Search This Blog

Monday, December 28, 2009

DVDs and Music CDs ordered Dec 23

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

DVDs

All that jazz (DVD)
Along came Polly (DVD)
Che (DVD)
Extract (DVD)
Lake City (DVD)
Meet Joe Black (DVD)
9 1/2 weeks(DVD)
Nothing to lose (DVD)
The ramen girl (DVD)
Resurrecting the champ (DVD)
The stepfather (DVD)
Taking Woodstock (DVD)
Waist deep (DVD)
X2: X-Men united (DVD)
A perfect spy (DVD)


Music CDs

John Surman: Brewster's rooster (Music CD)
The Eight-Stringed Bach (Music CD)
Imelda May: Love tattoo (Music CD)
Maiteí América: Harps of Paraguay (Music CD)
Lavay Smith: Miss Smith to you! (Music CD)
Mendelssohn: Piano trios (Music CD)
Bomshel: Fight like a girl (Music CD)
Trans Siberian Orchestra: Night castle (Music CD)
Joe Nichols: Old things new (Music CD)
Rodrigo Y Gabriela: 11:11 (Music CD)
Shakira: She wolf (Music CD)
Matthew Bellamy: The resistance (Music CD)
New Boyz: Skinny jeanz and a mic (Music CD)
Star trek : music from the motion picture (Music CD)
Mary J. Blige: Stronger with each tear (Music CD)
Michael Jackson's This is it (Music CD)

New books we ordered December 23

Below is a list of the books recently ordered by the library. Click on the title to see more and request a copy!

Books for Adults (Fiction and Nonfiction)
Dark dreamers
Hot blooded
Though waters roar by Austin, Lynn N
Men cry in the dark by Baisden, Michael
God's gift to women by Baisden, Michael
Thirsty by Bateman, Tracey Victoria
IBM and the Holocaust : the strategic alliance between Nazi Germany and America's most powerful corporation by Black, Edwin
War against the weak : Eugenics and America's campaign to create a master race by Black, Edwin
My name is Memory by Brashares, Ann
The jewel of his heart : a novel by Brendan, Maggie
London Boulevard by Bruen, Ken
Kushiel's justice by Carey, Jacqueline
Kushiel's mercy by Carey, Jacqueline
Kushiel's scion by Carey, Jacqueline
Limelight : a novel by Carlson, Melody
Burned by Cast, P. C.
Divine by mistake by Cast, P. C.
61 hours (LT) by Child, Lee
Big man : real life & tall tales by Clemons, Clarence
Cape greed by Cole, Sam
God's master plan for your life : ten keys to fulfilling your destiny by Copeland, Gloria.
Leaving yesterday by Cushman, Kathryn
The road out of hell : Sanford Clark and the true story of the Wineville murders by Flacco, Anthony
Sign of the dove by Fletcher, Susan
Flight of the Dragon Kyn by Fletcher, Susan
Ape house by Gruen, Sara
Misery loves cabernet by Gruenenfelder-Smith, Kim
Micah by Hamilton, Laurell K.
Blue moon by Hamilton, Laurell K.
The whale by Hoare, Philip
Where grace abides (LT) by Hoff, B. J.
The rook by James, Steven
Double cross : a novel by Jordan, James
Get cooking : 150 simple recipes to get you started in the kitchen by Katzen, Mollie
Take four by Kingsbury, Karen
Mini-shopaholic by Kinsella, Sophie
Naruto #11 by Kishimoto, Masashi
Naruto #12 by Kishimoto, Masashi
Naruto #13 by Kishimoto, Masashi
Naruto #14 by Kishimoto, Masashi
Naruto #15 by Kishimoto, Masashi
Boundary waters by Krueger, William Kent
Prospero in Hell by Lamplighter, L. Jagi
The breach by Lee, Patrick
Dexter Is delicious by Lindsay, Jeffry P.
Death at the alma mater by Malliet, G. M.
Heart's blood by Marillier, Juliet
Heir to Sevenwaters by Marillier, Juliet
Cowboys full : the story of poker by McManus, James
Return to sender (LT) by Michaels, Fern
The Lake Shore Limited (LT) by Miller, Sue
Shadowfever by Moning, Karen Marie
I am the new black by Morgan, Tracy
The listener : a novel by Nayman, Shira
Jango by Nicholson, William
Seeker by Nicholson, William
Don't shoot the dog! : the new art of teaching and training by Pryor, Karen
Windows 7 for dummies by Rathbone, Andy
Tear down this wall : a city, a president, and the speech that ended the Cold War by Ratnesar, Romesh
Box 21 by Roslund, Anders
Why my third husband will be a dog (LT) by Scottoline, Lisa
Why my third husband will be a dog : the amazing adventures of an ordinary woman by Scottoline, Lisa
Everlost by Shusterman, Neal
The fatal strain : on the trail of avian flu and the coming pandemic by Sipress, Alan
Tentacles by Smith, Roland
So that's what they're for! : the definitive breastfeeding guide by Tamaro, Janet
In my father's house by Thoene, Bodie
Love soup : 160 all-new vegetarian recipes by Thomas, Anna
Speed decorating : a pro stager's tips and trade secrets for a fabulous home in a week or less by Vegas, Jill
The hope of refuge (LT) by Woodsmall, Cindy

