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Saturday, February 28, 2009

"Green" and socially responsible investing

These days, it seems like everyone is trying to be more socially aware. Our social beliefs affect our everyday behaviors, which for some, means protecting our environment by recycling, bringing your own bags to the grocery store, or driving a hybrid vehicle.

For others, being socially aware might mean giving up meat and shunning fur and leather products.

But social beliefs are not limited to consumer spending; they can also apply to investing and money management. How can you extend your social ideals to your portfolio? Can you invest with your conscience and still make money?

The Morningstar Investment Research Center has published a brand-new guide to help answer those questions. Topics include:
  • Going beyond the hype of green investing
  • Carbon regulation
  • Energy investing in a carbon-conscious America
  • Can you build an excellent socially responsible portfolio?

The title of the guide is "Green" and Socially Responsible Investing and is available for you to view and/or download.

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.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Woman's guide to money matters

Morningstar Investment Research Center has published a brand-new booklet just for women entitled The Woman's Guide to Money Matters. You may view and/or download it for your personal use (PDF format).Topics covered include:

  • Setting up a budget
  • How to set up an emergency fund
  • What to do if you're divorced or widowed
  • Taking care of your parents
  • Where to turn for emergency cash

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, February 20, 2009

Back by popular demand - tai chi classes



Spring tai chi classes will once again be offered by the Library beginning in March. Our last sessions filled up quickly so sign up now! The one-hour classes will be taught by Diana Hobgood, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and certified massage specialist.



The class times are as follows:

  • 2:00 pm on Mondays: March 16 - May 4
  • 10:00 am on Saturdays: March 21 - May 9

Each class is 8 weeks long and there is a $40 registration fee which is due before classes begin. Class size is limited, so please register early by stopping by the Library at 101 South Main Street. (Checks or cash only, please)



Benefits of tai chi exercise, which is a slow, gentle exercise system based on Chinese martial arts, include:

  • improved posture
  • flexibility
  • balance
  • lower body strength
  • coordination
  • physical endurance
  • breath control
  • stress management
If you have questions, please call the Library at 826-3712.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

DVDs, Books on CD, & Music ordered Feb. 18

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
Beyond basics
Gifted hands : the Ben Carson story
The day the Earth stood still
Hocus pocus
The lucky ones
Monster's ball
Nothing but the truth
Oliver Twist (2007)
Pride and glory
The reader
Rick Steves' Europe 2000-2007
The tale of Despereaux
To be or not to be
Yes man
The comebacks
Death of a salesman

Books on CD

See you at the top by Ziglar, Zig

Music CDs

Alvin & The Chipmunks: Undeniable
Quiet nights by Krall, Diana

New books we ordered February 18

Below is a list of the books recently ordered by the library. There are only Adult books (Fiction and Nonfiction) this week. Click on the title to see more and request a copy!

