How to Choose an eBook Reader*

1—Know what eBook readers are  An eBook reader is a device for browsing electronic files representing books. Not all eBook readers can handle the same formats. In addition to certain seller-specific proprietary formats, many readers support HTML, plain text, and JPG but not all support the open standard ePub.^[4]This is an important distinction if you want to check out ebooks from your library, or to read the vast library of copyright-free (in the United States at least) ebooks at Project Gutenberg with nicer formatting than plain text files can provide.^[5]

2—Know what to look for in an eBook reader

     Memory: How many eBooks or other documents does the eBook reader have the capacity for?

     Format type: Can the eBook reader handle a variety of file types or only one type (see previous step)? Is this ability (or lack of it) reflected in the price?

    Connectivity: Does the eBook reader have 3G and WiFi connectivity?

    Screen friendliness: Here you need to be concerned about viewability, color, size, and reflectiveness (glare).

     Additonal concerns = Weight and comfort / Battery life / Ease of downloading/  Shareability / Extra features (can you add notes, etc.)

3—Read online product reviews—ask friends who may have one

4—Be careful about the ability to find eBooks and download them to your eBook reader—does it use wi-fi or USB? Can you download from the library?

5—Check the eBook provider's breadth of published content access

6—Visit the store to try the eBook reader—try BEST BUY they have many eReaders all in one place that makes it easy to compare

7– Check the warranty

*This information was provided by wikiHow, a wiki building the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. http://www.wikihow.com/.  Content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons License.

The information supplied here is meant to educate library patrons who may be considering purchasing an eBook reader and is not intended to endorse any particular product.

  The Northfield Public Library subscribes to Overdrive—an ebook supplier. Free ebooks are available through the library website with a library card. Overdrive has a list of devices that you can use to download free ebooks. If you plan to use the library to check out ebooks we recommend you follow this link  -
http://selco.lib.overdrive.com/2681F00B-52C9-4BA3-9BB1-5241B4C4A48F/10/698/en/Default.htm

CHECK OUT THESE ONLINE RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION:

http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/nook-touch.html

http://www.epubbooks.com/ebook-readers

http://www.wired.com/reviews/2011/06/nook

http://willapse.hubpages.com/hub/purchase-ebook-reader

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/collection/1985/top_e-readers.html

Kindle vs Nook
http://www.pcworld.com/article/244282/kindle_fire_vs_nook_tablet_which_should_you_buy.html

Read Consumer Reports discussion list:

http://forums.consumerreports.org/n/pfx/forum.aspx?webtag=cr-computer08

Also, check the Dec. 2011 issue of Consumer Reports. There is a good review of 21 e-book readers.
See the printed issue in the library or read it online by going to www.northfieldmn.info and clicking on "Electronic Resources" - choose EBSCO and search for Consumer Reports under "Publications" (questions? call the library at 645-6606)

Go to the web site of the reader you are researching and read the consumer reviews posted there. Read the good AND the bad reviews.

   

Educated and unemployed or underemployed

One of the reasons that the unemployment rate is stuck above 9% is that some of America’s best-educated workers are unemployed.  The weak economy is the biggest contributing factor to high unemployment levels (consumer demand for goods and services is down and therefore fewer workers are required), but there are many workers with specialized skills who are out of work because their skills do not match the skills that employers are looking for.

It is estimated that the unemployment rate is about 4.3% for people with a college degree and over 25 years of age.  This is up from 2.2 % that was the rate when the recession began in December 2007.  About 1/3 of the increase is due to a skills mismatch. 

Workers without a high school diploma are experiencing a much higher rate of unemployment of 14.3% which is up from 7.7% when the recession began.

In general,  there are a shortage of jobs overall for less-educated workers, but for those with higher education there is also a job gap between people with some specialized skills and those with other specialized skills.  For example, in September 2011, nationwide there were 1,874 jobs postings on the Internet for civil engineers and 157,384 job postings for computer-software engineers.  This reflects the reality that some employers are having difficulty finding workers to fill some high-paying positions.

