All About America's News

Posted by Jacob D.

America’s News from NewsBank allows you to read daily newspapers from across the country with full issues going back to the 1980s. Major metro newspapers like USA Today, The Oregonian, Los Angeles Times, and hundreds of small town papers are available to search and browse. Edwardsville Public Library cardholders can access America’s News and browse the service from home with remote access.  You will find the link to America’s News under Newspapers on the Research page on Edwardsvillelibrary.org.

The service makes research and homework easy with features like Find a Topic, Special Reports, and Hot Topics. You can quickly access all newspaper articles related to Harry Potter if you go through the Leisure Activities page under Find a Topic. This is a great way to browse your areas of interest and stay on top of current trends and goings-on.

Special Reports is featured prominently in the navigation bar on the left side of the page. If you were to click the US Presidential Campaign link, you would find extensive coverage on all candidates, debates, and all things pertinent to the election. There are links to articles, maps, images, external websites, and more. There really is a wealth of information for any of the topics covered in Special Reports.

Hot Topics can be accessed by clicking the link directly under the Current Events heading on the navigation bar. Hot Topics provides prepared search terms for the hottest trending topics for a variety of interests from world news to fine art.

Car Repair at the Library: Chilton's Database

Posted by Alana T.

The library has so many electronic information resources for you to use that it is almost mind boggling.  One of my personal favorites is the Chilton's Auto Repair database.  If you are replacing the water pump in your '73 Chevy Impala, or just want to figure out how to change the oil in your 2012 Prius, the Chilton's database is for you.  You can find technical drawings for parts and instructions for most repairs; basically anything you can find in the Chilton's books (which are pretty hefty), you can find in the database.

The information can be downloaded and printed if you need visuals next to the car.  To access the database from our website, you will need your Edwardsville Library card and PIN.  Once in the database, select the make, model and year of your car.  From there, select the system you are working with (electrical, suspension, etc.) and find the item(s) of concern.  You are usually provided with a series of steps for trouble-shooting, a list of tools for repair, step-by-step instructions, and plenty of diagrams.

The Library WonderSource

Posted by Katherine R.

One underutilized resource at the library is our database collection. Because the kids are all heading back to school, in this post we're highlighting databases that are useful for students. No matter what the topic, we have a WonderSource to help you find the information you need. It's important to realize that these are all print sources that are available online only through the library.  Making things even easier for school projects, source citations are included at the bottom of each article. And, with your library card number, most can be conveniently accessed from your home computer. 

Biography in Context
If you need biographical information about a historical or contemporary figure, this is the place to look. There are entries on 528,000 people. You'll find multi-media content like videos, images, magazines and newspapers. Kids will also find this fun to look at for information on their favorite actors, athletes, writers, and singers.

Issues and Controversies
This database helps students understand the crucial issues we face today, exploring more than 800 topics in business, politics, government, education, and popular culture. This is a great resource for helping kids understand both sides of an issue.  

Testing & Education Reference Center
You can access 300 practice tests and courses, a scholarship search tool, and a college search tool. Included in the practice tests are High School Advanced Placement (AP) tests, ACT, PSAT, SAT, SAT subject tests. To take practice tests you will need to create and account.

Summer Learning: Try Universal Class!

Posted by Staff

Summer is a great time to try something new. The library has many options to help you improve your skills or find information about new ones, but have you thought about trying an on-line class?  Universal Class, one of our on-line databases, offers hundreds of continuing education classes, covering topics in business, science, self-help, computers and more.  Each class description includes a lesson plan and course objectives.  An instructor monitors your progress, answers questions and grades homework (what, homework?!). You'll need your Edwardsville barcode to access this website, then you'll have to create an account to save your progress.  You have six months to complete a course and you can sign up for five at a time.

Since summer is a time to have fun, we've highlighted a few classes on the light-hearted side.  Of course, there is a time commitment involved - these are real classes - but the point is to have fun while learning something new. Give one try today

Wildlife Rehabilitation For Beginners.  You'll learn how to tell if a wild animal really needs help, and what to do if help is needed, as well as what not to do.  The class covers transporting problems, health concerns, dealing with wild animals that become urban pests, and more.  It is devastating to attempt to help an animal in distress only to discover you made matters worse.  Enroll and gain the correct knowledge.

