What's Up(stairs) @ the Northfield Library

Need help With Your E-Reader and Using Overdrive?

2012-01-25T14:14:00.005-06:00

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

2012-01-03T19:08:00.000-06:00

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.

How to Choose an eBook Reader*

2011-12-07T14:04:00.000-06:00

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

2011-11-02T14:08:00.000-05:00

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

2011-10-22T14:56:00.000-05:00

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

2011-09-13T16:09:00.002-05:00

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!

2011-09-07T14:51:00.000-05:00

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!

2011-08-24T11:33:00.000-05:00

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

2011-07-30T13:25:00.001-05:00

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?

2011-06-28T18:41:00.007-05:00

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

2011-05-10T15:33:00.007-05:00

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

2011-03-22T18:36:00.004-05:00

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

2011-03-18T14:25:00.000-05:00

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

2011-03-01T17:59:00.000-06:00

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

2011-01-25T15:30:00.003-06:00

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?

2011-01-04T13:46:00.008-06:00

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.

Tax Forms at the library

2010-12-08T16:17:00.002-06:00

Did you know that in order to reduce costs the IRS will no longer be mailing tax forms and instructions to individuals? This change comes as an increasing number of taxpayers are filing their returns electronically. The Northfield Library has ordered basic forms and instructions from the IRS and the State of Minnesota. Those should be available in early January 2011. For special forms people can download at home (http://www.irs.gov/ or http://www.taxes.state.mn.us/) , use library internet computers (with their library card) or ask for assistance at the reference desk. The library charges 15 cents per page for printing.
The library is also developing a list of local tax assistance, free and paid.
Questions? Call the library at 645-6606

Bringing Jon Home: The Wilderness Search for Jon Francis"

2010-10-13T13:51:00.000-05:00

The Northfield Public Library will host David Francis, author of "Bringing Jon Home: the Wilderness Search for Jon Francis" on Thursday Oct. 21 at 7 P.M. in the library meeting room. Mr. Francis, formerly of Northfield, will speak about his family's search for their son Jon in the Idaho mountains in July 2006. The forward to the book was written by Patty Wetterling and she writes "This is an amazing story of love and commitment honoring the promise that we make to our children. I'll always be here for you. They did it. They brought Jon home." Mr. Francis will sign copies of his book after the talk. For more information or to make disability arrangements please call the library at 507-645-6606. For more information about the book and the Jon Francis Foundation go to:

http://www.bringingjonhome.com/index.php

http://jonfrancis.org/

Book Club in a Bag Kits are now available!

2010-09-10T16:09:00.000-05:00

Good news! The Minnesota Book Award Book Club in A Bag Kits are available for checkout! Each kit includes 10 copies of a book, reader guides, and bookmarks in a handy canvas bag. Titles include winning books from the 2009 Minnesota Book Awards. Titles currently available include:

The Latehomecomer
The Plague of Doves
Hard Work and a Good Deal
The Compassionate Carnivore
National Monuments
Twelve Long Months
Stalking Susan

This project was funded in part or in whole with money from Minnesota's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

To book a bag please see the librarian at the reference desk. For more information call the library at 645-6606.

Hard Times Resources

2010-08-11T09:52:00.000-05:00

The Reference Dept. at the Northfield Library has come up with a good list of local resources for people facing hard times due to the recession. The list is for resources in Northfield and Faribault and includes places to go if you are eating on a reduced or fixed income. Local food shelves are listed as well as places to go for a hot meal. Information on housing and health care is also in the list. We have added as much information as we can including hours and phone numbers. We will post this on our website as well as in the library. We will also distribute to many of the organizations listed in the guide. The Library has been a busy place in this recession. People use our resources every day because of unemployment or a reduced income. We hope this information will be useful. If you know someone who could use this information please share. Click here for the full guide

http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/library/resources/helpforhardtimes

Vintage Bands are Coming to the library!

