Monday, March 31, 2008

GreenFILE -- Environmental Index

EBSCO Publishing announced the release of GreenFILE, a bibliographic database of information about environmental concerns. This database is being made freely available at www.greeninfoonline.com.

GreenFILE indexes scholarly and general interest titles, as well as government documents and reports. This resource offers a unique perspective on the positive and negative ways humans affect the environment. Drawing on the connection between the environment and disciplines such as agriculture, education, law, health and technology, GreenFILE serves as an informative resource for anyone concerned about the issues facing our planet. The database contains nearly 300,000 records, full text for selected titles and searchable cited references for more than 200 titles as well.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Academy of American Poets Presents National Poetry Month 2008

Poem In Your Pocket Day, April 17
Poets.org is brimming with poems for pockets in anticipation of the first national Poem In Your Pocket Day on Thursday, April 17. Celebrate the power of the poem to both transport a reader and be transported by carrying a poem in your pocket to share with friends, family, co-workers, and even strangers on April 17.
www.poets.org/pocket

Handpicked for Your Pocket
Get ready for Poem In Your Pocket Day by finding the perfect poem for your pocket. In addition to browsing your library, bookstore, or shelf at home, you can pick poems in these new ways:


Pocket-Size Poems
Poems by Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and many more are ready to print and distribute for your Poem In Your Pocket Day celebration.
www.poets.org/pocketpoems
Poetry Ringtones
"Rage, rage against the dying of the light" with ringtones for your mobile phone featuring lines by Dylan Thomas, Langston Hughes, W. B. Yeats, Gwendolyn Brooks, James Wright, and Robert Lowell.
www.poets.org/audio
Poets.org In Your Pocket
Verse is now at your fingertips with the launch of a new mobile version of Poets.org, which provides free and direct access to the entire collection of over 2,500 poems from the Academy of American Poets. To carry Poets.org in your pocket, simply go to www.poets.org/m from any mobile device.
www.poets.org/mobile

"I Carried My Life, Like A Stone, In A Ragged Pocket": National Poetry Month Poster
Celebrate National Poetry Month 2008 with the official poster, featuring lines from Jay Wright's poem, "The Healing Improvisation of Hair." Designed by SpotCo, a New York City agency responsible for the lion’s share of poster designs for Broadway’s most popular shows, the poster is available to teachers and librarians while supplies last.
www.poets.org/poster

Poem-A-Day Email
Sign up for a daily shot of poetry in April from new spring poetry titles including new poems by Charles Simic, Marie Howe, Alan Shapiro, James Tate, Adam Zagajewski, Caroline Knox, Cate Marvin, and many more.
www.poets.org/poemaday

Life Lines Contest: Enter by April 1
Enter to win a piece of jewelry hand-engraved by San Francisco designer Jeanine Payer by sending the lines of poetry most vital to you, along with notes about the precise situation that summoned them to mind. The winner will have their "life line" hand-engraved on a specially chosen piece. Entries can be emailed to npm@poets.org until April 1, 2008.
www.poets.org/lifelines

Monday, March 24, 2008

CQ Press - Online Trial

CQ Press, a Division of Congressional Quarterly Inc. is offering free access to their online products through April 30th. You will be able to access all CQ products, including CQ Researcher, CQ Researcher Plus Archive, CQ Global Researcher, CQ Almanac, CQ Weekly, CQ Collection Databases, and CQ Online Editions.

http://library.cqpress.com/login.php?mode=trials
You may obtain the username and password from the Reference Desk.
TIP: be sure to have your web browser set to accept pop-ups; each topic/chapter opens within a pop-up window.

Currently there are several new topics covered in CQ Press Online. And be sure to view topics covered in "New Releases" such as an in-depth explaination of the American political campaign process. Much more is awaiting you when you visit this great online resource!

AcronymFinder web site

If you’re ever at a loss to know what a long string of letters stands for, you can turn to the free online version of this ready reference staple at http://www.acronymfinder.com/.

