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
Away we go
Carlin on campus
Chocolat
George Carlin: Back In Town
Godzilla 2000
Halloween
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Inferno
I've loved you so long
Love Finds A Home
People I know
Public Enemies
The shining
Sugar
The call me Trinity
The Ugly Truth
Above the law
The Adventures of Ma and Pa Kettle: Volume 2
The Adventures of Ma and Pa Kettle: Volume 1
Bells of St. Marys
Billy Elliot
Brian's song
Broadcast news
Buddy Holly Story
Bugsy
Bull Durham
Cactus flower
Carmen Jones
Carousel
Cleopatra
Death on the Nile
The diary of Anne Frank
Fahrenheit 451
Fantastic voyage
5 Fingers of Death
Flamingo Kid
Flatliners
Freedom song
Her Alibi
High anxiety
Holiday Affair
How the West was won
How to Marry a Millionaire
In cold blood
Internal affairs
Jane Eyre
Jesus Christ superstar
Josie and the Pussycats
Judgment at Nuremberg
King Solomon's mines
L.A. confidential
A lesson before dying
The lion in winter
Little women
Mission
Othello
Revenge of the Pink Panther
Saturday night fever
Scent of a woman
The score
Summer of '42
The adventures of Scamper the penguin
Fragments
Imagination movers : Jump & shout, let's figure things out
Judgment Night
Mickey Mouse clubhouse : Mickey's treat
Who framed Roger Rabbit
Wizards Of Waverly Place : The Movie
Julie & Julia
Books on CD
Cold choices by Bond, Larry
61 hours by Child, Lee
The disciple by Coonts, Stephen
The first rule by Crais, Robert
Infidel by Dekker, Ted
Chosen by Dekker, Ted
Renegade by Dekker, Ted
Captivating by Eldredge, John
Even by Grant, Andrew
Children of Dune by Herbert, Frank
The wolf at the door by Higgins, Jack
I, Sniper by Hunter, Stephen
Marine one by Huston, James
Treasure hunt by Lescroart, John
Last snow by Lustbader, Eric
The time traveler's wife by Niffenegger, Audrey
The professional by Parker, Robert
The time of my life by Swayze, Patrick
First things first by Warner, Kurt
Music CDs
Halo 3
Lynryd Skynyrd Grea
Alice Cooper: School's out
Ozzy Osbourne: X2 (No more tears/Diary of a madman)
Imagination Movers: Juice Box Heroes
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
DVDs, Books on CD, & Music ordered Sept. 30th
New books we ordered Sept. 30th
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)
Read my pins : stories from a diplomat's jewel box by Albright, Madeleine
The windup girl by Bacigalupi, Paolo
The Clinton tapes : wrestling history with the president by Branch, Taylor
Pappy's raiders by Brown, Jim
The noble fugitive by Bunn, T. Davis
The children's book : a novel by Byatt, A. S.
Paul McCartney : a life by Carlin, Peter
Fire by Cashore, Kristin
Abandon by Crouch, Blake
Dostoevsky : a writer in his time by Frank, Joseph
A new history of early Christianity by Freeman, Charles
Sixty feet, six inches : a Hall of Fame pitcher & a Hall of Fame hitter talk about how the game is played by Gibson, Bob
Tunnels by Gordon, Roderick
This family of mine : what it was like growing up Gotti by Gotti, Victoria
The Templars : the history and the myth by Haag, Michael
The dead hand : the untold story of the Cold War arms race and its dangerous legacy by Hoffman, David
Abigail Adams : a life by Holton, Woody
Marine one (LT) by Huston, James
Thomas Cromwell : the rise and fall of Henry VIII's most notorious minister by Hutchinson, Robert
Nocturnes : five stories of music and nightfall by Ishiguro, Kazuo
Wed him before you bed him by Jeffries, Sabrina
Black Friday by Kava, Alex
The silver kiss by Klause, Annette
Lights on a ground of darkness : an evocation of a place and time by Kooser, Ted
The phantom of the opera by Leroux, Gaston
Living life as a thank you : the transformative power of gratitude in your life by Lesowitz, Nina
The gnostics : identifying an early Christian cult by Logan, A. H. B.
