Holiday Book Gifts

Are you looking for just the perfect book to get that certain someone this holiday season?
Look no further than the New York Times Holiday Gift Guide for 2012. Below is a sampling of their top 100 books from poetry, fiction and nonfiction.  For a complete list go to
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/02/books/review/100-notable-books-of-2012.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Fiction
AN AMERICAN SPY. By Olen Steinhauer. (Minotaur, $25.99.) In a novel vividly evoking the multilayered world of espionage, Steinhauer’s hero fights back when his C.I.A. unit is nearly destroyed.  (Fic)
BRING UP THE BODIES. By Hilary Mantel. (Macrae/Holt, $28.) Mantel’s sequel to “Wolf Hall” traces the fall of Anne Boleyn, and makes the familiar story fascinating and suspenseful again. (Fic)
FLIGHT BEHAVIOR. By Barbara Kingsolver. (Harper/HarperCollins, $28.99.) An Appalachian woman becomes involved in an effort to save monarch butterflies in this brave and majestic novel (Fic)
A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING. By Dave Eggers. (McSweeney’s, $25.) Eg­gers’s novel is a haunting and supremely readable parable of America in the global economy, a nostalgic lament for a time when life had stakes and people worked with their hands. (Fic)
MARRIED LOVE: And Other Stories. By Tessa Hadley. (Harper Perennial, paper, $14.99.) Hadley’s understatedly beautiful collection is filled with exquisitely calibrated gradations and expressions of class. (Fic)
THE ROUND HOUSE. By Louise Erdrich. (Harper/HarperCollins, $27.99.) In this novel, an American Indian family faces the ramifications of a vicious crime.  (Fic)
SWEET TOOTH. By Ian McEwan. (Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, $26.95.) The true subject of this smart and tricky novel, set inside a cold war espionage operation, is the border between make-believe and reality. (Fic)

NonFiction
BARACK OBAMA: The Story. By David Maraniss. (Simon & Schuster, $32.50.) This huge and absorbing new biography, full of previously unexplored detail, shows that Obama’s saga is more surprising and gripping than the version we’re familiar with. (921 OBA)
BEHIND THE BEAUTIFUL FOREVERS: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity. By Katherine Boo. (Random House, $27.) This extraordinary moral inquiry into life in an Indian slum shows the human costs exacted by a brutal social Darwinism. (305.5 BO)
FAR FROM THE TREE: Parents, Children, and the Search for Identity. By Andrew Solomon. (Scribner, $37.50.) This passionate and affecting work about what it means to be a parent is based on interviews with families of “exceptional” children. (362.4083 SO)
HOW CHILDREN SUCCEED: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character. By Paul Tough. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $27.) Noncognitive skills like persistence and self-control are more crucial to success than sheer brainpower, Tough maintains. (372.2109 TO)
ON A FARTHER SHORE: The Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson. By William Souder. (Crown, $30.) An absorbing biography of the pioneering environmental writer on the 50th anniversary of “Silent Spring.” (921 CAR)
SHOOTING VICTORIA: Madness, Mayhem, and the Rebirth of the British Monarchy. By Paul Thomas Murphy. (Pegasus, $35.) An uninhibited and learned account of the attempts on the life of Queen Victoria, which only increased her popularity (941.081 MU)      

Young and looking for work?

It is well known that young job hunters are facing a tough job market.  Below are nine tips this demographic of employment seekers should keep in mind while looking for work.

1.   If you do not know what you want to do, don’t pretend you do.

It is natural to be uncertain what your job options are when you are young and do not know what it feels like to work in a particular type of work setting. 

What is important to convey in a job interview is an understanding of you.  For example, what you are good at, what kind of work environment you thrive in, and how much autonomy you feel comfortable with on the job.  Be prepared to provide examples to illustrate your skills and preferences.

2.    What’s real, what’s fake.

Conveying that you believe in yourself and your skills is important in a job interview, but it is also acceptable to express some uncertainty given your career inexperience.  Hiring managers will likely understand the uncertainty, and should interpret it as a willingness to learn on the job.

It is critical in an interview situation to express enthusiasm, even if you may not be keen to do a particular job.  Just don’t go overboard in your eagerness in an effort to appear professional as you could risk coming across as insincere.

3.   Know your audience

When looking for work remember that talking to professional contacts implies a different set of boundaries than talking to other adult acquaintances.  Avoid sharing too much information.

