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Monarch butterfly on flower

On the Move!

Maybe you have seen them too? Orange and black; flitting from flower to flower or gliding on the breeze, the Monarch Butterflies are beginning their annual migration. One of nature’s great mysteries, the Monarch Butterflies that migrate from the eastern U.S. and Canada have never visited their winter destination. They are several generations removed from the butterflies that over-wintered in pine forests located in the mountains of Mexico.

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Bookshelf

Series and Read-A-Likes in the Library Catalog

This blog is about another nifty feature in the library catalog that you may not have found yet. I will use two books as an example. The first book “The Sherlockian” is a historical mystery with parallel narratives. When I type the name in the search bar for the library and then click on the title, I see the page below. Notice the link on the left titled “Series & read-a-likes”.

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reference usa map

Using reference USA Part II

If you not have not read Job Searches Using Reference USA Part I, It would be good to familiarize yourself with that content, since it will not be repeated here. The previous blog may provide you with all you need to search for a job. Although we are in a pandemic with 20 million people unemployed, there are companies in our area that are hiring. A basic search (on August 11.2020) for the last seven days, within a 25 mile radius of the 22601 zip code results in 631 hits!

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legal scale cover photo

Civil/Legal Resources On-line

Sometimes we need the advice of a lawyer, but their services can be expensive. Sometimes our problems come from a lack of funds which makes hiring a lawyer that much more problematic. Fortunately, there are reliable legal resources online, that can provide us with forms, information and help us determine if we need a lawyer or not. This blog will introduce you to some of these online resources.

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rotunda

Check out the Library of Congress Website!

The Library of Congress (LoC) was established in 1880 to support the research needs of the United States Congress. Over time, its mission and reach broadened, allowing it to serve as the nation’s library. As you can imagine this is quite an undertaking, making the LoC the largest library in the world! Early in this century the LoC began to digitize collections and put them online. Recently, I attended a webinar that provided a tour of features on the LoC website.

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bowman mangnolia tree

Stop and Smell The Magnolia!

Magnolia grandiflora (also known as the Southern Magnolia) is the tree species growing outside of the Bowman Branch of the Handley Regional Library. Its large white flowers, which are blooming right now, have the most delightful aroma. I encourage you anytime you are passing by the library, to stop and smell the magnolia. We are fortunate that our magnolia has branches with blossoms that are low to the ground so we can enjoy this fabulous scent of summer.

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bee blog cover 2

June is National Pollinator Month

Pollination is a process that transfers genetic material so a plant can reproduce. Why should we care about pollination? Plant reproduction involves the production of seeds, and some of those seeds are inside fruits like apples, cherries and peaches. Did I mention that strawberries, blueberries, chocolate, and coffee depend on pollinators too? It is estimated that 2/3 of crop species world-wide depend upon pollinators!

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Map of North America

Job Searches Using Reference USA (Part I)

 

The library subscribes to many useful services and databases so you do not have to. But, we still have to learn what these services are for and how to use them. One of these very useful services is called Reference USA, which provides a database of U.S. and Canadian businesses. This database not only provides lists of new businesses and historical business but job postings as well. Below is screenshot of the “Dashboard” page that you will be directed to when you click on the link for Reference USA.

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national poetry month april

April is National Poetry Month!

poetry 1Poetry is a great example of Aristotle’s concept that “The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts.” Individual words have their meanings but when they are strung together using cadence and rhyme to form a poem, the “whole” is definitely greater. Poems connect the head to the heart, ideas to emotions, and our senses to places.

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world water day

Water is Life

Water is life, yet we very much take water for granted in the developed parts of the world. March 22nd is World Water Day, a yearly reminder that this precious resource is vital to survival. Water as a subject is broad and deep. It appears in the title of books on spirituality and religion; flows through science; policy and current events; swirls around fish, oceans, marine mammals, birds and all the wildlife that also depend on water for their existence.

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world map

Enjoy Food From Around The World

Now that days are short there's more time for inside activities. Cold weather makes a warm kitchen that much more enjoyable. Why not try a new dish? It used to be ingredients featured in international recipes were hard to come by. A surprising number of exotic spices and international flavorings are now available in our local grocery stores. We have hundreds of cookbooks in the HRLS collection; dozens feature cuisines from other countries. Looking for a new pasta sauce? Korean BBQ? Real Irish food? Asian wraps and rolls? African Flavors? German baking? Mexican favorites?

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