Star wars IV : a new hope by Lucas, George
Midnight sons #3 by Macomber, Debbie
Fairy tale weddings by Macomber, Debbie
Midnight sons #2 by Macomber, Debbie
Wolf Hall : a novel by Mantel, Hilary
Marcus Aurelius : a life by McLynn, Frank
Patience & Sarah by Miller, Isabel
Under this unbroken sky : a novel by Mitchell, Shandi
Great expectations : the essential guide to breastfeeding by Neifert, Marianne
The ghosts of Belfast by Neville, Stuart
Destroyer of worlds by Niven, Larry
Quirky, yes--hopeless, no : practical tips to help your child with Asperger's syndrome be more socially accepted by Norall, Cynthia La Brie
Miss O'Dell : my life with the Beatles, the Stones, Bob Dylan, and the women who loved them by O'Dell, Chris
High on arrival by Phillips, Mackenzie
Anne Frank : the book, the life, the afterlife by Prose, Francine
The monster in the box : an Inspector Wexford novel by Rendell, Ruth
Patience with God : faith for people who don't like religion (or atheism) by Schaeffer, Frank
A fiery peace in a cold war : Bernard Schriever and the ultimate weapon by Sheehan, Neil
Permission slips : every woman's guide to giving herself a break by Shepherd, Sherri
The curse of the good girl : raising authentic girls with courage and confidence by Simmons, Rachel
The gnostics : history, tradition, scriptures, influence by Smith, Andrew
Houses by mail : a guide to houses from Sears, Roebuck and Company by Stevenson, Katherine Star wars, Yoda : dark rendezvous : a clone wars novel by Stewart, Sean
The virgin warrior : the life and death of Joan of Arc by Taylor, Larissa
The devouring by Toro, Guillermo del
The Christmas secret by VanLiere, Donna
Half broke horses : a true-life novel by Walls, Jeannette
Moon River and me : a memoir by Williams, Andy
Our times : the age of Elizabeth II by Wilson, A. N.
Empire of liberty : a history of the early Republic, 1789-1815 by Wood, Gordon
Books for Children (Fiction and Nonfiction)
Crown of earth by Bell, Hilari
Perfect princess by Cabot, Meg
Stage fright by Cabot, Meg
Dear Vampa by Collins, Ross
Curse of the bane by Delaney, Joseph
Strega Nona's harvest by DePaola, Tomie
The diamond of Darkhold by DuPrau, Jeanne
The prophet of Yonwood by DuPrau, Jeanne
Boo to you! by Ehlert, Lois
There was an old monster! by Emberley, Rebecca
The siege of Macindaw by Flanagan, John
The samurai's tale by Haugaard, Erik
The monsterologist : a memoir in rhyme by Katz, Bobbi
Unicorn uproar by Keene, Carolyn
Only a witch can fly by McGhee, Alison
Julia Gillian (and the quest for joy) by McGhee, Alison
Little giant--big trouble by McMullan, Kate
Dewey : there's a cat in the library! by Myron, Vicki
Bran Hambric : the Farfield curse by Nation, Kaleb
Goodnight goon : a petrifying parody by Rex, Michael
The runaway mummy : a petrifying parody by Rex, Michael
All the world by Scanlon, Elizabeth
Leven Thumps and the ruins of Alder by Skye, Obert
God king by Williamson, Joanne
Useful info about H1N1 (swine flu)
As public concern about Pandemic H1N1 and the upcoming flu season continues to grow, the medical and nursing editors from EBSCO Publishing (EBSCO) respond by offering the latest evidence-based flu-related information available for free. - What Is Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Influenza?
- What Is the H1N1 Flu Vaccine?
- When Will the H1N1 Flu Vaccine Be Available?
- Who Should Get Vaccinated?
- Who Should Not Get Vaccinated?