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Computer classes scheduled for January


The library is offering several free computer classes in January on computer basics, the Internet, and email. The classes will be held in the Children's Department computer lab and each participant will have his or her own computer for practice.  Each class will be 1.5 hours in length. Class size is limited so registration is required. You may register online or by calling the Library. If you have specific questions about the classes, please call Retta Zollinger, the library's Public Computer Instructor, at 826-3712

Introduction to Computers (Saturday, January 16, 10:00 am)
This workshop will offer participants a hands-on opportunity to learn about the basic parts of a computer. Learn how to open and close programs, save documents, use a mouse and become familiar with a keyboard.

Internet Basics-Part One (Saturday, January 23, 10:00 am)
This is a beginner workshop for those with little or no Internet experience. Learn how to navigate the Internet using hyperlinks, toolbar buttons, and basic searching skills. Find out where to type in web addresses and search topics. Favorites, History, and Internet safety will also be introduced.
Prerequisites: Must be experienced using the mouse and have basic keyboarding skills.

Internet Basics-Part Two (Saturday, January 30, 10:00 am)Become more familiar with using hyperlinks, typing in web page addresses, and using the History feature. Learn how to save and organize favorite websites. Cut and paste web addresses, text, or pictures from a website into a word processor.
Prerequisites: Must be experienced using the mouse and have basic keyboarding skills. Must also have a basic knowledge of using an Internet browser.

Email Basics-Part One (Tuesday, January 12, 6:00 pm)This workshop will explain the basics of email and walk participants through the process of setting up a free Gmail account. Participants will spend time composing and sending email messages to each other.
Prerequisites: Must be experienced using the mouse and have basic keyboarding skills. Must also have a basic knowledge of using an Internet browser.

Email Basics-Part Two (Tuesday, January 19, 6:00 pm)
This workshop will offer practice in advanced Gmail activities. Time will be spent formatting text, attaching files to email messages, reading and replying to incoming email, and storing email addresses in a personal address book. Bring email addresses of friends and family.
Prerequisites: Must be experienced using the mouse and have basic keyboarding skills. Must also have an email account and basic knowledge of using an Internet browser.

Computer Q&A (Thursday, January 14, 21, and 28, 6:00 pm)
Practice what you have learned in our classes and build confidence in our open computer lab sessions for adults. A library staff member will be available to answer questions and provide one-on-one assistance. Prior workshop attendance is not required. Anyone with basic computer questions may attend.

Resumes and Cover Letters (Tuesday, January 26, 6:00 pm)
Learn about different resume styles and why a cover letter is important. Helpful tips will be shared to make your resume professional and eye-catching. Participants should bring job experience and education information needed to create a resume as they will be given time to work on their individual resumes.
Prerequisites: Must be experienced using the mouse and familiar with basic keyboarding skills.

Friday, December 18, 2009

What's an eReader? Do I need one?

As digital book readers become more popular, the library is getting questions about which e-book reader is the best.  While we can't decide which e-book reader is best for you, we can give you information to help you make an informed decision.

Some of you may be wondering what the heck we're talking about.  What's an e-book reader?  An e-book reader (also called an eReader) is an electronic device that displays e-books.  An e-book is an electronic version of a printed book which can be read on a personal computer or e-book reader.  The main advantage of these devices is the ability to carry around hundreds of books in one small, lightweight device.

There are three major brands of e-book readers on the market: Sony Reader, Amazon Kindle, and Barnes & Noble Nook.  Each reader has different features, but the main idea is that you buy e-books and store them on your e-book reader to read at your leisure.  Here's where the library comes in.  If you want to use e-books but don't want to buy them, you can download them from the library for free through Kentucky Libraries Unbound (you will need a valid library card and password).  There are hundreds of e-books to choose from and they can all be read on your computer but not on every e-book reader. 

Let's look at each of these e-book readers more closely.

Sony Reader is the only e-book reader that has been tested and approved to work with the library's free downloadable e-books.  You will be able to download and read approximately 90% of the library's e-book collection (PDF and EPUB e-book formats).  Sony Reader

Amazon Kindle does not allow downloading of free e-books from library websites.  You must buy books from Amazon.com.

Barnes & Noble Nook is currently in pre-order status and is rumored to allow downloading of free library e-books.  Once the Nook is available its compatibility will be tested by the technicians at Kentucky Libraries Unbound.

If you would like to download e-books from the library's website and view them with an e-book reader, then we recommend the Sony Reader; however, an e-book reader is not required. All content at Kentucky Libraries Unbound may be used on a computer after installing the free software.

For more information about e-book readers we recommend visiting Consumer Reports (you will need a valid library card and password).