4.   When offered help, take it!

Most people feel good when they get an opportunity to help someone, so if someone offers to help you, take it.

If you do need assistance don’t be shy about asking, but don’t expect endless support either. 

5.   You might not be remembered
Most people have short memories and come in contact with many people.  In advance to any conversation you may have, remind them who referred you and why you are calling.

  6.   Show appreciation for help received

Be enthusiastic and sincere when expressing gratitude.  Keep in mind that those who helped you will feel better about doing so if you work into your thank you message specifically how they helped you.

7.   Entitlement:  A word of caution

Right or wrong, many older hiring managers think that the younger generation of job seekers suffers from a sense of entitlement.  Be careful with your word choice, don’t be overly friendly, and don’t come across as overly self-confident as it can be misinterpreted as being cocky instead of conveying a sense of self-worth.

8.   The value of timeliness

If someone offers to pass along your name to a colleague, follow up with that person right away or you run the risk of being forgotten and offending the person who passed your name along.

If someone offers to get back to you promptly and does not, get back to them promptly. People do not always do as they say, they may forget, or they may get distracted. 

9.    Don’t be overly picky

A crappy job is neither a life sentence nor a death sentence.  Try not to be psychologically crushed and keep focused on longer term goals.  Take what you can from the job including experience, income, exposure and self-knowledge . The skills you are developing on the job are a steppingstone to other things in your future. 

The Northfield Public Library has a great collection of resources for job seekers.  Below are a few sample titles of interest to young job seekers.  All are located in the Business and Employment Resources area:

1,001 phrases you need to get a job by Nancy Schuman and Burton J. Nadler.  Avon, Mass.: Adams Media, c2012. Call number is 650.14 SC

Job Interviews for Dummies by Joyce Lain Kennedy.  Hoboken, N.J.:  Wiley, c2012.  Call number is 650.144 KE

Résumé 101:  a student and recent grad guide to crafting résumés and cover letters that land jobs by Quentin J. Schulze.  New York: Ten Speed Press, c2012. Call number is 650.14 SC

A Year Up: how a pioneering program teaches young adults real skills for real jobs--with real success by Gerald Chertavian.  New York: Viking, c2012.  Call number is 331.21 CH

Zinio is here!

Check out our new subscription to Zinio! Access over 100 popular magazines with your library card 24/7.  The list includes magazines like:
Consumer Reports
Martha Stewart Living
Seventeen
Family Handyman
MacWorld
Food Network Magazine
and many more!!

You can use a computer or any other device that has access to the internet.

https://rbdg.envionsoftware.com/buckhammn/zinio

Here's a user guide to help you get started:

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/3975638/zinio-patron-user-guide?da=y

This resource is brought to you by the Friends and Foundation of the Northfield Public Library.
Thanks Friends!!!

Haunted Minnesota

On Thursday Oct. 18 at 7 PM the Northfield Library welcomes paranormal expert and author Chad Lewis. Mr. Lewis will take the audience on a ghostly journey to some of the most haunted places in Minnesota, from wandering ghosts in the North Woods to a haunted B & B in Wabasha.  Complete with photos, case histories, eyewitness accounts, ghost lore and directions, this unique presentation encourages you to visit these places for your own ghost story. The program is free and open to all ages. The program will be held in the library meeting room. For disability arrangements or more information please call the library at 507-645-6606. The presentation is sponsored by the Friends and Foundation of the Northfield Public Library.

 

 

The Future of Work

In 2011 the Minnesota Governor’s Workforce Development Council produced a comprehensive report titled “Working to Close the Skills Gap”.  In that report it was asserted that by 2018, 70% of Minnesota jobs would require education beyond high school. In contrast to this forecast is the reality that in 2011 only 40% of working-age adults in state held a post-secondary degree. 

A skills gap exists in Minnesota and the rest of the United States and is slated to increase as a result of 71% of Americans being employed in jobs for which there is low demand and an oversupply of workers.  Contrast this to a shortage of workers that lack the skills necessary for jobs that require higher skill levels. Jobs that many believe are directly tied to any recovery in the U.S. economy.

Today, people in the employment marketplace generally fall into one of four skillset categories:

1.    People who are “ready now” and have exactly the right skills that employers are looking for at the right time.  Employers will first try and recruit from local labor markets and schools to find these people, but if they are unsuccessful they will look elsewhere.  Sometimes far afield.

