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.

How to Choose an eBook Reader*

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

2—Know what to look for in an eBook reader

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7– Check the warranty

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

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

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

CHECK OUT THESE ONLINE RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read Consumer Reports discussion list:

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

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

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