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.