Thursday, December 17, 2009

DVDs, Books on CD, & Music ordered Dec.16th

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
A boyfriend for Christmas
The Christmas blessing
Dead presidents
500 days of Summer
The freshman
Unbreakable
The witches
Houseboat
The secret things of God
The time traveler's wife
Amelia
Fame
Halloween II
Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 1976

Books on CD
Infinity by Kenyon, Sherrilyn
No mercy by Kenyon, Sherrilyn
The telling by Lewis, Beverly
Don't blink by Patterson, James
God's battalions by Stark, Rodney

Music CDs
Fire in my bones
Neil Sedaka: Music of my life

New books we ordered Dec.16th

Below is a list of the books recently ordered by the library. They are grouped by Adult. Click on the title to see more and request a copy!

Books for Adults (Fiction and Nonfiction)
English for New Americans
The Reckoning by Armstrong, Kelley
Our fellow Kentuckians : rascals, heroes and just plain uncommon folk by Claypool, James
Poor little bitch girl (LT) by Collins, Jackie
Let there be light : the story of rural electrification in Kentucky by Dick, David
The flood by Dietz, William
A chance to die : the life and legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elliot, Elisabeth
Possession by Ewing, Lynne
A darkness at Sethanon by Feist, Raymond
Apprentice by Feist, Raymond
Master by Feist, Raymond
Storms of my grandchildren : the truth about the coming climate catastrophe and our last chance to save humanity by Hansen, James
Elizabeth Prentiss : more love to thee by James, Sharon
Validation techniques for dementia care : the family guide to improving communication by Klerk-Rubin, Vicki de
Conquering fear : living boldly in an uncertain world by Kushner, Harold
Christianity : the first three thousand years by MacCulloch, Diarmaid
The Poison King : the life and legend of Mithridates, Rome's deadliest enemy by Mayor, Adrienne
Breath of magic by Medeiros, Teresa
Planet ape by Morris, Desmond
Lives of Confucius : the many lives of civilization's greatest sage by Nylan, Michael
Bruchko by Olson, Bruce
When the game is over, it all goes back in the box by Ortberg, John
Bangkok days by Osborne, Lawrence
Hollywood westerns and American myth : the importance of Howard Hawks and John Ford for political philosophy by Pippin, Robert
Star wars, death troopers by Schreiber, Joe
Covet : a novel of the fallen angels by Ward, J. R.
Plain paradise by Wiseman, Beth
A game plan for life : the power of mentoring by Wooden, John

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

New FREE website for career help

The new Job and Career Accelerator by LearningExpress Library, is now being offered by the Library. Job and Career Accelerator is an exciting website that allows you to easily take the next step towards a new career or job. This easy-to- use resource allows you to:
  • Search and apply for jobs in your area
  • Explore over a thousand occupations
  • Use the Occupational Matcher to guide you to new possibilities
  • Create a fine-tuned résumé and cover letter effortlessly
  • Prepare you for the interview process

These tools along with those already offered through LearningExpress Library can be accessed through the Library’s website. All you need is a valid library card and password.

And don’t forget to chat with the live tutors at the Tutor.com Learning Suite to gain further career assistance. Live tutors will review your résumé and cover letter, and help you with any questions you may have about applying and interviewing for a job.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Children's Christmas program Dec 19


The Henderson County Public Library will present "Christmas Time is Near," a program for children ages 5 and up at 10:00 am on Saturday, December 19. Local resident Wendy McPherson, a former nursery school teacher, will read The Night Before Christmas, Polar Express, and Mary's Baby. Children will also have fun making an edible Christmas tree and Snowman Soup. Registration is required for attendance. You may register during your next visit to the Library or by calling 826-3712.

DVDs, Books on CD, & Music ordered Dec. 10th

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
Ben 10: alien swarm
El norte
How to be
The last don II
Little ashes
Moon
Paper heart
Save the last dance
Warlock: the Armageddon
Michael Jackson: This is it
MoveOn: The movie
Post Grad

Books on CD
The cat who knew a cardinal by Braun, Lilian Jackson
Paul McCartney by Carlin, Peter
Pirate latitudes by Crichton, Michael
A aood fall by Jin, Ha
The talisman by King, Stephen
Billy by McKay, William
Nanny returns by McLaughlin, Emma

Music CDs
Dolly Parton
Elvis Presley: Good rockin' tonight
Justin Bieber: My world
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir: Hallelujah!

New books we ordered Dec. 10th

Below is a list of the books recently ordered by the library. They are grouped by Adult and Children. Click on the title to see more and request a copy!

