing free primary source material for students, teachers and history enthusiasts. The site features a set of fifteen narrated panoramic tours of significant historic sites, including Davy Crockett's childhood home, Appomattox Courthouse, Thomas Edison's birthplace and Valley Forge.

FREE access to science/environmental resources and more

2011-04-11T09:21:00.004-04:00

In celebration of National Library Week, you will have FREE access to the Gale resources listed below from April 10th - April 24th:

Gale News Vault - historical newspapers
Global Issues in Context - understand today's global issues
GREENR (Global Reference on the Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources - get ready for Earth Day!
Powerspeak Languages - new languages include Italian, Russian and Korean
Science in Context - another great resource for your Earth Day research
Slavery and Anti-Slavery: A Transnational Archive - covers debates over slavery vs. abolition

Use the search widget above to access these databases.

FREE access to Civil War documents, African American family research and more

2011-04-11T09:11:00.005-04:00

To celebrate libraries in the U.S., ProQuest is offering free, open access to many popular online research tools from April 10 - 16, 2011, including:

ProQuest Civil War Era
ProQuest African American Heritage
Public Library Complete
School Collection
eLibrary
CultureGrams
SIRS Issues Researcher
SIRS Discoverer

These are NOT databases Fauquier County Public Library subscribes to at this time. If you have a research paper due, be sure to take advantage of this free access, one week only!

April is Financial Literacy Month

2011-04-03T06:30:00.001-04:00

To celebrate Financial Literacy Month, the following resources can help children teens and adults become financially literate and savvy consumers:

eResource News: Financial Wellness Month, posted in January, highlights a number of personal finance resources, including MyMoney.gov, which teaches the basics of finance;
Networks Financial Institute's "Kids Count: The Road to Financial Literacy," includes free, downloadable lesson plans for grades three to five geared to Department of Education standards for all 50 states in reading, math, and personal economics. The lesson plans focus on basic financial concepts and can be accessed by state and grade level;
Knowledge@Wharton High School, a free, regularly updated web publication aimed at high school students and their teachers. The site, the first of its kind offered by a major university, will promote financial literacy and a deeper understanding of how business works by presenting articles, videos, learning simulations and interactive tools. Be sure to check out the Money & You section to get a grasp of how the financial system and world markets affect young consumers.
The U.S. Mint's H.I.P. Pocket Change website offers youngsters a number of online games related to U.S. currency;
Books, DVDs and periodicals covering personal finance, including resources for children, such as Mercer Mayer's Just Saving My Money and A Kid's Guide to Earning Money by Tamra Orr;
Keep track of your investments with Morningstar Mutual Funds (print and online access in-library) and the Value Line Investment Survey, as well as other investment publications, available in the Warrenton Library's business reference section;

And don't forget our Money 101: Financial Literacy for Teens workshop to be held at the Bealeton Library @ 7 p.m. on Tues., April 5. Hope to see you there!

April is National Poetry Month

2011-04-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

April is National Poetry Month. Celebrate the written and spoken word with the following resources...

Online Library Resources Available 24X7 With Your Library Card

Bloom's Literary Reference Online - Find literary criticism resources, primary sources, biographies and reviews on specific poets, poems and/or types of poetry;
Books & Authors - A simple keyword search for poetry or poems brings up numerous selections and reviews;
Contemporary Literary Criticism Select - Search the subject guide for poetry for critical essays on contemporary poets and authors;

Recommended Websites

Library of Congress Poetry Resources - Covers resources at the Library of Congress, including webcasts, digital collections, exhibitions, learning materials, and other features. Also provides links to guides to finding a poem, locating poetry criticism, official state poems, poets laureate, and more. History buffs will want to look at the section on Civil War poetry, which features poets like Walt Whitman, Henry Timrod (a/k/a the "Laureate of the Confederacy") and Herman Melville.
Writing About Poetry - Purdue's Online Writing Lab (OWL) covers the basics on how to write a clear, confident, well-supported essay about poetry.
Celebrate World Poetry - EDSITEment, a website of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), focuses on the different poetic forms developed across time and around the world.
Scholastic.com's Teacher Site - Features an interactive poetry-making machine and inspirational activities for the budding poets in your classroom.
Poets.org - The host of this site, the Academy of American Poets, administers a wide variety of programs, including National Poetry Month (April), the largest literary celebration in the world; online educational resources providing free poetry lesson plans for high school teachers; and the Poetry Audio Archive, a collection of over 700 recordings dating back to the 1960s. The Poets.org website provides a wealth of content on contemporary American poetry.
The Poetry Foundation - Publisher of Poetry magazine, the Poetry Foundation "works to raise poetry to a more visible and influential position in American culture." Use their Poetry Tool to look up poems by poet, category, occasion, title, first line or by glossary term. Listen to the poem of the day, peruse the reading guides and check out the poetry programs for children (recommended reads, activities and tips on introducing poetry to children).
PBS NewsHour Extra: Poetry - Along with in-depth profiles of contemporary poets and poetry, features short video documentaries of Americans reading their favorite poems.

