Good 2 Know

Rin Tin Tin and Other Special Dogs

2012-02-01T17:38:32Z

If you enjoying reading about animals, especially dogs, here are some new titles that you might enjoy.

Rin Tin Tin: the Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean tells the story of the famous dog's journey from an orphan puppy to a movie star. A young American soldier found the German shepherd puppy on a WW1 battlefield in France and brought the pup back with him to California. Rin Tin Tin went on to star in many movies and he became the most famous dog in the world. This is his story. 636.7376 ORL

Scent of the Missing: Love and Partnership with a Search-and-Rescue Dog by Susannah Charleson tells the story of Puzzle, a golden retriever, and her search pilot owner as they search for the missing, including a lost teen and an Alzheimer's patient. 636.70886 CHA

No Buddy Left Behind: Bringing U.S. Troops' Dogs and Cats Safely Home from the Combat Zone is about American troops serving in the Middle East and the stray dogs and cats they rescued. Author Terri Crisp makes it her mission to save these animals and bring them back to the states and back to the soldiers who love them. 636.08 CRI

Sergeant Rex by Mike Dowling tells the story of a bomb-sniffing German shepherd in Iraq and his handler. They were part of the first military working dog team sent to the front lines since Vietnam. This is a tale of courage and devotion set against the backdrop of war. 956.70443 DOW

For other titles, check our online catalog or Ask Us!

What to do with unwanted electronics

2012-01-24T21:53:26Z

A new state law adds 13 electronic devices to the list of items than cannot be disposed of with your regular trash collection.

Banned items include computers, TVs, fax machines, scanners, stereos, microwaves, printers and other similar devices. It is now illegal for Illinois residents to place these items in their trash and it is likewise illegal for the landfills to accept these items.

The purpose of the law is to encourage recycling and the reclaiming of the valuable resources these items contain, such as gold, lead, silver, and cadmium.

Kane County is continuing to offer a drop-off service for electronics on the second Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kane County Circuit Clerk's Office, which is located at 540 Randall Road, St. Charles.

For more information, visit the Kane County Recycles website.

In a Lather Over SOPA?

2012-01-17T17:30:13Z

The Stop Online Piracy Act seems like a good idea - protect copyright owners from digital piracy. Who wouldn't agree with that? Turns out quite a few people, including free speech activists and technology companies and sites like Wikipedia, Facebook, Google, Reddit, and others who fear that the language of the bill would make it easy to shut them down on just an accusation of piracy. How worried are they? Some major sites, including Wikipedia, are planning to "go black" on January 18th as a protest. Are they overreacting?

Check out these overviews and opinions:

PC World Pro and Con

New York Times

Fox News

CNET

SOPA is not the only Internet anti-piracy bill making its way through Congress. PIPA (PROTECT IP Act) is more narrowly focused on similar issues. If you want to learn more, check out Congressional Digest's overview and scroll down for the Pro/Con arguments. Outside of the library, you'll need your library card and PIN to access this copyright-protected content.

hk

Survey of American Industry & Careers

2012-01-17T16:38:00Z

The Survey of American Industry & Careers is a new Reference set for job seekers and students. This six volume set, shelved on the library's Career and Job Information table, provides in-depth overviews of 112 core North American industries and related jobs and careers. This set is also available online for St. Charles card holders.

The industries profiled include manufacturing, the service sector, e-businesses, etc. The scale of industries range from those dominated by individuals or small businesses to those dominated by national and international corporations.

A wealth of information is provided for each industry including an industry snapshot, industry market segments, organizational structure and job roles, industry outlook and related resources.

If you are looking for information on an industry, this set would be a great place to begin your research. For additional resources on industries and careers, check out the other titles shelved on Career & Job Information Table or ask us!

kt

Borrowing Library Books for Your eReader, Smartphone, or Tablet

2011-12-23T01:58:38Z

Photo: Barnes & Noble

If you have a new eReader or tablet computer, congratulations! We'd love to help you get started checking out library books online. We hope you'll love borrowing digital books for free.

