tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9526849260888908842024-02-18T21:14:04.666-05:00Pottsville Free Public LibraryAnnouncements of events, alerts about new titles, and more from the Pottsville Free Public Library.Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-79078278865561473552016-03-04T12:14:00.000-05:002016-03-04T12:21:40.237-05:00It's an Election Year!This is a big election year, and a lot of people have questions about how to register to vote, where to get information about the candidates, or how to change your registration. So we've collected some links to help you navigate the election stream.<br />
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If you live in Pennsylvania, one of the best places to start is <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://votespa.com/"><b>VotesPA.com</b></a></span>. This site from the Pennsylvania Department of State permits you to register online to vote, change your political party registration, obtain an absentee ballot application, or find out where to register in person at your county voter registration office. You can also find your polling place address, what kind of ID is required to vote, a demonstration of the voting system, and more. Not sure if you are registered? Click on "Register to Vote" then "Confirm Your Registration" to search your name and find your status.<br />
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And don't put off registering too long: you need to register by <b>March 28</b> in order to vote in the general primary on <b>April 26</b>. The last day to register for the general election is <b>October 11.</b> <br />
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There are a number of non-partisan sites to help you find out more about both the incumbents for your area and the candidates running for those seats. Some ask you questions to help you figure out who agrees with your convictions most strongly. Others give you more of an overview for all the candidates for your area. Sometimes you have to visit a couple different sites to find one you are comfortable using for your voting information.<br />
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<a href="http://isidewith.com/"><b>ISideWith.com</b></a> offers a quiz where you can answer how strongly you feel about certain topics, then tells you how closely your beliefs align with presidential candidates' statements or voting records.<br />
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<a href="http://www.votesmart.org/"><b>Project Vote Smart</b></a> asks for your zip code, then searches for all the candidates for the positions you'll be voting on. Read their biography, find out how they voted on issues important to you, or what their position is on key topics.<br />
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<a href="http://vote411.org/"><b>Vote411.org</b></a> is a project of the League of Women Voters Education Fund. This site provides personalized voting information based on your home street address.<br />
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Other sites focus more on fact-checking the candidates to evaluate if they are telling the truth or 'stretching' it, or they 'follow the money' to find out what companies have contributed to a candidate's campaign.<br />
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For fact checking, try either <a href="http://politifact.com/"><b>PolitiFact.com</b></a> or <a href="http://factcheck.org/"><b>FactCheck.org</b></a>. PolitiFact has a Truth-o-meter to give you a short answer to the accuracy of candidates' statements, with longer analysis and explanations provided by independent journalists. FactCheck covers both political statements and news stories for accuracy, with specific sections for checking science-based claims (SciCHECK) and groups spending money to influence elections (Players Guide).<br />
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Keep following the money by exploring either <a href="http://opensecrets.org/"><b>OpenSecrets.org</b></a> or the <a href="http://followthemoney.org/"><b>National Institute on Money in State Politics</b></a>. OpenSecrets is produced by the Center for Responsive Politics, and focuses on "tracking money in U.S. politics and its effects on elections and public policy." The second group identifies campaign contributions for state politicians, too: click on "My District", enter your complete street address, and see who the top donors were for your elected officials.Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-78396721371565706082015-06-27T14:28:00.000-04:002015-06-27T14:28:40.906-04:00Why Do Libraries Throw Out Books?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many people who read love books. They consider
the physical volume a sacred thing; maybe not exactly in those words, but
somewhere deep down many people are horrified at the idea of throwing away a
book, any book. When people have to clean out their house or a relative's
house, the library gets lots of donations of books for this very reason. So why
do libraries throw out books?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you search online, you will find news
stories about public libraries doing just that. The Pottsville Free
Public Library was mentioned recently in a story about someone who likes
to retrieve things from the city recycling center. This blog post is an explanation why the library throws out certain books that no longer belong in
our collection.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Libraries call the process weeding. Just as
you remove the weeds from your garden so there is space for the plants you want,
libraries remove the "weeds" from their book collections so there is
space for the books their patrons want to read. No library has an infinite amount
of space. If we purchase new books, we have to have someplace to put them. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So how do we choose which books should be
discarded? Books that are in really bad condition are obviously candidates. If
a book looks so "icky" you don't want to touch it, or if the book is
physically falling apart, who's going to want to read that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Libraries also withdraw and discard books that
are out of date. We are responsible for providing our community with accurate
information, both for students doing homework and for adults trying to learn
new things. If we give you a book about financial aid for graduate school that
was published in 1990, will it be of much help? If you are trying to find the
best information for dealing with a chronic illness, do you really want to
depend on a book that is so old it doesn't include anything about recent
medical breakthroughs? If you need help with a legal question, how many laws
might have changed between 1995 and 2015? If a student needs to do a paper on
recent United States history, shouldn't that book include the 9/11 attacks? We
know that many people do not check the date a book was published before reading
it, so we need to make sure that the information we are providing you is
current and relevant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But what about fiction? Why do we send some of
those books to recycling? They might fall into the "icky" category.
If a book is on the local schools' summer reading lists we try to keep copies
of those titles, replacing them with new copies if we can. However, other
fiction titles are discarded because no one has read them in many years. They
might have been read a lot when they first came out, but as the years pass they
get forgotten, or no longer of interest. This applies to the nonfiction
section, too. Here's an interesting tidbit: cookbooks may be the only subject where every single title in our
collection has received regular use by library patrons.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And if a book is not used in a long, long
time, it becomes like a weed. Think about a book shelf or a closet full of clothes.
If there are many old books, or old clothes, how likely are you to go through
it looking for what you want? The eye sees "old" and the brain says
"never mind, what I want isn't here." Even if it is, hiding among the
old.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is there any way to prevent this situation?