2.    People who are “ready soon” and who, despite having limited training and on-the job experience can fit in.

3.    “Work ready” people have two to four years of postsecondary education and can be trained on the job, but for those companies with limited or shrinking budgets for training, hiring these people is a limitation.

4.    The “far from ready” segment of the population, are people who have dropped out of school, or only have a high school diploma.  Good job prospects for these people are small. 

Thomas Friedman, author of the book Hot Flat and Crowded:  Why We Need a Green Revolution and How it Can Renew America believes that the global marketplace has rewritten the requirements for employment success.  In addition to “working hard and playing by the rules”, it is necessary to obtain some form of postsecondary education, regularly reinvent yourself, and make sure you are engaged in lifelong learning.  In short, you will need to work harder, smarter and develop new skills faster.

A core value of the Northfield Public Library is to support lifelong learning, education, and enrichment.  The library has an impressive and extensive collection of print and electronic resources, participates in two large interlibrary loan networks that provide access to materials held throughout Minnesota, more than eight Internet accessible computers, and experienced staff dedicated to serving library users.

In addition to the above resources, there is a special collection in the library of materials on the subjects of  small business development and job searching, as well as a computer in this area dedicated to employment and business related activities.  Finally, the library has partnered with the Minnesota Workforce Center and provides the space for twice monthly job search club meetings and classes.   For more information contact the Northfield Public Library at 507-645-1802.  We can also answer your questions online.  Click on http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/library/askalibrarian

Below are works written by Thomas L. Friedman that available for loan in the Northfield Public Library. 

The World is Flat:  A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century.  New York:  Farrar, Straus and Giroux, c2005  Call no. 308.4833 FR

Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution and How it Can Renew America.  New York:  Farrar, Straus and Giroux, c2008   Call no. 363.7 FR

That Used to Be Us:  How America Fell Behind In the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back.  New York:  Farrar, Straus and Giroux, c2011   Call no. 973.932 FR

New Online American History Resource for Students and Researchers

American Decades is a cross-disciplinary source for students and researchers who need a single reference to explore and analyze the events, people and social trends that have impacted contemporary American history. Each volume covers a 10-year period (1900-2009) and covers arts, medicine and health, media, education, world events, religion, government and politics, lifestyles, law, business and economy, and sports. As you begin your fall history projects at school or begin your research for History Day in the spring,  make sure you check out this resource. Go to www.northfieldmn.info and click on “E-Library”.  You will need your library card to access from home.  For more information please call the library at 507-645-1802.

Do you know about the Northfield History Collaborative?

 

 

You are interested in Northfield history. Maybe it is to research your family history, to learn about the Bank Raid or more about the founding of Northfield. Where do you go to begin your search? As in any community you might start at your local historical society or library.  But, as you will soon find, records for a community lie in libraries, archives, museums, newspapers, churches, civic organizations, clubs, colleges, with individuals and more.  This was the challenge the Northfield History Collaborative faced in 2007 when it began meeting to address this issue.  The goal was to create an online “one-stop shop” for Northfield history.   By building partnerships and technology, the Collaborative provides a structure that brings all of these resources together.

Since 2007 6000 items have been digitized and made accessible at www.northfieldhistorycollaborative.org. The collection now includes manuscripts, photographs, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, books, scrapbooks, maps, audio recordings, newsletters, etc. It also includes the beginnings of the Northfield Student Research Collection which will include papers on Northfield topics from Northfield students, grades k-16. 

The Collaborative has grown to include 11 partners, including the Northfield Public Library. The Collaborative officially operates as a committee of the Northfield Historical Society and much of the work has been funded by the Minnesota Historical Society Legacy grants.

One of the major contributions to the Collaborative  from the Northfield Library is the Emily Bierman Northfield history scrapbooks. Emily was quite a history buff and began these scrapbooks in the 1920s and 1930s. She collected mostly newspaper clippings on Northfield history but there are also programs, booklets and some original photographs. It's a real treasure trove.  There are 9 of them in all (over 1500 pages!)  and can be viewed and searched full-text on the collaborative website. 

Some highlights include:
Original photos of Joseph Lee Heywood, his wife and daughter
Carleton College Glee Club program, 1888
Golden Jubilee of Social Lodge No.48 - program
Articles about milling and the bank raid
Invitation to the Masonic Ball at the Opera House, 1888

 Thanks to Ariel Butler, the project manager for the Collaborative for a lot of hard work getting these digitized and  up on the web.

