Hi All,
What? Is that title redundant? Nope - its not. I imagine that you've seen David Letterman's television show...and if you haven't well, here is a link to the show which by the way, is called the Late Show and is on CBS tv.
On the show he has a segment in which he announces a 'Top 10 List' every night. Click here for a link to historical Top 10 Lists. FYI some of the lists can be very, very sarcastic and/or scathing. Be ready to laugh your pants off.
Click here for another David Letterman Top 10 List site which is not affiliated with the Late Show....but it is still funny.
Now that we've gotten the world's most famous list of Top 10 Lists out of the way, we can go on to some more mundane lists.
Click here for Google search for 'Top 10 Lists'. Note that the list is always changing, so what you find one day, might not appear the next week or even the next day. If you find these lists interesting, prepare to bookmark a lot of them!
There is a website called Listverse which bills itself as 'Ultimate Top 10 Lists'. Click here to visit Listverse. Note that they have some tabs to help you sort through the various lists: tabs include Latest List, Popular , and Controversial.
As if the world needs yet another Top 10 List site...you can visit Top10List.org here. They are even smarter than Listverse since Top 10 List.org breaks out lists by subjects like Auto, Business, Education, Entertainment, Features, Health, Miscellaneous, People, Sport, Technology, Travel and Video. Plus the site has a clean, crisp look to it and is easy to navigate.
How does this relate to reference? Easy! If you type in 'top 10 list' in the card catalog, you find over 30 results in just the Farmingdale PL card catalog alone! Titles and/or subjects include top 1o investmets for the next 10 years, top 10 champion quarterbacks, top 10 vienna (travel), top 100 health tips, top 100 fastest growing careers for the 21st century and more...click here for the link to the card catalog to find these results.
Enjoy and I hope that you think this is a top 10 blog post :)
Stu
Monday, August 30, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Getting From Here to There - Fast and Safely
Hello Again Farmingdale (and non-Farmingdale) Residents,
I just came across a seriously cool travel type website. It is called 511-Traffic, Travel and Transit Information. Click here for a link to the site. I realized this could make for an interesting blog entry this morning when I heard the traffic and weather together report on WCBS880. I must have been thinking about the blog and possible topics because I really don't remember consciously thinking, 'we need a travel entry for the blog'.
In any event, the site is pretty neat!
Users can create their own maps based on a traffic condition legend at the left side of the screen. For example, if you want to zero in on a particular town (Farmingdale perhaps) and see if there are any road closures due to weather or construction you can click on the box at the left side of the screen....
Other options include displaying bridges and tunnels, current road speed conditions and more. A very helpful and intuitive interface makes this site easy to use and to navigate. Note that users can zoom in and out using the tabs on the left side in the map area. Furthermore, users can use the drop down menu at the top of the map to zoom into specific areas in the local New York State area. Yes - there is a tab for the Long Island region - which is very darn helpful.
Finally, users can actually save the map options that have been selected. I could see this being helpful if you make constant trips using the same roads...but I suspect that if you take the same roads then you could anticipate when and where potential traffic issues may occur.
So there you have it a helpful travel website that will help you get from here to there in a snap!
By the way, if you like this blog and the topics that we cover in it, why not tell a friend or a family member or another library patron about it?
Regards,
Stu
I just came across a seriously cool travel type website. It is called 511-Traffic, Travel and Transit Information. Click here for a link to the site. I realized this could make for an interesting blog entry this morning when I heard the traffic and weather together report on WCBS880. I must have been thinking about the blog and possible topics because I really don't remember consciously thinking, 'we need a travel entry for the blog'.
In any event, the site is pretty neat!
Users can create their own maps based on a traffic condition legend at the left side of the screen. For example, if you want to zero in on a particular town (Farmingdale perhaps) and see if there are any road closures due to weather or construction you can click on the box at the left side of the screen....
Other options include displaying bridges and tunnels, current road speed conditions and more. A very helpful and intuitive interface makes this site easy to use and to navigate. Note that users can zoom in and out using the tabs on the left side in the map area. Furthermore, users can use the drop down menu at the top of the map to zoom into specific areas in the local New York State area. Yes - there is a tab for the Long Island region - which is very darn helpful.
Finally, users can actually save the map options that have been selected. I could see this being helpful if you make constant trips using the same roads...but I suspect that if you take the same roads then you could anticipate when and where potential traffic issues may occur.