Well, we could stop buying books. Then we wouldn't need the shelf space and
could leave the old books there to collect dust, only withdrawing the
"icky" ones. But that doesn't make the library collection useful to
our community. No one wants to go into a library and only see old books. That's
not a library. That's a storage facility.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is there a way to only buy "the
best" books that won't go out of date? We do try. We can't read every book
that is published, so we select the books to purchase by reading reviews by
professional reviewers in respected journals. We try to find the most interesting,
relevant, and informative books for our library users, because that is what we
believe you deserve in your local public library. We look for positive reviews
of fiction, nonfiction, children's literature, and reference books, as well as
for our DVD and CD collections. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But even the best books get old eventually, and
the most popular titles now will be almost forgotten in a few years. Scientific advances will make our
current science books too old to use. Medical discoveries will change how
illnesses are treated. Current events will become part of our nation’s history. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We like books, too. But we have a
responsibility to use your tax dollars to help the community be informed and
entertained. And we can't do that with shelves full of "weeds."</span></div>
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<![endif]-->Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-34056442127983485142015-06-13T11:55:00.000-04:002015-06-13T11:55:45.792-04:00Observing the National Week of MakingJune 12th began the National Week of Making, where we celebrate those who like to tinker, play with, invent, and make all kinds of wonderful things. Many cities across the country are hosting Maker Faires to help people get started. You can find out more about the national events at the website for <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/nation-of-makers" target="_blank">A Nation of Makers</a>.<br />
<br />
But even if you can't get to one of these faires, you can still try your hand at making something new by using the books and magazines at the Pottsville Free Public Library.<br />
<br />
Think you might like to try doing some woodworking? Check out some of the issues of "Family Handyman" magazine for projects and tips, or browse through the books in the 684 section of the nonfiction books on the second floor.<br />
<br />
Interested in jewelry? Two magazines, "Craft Ideas" and "Bead & Button" are right up your alley. Books can be found on the second floor in the 739.27 and 745.5 sections.<br />
<br />
Stained glass catch your fancy? Browse through the books in 748.5 for projects.<br />
<br />
Browse through the materials in the 697 section to learn more about solar power and heating for your home. <br />
<br />
Learn how to make your own clothing with the books in the 646 section, or step over to 747 to learn how to make your own window treatments. 746 hosts the books on weaving your own fabric, or go back one more step in the process and learn how to spin (also in the 746 section).<br />
<br />
<br />
The maker movement is all about expanding your abilities, increasing your understanding, and being hands-on. There are so many ways to explore the creative possibilities of making things! Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-32050075864253065392015-03-19T15:20:00.000-04:002015-03-19T15:20:00.355-04:00Celebrating Women's History MonthMarch is National Women's History Month, and the Pottsville Free Public Library has several resources to help you learn more about the subject. Whether you need something online or want to come in to the library, you have lots of options.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://ebooks.infobasepublishing.com/Default.aspx?InstID=2753" target="_blank">Infobase ebook collection</a>, accessible from the library's home page at <a href="http://www.pottsvillelibrary.org/">www.pottsvillelibrary.org</a>, includes three different ebooks specifically on women. Titles include "A to Z of Ancient Greek and Roman Women", "Celebrating Women in American History", and "Encyclopedia of Women and American Politics". These reference books are available to anyone with a Pottsville Library card, just type in your library card number when prompted.<br />
<br />
Your library card also gives you access to the EBSCO ebook collection in the <a href="http://www.powerlibrary.net/Remote/Remote.asp?ID=Pottsville" target="_blank">POWER Library Network</a>. Under "E-Resources", click on the button for "Find a Book" and then select "eBooks on EBSCOhost". You can search the collection of ebooks like you would search for magazine or newspaper articles. If you type in "women's history", you'll get a list of more than 800 ebooks that are available to read! Reading levels range from juvenile nonfiction (such as "Fighting for Equal Rights: A Story About Susan B. Anthony") to college level and higher (such as "Women and the Law in the Roman Empire"). Different search options allow you to narrow down the scope of the search.<br />
<br />
If you want a print book, there are a large number of options in the library's catalog. The Children's Room has such titles as "33 Things Every Girl Should Know About Women's History" (J 305.4 T) and books about Susan B. Anthony. In the Reference Department you can find books like "Fighting for the Union Label : the Women's Garment Industry and the ILGWU in Pennsylvania" (REF 331.4 W83). And the Adult collection on the second floor has books about Margaret Sanger, Seneca Falls, and women in World War II.<br />
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For help in finding a specific topic, feel free to contact the Reference Department by phone, by email, or visit us in person! :)Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-40489244721657809872015-02-12T13:46:00.001-05:002015-02-12T13:46:30.869-05:00Income Tax Season Problems, Part TwoPart two, you ask? Yep, because it's not just dealing with filing your income tax returns: it's avoiding all the scams out there that make your income tax filing more of a headache.<br />
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The IRS has a list of the "Dirty Dozen" tax scams on their site at <a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Completes-the-Dirty-Dozen-Tax-Scams-for-2015">www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Completes-the-Dirty-Dozen-Tax-Scams-for-2015</a>. These are scams that have triggered the most complaints filed with the IRS, and can cause penalties and criminal prosecution for victimized taxpayers. The IRS can't say this enough: "Taxpayers should remember that they are legally responsible for what is
on their tax returns even if it is prepared by someone else." (Quoted from the IRS page linked above.)<br />
<br />
Be aware that if you haven't filed your taxes in the past as you should, you may be setting yourself up for the phone scams that are going around. Callers threaten taxpayers with arrest or penalties if they do not immediately pay back taxes using prepaid cards or similar methods. You need to remember that the IRS sends out notices by US Mail, and it will not request your personal information over the telephone. Hang up on these callers immediately and report the call.<br />
<br />
If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from<br />
the IRS and asking for money, here’s what you should do:<br />
<ul>
<li class="first-child">If you know you owe taxes or think you might
owe, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. The IRS workers can help you with a
payment issue.</li>
<li>If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to believe that
you do, report the incident to the TIGTA at 1-800-366-4484 or at <a href="http://apps.irs.gov/app/scripts/exit.jsp?dest=http://www.tigta.gov/">www.tigta.gov</a>.</li>
<li class="last-child">If you’ve been targeted by this scam, also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “<a href="http://apps.irs.gov/app/scripts/exit.jsp?dest=https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/Information?OrgCode=IRS#crnt&panel1-1">FTC Complaint Assistant</a>” at FTC.gov. Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" to the comments of your complaint.</li>
</ul>
(From "Phone Scams Continue to be Serious Threat", http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Phone-Scams-Continue-to-be-Serious-Threat-and-Remain-on-IRS-Dirty-Dozen-List-of-Tax-Scams-for-the-2015-Filing-Season)<br />
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You also need to be aware that, if your personal information was stolen through one of the many data breaches that has occurred in stores and companies over the past few years, you could be a victim of fraud. If you try to file your tax return online, and are told that you have already filed a return, contact the agency immediately. Fraudulent tax returns using identity theft are on the rise and state tax departments are trying to watch for it.<br />
