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Thursday, February 28, 2008

Revisiting Henderson's Past: Female Seminary


It's time for another peek into the archives ...

Continuing Education in Nineteenth Century Henderson

As many young Americans and their parents are discovering, college tuition today is inflating to the point that, for many families, it is becoming prohibitively expensive. By national standards, our own Henderson Community College is very reasonable, charging just $1,380 per semester for post-secondary education. In 1880, the Henderson Female Seminary was established to serve the daughters of wealthier Henderson citizens. Standard cost for board, fuel, light, and courses in calisthenics, English, Latin, and elocution were $200, or, converted into modern costs, approximately $4,400. Additionally, parents could pay for the girls to receive extra classes and tutoring.

According to Maralea Arnett’s book The Annals and Scandals of Henderson County, Kentucky, some of the “extras” included the following:

Private lessons in elocution, singing, or music : $50 each (now $1,100)
Drawing lessons : $30 each (now $660)
French or German recitations : $20 each (now $440)
Painting in oil or watercolors : $40 each (now $880)
Use of the school piano for practice : $10 (now $220)

Day pupils were charged $30 per year for introductory classes and $40 per year for collegiate level classes. The diploma received at the end of a girl’s schooling was another $5, or about $110 today.

The seminary’s first board of directors consisted of nine prominent men in the community, including Dr. W. N. Hanna, Hon. John Young Brown, Thomas Soaper, James A. Alves, and James R. Barret. Eventually, Ms. Susan Starling Towles became principal of the seminary, which closed its doors in 1903.

To learn more about schools in Henderson County, come see us at the library, or to see what else we have, visit our genealogy webpage. You can also read other “Revisiting Henderson’s Past” entries.

(Photo is of an 1896 Henderson Female Seminary class.)

DVDs, Books on CD, and Music ordered Feb 27

Below is a list of the Below is a list of the DVDs, Books on CD, and Music recently ordered by the library. Click on the titles to see more and request a copy!

DVDs
Movies
Alien vs. predator: Requiem
The American president
August Rush
Backdraft
Come September
The Darjeeling Limited
Juno
Martian child
The Mist
Pay it forward
Planet of the apes (1968)
Savages
Saving Sarah Cain

Regular
The business of being born
From the Earth to the moon
Have gun, will travel: Season 2
Have gun, will travel: Season 3

Family
Aloha Scooby-Doo!
Baby Huey's great Easter adventure
The best of the new Scooby-Doo movies
Building Bobland Bay
Easter with Max & Ruby
Friendly tails
Pop go the Wiggles
Scooby-Doo and the ghoul school
Scooby-Doo and the monster of Mexico
Scooby-doo in Arabian nights
Scooby-Doo where are you?: Season 3
Thumbelina
Word World #3
Yogi the Easter bear

Books on CD
Foreign body by Cook, Robin
Cruel intent by Jance, Judith
Trouble by Kellerman, Jesse
Just past sunset by King, Stephen
Executive Privilege by Margolin, Phillip
Show No Fear : by O'Shaughnessy, Perri
Resolution by Parker, Robert
The third cicle by Quick, Amanda
Devil Bones by Reichs, Kathy
Last Kiss by Rice, Luanne
Strangers in death by Robb, J. D.

Music
Celine Dion: A new day has come
Celine Dion: Taking chances
Joe Nichols: Real things
The lion king
Pink: I'm not dead

New books we ordered February 27, 2008

Below is a list of the books recently ordered by the library. They are grouped by Fiction, Non-fiction, LargeType and Children. Click on the title to see more and request a copy!

Fiction
Comanche Moon by Anderson, Catherine
Seventh heaven by Anderson, Catherine
A private collection by Brian, Kate
Getting started knitting socks by Budd, Ann
Heaven's prisoners by Burke, James
The neon rain by Burke, James
Cypress nights by Cameron, Stella
Foreign body by Cook, Robin
The front by Cornwell, Patricia
Predatory game by Feehan, Christine
The year my sister got lucky by Friedman, Aimee
Looking for salvation at the Dairy Queen : a novel by Gilmore, Susan
Lord of sin by Hunter, Madeline
A family sin by Hunter, Travis
The devil's punchbowl by Iles, Greg
Cruel intent by Jance, Judith
Just past sunset by King, Stephen
To kiss in the shadows by Kurland, Lynn
Clean cut by La Plante, Lynda
The edge of desire by Laurens, Stephanie
City of the sun by Levien, David
Fire and rain ; Outlaw by Lowell, Elizabeth
The trouble with moonlight by Macmeans, Donna
Ms. Etta's fast house by McGlothin, Victor
Breaking dawn by Meyer, Stephenie
Deadly deceptions by Miller, Linda
Show no fear by O'Shaughnessy, Perri
Man of the hour by Palmer, Diana
Hot property by Phillips, Carly
Master of the game by Sheldon, Sidney
Life after wifey by Swinson, Kiki
Sugar walls by Williams, Brittani
Star wars : the force unleashed by Williams, Sean
Sweethearts by Zarr, Sara