2010-08-03T15:11:00.000-05:00

The Northfield Library will host 2 of the Vintage Band Concerts this week.
On Thursday come hear the WindWorks Quintet at 2 P.M. This group will focus on woodwind quintet music as well as instrumental chamber music. The group hails from Northfield and the Twin Cities. On Saturday the Kentucky Baroque Trumpets will perform at 1:30 P.M. This group was founded in 2005 and in 2007 won the National Trumpet Competition in the Historic Ensemble Division. Along with the Baroque-era instruments, the ensemble also plays modern instruments, including all pitch trumpets and the corno da caccia.
Both concerts will be held upstairs at the library. For more information call the library at 507-645-6606 or visit the Vintage Band Festival website at http://www.vintagebandfestival.org

2010-07-29T14:26:00.000-05:00

2010-07-29T14:17:00.000-05:00

Meet the Author!
Gayla Marty, author of Memory of Trees: a Daughter's Story of a Family Farm will be at the Northfield Public Library on Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. in the meeting room.
Memory of Tress is a muligenerational story of Gayla Marty's family farm near Rush City,
Minnesota. Cleared from woodlands by her great-grandfather Jacob in the 1880's, the farm passed to her father, Gordon, and his brother, Gaylon. Hewing to a conservative Swedish Baptist faith, the two brothers worked the farm, raising their families in side-by-side houses.
University of Minnesota Press.
St. Olaf Bookstore will be selling copies of the book.

The New Books are Now Downstairs

2010-06-10T17:03:00.000-05:00

Did you know that the new books are now downstairs? In an effort to make better use of our space we've moved a bunch of books around. The new books, fiction and nonfiction are now downstairs. Look for them in a convenient place right by the circulation desk.

Food Preservation: What's New and Where to Find Credible Resources

2010-05-12T09:50:00.000-05:00

Suzanne Driessen, University of Minnesota Extension Educator , will present a program on Wednesday June 9, 2010 from 2-3:30 P.M. at the Northfield Public Library on where you can find credible research-based food preservation information and tested recipes and methods that will enable you to preserve safe and wholesome foods for the home food preserver. This is a free program but registration is required. Please call the library at 645-6606 or stop by the reference desk.

Ask us a question!!

2010-04-27T18:39:00.000-05:00

There are lots of ways to ask us a question besides coming in to the library. If you go to our website at http://www.northfieldmn.info/ - click on "Ask a Librarian". You'll see 3 ways to contact a Northfield Library librarian and another way to contact a librarian somewhere in Minnesota anytime of day.

To contact a Northfield Librarian you can either:
* call us at 507-645-1802
*contact us by email using our webpage at http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/library/askalibrarian
*or on that same webpage contact us via instant messaging on Meebo - Meebo is open when the library is open.

If you need help and it's after hours or on Sundays when we aren't open go to that same webpage again http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/library/askalibrarian - scroll to the bottom of that page and look for the Askmn logo. Askmn is a 24/7 reference service available for library patrons in Minnesota anytime - day or night.

So, what are you waiting for? Ask us a question.

77 Million People Using Library Computers

2010-04-06T14:58:00.000-05:00

According to a recent study conducted by the University of Washington Information School (funded by the Gates Foundaton and the Institute of Museum and Library Services), a third of Americans - about 77 million people - used public library computers to access the internet in 2009. Low-income adults are more likely to rely on the public library as their sole access to computers and the Internet than any other income group. And people across all age and ethnic groups use library computers.

The use of library technology had significant impact in four critical areas: employment, education, health, and making community connections. In the last 12 months:

* 40 % of library computer users received help with career needs
* 37% of users focused on health issues
* 42% received help with educational needs (among these 37% used their local library computer to do homework for a class)
* Library computers linked patrons to their government, communities, and civic organizations.

According to Marsha Semmel, acting director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, "There is no ambiguity in these numbers. Millions of people see libraries as an essential tool to connect them to information, knowledge, and opportunities." "Policy makers must fully recognize and support the role libraries are playing in workforce development, education, health and wellness, and the delivery of government services."

Unfortunately, up to a third of all libraries say they lack even minimally adequate Internet connections to meet demand. According to Allan Golston, president of the United States Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, "Library technology services have created opportunity for millions of Americans, but public libraries struggle to replace aging computer workstations and increase the speed of their internet connections." "This study highlights what is at risk, particularly for low-income individuals who heavily rely on the public library for their technology, if future public and private investment in public libraries doesn't keep pace with demand."

To read the entire report go to: http://cis.washington.edu/usimpact/

Small Garden. Big Impact. Big Fun!