<br />
The IRS has created a number of videos on YouTube to help you out. You can view their most recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y5z0kWgBcM" target="_blank">video about avoiding scams</a>, or learn how to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIUfpYuXUNw" target="_blank">choose a tax preparer</a>, or several other topics.Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-6021645096833152682015-02-11T11:31:00.000-05:002015-02-11T11:31:35.681-05:00Groan, It's Tax Season Again...<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are all saying that. Which is worse, the winter weather we've been dealing with (or threatened with), or the period from January to April 15 when we know we just have to sit down and figure out what we owe the government? For some, that's a real toss-up. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And this year is a bit more frustrating than past years. Just when everyone is expected to report their health insurance status on their income tax forms, the IRS has decided not to send out instruction books due to their budget cuts. So everyone wants to know, how are we supposed to file our taxes if we don't know how to fill out the forms?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The good news is, for many people it is free to file their federal income taxes using one of the many tax services available. More than 85% of people file their federal taxes online, either using a professional preparer's service or doing it themselves. If you don't have a computer at home, you can use the public computers at the Pottsville Library to file your taxes. (Just keep in mind that, legally, we cannot answer any tax questions for you. We can help you print, or set up an email account, but please don't ask us how to fill in specific lines on the tax forms.) Want to find a reputable online service? Visit the IRS web page at <a href="http://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/jsp/index.jsp">apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/jsp/index.jsp</a> for a list of companies that offer free federal tax filing for adjusted gross incomes of $60,000 or less.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For people who prefer to use the paper forms, it can get a bit trickier. The Pottsville Library did receive the federal tax forms 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ, but we did NOT receive any of the instruction booklets or any of the additional schedules and forms. (Did you see our picture in the paper? Those were state tax forms in the photos, not federal. The photo caption didn't make that clear.) We can print off specific pages from the instruction books for you from the internet, although we don't recommend printing off the entire instruction book: at 10 cents a page, even the 1040EZ would cost you more than $4 to print. We have a copy of the tax table at the Circulation Desk (right inside the front door) and a copy of Publication 17 at the Reference Desk.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The alternative is to order an instruction book from the IRS. There is a telephone number to call, <span style="line-height: 115%;">1-800-829-3676, but be prepared to wait to get through. Or you can order copies online from <a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Forms-and-Publications-by-U.S.-Mail">www.irs.gov/uac/Forms-and-Publications-by-U.S.-Mail</a> and get them mailed to you within a week or two.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">However you file your taxes, try not to wait until the last minute: it might be harder to find and get what you need to finish the job!</span></span></span>Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-90459306964713942032014-12-02T13:13:00.004-05:002014-12-02T13:13:59.651-05:00Gifts for the HolidaysTis the season to find the perfect gift for your friends and family. Books are a great gift idea, but how do you find the right one?<br />
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Does your friend like movies? There are a number of films out recently that were based on novels, such as J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit", or Suzanne Collins' "Mockingjay" (but maybe start with "Hunger Games", the beginning of the series). For love stories, go with John Green's "The Fault in Our Stars" or Nicholas Sparks' "The Best of Me". Teens might be interested in Veronica Roth's "Divergent" series, or James Dashner's "The Maze Runner". For more books connected with films you will want to visit /Film's list of <a href="http://www.slashfilm.com/holiday-gift-guide-2014-books/" target="_blank">The Best Movie & TV Book Gifts of 2014</a>.<br />
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It can be tough to find books for girls that encourage their imagination and curiosity or help them form positive self-esteem. The website <a href="http://www.amightygirl.com/books" target="_blank">A Mighty Girl</a> has recommendations for all ages, in a variety of languages, in different subjects and for a wide range of prices. Biographies of famous women like Eleanor Roosevelt or Wilma Rudolph, works of fiction like "Pippi Longstocking", and a large number of award-winning books can be found on this site. Sites like Kirkus Reviews and the New York Times (linked below) have additional suggestions for books for kids.<br />
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And if you know someone who is fascinated by Schuylkill County history, there are a few books available you'll want to consider. The Pottsville Free Public Library has a few copies left of "Schuylkill Stories: The Chronicles of Ione Geier", a compilation of some of Mrs. Geier's favorite columns from her years of writing for the <i>Pottsville Republican</i> newspaper. Michael J. Lisicky recently published "Shop Pomeroy's First", about the popular department store in eastern and central Pennsylvania. Or for the true-crime reader you could go with Stephanie Hoover's "The Kelayres Massacre: Politics and Murder in Pennsylvania's Anthracite Coal Country".<br />
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E-books are great in some ways, for some readers. Most e-readers (either dedicated or on a tablet) permit you to make the text larger and easier to read, and they all make it easier to take many, many books with you for a fraction of the space of print books. If you are thinking of buying a dedicated e-reader for someone, take a look at reviews like those of <a href="http://www.cnet.com/topics/ereaders/best-e-book-readers/" target="_blank">CNET </a>or <a href="http://the-digital-reader.com/nates-reviews/dedicated-e-readers/#.VH3-L2fl98M" target="_blank">The Digital Reader</a> for more information before making your purchase.<br />
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Cookbooks are a really popular book gift for any occasion. There are so many different diets and health trends, you are sure to find something to fit the needs of the recipient. Or, instead of one book, you could look into gift subscriptions of a magazine like <i>Cooking Light</i>, <i>Gluten-Free Living</i>, <i>Taste of Home</i>, or <i>Vegetarian Times</i>. All of these titles are at the Pottsville Library if you want to take a look at them before buying them for others.<br />
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Here are some other sites that identify great gift books for various subjects:<br />
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<i>The Slate</i> writers chose their <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2014/11/best_books_2014_slate_staff_recommendations.single.html" target="_blank">favorite books for 2014 </a><br />
<br />
(And if you want to give an e-book, one web page has several <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/life/holidays/2012/11/e_book_wrapping_nine_fun_ways_to_give_e_books_as_presents.html" target="_blank">suggestions how to wrap it</a>!)<br />
<br />
<i>New York Times</i> Sunday Book Review <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/books/review/100-notable-books-of-2014.html" target="_blank">100 Notable Books of 2014</a><br />
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NBCNews Brainy Reads: <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/gift-guide/brainy-reads-top-science-tech-books-2014-n247111" target="_blank">Top Science and Tech Books of 2014</a><br />
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<i>Kirkus Reviews</i> <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/issue/best-of-2014/section/fiction/?page=2" target="_blank">Best Fiction Books of 2014</a><br />
(This page also has links to the best nonfiction, children's, and teen books.) <br />
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Do you have a favorite site for finding gift books? Let us know!<br />