Nonfiction
The South Beach diet taste of summer cookbook by Agatston, Arthur
Itty-bitty hats : cute and cuddly caps to knit for babies and toddlers by Anderson, Susan
Itty-bitty nursery by Anderson, Susan
Losing it : and gaining my life back one pound at a time by Bertinelli, Valerie
Execution : the discipline of getting things done by Bossidy, Larry
The Tecate journals : seventy days on the Rio Grande by Bowden, Keith
Aristotle and an aardvark go to Washington : understanding political doublespeak through philosophy and jokes by Cathcart, Thomas
The madness of Mary Lincoln by Emerson, Jason
Luck and the Irish : a brief history of change from 1970 by Foster, R. F.
Freedom for the thought that we hate : a biography of the First Amendment by Lewis, Anthony
Every day deserves a chance : wake up to the gift of 24 hours by Lucado, Max
Truth and consequences : special comments on the Bush administration's war on American values by Olbermann, Keith
Schuyler's monster : a father's journey with his wordless daughter by Rummel-Hudson, Robert

LargeType
Front by Cornwell, Patricia
Murder over easy by Evans, Jimmie
Mr. Cavendish, I presume by Quinn, Julia

Children
Baby Strawberry's first Easter
Mickey's Easter hunt
The Berenstain Bears' baby Easter bunny : a lift-the-flap book! by Berenstain, Jan
That's good! That's bad! In Washington, D.C. by Cuyler, Margery
My day with Jesus by Davidson, Alice
My first Easter by De Paola, Tomie
The Fire Eternal by D'Lacey, Chris
Our U.S. Capitol by Firestone, Mary
Little Miss Bossy by Hargreaves, Roger
Little Miss Brainy by Hargreaves, Roger
Little Miss Busy by Hargreaves, Roger
Little Miss Chatterbox by Hargreaves, Roger
Little Miss Contrary by Hargreaves, Roger
Little Miss Curious by Hargreaves, Roger
Little Miss Ditzy by Hargreaves, Roger
Where are Baby's Easter eggs? by Katz, Karen
Capital! : Washington D.C. from A to Z by Melmed, Laura
The best thing about Easter by Tangvald, Christine

Monday, February 25, 2008

Find Oscar winners at the library


The Academy Awards are exciting for movie lovers everywhere. Now that the winners have been chosen and announced, make plans to see your favorite movies again, or see some winners for the first time. We have them here, at your public library. (Please note: Some of the movies below have not yet been released on DVD. Reserve your copy now and shorten your wait!)


No Country For Old Men (Best Picture, Actor in a Supporting Role, Directing) - view the trailer, reserve a copy

La Vie En Rose (Actress in a Leading Role, Makeup) - view the trailer, reserve a copy

The Bourne Ultimatum (Sound Mixing, Sound Editing) - view the trailer, reserve a copy

Once (Music - song) - view the trailer, reserve a copy

Atonement (Music - score) - view the trailer, reserve a copy

Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Art Direction) - view the trailer, reserve a copy

Michael Clayton (Actress in a Supporting Role) - view the trailer, reserve a copy

Elizabeth: The Golden Age (Costume Design) - view the trailer, reserve a copy

Ratatouille (Animated Feature Film) - view the trailer, reserve a copy

The Golden Compass (Visual Effects) - view the trailer, reserve a copy

Friday, February 22, 2008

Morningstar has new name and enhancements


The following is a press release from Morningstar Library Edition:


We're pleased to announce the relaunch of Morningstar Library Edition as Morningstar Investment Research Center.

We built the new interface and renamed the database to better showcase what we're really all about. We're not just about mutual funds--even though we are the leader in that field. We're also about stock research and options data. We provide industry-level information and analysis. We stress investment education. And we have screening and portfolio tools to help investors of all types find the securities that are right for them.