- Is the H1N1 Flu Vaccine Safe?
- What Other Ways Can H1N1 Be Prevented Besides Vaccination?
- What Happens in the Event of an Outbreak?
This free flu information resource is located at www.ebscohost.com/flu and will provide continually updated, evidence-based clinical information from DynaMed™ and Nursing Reference Center™, EBSCO’s clinical and nursing point-of-care databases, along with patient education information in 17 languages from Patient Education Reference Center™. Please visit this site often and feel free to share, post, and email this link to your colleagues, patrons, family and friends.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Computer upgrade - some services interrupted
Friday, September 25, 2009
The Grand Generation Retirement Guide
The folks at Morningstar designed the Grand Generation Retirement Guide to help retired investors manage their portfolios. Here you will find valuable information on the following topics:
- Ride the Retiree Wave with Dividends
- How to Manage Risk in Retirement
- How to Deploy a Big Cash Stake
- Income Alternatives for Retirees
- Preparing a Portfolio for Retirement
- Income Worksheet for Retirees
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.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
DVDs, Books on CD, & Music ordered Sept. 23rd
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
About Schmidt
The accidental tourist
An affair to remember
The age of innocence
An American in Paris
And then there were none
Are we there yet?
Auntie Mame
Bagdad cafe
The bishop's wife
Bounty
A civil action
Everglades
Extreme Alaska
Fighting
Fists of fury
Food Inc.
Funny people
G-Force
G.I. Joe: The rise of Cobra
The golden boys
Ice age 3: Dawn of the dinosaurs
Mail order bride
The memory keeper's daughter
Murder by death
My life as a dog
My sister's keeper
Night at the museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Observe and report
The orphan
The peacemaker
Samson & Delilah
Secret Yellowstone
Seven years in Tibet
Shadowheart
Shrooms
Splendor in the grass
Sugar & spice
The talented Mr. Ripley
While she was out
G
House arrest
Bullitt
Books on CD
Predator by Blackstock, Terri
Think twice by Scottoline, Lisa
Music CDs
Paramore: Brand new eyes
Dirty Dancing
More dirty dancing
Harry Connick: Your songs
New books we ordered Sept. 23rd
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)
Fast fixes with mixes
The busy family cookbook
Cake mix creations : 216 easy desserts that start with a mix
Cookies
The new appetizer : 250 recipes for today's party starters
Simple and delicious cookbook
Dawn light : dancing with cranes and other ways to start the day by Ackerman, Diane
Say you're one of them by Akpan, Uwem
The elegance of the hedgehog by Barbery, Muriel
No impact man : the adventures of a guilty liberal who attempts to save the planet, and the discoveries he makes about himself and our way of life in by Beavan, Colin
Arguing with idiots : how to stop small minds and big government by Beck, Glenn
Where underpants come from : from cotton fields to checkout counters-- travels through the new China and into the new global economy by Bennett, Joe
Predator by Blackstock, Terri, 1957-
Shake the devil off : a true story of the murder that rocked New Orleans by Brown, Ethan
The China lover by Buruma, Ian
Evil at heart by Cain, Chelsea
The Christmas dog by Carlson, Melody
A dark lover by Carroll, Margaret
Till you hear from me by Cleage, Pearl
Before the big bang : the prehistory of our universe by Clegg, Brian
Winter kiss by Cooke, Deborah
Jealous? by De la Cruz, Melissa
How to deal by Dessen, Sarah
The truth about forever by Dessen, Sarah
Bright-sided : how the relentless promotion of positive thinking has undermined America by Ehrenreich, Barbara
The wet nurse's tale by Eisdorfer, Erica
Inside out by Eisler, Barry
American rebel (LT) by Eliot, Marc
The hidden man by Ellis, David
The liar in your life : the way to truthful relationships by Feldman, Robert
Spies of the Balkans by Furst, Alan
Murder carries a torch : a Southern Sisters mystery by George, Anne
Murder runs in the family : a Southern Sisters mystery by George, Anne
The e-myth enterprise : how to turn a great idea into a thriving business by Gerber, Michael
Fate of the Jedi : Allies by Golden, Christie
Cults, conspiracies, and secret societies : the straight scoop on Freemasons, the Illuminati, Skull and Bones, Black Helicopters, the New World Order by Goldwag, Arthur.