Books for Adults (Fiction and Nonfiction)
Love is hell
On a raven's wing : new tales in honor of Edgar Allan Poe
Devil's garden by Atkins, Ace
Pride and prejudice by Austen, Jane
Quick study : a murder 101 mystery by Barbieri, Maggie
Yogi Berra : eternal Yankee by Barra, Allen
The school of essential ingredients by Bauermeister, Erica
Moloka'i by Brennert, Alan
Factory girls : from village to city in a changing China by Chang, Leslie
I gave dating a chance : a biblical perspective to balance the extremes by Clark, Jeramy
Played by Davidson, Dana
Classics for pleasure by Dirda, Michael
The witch's tongue by Doss, James
Shadow man by Doss, James
What goes on : selected & new poems, 1995-2009 by Dunn, Stephen
The trail of the wild rose : an English garden mystery by Eglin, Anthony
Boxing for beginners : a guide to competition & fitness by Finegan, Billy
Honestly dearest, you're dead by Fredrickson, Jack
Lost river by Fulmer, David
Trickery treat : an original novel by Gallagher, Diana
The eleventh victim by Grace, Nancy
Animals make us human : creating the best life for animals by Grandin, Temple
The last gig by Green, Norman
Go down together : the true, untold story of Bonnie and Clyde by Guinn, Jeff
Living witness : a Gregor Demarkian novel by Haddam, Jane
Nothing pink by Hardy, Mark
His needs, her needs : building an affair-proof marriage by Harley, Willard
Boys 'r' us by Harrison, Lisi
Awaken the diet within : from overweight mom to beauty queen: my nine steps to successful weight loss by Havey, Julia
North of beautiful by Headley, Justina
Promise of the wolves by Hearst, Dorothy
In hovering flight by Hinnefeld, Joyce
Where do I go? by Jackson, Neta
Sun, sea and murder by Jeffries, Roderic
Babylonne by Jinks, Catherine
The backward life : in pursuit of an uncommon faith by Jones, Jarrod
Libby Langdon's small space solutions : secrets for making any room look elegant and feel spacious on any budget by Langdon, Libby
Heather's gift by Leigh, Lora
Trust me by Leonard, Peter
A plague of secrets : a novel by Lescroart, John
Have to have it : a nannies novel by Mayer, Melody
Razor sharp by Michaels, Fern
The scoop by Michaels, Fern
Rain storm : only love could calm her raging storm by Miller, Vanessa
Jury rigged by Moore, Laurie
A beautiful place to die : a novel by Nunn, Malla
Burn : a novel by Phillips, Suzanne
Perfect you by Scott, Elizabeth
Blue moon by Speer, Cindy Lynn
Lost it by Tracy, Kristen
Dixieland delight : a football season on the road in the Southeastern Conference by Travis, Clay
The Pluto files : the rise and fall of America's favorite planet by Tyson, Neil deGrasse
Cutting for stone : a novel by Verghese, A. (Abraham)
Instant replay : the day that changed sports forever by Verna, Tony
The temptation of the night jasmine by Willig, Lauren
The leisure seeker (LT) by Zadoorian, Michael

Monday, February 16, 2009

New and improved test prep site

Did you know that you can practice for those important college-entrance and professional exams right from the library's website? With the ACT coming up soon, now is the time to get acquainted with LearningExpress Library™, an easy-to-use interactive website for students and adult learners alike.

At LearningExpress Library™ you get:
  • Dozens of practice tests to choose from (see list)
  • Simulated testing in a timed environment
  • Instant feedback and scoring to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses
  • Individual user accounts to save works-in-progress and completed tests
  • Detailed answer explanations for each test question
  • And more!

Best of all, you can access LearningExpress Library™ online anytime, anywhere!

LearningExpress Library™ has redesigned their website for a more intuitive testing experience. Explore their Learning Centers to find the most comprehensive collection of test-preparation tools, skill-building materials, and career resources available. Over 770 online practice tests and interactive skill-building tutorials are available, along with more than 130 e-book titles developed by expert academic and industry professionals.

Not just for students
With today's global economy and emphasis on twenty-first century skills, LearningExpress Library™ helps patrons of all ages prepare for success in life by meeting a broad range of career-oriented needs, including:

  • Preparing for professional certification, licensing, and aptitude tests in health care, civil service/government, law enforcement, firefighting, EMS, military, and real estate, among others
  • Improving workplace skills such as resume building, interviewing techniques, job search and assessment, business writing, and core computer skills

Get your library card and start exploring LearningExpress Library! For more information or assistance, please call the library at 826-3712 or send an email.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

