News from KNOWhere - 8-28-2008

Labor Day is almost here, and that means a little break for all of us library folks as we celebrate the holiday by closing the library on Monday, September 1. We’ll be back at work on Tuesday, September 2, though, so join us then!

News from Screven

Don't forget our Free Movie Fridays at 3:30 pm! This Friday, August 29 we’ll be showing THE DOUBLE-O KID, in which a young man who dreams of being the next James Bond runs across a real-life plot for world conquest. Come see if he can make his dreams come true before his mom realizes he’s missing!

Friday, September 5 at 3:30 will be next week’s Free Movie Friday, and we’ll be featuring ACE OF HEARTS, in which police dog Ace is accused of a crime he didn’t commit. His only chance for redemption lies in the hands of his handler’s teenaged daughter, who needs to find the clues to prove him innocent – or Ace just might wind up on doggy death row!

Thursday, September 11 at 4 pm we will have our monthly creative craft hour. All ages are invited to join us to make a fun seasonal craft project for free! Please sign up ahead of time, though – there are only so many seats to go around.

News from Jenkins

Wednesdays are great here at the library! Every Wednesday we have a different great story or craft time, with a special theme. Want to know what the themes are for September? Just pop in to the library and pick up our September calendar, which has the themes for all the Wednesday storytimes and all the other cool stuff we’re doing here in the library. This Wednesday, August 27 at 4 pm, it will be “I Can Cook” day, when you and your kid can make a tasty culinary creation to enjoy!

We have a fascinating display in the meeting room cabinets: a collection of Civil War relics found throughout the Jenkins County area. You won’t want to miss seeing these, especially not the genuine Civil War cannonball!

Now, on to the books!

BULLS ISLAND by Dorothea Benton Frank. Twenty years after breaking her engagement to Charleston’s favorite son, Elizabeth “Betts” McGee has returned to the pristine beauty of the South Carolina shore. She’s become a top banker and has a comfortable life, but her job has brought her back to her old home, and to the family and past that she’d left behind.

JUST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE by E. Lynn Harris. Brady Bledsoe and his mother Carmyn have always been close. But when he goes away to college and gets involved with cheerleader Barrett, their relationship becomes strained, as the perky beauty tries to lead Brady away from the faith his mother taught him.

THE SECRET LIVES OF THE KUDZU DEBUTANTES by Cathy Holton. The Kudzu Debutantes are back, and dealing with the repercussions of revenge they got on their no-good cheating ex-husbands. Nita’s found a new man, and they’re getting married… but Nita’s ex-mother-in-law is out for blood, and if the Kudzu Debs don’t rally around, the marriage just might be off.

A THOUSAND VOICES by Lisa Wingate. Dell Jordan was adopted at 13, encouraged to pursue her passion for music, and is on the cusp of a coveted scholarship to Julliard. But there are mysteries in Dell’s life that she needs to solve, and so she sets off into the mountains of Oklahoma, in pursuit of her past and the keys to her future.

AMERICA AMERICA by Ethan Canin. Corey Sifter was the son of working-class parents who got lucky enough to become yard boy to the powerful Metarey family, who take a liking to him and send him to boarding school, where he becomes caught up in the presidential campaign of Sen. Henry Bonwiller. It’s not long before he’s tangled in a web of deception that will force him to choose between loyalty and honor.

HOME: A MEMOIR OF MY EARLY YEARS by Julie Andrews. She weathered the Blitz. She played Mary Poppins on the silver screen. She became the youngest solo performer ever to participate in a command performance for the Queen of England, and at eighteen she struck out across the ocean for the bright lights of Broadway, where she was discovered by Walt Disney himself, all before she was thirty. Here is the story of those early times in a career which has spanned over 60 years.

Click to check out these cool links!

Facts for Features Special Edition: Model T Centennial (Oct. 1)
Collection of facts and statistics for the October 1, 2008, centennial celebration of when "on Oct. 1, 1908, Ford Motor Co. introduced the Model T, generally regarded as the first affordable automobile and the car that industry experts say 'put America on wheels.'" Features data about auto manufacturing, car sales and ownership (such as California having the most registered vehicles according to the latest figures), and related topics. From the U.S. Census Bureau.