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<br />Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-38295069823239946852014-10-17T13:55:00.000-04:002014-10-17T13:55:37.700-04:00Let's Talk Ebook PrivacyIf you borrow ebooks from the Free Library of Philadelphia, you may need to take some steps to ensure your privacy. Public libraries have always tried to protect their patrons' reading privacy but we don't always have control over how ebooks are managed by other companies. <br />
<br />
Reader privacy seems like no big deal, but imagine these examples. Someone has an abusive spouse and wants to read about others who were able to walk away from an abuser. A student has a research paper due on terrorism and has to focus on specific hate groups and crimes. A person wants to read about suicide signs to watch for because they are concerned about a friend. There are any number of legitimate reasons why people don't want others to know what they are reading, or where what someone is reading could be taken the wrong way, and librarians believe everyone has the right to keep their reading private. <br />
<br />
Ebook distributors like Overdrive use Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) to manage permissions and rules for library ebook users. Adobe recently released a new version of their software. Version 4 collects a large amount of information about the ebooks viewed using ADE, on your computer and any connected ereaders. It does not include your name and other contact information, but given that the information is sent to Adobe in a non-secure format and includes a vast amount of other detail, a savvy computer snoop could figure out the source. You can read more about this on the <a href="http://libwww.freelibrary.org/blog/index.cfm?postid=2078" target="_blank">Free Library's Blog</a> and from the <a href="http://the-digital-reader.com/2014/10/06/adobe-spying-users-collecting-data-ebook-libraries/#.VEFToGfl98N" target="_blank">original report</a> of the problem (thanks to Nate Hoffelder of The Digital Reader).<br />
<br />
The easiest way to protect your reading privacy is to use Adobe Digital Editions version 3, which can still be <a href="http://www.adobe.com/support/digitaleditions/downloads.html" target="_blank">downloaded from the Adobe</a> website. If you haven't updated to the latest version, your information has not been shared.<br />
<br />
As the Free Library's blog post notes, this is not a security breach but a privacy breach. Adobe made the changes because they wanted to offer more services to ebook readers, but those things come with a heavy price. Librarians and ebook readers across the country have started calling for Adobe to reverse some of the changes that were made, but until then staying with an older version of ADE will keep someone else from knowing what you are reading.Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-5244273886401141492014-08-08T11:05:00.000-04:002014-08-08T11:05:02.608-04:00Know a Teen Who Has Questions? We've Got Answers!Teens have a lot of questions they want answered, either for school or on their own. Sometimes those topics can get uncomfortable, and they don't know where to turn for reliable information. The Pottsville Library Reference Department has some trusted online resources that might be able to help!<br />
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There are a growing number of online books available to our library patrons with their library cards. To read these books, just go to our homepage at <a href="http://www.pottsvillelibrary.org/onlineresources.htm">www.pottsvillelibrary.org/onlineresources.htm</a>. We added a whole series to our Infobase Ebooks collection, available to you from any computer. If students are worried others might see what they are reading, this is a great way for them to get this important information in private.<br />
<br />
Some of the new teen titles include:<br />
<br />
The Truth About Eating Disorders<br />
<br />
The Truth About Smoking<br />
<br />
The Truth About Alcohol<br />
<br />
The Truth About Rape<br />
<br />
The Truth About Sexual Behavior and Unplanned Pregnancy<br />
<br />
The Truth About Anxiety and Depression<br />
<br />
The Truth About Stress Management<br />
<br />
The Truth About the Internet and Online Predators<br />
<br />
All of the Infobase titles are also available in print format in the Reference Collection, if you prefer to read the old fashioned way. Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-45749649563162817412014-06-30T11:11:00.001-04:002014-06-30T11:11:37.970-04:00New Titles in the Reference CollectionWhile the Reference Department doesn't add nearly as many titles every year as the other collections, we try to find interesting, authoritative resources to help library users answer basic or bizarre questions. Here are just some of the titles just coming in!<br />
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<i><b>The Kingfisher Encyclopedia of Life: Minutes, Months, Millennia - How Long is a Life on Earth?</b></i><br />
Did you know that an ocean quahog, a hard clam that lives in the Atlantic Ocean, can live 250 to 500 years? An American flamingo can live to 50 years old, but a porcupine only lives 5-7 years. There are fungi colonies that are believed to be more than 2000 years old, and the Great Barrier Reef is more than 10,000 years old! This heavily-illustrated book looks at the average life spans of plants, animals, and microorganisms around the world. <i>(Ref 508.03 B223</i>)<br />
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<i><b>The Graphic Designer's Business Survival Guide</b></i><br />
Being a really good graphic designer is just the start of what you need to go into business. From creating a business plan, to knowing when you should hire someone to do your bookkeeping, to managing your time and building your reputation, this book covers many of the basics a graphic designer would need. Marketing, time sheets, how to deal when things go bad, and other aspects of small business are all discussed here. <i>(Ref 741.60 D228)</i><br />
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<i><b>Real Ghosts, Restless Spirits, and Haunted Places, 2nd edition</b></i><br />
<i><b> </b></i>Helpful and threatening, human or animal, this book gives the details of many paranormal experiences around the world. Churches, cemeteries, highways, castles, apartments, restaurants, trains, stores, and inns are all scenes of visitations. <i>(Ref 133.1 St33)</i><br />
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<i><b>1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think</b></i><br />
When you think of the history of ideas, things like "I Think, Therefore I Am" come to mind. While the background of that idea is in this new reference book, you'll also find things like the origins of the newspaper (first stone or metal tablets in 131 BCE Rome that were public notices of important events, then after the Gutenberg press was invented, in 1605 the first modern newspaper appeared in Germany), a brief history of angels, the possibilities offered by the theory of genetic determinism, and many, many more. Organized by time period when the idea arose, you can use the category index to help you find the origins of things like reggae music, fatalism, ageism, Kwanzaa, Prohibition, etc. <i>(Ref 153.4 A15)</i><br />
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<i> </i>Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-23688853229510364422014-06-02T19:00:00.001-04:002014-06-02T19:00:11.433-04:00Looking for Magazine Sponsors!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's the time of year where we look over the magazine titles the library receives and try to figure out if our budget will cover everything. As a district center, we are required to subscribe to a certain number of titles. However, budget cuts from state and local sources mean that it's tough for us to reach that standard on our own. That's where you can step in!<br />
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We are looking for people to "sponsor" their favorite magazine title at the library. What does this mean? All you have to do is donate the amount of the subscription price for your favorite magazine title. We take care of the subscribing! There are titles that cost as little as $9 a year (like <i>Philadelphia</i> or <i>Motor Trend</i> magazines). Most of the titles are under $30, although there are a few that are much more pricey. <i>National Geographic</i> costs us $34 a year; <i>Entertainment Weekly</i> costs $60; and <i>Sports Illustrated</i> goes for $89.<br />
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We also know that a lot of people aren't aware of just how many different subjects our magazine collection covers. The titles on the display stand near the public computers are just a few of the current titles; we don't have enough space to display them all! You can find our entire current collection in the Magazine Room, near the back of the Reference Department. Kids' magazines are in the Children's Department, with titles for younger children near the Children's Desk and titles for teens in the Young Adult section in the back of the room.<br />