The Rules:

Library books are checked out to you for 14 days.
You don't have to worry about returns or over dues, the books are returned automatically.
You may have up to 5 downloadable items checked out at once.
Most eBooks may be returned early (so you can download another immediately) and you may place holds on checked-out items.

How-To:
How you download library items depends on your device.

Have a Kindle? Start here.
Have a Nook, Sony, or other eReader? Start here.
Own an iPad, Xoom, smartphone or other tablet computer? Start here.
Would you rather listen? You can download audiobooks to compatible devices, too!

Help!
The My Help! on our eBook site is easy to use and understand. Just click the icon to get started.

If you would like some in-person assistance, we offer drop-in sessions for adults and children accompanied by an adult. No reservation is required, but please bring your device,and any and all cords. If you are using a Nook or other eReader and own a laptop, please bring it with you, too.

We have lots of upcoming dates and times for you to choose from.

Tips and Tricks:

All readers, except Kindles, read the Adobe EPUB format.

Begin your search for titles on the Library's eBook/eAudiobook site.

If you do an advanced search, you can limit to your device's format, items that are immediately available to checkout, and genres such as mysteries, biographies, or romance.

You'll need your library card and PIN to checkout. The default PIN is changeme. If you've changed your PIN, but can't remember it, it can be emailed to you.

If you're a Kindle owner, you'll need to have your Amazon login and password.

Photo:Sapphireblue on Flickr via everystockphoto

More Free Stuff!
Since we're talking about free digital stuff, don't forget that we also have free music downloads (3 per week, and you get to keep the music). And if you like to listen to books, but don't want to download them, you might like to check out a digital Playaway device. Youth Playaways and Playaway Views are available for kids, too. Just supply your own headphones and batteries and you're good to go.

Enjoy!

hk

Choosing an eReader

2011-12-08T21:09:56Z

Yes, it's that time - our annual eReader purchasing advice. The good news is that if you're hoping for a shiny new eReader or tablet computer this year, chances are better than ever that you can checkout books for free from the Library (Kindle owners, rejoice!). For a complete list of library compatible reading and listening devices, click here.

But how to decide what to buy? CNET has reviewed the major players in the field for you. They even talk about library borrowing! Read the review. Stop in the library to see other reviews.

Once you have your reader, check out our Digital and Downloadable page for quick start guides and more information. We regularly hold drop-in help sessions. Just check your current issue of Discover, our website, or give us a call for more information.

Finally, if you're feeling an overload of technostress, we once again recommend turning to the Medieval Help Desk for a laugh.

hk

Holiday Mail for Heroes

2011-11-28T19:57:18Z

The Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are once again sponsoring the Holiday Mail for Heroes program. This program is designed to collect and distribute holiday cards to American service members and their families in the U.S. and around the world.

It is very easy to participate. Complete your cards and mail before December 9, 2011 to Holiday Mail for Heroes, P.O. Box 5456, Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456.

Here are a few simple guidelines:
    Use generic salutations, such as "Dear Service Member"
    Send only cards - no letters
    Do not include home addresses or email addresses
    Do not include any inserts, such as photos
    Cards do not need to be in individual envelopes as cards will be removed from envelopes before distribution.

This is a great program for children to participate in.

Remember our service members and send them holiday cards.

kt

Get Cooking

2011-11-21T21:29:29Z

Looking for some new recipes? Try one of these cookbooks available in the library's collection.

It is almost time to start baking those Christmas cookies that we all love. A new cookbook full of more than 200 types of recipes is Very Merry Cookies (641.5686 VER). This book is for both novices and more experienced bakers. Every cookie lover should find something to like in this book.

Jamie Oliver's Meals in Minutes (641.555 OLI) is just the cookbook for those who need quick and easy recipes. This is Oliver's 11th book. He provides recipes with stove to table prep times of 20-30 minutes. The book includes hundreds of color photographs, tips on how to organize your kitchen, and a list of essential tools and equipment.