Building a National Joint Replacement Registry
In this 2008 article, doctors answer questions about why the U.S. does not have a national registry for artificial hip and knee joint replacement surgeries. Questions include: "Why doesn't the United States have a national joint registry when other developed countries such as Sweden, Britain, and Australia have one? What are the benefits and risks of such a system?" From the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

Community Mottos and Nicknames
Use this site to discover what mottos, slogans, and nicknames are associated with cities in the U.S. Search or browse by motto or state. Includes additional information about locations. Material has been submitted by users.

South Ossetian Separatism in Georgia
May 2006 discussion that considers "the history of relations between the Georgians, Russians and Ossetians, the ethnic/cultural differences, the current interests/motivations of all sides, and the prospects for settling the dispute over the land," where "the South Ossetians of Georgia have been in conflict with the Georgian government since just before the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the early 1990's." An Inventory of Conflict & Environment (ICE) study from American University.

Timeline of Discovery
"Presented here ... is a timeline that includes important scientific discoveries from 1840 to the present related to early humans. This interactive overview is a practical tool for your own investigation of our collective past." Covers events such as gorillas being formally recognized as a separate genus from chimpanzees in 1847, the 1859 publication of "Darwin's groundbreaking and highly controversial book on evolution," and Leakey funded discoveries starting in the 1960s. From the Leakey Foundation.

Well, that’s it for now – see you at the library!

News from KNOWhere - 8-21-2008

Summer is coming to an end, but we still have great stuff to do here at the library!



News from Screven

Every Tuesday at 10 am, we have our great storytime for the youngsters! Kids get to listen to a story and then do a cool craft or some awesome art suitable for display by any proud parent. It’s a ton of fun for the little ones, so make sure to bring them in! This program is free and open to any child who can come.

Speaking of things that are free, don’t forget our Free Movie Fridays! This week’s movie is THE WEDDING DATE starring Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney, in which it is proved that love really doesn’t come cheap. Next week will be THE DOUBLE-O KID, in which youthful spy Lance Elliot must stop a computer virus before its creator’s evil plan can bring the world to its knees – and he’s got to do it before Mom knows he’s missing! Come join us for Free Movie Fridays every Friday at 3:30 pm and see your favorite scenes on the big screen!

News from Jenkins

Wednesday, August 27 at 4 pm your kids can stir up their very own culinary creations at JCML’s special “I Can Cook” storytime! Kids can listen to a story and then they’ll be able to make their very own delicious snack. It’s a great start on teaching your kids the basics of how to feed themselves, and that’s one of the best skills they can pick up!

Check out these great new books! And remember, a couple clicks and your PIN number is all it takes to put any of them on hold for you!

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL by Fern Michaels. The Windsor family has lived in Crestwood, SC for generations – but that tradition may come to an end unless the last surviving Windsor, Sarabess, can find the daughter who ran away at fifteen and hasn’t been seen since.

THE ALMOST MOON by Alice Sebold. Clair and Helen Knightley are mother and daughter, and the centers of each others’ worlds… until Helen broke that bond. Here is the story of the first day after her mother’s death, and how they came to that point.

FIRE-BREATHING LIBERAL: HOW I LEARNED TO SURVIVE (AND THRIVE) IN THE CONTACT SPORT OF CONGRESS by Rep. Robert Wexler with David Fisher. He’s hated by the Republicans, the administration, and even sometimes his own Democratic party. Rush Limbaugh thinks he’s disgusting. Why? Because he’s the most outspoken liberal voice in Congress, and has been for the past twelve years. See what you think of him and his views when you see the world through his eyes.

MORNING LIGHT by Catherine Anderson. Loni McEwan was born with the Second Sight, but it’s brought her nothing but grief. But when she meets rancher Clint Harrigan she can’t ignore the danger that she sees his son in… the son he never even knew he had.

THE WHOLE TRUTH by David Baldacci. “I am dead. I was murdered,” said the tortured Russian in the videoclip, a clip that spreads through the Internet like wildfire. Only two people sense that there’s something off about it, and realize that Russia hasn’t gone back to its old Evil Empire ways.

Click to check out these cool sites!

New E-Scams & Warnings
This page lists alerts about scams and other warnings concerning malicious software (malware), viruses, phishing, e-mail schemes, threat and extortion e-mail messages, and more. Includes an option to get e-mail alerts when new warnings are posted on the page. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Satirical London: 300 Years of Irreverent Images
Companion website to "an exhibition of visual satire produced in and about London over three centuries." Browse images and essays on themes such as London print shops, English and Italian caricature, loan contractors, professions and trades, the fashionable, and royalty and celebrity. From the Museum of London.