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New titles added within the last year include <i>Autism Spectrum Quarterly</i>, <i>Gluten-Free Living</i>, <i>Motorcyclist</i>, <i>Yoga, More Magazine</i>, and <i>Wired Magazine</i>. There are classics like <i>Highlights for Children</i>, <i>Good Housekeeping</i>, <i>Money Magazine</i>, <i>Popular Science</i>, and one of the few remaining weekly news magazines, <i>Time. </i>Conservationists, animal lovers, movie buffs, financial geeks, gardeners, hunters, cooks, celebrity watchers, sports fans, amateur astronomers, ... we have magazines for you and many others!<br />
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If you are interested in becoming a Magazine Sponsor, just stop by the Circulation Desk next time you're in the library. Pick a title, donate the amount for that subscription, and leave your name and address (so we can thank you in a future library newsletter!). Every sponsor brings us that much closer to meeting the standards for district centers in Pennsylvania, and helps us bring reading material to a wide variety of library users!Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-47441269435647037512014-05-19T15:48:00.000-04:002014-05-19T15:49:09.418-04:00Remembering Violence Before an Election in Schuylkill CountyThe primary this week is a good reminder of how far we have come in this county. 80 years ago, things were not so civilized. <br />
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The Kelayres Massacre took place on November 5, 1934 when one party, the Democrats, decided to have a parade celebrating the coming general election. The leader of the Republican party in town took exception to that, and members of his family opened fire on the unarmed parade marchers. Five people died as a result of the gunfire, and the next day the Republicans were defeated in elections across the state. <br />
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You can find more information about this violent event from newspaper articles written at the time. The Pottsville Library has collected some of the articles from the Pottsville Republican newspaper and put them into our Vertical File collection for easier access.<br />
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There are also two books coming out this year that will discuss the topic. <u>Keystone Tombstones</u> is a series that looks at famous graves in Pennsylvania, and volume three (read the <a href="http://republicanherald.com/news/kelayres-massacre-detailed-in-book-1.1676458" target="_blank">newspaper article about it here</a>) will include photos of some of the graves of those involved.<br />
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A quick search of the Internet revealed that another book coming out this fall will focus on the massacre and the political environment at the time. <u>The Kelayres Massacre: Politics and Murder in Pennsylvania's Coal Country</u>, by Stephanie Hoover, is expected to be released in September. We'll be looking to add the title to our collection when it comes out.<br />
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Curious about who else is buried in Pennsylvania? We have the first two volumes of <u>Keystone Tombstones</u> in the Reference Collection of the library. Some of the people you'll find in Volume One include Harry Kalas, Jayne Mansfield, The Molly Maguires, and Jim Thorpe. Volume Two continues with people like Richie Ashburn, Jim Croce, Milton Hershey, and Fred Rogers. We've also ordered a copy of <u>Keystone Tombstones Civil War</u>, which will be added to the Reference Collection as soon as it comes in.<br />
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<br />Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-45627146239203425562014-05-06T13:49:00.000-04:002014-05-06T13:49:51.353-04:00Who Controls Your Information?Two observances this week are trying to raise awareness of who knows what about you and who controls your information.<br />
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<a href="http://chooseprivacyweek.org/" target="_blank">Choose Privacy Week</a> is an annual observance running May 1-7. Sponsored by the American Library Association, the intent is to draw library users (and everyone else) into a conversation about privacy rights in the digital age. Just about all public libraries have privacy policies in place to protect those who borrow books and everything else from our collections. We don't tell other people what you check out, what you were looking at on the computer, or what you asked at the Reference Desk. But libraries can only protect so much, it's up to the library users to further protect themselves outside of the library building. Things like using the privacy controls in Facebook, or using a search service like DuckDuckGo.com or Startpage.com to search the Internet more privately. Have you noticed that once you look online for, say, a new pair of shoes, you start seeing ads from businesses selling those kinds of shoes? That's because businesses track your searching and shopping habits while you are using the Internet. Some browsers have an option in their "Privacy" tools that theoretically tell web sites not to track what you are doing, but that is not a guaranteed way to avoid being tracked. The site can still choose to ignore the request and you won't always know if the site tracks you or not. Some internet security programs have additional Do Not Track (DNT) methods, and you can <a href="http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/privacy/323266-yahoo-drops-do-not-track-use-other-privacy-tools-instead" target="_blank">read about them here</a>. It is a problem, and will remain a problem for a while because so many companies are making so much money off of your data: who you are, how much money you spend on what kinds of items, where you live, etc.<br />
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May 6th is also <a href="http://www.defectivebydesign.org/dayagainstdrm" target="_blank">International Day Against DRM</a>. What is DRM? DRM determines what kind of software you need (or what kind of device) in order to read the ebook you wanted to purchase. DRM controls how many devices can hold that ebook, and prevents you from loaning that ebook to a friend to read. DRM also helps publishers control how many times a book can be read: some publishers license ebooks to public libraries, but limit those books to 26 uses and then the file is automatically deleted. Some might argue that DRM is a method to protect copyright, but it's really a method to control what you can do with the item you just paid for. It can also create a problem by denying you access to your own equipment: some people might remember when Sony used DRM on music CDs that ended up crashing listeners' computers. There is a list of <a href="http://www.defectivebydesign.org/faq" target="_blank">Frequently Asked Questions about DRM</a> that you can read for more examples. DRM isn't just on ebooks, however: it's also on the DVDs you purchase, the files you stream from video companies, the iPad you use. Want to find DRM free materials? <a href="http://www.defectivebydesign.org/guide" target="_blank">This list</a> is a good place to start.<br />
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Have more questions about your privacy? You can find out more on sites like the <a href="https://www.eff.org/" target="_blank">Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)</a>, the <a href="https://www.privacyrights.org/" target="_blank">Privacy Rights Clearinghouse</a>, and USA.gov's "<a href="http://www.usa.gov/topics/family/privacy-protection/online.shtml" target="_blank">Protect Your Privacy Online</a>" page. Or contact the Pottsville Library Reference Department, and we'll help you find answers to your questions.Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-71164494179027922802014-04-01T13:54:00.001-04:002014-04-01T13:54:57.500-04:00April is National Poetry Month!Today begins National Poetry Month, a time to celebrate poems and poets past and present. There are a number of ways you can take part!<br />
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The Academy of American Poets has two web pages to help get you started. <a href="http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/47" target="_blank">What Is National Poetry Month?</a> answers some of the questions you might have about NPM specifically, such as who started it, why April, and how groups can get involved. <a href="http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/94" target="_blank">30 Ways to Celebrate</a> gives some ways you or your group can take part in the celebration, such as using chalk to write a poem on the sidewalk, some classic poems to read and share, how to start a poetry group, and more.<br />
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You can find many, many poems and poets at the <a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Poetry Foundation</a> website, including a variety of poems specific to a season, occasion, or even region (like poems by poets from the Mid-Atlantic region). <br />