Books for Adults (Fiction and Nonfiction)
Heavenstone secrets by Andrews, V. C.
Secret whispers by Andrews, V. C.
The broken teaglass : a novel by Arsenault, Emily
Devil's dream by Bell, Madison Smartt
The prayer shawl companion : 38 knitted designs to embrace, inspire & celebrate life by Bristow, Janet
Sunflowers by Bundrick, Sheramy
She went all the way by Cabot, Meg
My big toe : a trilogy unifying philosophy, physics, and metaphysics by Campbell, Thomas
Surrender of a siren by Dare, Tessa
Ain't too proud to beg by Donovan, Susan
Blood's a rover : a novel by Ellroy, James
Blueberry muffin murder (#3) by Fluke, Joanne
Chocolate chip cookie murder (#1) by Fluke, Joanne
P.I.E.C.E.S. : a booster's story by Fournier, Tammy
Lowcountry summer by Frank, Dorothea
Lowcountry summer (LT) by Frank, Dorothea
Night of the wolves by Graham, Heather
The best life guide to managing diabetes and pre-diabetes by Greene, Bob
The guardian by Henderson, Dee
Deeper than the dead (LT) by Hoag, Tami
Montana fire by Jackson, Lisa
Mama, I'm in love (-- with a gangsta) by Joy
The eyes of the dragon by King, Stephen
Turning the tables by Kishimoto, Masashi
Predator by Kishimoto, Masashi
Orochimaru's curse by Kishimoto, Masashi
A splendid ninja by Kishimoto, Masashi
Life-and-death battles by Kishimoto, Masashi
The marks of Cain by Knox, Tom
You can read anyone : never be fooled, lied to, or taken advantage of again by Lieberman, David
Mathilda Savitch by Lodato, Victor
The astonishing adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl by Lyga, Barry
Goth Girl rising by Lyga, Barry
The energy of life by Megre, V. (Vladimir)
The new civilisation by Megre, V. (Vladimir)
The ringing cedars of Russia by Megre, V. (Vladimir)
Rites of love by Megre, V. (Vladimir)
The space of love by Megre, V. (Vladimir)
Who are we? by Megre, V. (Vladimir)
Anastasia by Megre, V. (Vladimir)
The book of kin by Megre, V. (Vladimir)
Co-creation by Megre, V. (Vladimir)
The bargain bride by Metzger, Barbara
Dream of me by Michaels, Fern
Heroine : a novel by Mitchell, D.
Nefertiti : a novel by Moran, Michelle
Jarrettsville : a novel by Nixon, Cornelia
Don't blink by Patterson, James
We were here by Peña, Matt de la
Broken jewel by Robbins, David
Windfall by Roberts, Nora
Worth the risk by Roberts, Nora
The devil colony by Rollins, James
Everwild by Shusterman, Neal
The man who invented Christmas : how Charles Dickens's A Christmas carol rescued his career and revived our holiday spirits by Standiford, Les
How to say goodbye in Robot by Standiford, Natalie
Torch of freedom by Weber, David
Lakeshore Christmas by Wiggs, Susan

Books for Children (Fiction and Nonfiction)
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus / The Classic Edition by Church, Francis Pharcellus
The chase by Corder, Zizou
Fantastic Mr. Fox by Dahl, Roald
Sphinx's princess by Friesner, Esther
Pandora gets heart by Hennesy, Carolyn
Matchless : a Christmas story : an illumination of Hans Christian Andersen's classic "The little match girl" by Maguire, Gregory
Truce : the day the soldiers stopped fighting by Murphy, Jim
The last silk dress by Rinaldi, Ann
The chestnut king by Wilson, Nathan

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

The Best New Mutual Funds of 2009

Investing tip of the month from Morningstar Investment Research Center by Russel Kinnel, director of mutual fund research and editor of Morningstar FundInvestor.

Most of the funds launched this year are forgettable "me too" funds, but a handful are worthy of your attention. It's easy to lose track of them amid all the dross, so here then are my picks for the best new funds of 2009. You might want to put them on your watch list.

In compiling the list I looked for good managers who have proven track records at other funds. You can ignore the untested managers for now and come back in a few years, but these are funds that you might find intriguing, if not compelling, right away. One thing to be wary of with new funds, though, is that some come with high expense ratios because assets are low. I've never quite understood why the lack of other shareholders should penalize fundholders, but that's how it usually works. In some cases, you may want to wait for expenses to come down before you buy. I've grouped the funds into no-load and load.

No-Load
Akre Focus AKREX
Manager Chuck Akre split apart from FBR Focus FBRVX to start his own fund. Three of his top analysts stayed behind to run the FBR fund after he left. However, Akre's brilliant record at FBR Focus inspires confidence at his new charge. Akre looks for companies with sustainable returns on equity of 20% or greater, and he keeps the portfolio concentrated in around 40 names. So far the fund has had a very stable net asset value, so it would appear that Akre is holding a ton of cash and only gradually buying stocks.

The scoop on expenses: Before the breakup, you got Akre and his analysts for the relatively steep expense ratio of 1.42%. Now you get Akre or the analysts, so the two funds ought both be charging less than you paid for the whole team. They don't see it that way. This fund's retail shares charge 1.46%, and that's after an expense cap that could be allowed to expire after Nov. 10, 2010.