So what about unemployed people with a skills mismatch?  They face the choice of taking a lower-skilled job or returning to school to learn additional skills.  Unfortunately both of these choices do not to take full advantage of some of the most productive workers in the country. 

Theoretically, realignment should take place over time with more people gravitating toward training for careers with a shortage of workers.  The demand for specialized skills will continue to change however as the employment structure in the United States changes in response to consumer demand, improvements in technology and a host of other factors. 

The Northfield Public Library has a great Reference book in the Business and Employment collection titled the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2010-2011 edition).  Published by the U.S. Department of Labor, this book is a treasure trove of information that provides detailed employment projections in all sectors of the economy.  It is a must consult resource for anyone considering embarking upon a new career.  In addition to detailed job descriptions, it discusses training, current employment information, earnings, and sources of where to obtain additional information are also provided.

 Sources:  Wall Street Journal (online version), October 3, 2011 and the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-2011. Washington, D.C.:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, c2010.

For more information call the library at 507-645-6606.

Building Computer Skills @ the Northfield Public Library

Whether you need to strengthen your computer skills for work or just want to learn how to take advantage of all your computer has to offer, you'll find the tools you need at the Northfield Public Library on Learning Express. Learn at your own pace with interactive tutorial courses on today's most popular software and operating systems including Microsoft Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Word, Adobe Photoshoop, Illustrator, Publisher and more.  Each course offers detailed, easy-to-follow instructions with audio and captions for the program and skill levels of your choice.  All you need to do is go to www.northfieldmn.info and click on "Electronic Resources".  Scroll down to Learning Express.  Some of the benefits include:

*Online access 24/7 from any computer

*Instructor-led videos from your "own" personal software coach

*Step-by-step lessons with full voice and animation

*Interactive practice labs to test-drive new skills

This resource is brought to you by the Northfield Public Library and is free with your library card.  For more information call the library at 645-6606.

Social Media

The Northfield Public Library has a great collection of instructional materials related to social media programs on the Internet.

 

We also offer over 8 Internet accessible computers available for public use.

 
A Concise Timeline of Social Media (so far)

Source:  Entrepreneur Magazine, May 2011

1.     June 1999 -      Napster is launched by Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker.  This free music file-sharing program is named        after Fanning’s haircut.  Napster shuts down due to a lawsuit for copyright infringement brought by the Recording Institute of America.

2.   January 2000 –  Savage Beast Technologies, a music genome project, is launched by Tim Westergren.  It becomes Pandora Radio in 2005.

3.   March 2002 –   Friendster, a social networking site is founded by Jonathan Abrams.  Abrams is a friend of Sean Parker.

4.   April 2003 –   Apple opens iTunes music stores. 

5.   August  2003 -   Myspace is launched by Chris deWolfe and Tom Anderson.  It gains popularity as unknown musical artists use the site as a free promotional tool.

         6.   February 2004 - Facebook is started by Mark Zuckerberg.

7.   July 2006 – Twitter is launched by Jack Dorsey

8. October 2010 - A new version of MySpace is launched.  The focus of the site is entertainment.

Books in the Northfield Library Catalog on Web 2.0 Social Media

     Content Rules:  How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, eBooks, Webinars, and More That Engage Your Customers and Ignite Your Business by Ann Handley and C.C. Chapman.  Hoboken, NJ:  Wiley, c2011. Northfield Employment and Business 658.872 HA

     Facebook Advertising for Dummies by Paul Dunay, Richard Krueger, and Joel Elad.  Hoboken, NJ:  Wiley, c2011 Interlibrary loan

     Facebook for Grown-Ups by Michael Miller. Indianapolis, Ind. : Que Pub., c2011 Interlibrary loan 

         Facebook:  The Missing Manual by E.A. Vander Veer. Sebastopol, Calif: O'Reilly Media, c2008. Northfield 004.69 VE