Summer Games 2008
Can't make it to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing? "Now, you can follow the Summer Games no matter where you are. Explore stadiums in 3D, track medal counts, and view live sport results on Google Maps and Google Earth." From Google.

Water Recycling and Reuse: The Environmental Benefits
Fact sheet about water recycling, which is "reusing treated wastewater for beneficial purposes such as agricultural and landscape irrigation, industrial processes, toilet flushing, and replenishing a ground water basin." Discusses benefits to people and the environment, the future of water recycling, and suggested water recycling treatment and uses. Includes related links. From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Springfield, Illinois, Race Riot of 1908
Compilation of material about the commemoration of "the 100th anniversary of what has become known as 'the Springfield Race Riot of 1908'. The events of two sweltering days in August of 1908 shocked the nation and led to the formation of the NAACP." Includes a downloadable brochure about the event with a self-guided walking tour of Springfield, links to related websites, and an events calendar. From the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Great Apes & Other Primates: Gorillas
Fact sheet about gorillas. Topics include species and subspecies (currently four, but "some primatologists list one additional subspecies of mountain gorilla"), physical description, geographic distribution, habitat, diet, reproduction, behavior, social structure, communication, and threats to survival. From the Smithsonian National Zoological Park.

Smart Parking Systems Make It Easier to Find a Parking Space
This October 2007 article discusses how "[f]rom an airport system that directs drivers toward open spaces to cities' replacing meters with pay stations, technology is changing the way we park." Includes description of finding a parking spot in an airport where sensors are embedded in parking space to detect whether the space is occupied, and photographing parked cars in place of chalking tires. From IEEE Spectrum magazine, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Well, that’s all for now – see you at the library!

News from KNOWhere - 8-15-08

The summer heat is still out there, but fall will be here before we know it. In the meantime, why not escape to the library, and to the worlds of wonder within a book?


News from Screven


Don't forget our Free Movie Fridays at 3:30 pm! This week, August 15 is FOR LOVE OF THE GAME with Kevin Costner as a baseball player who must make a choice between the game he loves and the woman who loves him. Next week, August 22 at 3:30 is THE WEDDING DATE, which proves that love doesn’t come cheap.

Tuesday, August 19 at 4 pm is the meeting of our terrific Teen Book Club! This month’s book is SHADE’S CHILDREN by Garth Nix, and if you come join us, you’ll get a free copy, courtesy of Planters EMC – and you’ll be able to help pick what next month’s book will be! Can’t make it on Tuesday? Come to the Jenkins County Library Wednesday, August 20 at 4 pm instead!

Don’t forget to check out the marvelous children’s books given to us courtesy of the LIBRI FOUNDATION and the Friends of the Screven County Library! You’ll find them all over the library, and they’re all wonderful to read.

Tuesdays at 10 am, we have our great preschool storytime for the little ones. They’ll get to listen to a story and then do a cute art or craft project connected to the story.

News from Jenkins

Today, August 13 we’ve got a Wild and Wacky Wednesday planned out as we have a Groovy Threads contest and storytime. Any child who shows up in retro costume will get a chance to win a special prize!

Wednesday, August 20 at 4 pm is the meeting of our terrific Teen Book Club! This month’s book is SHADE’S CHILDREN by Garth Nix, and if you come join us, you’ll get a free copy, courtesy of Planters EMC – and you’ll be able to help pick what next month’s book will be! Can’t make it on Wednesday? Come to the Screven County Library Tuesday, August 19 at 4 pm instead!

Also at 4 pm on Wednesday August 20, there’s a special eco-friendly story and craft time where you can really get down to earth, so don’t miss it!

Maybe you’d prefer a more down-home fun time Saturday, August 23 at 2 pm, when you can bring a set of old clothes over and make your very own Scarecrow! (Brains not included!)

Now, on to the books!

THE DRIFTER’S WHEEL by Philip DePoy. Fever Devilin, a folklorist by trade and inclination, spent years stuck in academia before he escaped to his hometown. He’d hoped that he’d leave the oddness behind, but even the Georgia Appalachians aren’t deep enough to hide Fever from trouble.