Some of the enhancements include:

Industry Reports
We added industry and sector returns to the database in 2007--and now we've added Industry Reports. Updated quarterly by Morningstar stock analysts specializing in the industry, these reports provide investors with an invaluable industrywide backdrop to use when evaluating a particular company or set of companies. The Industry Reports are accessible via the Industries tab.

Investment Primers
We've created several reports that provide nuts-and-bolts information about some popular yet misunderstood specialized investments. These reports cover options, exchange-traded funds, and closed-end funds. They are accessible via the Help & Education tab.

Simplified Search Function
We've improved the search functionality for finding an individual report. From the top left-hand corner of the database's home page, users can type in a partial name and/or ticker and they will see a simple drop-down menu from which to choose the security they're interested in. Then they can just click the Get Report button.


Morningstar Investment Research Center is great tool for new and veteran investors. It's chock full of unbiased analyst reports, tools for evaluating your portfolio, and lessons on how to invest. The best part is that it's free to all valid library cardholders! Begin now or learn more.

Improve your research with eLibrary

eLibrary was designed to make research easy and that's good news in today's fast-paced and complex world. Students of all ages and education levels are invited to use eLibrary for free from the library's website. Find the answers you need from more than 2,500 full-text magazines, newspapers, reference books, and transcripts - plus thousands of pictures, maps, weblinks, and audio/video files.


Need a topic for a research project? Click the Topic tab for thousands of ideas and links to relevant websites and articles. Have a reference question? Click the Reference tab and enter your search words. Hundreds of reference books have been digitized and are available for searching.


eLibrary even helps you cite material in your papers or projects. Just click the Citation button within the article to see exactly how it should be cited. Get citations for photos as well!

eLibrary is accessible from home for all patrons with a valid library card from the Henderson County Public Library. eLibrary is also available for free to anyone inside the library. Read more about eLibrary or begin searching now!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

DVDs, Books on CD, and Music ordered Feb 20

Below is a list of the Below is a list of the DVDs, Books on CD, and Music recently ordered by the library. Click on the titles to see more and request a copy!

DVDs
Movies
30 days of night
Above and beyond
Atonement
Chaos
Charlie Wilson's War
Court-martial of Billy Mitchell
Poltergeist
Serendipity
Sweeney Todd

Family
Eloise in Hollywood
Eloise in springtime
Eloise: Little Miss Christmas
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning
Minutemen
Rocket to the moon
Welcome to Wordworld

Books on CD
Fiction
Bones by Kellerman, Jonathan
The Bourne sanction by Lustbader, Eric
The hollow by Roberts, Nora

NonFiction
Execution by Bossidy, Larry
Pictures at a revolution by Harris, Mark

Music
Bruce Springsteen: Magic
Joni Mitchell: River
Neal Hefti: Jazz pops
Nosso tempo
The Postmarks
Richard Galliano: If you love me
Sowing the seeds
Stanley Brothers: The definitive collection 1947-1966
Theodora Baka: Myrtate

New books we ordered February 20, 2008

Below is a list of the books recently ordered by the library. They are grouped by Fiction, Non-fiction, LargeType and Children. Click on the title to see more and request a copy!

Fiction
Blood trail by Box, C. J.
Storm front : a novel of the Dresden files by Butcher, Jim
Payback by Carlson, Melody
The lost sheep by Dodson, Brandt
White soul by Dodson, Brandt
Haunted by desire by Dokey, Cameron
Forced Out by Frey, Stephen
Hell's Bay by Hall, James
Swallowing darkness by Hamilton, Laurell
Ghost at work by Hart, Carolyn
Sister Girls 2 by Hunter, Angel
The Gypsy enchantment by Jablonski, Carla
The air between us by Johnson, Deborah
Darth Bane : rule of two : a novel of the Old Republic by Karpyshyn, Drew
Bones : an Alex Delaware novel by Kellerman, Jonathan
The given day by Lehane, Dennis
Keeping Mr. Right by Marie, Francine
Breakfast with Buddha by Merullo, Roland
TTFN by Myracle, Lauren
TTYL by Myracle, Lauren
A Christmas grace by Perry, Anne
The laughter of dead kings by Peters, Elizabeth
Sister's choice by Richards, Emilie
The ancient by Salvatore, R. A.
Oil! by Sinclair, Upton
The undead next door by Sparks, Kerrelyn
A good woman by Steel, Danielle
Murder inside the Beltway : a Capital Crimes novel by Truman, Margaret
Lucky : an It Girl novel by Von Ziegesar, Cecily
Unforgettable : an It girl novel by Von Ziegesar, Cecily
Jessie by Wick, Lori