          Guerilla Marketing for Job Hunters 3.0:  How to Stand Out from the Crowd and Tap Into the Hidden Job Market Using Social Media and 999 Other Tactics Today by Jay Conrad Levinson and David E. Perry.  Hoboken, NJ:  Wiley, 2011. Interlibrary loan

          How to Find a Job on Linkedin, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and Other Social Networks by Brad and Debra Schepp.  New-York: McGraw-Hill, c2010 Northfield Employment and Business 338.707 SC

             New Rules for Today’s Workplace by Sheryl Lindsell-Roberts.  Boston,   MA:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, c2011 Northfield Employment and Business 650.0285 LI

      Sams Teach Yourself Facebook in Ten Minutes by Sherry Kinkoph Gunter.  Indianapolis, IN:  Sams Pub, c2011 Interlibrary loan

     Social Networking for Genealogists by Drew Smith.  Baltimore:  Genealogical Pub. Co., c2009 Northfield 929.1 SM 

     Twitter for Dummies  by Laura Fitton, Michael E. Gruen, and Leslie Poston ; foreword by Jack Dorsey.  Hoboken, NJ : Wiley Publishing, c2009. Northfield 006.754 FI

      Youtube for Dummies by Doug Sahlin and Chris Botello.  Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Pub., Inc., c2007. Northfield 004.6 SA

     Likeable Social Media: How to Delight Your Customers, Create an Irresistible Brand, and be Generally Amazing on Facebook (& Other Social Networks) by Dave Kerpen.New York:McGraw-Hill, c2011 Northfield Employment and Business 6589.8 KE

Public Libraries are Popular Places!

If you didn't see the segment last night on Kare 11 TV (Sept. 6,2011) check out this link about the popularity of public libraries. (The Roseville Library is highlighted.) Libraries offer so many services that the public sometimes isn't aware of - in addition to books there are videos, music cds, programs, job clubs, ebooks, internet computers, online resources that can be used 24/7, homework help and so much more.


http://www.kare11.com/news/money/article/936531/329/Save-money-by-using-your-local-library

Read and Ride day at the Fair on Aug. 31!

Read & Ride Day
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Celebrate Summer Reading with Your Public Library
in Carousel Park @ the Minnesota State Fair
Show your public library card for discounted admission
when you purchase a ticket at the gate. (One discount per card.)

On Stage
10:00 – Super Why & Princess Presto*
Meet favorite characters from favorite PBSKids show Super Why!
11:00 – Radio Disney Dancers
Young dancers from tiny to teen delight audience with their musical moves.
12:00 – Clementown
It’s poetry put to music when Clementown performs songs from their CD, Polkabats and Octopus Slacks – the Music.
1:00 – The Okee Dokee Brothers
Share music and fun with the Okee Dokee Brothers. Enjoy their bluegrass sound for the younger set.
2:00 – Dazzling Dave – National Yo-Yo Master
A tornado of whirling tricks and tips designed to dazzle audiences of all ages.
3:00 – Magician Matt Dunn
An action-packed comedy magic show for the whole family.
4:00 - Douglas Wood & the Wild Spirit Band
The Wild Spirit Band draws you in with American standards, bluegrass, jazz, folk songs, commercial hits, and original compositions.
*Super Why and Princess Presto will be back for 20 minutes at 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 near the stage.

Under the Tent

• Get Carded! There’s no limit to the rewards of your library. Show your card at the tent and get your I Got Carded button.
• Libraries of Minnesota
  • Scavenger Hunt: Find the 10 photos from Libraries of Minnesota (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2011) around Carousel Park. Then find them in the book and get an I’d Rather Be at the Library key chain or mood pencil.
  • Book Giveaway and Signing: Copies of Libraries of Minnesota will be given away starting at 1:00. Photographer Doug Ohman will be on hand to sign copies. One copy per person, while supplies last.
• Maintain Your Brain
  • Brain games to try out. You public library can help keep your brain healthy and active!
• Spin & Win
  • Test your knowledge and win a library card holder.
• Story-On-A-Stick
  • Save your State Fair memories on a fan custom designed by you.
• Minitex
  • Celebrating 40 years this information and resource Sharing Program of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and the University of Minnesota Libraries assists all libraries in Minnesota. Find out how they make your library better.
• Minnesota Parent
  • Pick up the latest issue of Minnesota’s premier parenting magazine!
• Twin Cities Public Television (tpt)
  • Join your friends from Twin Cities Public Television (tpt) for fun take-away activities. Learn about kids shows that promote reading. Don’t forget to tell them “thanks!” for bringing Super Why and Princess Presto to the Fair.