Reading Jesus : a writer's encounter with the Gospels by Gordon, Mary
Black ships : a novel by Graham, Jo
The lieutenant by Grenville, Kate
With seduction in mind by Guhrke, Laura
Signs of life : 40 Catholic customs and the differences they make by Hahn, Scott
The wrong mother by Hannah, Sophie
After the prophet : the epic story of the Shia-Sunni split in Islam by Hazleton, Lesley
The winds of Dune by Herbert, Brian
A separate country by Hicks, Robert
Deeper than the dead by Hoag, Tami
Inside of a dog : what dogs see, smell, and know by Horowitz, Alexandra
Bride of a wicked Scotsman by James, Samantha
Stardust : a novel by Kanon, Joseph
Crosscurrent by Kemp, Paul
The green man : a novel of suspense featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes by King, Laurie
Take three (LT) by Kingsbury, Karen
Hybrid : the history and science of plant breeding by Kingsbury, Noël
Lost souls by Koontz, Dean
Learning from the light : pre-death experiences, prophecies, and angelic messages of hope by Lerma, John
Skeleton Hill by Lovesey, Peter
Millie's fling by Mansell, Jill
The dragonriders of Pern by McCaffrey, Anne
Darwin's armada : four voyages and the battle for the theory of evolution by McCalman, Iain
Long way round : chasing shadows across the world by McGregor, Ewan
Wicked craving by McKevett, G. A.
Clone Wars Gambit : Siege by Miller, Karen
The Lake Shore Limited by Miller, Sue
Shattered silence : the untold story of a serial killer's daughter by Moore, Melissa
The elephant keeper by Nicholson, Christopher
Her fearful symmetry : a novel by Niffenegger, Audrey
Tell-all by Palahniuk, Chuck
The cost of bad behavior : how incivility is damaging your business and what to do about it by Pearson, Christine
Coco Chanel by Picardie, Justine
Dreaming in Hindi : coming awake in another language by Rich, Katherine
That old cape magic (LT) by Russo, Richard
Every patient tells a story : medical mysteries and the art of diagnosis by Sanders, Lisa
If tomorrow never comes : a novel by Schalesky, Marlo
Dance with a vampire by Schreiber, Ellen
Vampireville by Schreiber, Ellen
Think twice by Scottoline, Lisa
Perfect piece by Seitz, Rebeca
Perfect piece (LT) by Seitz, Rebeca
Getting a grip : on my body, my mind, my self by Seles, Monica
The meaning of Matthew : my son's murder in Laramie, and a world transformed by Shepard, Judy
The border lord and the lady by Small, Bertrice
Private life : a novel by Smiley, Jane
Eternal by Smith, Cynthia Leitich
Big girl by Steel, Danielle
Big girl (LT) by Steel, Danielle
The coral thief : a novel by Stott, Rebecca
Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor by Stover, Matthew
You were always mom's favorite! : sisters in conversation throughout their lives by Tannen, Deborah
The last founding father : James Monroe and a nation's call to greatness by Unger, Harlow Fragile by Unger, Lisa
Louis D. Brandeis : a life by Urofsky, Melvin
Top producer by Vonnegut, Norb
The unfinished gift by Walsh, Dan
The hope you need by Warren, Richard
Seduced by his touch by Warren, Tracy
The guardians : loving eyes are watching by Williams, Richard
How we live and why we die : the secret lives of cells by Wolpert, L.