New books we ordered February 11

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)
Life between the keys : the (mis)adventures of the 5 Browns by 5 Browns
The Biggest Loser family cookbook : budget-friendly meals your whole family will love by Alexander, Devin
The virgin's secret by Alexander, Victoria
The little giant of Aberdeen County : a novel by Baker, Tiffany
The ancestors by Banks, L. A.
The real America : messages from the heart and heartland by Beck, Glenn
The knights of the cornerstone by Blaylock, James
Devil in my bed by Bradley, Celeste
Kiss and tell by Brockmann, Suzanne
American thighs : the Sweet Potato Queens' guide to preserving your assets by Browne, Jill
Princeps' fury by Butcher, Jim
No control by Butcher, Shannon
No escape by Butcher, Shannon
John Milton : life, work, and thought by Campbell, Gordon
Just over the mountain by Carr, Robyn
Deep in the valley by Carr, Robyn
Down by the river by Carr, Robyn
The man plan : drive men wild-- not away by Casey, Whitney
Kiss of fate : a dragonfire novel by Cooke, Deborah
The Wall Street journal complete home owner's guidebook : make the most of your biggest asset in any market by Crook, David
Survival by Czerneda, Julie
Rich like them : my door-to-door search for the secrets of wealth in America's richest neighborhoods by D'Agostino, Ryan
Charles Darwin : the Beagle letters by Darwin, Charles
C++ for dummies by Davis, Stephen
The big idea : how to make your entrepreneurial dreams come true, from the aha moment to your first million by Deutsch, Donny
The last stand of Fox Company : a true story of U.S. Marines in combat by Drury, Bob
Eve : a novel of the first woman by Elliott, Elissa
Never tell a lie by Ephron, Hallie
Don't sleep, there are snakes : life and language in the Amazonian jungle by Everett, Daniel
Husband's wicked ways (LT) by Feather, Jane
Invisible history : Afghanistan's untold story by Fitzgerald, Paul
Fox's book of martyrs : a history of the lives, sufferings and triumphant deaths of the early Christian and Protestant martyrs by Forbush, William Byron
Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet : a novel by Ford, Jamie
The drowned life by Ford, Jeffrey
Diary of an exercise addict : a memoir by Friedman, Peach
Ghost radio by Gout, Leopoldo
I'll never be French (no matter what I do) : living in a small village in Brittany by Greenside, Mark
The sins of Lord Easterbrook by Hunter, Madeline
The mystic arts of erasing all signs of death : a novel by Huston, Charlie
This duchess of mine by James, Eloisa
Let sleeping rogues lie by Jeffries, Sabrina
Tender morsels by Lanagan, Margo
Homecoming (LT) by Landis, Jill Marie
Four in hand (LT) by Laurens, Stephanie
Only pleasure by Leigh, Lora
Wicked pleasure by Leigh, Lora
Spent : end exhaustion and feel great again by Lipman, Frank
The disreputable history of Frankie Landau-Banks : a novel by Lockhart, E.
Jellicoe Road by Marchetta, Melina
John Tyler by May, Gary
Fidel's last days : a novel by Merullo, Roland
Knee surgery : the essential guide to total knee recovery by O'Neill, Daniel Fulham
Go back and be happy : reclaiming life after a devastating loss by Papievis, Julie
Earth to Betsy (LT) by Pattillo, Beth
Heavens to Betsy (LT) by Pattillo, Beth
Jane Austen ruined my life by Pattillo, Beth
A Christmas promise by Perry, Anne
Celebutards : the Hollywood hacks, limousine liberals, and pandering politicians who are destroying America by Peyser, Andrea
Lark and Termite by Phillips, Jayne
Fathom by Priest, Cherie
Angel time by Rice, Anne
Happiness key by Richards, Emilie
The gamble : General David Petraeus and the American military adventure in Iraq, 2006-2008 by Ricks, Thomas
Murder at the Academy Awards : a red carpet murder mystery by Rivers, Joan
Mistress of the game (LT) by Sheldon, Sidney
Mistress of the game by Sheldon, Sidney
Killer elite by Smith, Michael
Southern lights (LT) by Steel, Danielle
Southern lights by Steel, Danielle
The daily coyote : a story of love, survival, and trust in the wilds of Wyoming by Stockton, Shreve
Daemon : a novel by Suarez, Daniel
The breath of God by Turtledove, Harry
Beyond the gap by Turtledove, Harry
A world of trouble : the White House and the Middle East--from the Cold War to the War on Terror by Tyler, Patrick
Mistress of the monarchy : the life of Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster by Weir, Alison
Bones of the dragon by Weis, Margaret
Kisses like a devil by Whiteside, Diane
Know your chances : understanding health statistics by Woloshin, Steve
Harbor lights by Woods, Sherryl
Flowers on Main by Woods, Sherryl
How the Quakers invented America by Yount, David

Books for Children (Fiction and Nonfiction)
The wonderful Wizard of Oz by Baum, L. Frank
St. Patrick's Day by Gillis, Jennifer
Polar bear, polar bear, what do you hear? by Martin, Bill
The night before St. Patrick's Day by Wing, Natasha
A fine St. Patrick's Day by Wojciechowski, Susan