2010-03-17T13:14:00.000-05:00

Small space gardening is great gardening. No matter the size of your yard, you can create your own back and front yard paradise. Come meet Eric Johnson, small space gardener in Minneapolis, writer for Northern Gardener and graphic designer, at the Northfield Public Library on April 15 at 7 P.M. His talk will include vegetable gardening, water gardening, perennial flower gardening, and container gardening. You will discover how to get explosive color, outdoor living space and use artful accents - all on the small size. You won't ever want to leave your own yard. For more information or to make disability arrangements please call the library at 645-6606.

Aquabrowser is here!!

2010-03-02T19:54:00.000-06:00

We have a new catalog! Here are a few tips for searching:

1. Your catalog search defaults to searching just the Northfield Library. If you can't find the title, author or subject you are looking for after searching in the white search box, expand your search to "All Selco Libraries" by clicking on "Northfield" underneath "Select Selco Library" - drag or scroll (if you can't see the scroll bar - click the word "Hide" on the left side of the screen to close the "cloud" - the scroll bar will become more visible) up to the top and look for "All Locations". Your search will expand to all Selco libraries.

2. Your search includes not only results from our catalog but also from our electronic resources such as Ebsco (which includes journal articles). click on "article database results" at the top of the page.

3. You can refine your search by clicking on various things on the right hand side of your results page - ie. narrow by format, author, date, subject, etc.

If you would like to meet with one of our librarians for a one on one session on how to use our new catalog please call 645-6606. Ask for the reference desk.

Are you in a book group?

2010-01-25T13:12:00.000-06:00

Are you in a book group? Do you have to come up with new titles to suggest to your group? Well, I'm in a book group too and just recently had to come up with a title for my group. You would think this would be easy for me. I work surrounded by books and booklists and a staff that reads A LOT!! But it isn't easy. So, I thought I'd tell you where I go to look for books for my book group. The ideas I present aren't in any particular order - one not better than the other. No doubt some are places you go to all the time. Hopefully there will be some new ideas.

1. The Northfield Library catalog - did you read an author you liked? Try another title by the same author. Did you like a certain type of book? - you can look at the subject headings and see if you can find something else like it.

2. Readers Advisory books on reference here at the library - goodness, what is Reader's Advisory? Well, it's what we say in the biz about helping people find good books to read. We have lots of these kinds of tools. Are you really into nonfiction? We have a book called "The Readers' Advisory guide to Nonfiction" (2007) - you can look up books in all kinds of categories including food and cooking, travel, science, true crime and history.

3. Websites - oh my goodness, as you know there are so many. Some of my favorites are National Public Radio - http://www.npr.org/ - they have a section on books (under Arts and Life); of course Amazon is great w/ the readers reviews as well as published reviews from library journals like Booklist and Library Journal and also the NY times.

Don't forget authors have their own sites if you are trying to figure out the sequence of titles in a series or just other books they've written. Just google the author's name.

I also love to go to http://www.webrary.org/ - this is a Reader's website done by the Morton Grove Public Library (Illinois) - check out the Fiction L booklists under Reader's Corner - some of the best book lists around.

4. Library databases - we subscribe to several good tools to help you find a good book - Novelist, Booknews, Dearreader.com - all are available free with your library card - just go to www.northfieldmn.info and click on "Electronic Resources".

The only problem with all of this is how will you ever decide which book to choose? :)

Oh well, happy looking and happy reading.

Shop the FOL Holiday Sale!!

2009-12-16T13:52:00.000-06:00

I know this is an "upstairs" blog but I thought I would plug the Friends of the Library Holiday sale for this Saturday, Dec. 19, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m..... downstairs in the library meeting room. This is mainly a booksale but the Friends will also be selling a 2010 Library Calendar, T-shirts, book bags, and some miscellaneous things such as Carousel Music Boxes and an OFFICIAL 2010 Olympic Jacket. So, while you are downtown doing your last minute holiday shopping, stop by the library and get a few more things. All proceeds support the library and its programs. That's a good thing. Questons? Call the library at 645-6606.

Genealogy Databases at the library

2009-11-10T18:20:00.000-06:00

Have you thought about doing a family genealogy but don't know where to start? The digital age has revolutionized searching for family records. And with online forums and chat rooms, family historians are able to connect with potential relatives like never before. The Northfield Public Library has two electronic resources to help you get started.

Ancestry.com is the "Queen Bee" of online genealogy searching. With Ancestry.com you can search death records, obituaries, census records, church records, immigration records, ship passenger lists, military records, newspapers and more. Ancestry is available only in the library but the library has a dedicated computer for genealogy research. Sign up is on a first come first served basis.

