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Monday, June 29, 2009

What's the library worth to you? Find out now.

Library use is on the rise both here in Henderson and around the country. Some say it's the result of a tough economy. Whatever the reason, in good times or bad, libraries are a great value. Have you considered the value of your public library lately? Just how much would it cost you every month to buy the number of books that you borrow from the library? Or, how much would it cost you to buy or rent the number of movies that you borrow from the library?

Use our Library Value Calculator to find out just how much you are saving (or could save) by using the public library. Just plug in the number of times you have used a particular service in the past week, month, or year, and the Library Value Calculator will do the rest! Use our feedback form to let us know how much money the library saves you and your family. We would love to hear from you!

Library facts
  • There are now more public library buildings in the U.S. than there are McDonald’s – a total of 16,592, including branches.
  • Library use continues to rise – public library visits exceed 1.3 billion, and libraries circulate more items than Fed Ex ships – more than 2.1 billion books, CDs, DVDs and more.
  • Americans check out on average more than seven books a year. They spend about $31 for the public library – about the cost of one hardcover book.
  • Americans spend about two-and-a-half times as much on salty snacks as they do on public libraries.


Source: American Library Association

Thursday, June 25, 2009

DVDs, Books on CD, & Music ordered June 24th

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
Laugh and learn about breastfeeding
Adventureland
Bigfoot
Simple steps to balanced, natural pregnancy wellness
Big business
Dirty laundry
DOA: Dead or alive
Dora's Christmas!
A good man is hard to find
Growing green babies
Guinevere
Hidden places
Hooper
Kinky boots
Nutrition during pregnancy
Only the strong survive
Outrageous fortune
Pregnancy
Raising Arizona
Ruthless people
Troop Beverly Hills

Books on CD
In the courts of the sun by D'Amato, Brian
My remarkable journey by King, Larry
The Missing by Lewis, Beverly
Pygmy by Palahniuk, Chuck
Monster by Peretti, Frank
Piercing the darkness by Peretti, Frank
Black Hills by Roberts, Nora

Music CDs
Maroon 5: Call & response
Nickelback: Dark horse
Black Eyed Peas: The E.N.D.
Lady GaGa: The fame
The Fray
AC/DC: Highway to hell
The Best of Styx
Billie Joe Armstrong: 21st century breakdown
Eric Church: Carolina