Volunteer Voices: Women’s History Resources

Volunteer Voices (http://www.volunteervoices.org) is a state-wide digitization project that will provide access to primary sources that document Tennessee's rich history and culture. Volunteer Voices combines the collaborative efforts of Tennessee archives, historical societies, libraries, museums, and schools. Highlights of the collection that can be used for Women’s History are outlined at the Vol Voices blog (http://digitenn.blogspot.com/2008/03/womens-history-sources-in-volunteer.html).

Check it out – although still in “beta,” Volunteer Voices has brought together a wealth of information and it’s FREE to use.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Tennessee History Online Resource

A recommended web site is TNhistoryforKids.(http://www.tnhistoryforkids.org/) This resource contains entries for K-12 students, as well as materials for teachers. The arrangement of material follows the Tennessee Department of Education's recommended curriculum. Media files and graphics are also included.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Thinkinfinity.org -- Free Teacher Web Resource

Thinkfinity.org, the popular online hub for educators, is getting a face-lift. The Verizon Foundation, the site’s sponsor, announced several improvements to Thinkfinity.org at WNET’s Teaching & Learning Celebration, held March 7–8 in New York City.
Thinkfinity.org is the
Verizon Foundation’s free online portal to 55,000 educational and literacy resources for teachers, parents, and students and includes standards-based, grade-specific, K–12 lesson plans and interactive projects. Site content is provided through a partnership between the Verizon Foundation and 11 national education and literacy organizations, such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science, International Reading Association, National Center for Family Literacy, National Council on Economic Education, National Geographic Society, ProLiteracy Worldwide, and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Improvements to Thinkfinity.org announced by the Verizon Foundation and its partners include the addition of 500 new resources; individual portals to allow users to search for resources targeted to educators, students, parents, or after-school programs; a more comprehensive search engine; and the ability to search for resources according to individual state standards. The site will also sport a new look.

Kathy Ishizuka -- School Library Journal, 3/10/2008

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

March Highlights from AwesomeStories.com

Use AwesomeStories.com to retrieve information you need for school papers and projects, or just read for your own enjoyment. Access this site at www.AwesomeStories.com. If you are not already a member, follow the link to select a free individual password.

BOSTON MASSACRE By 1770, many Americans wanted British soldiers to leave the colonies. On the 5th of March that year, a taunting mob threw hard-packed snowballs at British soldiers on duty near Boston's custom house. The soldiers fired at the crowd, killing five people. John Adams, a future U.S. president, successfully defended some of the soldiers who were tried for murder.
REMEMBER THE ALAMO The Republic of Texas declared its independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836. A few days later - on March 6 - the Alamo fell. The massacre led to the rally cry: "Remember the Alamo!" Thanks to the Texas State Archives, we have significant primary sources to study the events.
THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER If it hadn't been for Doc Beanes, Francis Scott Key may never have found himself on a Royal Navy ship while the British attacked Ft. McHenry. Had he not been on the ship, Key may not have written his famous poem (which officially became America's national anthem on March 3, 1931). Learn the story and see the famous, now-restored flag which once flew above Ft. McHenry.
REVOLUTION in RUSSIA On the 8th of March, 1917, riots in St. Petersburg caused the Tsar, Nicholas II, to lose power. It was the beginning of the Russian Revolution which ultimately took the lives of the imperial family.
BATTLE of IWO JIMA and INCENDIARY BOMBING of TOKYO Japanese defenders and American invaders fought for more than thirty days on the island of Iwo Jima. The famous battle finally ended in March of 1945. Under American control, the island was used as an air base for B-29s whose crews dropped fire bombs over Tokyo.
GENERAL MacARTHUR in AUSTRALIA On the 12th of March, 1942, General Douglas MacArthur left the Philippines for Australia where he worked closely with John Curtin, the Australian prime minister. Famously declaring that he would return to his troops, the general had been ordered to leave. He had not been told, however, that the American government was temporarily abandoning soldiers, sailors and nurses serving their country in the Philippines.
ST. PATRICK'S DAY - The Wind that Shakes the Barley The Irish people have a long history of seeking independence from Great Britain. Our story behind The Wind that Shakes the Barley provides background on the struggle, including the partition of Ireland and the resulting civil war.
BRITAIN ABOLISHES the SLAVE TRADE On the 25th of March, 1807, the British Parliament formally abolished African slave-trading. This story provides background on the beginning of slave-trading, its impact on the lives of Africans and the extraordinary efforts required to end it.
BEETHOVEN and HIS HAIR The great composer, Ludwig von Beethoven, died in Vienna on March 26, 1827. In poor health, he left behind a never-sent letter which begged his brothers to find out why he'd been so ill. Hundreds of years later, a lock of his hair provides an answer: He had severe lead poisoning!
TENERIFE - DISASTROUS AIR CRASH On March 27, 1977, people vacationing in the Canary Islands were delayed due to a terrorist attack. What happened thereafter led to the world's deadliest aviation accident.
INVENTION of COCA COLA In March of 1886, Dr. John Pemberton created a secret formula for a drink he called Coca-Cola. A few years later, he sold his rights to the product for a mere $2,000. Until 1905, the popular drink contained the cocaine alkaloid.
VIRGINIA WOOLF The author, Virginia Woolf, loved London so much she once observed: "To walk alone in London is the greatest rest." Despite her fondness for the capital, Virginia's doctors believed the stress of city life in war-torn London contributed to her illnesses. On the 28th of March, 1941, Virginia left her East Sussex home and followed the footpath to the River Ouse. She put a heavy stone into her coat pocket and walked into the water. Her body was found three weeks later.
ALASKA PURCHASE On the 30th of March, 1867, America purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. William Seward, wounded in an assassination attempt the night President Lincoln was killed, had lived long enough to see one of his greatest dreams come true. Not everyone agreed that buying Alaska made sense. To some, the purchase was known as "Seward's Folly." See the original purchase documents, including the paid "warrant."