HeritageQuest is available in the library and at home (go to http://www.northfieldmn.info/ and click on "Electronic Resources" - you will need your library card). Although HeritageQuest and Ancestry are very different, HeritageQuest offers the U.S. Census as well as family and local histories and revolutionary war records.

Here are six tips for getting started on your family history:

*Talk to every living member of your family. Take good notes or record the conversations

*Write up a basic family tree to see what you know & where your gaps are

*Document your sources - you won't have to look twice for something

*Freely share your information on message boards

*Don't give up - the information out there is endless and your never know what you'll find

*Check out Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest at the Northfield Public Library

If you have questions, call us at 645-6606 or go to http://www.northfieldmn.info/ and click on "Ask a Librarian".

Are you looking for work?

2009-09-15T17:29:00.000-05:00

If the answer is yes... come to the library! We have lots of books just for people looking for a job. In addition to books we have a laptop computer dedicated to people looking for work. If you are filing for unemployment or redoing your resume you have access to this computer for a 2 hour block.

Here are a few titles we've recently added:

Amazing Resumes: what employers want to see - Bright - 650.14 BR

Rebound: a proven plan for starting over after job loss - Finney - 650.14 FI

Job-Hunter's Survival Guide - Bolles - on order

Get the job you want even when no one is hiring - Myers - 650.14 MY

10 Strategies for reentering the workforce - Ghilani - 650.14 GH

Minnesota Grantmakers Online

2009-08-12T11:37:00.000-05:00

The library now has a subscription to Minnesota Grantmakers Online. If you are a nonprofit grantseeker, a grantmaker or a donor, you will want to come and check out this new resource. With MGO you have instant access to the web's largest and most comprehensive online database of Minnesota foundations and corporate grantmakers. You have access to more than 100,000 grants of $2000 or more awarded by Minnesota's largest grantmakers. The database is accessible ONLY in the Northfield Library. See someone at the reference desk to log on. For more information call the library at 507-645-6606.

Online Car Repair

2009-06-30T17:32:00.000-05:00

Attention all you weekend car mechanics!!!
Did you know the library has an online version of the Chilton manuals? The library also subscribes to the print version but those volumes can only be used in the library. The online version can be accessed 24/7!! And unlike the printed version, Chiltonlibrary.com is updated on a regular basis, ensuring that users always have the most current information. Content includes:

* Detailed step-by-step service instructions on domestic and import vehicles
* Close-up photographs and illustrations
* Vacuum and wiring diagrams
* Troubleshooting and diagnostics
* Maintenance and specification tables.

Go to http://www.northfieldmn.info/ and click on "Electronic Resources". You need your library card to access from home.

Are you looking for a good book to read this summer?

2009-06-01T16:01:00.000-05:00

If so, the library has some great electronic resources to help you out. Go to our website - http://www.northfieldmn.info/hfieldmn.info/ and look for "Reader's Resources".

Booknews - sign up for monthly email newsletters depending on your reading interests

Pearl's Picks - Get great book suggestions from Nancy Pearl - librarian, author of "Book Lust" and regular guest on National Public Radio.

Novelist - a mega database with tons of ideas of what to read next - author readalikes, award winners, book discussion guides. This resource links directly to the Northfield Library's catalog so you can find the book fast!!

Dearreader.com - join online book clubs and receive a 5 minute selection Monday through Friday from a chapter of a book. By the end of the week you will have read 2-3 chapters. A new book is selected each Monday. If you like the book check the library's catalog to continue reading.

How to be successful in your job search

2009-05-20T16:18:00.000-05:00

Locally based Career Consultants Eileen Shimota and Sara Nagel Newberg conducted a great job search workshop at the Northfield Public Library on Thursday April 30. Key points mentioned during the workshop included a review of the most and least successful methods for locating jobs, how to write effective cover letters, a review of important guidelines for writing resumes, and preparing for the interview. At the end of the workshop, participants were invited to visit the new Small Business and Employment Resources area located on the 2nd floor of the library.

Did you know?

* One of the most effective methods for finding employment is person to person contact

* One of the least effective methods for finding employment is by responding to ads on the Internet, and in newspapers

* It is vital to develop a "commercial" about yourself. You have about 45-60 seconds in length to make your pitch.