For Italian food fans, try Jessica Theroux's Cooking with Italian Grandmothers (641.5945 THE). The subtitle of this book is Recipes and Stories from Tuscany to Sicily. She visited Italian grandmothers in their kitchens and recorded their recipes and stories.

Comfort Food Fix (641.563 KRI) by the Cooking Channel's Ellie Krieger has 150 recipes for favorites like meatloaf, lasagna, and mashed potatoes made with fewer calories and fat. Krieger provides lots of simple tips and tricks to serve up healthier foods. She has recipes for breakfast to dinner, snacks to desserts, and everything inbetween.

For more cookbooks, check our online catalog or AskUs!

FYI, DIY

2011-11-03T22:41:58Z

There are many projects around your home that you can do yourself, and the library has a wide selection of books that can help you complete these projects.

Need more closet space? Easy Closets: Affordable Storage Solutions for Everyone (643.5 PRO) can give you lots of ideas about how to get the most storage space from the closets you already have.

The Complete Guide to Flooring (690.16 COM) will answer your flooring questions. A DVD is included with this book.

Need to spruce up the front of your home? Quick & Easy Curb Appeal (625.88 QUI) will give you tips and ideas on how to make the front of your house and yard more attractive.

Building Decks (690.893 BUI) covers every aspect of deck design and construction and guides the user through the entire process. Start now and you will be ready for next summer.

Check the library's online catalog or Ask Us! for more titles.

Our Hobbies and Crafts database includes woodworking, gardening and home decorating if you like to learn online.

Niche Crafting

2011-10-20T21:55:16Z

Now's a good time to get crafting on Christmas and Hanukkah gifts (or Solstice presents, or New Year surprises, or just because you like to give gifts). But maybe you're tired of giving the same old thing. If you want to really surprise them, check out some of our most unique craft titles.

Don't worry, no cats will be harmed (or shaved) if you decide to try Crafting with Cat Hair. And no, you won't be making sweaters out of your feline friend's coat. The projects involved require just a little of kitty's fur which is usually made into a felted embellishment for a larger project. The pictures of cats and the charming asides will tickle feline fanciers. Even those of us who initially were turned off by the idea of turning cat hair into crafts have found at least one item that we think is the cat's meow in this quirky book.

Just want to whip up a little something - literally? Microcrafts contains teeny tiny bits of whimsey for you to make and give. The picture on the cover doesn't lie, the projects in this book are no bigger than a spool of thread. Tiny doesn't necessarily mean a small time investment, but it does mean some really creative and cool crafting. And let's face it, anything that small is just plain adorable.

While we'd really prefer it if you didn't make art out of our current collection of books, if you shop our book sale, flea markets, or have some books ripe for art instead of reading, this is the craft book for you. The projects are inventive and eco-friendly. Why not repurpose instead of recycle those old text books? Did you know this sort of crafting with books has a Library of Congress Subject Heading? It's "altered books" if you'd like to search for similar titles.

The fifteen projects in Steampunk Chic use recycled and found objects, and will please the steampunk fan in your life. Similarly, the steampunk emphasis on clockwork, gears and metal is a natural fit with jewelry, as you'll see in Steampunk Style Jewelry. So much so, those who've never heard of steampunk, but like an industrial or antique look, would love pieces from this book.

Finally, if you want to learn how your crafty talent can make the world a better place, check out Craft Activism. From the publisher: "Learn to craft for your cause, connect with other crafters, think green, organize a fair, host an online exchange, create yarn graffiti, and more." Included are about 20 projects to get you started, along with inspiring stories of those who craft to make a statement and/or to help others.

hk

Horsing Around at the Library

2011-10-18T21:31:35Z

The library has added several new books about horses that will interest all the horse lovers in our community.