NEW FEATURES:
SITE MAP - To help users more quickly locate stories, they have created a new site map. Each story included in the list also has (or will soon have) a new summary. In addition to a quick overview of the subject, the summaries include specifics about featured links. For example: Beowulf provides a direct path to a modern scoop who tells the tale in Old English. Columbia includes a video of the astronauts soon before the shuttle exploded. Thomas Jefferson links the original Declaration of Independence (with handwritten changes by John Adams and Ben Franklin). Bagger Vance compares a modern allegory to an ancient epic. The Amistad Incident uncovers drawings of the actual captives. Mummies provides a virtual journey to see some of the world's most famous mummies.

FOCUSED TOPICS at AWESOME STORIES - Because the site has hundreds of stories which incorporate thousands of topics, it isn't always easy to do a "one-stop shop" on a particular subject. So ... they are creating a series of focused topics which provide members, and site users, with detailed information - and direct access - to those sources.
This month they feature:
Medieval History
Space and Aviation
Civil War (American)
Victorian Age

STREAMING AUDIO at AWESOME STORIES - They have completed many audio recordings. You do not have to load a player - just click on the green arrow, at the top of each recorded chapter, and off you go! (Soon the audio versions will also be available as podcasts.)

To find general topics, see the new site map. To find specific subjects, check out the detailed subject index.

Monday, March 3, 2008

American Women's History Resource

Be sure to visit this resource on Women's History : "American Women's History - A Resource Guide"
This is an excellent site that can be searched by subject or state. The source contains timelines, digital media, and a bibliography on women's letters and diaries. (http://www.mtsu.edu/~kmiddlet/history/women.html)

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Online Law Resources

FindLaw provides free access to federal and state statutes, case law, constitutions, and other legal resources. http://www.findlaw.com/11stategov/

Legal Information Institute from Cornell Law School provides summaries and comparisons of state laws on specific topics such as divorce, labor, taxation and alcoholic beverages. http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/state_statutes.html

Monday, February 4, 2008

Stories of the Week!

Call the Daily Post Athenian and listen to new stories each week! Call 745-3100 and enter the extensions below:
Pre-School - Ext. 2100
Early Grades - Ext. 2101
Chapter Book - Ext. 2102

This service is a partnership of the E.G. Fisher Public Library and the Daily Post Athenian.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

February Awesome Stories Web Site : Join Free!