How To Write A Short Story 101.  You'll go through the entire process - preparing your mind, getting ideas on paper, and help you through the editing and proofing process. You'll learn new skills, and find new ways to express yourself.  More than that, you're going to learn the aspects of a good short story and learn to create your own wonderful works.

Bird Watching 101. This self-paced online course covers bird identification and location, feeding, types of birdhouses, equipment, emergency care and behavior and habitats.  Whether you are a casual backyard bird watcher or a serious enthusiast, you'll soon discover that the more you watch birds the more you will want to learn about them.

Dream Interpretation 101.  Across cultures and over the ages, dreams and their interpretation have both intrigued and bewildered people. After completing this course you will have the knowledge to make basic sense of your dream and the ability to begin interpreting them correctly.

How To Can, Freeze, Dry and Preserve Food.  This course describes the tradition of canning and preserving, how to get started, deciding what to can and preserve, the various methods, tools, as well as how to make jams, jellies, condiments, and beverages.  In addition, you will learn how to preserve herbs, meats, seafood and canning for special diets.

Reference Question of the Month - November

Posted by Judy T.

I recently had a conversation with a library staff member about the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, and that led to lots of questions (and answers) about bridges.  So, here’s a chance to find out how much you know about these truly important and often spectacular structures.

1.  This suspension bridge is the world’s longest at a total of 12, 828 feet.  In what country is it located?

2.  The Poplar Street Bridge is an example of what kind of bridge:

            a.   Arch bridge

            b.   Truss bridge

            c.   Girder bridge

            d.   Cantilever bridge

3.  Most bridges were made of stone or wood until the mid-1800’s.

             True or False

4.  Consisting of two 24 mile long parallel bridges in southern Louisiana, this structure is the world’s longest overwater highway bridge.  What is its name?

5.  What color is the Golden Gate Bridge?

6.  What is the title of Thornton Wilder’s Pulitizer Prize winning novel about a bridge that collapses in Peru?

Answers:

1.  The Akashi-Kaikyo Suspension Bridge is located in Japan.  It spans the Akashi Strait  between Kobe and Awaji Island.  2.  The Poplar Street Bridge is a girder bridge.  3.  False.  Cast iron and wrought iron came into wide use in the late 1700’s.  4.  The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.  According to the Causeway’s website, over 42,000 cars cross the Causeway each weekday.  5.  The Golden Gate Bridge has always been painted orange vermilion.   One of the consulting architects selected the distinctive orange color because it blends well with the bridge’s natural setting and it provides enhanced visibility for passing ships.  6.  The Bridge of San Luis Rey

Reference Question of the Month: September

Posted by Judy T.

Who Am I?  Each of the numbered lines below contains a few clues about an author whose birthday is (or was) in September or October.  Can you guess each author’s name?

1.  I was born in Maine, which is still where I live.  The first novel I wrote was Carrie, and I am considered a master of horror fiction.  My books are consistently bestsellers and several have been made into movies.

2.  I was named a Dame of the British Empire in 1971 and was the creator of the famous Belgian detective who relies on his “little gray cells” to solve murder mysteries. 

3.  My best-selling novel, published in 1906, exposed unfair labor practices and filthy conditions in Chicago’s meat-packing houses.  This expose led to passage of the Pure Food and Drug Law.

4.  I started practicing veterinary medicine in Yorkshire, England in 1940.  My wife encouraged me to write about my life as a vet, and my books were huge successes in the United Kingdom and the United States.   

5.  I was born in Dublin, Ireland and am best known for the sophisticated and witty plays I wrote at the end of the 19^th century.  My only novel tells the story of a young man who sells his soul so he will retain his youth and beauty.   It was considered immoral and caused a scandal as did aspects of my personal life.    

6.  I was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1894.  My first volume of poetry, Tulips and Chimneys, was published in 1923, and I wrote my final volume in 1963.  I always gave my name in lower-case letters with no punctuation.