10 Reasons to Visit the Northfield Public Library in August

1. Find a great book to lounge with at the lake, beach or in your backyard!
2. You are about to take that grand road trip with the family and you need books or music to listen to.
3. It's too HOT to do anything else but watch movies!! We have LOTS of movies for kids and adults.
4. Use one of our 11 public computers to search the web (Don't forget your library card!)
5. Genealogy - do you finally have a few weeks to work on your genealogy? Use Ancestry.com in the library or HeritageQuest from home to research those family genes.
6. School is still a month away and the summer reading program is over but your kids still need books to read. Stock up!
7. Your gardens are full of produce - come in and take a look at our great cookbook collection to get ideas for meals or canning or freezing.
8. Planning a trip in August or this fall? We have lots of travel books from trusted publishers like Frommers, National Geographic and Fodors.
9. We have over 150 magazines and newspapers. Come spend an afternoon catching up!
10. Last but not least - it's a great place to hang out or meet friends... AND IT'S AIR CONDITIONED!
Hope to see you soon!

Going on a trip?

Check out these library resources and websites.

The library has all kinds of travel guides from trusted publishers like: Rick Steves, Fodors, Frommers, Moon, Lonely Planet, Time Out, DK Eyewitness, National Geographic, Rough Guides, etc. Check them out and take them anywhere in the world! For free!!! Check our catalog at http://www.northfieldmn.info/ to see if we have what you are looking for. If we don’t have what you want and it isn’t available in SELCO, LET US KNOW!

We also subscribe to two great travel magazines: National Geographic Traveler and Frommer’s Budget Travel – check for those in the magazine room upstairs at the library

Travel Blogs:

http://www.elliott.org/ – blog by travel writer Christopher Elliott – he writes for National Geographic Traveler and the Washington Post

http://intelligentravel.nationalgeographic.com/ – blog from National Geographic that “showcases the essence of place, what’s unique and original and what locals cherish most about where they live.”

http://paulinefrommerbriefing.blogspot.com/ – travel writer and published author of Pauline Frommer guidebooks

http://www.caroundtheworld.com/ – written by Chris Faust, former travel editor at USA Today – lots of reviews, tips and photos from around the world

These publishers also have good websites.

http://www.fodors.com/

http://www.timeout.com/

http://www.traveldk.com/

http://www.roughguides.com/

http://www.ricksteves.com/

Other Great Travel Websites:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ – compilation of millions of reviews and opinions on hotels, vacations & more

http://www.kayak.com/ – a travel search engine that aggregates information from 100s of travel sites and helps users book flights, hotels, cruises and car rentals.

http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/- offers free online airfare alerts by email

www.tripit.com/ - create a master travel itinerary

www.seatguru.com/ - the ultimate source for airplane seating, in-flight amenities & airline information

http://www.hotels.com/ – leading provider of hotel accommodations worldwide

http://www.priceline.com/ – discount rates for airline tickets, hotel rooms, cruises and more

http://www.vrbo.com/ – vacation rentals by owner – search over 150,000 properties worldwide

http://www.youtube.com/user/TravelerVideos- travel videos on You Tube

http://virtourist.com/- take a tour of places worldwide before you travel!

www.literarytraveler.com/ - plan a literary travel tour using this site

www.hihostels.com/ - look for inexpensive hostel accommodations worldwide on this site

www.onebag.com/ - an interesting site on how to pack light

http://www.igougo.com/ – social networking is a big component of this travel site


Interested in good food when you travel?

http://www.chowhound.com/

http://www.zagat.com/

http://www.urbanspoon.com/

http://www.opentable.com/

New garden plants to consider this season

Last month, John Daniels, Northfielder and plant expert from Bachmans Cedar Acres, spoke at the library on plants that would be hardy for Northfield gardeners. He covered annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees. Here's a partial list of the plants he mentioned. The library has lots of new gardening books, thanks in part to the Northfield Garden Club. Scroll to the end of this post to see some of the titles.