ESCAPE by Carolyn Jessop with Laura Palmer. Jessop was born into the polygamist Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints, and like a good daughter, she became the fourth wife of a 50-year-old man and bore him eight children. But when the head of the church began preaching the apocalypse, filial and even wifely duty became less important than getting her kids out.

THE LEGAL LIMIT by Martin Clark. Gates Hunt chose to fight his abusive father, his brother Mason to flee him. Gates became a career criminal, Mason became an attorney. Now, Gates thinks that Mason should keep him out of jail… and he’s willing to spill a secret the brothers had sworn to take to their graves to make Mason do it.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD, BABY GIRL by Fannie Flagg. Dena Nordstrom is brainy, beautiful and ready to become a start of 1970s TV. Her future is full of promise, her present full of complications, and her past is a mystery that just might catch up to her…

CERTAIN GIRLS by Jennifer Weiner. As a young woman, Cannie Shapiro wrote a fictionalized autobiography and saw it become a bestseller. But these days, she writes science fiction under an assumed name and lives the life of an ordinary soccer mom – until her daughter Joy discovers the book that details Connie’s less-than-chaste past.

Click to check out these cool links!

FactCheck.org: Annenberg Political Fact Check
This site describes itself as a nonpartisan, nonprofit, consumer advocate for voters that monitors "the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases." The site's original articles analyze and comment on political claims and statements, providing summaries and the facts. Searchable. From the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania.

Community Farms in the 21st Century: Poised for Another Wave of Growth?
Two-part history (from 2004) "exploring the birth of the [Community Supported Agriculture] CSA movement in the United States as well as the potentials for this growing and successful model of community agriculture." Includes photos, profiles of community supported farms, and discussion of the potential for growth of CSA in the future. From the Rodale Institute.

Consumer Reports: Blogs
Blogs from this Consumer Reports website cover cars, electronics, home and garden, safety, money and shopping, health, and babies and kids. Includes an option to subscribe to all or specific blogs. From the publishers of Consumer Reports magazine.

Lost Ladybug Project
Overview of this project investigating native ladybug species "that were once very common [and] have become extremely rare" (such as the nine-spotted and two-spotted ladybugs). Provides instructions for participating in the "ladybug blitz" by collecting ladybugs, photographing them, and sending the images to the program. Includes a field guide, tips on collecting and photographing, and related links. From the Department of Entomology at Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Forestiere Underground Gardens
Material about the Forestiere Underground Gardens in Fresno, California. Sicilian immigrant Baldassare Forestiere (1879-1946) was a self-taught artist and builder who "patterned his underground world after the ancient catacombs of his native land. ... This network of rooms, grottos, and passageways once honeycombed almost 10 acres, and numbered nearly 100." Includes background about Forestiere and images of the gardens.

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture
Compilation of links to material about "Carnegie Mellon professor and alumnus Randy Pausch [who] delivered a one-of-a-kind last lecture that moved an overflow crowd at the university -- and went on to move audiences around the globe." Includes biographical details about Pausch, who died in July 2008 due to complications from pancreatic cancer, information about his achievements and projects in the computer science field, and a link to the 2007 lecture. From Carnegie Mellon University.

Well, that’s it for now – see you at the library!

News from KNOWhere - 8-7-08

Wow, it’s back to school time already, and we can really tell! We wish the best of luck to all the students, and would like to remind teachers and students that you can get the information you need right here at the library!




News from Screven
Free Movie Fridays are back! Friday, August 15 at 3:30 it will be FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME, in which baseball pitcher Billy Chapel has to choose between the game he loves and the woman he adores.

Don’t forget to bring the little ones in at 10 am every Tuesday for our wonderfully fun storytime! It’s a great chance for them to hear a story and then do a creative craft, so don’t miss it!

Thursday, August 14 at 4 pm we’ve got our cool Craft Day! Kids and adults alike will have a ton of fun making cute creations and fun projects. There are only a limited number of seats available for this, though, so sign up ahead of time to make sure you’ve got one of them!

Are you between 11 – 19 years old? Do you love to read? Then join us Tuesday, August 19 at 4 pm for our fun Teen Book Club! We’ll be reading SHADE’S CHILDREN by Garth Nix. It’s a look at a dark future in which interdimensional invaders have conquered the world, and the only hope for humanity lies in a computer that thinks it’s a man… or does it?