 

"Books that shaped America"

This week check out our display of books that also appear in a new exhibition at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.  entitled "Books that Shaped America". The exhibit will be up through Sept. 16 if you are lucky enough to be in Washington.  Some of their books exhibited are from their Rare Book Collection Division. Here's some info from their website and a partial list of books. It is an interesting mix of books - anything from "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown to "Joy of Cooking", "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller and "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac.  Here's a description of the exhibition on the Library of Congress website:

The Library of Congress, the world’s largest repository of knowledge and information, began a multiyear “Celebration of the Book” with an exhibition on “Books That Shaped America.” The initial books in the exhibition are displayed below.
“This list is a starting point,” said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. “It is not a register of the ‘best’ American books – although many of them fit that description. Rather, the list is intended to spark a national conversation on books written by Americans that have influenced our lives, whether they appear on this initial list or not.”
We hope you will view the list, nominate other titles, and most importantly, choose to read and discuss some of the books on this list, reflecting America’s unique and extraordinary literary heritage, which the Library of Congress makes available to the world.

Here's a few of the titles in the exhibition. For the complete list go to:
http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/books-that-shaped-america/
And if you want, take the survey and nominate your own titles!!

Benjamin Franklin, "Poor Richard Improved" (1758) and "The Way to Wealth"
Meriwether Lewis, "History of the Expedition Under the Command of the Captains Lewis and Clark" (1814)
Nathaniel Hawthorne, "The Scarlet Letter" (1850)
Walt Whitman, "Leaves of Grass" (1855)
Jack London, "The Call of the Wild" (1903)
Zane Grey, "Riders of the Purple Sage" (1912)
F. Scott Fitzgerald, "The Great Gatsby" (1925)
Irma Rombauer, "Joy of Cooking" (1931)
Alcoholics Anonymous" (1939)
Ernest Hemingway, "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (1940)
Benjamin Spock, "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care" (1946)
J.D. Salinger, "The Catcher in the Rye" (1951)

Balancing a vacation and a busy office



photo credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/igorlazunna/

For some people the thought of taking a vacation from work induces stress.  Fear of not being around to handle situations that may arise, as well as the thought of facing a barrage of messages upon return outweighs the inclination to take a break.  A reluctance to use vacation time can also be due to unstated norms at work.

Following are some things to consider if you are thinking about a vacation but undecided if it is worth it.

Everyone needs a break:  Vacations are good for everyone who works.  Day-to-day distractions and ongoing longer concerns can sap energy and creativity.  Taking a vacation is like hitting the reset button and can help diminish the stress, frustration, and weariness that are part of any job.  A vacation can therefore boost work productivity.

It is healthy to maintain a balance between work and life, and therefore work does not always take precedence.  However, there may be times during your career when it may be necessary to skip a vacation, particularly if you are working on a time sensitive project in a work environment in which you have career ambitions.

Scheduling a vacation:  If you work in a place where vacation IS NOT seniority based planning ahead is one of the best ways to ensure that you will get the time off that you want.  Usually, the further ahead you plan, the better your chances are. Overall, vacation planning is most effective when it is a team effort involving colleagues, direct reports and your immediate manager.

If you have a vacation scheduling conflict, and you must attend an important event, mapping out your responsibilities during your absence and how they will be covered may help garner support from your manager to take the time off you need.

How to enjoy your vacation:  Before you leave, develop a plan that details what you intend to finish before you go, as well as the daily tasks that will be handled each day during your absence and by whom.  This way everyone knows their responsibilities.

If your absence will involve other people outside of your organization, notify them in advance that you will be away and provide them with the name of the contact person during your absence.  A side effect of taking a vacation is that high-potential employees may benefit by your absence as it provides them with an opportunity to handle more responsibility.

If you work in a time-sensitive environment or in a place where other staff may need to contact you, make yourself available for a certain period a few times each week or a short time frame each day.

Corporate culture and unstated norms sometimes result in staff being available around the clock.  You must decide to what extent you want to adhere to this work expectation.

Transitioning back to work:   Before you leave on your vacation, schedule a transition meeting for the morning you return with those who have covered for you.  These staff members can let you know about what happened in your absence. 