Gen buy : how tweens, teens, and twenty-somethings are revolutionizing retail by Yarrow, Kit
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
New Career Center to help you land a job
You may know that the Library has been offering free online homework help for students for the past several years. This year these services have been expanded and enhanced to include help for job-seeking adults.Personalized Assistance
Chat online in real time with someone who can help you:
- Organize information for a resume
- Write an effective resume
- Proofread a resume
- Write a cover letter
- Search for a job
- Get ready for an interview
A career specialist is available every day from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. to work with you in real-time to either review a resume you have created or work with you to write a first draft. Every resume session is one-to-one and uses an innovative screen sharing technology to provide real-time edits and writing assistance. The career specialist will make sure that the resume:
- Is focused on the job you want to get
- Includes quantified accomplishments as well as skills and duties
- Uses power words and key words gained from analyzing the job postings
- Is formatted clearly and concisely and professionally
- Has no spelling or grammatical errors
For 24/7 assistance, visit the Career SkillsCenter where you will find hand-selected websites on the following topics:
- Cover letters
- Resume writing guidelines
- Resume templates
- Sample resumes
- Writing guidelines
Sound too good to be true? We are already hearing rave reviews from people who have had help writing their resumes. Try it for yourself at www.hcpl.org/learn. You will need a library card or password to get started or you can use any of the library's computers during regular library hours. Contact the library (826-3712) if you need assistance.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Fall into fun with fall break programs
ReferenceUSA introduces new web design
It's now easier than ever to conduct job searches, find new business opportunities, locate addresses and phone numbers, conduct market research and more with the Business Module of ReferenceUSA.- Business name and phone number
- Complete address
- Key executive name
- SIC code
- Employee size
- Sales volume
- Business expenditures
- And much more!
ReferenceUSA is great tool for anyone seeking business information. In addition to basic business names and addresses, it includes valuable details including geo-codes for mapping, fax and toll-free numbers, website addresses, franchise and brand information, headline news, liens, judgments and bankruptcies, email addresses, number of computers, work-at-home businesses, and business credit rating scores. The best part is that it's free to all valid library cardholders! Begin now or learn more.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Echo Boomer Retirement Guide
It’s the same with investing: At first it can be daunting, but once you’ve taken your first steps, you will find that you’re setting yourself up for a future of reward. Those rewards may involve purchasing your first home, or getting a head start on an early retirement.
The folks at Morningstar created the Echo Boomer Retirement Guide to help younger investors get started with investing and saving for their futures. Who are the echo boomers? They are the largest generation of young people since the '60s. Born between 1982 and 1995, there are nearly 80 million of them, and they're already having a huge impact on entire segments of the economy. And as the population ages, they will be become the next dominant generation of Americans.
In the Echo Boomer Retirement Guide you will find valuable information on the following topics:
- A Beginning Investor’s Reading List
- A Beginning Investor’s Online Tool Kit
- Newbies: Avoid These Investing Mistakes
- Financial Advice for New Grads
- Tips for Investors Just Starting Out
The information in this document is just one of the many Morningstar tools available to library users. You have access to data and research on individual securities, and valuable research on more than 35,000 stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs via the Morningstar Investment Research Center. It also includes powerful screeners, in-depth industry data and investment education, and the exclusive Portfolio X-Ray® tool, which can help you analyze your portfolio and decide where to make changes.