Annuals
Phantom Petunia - black and yellow
Impatiens - Sangria Mix
Geranium Calliope - dark red, new

Perennials
Achillea - 'Saucy Seduction' - rose pink flower
Achillea - 'Strawberry Seduction ' - sturdy, compact plant with red velvet flowers
Echinacea - 'Pow Wow' - 2010 All-America Selection
Echinacea - 'Little Annie' - miniature coneflower - 6-9 in.
Gaillardia - 'Mesa Yellow' - upright habit, 16-18 in.
Sedum - 'Mr. Goodbud' - needs full sun, 17 in.
Hosta - 'Designer Genes' - yellow hosta with red petioles (very unusual looking!)
Hosta - 'Mighty Mouse' - 7-8 in, blue green leaves edged in a broad band of yellow
Hosta - ' Rainforest Sunrise' - leaves are a solid light green but turn to a dark green border with a gold center
Salvia 'Eveline' - 18-30 in, pink flower
Peony - Intersectional Peonies (also known as Itoh Peonies)- a cross between a herebaceous peony and a tree peony - available in colors that traditional peonies can't produce like yellow, peach and coral. Very new so can be very expensive right now.

Shrubs
Hydrangea - 'Bella Anna' - pink - part of the Endless Summer collection
Hydrangea - 'Limelight' - bright green blooms which turn deep pink in fall
Cabernet Barberry - 2 ft, deep burgandy, full sun
Red Twig Dogwood - 'Allemans compact'; 'Arctic Fire'
Gray Dogwood - 'Huron Gray'; 'Garden Glow' (developed at the U of M)
Technito Arborvitae - Dwarf Arborvitae - 6 ft - dense, compact
Acrocona Pusch Spruce - 2 ft dwarf spruce

Roses
Knockout roses - best selling in the U.S. - hardy shrub rose
Northern Accents - Ole, Lena, Sven and Sigrid
Easy Elegance - Pinktopia; All the Rage
Rugosa - one of the hardiest shrub roses

Trees
Japanese Tree Lilac - 'Snowdance'

Gardening Books at the Northfield Library

Continuous Container Gardens: Swap in the plants of the season to create fresh designs year-round

635.9 TO

Designing with Grasses      716 LU

Edible Front Yard: the mow-less, grow-more plan for a beautiful, bountiful garden     635 SO

Gardener's Color Palette: paint your garden with 100 extraordinary flower choices     635.9 FI

Homegrown Harvest: a season-by-season guide to a sustainable kitchen garden    635 HO

The Nonstop Garden: a step-by-step guide to smart plant choices and four-season designs     712 CO

Prairie Style Gardens: capturing the essence of the American prairie wherever you live 635.9 ST

Resilient Gardener: food production and self-reliance in uncertain times     635 DE

Small-plot, High-yield Gardening: grow like a pro, save money, and eat well by turning your back (or front or side) yard into an organic produce garden      635 GI

Starter Vegetables, Fruits and Herbs: 24 No-fail plans for organic gardens      OS 635 WI

Sugar Snaps and Strawberries: simple solutions for creating your own small-space edible garden    635 BE

Tips for Container Gardening: 300 great ideas for growing flowers, vegetables, and herbs    635.9 TI

Artful Garden: creative inspiration for landscape design     712 VA

Car Stuff

Are you looking for a new car? How about a used car? Or maybe you just need to repair the car you have. The  Northfield library can help. The following links give you information on buying a new or used car or repairing the car you have.