7. I’ve written many Western novels as well as crime fiction.  Several of my books have been adapted into Hollywood hits. One of my Westerns became a movie starring Paul Newman. My novel about a star struck loan shark became a movie in 1995 starring John Travolta.  Although my Westerns were set in Arizona, I set my early crime fiction in Detroit.  Since 1980, I have often used Florida as a setting for my books.

Answers:  1. Stephen King – born Sept. 21, 1947  2.  Agatha Christie – born Sept. 15, 1890  3.  Upton Sinclair – born Sept. 20, 1878  4.  James Herriott (pen name for James Alfred Wight) – born Oct. 3, 1916  5.  Oscar Wilde – born Oct. 16, 1854  6.  e.e. cummings – born Oct. 14, 1894  7.  Elmore Leonard – born Oct. 11, 1925

 

Reference Question of the Month: August

Posted by Judy T.

There is the possibility that the weather may be moderating; kids are struggling to find something to occupy their days; local stores are stocked with school supplies.  In other words, it’s August. With that in mind, we have some school trivia for you. 

1.  In 1903, the first box of crayons was sold.  How much did it cost?

2.  Which of the following is NOT listed in the book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum?

            a. eat fruit every day

            b. flush

            c. clean up your own mess

            d. don’t hit people

           

3.  When was the first public school built in Edwardsville?

4. What is the name of the teacher who takes her class on madcap field trips aboard a very special school bus?

            a. Miss Lockhart

            b. Miss Dunkley

            c. Miss Frizzle

            d. Miss Booker

5.  What famous writer said “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education”?

6.   Dick and Jane were the popular main characters in a series of books used to teach children to read from the 1930’s through the 1960’s.  What was the name of their sister?

Answers: 

1. Five cents.  The box included black, brown, blue, red, purple, orange, yellow, and green crayons.  

2.  a--The author does not say to eat fruit every day, although he does say warm cookies and milk are good for you.

3.  The first public school was built on Kansas Street in 1864 and named after Judge Dale.  In

1886, Columbus School, today District 7’s oldest school, was built on a site adjacent to the Dale School.  In 1877, a free school for black children was opened in a building that had formerly been used as the county courthouse.  The building would eventually become Lincoln School.

4.  c-- Miss Frizzle from the Magic School Bus series of books

5.  Mark Twain

6. Sally was their 3 year old sister

Reference Question of the Month

Posted by Judy T.

The opening ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London are scheduled for July 27^th , and it is anticipated that there will be a worldwide audience of 4 billion people watching. 
Based on that staggering number, we are guessing that some of those people who enjoy watching the Olympics live in Edwardsville, so we are devoting this month’s questions to the Olympics.  Ready, Set, Go!

1.  What is the total number of medal events in the upcoming Olympics?

            a.  98

            b. 115

            c. 235

            d. 302

2.   This female gymnast received the first perfect score in her sport at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.  Who is she?

3.  Women will be competing in this sport for the first time in the summer games.  The sport is:

            a.   windsurfing

            b.   boxing

            c.   weightlifting

            d.  archery

4.  The last time London hosted the Olympic Games was in:

5.  Tug-of-war and pigeon shooting were Olympic sports in the past.  True or False

6.  How many gold medals did American swimmer Michael Phelps win at the 2008 Beijing Olympics?

7.  Wenlock and Mandeville are the mascots for the London Olympic games.  At what Olympic games did a mascot first appear?

Answers:

1.  302  2.  Nadia Comăneci  3.  Boxing  4.  1948  5.  True – Tug-of-war last appeared in 1920.  Pigeon shooting was on the program at the 1900 Paris Olympics; it was the only time animals were killed on purpose during an Olympic game.  6.  8 gold medals  7.  1972 Munich Olympic Games – the mascot was Waldi, the daschund

Reference Question of the Month: June

Posted by Judy T.