* Cover letters are important.

*Follow FAKTA guidelines when writing a resume. Specifically Focus, Appearance, Key words, Transferrable skills and Accomplisments.

* It is better to over dress than under dress for an interview

* Rejection is a normal part of the job search process

*Searching for a job can be physically and emotionally draining. Look after yourself!

A sample of book titles in the Small Business and Employment Resources Area related to employment:

Gallery of Best Resumes for People Without a Four-Year Degree - 2009

Job Search Bloopers - 2008

What Color is Your Parachute - 2009

Vacationing close to home is a good thing

2009-05-04T11:18:00.001-05:00

Would you like to take a summer trip but are wondering about the family budget? The library has LOTS of guidebooks to places within driving distance - ie the North Shore, the Twin Cities, Door County and other places in Wisconsin. We are highlighting some of those books this week in our stairwell display. We know budgets are tight and as always, the library is here to help!
Here are some sample titles:

Bicycle Vacation Guide: Minnesota and Wisconsin - 2008
Camping the North Shore: a guide to the 23 best campgrounds in Minnesota's spectacular Lake Superior Region - 2008
Wineries of Wisconsin and Minnesota - 2008

Riding out the Current Financial Storm

2009-04-22T15:57:00.000-05:00

"Riding out the current financial storm" will be presented by Phyllis Onstad at the Northfield Public Library on Thursday, April 23 at 7 P.M. Onstad, U of M Extension Educator, will provide key strategies and tools to prepare for times when money is tight, you lose your job, or have suddenly reduced income. She will also share key resources both online and in the community that will assist people of all ages with a special emphasis for younger investors and job seekers. For more information please call the library at 645-6606.

National Library Week Tech Demos

2009-04-15T11:00:00.000-05:00

Last day for tech demos!!!! Come down to the library today from 3--8 p.m. and get hands on experience with some really cool gadgets - Ipod Itouch, Sony ebook, Flip camera, a digital camera, GPS device and more. It's fun and free. Of course, it's at the library.

Colors for National Library Week

2009-04-13T13:23:00.000-05:00

Celebrate National Library Week in a colorful way!!

If you're in the library this week and wearing the "right" color, stop by the circulation desk for a treat.

Monday - Blue

Tuesday - Red

Wednesday - Purple

Thursday - Green

Friday - Yellow

Saturday - Rainbow

Finding Jane

2009-04-07T17:12:00.000-05:00

On Thursday April 16 at 7 p.m. , Rob Hardy, local writer and poet, will present a program at the Northfield Library (in the meeting room), called "Finding Jane: a Tour of Some English Literary Places." Come and see slides of England and hear about Jane Austen and other English writers. Refreshments will be served.

The New Laptops are Here!!

2009-03-31T15:37:00.000-05:00

The library has acquired 3 new laptop computers purchased by the Friends of the Library. Two are on carts and can be checked out for two hours with a library card and a driver's license. They are wireless and can be used anywhere in the library. The third laptop is in our new Business Resource area. That computer is reserved for people needing to do job searches, resumes, filing for unemployment or business start up searching. For now there is no sign up for that computer - just use on a first come- first served basis. People are able to use this computer for 2 hours also. Our computers are a very popular resource here at the library so we are glad we can offer more computers for people to use, especially during busy times.

THANKS TO THE FRIENDS!!!!

Good programs coming in April!!

2009-03-18T11:48:00.000-05:00

The library will be hosting 2 good programs in April - we'll do some more advertising later but wanted to let you all know now so you can get them on your calendars. On April 16 Rob Hardy, local writer and poet, will present a program called " Finding Jane: a tour of some English Literary Places". Come see some slides of England and hear about Jane Austen. It should be very interesting.

On April 23rd, Phyllis Onstad, from the U of M Extension Service will present a program called "Riding out the Current Financial Storm". She will provide key strategies and tools to prepare for times when money is tight, you lose your job, or have suddenly reduced income. The program is geared toward younger workers but will be of interest to all ages.

Both programs will begin at 7 P.M. and will be held in the library meeting room. For more information call the library at 645-6606.

LAST WEEK FOR HOT READS!!!!!