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.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
DVDs, Books on CD, & Music ordered Sept. 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
Abbott & Costello lost in a Harem ; Abbott & Costello in Hollywood
Abbott & Costello meet Frankenstein
And the band played on
Animal farm
Anna and the King
Big night
Cannonball Run
Chances are
Changing lanes
Charly
Cimarron
Clear and present danger
Cocoon
The color of freedom
Conspiracy theory
Contact
The contender
Crazy/beautiful
David and Bathsheba
Days of Heaven
Diner
Doc Hollywood
Dog day afternoon
Empire of the sun
The enforcer
Excalibur
Falling down
The firm
Get Shorty
Labou
Fire truck Rocket's blastoff
Mickey's big splash
Mickey's adventures in Wonderland
Mickey's Choo Choo Express
Much ado about nothing
The net
Noah's ark
The other sister
Patriot games
Pollock
Shadow of the Thin Man
Suddenly, last summer
Terminator Salvation
Tinker Bell and the lost treasure
Tremors
The trouble with Harry
Twilight
Witness
The world according to Garp
The wild one
Books on CD
Under the dome by King, Stephen
Music CDs
Nickel Creek
Nickel Creek: This side
New books we ordered Sept. 16th
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)
Geektastic : stories from the nerd herd
Motel Bizarre : tales from the no tell motel
The price of fame by Aarsen, Carolyne
Midnight rising by Adrian, Lara
Kiss of crimson by Adrian, Lara
Kiss of midnight by Adrian, Lara
Midnight awakening by Adrian, Lara
Ashes of midnight by Adrian, Lara
City of silver : a mystery by Alfieri, Annamaria
Murder with puffins by Andrews, Donna
Murder with peacocks by Andrews, Donna
Six geese a-slaying by Andrews, Donna
Hemingway deadlights by Atkinson, Michael
Emma (LT) by Austen, Jane
Sense and sensibility (LT) by Austen, Jane
The anthologist by Baker, Nicholson
The return by Bova, Ben
Hunting ground by Briggs, Patricia
Cry wolf by Briggs, Patricia
The bloody Texans (LT) by Conwell, Kent
The house of lost souls by Cottam, Francis
A Piggly Wiggly wedding by Dalby, Rob
Goddess of the hunt : a novel by Dare, Tessa
Just another hero by Draper, Sharon
Ever is a long time : a journey into Mississippi's dark past, a memoir by Eubanks, W. Ralph
Embroidered truths by Ferris, Monica
Cutwork by Ferris, Monica
Crewel yule by Ferris, Monica
Hanging by a thread by Ferris, Monica
Patterns of murder by Ferris, Monica
A murderous yarn by Ferris, Monica
Noah by Frank, Jacquelyn
Elijah by Frank, Jacquelyn
Damien by Frank, Jacquelyn
Jacob by Frank, Jacquelyn
Hope for animals and their world : how endangered species are being rescued from the brink by Goodall, Jane
Shaken, not shattered by Hagee, Matthew
We have this moment by Hunt, Diann
Last night in twisted river : a novel by Irving, John
Dark lover by Joyce, Brenda
True compass (LT) by Kennedy, Edward
Strength in what remains by Kidder, Tracy
The silent hour by Koryta, Michael
If ignorance is bliss, why aren't there more happy people? : smart quotes for dumb times by Lloyd, John
Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove cookbook by Macomber, Debbie
John the revelator by Murphy, Peter
So punk rock (and other ways to disappoint your mother) : a novel by Ostow, Micol
White is for witching by Oyeyemi, Helen
Inherent vice by Pynchon, Thomas
The birthing house by Ransom, Christopher
Flashforward by Sawyer, Robert
Fading echoes : a true story of rivalry and brotherhood from the football field to the fields of honor by Sielski, Mike
Shiver by Stiefvater, Maggie
The sword of the lady : a novel of the change by Stirling, S. M.
23 Hours by Wellington, David
Julian Comstock : a story of 22nd-century America by Wilson, Robert
Books for Children (Fiction and Nonfiction)
Peter and the Sword of Mercy by Barry, Dave
The magician's elephant by DiCamillo, Kate
The best bad luck I ever had by Levine, Kristin
Heart to heart by O'Connor, Jane
Splendiferous Christmas by O'Connor, Jane
Heart of a shepherd by Parry, Rosanne
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Baby Boomer Retirement Guide
The folks at Morningstar have created the Baby Boomer Retirement Guide to help retirement-bound investors examine their portfolios and transition them into retirement. This document can be downloaded and covers the following topics:
- Planning Advice for Every Life Stage
- Is Your Retirement Portfolio on Track?
- Playing it Safe (but Not Too Safe for Retirement)
- Weighing Options for an Early Retirement
- Hitting a Pothole on the Road to Retirement
The information in this document is just one of the many Morningstar tools available to library users. You have access to data and research on individual securities, and valuable research on more than 35,000 stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs via the Morningstar Investment Research Center. It also includes powerful screeners, in-depth industry data and investment education, and the exclusive Portfolio X-Ray® tool, which can help you analyze your portfolio and decide where to make changes.