Do you like Depression glass? Kay Taylor Paul does, and she’s sharing her collection of green Depression glass with us here at the library! They’re absolutely gorgeous, so don’t miss seeing her wonderful collection!

News from Jenkins

We have a series of special events set up for Wednesdays in August: next Wednesday, August 13 at 4 pm we’ll have Wild & Wacky Wednesday, where we’ll be doing some crazy mixed-up stuff! It should be wonderful, so don’t miss it! Wednesday, August 20 at 4 pm it’ll be Down to Earth day, with lots of ways to save the world and have fun doing it!

Are you between 11 – 19 years old? Do you love to read? Then join us Wednesday, August 20 at 4 pm for our fun Teen Book Club! We’ll be reading SHADE’S CHILDREN by Garth Nix. It’s a look at a dark future in which interdimensional invaders have conquered the world, and the only hope for humanity lies in a computer that thinks it’s a man.

Now, on to the books!

AN IRISH COUNTRY VILLAGE by Patrick Taylor. Young doctor Barry Laverty has just begun as an assistant to Dr. Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly, and already he’s feeling right at home in the village of Ballybucklebo. But when one of his patients suddenly dies, his chances of establishing himself are endangered and the widow threatens a lawsuit. Will an autopsy – and his own caring nature – help him regain the villagers’ trust?

MORRIGAN’S CROSS by Nora Roberts. Now available in large print, this first book of the Circle trilogy introduces us to Hoyt, a medieval sorcerer sent through time to gather six heroes to stand against the darkness wielded by a vampire queen hell-bent on conquering the world, and to Glenna, a modern-day witch who captures his heart.

PREPARED FOR RAGE by Dana Stabenow. A terrorist bent on destroying a very visible symbol of American power, an FBI agent trying to catch up with him, an astronaut and a Coast Guard captain all converge one clear morning in Florida.

EVERY LAST CUCKOO by Kate Maloy. Seventy-five year old Sarah thought she knew how the rest of her life would be spent: living in their rural Vermont home with her husband Charles. But when he dies, and her granddaughter Lottie comes to live with her, her quiet retirement is turned upside down as she finds herself offering refuge to an assortment of needy people… and she loves it!

THE MAILBOX 2007 – 2008 YEARBOOK: PRESCHOOL by The Education Center. Teachers, homeschoolers and moms will love this great collection of craft and teaching ideas, all collected and ready for classroom or craft room use!

Click to check out these great links!

Walk This Way
Companion to an exhibit that "places shoes -- from ancient Egyptian and Nubian sandals to new acquisitions representing the best in contemporary design -- throughout the MFA's galleries to illustrate their relationship to other works of art." Take a virtual tour of the exhibit and see over two dozen "pumps, clogs, wedges, [and] boots" along with annotations and links to related works of art. From the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston.

TrustedID: Identity Theft Data Breach Alerts
This blog relates instances of data breaches that could lead to identity theft. Covers items such as lost and stolen laptop computers, student information posted on the Internet, access to computer information by former employees, and improperly discarded paper credit card receipts. Entries go back to June 2006. From TrustedID, a company that provides anti-identity theft tools.

Food, Nutrition & Health: Canning & Food Preservation
This collection of documents on canning and food preservation covers foods such as apples, cantaloupe, garlic, nuts, olives, oranges, peppers, strawberries, and tomatoes. Also includes guides to safely cutting and storing venison and safe canning. A few documents are fee-based, but most are available for free download. From University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources.

A Big List of Sites That Teach You How To Do Stuff
Annotated list of "general interest sites that give quality instruction on all sorts of fun and useful projects. Including, sometimes, how to build a deck or bake a cake." Includes links to sites such as Instructables, eHow, and About.com. From ReadWriteWeb, a blog that provides Web technology news, reviews, and analysis.

Well, that’s it for now – see you at the library!

News from KNOWhere 8-4-08

It’s the dog days of summer, but it’s nice in the library! Come on in and check out our cool books, movies, CDs and more!


News from Screven

Do your little ones need something to do? Well, bring them in to the library at 10 am on Tuesdays and they can chill out while they listen to a story, and then do a fun and creative craft project!

It’s the return of Free Movie Fridays! Come in at 3:30 Fridays and you’ll get a chance to see some of the best movies out there free and on the big screen. This week on August 8 it’ll be NANCY DREW, a snappy retro romp with the most famous girl detective of them all! Remember, that’s 3:30 on Fridays – don’t miss it!