During February commemorate African-American Heritage Month and recall numerous world events: Explosion of the shuttle Columbia, Parliament's abolishment of the slave-trade law, opening of King Tut's tomb and FDR's Executive Order 9066 (resulting in Japanese-American internment camps). Learn the details of those, and other events, in this summary of February Highlights. http://www.awesomestories.com/Newsletters/Feb%20Newsletter.htm
Also provided is a listing of topics (which link to primary sources) for slavery, World War I and World War II (with separate sections for the war in Europe and the war in the Pacific). It is free for students and members of the general public. Select an individual password with this form. https://www.awesomestories.com/signup.php?ua=individual_signup
The site's privacy policy http://www.awesomestories.com/content/privacy.shtml
is strictly enforced.

Inside Britannica: Get inside: Flags of the World

http://school.eb.com/ (please note that the links within the following text go to the public library edition of Britannica Online. As soon as possible we will be changing over to that edition. Meanwhile, use the link at the beginning of this post and look up individual items of interest.)
Flags are among the most identifiable and recognizable objects in the world. They have been used for thousands of years, first mainly as military banners, but now as symbols of countries, states and provinces, and organizations. They often evoke strong feelings and passions: pride, patriotism, anger, hate, nostalgia. Flags can be almost synonymous with a country (e.g., the United States flag), an organization (the Olympic flag), or with a historical period (the swastika flag of Nazi Germany). Everywhere there is great interest in flags, both as symbols and as design objects. Go Inside Britannica to learn more about the origins of famous flags.

Historical and National Flags :

Banners and standards : Heraldic banners and standards were precursors to national flags.

National flag of France The French Tricolor influenced many other national flag designs. (Also see: France article)

National flag of the United Kingdom The Union Jack is a design element on many national, state and provincial, and territorial flags. (Also see: United Kingdom article)

National flag of Ghana The first subsaharan African country to gain independence, its flag uses "pan-African" colours. (Also see: Ghana article)

National flag of Comoros This flag is representative of one influencd by Islamic precepts and imagery. (Also see: Comoros article)

National flag of the former U.S.S.R. This flag became synonymous with international communism and was the model for other communist flags.(Also see: U.S.S.R article)

The Nazi German flag The Nazi flag is probably the world's most widely recognized symbol of evil, intolerance, and persecution.

Flags of the United States, Canada, and Australia :

National flag of the United States of America Undoubtedly one of the world's best-known national flags. (Also see: United States article)

State flag of Vermont Representative of the common design style that incorporates the state seal or coat of arms on the flag. (Also see: Vermont article)

State flag of New Mexico The starkly simple New Mexico flag consists of a yellow field with a red Zia Indian sun as its central symbol. (Also see: New Mexico article)

National flag of Canada The last in a series of redesigns of the national flag, this flag known for its distinctive central red maple leaf. (Also see: Canada article)

Provincial flag of Quebec Representative of the strong connection to France in this largely French-speaking province with its use of fleur-de-lis emblems. (Also see: Quebec article)

Territorial flag of Nunavut The newest Canadian provincial flag, containing many symbols of this far northern territory. (Also see: Nunavut article)

National flag of Australia One of many flags worldwide to incorporate the British Union Jack into their design. (Also see: Australia article)

State flag of Queensland Representative of a flag using the British Blue Ensign that uses a local badge in the design. (Also see: Queensland article)

Flag of Australian Capital Territory Flag that combines the stylized Southern Cross of the national flag with Canberra's coat of arms. (Also see: Australian Capital Territory article)

Flags of International Organizations :

Flag of the Olympic movement Among the world's most recognized flags, it is flown at all Olympic Games. (Also see: Olympic Games article)

Flag of the United Nations Also among the world's most recognized flags, its emblem symbolizes global peace. (Also see: United Nations article)

Flag of the European Union Represents the organization that promotes common economic, social, and security policies among 27 European countries.

Flag of the Organization of American States Symbolizes economic, military, and cultural cooperation among its members.

This Month's Top Searches :
primary election Barack Obama Mike Huckabee

Astronauts land on the moon and plant the U.S. flag on its surface. Acquired from Vast Video View Video

The Canadian national flag and anthem. Copyright © 2004 AIMS Multimedia (www.aimsmultimedia.com) View Video
Note: Videos and animations may require Quicktime, Windows Media, or Real Player.