DVDs, Books on CD, & Music ordered Feb. 11

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
Flash of genius
Gospel Hill
His name was Jason: 30 years of Friday the 13th
Incident at Oglala: the Leonard Peltier story
Knute Rockne
The science of miracles
Scorpion King
Smoke signals
Sold out : a threevening with Kevin Smith
A star is born
2 fast 2 furious
Underworld : evolution
X-men
Strong women osteoporosis prevention
Join the circus

Books on CD
Plague ship by Cussler, Clive
Man's search for meaning by Frankl, Viktor
Dune messiah by Herbert, Frank
Angel time by Rice, Anne
The gamble by Ricks, Thomas
Mistress of the game by Sheldon, Sidney

Music CDs
5 stars: favorites from the 5 Browns by 5 Browns
Bossa nova stories by Elias, Eliane
Taking a chance on love by Monheit, Jane
The lovers, the dreamers and me by Monheit, Jane
Surrrender by Monheit, Jane
Two men with the blues by Nelson, Willie
Willie & the wheel by Nelson, Willie
Skylark by Olstead, Renee

Saturday, February 07, 2009

DVDs, Books on CD, & Music ordered Feb. 4

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
An American carol
Australia
BASEketball
Boogeyman 2
Bottle shock
Enough
Ghost
Here on Earth
Miracle at St. Anna
Open season 2
Outsider
The power of one
Punisher: War Zone
Quantum of solace
Return to Oz
Rob Roy
Space buddies
Sweet November
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Secret of the ooze
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
30 day shred
Transporter 3
Twilight
The Velveteen rabbit
Volver
War of the roses
An American girl : Chrissa stands strong
Robin Hood the clean
Practice makes perfect
Dora and the 3 little pigs
Dora and the egg hunt
Sam saves the day!
Country school
Prairie friends
Rainforest Fiesta!
Oliver & Company
A little help from my friends
A tale of tails
Pirate Treasure
Bedtime stories
Doubt
Marley and me
Milk
Rent
Seven pounds
Slumdog millionaire

Books on CD

Cards on the table by Christie, Agatha
The Hemingses of Monticello by Gordon-Reed, Annette
Sins of the flesh by Hamilton, Laurell
Guardian of lies by Martini, Steve
Noah's compass by Tyler, Anne

Music CDs
The best of the Allman Brothers Band by Allman Brothers Band
The best of Bachman-Turner Overdrive by Bachman Turner Overdrive
The best of Benny Golson by Golson, Benny
New time, new 'tet by Golson, Benny