PIMCO Global Advantage Strategy Bond PGSDX
With all the funds that it's been launching, PIMCO ought to have something worthy of this best-of list. This fund is the innovative idea of basing a foreign-bond portfolio on the size of countries' economies rather than their debt. The fund's newly created benchmark, PIMCO Global Advantage Bond Index, will lead the fund to invest less in highly indebted economies in favor of financially healthier ones. Thus, the fund figures to have a little higher-quality debt than PIMCO Foreign Bond PFBDX. It's also worth noting that, as the global name implies, it will include U.S. debt to the tune of about 27% of assets. The fund will be actively managed against that benchmark. What makes the fund particularly appealing is that it's led by Mohammad El-Erian, who did a great job at PIMCO Emerging Markets, briefly ran Harvard's endowment fund, and then returned to serve as CEO of PIMCO. El-Erian is joined by Ramin Toloui, who helped to build the index.

The scoop on expenses: Retail shares charge 1.10%. That's a little high for a world-bond fund. T. Rowe's costs 0.80%, and PIMCO Foreign Bond costs 0.90%. With a 0.85% management fee and a 0.25% 12b-1 fee, it looks like expenses won't be going down. (I put the fund in the no-load group, but it's also available in A shares, Institutional shares, and just about any other share type you can think of.)

Vanguard FTSE All-Wld ex-US SmCp Idx Inv VFSVX
This fund sounds kind of DFA-like to me. It's a foreign small-cap index fund. Most investors can lead happy productive lives without owning a foreign small-cap index fund, but I can see the value. Most foreign funds have large-cap-dominated portfolios, and this fund is a low-cost way to round out your portfolio. On the other hand, Vanguard International Explorer VINEX actually costs less than this fund. Finally, isn't "all-world ex-U.S." an oxymoron?

The scoop on expenses: Investor shares cost 0.60%, Admiral shares cost 0.35%, and the ETF VSS costs 0.38%.

Tweedy Browne Global Value II--Currency Unhedged TBCUX
We already have a long record for this fund's stock-selection strategy at Tweedy Browne Global Value TBGVX. The only difference is that this fund doesn't hedge its currency exposure. You get the same Ben Graham style of looking for cheap stocks at decent companies. The managers do a good job of capping price risk by selling as valuations rise, though that means you will likely miss out on the end of long-running rallies. A hedged portfolio is going to be less volatile, but this fund should appeal to those who want to diversify more out of the U.S. dollar. Most investors only have a modest stake overseas, so it makes sense that they'd want some nondollar exposure from their limited holdings.

The scoop on expenses: Tweedy is holding expenses at this fund to 1.37% until the end of 2010 and says it expects fees to track those of Global Value over time. The bad news is that Global Value isn't all that cheap.

Third Avenue Focused Credit Investor TFCVX
This fund is one of the most interesting funds launched this year, but I want to see some portfolios before I dive in. Third Avenue has long invested in distressed bonds. Bonds are often the best way to go when a company is near bankruptcy because bonds go to the front of the pecking order when a company goes bankrupt and stocks get wiped out or nearly wiped out. Third Avenue has bankruptcy lawyers help them sort out the issues in advance, and in the past it has earned excellent returns buying bonds when others are fleeing. However, those bonds have always been a small portion of funds like Third Avenue Value TAVFX. I want to see if they can find enough opportunities for this fund--especially now that credit markets have rallied. I also want to see how concentrated the portfolio is--they say they expect to own 50-60 names, but will that happen right away and how much will the top holdings own? I also want to see how much of the portfolio is in bank loans and how much is in high-yield debt.

The scoop on expenses: The fund is charging a steep 1.40% for retail shares and 0.95% for investments over $100,000. That hurdle looks awfully high, as you'd have to have a huge portfolio to make a niche fund like this a $100,000 investment. Third Avenue is taking this approach firmwide--it is raising fees across the board for those who come in at the lower investment level, so I'm not expecting this fund to get cheap.

Load
Hotchkis & Wiley High Yield HWHAX
This new fund is run by two PIMCO veterans. Ray Kennedy and Mark Hudoff formerly managed PIMCO's high-yield fund and now they're running this new fund for Hotchkis & Wiley. It's a tough call between the two funds. Because this fund is new and has just $52 million in assets, its portfolio is more concentrated than PIMCO High Yield's.

The scoop on expenses: The fund's A shares cost 0.95%. That's 5 basis points above PIMCO's fund, but not an extreme price.

American Funds Intl Gr And Inc A IGAAX
American's foreign flagship, American Funds EuroPacific Growth AEPGX, leans a little to the growth side, so it has come out with this fund that leans a little to the value side. They both cut a wide swath, though, so don't look for style purity. Still, given the strength of EuroPacific's record, you've got to pay attention when American rolls out a new fund. This fund already has more than $2 billion in assets. One thing that might surprise you is that, although this fund has income in its name, its yield is only a hair above EuroPac's.