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.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
5 mutual funds to help you hedge
Things don't look so gloomy after the great spring and summer rally we enjoyed. Many say that the market is now fairly valued, so the great fire sale is over.
The economy has improved tremendously but some people expect another slow down. The government has to unwind its huge position in bonds, banks, insurers, and automakers. If all the stimulus works, we might have economic growth but also rising inflation. If it doesn't, we could have deflation and be stuck in a rut like Japan in the 1990s.
When stocks were supercheap and commodities superpricey, there weren't many hedges that I liked, but now it seems reasonable to consider them. Here are some funds that could hold up well if we get a bout of disappointing news.
Harbor Commodity Real Return (HACMX)
If inflation comes back, this fund could provide some protection. I particularly like it for portfolios that are heavily weighted to fixed income and, therefore, are vulnerable to a spike in inflation. Run by PIMCO in a fashion similar to PIMCO Commodity Real Return Strategy (PCRDX), this fund tracks a basket of commodities and then adds in a Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities overlay that effectively gives you exposure to TIPS as well as commodities. We recommend the Harbor fund over the PIMCO fund because of its low expense ratio. Beware of the fund's volatility and be sure to keep it to a single-digit weighting in your portfolio. Ideally, it should be held in a tax-sheltered account.
Hussman Strategic Growth (HSGFX)
This long-short fund takes the edge off market downturns. John Hussman takes long positions in individual stocks but offsets some of that market exposure by shorting indexes. While that has limited the fund's upside, it has made it a standout in difficult times. It lost 9% in 2008 but enjoyed positive returns in every other calendar year since its inception in 2000. The fund's expense ratio recently fell to 1.04%.
Calamos Market Neutral Income (CVSIX)
The implosion of hedge funds makes this fund more appealing. The three Calamoses (Calami?) running this fund employ a strategy that's popular in the hedge fund world: convertible arbitrage. The idea is to find convertible bonds that are cheaper than the underlying stock they convert into and buy the convert while shorting the common stock. They also write covered calls.
When it works, the strategy provides a modest but fairly dependable return. In 2008, the hedge fund collapse and recession hurt the convertible market, and the fund lost 13%. However, it earned positive single-digit returns in the previous bear market, and its hunting grounds won't be so picked over now that the hedgies have gone.
Caldwell & Orkin Market Opportunity (COAGX)
This is the boldest of the funds here. Manager Michael Orkin has wide latitude and can go from 100% net long all the way to 60% net short. He uses a multifactor model to quickly shift among long and short equity positions, bonds, and cash. At the end of July, the fund was 47% long equities, 17% short, 3% in options, with the rest in bonds and cash. Although Orkin sometimes zigs when he should zag, the long-term performance is excellent.
Over the past 15 years, the fund has returned an annualized 9% gain, yet its worst loss was a 6.6% drop in 2003. The fund charges an expense ratio of 1.13% as of October 2008, but when you factor in short interest, that figure pops to 1.95%.
Gateway Fund (GATEX)
Gateway holds about 300 of the 500 names in the S&P 500 and sells S&P 500 call options and buys puts, too. The end result is a fund that brackets the index so that you have limited upside and downside relative to the index. For example, it lost about 14% in 2008, which was a big 23 percentage points better than the S&P 500. But in 2003, it gained about 12%, which was 17 percentage points less than the index. Here's part of the analyst's take by Nadia Papagiannis, our long-short specialist:
This unique fund attempts to generate income on a portfolio of about 300 of the S&P 500 Index's stocks (enough to closely track the index) by writing S&P 500 calls. These calls are "covered" in the sense that any potential losses on the calls (if they are bought back at a higher price or exercised against) should be offset by gains on the portfolio of stocks. If the portfolio of stocks declines, the income received from the calls will offset some of the decline. Furthermore, put options, which give the fund the right to sell the index at a preset price, are bought on a portion of the portfolio, which also protects against downside risk. Its strategy has certainly helped since October 2007: It has lost less than half of what the S&P 500 Index has lost, as it did in August 2000 through September 2002.