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If you are trying to find out more about a particular poet, you might try using your Pottsville Library card in the <a href="http://www.powerlibrary.net/Remote/Remote.asp?ID=Pottsville" target="_blank">POWER Library Network</a>, and explore the Contemporary Authors database there.<br />
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If you enjoy short, funny poems, why not attend the Pottsville Open Writers (POW!) meeting this Saturday, April 5? The topic for the day is "a funny short story or poem". Everyone shares what they came up with, then there is another writing assignment during the meeting on a topic chosen by that day's leader. POW meetings are open to anyone age 18 and older, new members are always welcome, and there is no fee to join! POW meets on the second floor of the Pottsville Library from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.<br />
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And, in hopes we've seen the last of the winter weather, a haiku from the Reference Desk:<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Winter is now gone</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Cool wind blows across blue sky</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Slowly Spring arrives.</i></span>Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-18136056775646452172014-03-15T14:21:00.000-04:002014-03-15T14:21:03.832-04:00Annual Update to Obituary IndexGreat news for genealogy researchers: the annual update to the <i>Pottsville Republican</i> obituary index has been put up on our genealogy page! You can find the index here: <a href="http://www.pottsvillelibrary.org/genie.htm#news">http://www.pottsvillelibrary.org/genie.htm#news</a> . The list is now more than 3,700 pages long and includes more than 178,000 names. It covers 1884-1894, 1950-mid1982, 2008-2013, and any names we find as we answer requests for copies of obituaries, plus names and dates provided by other genealogy researchers. As you can see, we have a long way to go, but every name we add (and we add names on an almost daily basis) helps it grow.<br />
<br />Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-78796719743622249832014-03-01T10:22:00.000-05:002014-03-01T10:22:22.434-05:00Take Part in Read an E-Book Week, March 2-8, 2014E-books: they seem to be everywhere, talked about by everyone, argued about, loved, hated, cheered, ignored. If you haven't tried reading e-books yet because you don't want to spend the money on a tablet or e-reader, we have some great news for you: you can read e-books on your computer, laptop or smartphone. Here are some great places to find free e-books, most of which can be downloaded and read without any special software or devices.<br />
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Project Gutenberg (<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/">www.gutenberg.org</a>) is the original source for free e-books on the Internet. (I read my first e-book, "Herland", from this site more than 20 years ago!) These are all books that were previously published and are now in the public domain. Great place to find the classics, most of which can be downloaded for use on most devices and computers. (Parents, keep this site in mind for your kid's summer reading assignments!)<br />
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The Online Books Page hosted by the University of Pennsylvania (<a href="http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/">onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu</a>) has gathered together the records for more than one million free e-books from all over the Internet. Here you will find non-English language e-books, banned books, featured women writers, and other collections. Where else could you stumble on <cite>Haunted Houses: Tales of the Supernatural, With Some Account of Hereditary Curses and Family Legends</cite> (London: Chapman and Hall, 1907), by Charles G. Harper?<br />
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Read Easily Online Library (<a href="http://www.readeasily.com/">www.readeasily.com</a>) focuses on providing more display options for e-books. The site allows you to change the font size, as well as font color and background color, with the options based on research for what works best for those who are partially sighted and old age readers. The files are also formatted to work with text-to-speech software for the blind and visually impaired.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-eBooks/" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/Free-eBooks/379003078/" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a>, <a href="http://www.digilibraries.com/" target="_blank">DigiLibraries</a>, <a href="http://www.feedbooks.com/" target="_blank">Feedbooks</a>, and <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/category/1/newest/0/free/any" target="_blank">Smashwords </a>are all sources for more free e-books, both classic and current, as well as e-books you can purchase. If you are looking for e-books written by Schuylkill County authors, these sites are the best places to check.<br />
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So, if you've been one of those who have ignored e-books, thinking there was nothing you wanted to spend money on, this is the time to give e-books a chance. And if you are a fan of e-books, and we left out one of your favorite sources for reading, please share that site with us! Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-68640628089468858442014-02-19T13:46:00.001-05:002014-02-19T13:46:15.516-05:00Celebrating African American History Month!There are so many ways to celebrate African American History month, so many reasons to celebrate it, and so many people to celebrate, it can be a little overwhelming where to start. Whether you are cheering on Elana Meyers and Lauryn Williams in the women's bobsled event at the Winter Olympics, or you've been following speedskater Shani Davis over the years; whether you were alive when the Civil Rights Act was passed 50 years ago; whether you listen to music, read history, or watch films; all of these are reasons to celebrate this month.<br />
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One of the great places to start learning more is at the <a href="http://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/" target="_blank">African American History website </a>created by the Library of Congress, National Gallery of Art, and several other federal agencies. From here you can learn more about the Underground Railroad through the National Park Service's Network to Freedom. Or visit the Exhibitions and Collections section to view some of the art and learn about some of the artists featured in the National Gallery of Art.<br />
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If you have a Pottsville Library card, you can use it to access some of the ebooks in the Reference Collection. From the library's homepage at <a href="http://www.pottsvillelibrary.org/">www.pottsvillelibrary.org</a>, click on Infobase eBooks to read "African Americans in the Military", or "Encyclopedia of Free Blacks and People of Color in the Americas".<br />
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Your Pottsville Library card also gives you access to the POWER Library Network. Need to find an African American author born in Pennsylvania? Contemporary Authors allows you to search by ethnicity, gender, and birth place. Need to find articles about civil rights, published within the last ten years? MasterFILE Main Edition allows you to search by subject and narrow it to just those dates you need, and only those articles that are available full text (so you can read the entire article on your computer screen). And SIRS Discoverer has some great resources for elementary and middle school school students who have a homework assignment due tomorrow!<br />
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And, if you have to come in to the library, we have a number of great reference, circulating, and children's books about African Americans in history and today. Library staff will help you get started in finding out more about this important group in our nation's history.Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-23450720419818284442014-02-17T14:19:00.000-05:002014-02-17T14:19:16.935-05:00Winter Weather and Library HoursThe last few weeks have been brutal, haven't they? Snow storm after snow storm, with some ice mixed in there. Lovely. The Pottsville Library does try to remain open as much as possible, but we do sometimes close for the safety of our staff and users. If you are hoping to come in to the library, and the weather is bad, please check our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pottsville-Free-Public-Library/193350884039993" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> to see if we're closed or closing early, or give us a call before you head out. We want everyone to stay safe this season!Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-71211715389513193622014-02-05T12:31:00.002-05:002014-02-05T12:31:52.247-05:00Tax Season Has Officially StartedSo, the first day to file federal tax returns has come and gone (Jan. 31). The Pottsville Library has received some of the federal forms, such as the 1040A and the 1040EZ, but the main form has not yet arrived. As soon as the regular 1040 gets here we'll be sure to put it out! In the meantime, the other two have been made available in our lobby area (across from the Circulation Desk), as well as the state forms.<br />