I'm encouraged by the three managers American has selected to start the fund. They don't break out individual manager's returns, but their experience and the overall record at their funds say good things. Andre Suzman has been a manager at American Funds Income Fund of America AMECX since 1995. Carl Kawaja has been on board EuroPacific since 2001 and American Funds New Perspective ANWPX since 1999. Steven Watson has been on New Perspective since 2005. American has managers run sleeves of each fund independently, and it turns over a portion of each fund to the analysts at the firm.

The scoop on expenses: The fund charges 1.11%; that's cheap for a new foreign fund, though it's 31 basis points above EuroPacific and helps to explain why its yield is barely above EuroPac's. Given EuroPac's 0.80% expense ratio, this fund would have a 2.49% yield.

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.

Friday, December 04, 2009

DVDs, Books on CD, & Music ordered Dec. 2nd

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
Hamish MacBeth: Series 1
Couples retreat
The final destination
The goods
The king and I
The life & faith of C.S. Lewis
A rather English marriage
Cadet Kelly
The even Stevens movie
Hamish MacBeth: Series 2
Hamish MacBeth: Series 3

Books on CD
Deliver us from evil by Baldacci, David
City of ashes by Clare, Cassandra
The perfect Christmas by Macomber, Debbie
Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Mull, Brandon
Fablehaven by Mull, Brandon
Fablehaven grip of the shadow plague by Mull, Brandon

Music CDs
Sam & Ruby: The here and the now
Louis Sclavis: Lost on the way
Ray LeVier: Ray's way
James Hand: Shadow on the ground
Wilco
Lady GaGa: The fame monster

New books we ordered Dec. 2nd

Below is a list of the books recently ordered by the library. They are grouped by Adult and Children. Click on the title to see more and request a copy!

Books for Adults (Fiction and Nonfiction)
The Merck manual home health handbook
It all began in Monte Carlo by Adler, Elizabeth
The Christmas glass by Alborghetti, Marci
Stork raving mad : a Meg Langslow mystery by Andrews, Donna
Comeback 2.0 : up close and personal by Armstrong, Lance
The real history of the Cold War : a new look at the past by Axelrod, Alan
Deliver us from evil (LT) by Baldacci, David
Deliver us from evil by Baldacci, David
Dead by midnight by Barton, Beverly
This book is not good for you by Bosch, Pseudonymous
You better not cry : stories for Christmas by Burroughs, Augusten
Bicycle diaries by Byrne, David
Graceling by Cashore, Kristin
Trouble : a novel by Christensen, Kate
Lonestar homecoming by Coble, Colleen
Lonestar secrets by Coble, Colleen
How to live like an Italian : a user's guide to La Dolce Vita by Coppolaro-Nowell, Annalisa
Hammer of the gods by Davis, Stephen
The Deen family cookbook by Deen, Paula
The man who lives with wolves by Ellis, Shaun
The Fleet Street murders by Finch, Charles
Buried secrets by Finder, Joseph
Now or never : why we must act now to end climate change and create a sustainable future by Flannery, Tim
Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Fluke, Joanne
Bryant & May on the loose : a Peculiar Crimes Unit mystery by Fowler, Christopher
Game six : Cincinnati, Boston, and the 1975 World Series : the triumph of America's pastime by Frost, Mark
Stephen Fry in America : fifty states and the man who set out to see them all by Fry, Stephen
In or out : a novel by Gabel, Claudia
Beautiful creatures by Garcia, Kami
Faces in the pool by Gash, Jonathan
Ice cold by Gerritsen, Tess
Red cloud at dawn : Truman, Stalin, and the end of the atomic monopoly by Gordin, Michael
Freefall by Gordon, Roderick
Wanting Sheila dead by Haddam, Jane
The Cabal by Hagberg, David
The goose girl by Hale, Shannon
Enna burning by Hale, Shannon
Bullet by Hamilton, Laurell
In my father's house : the chronicles of Bentley L. Dean by Harris, E. Lynn
The laird who loved me by Hawkins, Karen
Running scared by Jackson, Lisa
The AARP Retirement Survival Guide : how to make smart financial decisions in good times and bad by Jason, Julie
Shadow zone by Johansen, Iris
No mercy by Kenyon, Sherrilyn
Alabama moon by Key, Watt
Josie's story by King, Sorrel
Firestorm by Klass, David
Blood and chocolate by Klause, Annette
Married by morning by Kleypas, Lisa
Inside the Kingdom : kings, clerics, modernists, terrorists, and the struggle for Saudi Arabia by Lacey, Robert
His master's voice by Lem, Stanisław
Million-dollar throw by Lupica, Mike
Me and my shadow : a novel of the silver dragons by MacAlister, Katie
Hannah's list by Macomber, Debbie
Dark mirror : a Brock and Kolla mystery by Maitland, Barry
Chasing perfect by Mallery, Susan
Here's the deal : don't touch me by Mandel, Howie
Rizzo's war by Manfredo, Lou
Eyes like stars by Mantchev, Lisa
Jacques Cousteau : the sea king by Matsen, Bradford
Chinese whispers by May, Peter
The devil amongst the lawyers by McCrumb, Sharyn
Abandoned : a thriller by McFadyen, Cody
Wicked witch murder by Meier, Leslie
Exclusive by Michaels, Fern
Cross roads by Michaels, Fern
Paying back Jack : a novel by Moore, Christopher
Two coots in a canoe : an unusual story of friendship by Morine, David
Laguna Cove by Noël, Alyson
Victory of eagles by Novik, Naomi
Empire of ivory by Novik, Naomi
Choices by Nowak, Pamela
The secret of everything : a novel by O'Neal, Barbara
Honor : a novel by Patterson, Richard
Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword of Avalon by Paxson, Diana
Louisa May Alcott : the woman behind Little women by Reisen, Harriet
Galileo's dream by Robinson, Kim
Chambers of death by Royal, Priscilla
America in Vietnam : the war that couldn't be won by Schandler, Herbert
Charles Dickens : a life defined by writing by Slater, Michael
The Twilight Lord by Small, Bertrice
Peak by Smith, Roland
God's battalions : the case for the Crusades by Stark, Rodney
Pops : a life of Louis Armstrong by Teachout, Terry
Criminal paradise by Thomas, Steven
The council of the cursed : a mystery of ancient Ireland by Tremayne, Peter
Adored : an It Girl novel by Von Ziegesar, Cecily
Envy by Wasserman, Robin
Desert lost : Lena Jones mystery by Webb, Betty
Torn between two lovers by Weber, Carl
Renaissance Genius : Galileo Galilei & his legacy to modern science by Whitehouse, David
The Midnight Charter by Whitley, David