Visit Your Library

If you're looking for resources at the library, check out our resources under the subject headings poetry and poets or simply browse through the 808.1 area in the non-fiction section. For children, there are hundreds of titles that will help introduce the younger set to the joys of poetry.

April 2011 eResource: InfoTrac Newstand

2011-04-01T11:01:00.000-04:00

Easy access to comprehensive information on current events and news! InfoTrac Newsstand provides access to more than 1,000 major U.S. regional, national and local newspapers as well as leading titles from around the world. This full-text newspaper resource allows users to search articles instantly by title, headline, date, author, newspaper section or other fields, eliminating random searching through newspaper archives. Features include:

Patrons/users may create individual account profiles, name and save any search in their profile, create news alerts and customize the interface

ReadSpeaker technology to listen to audio versions of articles, or download the MP3 file for listening later

Allows for on-demand translation of documents

Options to manage documents by e-mailing, bookmarking, downloading or printing

Use your library card to access this premium e-resource on the library’s Web site under Find Information > Search for Articles & More (see Magazines, Journals & Newspapers section) or ask a reference librarian for assistance.

Go Green

2011-04-01T00:01:00.003-04:00

During the month of April, we celebrate two holidays that focus on Earth and the environment.

April 22 is Earth Day, a day to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth and the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency's Earth Day site features in-person and virtual opportunities for getting involved in protecting the environment. Earth Day TV and mother nature network allow you to watch online videos related to environmental topics.

On a related note, April 29 is Arbor Day, a nationally-celebrated observance encourages tree planting and care. Learn about trees, access educational activities, suggested activities for the classroom, and even give trees as a gift.

Websites for Children
The Lorax Project challenges children of all ages to "do their part to conserve the places and species that are critical to the future of our planet." Kids will meet the friends of the Lorax (remember the Dr. Seuss book that espoused the dangers of ecological destruction well before it was fashionable?), including Gibbons, Lemurs and Red Pandas. They can also check out activities, games and even send a letter to the Lorax, describing what they are doing to help the planet.

Switcheroo Zoo's Hoot Endangered Species Map allows you to click on your state to learn about its endangered species. This interactive map also shows the locations of the different biomes in the country. The site also includes loads of educational games and activities.

Kaboose.com has lots of cool eco-friendly craft projects, coloring pages, games and activities. Watch out for the ads on this site, though (lots of them).

Websites & e-Resources for Teens/Students

Check out our online databases for full-text articles and research reports:

Access Science
Agriculture Collection (Find It Virginia)
Environmental Studies and Policy Collection (Find It Virginia)
General Science Collection (Find It Virginia)

Planet Connect is an online social network where high school students can learn about current environmental issues, funding opportunities, green colleges and environmental careers. Students can also share and exchange ideas about how they are playing a critical role in solving today’s environmental issues..

Go Green @ the Library - Be sure to set up your online account and include your e-mail address so that we can e-mail your notices instead of printing/mailing.

Is it just me/my computer/web browser...?

2011-03-24T09:33:00.004-04:00

As I was attempting to view some articles/links out in a newsletter this morning, it appeared that every link in the newsletter (and on the site itself) wouldn't open. Received the dreaded "Internet Explorer cannot display web page" error. To ensure it wasn't just me, I popped on over to one of my favorite sites, Down for Everyone or Just Me. Simply dump in the URL of the site that's not responding and it will check to see if it's truly just you or confirm that the site is most likely down. I find this site helpful when library patrons are having problems accessing a website they've scribbeld down (usually the URL is wrong).

Irish-American Heritage Month

2011-03-03T00:01:00.002-05:00

Irish-American Heritage Month honors the achievements and contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants living in the United States.

"Facts for Features" on Irish Americans (U.S. Census Bureau)
Irish Contributions to American Culture (Library of Congress)
St. Patrick's Day -- Crafts, Recipes, Leprechauns, Fun Facts (Kaboose.com)

Visit any Fauquier County library and use Ancestry Library Edition, where you can trace your Irish roots and delve into such resources as the Irish Records Index and Irish Pedigrees. To explore these and other Ancestry databases, click on the "all databases" link under More Collections and then do a keyword search on "Irish."

From home, use your library card to access Byki Online Language Learning and take a stab learning the Irish language.

From the library's online catalog:

For a list of other monthly observances, please see Chase's Calendar of Events online or at the reference desk.

Women's History Month Resources

2011-03-02T00:01:00.001-05:00

Celebrate Women's History Month with these e-resources...