Nonfiction
Manic : a memoir by Cheney, Terri
One helluva ride : how NASCAR swept the nation by Clarke, Liz
The depression workbook : a guide for living with depression and manic depression by Copeland, Mary
The secret history of the war on cancer by Davis, Devra
Beyond the darkness : a biography of Bede Griffiths by Du Boulay, Shirley
Greenspan's bubbles : the age of ignorance at the Federal Reserve by Fleckenstein, William
The unwritten rules of social relationships by Grandin, Temple
Lincoln and Douglas : the debates that defined America by Guelzo, Allen
Pictures at a revolution : five movies and the birth of the new Hollywood by Harris, Mark
I don't believe in atheists by Hedges, Chris
The biography of a dollar : how Mr. Greenback greases the skids of America and the world by Karmin, Craig
Homestead : modern pioneers pursuing the edge of possibility by Kirkpatrick, Jane
The hard truth about soft skills : workplace lessons smart people wish they'd learned sooner by Klaus, Peggy
Silent grief : living in the wake of suicide by Lukas, Christopher
Six degrees : our future on a hotter planet by Lynas, Mark
True enough : learning to live in a post-fact society by Manjoo, Farhad
My life with the saints by Martin, James
Worlds at war : the 2,500-year struggle between east and west by Pagden, Anthony
A whole new mind : why right-brainers will rule the future by Pink, Daniel
Gang leader for a day : a rogue sociologist takes to the streets by Venkatesh, Sudhir
Campaigning for president by Wright, Jordan
Surprised by hope : rethinking Heaven, the resurrection, and the mission of the church by Wright, N. T.

LargeType
Bones by Kellerman, Jonathan
Norah by Macomber, Debbie
Stephanie by Macomber, Debbie
Valerie by Macomber, Debbie
A good woman by Steel, Danielle

Children
Why do you do that? : a book about Tourette syndrome for children and young people by Chowdhury, Uttom
Swordbird by Fan, Nancy
A rainbow of my own by Freeman, Don
Choices by Jacobs, Deborah
Hedgehog bakes a cake by Macdonald, Maryann
I can't stop! : a story about Tourette Syndrome by Niner, Holly
Tic talk : living with Tourette syndrome : a 9-year-old boy's story in his own words by Peters, Dylan
Have you seen my duckling? by Tafuri, Nancy
Little Quack's new friend by Thompson, Lauren
Dimity Duck by Yolen, Jane

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Remembering Henderson's Past: Industrial Capital?


It's time for another peek into the archives ...


Henderson: Industrial Capital?

Cancer sticks, coffin nails, and lung darts. . . Tobacco, which, according to the American Heart Association, is the leading preventable cause of premature death in the United States, seems to have become public enemy number one in our informed society. However, there was an era when Americans were not so loathing of the product and when the crop was responsible for making Henderson the second wealthiest city per-capita in the world.

In 1792, early settlers in the Henderson area quickly realized that the fertile soil of the abundant river bottoms was ideal for the growth of tobacco. By 1801, the county was the largest producer of the crop in the state, and by 1860, at the height of its affluence, Henderson had the largest dark tobacco market in the world, exporting via the Ohio River and the Atlantic Ocean to places like New Orleans, Belfast, Ireland, and Liverpool, England.

By 1865, though, the tobacco industry in Henderson took a plunge. Between 1860 and the conclusion of the Civil War, the generation of tobacco decreased from 8.1 million pounds to 5.2 million pounds, due largely to the loss of slaves. With the crash of slavery, though, tobacconists persisted, and in 1896, there were 17 large stemmeries (plants where the tobacco was stripped) in the city and several more in the county. The industry, though still strong in the county, suffered its greatest losses when the Great Depression of the 1930s hit, and tobacco could no longer be considered a significant cash crop. It might be said that the Depression ended an industrial era, but, looking at what we now know of tobacco risks, it may have been for the best.

To find out more about the tobacco industry in Henderson, come visit us in the archives, or to see what else we have, visit our genealogy webpage. You can also read other “Revisiting Henderson’s Past” entries.
(Photo is of loaded tobacco wagons on Main Street in the early part of the twentieth century. )

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

DVDs, Books on CD, and Music ordered Feb 14

Below is a list of the Below is a list of the DVDs, Books on CD, and Music recently ordered by the library. Click on the titles to see more and request a copy!