If you work in a face-paced environment it may be a good idea to clear your voice and e-mail the night before you return to work. 

The Northfield Public Library has a number of resources that can help you find a life and work balance.  Below are just a few of the resources we have in the Northfield Public Library related to the topic of work-life balance.

One Year to An Organized Work Life by Regina Leeds.  Philadelphia, PA:  Da Capo Press, c2009- 650.1 LE
Sleeping With Your Smartphone:  How to Break the 24/7 Habit and Change the Way You Work by Leslie A. Perlow.  Boston, Mass.:  Harvard University Press, c2012. - on order
Work Happy:  What Great Bosses Know by Jill Giesler.  New York:  Center Street, c2012 – 658.4 GE
Work to Live: The Guide to Getting a Life by Joe Robinson.  New York: Perigee, c2003 – 650.1 RO

The Employment News Group

Hey job seekers! Do you know about The Employment News Group? This FREE biweekly newsletter is compiled and distributed electronically to the Northfield Public Library, and other organizations by Gayle Tuthill at the Minnesota Workforce Center office in Faribault. 

Gayle spends a lot of time compiling information about employment training programs, local job club meetings, job fairs, online training resources, websites, internships, job related news and job postings in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota.  One of the added bonuses of this newsletter is that it includes hyperlinks that lead to websites with additional information about a particular item.

The Northfield Library produces a hardcopy of The Employment News Group for reading in the Employment and Small Business area of the library.  It is also posted on the computer in this area.  In the near future, it will also be found on the library website http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/library/resources/jobresources

Doug Ohman to speak at the Northfield Library

Go on a vacation with photographer Doug Ohman as he explores many of Minnesota's most interesting state parks with a slide presentation featuring images from his book "Prairie Lake Forest - Minnesota's State Parks".  The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Northfield Library and begins at 7 PM on  Tuesday May 22 in the library meeting room. The program is free and open to the public. For more information or to make disability arrangements please call the library at 645-6606.

From Inspiration to Illumination: An Introduction to 'The Saint John's Bible'

Northfield, Minn.—Tim Ternes, Executive Director of The Saint John’s Bible Project at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, will present “From Inspiration to Illumination: An Introduction to The Saint John’s Bible” on Monday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Carleton College Weitz Center for Creativity Cinema. This is a wonderful and rare opportunity to learn more about the conception, processes, tools, methods and materials used to make The Saint John’s Bible. Following the presentation, guests will have the opportunity to handle vellum and writing quills and to see full-size, beautifully-bound fine art reproductions of some of the pages of The Saint John’s Bible. This event is free and open to the public.

Called “one of the extraordinary undertakings of our time” by Smithsonian Magazine, The Saint John’s Bible is the first handwritten, illuminated Bible commissioned by a Benedictine Abbey in over 500 years. This monumental work in seven volumes was officially commissioned in 1998 and the final “Amen” of Revelations was penned in May of 2011 by calligrapher and artistic director, Donald Jackson, at his scriptorium in Wales. Replete with original art, including illuminations in gold, silver and platinum throughout, The Saint John’s Bible has been praised by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, saying “This is a work of art, a great work of art ... a work for eternity.” Ecumenical in its conception, the images draw from all major faith traditions, and include contemporary imagery, such as a view of earth from space, as well as more traditional images. For more information, visit www.saintjohnsbible.org.

This event is sponsored by the Northfield Public Library; the Friends and Foundation of the Northfield Public Library; the Carleton College Laurence McKinley Gould Library; the St. Olaf College Rolvaag Memorial Library; the Carleton College Chapel; and the Visualizing the Liberal Arts (Viz) Initiative at Carleton College, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

The Weitz Center for Creativity is located at 320 East Third Street in Northfield (site of the former Northfield Middle School). Parking is available on adjacent streets, except where prohibited. Direct access to the Cinema is from Union Street, across from the First United Church of Christ. For more information, including disability accommodations, contact Carol Eyler of the Gould Library at (507) 222-4268 or ceyler@carleton.edu.

Beginner’s Guide to Raising Chickens in your Backyard

Have you ever thought about raising chickens in your backyard? The Northfield Public Library will host Mike Donnelly, Extension Educator (Ag Production Systems)  with Rice and Steele Counties, to speak on this topic on Thursday May 10 at 7 PM.  Mr. Donnelly will cover subjects such as breeds, diet, housing, daily care, egg production and local ordinances. The program will be in the library meeting room.  For more information or to make disability arrangements please call the library at 507-645-6606.