Consumer Reports - The library has two subscriptions to Consumer Reports - one you can check out and one at the reference desk.  The magazine reviews cars all year but the April issue is the big car buying issue. (The April 2011 issue is AVAILABLE!). Consumer Reports is also available online through EBSCO, one of the library databases.

http://tomcat.selco.info/o_resources/?profile=nor - scroll down to EBSCO - you'll need your library card to access.

NADA Guides- (National Automobile Dealer Association) - Used by banking and automotive professionals for used car prices. Available at the reference desk. Check out their website for more information:
http://www.nadaguides.com/

Old Cars Report Price Guide - published 6x per year- covers used and collectible cars from 1930-1980. Available near the reference desk.

Chilton Online- The library does subscribe to print repair guides for domestic and foreign cars (ask at the reference desk).  However, we also have an online subscription to Chilton. Just like EBSCO from above, you'll need your library card to access - http://tomcat.selco.info/o_resources/?profile=nor.  Scroll down to Chilton. Repair your car 24/7.

Websites:

http://www.ag.state.mn.us/Consumer/Cars/Default.asp - consumer tips on car buying from the Minnesota State Attorney General's office

http://www.kbb.com/ - new and used car prices, new car reviews

http://www.edmunds.com/ - new and used car prices, car comparisons and car buying advice

http://www.iihs.org/ - Insurance Institute for Highway Safety - crash data for cars as well as data on seat/head restraints

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ - U.S. Dept. of
Energy provides gas mileage data on U.S. cars, trucks, vans, etc.

http://www.leaseguide.com/index2.htm - information on leasing vs buying a car

http://www.twincitiesgasprices.com/ - check out local gas prices - see who has the cheapest price in Northfield!

Finding Money for your Nonprofit organization through Grants

The Northfield Public Library has a collection of print and electronic resources that can be of assistance to grant seekers. In Minnesota, grants are available to individuals, small business and nonprofit organizations.


For the novice, the grant seeking process can be daunting, but there are number of resources which explain the grantsmanship. Following are a couple of key resources:

Grant Writing 101: Everything You Need to Start Raising Funds Today by Victoria J. Johnson provides an overview of the grant seeking process. Part one covers defining various types of grants, writing the grant proposal, researching grantors and coping with the success or failure of your grant submission. Part two includes samples of successful grant proposals, cover letters, and sample budgets.

The Foundation Directory is another key source for grant seekers in the library. Arranged alphabetically by state, each entry includes a wealth of detailed information about the finances, governance and giving interests of the 10,000 largest grant making foundations within the United States.
A fantastic electronic resource available on the laptop computer in the Business and Employment Resources area is the Minnesota Grantmakers Online. This subscription database is maintained by the Minnesota Council of Foundations and is considered THE electronic resource for researching both grants and grant makers in Minnesota. More than 1400 foundations and corporate grant makers are included in the database, as well as over 100,000 possible grants of $2000 or more.

The library has compiled a list of print sources, online grant writing resources and print and electronic newsletters on grant seeking. This list is available in the library and on the website of the Northfield Public Library. Click “Other Resources” off the home page.

For further information about the grant writing resources available in the Northfield Public Library call the Reference desk at 507-645-1802.

A few things from Upstairs

Catalog Questions?

Are you having questions about how to use our new catalog?  Selco has some online tutorials on how to search the catalog, make a request or review your account.

http://www.selco.info/display/catalog/online%20catalog

New DVDs @ the Library!!

Checkout Booknews to see a list of some of the new DVDs at the library.   

http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/northfield/web/nl_22.html

We've added this list to the Booknews page.(go to our homepage at http://www.northfieldmn.info/ and click on "Reader's Resources".  Look for DVDs.  There's a summary of the movie and a trailer. You can link right to our catalog to request it! Check it out! Now that the Oscars have been awarded check our catalog and see which ones we have now.