2009-02-24T20:06:00.000-06:00

It's the last week to submit your titles for Hot Reads. We'll do one more weekly drawing on Friday Feb. 27 and end our program with a Grand Prize Drawing on Monday March 2. Remember, the more titles you have in the bowl the more chances you have for the grand prize........ A $25.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO THE OLE CAFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hurry in to the library and get those titles counted!!

We've had a great response this year with 54 signed up!! Thanks to all who participated.

Business & Employment Resources

2009-02-09T09:40:00.000-06:00

These are challenging times... especially with the economy. I would be surprised if most of us can't think of at least one family who hasn't lost their home or job. The library is trying to respond by stocking up on books, magazines and other resources to help those on the job hunt. We've moved these resources out of the main section of nonfiction books into an area near the computers called "Business & Employment Resources". We will soon have a laptop computer in that area dedicated to job searching. If you're in the library check out this area and let us know what you think.

Hot Reads for Cold Nights

2009-01-10T15:29:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year again. Time to hunker down, be cozy and read lots of books!! Why not join Hot Reads (an adult winter reading program) and get your name in a weekly drawing for Chamber Dollars? The program runs now through Feb. 28. You get your name in the drawing for each book you read. There's no limit. The more you read the better your chances in the weekly drawing. Look for publicity about 2 upcoming programs - Hands on Craft night on Jan. 22 and an Ancestry.com class on Feb. 12.

Online SAT and ACT Practice Tests

2008-12-02T17:14:00.001-06:00

If you're a high school senior getting ready to take the SAT on Dec. 6 or the ACT on Dec. 13 you should know about Learning Express!! This is a great database with practice tests for the ACT, SAT, GED and many other exams. Just go to the library website at http://www.northfieldmn.info/ and click on Electronic Resources. Scroll down until you come to Learning Express. Create an account and practice at your convenience from home or school. You can score yourself on all or just part of an exam. If you have any questions call the library at 645-6606 or go to our website and click on "Ask a Librarian" and send us a IM message through Meebo.

"How I Wrote a Minnesota Book Award Book"

2008-11-15T09:57:00.000-06:00

On Thursday evening, November 13, sixty people filled the Northfield Public Library meeting room to listen to Minnesota mystery writer William Kent Krueger at a program titled "How I Wrote a Minnesota Book Award Book." Krueger, who has won four Minnesota Book Awards, and has been a finalist for eight awards, captivated the audience with his stories of how he began writing the Cork O'Connor series, and where he sees his writing going in his next two books. Many people asked questions and Krueger gave entertaining and thought provoking answers. Thank you to River City Books for selling copies of his books at the event. The program was supported by the Minnesota Book Awards through grants from the Department of Education - State Library Services and the Minnesota Library Association Foundation.

New display shelves

2008-10-29T16:16:00.000-05:00

The library has installed some new "slat walls" on the ends of some of the shelves upstairs in the fiction and nonfiction sections. These "slat walls" have acrylic holders for displaying books, DVDS, booklists, etc. This will give us more room to display books and highlight certain parts of the collection. Next time you're upstairs, check it out!

Attention all Genealogists!

2008-10-07T12:49:00.000-05:00

The library will offer a beginner's introduction to Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest Online at the library on Saturday October 25 from 8:30-10:00 A.M. Computer skills are required and space is limited. Call the library at 645-6606 to register.

IM Reference

2008-09-24T15:17:00.000-05:00

What's this??? Instant messaging reference. Virtual reference. Live reference. Chat reference. Whatever you want to call it, the Northfield Library has it. Just go to www.ci.northfield.mn.us/library and click on "Ask a Librarian" and look for the Meebo box. During open hours you can ask us questions from wherever you are and we'll answer as quickly as we can.

Bees at Work - 3rd Annual Spelling Bee

2008-09-23T14:55:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder to come to the Friends of the Library 3rd Annual Spelling Bee this Thursday, Sept. 25th, at 7 P.M. at the Grand Theater. Admission is $5. Even if you are not on a team, it's a great spectator event. The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library and the Grand Event Center. Funds raised will go to developing the new business resource area at the library.
And if you are thinking of having a team, it's not too late, but you should call in the next few days. Call the library at 645-6606 or go to
www.northfieldlibraryfriends.org for more information.

Biography Resource Center -

2008-09-13T12:37:00.001-05:00

The Northfield Public Library subscribes to a great electronic database called The Biography Resource Center. This resource can be accessed by clicking on the "Other Resources" tab in the library catalog.