DVDs
Movies
Bend it like Beckham
December boys
The great debaters
The kite runner
Scarlett
Tea with Mussolini

Regular
African American Lives 2
The Beatles anthology
Bizet: Carmen
The Jewish Americans
On the muscle: Portrait of a thoroughbred racing stable
Oswald's ghost
Pioneers of television
Scenic walks of the world
Touring the world

Family
Alvin And The Chipmunks
The golden compass

Books on CD
Fiction
Bowdrie passes through by L'Amour, Louis
The Sackett Brand by L'Amour, Louis
Chasing destiny by Overholser, Stephen

Music
Across the universe
Beatles: Anthology 2
Beatles: Anthology 3
Mark Weinstein: Con alma
Mark Weinstein: O nosso amor

New books we ordered February 14, 2008

Below is a list of the books recently ordered by the library. They are grouped by Fiction, Non-fiction, and LargeType. Click on the title to see more and request a copy!

Fiction
Finally a family by Aarsen, Carolyne
Hounded to death by Brown, Rita
Love at first sight by Cannell, Stephen
The wedding officer by Capella, Anthony
Every move you make by Cassidy, Carla
My utmost for his highest by Chambers, Oswald
Blessed child by Dekker, Ted
Heaven's wager by Dekker, Ted
A man called Blessed by Dekker, Ted
The martyr's song by Dekker, Ted
Thunder of Heaven by Dekker, Ted
When heaven weeps by Dekker, Ted
Snake eye by Dietz, William
Second thyme around by Fforde, Katie
The apostate's tale by Frazer, Margaret
The collection by Gerritsen, Tess
Celebutantes by Goldberg, Amanda
Below the surface by Harper, Karen
Body rides by Laymon, Richard
Hot summer nights by Lloyd, Joan Elizabeth
The Bourne sanction by Lustbader, Eric
Always Dakota by Macomber, Debbie
The Manning brides by Macomber, Debbie
Mrs. Miracle by Macomber, Debbie
Someday soon ; Sooner or later by Macomber, Debbie
Winter in Madrid by Sansom, C. J.
Sudden pleasures by Small, Bertrice
Be still my vampire heart by Sparks, Kerrelyn
Vamps and the city by Sparks, Kerrelyn

Nonfiction
Fixing climate : what past climate changes reveal about the current threat--and how to counter it by Broecker, Wallace
The food allergy cookbook : how to cook over 100 family-friendly recipes by Bruce-Gardyne, Lucinda
The longevity revolution : the benefits and challenges of living a long life by Butler, Robert
Monday morning choices : 12 powerful ways to go from everyday to extraordinary by Cottrell, David
The fine art of the big talk : how to win clients, deliver great presentations, and solve conflicts at work by Fine, Debra
Country living : crafting a business : make money doing what you love by Fitzgerald, Kathie
Tales from the torrid zone : travels in the deep tropics by Frater, Alexander
In search of our roots : how 19 extraordinary African Americans reclaimed their past by Gates, Henry Louis
Andrew Johnson by Gordon-Reed, Annette
God's middle finger : adventures in the Sierra Madre by Grant, Richard
The last single woman in America by Guidry, Cindy
The age of American unreason by Jacoby, Susan
Basic writings of Kant by Kant, Immanuel
How not to look old : fast and effortless ways to look 10 years younger, 10 pounds lighter, 10 times better by Krupp, Charla
My mother, your mother : embracing "slow medicine"--the compassionate approach to caring for your aging loved ones by McCullough, Dennis
Our daily meds : how the pharmaceutical companies transformed themselves into slick marketing machines and hooked the nation on prescription drugs by Petersen, Melody
Seduced by madness : the true story of the Susan Polk murder case by Pogash, Carol
Did Lincoln own slaves? : and other frequently asked questions about Abraham Lincoln by Prokopowicz, Gerald
Everyday commitments : choosing a life of love, realism, and acceptance by Richo, David
Apples are from Kazakhstan : the land that disappeared by Robbins, Christopher
Multiple sclerosis : new hope and practical advice for people with MS and their families by Rosner, Louis
Embracing our mortality : hard choices in an age of medical miracles by Schneiderman, L. J.
Your inner fish : a journey into the 3.5-billion-year history of the human body by Shubin, Neil
Fabulosity : what it is & how to get it by Simmons, Kimora
Los Angeles Attractions by Stanic, Borislav
Results that last : hardwiring behaviors that will take your company to the top by Studer, Quint
The sky isn't visible from here by Sullivan, Felicia
It's a boy! : understanding your son's development from birth to age 18 by Thompson, Michael
Out of the storm : the life and legacy of Martin Luther by Wilson, Derek
Creating a world without poverty : social business and the future of capitalism by Yunus, Muhammad

LargeType
The Bourne sanction by Lustbader, Eric

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Recession-proof your investment portfolio

Here is February's Investing Tip of the Month, brought to you by Morningstar Investment Research Center ...