(Here's a link to the power point presentation from that night)
http://www.extension.umn.edu/county/Rice/news/BackyardChickensFinal050912.pdf

Photo Scanning Workshop - CANCELLED- TO BE RESCHEDULED AT A LATER DATE

 

Come learn about the basic techniques of scanning photographs and then sharing them with your family and friends. The workshop is sponsored by the Northfield History Collaborative and will be held at the Northfield Public Library on Sat. April 28, 1-3 PM.   Bring your photos and we’ll scan as many as time allows.  The event is free but registration is required and wil be limited to 30 people.  Call the library reference desk at 645-1802 by Wed. April 25.

1940s Census is Here!

Did you know that the 1940s census was released today? Genealogists and family historians have long been waiting for this day as the information provided in this particular census is unlike any other. Coming after the decade of the Great Depression and before America's entrance into WWII, this census gives a wealth of information on 132 million Americans. The government was intent on documenting what people had gone through in the 1930s so asked more questions regarding people's economic situation.

The 1940s census can be found at http://1940census.archives.gov. One of the main problems with it right now is you can't search by name. This feature won't be available for months either on the government website or Ancestry.com. The only way to search is by address or ED (enumeration district) number. To figure out your ED number go to http://www.stevemorse.org/census/unified.html. (this looks like it has a lot of good general information on using the 1940 census).
If you think your ancestor might have been living at the same address in 1930 you can use Ancestry.com at the library and confirm that and then try the 1940 census with address in hand.

Remember to be patient. It looks like the goverment website is already overloaded with visitors and very slow.  And remember the library has an in-house subscription to Ancestry.com and a subscription to HeritageQuest that you can get from home. Just go to the library's website at www.northfieldmn.info and click on Electronic Resources. You will need your library card to access. HeritageQuest has most of the U.S. Census (but note that the 1930 census is only partially available.).
If you have any questions call the reference desk at the library at 645-1802.

ISEEK: Minnesota’s Career, Education and Job Resource: Career Exploration

What is ISEEK?  ISEEK is an online database sponsored by ISEEK Solutions, a Minnesota partnership formed of workforce development and education authorities in 1999.  The ISEEK database aims to provide career planning, education, e-learning, and workforce development information to people in Minnesota.

How can I access ISEEK?  ISEEK is located at the following website address: 
www.iseek.org

What information will I find at ISEEK?  At ISEEK you can explore careers, plan your education and find a job. It is a very extensive website.

Career Exploration on ISEEK

Just one of the many components of the ISEEK database, career exploration involves assessing your skills, setting goals and researching careers.

1.       Skills Assessment:  The ISEEK database offers an online skills assessment that allows you to rate yourself on 35 different skills.  It takes about 5-10 minutes at the end of which you will see a list of occupations that are a good match for your skill profile.

2.      Setting career and lifestyle goals: Establishing these goals early can help you make the necessary plans you need to realize them.  The academic steps you will need to make to advance toward the career you wish to pursue, and the amount of money you will need to support the lifestyle you envision will follow from your career and lifestyle goals.

3.      Research your future career.  If you are in school and have not already done so, it is a good idea to investigate which careers are related to the program you are enrolled in at school.  Researching careers using the resources on ISEEK and conducting informational interviews are both recommended.  It is possible to identify employers who hire people in your career of interest using the Employer Locator tool on ISEEK.  Tips for establishing and conducting successful informational interviews are also provided.  This information is very helpful if you are interested in changing careers.

There are many career resources available on the ISEEK database to help you find out more about careers.  Career clusters include 16 job categories that are further broken down into detailed information about the industries, careers, fields of study and businesses related to the cluster. 

4.       Augment your coursework, school achievements and resume. You can improve your chances of finding employment in your chosen career by adding some practice experience to your resume.  Volunteering, and work-based learning programs such as internships, mentoring and apprenticeships also offer the opportunities to learn about a job first-hand.

The ISEEK database is available free of charge via the Internet at the Northfield Public Library. 

For more information call the reference desk at 507-645-6608.

Need help With Your E-Reader and Using Overdrive?