New books we ordered June 24th

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)
Thriller 2
Type 2 diabetes : your healthy living guide : tips, techniques, and practical advice for living well with diabetes.
Mark Bittman's Kitchen Express : 404 inspired seasonal dishes you can make in 20 minutes or less by Bittman, Mark
Packing the court : the rise of judicial power and the coming crisis of the Supreme Court by Burns, James
Swim the fly by Calame, Don
Red blooded murder by Caldwell, Laura
Red hot lies by Caldwell, Laura
Red, white & dead by Caldwell, Laura
The fate of Katherine Carr by Cook, Thomas
Million dollar website : simple steps to help you compete with the big boys--even on a small business budget by Culwell, Lori
Abyss by Denning, Troy
Something missing by Dicks, Matthew
In the stormy red sky by Drake, David
Critical conditions : the essential hospital guide to getting your loved one out alive by Ehrenclou, Martine
The must-have mom manual : two mothers, two perspectives, one book that tells you everything you need to know by Ellington, Sara
The ascent of George Washington : the hidden political genius of an American icon by Ferling, John
The water's edge by Fossum, Karin
Soul enchilada by Gill, David Macinnis
Elizabeth Cady Stanton : an American life by Ginzberg, Lori
Dune road by Green, Jane
Wild justice by Gregson, J. M.
What bothers me most about Christianity : honest reflections from an open-minded Christ follower by Gungor, Ed
New river blues / A Sarah Burke Mystery by Gunn, Elizabeth
Plea of insanity by Hoffman, Jilliane
The increment : a novel by Ignatius, David
Gary Jennings' Apocalypse 2012 by Jennings, Gary
Jillian Dare : a novel by Jeschke, Melanie
The reformed vampire support group by Jinks, Catherine
1959 : the year that changed everything by Kaplan, Fred
My remarkable journey by King, Larry
A flickering light : a novel by Kirkpatrick, Jane
The gold standard : building a world-class team by Krzyzewski, Mike
The lost throne by Kuzneski, Chris
The complete Western stories of Elmore Leonard. by Leonard, Elmore
Gold coast by Leonard, Elmore
52 Pickup by Leonard, Elmore
Raw dog food : make it easy for you and your dog by MacDonald, Carina
"What the heck are you up to, Mr. President?" : Jimmy Carter, America's "malaise," and the speech that should have changed the country by Mattson, Kevin
Rommel : leadership lessons from the Desert Fox by Messenger, Charles
Selling online 2.0 : migrating from eBay to Amazon, Craigslist, and your own e-commerce website by Miller, Michael
Genealogy by Morgan, George
The everything guide to stepparenting : practical, reassuring advice for creating healthy, long-lasting relationships by Munroe, Erin
Words unspoken by Musser, Elizabeth
Deadly quarrel by O'Brien, Charles
The nothing job by Oldham, Nick
The spire (LT) by Patterson, Richard
Killing Red by Perez, Henry
Blind sight : a novel by Persons, Terri
You are here : a portable history of the universe by Potter, Chris
Pythagoras' revenge : a mathematical mystery by Sangalli, Arturo
The American future : a history by Schama, Simon
The dance of death by Sedley, Kate
Shanghai girls (LT) by See, Lisa
Dropped dead stitch by Sefton, Maggie
Dark calling by Shan, Darren
Cheap : the high cost of discount culture by Shell, Ellen
Killer : a pretty little liars novel by Shepard, Sara
The Facebook era : tapping online social networks to build better products, reach new audiences, and sell more stuff by Shih, Clara Chung-wai
Standing with stones : a photographic journey through megalithic Britain and Ireland by Soskin, Rupert
Defending angels by Stanton, Mary
Commencement by Sullivan, J. Courtney
Six suspects by Swarup, Vikas
The years to come by Tanner, Janet
Criminal karma : a novel by Thomas, Steven
Ghostwriter : a novel by Thrasher, Travis
High voltage tattoo by Von D, Kat
Lover Awakened : A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by Ward, J. R.
Lover enshrined : a novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by Ward, J. R.
Lover eternal : A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by Ward, J. R.
Lover revealed : a novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by Ward, J. R.
Lover unbound : a novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by Ward, J. R.
The industrial revolutionaries : the making of the modern world, 1776-1914 by Weightman, Gavin
Where petals fall by Wells, Shirley
The chosen one by Williams, Carol
The evolution of God by Wright, Robert
The eternal smile : three stories by Yang, Gene

Books for Children (Fiction and Nonfiction)
Hooray for the 4th of July
Corduroy's 4th of July by Freeman, Don
Takeoffs and landings by Haddix, Margaret
Turnabout by Haddix, Margaret
Celebrate Independence Day by Heiligman, Deborah
Goldilicious by Kann, Victoria
Case of the sneaky snowman by Keene, Carolyn
A possum's patriotic Fourth of July by Long, Jamey
Eloise and the big parade by McClatchy, Lisa
Happy 4th of July by Mercer, Abbie
Charlie Bone and the time twister by Nimmo, Jenny
I.Q. the White House by Smith, Roland
The 39 Clues Book 6 by Watson, Jude
Noisy Nora by Wells, Rosemary
I can help! by Wilhelm, Hans

Thursday, June 18, 2009

DVDs, Books on CD, & Music ordered June 17th

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
Elegy
Hairspray
Harlan Ellison : dreams with sharp teeth
The marine
The new guy
Rocketeer
12 rounds
The unborn
To Wong Foo:Thanks for everything
Extreme movie

Books on CD
The case for God by Armstrong, Karen
Blood game by Johansen, Iris
Black water rising by Locke, Attica
This present darkness by Peretti, Frank
The nine by Toobin, Jeffrey