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<br />Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-49426862927250723122014-01-29T14:31:00.000-05:002014-01-29T14:31:12.732-05:00New Carpet at the Pottsville LibraryThis week they started replacing the fire-damaged carpet in the library. And not just the section that was damaged: the entire first floor is receiving new carpet! So library staff and users alike have had to make adjustments as different areas were worked on (and thus unavailable to the public). The lobby and Circulation Desk area were finished before the library opened on Monday morning, and they've nearly finished the Reference Department, with one more section to be done after today. Next up will be the Children's Department and finishing the Magazine Room in the back. The project has certainly dictated how Reference service was provided this week!<br />
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Don't remember why there was fire-damaged carpet?<br />
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These photos were taken the morning of July 31, 2013, after the fire was put out and before the clean-up crew got started. The light fixture overheated, causing melted plastic to drip down onto the carpet, which then started burning. Fortunately, the janitor grabbed a fire extinguisher and was able to put out the fire before the firetrucks got there (all the gray powdery stuff on the floor is from the extinguisher). The fire and hot dripping plastic melted the floor mats to the carpet, which then cooled to a lumpy mess. We had to keep a step stool over that spot to keep people from tripping on it, and slightly rearranged the computers. Somehow the computers weren't damaged by either the fire or the extinguisher!<br /><br /><br />
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This photo shows the old fire-damaged carpet removed from the computer area. This was the first section worked on, even before the very front of the Reference Department. This meant that, just like right after the fire, adults had to use the computers in the Children's Department on Monday and Tuesday while that section of the library was worked on. Computers in the Reference Department were once again available to our users on Wednesday. But, once they start working on the Children's Department, adults will have to share their computers with the kids!<br />
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Look closely under the edge of the shelf on the right (on old carpet). See those round things? Those are sliders that the company slipped under the shelving units to shift them back and forth as needed. This was one of the lighter units, so they didn't have to remove any books before moving the shelving unit. <br />
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The front section of the room is finished, but all tables (and other flat surfaces) are needed to hold reference books from the shelves in the back. So, Wednesday morning the computers were available for use but we couldn't provide anywhere for anyone else to sit and read the paper. Like the previous two days, newspaper and magazine readers were encouraged to take their reading material upstairs to the tables and chairs on the second floor. <br />
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The grand staircase provided another safe place to put some of the reference books from the back of the room. As one of the movers put it, "That's higher education for you right there!" :) They also made use of the tops of the wooden shelves running along the wall, under the windows, as well as the tops of the Vertical File cabinets.<br />
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One of the toughest parts for the movers was dealing with the microfilm cabinets in the Magazine Room. The two newer cabinets do not have removable drawers, and weigh a considerable amount. To make matters worse, there isn't much space between the tops of the cabinets and the ceiling tiles (and lights!). Somehow, the three men got them moved. Don't think I want to see how they move them back when the new carpet is in place!<br />
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More photos will be put on the library's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pottsville-Free-Public-Library/193350884039993" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> as the work progresses, so if you're curious you can follow it better there. In the meantime, please forgive us if we can't get something for you, or your favorite space isn't available, or if the smell of the adhesive is too strong for you. They are finishing up as quickly as they can, and hopefully within the next week or so the library will be back to normal -- just with better carpet!<br />
<br />Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-6047369683060075722014-01-13T08:58:00.000-05:002014-02-05T12:32:04.374-05:00Tax Season Has Started, But Where Are The Forms?Many people dread this time of year: tax season. But where are the forms?<br />
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Due to the partial federal government shutdown in October, the IRS had to delay printing many of the basic personal tax return forms. These forms are not expected to be received at the Pottsville Library until late January. Because of this delay, the various schedules that may arrive earlier will not be put in the library's lobby until the basic forms are received. These schedules will be kept at the Reference Desk, so if you are seeking Form 8829, for example, you can pick one up at the desk.<br />
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In addition, the IRS has declared that you cannot file a personal income tax return until January 31st. So, even if you use an online tax preparation service, and fill everything out today, that return will be held by the online service until January 31 and then filed at that time. <br />
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Speaking of online tax preparation, there are many companies that offer free tax filing for federal tax returns under certain conditions. Just visit www.irs.gov and click on the "FreeFile" logo on the right side of the screen. There are a few ways to select a company to use, and the requirements for qualifying for free filing vary from company to company. This feature will be active starting January 17th. Note that some companies will also offer to file your state tax return, but this may not be free.<br />
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The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (www.revenue.state.pa.us) offers the ability to directly file your state tax return online for free. The system isn't available yet, but when it is you can visit their site and click on "Personal Income Tax Return Filing". The system will walk you through the sections that need to be filled out.<br />
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Even with all the delays in making forms and online services available, remember that the deadline hasn't changed! Personal income tax returns are still due on the state and federal level by April 15th, unless you file an extension request.Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-47009317889122734372013-12-27T15:07:00.000-05:002013-12-27T15:07:40.812-05:00More New Magazines Have Arrived!More of the new magazine subscriptions have arrived. Today we'll look at some of the health-related titles you can find at the Pottsville Free Public Library.<br />
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First up, Arthritis Today. This title has three main sections: Your Health, which includes things like eye health, recent studies, working with kids, and losing weight; Your Self, which can include tips like feeling better in little ways, or healthier food choices; and Your Lift, which has interviews with people dealing with arthritis every day and how they manage. Foot pain and keeping warm in winter are just some of the topics in the January/February 2014 issue now at the library.<br />
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Gluten-Free Living is mostly packed with recipes, for adults and for kids. Beyond just recipes, however, there are also articles about living with celiac disease, different kitchen tools that can make life easier, and information from recent studies. The January/February 2014 issue has a Valentine's Day menu featuring Strawberry Salad and "Guilt-Free Brownies" the whole family can enjoy.<br />
