Visit Your Library From Home (Count Birds, Too!)

Do you get tired of hearing that the internet has changed everything? It’s pretty much true, you know, and that isn’t a bad thing. For one thing, it brings a wealth of knowledge to your desktop, no matter where you live. As long as you can get online, you have almost unlimited resources!

I have to admit that I don’t always pay attention to what is available, but when I visited our local library system’s website yesterday, I was struck by the array of reference materials I could access from home, completely free. Many of them used to be available only if you were on site at the library, and some are subscription-only reference materials that would be quite costly if you were to pay for them individually.

To discover what your library offers, you can start by locating your library system’s website with a Google search. Once there, look for “electronic resources” or “links,” and starting exploring!

The electronic resources provided by our library include:

• p4a Antiques Database
• Grove’s Dictionary of Music
• Auto Repair Reference Center- Everything you need to know to maintain and repair your car.
• Biography Resource Center
• Literature Criticism Online- A compilation of literary commentary, including content from the print sets of Contemporary Literary Criticism and Twentieth Century Literary Criticism.
• NoveList
• What Do I Read Next?
• Business and Company Resource Center
• Encyclopaedia Britannica Online
• Gale Virtual Reference Library
• Ancestry Library Edition: Search authentic source records such as the US Census, military records and more to help with genealogical research.
• HeritageQuest
• eLibrary of magazine articles, newspaper articles, pictures, maps, book excerpts, and TV or radio transcripts.
• Expanded Academic ASAP resource includes scholarly journals, news magazines, and newspapers on subjects like the arts and humanities, social sciences, science, and technology.
• General Reference Center Gold
• General OneFile -Millions of news and periodical articles updated daily.
• LegalTrac- Index of 1,427 legal publications, including major law reviews, legal newspapers, law specialty publications, bar association journals, and international legal journals.
• Military and Intelligence Database
• Health and Wellness Resource Center
• Local Newspaper Archives
• Professional Collection- Over 250 full-text educational periodicals and journals covering arts, psychology, adolescent issues, curriculum, sports, law, technology and more.
• WilsonWeb
• Religion and Philosophy Periodical Database
• Science and Technology Computer Database
• Testing and Education Center
• Plus more resources for students and children!

Just imagine what kind of research fun your family could have with these resources! From car repairs to military intelligence; from antiques and composers to health and wellness; it’s all there for your use. If you haven’t discovered these resources and more at your local library, it’s time to pour a cup of coffee and enjoy a pleasant visit from the comfort of home.

Announcements:

The Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up! During “Presidents’ Day” weekend, February 15–18, 2008, anyone can count birds from wherever they are and enter their tallies online at www.birdcount.org. These reports create an exciting real-time picture of where the birds are across the continent and contribute valuable information for science and conservation. I highly recommend participating in this simple but fun activity, as it offers a great opportunity to connect with the outdoors and learn a bit about your feathered neighbors!

Colonial Heights Beat-the-Clock Essay Workshop will be held on Monday, February 18. Visit my website at www.EssayWorkshop.com for details and hostess contact information.