So there you have it a helpful travel website that will help you get from here to there in a snap!
By the way, if you like this blog and the topics that we cover in it, why not tell a friend or a family member or another library patron about it?
Regards,
Stu
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Famous Firsts...
Hi All,
Coming up with a new blog post twice or thrice per week isn't the easiest thing in the world to do. It does require a bit of thought and effort...as a result I am always on the lookout for an idea which I can blog about. Since I work in a public library I try to make the entries a bit interesting and have some 'zing' to them. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don't succeed. But I try to make the entries have at least some substantive, educational value to them...
A fairly unknown reference book that I thought about recently (I have no idea why I thought of this book to begin with though...) was a book entitled 'Famous First Facts' by Joseph Nathan Kane. The Farmingdale Public Library owns a copy of this little used book - here is a link to the card catalog entry for the title. Note that it is a reference book and that it does NOT circulate to the public. Also, due to the renovation, we did not take all of our materials down to our current location. As a result the book is not available to the public at this time. However, when we move back upstairs, patrons will have access to this most unique reference book.
What exactly does this reference book do? In the first place it is almost an encyclopedia. Now, if we look at the full title we learn a bit more about the book. The title is 'Famous First Facts: A Record of Famous First Facts, Happenings, Discoveries, and Inventions in American History'. Well, there you go...if you want to find out when the first bubble gum was manufactured or when the first spray can was introduced...well, then this is your kind of reference book. Click here for the Amazon.com review of the book.
But you might be asking yourself, how can I create a blog post about a single reference book that I (the reader) can't even access at home or look at while I am in the library...
Good question: The rest of this blog entry is going to be about unbiased, quality, timely reference sources that can be found on the internet...So the segueway for the blog entry was really the book 'Famous First Facts' and the idea of a unique reference title....and then I morphed that idea into a 'reference on the web' type entry.
As you probably know the library subscribes to online resources that you - the public - have access to by using your library card. The link to our online resources can be found here. Before you actually access the database you will need to enter the 14-digit number on the back of your library card, Once done correctly, you will have complete access to the database - in this case we are discussing Credo Reference...
In particular, reference librarians use Credo Reference at the reference desk to answer questions for patrons. Patrons can do a simple search or an advanced search when starting out using the database. I would suggest getting familiar with the database before jumping into an 'advanced search'. Typing in the phrase 'World War II' in the search box gives the user over 27,000 results - quite a bit too many to look at... Users can narrow the search by looking at the left side of the screen and narrowing by subject like history, literature, geography, media, person, and by publication date. In other words, users can sort the results and look for entries that discussed (for example) FDR or Hitler or you can narrow down by other search terms.
Once an article is pulled up the user you can read the article. In addition, at the bottom of the entry are other options for the reader to find information on News, Photographrs, Related Articles on the topic from Credo and much more. Credo Reference is a fast, easy way to get quick information on a wealth of topics - for free and fast - from the library.
Next, we have possibly one of the most well-known public research site on the web: RefDesk.com. Click here for the link to RefDesk. RefDesk.com is the brainchild of Bob Drudge - the father of Matt Drudge who publishes the Drudge Report on the web.
Basically the site is a mass of quick, factual links to a variety of subjects on the web. Topics covered are as varied as headline news, 'This Day in History', links to many dictionaries and encyclopedias, birthday of the day, links to picture of the day, word of the day, today in history and much, much more. It is definitely worth a look - especially since the site is very easy to navigate and to use.
Another excellent site for fast reference is called the Internet Public Library and can be found using this link. Back 'in the day' - as in a few years ago, there were two really excellent reference sites: Internet Public Library and the Librarians' Internet Index. Well, the two merged and have formed the 'IPL2'. The prior link goes to this new site. IPL2 is organized in a different fashion than RefDesk. IPL2 has links to resources by subject, then a link to newspapers and magazines and then to special collection that were created by IPL2. If you want fast info you would do well to bookmark the site in your browser.
Sorry for the post to be so lengthy - but I do hope you visit the sites mentioned. They are free, easy to use and pretty darn helpful.