Music CDs
Bob Seger: Greatest hits
Bob Seger: Greatest hits 2

New books we ordered June 17th

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)
Fodor's Virginia & Maryland.
Things fall apart by Achebe, Chinua
The pretend wife by Asher, Bridget
Civil War wives : the lives and times of Angelina Grimke Weld, Varina Howell Davis, and Julia Dent Grant by Berkin, Carol
We who are alive and remain : untold stories from the band of brothers by Brotherton, Marcus
A trace of smoke by Cantrell, Rebecca
Don't judge a girl by her cover by Carter, Ally
You can adopt : an adoptive families guide by Caughman, Susan
I, witness : the shocking insider's story of Jehovah's Witnesses by Clark, Daniel
How the mighty fall : and why some companies never give in by Collins, James
The disciple by Coonts, Stephen
Everyone she loved : a novel by Curran, Sheila
Spartan gold by Cussler, Clive
The end of the long summer : why we must remake our civilization to survive on a volatile Earth by Dumanoski, Dianne
Excuses begone! : how to change lifelong, self-defeating thinking habits by Dyer, Wayne
How bluegrass music destroyed my life : stories by Fahey, John
The arms maker of Berlin by Fesperman, Dan
Wanting by Flanagan, Richard
Crisis of conscience by Franz, Raymond
Stormy weather : the life of Lena Horne by Gavin, James
Sunnyside by Gold, Glen David
Frommer's Virginia by Goodwin, Bill
Calvin by Gordon, Bruce
Dillinger's wild ride : the year that made America's public enemy number one by Gorn, Elliott
Duchess of death : the biography of Agatha Christie by Hack, Richard
The actor and the housewife : a novel by Hale, Shannon
Hope in a jar by Harbison, Elizabeth
Dead over heels by Harris, Charlaine
Spies : the rise and fall of the KGB in America by Haynes, John
The killing way by Hays, Tony
The crack in the lens by Hockensmith, Steve
Seen the glory : a novel of the Battle of Gettysburg by Hough, John
Exiles in the garden by Just, Ward
The sound of laughter by Kay, Peter
Sala's gift : my mother's Holocaust story by Kirschner, Ann
Cherry bomb by Konrath, Joe
Transcend : nine steps to living well forever by Kurzweil, Ray
The serpent's shadow by Lackey, Mercedes
Phoenix and ashes by Lackey, Mercedes
The gates of sleep by Lackey, Mercedes
Rebirth of a nation : the making of a modern America, 1877-1920 by Lears, T. J. Jackson
The game of opposites by Lebrecht, Norman
The Stalin epigram : a novel by Littell, Robert
Black water rising by Locke, Attica
Death and the lit chick : a St. Just mystery by Malliet, G. M.
Beneath the bleeding by McDermid, Val
So happy together by McFadden, Maryann
1421 : the year China discovered America by Menzies, Gavin
Breaking free : making liberty in Christ a reality in life by Moore, Beth
Red's Hot Honky-Tonk Bar by Morsi, Pamela
Overcoming crisis : the secrets to thriving in challenging times by Munroe, Myles
Secret lives of the first ladies : what your teachers never told you about the women of the White House by O'Brien, Cormac
Byron in love : a short daring life by O'Brien, Edna
Far bright star : a novel by Olmstead, Robert
The Supremes : the saga of Motown, dreams, success, and betrayal by Ribowsky, Mark
Rude awakenings of a Jane Austen addict : a novel by Rigler, Laurie
Rich : the rise and fall of American wealth culture by Samuel, Larry
Vampire kisses by Schreiber, Ellen
Pull up a chair : the Vin Scully story by Smith, Curt
The night of the solstice by Smith, L. J.
The Captive Part II ; The Power by Smith, L. J.
Heart of valor by Smith, L. J.
Lime tree can't bear orange by Smyth, Amanda
Jam it, pickle it, cure it and other cooking projects by Solomon, Karen
The sisters of Sinai : how two lady adventurers discovered the lost gospels by Soskice, Janet
Feisty first ladies : & other unforgettable women of the White House by Stephens, Autumn
The artist, the philosopher, and the warrior : the intersecting lives of Da Vinci, Machiavelli, and Borgia and the world they shaped by Strathern, Paul
The book of Kildare by Terrell, Heather
Nordic walking : the new way to health, fitness and fun by Walter, Claire
Love stories in this town by Ward, Amanda
Obama in prophecy by Weir, J. Emmette
Tchaikovsky by Wiley, Roland
Queen of song and souls by Wilson, C. L.
The ignorance of blood by Wilson, Robert
Catching fire : how cooking made us human by Wrangham, Richard