While there is a free encyclopedia article on Wikipedia on Women's History, use your library card and log in to some of the library's online encyclopedias and reference resources to ensure you have the most accurate, reliable information for your school report.

Biography in Context - check out the Notable Women section
Encyclopaedia Britannica Profiles 300 Women Who Changed the World (use your library card to log in to Encyclopaedia Britannica; see the Spotlights section)
World Book Kids - Check out the Important People search, which allows you to narrow down inventors, etc., by male or female
Women in History - Access journal articles specific to events, people and places in women's history
NewsBank’s Special Reports - News articles, maps, images and other useful content grouped for convenience under specific topics and themes, including March's theme, Women’s History

Online exhibits and resources for students:

Significant events and key figures in women's history from findingDulcinea
A timeline of women's history from Gale
Biographies from Gale
Special exhibits on female musicians, Amelia Earhart and the Women of Four Wars from the Library of Congress
Virginia women in history
Quotes by Women from Infoplease (watch out for the annoying popup ads)
CyberExhibits from the National Women's History Museum
Online exhibit covering women in the arts from Yale's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Check out images of women at work, from the American Revolution through the Industrial Revolution
Women of Our Time: 20th Century Photographs from the National Portrait Gallery
Women in World History from the Center for History and New Media
Women in Ancient History photo gallery from About.com
Access videos and photos on the History.com Women's History Month site

Web sites especially for teachers and parents:

Activities from Gale
Lesson plans, quizzes and quotes from the National Women's History Museum
Women's History Month For Teachers from the Library of Congress

Just for fun:

Test your knowledge of women in politics from Gale
Women's suffrage quiz from Infoplease
View changes in the Miss America pageant at American Experience: The Changing Ideal
Did the feminist movement improve American women's lives? Take the interactive survey on the Biography of America Web site and decide for yourself! Then see how other people answered

March 2011 eResource: AccessScience

2011-03-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

The March 2011 eResource is Access Science, which features fully searchable content from McGraw-Hill's Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, provides you fast, easy and accurate access to authoritative articles in all major areas of science and technology. AccessScience includes:

Over 8,500 online articles from the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology 10th edition
Research Updates from the McGraw-Hill Yearbooks of Science & Technology
110,000+ definitions from the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms
15,000 illustrations and graphics, and bibliographies containing more than 28,000 literature citations
Content contributed by more than 5000 researchers, including 36 Nobel Prize winners
Biographies of more than 2,000 well-known scientists from the Hutchinson Dictionary of Scientific Biography®
The latest news in science and technology from Science News® and ScienCentral® videos
Continuously updated, fully-searchable, media-rich content, terms, images and videos
Added illustrations, animations, and image galleries
Questions answered in our weekly Q&A
Data, tables and tools linked directly from topic home pages, so you're never more than a few clicks from the answers you need
Essay topics to guide research and reports
High quality images and illustrations, downloadable to use in PowerPoint presentations
Study Center offers curriculum-oriented tools, Flash tutorials, and study guides

Use your library card to access this terrific resource on the library’s Web site under Find Information > Search for Articles & More (see Science & Environment section) or ask a reference librarian for assistance.

Get the competitive edge

2011-02-23T16:38:00.009-05:00

Thinking about starting a business or just wondering who your competition is? Use the library's ReferenceUSA database to locate detailed information on competitors or similar businesses using the Custom Search in the U.S. Businesses module. You can watch the video below, to see how this works, or perform the following steps:

Select the U.S. Businesses database;

Click on the Custom Search tab (it will be defaulted to Quick Search);

Click on Business Type;

Click on Major Industry Group;

Select an industry group that is similar to your business (or your interest). If you click the plus sign icons to the left of each listing, the industry group (or subgroup) will expand to allow you to drill down to a specific type of business. For example, if I wanted to open a coffee shop in Warrenton, I'd click on Retail Trade, then Eating & Drinking Places and then Eating Places and then check Coffee Shops (581228);

To see what coffee shops are located in Warrenton (my competition), I'd then click on Geography (in left hand menu) and then select Radius (you could instead go by zip, county, etc., but I like the radius feature);

In the Radius input area, I can then enter an address or zip and also the number of miles near that zip or radius. In my case, I put in the 20186 zip and chose a 2 mile radius;

Click the View Results button;

Since all I came up with was Starbucks, I decided to revise my search a bit to include some local bakeries that serve coffee (and are thus my competitors). What I had to do was click on Revise Search and then ADD Deli-Bakery (581229), which was also under Retail Trade > Eating & Drinking Places > Eating Places, as well as click on Retail Trade > Food Stores > Retail Bakeries (5461). I then clicked the View Results button and came up with not only the ubiquitous Starbucks locations, but also local retailers like Great Harvest Bread, Red Truck Bakery and Cafe Torino.
Once you have your list of competitors, you can then view more detailed information such as their business demographics, corporate structure, etc.