Regards,
Stu
Coming up with a new blog post twice or thrice per week isn't the easiest thing in the world to do. It does require a bit of thought and effort...as a result I am always on the lookout for an idea which I can blog about. Since I work in a public library I try to make the entries a bit interesting and have some 'zing' to them. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don't succeed. But I try to make the entries have at least some substantive, educational value to them...
A fairly unknown reference book that I thought about recently (I have no idea why I thought of this book to begin with though...) was a book entitled 'Famous First Facts' by Joseph Nathan Kane. The Farmingdale Public Library owns a copy of this little used book - here is a link to the card catalog entry for the title. Note that it is a reference book and that it does NOT circulate to the public. Also, due to the renovation, we did not take all of our materials down to our current location. As a result the book is not available to the public at this time. However, when we move back upstairs, patrons will have access to this most unique reference book.
What exactly does this reference book do? In the first place it is almost an encyclopedia. Now, if we look at the full title we learn a bit more about the book. The title is 'Famous First Facts: A Record of Famous First Facts, Happenings, Discoveries, and Inventions in American History'. Well, there you go...if you want to find out when the first bubble gum was manufactured or when the first spray can was introduced...well, then this is your kind of reference book. Click here for the Amazon.com review of the book.
But you might be asking yourself, how can I create a blog post about a single reference book that I (the reader) can't even access at home or look at while I am in the library...
Good question: The rest of this blog entry is going to be about unbiased, quality, timely reference sources that can be found on the internet...So the segueway for the blog entry was really the book 'Famous First Facts' and the idea of a unique reference title....and then I morphed that idea into a 'reference on the web' type entry.
As you probably know the library subscribes to online resources that you - the public - have access to by using your library card. The link to our online resources can be found here. Before you actually access the database you will need to enter the 14-digit number on the back of your library card, Once done correctly, you will have complete access to the database - in this case we are discussing Credo Reference...
In particular, reference librarians use Credo Reference at the reference desk to answer questions for patrons. Patrons can do a simple search or an advanced search when starting out using the database. I would suggest getting familiar with the database before jumping into an 'advanced search'. Typing in the phrase 'World War II' in the search box gives the user over 27,000 results - quite a bit too many to look at... Users can narrow the search by looking at the left side of the screen and narrowing by subject like history, literature, geography, media, person, and by publication date. In other words, users can sort the results and look for entries that discussed (for example) FDR or Hitler or you can narrow down by other search terms.
Once an article is pulled up the user you can read the article. In addition, at the bottom of the entry are other options for the reader to find information on News, Photographrs, Related Articles on the topic from Credo and much more. Credo Reference is a fast, easy way to get quick information on a wealth of topics - for free and fast - from the library.
Next, we have possibly one of the most well-known public research site on the web: RefDesk.com. Click here for the link to RefDesk. RefDesk.com is the brainchild of Bob Drudge - the father of Matt Drudge who publishes the Drudge Report on the web.
Basically the site is a mass of quick, factual links to a variety of subjects on the web. Topics covered are as varied as headline news, 'This Day in History', links to many dictionaries and encyclopedias, birthday of the day, links to picture of the day, word of the day, today in history and much, much more. It is definitely worth a look - especially since the site is very easy to navigate and to use.
Another excellent site for fast reference is called the Internet Public Library and can be found using this link. Back 'in the day' - as in a few years ago, there were two really excellent reference sites: Internet Public Library and the Librarians' Internet Index. Well, the two merged and have formed the 'IPL2'. The prior link goes to this new site. IPL2 is organized in a different fashion than RefDesk. IPL2 has links to resources by subject, then a link to newspapers and magazines and then to special collection that were created by IPL2. If you want fast info you would do well to bookmark the site in your browser.
Sorry for the post to be so lengthy - but I do hope you visit the sites mentioned. They are free, easy to use and pretty darn helpful.
Regards,
Stu
Monday, August 23, 2010
Renovating-Moving-Change!!!
Hi All,
Well, if you haven't heard by now, the library is undergoing a remodeling. Click here to see photos of the actual remodeling and how it is progressing. Click here to see a pdf of what work is being done during the remodeling.
That being said, I thought that 'remodeling' would be a good and interesting blog entry. Especially since September is almost upon us and well, who wouldn't want to remodel? It can help add value to a home, mix up a drab room, and can be a learning process to boot.