Supported by Gale, this comprehensive database contains more than 440,000 entries on more than 165,000 people from throughout history, around the world, and across all disciplines and subject areas.

I browsed the category "Ancient Greeks and Romans" and found entries under 60 different names. Individual entries vary in length and content but the Further Readings section appears to be a standard feature of all entries.
The Further Readings section can be particularly helpful in locating additional information about the person, including information that can be buried within more general books, as well as biographies, and autobiographies.

If you need assistance accessing The Biography Resource Center, or have any questions about it, please call the Reference Desk at 507-645-1802.

Things to remember when searching the library catalog online:

2008-08-19T17:37:00.000-05:00

1. When doing a basic search on our website – http://www.northfieldmn.info/ – you are searching the Northfield Library ONLY.
2. To search all of SELCO ( our library system) click on Find or Library Catalog – then click on “Search all Selco libraries” ( top right hand side of the page)
3. With basic searching you are searching keyword; to be more exact click on the “Starts with” button - (Title starts with, subject starts with, author last name, first name)
4. And if you aren’t certain about subject headings, try to find something that does look right and see what the subject headings are and click on those to narrow your search.
5. Trying to find things in different formats? Look for the “Limit by” box and narrow your results by choosing formats such as large print, audio, CD, DVD, etc.

Travel books at the library

2008-07-21T16:23:00.000-05:00

Despite the high cost of airfares, people are still traveling. Here's an overview of some of the differences between the various publishers of guidebooks.
Come in to check out our guides as you wind up your "Staycations" and get ready for fall and winter travel. Happy fare hunting!!

Eyewitness Guides - These are lavishly illustrated. Great for "visual thinkers."

Fodors - Best for luxury lovers - reports on high end hotels and exclusive restaurants.

Still a good all-around basic guide.

Insight Guides - Focuses on culture and history, making these guides fairly timeless.

National Geographic - great illustrations; each glossy page full of great pictures; big on culture and history.

Lonely Planet - Good overall guide with emphasis on history and culture and those budget minded travelers.

Frommer's - Guidebooks accentuate the "Best of" of a destination. A good all round guide.

Rough Guides - Best for Bookworms - gives lots of background on local arts

and literature.

Rick Steve - host of PBS travel show; has 30 years of travel writing experience; very personal suggestions.

Seeing Stars

2008-06-17T20:45:00.000-05:00

Have you seen those red stars on books in the fiction section upstairs at the library? Those are books recommended by staff. Check them out as you look for books for these long summer days.

Nonfiction DVDs

2008-06-04T15:28:00.000-05:00

The library is highlighting nonfiction DVDs this week in the stairwell. We have lots of DVDs upstairs shelved with the books on a variety of topics. We used to have them shelved separately but decided they might get more use if shelved with the books on the same topics. But still, it's good to remind people we have them. Here are a few titles:

ABC Africa -

"Over the course of a ten-day visit to Uganda, Abbas Kiarostami uses his camera to capture and caress the faces of a thousand orphans". (2005)

Tarnation -

"Jonathan Caouette has woven together a psychedelic whirlwind of snapshots, super-8 home movies, answering machine messages, video diaries, early short films, snippets of '80s pop culture and dramatic re-enactments to create an epic portrait of an American family torn apart by dysfunction and reunited through the power of love". (2004)

Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion -

"Ten years in the making, this award-winning documentary was filmed during a remarkable nine journeys throughout Tibet, India and Nepal". (2003)

The Sixties: the years that shaped a generation -

"The Sixties traces the events of one of the most turbulent and influential periods of political and cultural change in the 20th century and the powerful impact forced on an entire generation". (2005)

Seven Days in September -

"Director Steven Rosenbaum marshalled the resources of 27 different filmmakers that recorded what they saw throughout the city (New York) on 9/11 and beyond. Using never-before-seen footage at "ground zero", the film conveys the sights and sounds of the terrorist attacks in the most intimate way possible". (2004)

Looking for a good book to read?

2008-05-23T14:28:00.000-05:00

The library has 2 new resources to help you do just that.
Pearls Picks is a monthly list of books chosen by Nancy Pearl, author of "Book Lust" and former Seattle librarian and bookseller. She is a regular commentator about books on National Public Radio's "Morning Edition". The New York Times calls her "the talk of librarian circles". The Los Angeles Times calls her "one lusty librarian". Her website says that "readers can't get enough of her recommenedations while bookstores and libraries offer standing room only whenever she visits". Pearls Picks gives Nancy's book reviews and in some cases the first chapter to read online. There is not a direct link to the Northfield Library catalog so you will need to check that to make sure we have it.