A version of this article appeared on Morningstar.com on August 17, 2009.
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.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
DVDs, Books on CD, & Music ordered Sept. 9th
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
Angels & demons
Beautiful Ohio
Help!
Northern lights
Final destination
Final destination 2
Scooby-Doo: The movie
Shrink
Up
Year One
Books on CD
Culture of corruption by Malkin, Michelle
Music CDs
Carolyn Dawn Johnson: Dress rehearsal
Carolyn Dawn Johnson: Love & negotiation
The Manhattans: Sweet talking soul
Miranda Lambert: Revolution
New books we ordered Sept. 9th
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)
Snow angels
Arctic chill by Arnaldur Indriðason
61 hours by Child, Lee
The silent spirit by Coel, Margaret
The great depression ahead : how to prosper in the crash following the greatest boom in history by Dent, Harry
Skull duggery by Elkins, Aaron
The memoirs of Mary Queen of Scots by Erickson, Carolly
Hadrian and the triumph of Rome by Everitt, Anthony
The secret scroll by Ewing, Lynne
Into the cold fire by Ewing, Lynne
Night shade by Ewing, Lynne
Who's the dummy now? : winner of America's Got Talent by Fator, Terry
American on purpose : the improbable adventures of an unlikely patriot by Ferguson, Craig
Passion's blood by Fortin, Cherif
An honest love by Fuller, Kathleen
A man of his word : a hearts of Middlefield novel by Fuller, Kathleen
There be dragons by Graham, Heather
Official book club selection : a memoir according to Kathy Griffin. by Griffin, Kathy
Wicked 2 by Holder, Nancy
Wicked by Holder, Nancy
Blame by Huneven, Michelle
The enchanted quest by Jones, Frewin
Pilgrims : a Wobegon romance by Keillor, Garrison
Heaven's keep : a novel by Krueger, William
The girl who kicked the hornet's nest by Larsson, Stieg
The man you'll marry by Macomber, Debbie
Ladies of the lake by Smith, Haywood
The complete drawing and painting handbook by Watson, Lucy
Prophecy of the sisters by Zink, Michelle
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Free Resume Workshop September 30
We are hosting a free Resume Workshop at the library on Wednesday, September 30, from 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm in the Multi-purpose Room. If you are looking for a job, this is a must-attend workshop to learn how to create a winning resume that gets interviews. Resume expert Barbara Safani, owner of Career Solvers, will be with us via the Internet to teach attendees how to:- Write a powerful profile and skills summary that shows how valuable your experience is to hiring managers
- Transform a list of job tasks into powerful success stories.
- Leverage education and internships to prove you have “the right stuff” to do the job.
- Use resume design templates to help you stand out from the crowd.
This workshop is open to the public and registration is not required. Come prepared to take notes and learn! For more information please contact Emily Irby at 270-826-3712.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
DVDs, Books on CD, & Music ordered September 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
The Alzheimer's project
Belle & the beast
The popcorn popper
Billy Jack
Inspector Lewis: Pilot & Series 1
Necessary roughness
Joe Satriani
Mr. Nanny
The next karate kid
Odd girl out
Parenthood
Scrooged
The straight story
Wizard school
Angels fall
Blue smoke
Montana sky
Scooby-Doo! The mystery begins
Scooby-Doo and the alien invaders ; Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
Scooby-Doo meets the Harlem Globetrotters
Barn burning
The Great Santini
The lords of discipline
The trip to Bountiful
Books on CD
Little house in the big woods by Wilder, Laura Ingalls
Music CDs
The essential Earl Thomas Conley
The Wiggles: Hot Poppin' Popcorn!
Old school cruizin' with The Manhattans
Phineas and Ferb
Shrek the musical : original Broadway cast recording