Sometimes those lazy days of summer aren’t lazy at all.  We are busy with gardening, Little League games, swimming lessons, home repair projects, and the list goes on.  In the interest of feeling a little more serene and relaxed, let’s think about beaches—beautiful, warm, sandy beaches…

1.  Where is the world’s longest natural sand beach?

2.  What gives black sand beaches their color?

3.  Where is the famous Copacabana Beach located?

4.  Is it easier to float in a pool or the ocean?

5.  Which state has the oldest lighthouse that is still operating?

6.  Which country has the most coastline?

7.  What European city creates beaches where there are none?

1. Cox’s Bazar Beach along the southeastern tip of Bangladesh stretches for 76 miles making it the world’s longest natural sand beach. 2. Grains of basalt, a volcanic rock, create black sand beaches. Punaluu Black Sand Beach in Hawaii is one of the most famous black sand beaches. 3. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
4. It is easier to float in the ocean because of the salt in the water. Salty water is “thicker” or denser than fresh water. 5. The Sandy Hook Lighthouse in Fort Hancock, New Jersey was completed in 1764, and it is still operating. 6. Canada – with 151,492 miles. This number includes the coastline of Canada’s islands, which number in the thousands. 7. Every summer since 2002, thousands of tons of sand are imported, along with full size palm trees and beach chairs, to create beaches at various locations in Paris.

Reference Question of the Month

Posted by Judy T.

This year’s adult and children’s summer reading program, Reading is So Delicious, kicks off on Monday, June 4^th.  In anticipation of a summer full of delectable books, let’s think about food this month.

1.  What are: angel hair, conchiglie, pappardelle, penne, ziti and tortelloni?

2.  What do vanilla, cocoa and tofu have in common?

3.  This classic American fruit salad typically includes apples, lemon juice, celery, walnuts and mayonnaise.  What is it called?

4.  What country is the world’s largest producer of bananas?

5.  French chef Auguste Escoffier is credited with creating Cherries Jubilee.  For what occasion was it created?

6.  Pineapples are classified as berries.  True or False

7.  Which of the following is not a whole grain:  a) quinoa b) oatmeal c) white rice d) popcorn

 1. Types of pasta 2. They are bean based or a product of beans. 3. Waldorf Salad - Oscar Michel Tschirky, maitre d'hotel, is given credit for creating this salad for a private party on the pre-opening of New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel on March 13, 1893. Oscar worked at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel from its opening until he retired in December 1943. 4. India is the world’s largest producer of bananas, but they are not exported; they are consumed domestically. 5. Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee 6. True- Pineapple is a mass of berries fused to a central stalk 7. White rice is not a whole grain

Reference Question of the Month: April

 

Posted by Judy T.

Since being inaugurated in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, National Poetry Month is now held every April.  In consideration of poets and poetry lovers everywhere, here are this month’s trivia questions:

1.  One of Longfellow's most famous poems begins: "Listen my children and you shall hear/ Of the midnight ride of ___________."

2. “'The time has come,' the Walrus said,/ 'To talk of many things' " was written by _________________.

3.  What is the name for an unrhymed form of verse of Japanese origin having three lines usually containing five, seven, and five syllables respectively?

4.  He was born in Alloway, Ayrshire, on Jan. 25, 1759 and is regarded as the National Poet of Scotland.   Besides being recognized for his spectacular poetry, he is well known for being a notorious womanizer.  By the end of his short life he had fathered fourteen children, nine of them out of wedlock, by six different mothers.  Who is he?

5.  Who is the current Poet Laureate of the United States?

6.  This famous 19^th century English poet is the female half of a famous literary couple.  She wrote Sonnets from the Portuguese during their courtship, and she was forced to wed in secret because her father had forbidden any of his children to marry.  Who is she?

Answers:

1.  Paul Revere

2.  Lewis Carroll

3.  haiku

4.  Robert Burns

5.  Philip Levine is the 2011-2012 Poet Laureate of the U.S.  According to the Library of Congress “His plainspoken lyricism has, for half a century, championed the art of telling ‘The Simple Truth’—about working in a Detroit auto factory, as he has, and about the hard work we do to make sense of our lives.”

6.  Elizabeth Barrett Browning   In 1846 she and Robert Browning eloped to Italy and married there.  She dedicated Sonnets from the Portuguese to her husband.