Hot Reads for Cold Nights 2011

Hot Reads has begun! Have you joined? It isn't too late. The program goes through Feb. 28. Participants fill out a comment slip for each book they read during the duration of the program. Your name and phone number will also be added to a weekly drawing for $5 Northfield Chamber of Commerce Dollars (3 prizes will be awarded weekly).

We will also be hosting 3 special programs during Hot Reads:

Saturday, Feb. 12 @ 11:00 a.m. - A Civil War program for all ages, presented by Michael Eckers

Thursday, Feb. 17 @ 7 pm - Minnesota Book Award winning author, David Housewright will talk about his mystery books

Thursday, Feb. 24 @ 7 pm - Patrick Coleman, curator of books at the Minnesota Historical Society will speak

You can join Hot Reads at the reference desk, upstairs at the Northfield Library. For more information please call 507-645-6606.

Looking for work?

Business and Employment Resources
at the Northfield Public Library

Looking for work?

With the Minnesota unemployment rate at 7.1 % and the U.S. national average at 9.3%, more people than ever are looking for work. One of the most important qualities for job seekers is persistence, as looking for work can take a tremendous amount of time and effort.

In 2010, the Minnesota Workforce Center offered their Creative Job Search Classes from February – June. In 2011, they will be facilitating bi-weekly meetings of the Northfield Job Club. Read on!

The Northfield Job Club – New in 2011

On January 12, 2011 from 11:30 – 12:30, the first meeting of the Northfield Job Club will be hosted by the Northfield Public Library in the library meeting room. Free and open to the public, the library is proud to partner with Minnesota Workforce Development Inc. and the Minnesota WorkForce Center Faribault Office who will be facilitating the bi-weekly job club meetings.

Not sure if a job club is for you? Consider the following benefits of joining a job club:

Job club members:

1. Find jobs up to four times faster.
2. Learn high value job search skills.
3. Create personal accountability by setting and reporting on goals.
4. Gain a new network.
5. Gain an enhanced understanding of local job markets.
6. Give and receive emotional support.
7. Enjoy the benefits of helping others.
8. Experience lower levels of frustration with their job searches.
9. Devote more time to their job searches.
10. Team up on some job search tasks in order to eliminate duplicate efforts.
11. Continue their use of professional skills so they don’t erode.
12. Develop new, desirable skills.
13. Derive positives that arise from other members landing.

There is no need to sign up in advance if you would like to attend a job club meeting. Come when you are able and bring a bag lunch if you would like. All are welcome!
For further information, contact Janelle Kaytor at Minnesota WorkForce Development at jkaytor@wfdi.ws or 507-333-2047 or the Northfield Public Library Help Desk at 507-645-1802.

New Books









Following are some of the many new titles related to the subject of employment in the Business and Employment Resources Collection the Northfield library received in 2010:


Career Comeback: Repackage Yourself to Get the Job You Want by Lisa Johnson Mandell New York: Springboard Press, 2010 Employment and Business 650.14 MA

Creative Girl: The Ultimate Guide to Turning Talent and Creativity Into a Real Career by Katherine Sise Philadelphia Pa: Running Press, 2010 Employment and Business 650.1082 SI

Expert Resumes for Career Changers by Wendy S. Enelow and Louise M. Kursmark Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, c2010 Employment and Business 650.14 EN

How to Find a Job On Linkedin, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and Other Social Networks by Brad and Debra Schepp. New York: McGraw-Hill c2010 Employment and Business 338.707 Sc

Computer in the Business and Employment Resources Area

The computer in the Business and Employment Resources (BEB) Area can be used by people looking for work, and those working on small business projects. Microsoft Office programs, and Internet access are available on this computer as well as a list of preloaded hyperlinks to various local, regional, statewide and national job posting sites.
On the desktop is an icon with a link to the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance site.
The computer in this area is connected to a nearby printer.

A library card is not required to use this computer and it is connected to a nearby printer. Photocopies cost $.15 per page for black and white copies, $1.00 per page for color copies.

For further information about the Business and Employment Resources Area contact the Northfield Public Library at 507-645-1802.