Books for Children (Fiction and Nonfiction)
The jolly Christmas postman by Ahlberg, Janet
A certain small shepherd by Caudill, Rebecca
There was an old lady who swallowed a bell! by Colandro, Lucille
The soldiers' night before Christmas by Holland, Trish
The 12 days of Christmas by Isadora, Rachel
The teachers' night before Christmas by Layne, Steven
The night before Christmas by Moore, Clement
Russell's Christmas magic by Scotton, Rob
Merry Christmas, Splat by Scotton, Rob

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Mango expands foreign language lessons

Mango Languages has expanded its foreign languages! You can now develop skills in 22 foreign languages and 14 ESL (English as a Second Language) courses!




Mango Complete includes Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish plus ESL courses for Spanish, Polish, and Brazilian Portuguese and is for those who:


  • Have more time to spend learning
  • Wish to go more in depth with language learning
  • Started using Mango prior to November 23rd and want to continue.




Mango Basic includes Arabic (Levantine), Mandarin Chinese, Dari (Afghanistan), Farsi (Iran), French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi (India), Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Pashto (Afghanistan), Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Spanish (Latin America), Tagalog (Philippines), Thai, Turkish, Urdu (Pakistan), Vietnamese plus ESL courses for Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Italian, German, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Korean, Vietnamese and is for those who:

  • Have less time to spend learning
  • Want to just learn the basics
  • Will be going overseas within a month

Get started learning your next language now! All you need is a valid library card and password.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

DVDs, Books on CD, & Music ordered Nov. 25th

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
Animal Treasure Island
Annie
Baby boom
Hellbound: Hellraiser II
Howl's moving castle
Miss Congeniality
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Porco rosso
100 feet
Princess Mononoke
White lightning
Heavy metal
Last September
Love happens
One world
Escape to Witch Mountain
Hitman
101 dalmatians
Return from Witch Mountain

Books on CD
Ronicky Doone's reward by Brand, Max
The Shadow of Silver Tip by Brand, Max
Speedy by Brand, Max
Trouble in Timberline by Brand, Max
A cousin's challenge by Brunstetter, Wanda
Granny Torrelli makes soup by Creech, Sharon
The wrecker by Cussler, Clive
The wild zone by Fielding, Joy
The last Mountain Man by Johnstone, William
Vanishing act by Michaels, Fern

Music CDs
Janet Jackson: #1's
Them Crooked Vultures
Rihanna: Rated R
Straight No Chaser: Holiday spirits
Straight No Chaser: Christmas cheers
Beach Boys: Christmas harmonies
Brian Setzer Orchetra: The ultimate Christmas collection
Adam Lambert: For your entertainment
Susan Boyle: I dreamed a dream
Sting: If on a winter's night
Andrea Bocelli: My Christmas

New books we ordered Nov. 25th

Below is a list of the books recently ordered by the library. They are grouped by Adult and Children. Click on the title to see more and request a copy!