Booknews is an online service for readers which provides book lists on a variety of topics including fiction, nonfiction, mystery, classics, large print, gardening, children and teen books, etc. You can sign up to receive monthly emails for any of these genres. The newsletter will provide summaries and /or reviews of the books and a link to the library catalog. The library should in most cases have the book. If not, give us a call and we'll check further.

For both new services go to http://www.northfieldmn.info/ and click on "Reader's Resources".
Questions? Call 645-1802.

Where to go if we don't have what you want

2008-05-14T14:21:00.000-05:00

If you search our catalog and we don't have what you are looking for, here are a few tips on where to go next. (Remember, when searching our catalog you are searching just what is in the Northfield Library. To search all of Selco click on "Search all Selco libraries".) If you live in Northfield and you need something quickly, you can borrow items from the libraries at St. Olaf and Carleton. Check their catalog at http://bridge.carleton.edu/. The colleges have a combined catalog so it's easy to search both places at once. You can get a library card at either library (some restrictions may apply).

If this turns up nothing go to MNLINK at https://www.mnlinkgateway.org/. MNLINK is a statewide database which includes most college and public libraries. If the item isn't new you can borrow from MNLINK. (Please note that this ONLY will work if the item is NOT in SELCO and if you have no fines in the region). If the item is new (published within the last year) please let us know. It may be something we will purchase. If you have any questions call us at 645-6606 or email reference by going to the library's website - http://www.northfieldmn.info/
and clicking on "Ask a librarian".

Minnesota Sesquicentennial Banner

2008-05-03T10:52:00.000-05:00

In celebration of Minnesota's 150th birthday, the Sesquicentennial Banner will be presented to Northfield officials by the James Gang on Thursday, May 8 at 6 p.m. on Bridge Square. The banner will be accompanied by a journal that citizens can sign and add their thoughts on Minnesota. The banner and journal will be at the library on Friday May 9 from 9:30-5:30 p.m. and then be delivered to the state capitol by Booker, the Northfield Bookmobile, on Sat. May 10.
Come and celebrate Minnesota's 150th this Thursday on Bridge Square and check out the Northfield history display in the library foyer.

Going Green @ the library

2008-04-19T13:12:00.000-05:00

In honor of Earth Day on April 22 the library has a display of "green" books in the stairwell. Here's a sampling of a few titles. Check it out and watch for other weekly displays.

The Organic Food Shopper's Guide - 641.5 Co
Don't Throw it Out - recycle, renew, & reuse to make things last - 640.41 Ba
Green Babies, Sage Moms: the ultimate guide to raising your organic

baby - 649 Fa
Green Remodeling - 691 Wa
Green from the Ground Up: sustainable, healthy, & energy-efficient home construction - 690 Jo
Rubbish: reuse your refuse - 745.5 Sh
True green@ work: 100 ways you can make the environment your business 333.72 Mc

Would you like to make a suggestion for something for the library to purchase?

2008-03-22T14:22:00.000-05:00

You can! And it's easy. Go to our website - http://www.northfieldmn.info/ and click on "Library Catalog" or "Find". You will see a button to click called "Suggestion for Purchase". Enter your library card # and your suggestion. (This is mainly if you have a specific title suggestion). We will consider your suggestion and let you know whether we plan to get the item and if not, if it is available from another library. We appreciate your suggestions and hope to hear from you!

Genealogy Databases at the library

2008-03-17T15:58:00.001-05:00

This is the first posting for the reference blog at the Northfield Public Library. I will try to highlight new (or not so new) resources, tips for searching our catalog and databases, author events, classes, etc.

Two of our most popular databases are Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest Online. Ancestry is available only in the library. HeritageQuest is available in the library and at home using your library barcode. Both include the U.S. Census and many different genealogical resources including immigration and military records. If you're interested in genealogy and haven't tried either of these you will be amazed at the depth of these two resources. We have a computer in our history room that can be used for genealogy. Just check in at the reference desk. To check out HeritageQuest Online from home just go to http://www.northfieldmn.info/ and click on Electronic Resources.