Watch the video below for more information. Or, if you need help with this database (or any of the databases Fauquier County Library subscribes to), ask a librarian for assistance - get your questions answered by e-mail or call the Adult Reference Desk at (540) 422-8500 ext. 6862.

Distance Education Information

2011-02-15T11:23:00.003-05:00

Did you know that the library's subscription to Testing and Education Reference Center includes information for those seeking information on distance learning providers? It's sort of hidden, but it's there. After you log in with your library card number, click on the College menu (located at the top of the page) and select "Find and pay for college." You'll then see the Distance Learning Programs Search that allows you to search a database of accredited schools and programs that offer distance learning options. You can search by course of study, degree/award level as well as for non-degree related courses.

With distance learning becoming more popular (and accepted), hopefully the Testing and Education Reference Center will make this more obvious/accessible from the home page.

Health Info on the Web - A Drug Rep in Disguise?

2011-02-07T09:22:00.004-05:00

Interesting article in yesterday's New York Times magazine on the credibility of the popular WebMD site, specifically its cozy relationship with prescriptiondrug manufacturers. At the other end of the spectrum, MayoClinic.com, one of the sites recommended on our Health Resources page, is also highlighted. If you tend to self-diagnose via the Internet, you'll want to read this article.

Explore museums, great works of art

2011-02-03T09:11:00.004-05:00

Google, via its new site Art Project, has undertaken a unique collaboration with some of the world’s most acclaimed art museums, including NYC's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), London's National Gallery and Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, to enable people to discover and view more than a thousand artworks online in extraordinary detail. Using Google's Street View technology, visitors move virtually around the museum's galleries and works of art.

Notes:

Make sure you have a computer/connection that can handle this image-intensive site;
Some of the paintings and features captured with Street View were required to be blurred by the museums for reasons pertaining to copyrights;
The museums chose the galleries, artwork and information to include, not Google;

Chinese New Year Begins

2011-02-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

February 3, 2011 kicks off the Year of the Rabbit! Check out a book from the library and explore the following websites for background information, crafts, recipes and more.

February Spotlight: Black History Month

2011-02-01T10:37:00.005-05:00

Please see recommended online resources highlighted in 2010; in addition, I encourage you to check out one of my favorite websites/search engines, findingDulcinea, which has a well-researched collection entitled, Learning About African-American History.

Groundhog Day

2011-02-01T09:22:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow, Feb. 2, is Groundhog Day. According to legend, if it's cloudy when Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow, winter is on its way out. However, if it's sunny, and he sees his shadow, winter will continue for another six weeks. Whatever the weather brings us, you can celebrate the day with crafts and a good book.

eResource of the Month: Contemporary Literary Criticism Select

2011-02-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

A time-honored timesaver for literary analysis
For over 30 years, Contemporary Literary Criticism® has been the world’s leading resource for information on modern literature. Contemporary Literary Criticism Select is a unique complement to the award-winning print series. In addition to providing online access to specially licensed critical essays and excerpts, you’ll also get links to biographical profiles of today’s most-studied authors. A subject/genre search will not only link to online entries, but will also cite relevant entries in all volumes of the print series, which is housed in the Warrenton Library’s adult reference section.

Students/literary researchers can use Contemporary Literary Criticism Select to:

Access biographical/critical introductions to major and new authors
Find full-text criticism on major literary works
Target sources for further research

Entries provide extensive information including:

Introduction to the Author — a discussion of the author’s life, works and critical importance
Critical essays — essays and excerpts taken from books, magazines, literary reviews, newspapers and scholarly journals;
Interviews with featured authors where available; bibliographical citations
Suggestions for further reading — an annotated bibliography of sources for further study

Search the database by:

Author name
Biographical details, such as nationality, ethnicity, gender, year of birth or death
Title
Subject/Genre
Critic/Critical Source
Full-text Search allows you to search for a word or phrase in any Contemporary Literary Criticism Select entry

NetLibrary eBooks - Now Downloadable!

2011-01-31T11:17:00.004-05:00

The library's eBook collection, available via NetLibrary, now allows for downloads of selected eBooks. Up until now, only eAudiobooks could be downloaded. Be sure to check out our updated FAQs about our eBook/eAudiobook collection. Highlights specific to the new download option for eBooks include:

You'll need Adobe Digital Editions software (don't worry -- it's free) loaded on to your computer prior to downloading an eBook.
eBooks can be transferred to a portable device such as the Barnes & Noble Nook.
To view only eBooks that can be downloaded, use the Advanced Search and limit your search to Downloadable eBooks, or, if you just want to browse, simply go to the collection page and check "Downloadable eBooks" and click the Limit button.
eBooks and eAudiobooks cannot be downloaded to the library's public computers.

Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King Jr.

2011-01-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

Many classrooms use Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday (and holiday -- which this year occurs Jan. 17, 2011) to kick off events for Black History Month (February). Along with the resources I listed in last year's post, here are some additional websites that cover Dr. King's legacy:

P.S. - Don't forget about all the resources we have available at the library!

Science Projects

2011-01-11T10:07:00.010-05:00

Parents/teachers/students -- it's that time of year again -- the annual science fair. Oh, and today, Google announced the launch of Google Science Fair. Your local library can help your budding Larrys and Sergeys...

Search the library's online catalog for science project materials including:

1001 Ideas for Science Projects (library use only)
Spectacular Science Projects (series)
Silly Science: Strange and Startling Projects to Amaze Your Family and Friends
Robert Friedhoffer's Everything You Need to Know... books
Janice VanCleave's numerous titles
Science Experiments - books, dvds and more that you can check out from your local library

Premium online resources via your library card:

Access Science - use your library card to access multimedia animations, explorations, background articles and more
World Book Online for Kids - Offers easy-to-read articles and a wealth of engaging multimedia, games, science projects, interactive tools, and activities for younger children.
World Book Online Info Finder - Contains content and features designed for school-aged patrons' homework and research needs. Based on the World Book Encyclopedia, the site features rich multimedia, a collection of age-appropriate science fair projects, a Biography Center, virtual tours, video showcases, links to current events and world newspapers, 21st-century research skills, and much more.

Recommended Websites:

eReader Support

2011-01-05T11:24:00.017-05:00

"Help. I got a (Nook, Kindle, iPad, etc.) for the holidays and I don't know what to do with it."

"Help. I got a (Nook, Kindle, iPad, etc.) for the holidays and the salesperson told me I can download all the books at the library."

The library's reference staff is fielding a number of post-holiday support questions for e-reader devices (Kindle, Nook, etc.) and using them with eBooks.

The library's NetLibrary subscription does not allow eBooks to be downloaded (i.e., "checked out" and a file downloaded to your device). However, the library's NetLibrary eBooks can be viewed online via an Internet connection, which some devices include.
***UPDATE: As of Feb. 1, some NetLibrary eBooks via Fauquier County Public Library can now be downloaded to your computer and transferred to a compatible e-reader device. Complete details are here.

There are a number of free eBook websites (especially many classic titles) that do allow you to download eBooks to your device.

Also, the library's reciprocal borrowing agreements with area libraries provide you the opportunity to access downloadable eBooks as well as other services. Alexandria, Arlington, Central Rappahannock, Culpeper/Handley, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William offer downloadable ebooks via NetLibrary and/or Overdrive.

Library staff can help you find information to assist you as you configure and troubleshoot your device(s). Library staff cannot assist you with the operation, configuration or troubleshooting of your personal electronic device(s). The library assumes no responsibility for patrons' equipment.

In light of the above (and in case you misplaced the manual that came with your device), here are some links to some of the more popular eReader support sites:

Amazon Kindle - Includes how-to guides and videos, FAQs, instructions on connecting to Wi-Fi, etc.
Barnes & Noble NOOK and NOOKcolor - Quick start guide, videos, apps and more.
iPad - Includes a section on iBooks.
Kobo - eReader user guides; be also sure to check out their FAQs and online demo.
Sony Reader - You'll have to search by your model; also see their videos, etc., specifically for the Reader Pocket.

If you're still shopping for an eReader, here are some review sources:

Happy e-Reading!

Financial Wellness

2011-01-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

According to Chase's Calendar of Events, January is Financial Wellness Month, so along with losing weight, quitting smoking, etc., the new year is a good time to establish financial balance after all the holiday spending. Along with resources available through the Fauquier County Public Library, there are a number of resources are available online to help inspire you, including:

MyMoney.gov is a U.S. Government Web site dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about finances. The site offers important information in English or Spanish from 21 federal agencies, bureaus and departments that comprise the Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC). Topics include budgeting and taxes; credit; financial planning; home ownership; children; paying for education; privacy, fraud, and scams; responding to life events; retirement planning; saving and investing; and starting a small business. Patrons can order the “My Money” toolkit, which includes a consumer action handbook, a consumer information catalog, facts on saving and investing, questions to ask about investments, understanding Social Security, and FDIC insurance coverage. Calculators for college planning, credit card replacement, home buying and mortgages, retirement planning, investing, Social Security benefits, and tax withholding also are available.
Kiplinger's Personal Finance - You don't need to be a subscriber to the print edition to access their tools and online articles.
The Motley Fool – Provides premium investing advice and market-beating stock research.
SmartMoney.com - Check out their personal finance columns, including Smart Spending and Common Sense for money-saving ideas.
Wise Bread – Personal finance and frugal living forums that focus on "living large on a small budget."
Yahoo! Finance – Free stock quotes, up to date news, portfolio management resources, international market data.