New books we ordered February 4

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)
Working with families in speech-language pathology
Hell's Highway : the true story of the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Market Garden, September 17-25, 1944 by Antal, John
The golden book of chocolate by Bardi, Carla
Dying for you by Barton, Beverly
All the windwracked stars by Bear, Elizabeth
What a pirate desires by Beattie, Michelle
Suspense and sensibility or, first impressions revisited by Bebris, Carrie
Pride and prescience by Bebris, Carrie
Calling Mr. Lonely Hearts : a novel by Benedict, Laura
Perfect victim by Bonansinga, Jay
A princess of Landover by Brooks, Terry
Practicing Catholic : a personal history of belief by Carroll, James
Sunborn by Carver, Jeffrey
Hunted by Cast, P. C.
Just take my heart (LT) by Clark, Mary
Boundaries in dating : making dating work by Cloud, Henry
Unleashing the storm by Croft, Sydney
Seduced by the storm by Croft, Sydney
Riding the storm by Croft, Sydney
Undead and unpopular by Davidson, MaryJanice
Undead and unemployed by Davidson, MaryJanice
Calitare : Restore by Despain, Alixandria
Uncommon : finding your path to significance by Dungy, Tony
How to ruin my teenage life by Elkeles, Simone
Power with nature : alternative energy solutions for homeowners by Ewing, Rex
Got sun? go solar : get free renewable energy to power your grid-tied home by Ewing, Rex
Positivity : groundbreaking research reveals how to embrace the hidden strength of positive emotions, overcome negativity, and thrive by Fredrickson, Barbara
An echo in the bone by Gabaldon, Diana
Wind energy basics : a guide to distributed wind energy by Gipe, Paul
Not just friends : rebuilding trust and recovering your sanity after infidelity by Glass, Shirley
Envy : a luxe novel by Godbersen, Anna
A caress of twilight by Hamilton, Laurell
Sins of the flesh by Hamilton, Laurell
Sweet and deadly by Harris, Charlaine
Need by Jones, Carrie
The love dare by Kendrick, Stephen
A quiet flame : a Bernie Gunther novel by Kerr, Philip
Shopaholic takes Manhattan by Kinsella, Sophie
The house of wisdom : how the Arabs transformed Western civilization by Lyons, Jonathan
Guardian of lies by Martini, Steve
Chosen prey by McCray, Cheyenne
The first sin by McCray, Cheyenne
Zack : armed and dangerous by McCray, Cheyenne
Total surrender by McCray, Cheyenne
Wild borders by McCray, Cheyenne
A darker domain : a novel by McDermid, Val
Promises of change by Medlicott, Joan
Because I said so : and other tales from a less than perfect parent by Meehan, Dawn
Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Mull, Brandon
Rise of the Evening Star by Mull, Brandon
Grip of the shadow plague by Mull, Brandon
Echoes in the dark by Owens, Robin
Secret society girl : an Ivy League novel by Peterfreund, Diana
Under the rose : an Ivy League novel by Peterfreund, Diana
Behind the shadows by Potter, Patricia
Peacekeeper by Reeve, Laura
New York by Rutherfurd, Edward
Devil of the Highlands by Sands, Lynsay
House of reckoning by Saul, John
Murder in Mykonos by Siger, Jeffrey
Muse of fire by Simmons, Dan
Obamanomics : how bottom-up economic prosperity will replace trickle-down economics by Talbott, John
Echoes from the dead by Theorin, Johan
A Kentucky dream by Tillman, Susie
The Yankee years (LT) by Torre, Joe
Jacques Torres' A year in chocolate by Torres, Jacques
Paranoid nation : the real story of the 2008 fight for the presidency by Towery, Matt
Noah's compass by Tyler, Anne
Noah's compass (LT) by Tyler, Anne
The last goodnights : assisting my parents with their suicides : a memoir by West, John
Saint Antony's fire by White, Steve
Fire at midnight by Wilkinson, Lisa Marie
Don't panic : taking control of anxiety attacks by Wilson, Robert

Books for Children (Fiction and Nonfiction)
Chains by Anderson, Laurie
Full, full, full of love by Cooke, Trish
The last Black king of the Kentucky Derby : the story of Jimmy Winkfield by Hubbard, Crystal
Daddy hugs 1 2 3 by Katz, Karen
In the land of the lawn weenies and other misadventures : and other warped and creepy tales by Lubar, David
Invasion of the road weenies : and other warped and creepy tales by Lubar, David
The curse of the campfire weenies and other warped and creepy tales : and other warped and creepy tales by Lubar, David
Battle of the red hot pepper weenies by Lubar, David
Bloodhound : the legend of Beka Cooper by Pierce, Tamora
Abe's honest words : the life of Abraham Lincoln by Rappaport, Doreen
The x'ed-out x-ray by Roy, Ron
Splat the cat by Scotton, Rob

Monday, February 02, 2009

Bond investment primer now available

Morningstar Investment Research Center E-Newsletter by Susan Dziubinski

Trillions of dollars flow through the global bond market every year. This increasingly popular market is heavily invested in for good reason: Bonds can provide stable income and diversification benefits. In such a dismal market, many investors are considering bonds. And we've created a new guide to help investors understand how bonds might work in their portfolios.

Our new Bond Primer covers everything from the very basics of bonds to expert analysis. The guide provides an explanation of what bonds are and how they work, the types of bonds available, the risks involved with investing in bonds, how to go about buying bonds, and how to select a bond mutual fund.

In addition, Morningstar Investment Research Center's fund screener can help investors find bond funds through a simple search, a process that is outlined in this guide. Also available in the Research Center are bond-fund reports and recommendations, provided by top Morningstar analysts.

This extensive bond guide can be found in the Help and Education section of Morningstar Investment Research Center. It joins a growing list of informative specialized investment primers that are provided to you by the Morningstar Library Services team.

For additional information on bonds, check out the Ibbotson SBBI data that was recently added to Morningstar Investment Research Center. To gain access to this data, simply visit the Industries section of the database and click on the link that is located on the lower left-hand corner of the page. The Ibbotson SBBI data will be updated yearly as it becomes available.

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.