Books for Adults (Fiction and Nonfiction)
A truth universally acknowledged : 33 great writers on why we read Jane Austen
1001 children's books you must read before you grow up
The gift : a novel by Ahern, Cecelia
Early dawn (LT) by Anderson, Catherine
On the edge by Andrews, Ilona
Capitol offense (LT) by Bernhardt, William
Burn me deadly : an Eddie LaCrosse novel by Bledsoe, Alex
The complete book of baby names : the most names, most lists, most help to find the best name by Bolton, Lesley
The imperial cruise : a secret history of empire and war by Bradley, James
The Atlantis code by Brokaw, Charles
The truth about psychics by Browne, Sylvia
The glass rainbow by Burke, James
First lord's fury by Butcher, Jim
Hidden empire by Card, Orson Scott
Soulless by Carriger, Gail
Dealing with dyscalculia : sum hope 2 by Chinn, Stephen
Decision at Strasbourg : Ike's strategic mistake to halt the Sixth Army Group at the Rhine in 1944 by Colley, David
Whisper Kiss : A Dragonfire Novel by Cooke, Deborah
Disciple (LT) by Coonts, Stephen
The Pravda messenger : a novel by Cornuke, Robert
First rule (LT) by Crais, Robert
The boyfriend game by Davis, Stephie
Poisoned pens by Dexter, Gary
Betraying season by Doyle, Marissa
Bewitching Season by Doyle, Marissa
The wild things : a novel by Eggers, Dave
The wild zone (LT) by Fielding, Joy
Sizzle (LT) by Garwood, Julie
Committed : a skeptic makes peace with marriage by Gilbert, Elizabeth
Flesh and fire by Gilman, Laura
Baby names that go together : from Lily, Rose, and Violet to Finn and Fay-- sibling names that mix and match in a perfect way by Groves, Eric
Winter garden (LT) by Hannah, Kristin
Wolf at the door (LT) by Higgins, Jack
Highland wolf by Howell, Hannah
Savagery of the Mountain Man by Johnstone, William
Judgment in the ashes by Johnstone, William
Justice of the mountain man by Johnstone, William
How to make friends with demons by Joyce, Graham
Naruto #4 by Kishimoto, Masashi
Pop by Korman, Gordon
The second perimeter by Lawson, Michael
Treasure hunt (LT) by Lescroart, John
The fourth part of the world : the race to the ends of the Earth, and the epic story of the map that gave America its name by Lester, Toby
Ash by Lo, Malinda
Highlander in her bed by Mackay, Allie
Some like it kilted by Mackay, Allie
Tall, dark, and kilted by Mackay, Allie
Highlander in her dreams by Mackay, Allie
Nanny returns : a novel by McLaughlin, Emma
Vanishing act (LT) by Michaels, Fern
Stones into schools : promoting peace with books, not bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Mortenson, Greg
A Rumpole Christmas by Mortimer, John
Too much happiness : stories by Munro, Alice
Celtic fire by Nash, Joy
Adland : searching for the meaning of life on a branded planet by Othmer, James
This world we live in by Pfeffer, Susan
The audacity to win : the inside story and lessons of Barack Obama's historic victory by Plouffe, David
Cleaving : a story of marriage, meat, and obsession by Powell, Julie
Sweet sorrow by Roberts, David
You, having a baby : the owner's manual to a happy and healthy pregnancy by Roizen, Michael
No apology : the case for American greatness by Romney, Mitt
But I trusted you : and other true cases by Rule, Ann
House of reckoning (LT) by Saul, John
Fields of grace (LT) by Sawyer, Kim
Canticle by Scholes, Ken
The baby name countdown : 140,000 popular and unusual baby names by Schwegel, Janet
Live to cook : recipes and techniques to rock your kitchen by Symon, Michael
The complete idiot's guide to 40,000 baby names by Turner, Marcia
Believe it, be it : how being the biggest loser won me back my life by Vincent, Ali
Fly away home by Weiner, Jennifer
The lady in the tower : the fall of Anne Boleyn by Weir, Alison
Razzle by Wittlinger, Ellen

Books for Children (Fiction and Nonfiction)
The Christmas baby by Bauer, Marion
Perfectly prima by Goldberg, Whoopi
My little red fire truck by Johnson, Stephen
Beetle McGrady eats bugs! by McDonald, Megan

Monday, November 23, 2009

Easy holiday shopping benefits library

The holiday shopping season officially kicks off this week and we want to let you know how your holiday shopping can benefit the library. We also have some great gift ideas for you!

Amazon.com
If you are already a loyal customer of Amazon.com, consider making your purchases via the link below or from the Friends of the Library website. A percentage of your purchase total will be given to the Friends of the Library, at no additional charge to you! How easy can it be?! Shop at Amazon.com

Magazine subscriptions
Through the library's website you can also buy, renew, or extend your favorite magazine subscriptions and save up to 85% off off newsstand prices! Choose from over 650 popular magazine titles and 40% of your purchase goes to the Friends of the Library. Visit the Magazine Store to start saving. You'll get the satisfaction of supporting a favorite cause while purchasing something you would buy anyway. Magazine subscriptions make great Christmas gifts, or gifts anytime year round!

Local talent
If you're looking for a unique gift for that hard-to-please individual, or want a gift with local flavor, consider something from the library's online store. Henderson County is fortunate to have a large share of outstanding authors, artists, and other creative individuals. Many books and songs have been written by Hendersonians, and the Library is pleased to offer many of these items for sale. We carry books, music, framed postcards, and book bags.