E-Resource of the Month: Business & Company Resource Center

2011-01-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

The power to answer all types of business queries is at your fingertips with Business & Company Resource Center, where you'll have access to a wide variety of global business information including competitive intelligence, career and investment opportunities, business rankings, company histories and much more.

Let's say you're looking for privately-held companies in Richmond, VA, with annual revenues greater than $150,000 and less than $15,000,000.

Open Business & Company Resource Center and go into the "Advanced search" page.
Click on "Company Profiles/Products"
Enter "Richmond" as the city name in the first box.
Enter "VA" as the "State/Country" in the second box.
Enter ">150000 and <15000000">
Click on the "Search" button and more than 1,200 company profiles matching the above criteria are retrieved.

Or let's say I'm looking for a job in computer systems and design in the Virginia area, but not sure what companies are located here.

Open Business & Company Resource Center and go into the "Company search" page
Enter "7373" in the Industry Code/Description box, with SIC Code selected
Enter "VA" in the State/Country box
Click on the "Search" button and 208 companies are listed. You can select a company to view it's profile and any related information.

As you can see, this database is a powerful tool to help you acquire the information you need for your business (and job) research.

For Business & Company Resource Center search tips, please speak with a reference librarian or check this handy tip sheet from Gale/Cengage Learning. If you can't make it to your local library to use this resource, Fauquier County Public Library card holders can access the database from home, 24/7 via the library website. Under Find Information, click on Search for Articles and More. See the Business Information section and select Business & Company Resource Center.

Did Santa Bring You a Camera?

2010-12-31T12:18:00.001-05:00

...or a fancy new phone with a built-in camera? Perhaps it's now time to check out the Vimeo Video School, which has both instructions on how to make better videos and a directory of video tutorials. You may want to start with Video 101, a fun, basic guide to making videos. If you have a Digital SLR camera, Vimeo has enlisted DSLR master Philip Bloom to run you through the ins and outs. Vimeo Featured Lessons give you in-depth information and tutorial videos that you can follow, or you can just browse thousands of tutorial videos organized into different categories and skill levels.

Tax Forms Online vs. the Library

2010-12-30T11:18:00.003-05:00

It's that time of the year again -- patrons are already asking the library about the 2010 tax forms (which haven't arrived as of Dec. 30). We are receiving more inquiries than usual due to the IRS's decision to no longer mail paper tax packages to individual and businesses. While the library receives some federal tax forms and instructions to hand out to patrons for free (while supplies last), we don't receive every federal form/instruction booklet. Also, as usual, we will not get any Virginia state tax forms or instructions. Any form not available at the library will cost you $0.15 per page (printing from Web site) or $0.15 per page if you opt to copy from Package X (the master booklet for forms/instructions), which doesn't usually arrive at the library until February. Thus, if you have a computer and a printer at home, save yourself a trip to the library and print them out (for free) at home.

Forms

Federal - See www.irs.gov - Click on Forms and Publications; includes a detailed summary of how to view and download tax forms from the IRS Web site, how to order online or via phone (1-800-829-3676). Be sure to check out the highlights of recent tax changes.

Virginia - See www.tax.virginia.gov - Click on Need a Form? under Services; download forms or have them mailed to you. You can also call the office at 804-440-2541. The Commissioner of the Revenue should receive some forms, so you can check with them, as well.

Other State Tax Forms - See http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/link/FORMS.html or 1040.com for tax forms from other states.

Tax Assistance
The IRS provides tax help for individuals. Just call 1-800-829-1040.

You can also make an appointment with the Foundation for Tax Assistance. Please note that some restrictions may apply. Contact the Literacy Volunteers of Fauquier County directly at 540-349-8142 to make an appointment. Appointments will take place at all library locations per the schedule below:

John Marshall Library: 4-7 p.m., Mondays (Feb. 7 - April 4)
John Marshall Library: Noon - 3 p.m.. Tuesdays (Feb. 8 - April 5)
Warrenton Library: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Wednesdays (Feb. 9 - April 6)
Bealeton Library: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Thursdays (Feb. 10 - April 7)

Google Search Results - Now See Reading Level

2010-12-20T10:42:00.002-05:00

Google now allows you to see the reading level of your search results and even filter your search by reading level. Just go to the advanced search and under Need more tools? select "annotate results with reading levels" to see the reading level displayed or filter further by showing only results by a specific reading level (basic, intermediate or advanced).