There's lots of talk of a recession these days, making many investors nervous. What exactly is a recession? The technical definition is two quarters (six months) of negative gross domestic product growth. (GDP is the total market value of the new goods and services produced during a specified time span.) More simply, a recession describes a shrinking economy rather than a growing one.

Although a downturn in market performance isn't necessarily a recession, the two can go hand in hand, as the last two recessions in 1990 and 2001 suggest. Currently there's not a consensus on whether the U.S. economy is already in a recession, heading for a recession, or simply slowing down, but it never hurts to be ready. Below are a few important steps to take when the economy turns sour.

Buy, Don't Sell
We all know the old adage "Buy low, sell high." Yet that's the opposite of what some people do when the economic climate looks gloomy. The start of a recession is not the time to liquidate your investments. Depending on your time horizon, you most likely have enough time to ride out short-term stock price drops that might happen during a recession. If you're in your 30s and saving for retirement, a few market bumps will be ironed out in the long run. Still, it's important to construct your portfolio with your time horizon and risk tolerance in mind, which can help you sleep easy if the market continues to tumble.

A recessionary environment could even be a time to increase your contributions to your portfolio. Some mutual fund managers, particularly those who are attentive to valuation, have told us they've found bargains amid the market's recent volatility. For example, the team at Longleaf Partners urged current investors to consider adding more to their holdings because it's finding a lot to buy right now, and it also opened the fund to new shareholders after being closed since July 2004. By continuously contributing to your portfolio, you'll participate in purchasing those deals.

Stay the Course with Dollar-Cost Averaging
With uncertainty in the air, it can be tough to stay disciplined about investing. Therefore it's a good idea to set accounts on autopilot in order to avoid the temptation of hoarding cash under your mattress.

Most investors in 401(k) plans make contributions on a regular basis; you might also consider doing so with your other accounts. Dollar-cost averaging, or investing a set amount of money at regular intervals, can also help bolster your savings when the economy starts growing again. For example, say you invest $500 a month in a mutual fund. The fund's shares are worth $10 apiece initially, meaning you can purchase 50 shares a month. If the underlying assets appreciate a total of 20%, and now the fund's NAV is at $12, you purchase fewer than 42 shares that month. But if the fund's NAV drops 20% to $8 a share, your $500 will purchase almost 63 shares. Therefore, consistent dollar-cost averaging can result in a lower overall price you pay for shares; it will also ensure that you don't lose your resolve to invest amid market turbulence.

Saving Matters
Unemployment can skyrocket when economic growth slows. Losing your job is a huge financial blow. Regardless of what the economy is doing, you should prepare for the worst by saving three- to six-months' worth of living expenses in an emergency fund. It's best to store the money in a very liquid account like a money market fund, which isn't usually subject to price drops and generally pays more interest than a regular checking or savings account.

Check Your Diversification
Still worried? Take some time to make sure your portfolio is well-diversified. A good place to start is Morningstar Investment Center's Portfolio X-Ray tool. There you can see your portfolio's exposure to different asset classes, sectors, and world regions. In a recessionary market, it's a good rule of thumb to make sure your portfolio includes exposure to companies that should thrive in a depressed environment, such as health care and consumer staples. People need to buy food and take their medicine regardless of what the economy is doing. Exposure to foreign stocks could also be a good defense if the U.S. is the primary economy hit by a slowdown. On the flip side, you'll want to make sure your portfolio doesn't have too much allocated to cyclical sectors such as industrial materials, media, and consumer services.

Likewise, make sure your fixed-income allocation is skewed more toward high-quality bonds rather than their junkier counterparts. When the economy hits the skids, prices on bonds of lower credit quality can precipitously drop, and make a serious dent in your savings. Yet those funds holding bonds with the highest credit quality can benefit from investors looking for a safer haven. You can investigate the overall credit quality of your bond holdings using Instant X-Ray by clicking on the Bond Style tab in the drop-down menu.

Morningstar Investment Research Center is great tool for new and veteran investors. It's chock full of unbiased analyst reports, tools for evaluating your portfolio, and lessons on how to invest. The best part is that it's free to all valid library cardholders! Begin now or learn more.