Did you recently get a Nook, Kindle, iPad or other e-reader? Did you know that the library has a subscription to Overdrive which has downloadable e-books and audiobooks that you can use with your library card for free?  Check out Overdrive here.

For more help check out the SELCO webpage. Click on "Training and Promotional Materials".

Still have questions? Another good souce of information is on the Rochester Public Library website.

If you have further questions and need some one-on-one help, you can make appointments with one of our student workers. Bring in your laptop and your e-reader and they can help get you started! Call the reference desk to set up an appointment at 645-6606.

We are also helping cosponsor a workshop at the Northfield Senior Center on Feb. 10, 9:30-11:30 a.m. There will be a presentation on Overdrive and e-readers and then a time for hands-on help. If you have questions, call us at 645-6606. This workshop is free and no registration is required.

Thinking of returning to school? The Northfield Public Library can help with your preparations

Are you thinking of going back to school to enhance your job qualifications or follow a new career path?  Has it been awhile since you were in school?  Returning to school has been one of the strategies for many people who have found themselves reconsidering their career options.

According to the Council of Graduate Schools, the U.S. the number of graduate students in the 30 – 39 age range have increased by 30 percent to 700,000, while the number of students over 40 has doubled to around 540,000.

If you are contemplating a return to school and challenging a G.R.E.(Graduate Record Examination), LSAT (Law School Admission Test) or other admissions test, here are some things you need know.

1.     Preparing for one of these tests requires preparation since GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) scores show a decline with age.  The average score for people 26-27 is 572; while the average score for people 40-49 is 501 and for those 50 and older it is 486.

2.     Graduate schools will not make allowances for age when evaluating applications and accompanying test scores.

3.     Some of the tests are long and most are computerized.  For example, each subject for a GRE test is estimated to take three hours and thirty minutes, the GMAT is estimated to take four hours.

Other good points to keep in mind are that:

1.     Money usually plays a role in how most people decide to prepare for tests and the cost varies widely depending upon the method chosen.  CONSULT THE RESOURCES AT THE NORTHFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY FIRST AS THEY ARE GENERALLY THE MOST AFFORDABLE OF THE OPTIONS which include taking refresher courses, browsing the Web for tutorial posted material, and buying or borrowing prep books, CDs or DVDs.

2.      You cannot cram for admissions exams, so give yourself enough time to prepare.

3.     Practice is important.  Taking practice tests is the best way to become reacquainted with the subjects that will be covered and the type of questions that will be asked.  When taking the practice tests have a pacing strategy, try to mimic the test conditions, and time yourself.  Practice tests are a good indication if you are improving and what subjects require further work. 

4.     Have a goal score.  Schools you may be considering applying to should be willing to provide you with the score range of recently admitted students.  Having this score will help you establish a realistic goal for admittance.

 

5.     Give yourself time to challenge the exam a second time but remember that some tests like the G.R.E and GMAT can be taken only once a month.  By taking practice tests repeatedly, you won’t have to retake the real thing.

6.     The math isn’t new.  Most people were exposed to the math on the tests - it’s more an issue of remembering what you were taught.  Do a bit every day to build up your confidence.

7.     The verbal component of most tests will focus on the vocabulary.

The Northfield Public Library has many tools to help you prepare for your return to school and they are free!  In addition to print copies of many test preparation books, the library subscribes to a FANTASTIC database called LearningExpressLibrary.  Free to people with a valid library card and available 24 hours per day this database includes a large number of practice tests for the GED, GRE, LSAT, and GMAT tests, as well as many more.

Tutorial information is also available by clicking on the “Skill Building for Adults” tab.  There you will find the equivalent of electronic books on subjects such as Writing and Grammar Skills Improvement, Math and Reasoning Skills Improvement, and Statistics Skills Improvement.

There are tutorial units and a GED test preparation module in Spanish.

This rich database has much more information that is useful to students of all ages.  Check it out!

 

TO LOCATE THE LearningExpressLibrary DATABASE

1.     Clicking on the homepage of the Northfield Public Library (www.ci.northfield.mn.us/library)

2.     Clicking on Electronic Resources (http://tomcat.selco.info/o_resources/?profile=nor)

3.     Scroll down and click on Learning Express (http://www.learnatest.com/LEL/index.cfm/?HR=http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/library)

 If you would like more information about the LearningExpressLibrary database or other resources to prepare for returning to school please contact the Northfield Public Library at 507-645-1802.