How did Google come up with the reading levels, you ask? According to Google, "The feature is based primarily on statistical models we built with the help of teachers. We paid teachers to classify pages for different reading levels, and then took their classifications to build a statistical model. With this model, we can compare the words on any webpage with the words in the model to classify reading levels. We also use data from Google Scholar, since most of the articles in Scholar are advanced."

Perhaps at some point Google will allow users to actually rate the reading level (crowd-sourcing)?

Have the iPad on your Christmas list?

2010-12-15T13:35:00.004-05:00

If you plan on buying an iPad --or happen to receive one from Santa -- you may want to check out How-To Geek's Complete List of iPad Tips, Tricks, and Tutorials.

Are You a Distracted Driver? Test Yourself.

2010-12-10T13:05:00.003-05:00

According to a recent study by AAA and Seventeen Magazine, 86 percent of teenagers drive while talking on their cell phones, texting, eating, putting on makeup, fiddling with the radio/stereo, etc. If what I see during my daily commute is any indication, I think it's safe to say that adults are also guilty of distracted driving.

To teach teens about the dangers of distracted driving, there is a new website and digital curriculum out, Toyota Teen Driver, produced by Discovery Education and Toyota. Teachers and parents, of course, will want to check out the resources to help their students/offspring make wise choices while driving (parents can even create a mutual driving agreement). What I want the rest of you to check out, though, is the "Head's Up!" interactive road distraction challenge. It takes a few seconds to load, but once the site loads you can take practice driving challenges that are definitely test one's driving skills. I seemed to veer off the road quite a bit. There is also a Driving IQ test that drivers of any age should try.

Documentaries That You Can Watch Online - For Free

2010-12-03T14:46:00.000-05:00

Just in time for the weekend - 10 Awesome Free Documentaries That You Can Watch Online - from MakeUseOf.com

eResource of the Month - Health & Wellness Resource Center

2010-12-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

Looking for a recipe for holiday cookies? Google it. But what if you're looking for authoritative information on a medical diagnosis you just received? The Health & Wellness Resource Center can help you find health and wellness information as quickly as a Google search, but with the accuracy of library-quality results.

Features and Benefits
Including the respected Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, the Health & Wellness Resource Center delivers up-to-date reference material as well as full-text magazines, journals, and pamphlets from a wide variety of authoritative medical sources. Additionally, consumers, students, and professionals are provided with descriptions of and links to many pertinent websites, selected for their usefulness and appropriateness.

Specifically, Health & Wellness Resource Center features:

Current health news headlines
Videos
Newspapers, newsletters and newsfeeds
Database of drugs and herbal remedies
Up-to-date contact information for various service agencies, offices, companies, people and health products
Links to numerous calculators and risk assessment tools
An alternative medicine module that looks at health care from a holistic lens

Quality and Quantity
Health & Wellness Resource Center maintains an index of numerous health and medicine magazines and journals - many of which are peer-reviewed - and most of which are active full-text titles.

Multimedia Features
Health & Wellness Resource Center has partnered with Healthology, an industry leader in providing health and medical video content and physician-authored articles. You can access the Healthology content from the Health Highlights area of the home page. And whenever you perform a search using the search box or using the Advanced Search page, your results may include video content from Healthology as listed on the Video tab of your results list.

Ivy League Credentials
Health & Wellness Resource Center also brings you the latest health news from Harvard Health Publications, a division of the Harvard Medical School. You can view top headlines directly from the home page in a section called Breaking News, with a link browse additional headlines.

Access the Database Anytime
Fauquier County Public library card holders can access the database from home, 24X7, using the library's Web site. Under Find Information, click on Search for Articles & More. See the Health & Medicine section and select Health & Wellness Resource Center.

In addition, make sure to check out our Health & Wellness Resources page on our website for additional online health information, as well as lists of recommended books and videos to check out from our collection.

The Science Behind the 2010 Nobel Prizes

2010-11-30T09:16:00.005-05:00

Be sure to check out AccessScience, which celebrates the 2010 Nobel Prizes with special content and articles on this year's Physics, Chemistry and Medicine prize-winners.

For additional science-focused content, be sure to check out the General Science Collection database as well as the library's online catalog:

National Taxpayers Union - Does the IRS Owe You Money?

2010-11-22T13:25:00.000-05:00

National Taxpayers Union - Does the IRS Owe You Money? Enter your last name and select a tax year (only 2008 and 2009 are currently offered) and see if Uncle Sam owes you any money.