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Yoga Journal is more than just the poses. The December 2013 issue includes an article about how to avoid catching a cold, non-alcoholic mixed drinks for get-togethers, new cookbooks, and reviews of books, CDs and DVDs. The Practice section focuses on one or two specific poses, such as the corpse pose (which is all about the subtleties).<br />
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Don't forget, there are other health-related magazines at the Pottsville Library as well! Titles like Prevention, Health, Weight Watchers, WebMD, and Diabetes Forecast all have useful articles to help you have your healthiest year in 2014. And all magazines can be checked out for one week, except the current issue. Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-73467661373648118642013-12-19T13:26:00.000-05:002013-12-19T13:26:22.415-05:00New Magazine Subscriptions Have Started!We try to keep up with what our library patrons want to read. This year we have dropped a few magazine subscriptions that weren't getting much use, and we started several new subscriptions we think you might like to read. And the new 2014 subscriptions have already started to arrive, so let's get to know them a bit.<br />
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First up is Autism Spectrum Quarterly. This is shelved in the Parenting Collection area of the Children's Room, so be sure to look for it there. Articles about evidence-based research, management strategies, and how to deal with common issues can all be found in this journal. Take a look at the Winter 2013 issue, which has a holiday gift guide and tips for the holiday season.<br />
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Next up is Family Tree Magazine, with tips and guides to help you research your own family tree. The December 2013 issue features the best free websites to trace US ancestors, how to plan a trip to an ancestral homeland, and tricks to working with a research partner. There is also a section on holiday heritage activities, how to trace Filipino roots, and a glossary of genealogy-related acronyms and abbreviations.<br />
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More Magazine focuses its stories on women in their 30s, 40s and 50s. Articles might look at avoiding burnout at work, age-appropriate fashions and styles, medical issues (what medical procedures are over-prescribed?), and similar topics. The Dec./Jan. issue even has a cheat sheet so you can understand some of the buzz terms being used by younger people at holiday parties.<br />
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And the last title for today, Motorcyclist, well, that's pretty much self-explanatory! Reviews of street and off-road motorcycles and "superbikes", gear guides, stories of races, and personal trips make up just part of this magazine.<br />
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Many of the new titles will be featured on the display rack at the front of the Reference area in the near future, so keep your eyes open for them. In the meantime, they can be found in their boxes in the Magazine room. More titles are expected to arrive soon, and we'll talk about them here when they do. Have a great holiday season!Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-33303289533378546412013-12-04T16:05:00.000-05:002013-12-04T16:05:47.976-05:00What Do You Want From a Book?What do you think of when you think "book"? Is it words in ink on paper, compiled into bound portable reading units? Is it words on a screen (e-reader or tablet), a file that is downloaded from a seller or from a free site? Is it words spoken into your ear, a printed text read by the author or a performer, allowing you to "read" on your hour-long commute every day? All of these things qualify as a "reading a book" today, and each has its fans and detractors.<br />
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The question that frequently pops up, however, is what else a book SHOULD be. Should a book take advantage of today's constant connectivity to allow you to see a video that is relevant to the paragraph you just read? Should a book be something you can jot notes in and have those notes immediately available for other readers to see? Should a book include music inspired by or part of the story or text? Some of these things already appear in "books" aimed at beginning or struggling readers, children, and others trying to connect a printed word with its sound and meaning. (Take a look at BookFlix, part of the <a href="http://www.powerlibrary.net/Remote/Remote.asp?ID=Pottsville">POWER Library Network</a>, available to anyone with a Pottsville Library card.) But a number of articles over the years have tried to explain how books for the general adult reader could be made so much better if only authors and publishers would make use of the various technologies and social networking options available to us today. And yet, many of the proposed changes to books just don't seem to catch on. <br />
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Do you want to have a video, music, or another reader play or talk to you while you are reading? Do you read to escape interruptions and the constant clicking that we do when using a computer? When does a book cease to be a book, and become a movie, or a game, or a conversation? Maybe the answer lies in what kind of book it is: a biography of a musician might make sense to include samples of songs he or she recorded; a book about birds might want to include the bird songs or videos of birds in flight.<br />
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In the meantime, print books continue to be produced and read in large numbers, showing that some people still just want to shut out the rest of the world while they immerse themselves in a story. E-readers serve the same purpose, focusing on the story without lights flashing or bells whistling. And if they want to talk to others about it, readers join book clubs or start conversations with their friends. Here's to hoping we will always have the option to read a book in whatever way we prefer. Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952684926088890884.post-22840915966939339182013-11-26T14:32:00.001-05:002013-11-26T14:32:56.169-05:00Tis the Season for Giving... What?As a library, we often promote the idea of giving books as gifts any time of year, but especially in December. Books are a way to bring people together to share a story, or to help a child develop their imagination, or to share cherished traditions. We argue that reading expands minds, helps the armchair traveler explore new cultures, and provides escape and leisure in a hectic world.<br />
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If you are thinking about giving someone a book as a gift, here's a thought: is it the right gift for that person? Maybe a book isn't always the best idea. Beth Carswell of AbeBooks posted a thought-provoking article a couple of years ago that is still relevant, "<a href="https://www.abebooks.com/books/presents-holidays-christmas-give-receive/best-books-gifts.shtml">The Best Book Gifts, And When Not To Give A Book</a>." She lists ten situations where giving a book as a gift may not be the best idea, like for college students who already are overwhelmed with course reading and may not have time to enjoy "fun" stuff.<br />
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If you still really want to give someone a book as a gift, what format is the best? So many people have switched to ebooks, and you need to know what kind of device they use to read their ebooks. Do they use a tablet with an app from each major ebook retailer? Do they have a Kindle, Nook, or Kobo ereader and buy only from that company? Are they anti-Amazon, or anti-DRM? (This is really, really important to know when you want to give an ebook to someone.) How does one even give someone else an ebook as a gift? Juli Monroe over at TeleRead has a good description of how you can do this: "<a href="http://www.teleread.com/ebooks/giving-ebooks-as-gifts-this-holiday-season/">Giving eBooks as Gifts</a>."<br />
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Don't forget that a great opportunity to support local authors is coming this Saturday, November 30. The Local Author Showcase at the Pottsville Library is part of the national Small Business Saturday event going on in downtown Pottsville. More than 25 authors from Schuylkill County will be at the library from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., selling print copies of their books (and some might have other media formats as well, like musical CDs). You can read the <a href="http://republicanherald.com/news/local-shopping-encouraged-1.1591425"><i>Republican Herald</i>'s story</a> about the events for more about other businesses taking part in the event. Saturday is also the day of the Santa parade in town, the lighting of the city's Christmas tree, and the children's Christmas party at the Humane Fire Company. <br />
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Let the holiday season begin!<br />
<br />Pottsville Free Public Libraryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15725722557999995552noreply@blogger.com0