Instead of covering the whole 'world' of remodeling a house, I've decided to discuss just one room. In particular I'll talk about kitchen remodeling since that is the number one remodeling project that earns back the highest percentage of cost to homeowners. Click here for proof of that statement from CNNMoney - excellent link to boot!
Oh, and one other reason I'll cover kitchen remodeling - in many homes the kitchen is the center of the house. Just think of all the meals and other 'everyday' things that you do in the kitchen. Yep - the kitchen is the place to be! Eat on!
HGTV has a great page on Kitchens and Kitchen design - click here for the link. But also notice the tabs on the right side of the page entitled 'Backsplash, Cabinets, Color and Lights'. All the links get you to HGTV sites on kitchen remodeling. Go for it! Add color! Don't forget to take a gander at the 'What's New in Kitchen's link toward the bottom of the page.
Okay I understand that you can't break the bank when renovating the kitchen. That is why I've included this link from Better Homes and Gardens called KitchenBathIdeas. Click here for the link. I'm a pretty big fan of tabs on websites to help you find what you need faster. So, that being the case note the tabs on the top of the page, 'Kitchen Design', 'Planning' and 'DIY'.
Even more important than that though is the information on the main page. It has a heading called 'Setting Your Budget'. Bingo. Did you know that in 2006 the average American spends $54000 on a major kitchen remodel? Wow - that is a large chunk of cash in most everyone's book! Well, now that we can our collective breath click on this link that will show some 'Budget Kitchen Ideas'. Much better, eh?
Before anybody starts a kitchen remodeling project you should have some basic knowledge on what is going to happen during the remodeling and how the remodeling is going to proceed. Click on this link to get a basic background about stuff like this.
Finally, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that it is always a good idea to find out about the contractor who will be working on the project. Click here to find a link to the Nassau County Department of Consumer Affairs to check out contractors. Also, click here to get a link to the Better Business Bureau for more contractor information.
As if you didn't already know...the library has a huge collection of kitchen remodeling books that you can take out. FOR FREE!!!! We also have Home and Garden magazine and many others that can help you decide what your future kitchen should look like. Click here to find the link to the kitchen magazines we own at the library.
Regards,
Stu
Well, if you haven't heard by now, the library is undergoing a remodeling. Click here to see photos of the actual remodeling and how it is progressing. Click here to see a pdf of what work is being done during the remodeling.
That being said, I thought that 'remodeling' would be a good and interesting blog entry. Especially since September is almost upon us and well, who wouldn't want to remodel? It can help add value to a home, mix up a drab room, and can be a learning process to boot.
Instead of covering the whole 'world' of remodeling a house, I've decided to discuss just one room. In particular I'll talk about kitchen remodeling since that is the number one remodeling project that earns back the highest percentage of cost to homeowners. Click here for proof of that statement from CNNMoney - excellent link to boot!
Oh, and one other reason I'll cover kitchen remodeling - in many homes the kitchen is the center of the house. Just think of all the meals and other 'everyday' things that you do in the kitchen. Yep - the kitchen is the place to be! Eat on!
HGTV has a great page on Kitchens and Kitchen design - click here for the link. But also notice the tabs on the right side of the page entitled 'Backsplash, Cabinets, Color and Lights'. All the links get you to HGTV sites on kitchen remodeling. Go for it! Add color! Don't forget to take a gander at the 'What's New in Kitchen's link toward the bottom of the page.
Okay I understand that you can't break the bank when renovating the kitchen. That is why I've included this link from Better Homes and Gardens called KitchenBathIdeas. Click here for the link. I'm a pretty big fan of tabs on websites to help you find what you need faster. So, that being the case note the tabs on the top of the page, 'Kitchen Design', 'Planning' and 'DIY'.
Even more important than that though is the information on the main page. It has a heading called 'Setting Your Budget'. Bingo. Did you know that in 2006 the average American spends $54000 on a major kitchen remodel? Wow - that is a large chunk of cash in most everyone's book! Well, now that we can our collective breath click on this link that will show some 'Budget Kitchen Ideas'. Much better, eh?
Before anybody starts a kitchen remodeling project you should have some basic knowledge on what is going to happen during the remodeling and how the remodeling is going to proceed. Click on this link to get a basic background about stuff like this.
Finally, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that it is always a good idea to find out about the contractor who will be working on the project. Click here to find a link to the Nassau County Department of Consumer Affairs to check out contractors. Also, click here to get a link to the Better Business Bureau for more contractor information.