The Science of Everyday Life

2010-11-22T10:21:00.003-05:00

Did you know that science is all around us? Using the "laboratories" in our world -- our homes, classrooms and community -- students, teachers and families can explore the wonders of science with the help of a new website, Science of Everyday Life. Features of this interactive resource include:

An "Innovation Headquarters" showcasing innovations from yesterday to today through brain teasers, virtual labs and an interactive timeline;

Unique inquiry-based lessons, aligned to national standards, addressing key areas of science and the technology and innovation behind them;

School-to-home family activities encouraging students to discover the real-world science around them and make connections to what they are learning in school;

Get Global

2010-11-14T00:01:00.001-05:00

Celebrate Geography Awareness Week (Nov. 14-20, 2010) with online resources from the National Geographic Society. Play online geography-based games, take geo quizzes and more.

By the way, if you want to feel less than intelligent, attempt to name all 50 states in 10 minutes.

Interactives

2010-11-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Whether you are a teacher, a student or a parent, you'll want to check out this terrific set of "Interactives" from the Learner.org website. The content and activities provide you a solid foundation on variety of topics. For example, check out the Middle Ages section under "History Interactives." Interesting stuff!

Learn More About Veganism

2010-11-05T10:54:00.000-04:00

November is Vegan Awareness Month. Here are some websites and links to resources in the library's collection that will help you learn about and celebrate veganism...

Vegan cookbooks and diet information, such as the Vegan Table and the Kind Diet

Tips on eating and living vegan, including raising vegan dogs

Vegan recipes

List of notable vegans

Guide to easing into "accidental" veganism

It's the Year of the Solar System

2010-11-03T14:15:00.000-04:00

NASA recently announced that it's the Year of the Solar System (actually a Martian year...23 months). Each month, from October 2010 through August 2012, NASA will highlight different aspects of our solar system - its formation, volcanism, gravity, ice, the possibility of life elsewhere, as NASA undertakes key missions. Teachers and Girl Scout leaders will want to check out the various educational resources on the YSS site. Watch videos, explore space news and events, meet the people who make space exploration possible and much more on this exciting website from NASA.

For books and videos on the solar system, see the library's online catalog.

November is American Indian Heritage Month

2010-11-01T13:45:00.004-04:00

Recommended Web Sites

The Library of Congress (LOC) provides a number of wonderful online resources and source material on specific native populations. For Native American Heritage Month, the LOC pays tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans. The Web site includes images, audio/video and links to specific collections and exhibitions related to or encompassing Native American history, as well as lesson plans and activities for teachers and students. And just in time for Veteran's Day, their Stories From Veterans History Project has a special feature entitled, Willing to Serve: American Indians.

For teachers, ReadWriteThink celebrates National American Indian Heritage Month with links to lesson plans, recommended Web sites and texts to inspire classroom learning. Scholastic provides a Native American Heritage Activity Set that explores contributions Native Americans made/make to our nation. Also be sure to check out Smithsonian Education's American Indian Heritage Teaching Resources page.

Parents and teachers may want to try their hand at some Native American Crafts for Kids from EnchantedLearning.com.

The National Park Service has put together a list of featured American Indian properties as well as lessons/exhibits of American Indian Heritage in our nation's parks.

If you can't make it to Washington, DC to visit the National Museum of the American Indian, check out some of their fascinating online exhibitions.

PBS's American Experience series "We Shall Remain,", which describes itself as "a provocative multi-media project that establishes Native history as an essential part of American history," includes a Web site with all five (5) episodes available for viewing online. Other PBS sites with information on Native Americans include Colonial House, Antiques Roadshow and Lewis and Clark.

Suggested Databases

The library subscribes to several online databases that can help you with research on Native Americans:

Biography in Context alows you to browse for biographical information on the category Native Americans;

Both Britannica Online and World Book Online (kids' and regular/student versions) include in-depth research articles on Native Americans;

In Bloom's Literary Reference Online, you can search on the terms "native american" and get a host of resources, including Bloom on Native-American Writers, bacckground on Native American literature and short fiction, and more;

Ancestry Library (in-library use only) has a number of databases available that cover specific Native American tribes as well as U.S. Indian Census Schedules;

And of course, you can always check the library's online catalog for books and materials to check out/take home. Our children's librarian, Jennifer Schultz, has recommended several books for children and teens that are centered around Native American characters.

e-Resource of the Month - Biography in Context

2010-11-01T00:01:00.000-04:00

Virtually every course of study — from history to science to literature — is ultimately tied to the study of people. Biography in Context (formerly known as Biography Resource Center) delivers students outstanding research support with nearly a million biographical entries spanning history and geography. A curriculum-aligned resource that offers media-rich content, Biography in Context includes:

600,000+ biographies covering more than 525,000 individuals
170+ award-winning Gale reference titles
50,000 new or updated bios added annually in addition to daily updates to account for awards and events
Integrated reference material, periodical information and multimedia content
Hundreds of hand-crafted topic pages covering the highest-interest features

Updated daily, you can access this terrific online reference source 24X7 with your Fauquier County Public Library card.