The Eighty-Dollar Champion by Elizabeth Letts is the true story of a horse named Snowman, who was saved from the slaughterhouse and went on to become America's show-jumping champion in the 1950s. (798.25 LET)

Horses Never Lie: the Heart of Passive Leadership by trainer Mark Rashid covers his principles and techniques used in training horses. (636.10835 RAS)

Horses: the Story of Equus is a DVD that was originally produced as a motion picture in 2001. It explores the lives of 3 remarkable horses. (599.6655 HOR)

Complete Horse Care Manual by Colin Vogel is a thoroughly updated volume covering new technological and medical developments and lots of photos and diagrams. (636.1 VOG)

Handy Hints for the Horse Person: Hundreds of Hints to Save Time & Money by Karen Bush covers feeding, grooming, exercising, competing and more. (636.1 BUS)

For additional titles please check our online catalog or Ask Us!.

What does the Library have in common with Netflix, Blockbuster, and Redbox?

2011-10-12T21:41:49Z

Well, we all rent (or check out) lots and lots of DVDs. Did you know libraries check out more DVDs than Netflix rents? Well, Warner Home Video has noticed how much business we all do.

Warner Home Video has announced that libraries and rental outlets now have to wait an additional 28 days to get their theatrical releases on DVD. In addition, DVDs for the rental and library market will not have the DVD extras or bonus features which are included in the retail versions.

Are we happy? No! But it's their content and they control its sale and release. Hopefully other studios will not follow suit.

What this means for our patrons is some frustration when they see the last Harry Potter DVD for sale everywhere, but the Library cannot legitimately purchase it or check it out until the following month. Warner releases about 12 theatrical titles per year, so it affects a fairly small number of releases, but they are also likely to be in-demand items.

The first three affected titles are listed below.

While you're waiting for Crazy Stupid Love, maybe you could check out all of Ryan Gosling or Julianna Moore's other movies? Or we can always recommend a good book to read, listen to, or download.

hk

Still Relevant after 40 Years

2011-10-06T21:07:54Z

The Library recently acquired the latest edition of a classic job search book, What Color is Your Parachute? You will find this book in both the circulating collection (650.14 WHA) and on the Careers & Job Table near the Reference Desk.

Now in its 40th edition, this title has been updated each year to reflect changes in the job market. The new edition has a chapter titled "Networking in the Age of Social Media" to show readers how to use sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

The Library of Congress has included this title on its list of "25 Books that have shaped readers' lives."

The Library has many sources, both print and online, to assist job seekers. Search the online catalog or AskUs! for assistance.

Kindle Your Imagination

2011-09-27T14:36:21Z

Finally! Finally we're able to offer Amazon Kindle users a free way to read library books. All of our eBooks are now available (barring items being checked out) on Kindle devices.

Here's a little video to help get you started. Our site looks a little different, but the steps are all the same for Kindle users.

Don't worry Nook, Sony, or Kobo people, we continue to buy eBooks in nearly every format for nearly every eBook reader.

Prefer to listen? Audiobooks and music tracks are downloadable as well. Bonus - the music never has to be returned - it's yours to keep. Rock on!

While we're excited to offer eBooks for our users, we recognize that it's not always an easy process, and the different instructions for different devices can be confusing. Please stop in if you have questions. We're also offering some drop-in one-on-one sessions to help you get started. Coming up:

Wednesday, October 12, 10:00 a.m.-Noon
Wednesday, November 16, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Monday, November 28, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 13, 10:00 a.m.-Noon

hk

Where does my hospital rate?

2011-09-24T15:31:18Z

The 2011 edition of the Comparative Guide to American Hospitals is a recent addition to the Reference area of the library (REF 362.11 COM).

This title compares and ranks more than 4,500 hospitals by 49 measures of quality in treatment areas that include heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical procedures, pregnancy care, children's asthma care, medical imaging and patient satisfaction. These profiles illustrate how each hospital rates by state and nationally. You can easily see how each hospital measures up on caring for patients with specific conditions.

Helpful contact information is provided for each hospital, including naming several key personnel.

The set is divided into four regional volumes. There are also state by state hospital rankings on accepted quality protocols.

For additional information on this topic, see our blog post Paging Doctors of Excellence.