As if you didn't already know...the library has a huge collection of kitchen remodeling books that you can take out. FOR FREE!!!! We also have Home and Garden magazine and many others that can help you decide what your future kitchen should look like. Click here to find the link to the kitchen magazines we own at the library.
Regards,
Stu
Friday, August 20, 2010
Celebrities, Hollywood, Movie Stars and More!
I couldn't think of another catchier title than this. My apologies...
So, with the dog days of August dragging on and on and on and the heat staying in the high 80's and low 90's, I'd like to make it even hotter around here.
We'll be talking about movie stars, Hollywood and celebrities in today's blog entry.
What is so hot about that? Well, they are in the news constantly - click here to find the link to Google's link to Entertainment It is a good summary of the daily events and goings on in and around Hollywood.
For an even juicier slice of the big life in H-wood check out TMZ here. TMZ bills itself as having 'Celebrity Gossip, Entertainment News and Celebrity News'. Now tell me, who can resist that? Also, check out the Photos and Videos link at the top of the page. Woohoo! You'll get to see pictures and/or vidoes of many of your favorite stars. Now that's kewl! Oh, and don't forget the Fashion link for those of you who are fashionista's.
For a similar, but different slant on Hollywood goings-on, take a gander at the Access Hollywood link here. You might be somewhat familiar with this name since Access Hollywood is a popular television show featuring Billy Bush. This is almost the universal go-to website for Hollywood elite! When you visit, be sure to check out the section on 'Dish of Salt' and 'News' at the top of the website.
Finally, on your whirlwind trip to all-things Hollywood don't forget the ever popular television show Entertainment Tonight. Click here for the site. FYI, they call it ETOnline now.
Okay, I can't resist one more celebrity link - it would be like missing a great soap opera or a reality tv show. So...the link is The Insider which bills itself as having 'Celebrity News, Gossip, Photos, Videos and more'. Check, check, check, and check again. They've got it all.
So, if you are interested in what's going on in Hollywood these links should fit the bill to a 'T'.
To make this a 'library-ish' related post, I've included a link to a search for 'hollywood stars' from our card catalog. Click here for the link - it actually comes up with some recipes and other worthwhile results. Note that these are items only at the Farmingdale Public Library.
Enjoy the feast - and it isn't even Thanksgiving yet!
Stu
So, with the dog days of August dragging on and on and on and the heat staying in the high 80's and low 90's, I'd like to make it even hotter around here.
We'll be talking about movie stars, Hollywood and celebrities in today's blog entry.
What is so hot about that? Well, they are in the news constantly - click here to find the link to Google's link to Entertainment It is a good summary of the daily events and goings on in and around Hollywood.
For an even juicier slice of the big life in H-wood check out TMZ here. TMZ bills itself as having 'Celebrity Gossip, Entertainment News and Celebrity News'. Now tell me, who can resist that? Also, check out the Photos and Videos link at the top of the page. Woohoo! You'll get to see pictures and/or vidoes of many of your favorite stars. Now that's kewl! Oh, and don't forget the Fashion link for those of you who are fashionista's.
For a similar, but different slant on Hollywood goings-on, take a gander at the Access Hollywood link here. You might be somewhat familiar with this name since Access Hollywood is a popular television show featuring Billy Bush. This is almost the universal go-to website for Hollywood elite! When you visit, be sure to check out the section on 'Dish of Salt' and 'News' at the top of the website.
Finally, on your whirlwind trip to all-things Hollywood don't forget the ever popular television show Entertainment Tonight. Click here for the site. FYI, they call it ETOnline now.
Okay, I can't resist one more celebrity link - it would be like missing a great soap opera or a reality tv show. So...the link is The Insider which bills itself as having 'Celebrity News, Gossip, Photos, Videos and more'. Check, check, check, and check again. They've got it all.
So, if you are interested in what's going on in Hollywood these links should fit the bill to a 'T'.
To make this a 'library-ish' related post, I've included a link to a search for 'hollywood stars' from our card catalog. Click here for the link - it actually comes up with some recipes and other worthwhile results. Note that these are items only at the Farmingdale Public Library.
Enjoy the feast - and it isn't even Thanksgiving yet!
Stu
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