Love old movies? We’ve just received a ton of great videos, like HONDO, ANGEL & THE BADMAN, THE KING & I, SINGING IN THE RAIN and even some series like PERRY MASON, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW and many more!

News from Jenkins

Do your kids need something to do? Well, bring them in to the library at 4 pm on Wednesdays and they can chill out while enjoying our cool activities. This Wednesday August 6 at 4 pm we’ll have Smokey Bear coming to visit, and next Wednesday August 13 at 4 pm we’ll be enjoying a Wild & Wacky Wednesday!

Now, on to the books!

GARLIC AND ROSES by Gail Gaymer Martin. Juli Maretti’s father has made their family rich, but the business is based on garlic, and she’s heard every joke there is about it. Worse, she’s just met a man she’s really interested in – but he hates garlic. How can she come out of this situation smelling like a rose?

THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN by Garth Stein. Sometimes wisdom lives in the most unexpected places… like in the mind of a dog whose soul is almost human.

RESOLUTION by Robert B. Parker. After a bloody conflict in Appaloosa, Everett Hitch headed out into the sunset, and wound up in the town of Resolution, where he becomes the protector of the ladies who work the back rooms of the local saloon, and the only man in town tough enough to stand up to the enforcer sent down from the O’Malley copper mine.

BETRAYAL by John Lescroart. DA Dismas Hardy and detective Abe Glitsky make a great team, and that teamwork is put to the test when Hardy agrees to clean up the caseload of an attorney who recently disappeared. But then they run into a case involving the Iraq War and things get dangerous.

SOUTHERN LIVING 2007 ANNUAL RECIPES. Every recipe that appeared in Southern Living Magazine during 2007 is here, along with a special slow-cooker bonus section. Luscious and lavishly illustrated.

Click to check out these cool links!

Teen Summer Job Safety
Tips for teen health and safety for construction, landscaping, life guarding, parks and recreation, restaurant, and farming jobs. Topics include on-the-job hazards (such as noise on construction sites and exhaust at drive-through restaurant windows), and recommendations to prevent injury from excessive heat for outdoor jobs. Also includes rights and responsibilities of teen workers and general tips on safe driving. In English and Spanish. From the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Soda Free Summer
Website for a 2008 health campaign challenging individuals (especially children and teens) not to drink sodas and sweetened drinks over the summer. Provides facts about how much sugar an average person eats in a day, the amount of calories and sugar in various drinks, and downloadable adult and family brochures (with tables to keep track of what you drink) in several languages. From the Alameda County, California, Health Department.

Ban Trans Fats
Website for a campaign to ban the use of partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats) in food because studies suggest that eating trans fats increase the risk of heart disease. This organization "launched the national and international trans fat campaign by suing Kraft in 2003 to eliminate trans fat in Oreos." Website features background about trans fat, details about the Kraft lawsuit, news (2003-2007), and related material.

Online Newshour: China Prepares for 2008 Olympics
Reports and news coverage by the PBS Online NewsHour about China's preparations for hosting the 2008 summer Olympic Games. Covers topics such as an odd-even car ban during Olympics to reduce traffic congestion and pollution, efforts to increase press freedoms for foreign journalists, and human rights and Tibet. Also includes a comparison of demographic factors for Olympic host cities back to 1980, slideshow about Olympic stadiums around the world, and more.

Quinnipiac University Polling Institute
"Frequently cited by journalists, public officials and researchers, the independent Quinnipiac University Poll regularly surveys residents in Connecticut, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and nationwide about political races, state and national elections, and issues of public concern, such as schools, taxes, transportation, municipal services and the environment." Find polling results back to the late 1990s on topics such as presidential elections in swing states and Boston Red Sox fan support in Connecticut.

The Vietnam Center and Archive
This center's mission "is to support and encourage research and education regarding all aspects of the American Vietnam experience; promoting a greater understanding of this experience and the peoples and cultures of Southeast Asia." Features a virtual archive with over 2.7 million pages of scanned materials including "documents, photographs, slides, negatives, oral histories, artifacts, moving images, sound recordings, maps, and collection finding aids." From the Institute for Modern Conflict, Diplomacy and Reconciliation, Texas Tech University.

Well, that’s it for now – see you at the library!