Celebrate Black History with Britannica!Encyclopædia Britannica's Guide to Black History presents a vast array of articles, hundreds of images, and a wide assortment of multimedia clips.This guide traces two millennia of black history, and the browse features enable you to pinpoint the central people, places, topics, and events covered in Black History. This Spotlight has biographies on people such as Alvin Ailey, Matthew Henson, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Hank Aaron. In addition, there is a subject browse that allows the user to look up people, places, issues, and events based on topic.Encyclopædia Britannica's Guide to Black History represents an effort to trace the African American experience and achievements in the United States and elsewhere.
See it now!

To access Britannica Online from home you will need the username and password. Please call the Library at 423-745-7782 to get more information.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Science Fair Project Resource Guide

Science Fair Project Resource Guide with information and links to other resources. Sections include Getting Started, Choosing a Topic, Completing the Project, and Displaying Your Project. http://www.ipl.org/div/projectguide/

Thursday, January 24, 2008

TEL Undergoes Updated Look!

The new TEL Web page is located at http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/tel_p_egfpl. Or you may also connect to TEL from the E.G. Fisher Public Library web site: http://www.fisherlibrary.org/ [please remember that remote users must type in the password.] This page is under development, but it now serves as an entry portal to the three vendors who provide resources to the Tennessee Electronic Library. Soon you will see other resources such as tutorials, training and marketing materials, as well as links to news articles about TEL. See also http://www.tntel.info for info on new and expanded TEL resources, including state newspapers and more. Please note that at this point in time only the Gale resources [use the TEL password!] listed on this site are available from home. Remote passwords and usernames for the other two resources will be announced soon! Stay tuned!

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Video site : free access

Open Vault provides online access to unique and historically important content produced by public television station WGBH for individual and classroom learning. The ever-expanding site contains video excerpts, searchable transcripts, a select number of complete interviews for purchase, and resource management tools. Subjects include Science & Technology, the Arts, Business, Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences (Political Science, Women’s Studies, Sociology, and Criminal Justice, among others).http://openvault.wgbh.org/

Monday, January 7, 2008

Mystery Book Club Selections 2008

The Mystery Book Club meets at E.G. Fisher Public Library on the second Tuesday of each month (there is no meeting in Dec.) from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. A listing of upcoming selections is below:
January 8 -- Burglar in the Library by Lawrence Block
February 12 -- Caught Dead in Philadelphia by Gillian Roberts
March 11 -- Every Crooked Nanny by Kathy Trocheck
April 8 -- To be announced
May 13 -- The Devil's Bones by Dr. William Bass
June 10 -- Dejas Dead by Kathy Reichs
July 8 -- To be announced

Digital Television Information Site

Educate yourself about the upcoming switch to digital television (DTV) on February 17, 2009. This website, www.dtvanswers.com, will provide you with additional information about the transition.

Friday, December 28, 2007

Income Tax Forms to be Available January 3rd

The Library has been receiving some shipments of tax forms for the past few weeks. Not all forms have arrived, but what we do have will be placed on carrels just inside the library as you walk in the door. If we do not have the form or publication you need, please try downloading the information from the IRS web site at http://www.irs.gov, or you may call toll-free 1-800-829-3676 to request forms be mailed to you. Please remember that library staff cannot answer tax questions as we are not trained income tax preparers. If in doubt, consult with a trained tax professional, or call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 for tax advice. The library staff will do their best to help you find the forms you need, either on the tables, or to download from the IRS web site. You are free to prepare and file your taxes online using the library's public internet computers, but you must use programs that are web-based and approved on the IRS web site.

Children's Winter Programs

Stories of the Week - Hear new stories each week on your phone!
Pajama Story Time - Each Thursday at 7:00 p.m., starting January 17 to February 14, and March 6 to April 10. Children are invited to put on their pajamas, bring along a favorite pillow or stuffed animal, and listen to bedtime stories! NO registration is required, just drop by the Library!
LapSit - Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. starting January 19 to February 23, and March 15 to April 26. Registration is required. You may sign up for SPRING 2008!
Winter Storytime - Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. starting January 8 to March 18, for fun & stories geared toward pre-school age children. Come join in! No registration, just come by the library!