Books for Children (Fiction and Nonfiction)
The pirates of Crocodile Swamp by Arnosky, Jim
The curse of the blue figurine by Bellairs, John
The mummy, the will, and the crypt by Bellairs, John
The kids' guide to paper airplanes by Harbo, Christopher
Kazunomiya : prisoner of heaven by Lasky, Kathryn
Gooney Bird is so absurd by Lowry, Lois
Soul Eater by Paver, Michelle
Spirit Walker by Paver, Michelle
Wolf brother by Paver, Michelle

Thursday, June 11, 2009

DVDs, Books on CD, & Music ordered June 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
Bailey's billions
A haunting In Connecticut
Housesitter
Mama's boy
Overboard
Taking 5
The war that made America
Bird
Boxcar Bertha
Crossing over
Delgo
The devil's tomb
Dragonball Evolution
Fast & Furious (2009)
Hannah Montana: The movie
The international
The soloist
White chicks
Woodstock
American me
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Meet the Spartans
Karate Island
Sponge for hire

Books on CD
True blue by Baldacci, David
Days of gold by Deveraux, Jude
Vanished by Finder, Joseph
Inkspell by Funke, Cornelia
The neighbor by Gardner, Lisa
Sizzle by Garwood, Julie
The last child by Hart, John
Be happy by Holden, Robert
Take one by Kingsbury, Karen
The spire by Patterson, Richard
Rough country by Sandford, John
Assegai by Smith, Wilbur
Matters of the heart by Steel, Danielle

Music CDs
Shania Twain: Come on over
True blood
Pink Floyd: Atom heart mother
Chuck Berry: The definitive collection
Pink Floyd: Delicate sound of thunder
Pink Floyd: The final cut
Pink Floyd: A momentary lapse of reason
The very best of Little Richard
Mariachi classics
Something Corporate: Leaving through the window
Randy Travis: Greatest #1 hits

New books we ordered June 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)
Better Business Bureau buying a franchise : Insider's guide to success
Watchlist : a serial thriller
The food of a younger land : a portrait of American food : before the national highway system, before chain restaurants, and before frozen food, when
1001 movies you must see before you die
Have a little faith : the story of a last request by Albom, Mitch
Metric pattern cutting for children's wear and babywear : from birth to 14 years by Aldrich, Winifred
In the kitchen : a novel by Ali, Monica
Alex Anderson's baby quilts with love : 12 timeless projects for today's nursery. by Anderson, Alex
Love and peaches : a novel by Anderson, Jodi
Night's master (#3) by Ashley, Amanda
Night's pleasure (#4) by Ashley, Amanda
Shades of gray by Ashley, Amanda
Dead perfect by Ashley, Amanda
Night's kiss (#1) by Ashley, Amanda
Dead sexy by Ashley, Amanda
Sorrow Wood by Atkins, Raymond
To the end of the earth : our epic journey to the North Pole and the legend of Peary and Henson by Avery, Tom
True blue (LT) by Baldacci, David
True blue by Baldacci, David
We never talk about my brother by Beagle, Peter
The corporal was a pitcher : the courage of Lou Brissie by Berkow, Ira
Capitoal offense by Bernhardt, William
Blood groove by Bledsoe, Alex
Remind me who I am by Bohjalian, Christopher
Well-preserved : recipes and techniques for putting up small batches of seasonal foods by Bone, Eugenia
Below zero (LT) by Box, C. J.
Memoirs of a scandalous red dress by Boyle, Elizabeth
Fractal time : the secret of 2012 and a new world age by Braden, Gregg
A great and terrible beauty by Bray, Libba
Cat of the century by Brown, Rita Mae
A lucky child : a memoir of surviving Auschwitz as a young boy by Buergenthal, Thomas
Edge of desire by Byrd, Rhyannon
April & Oliver by Callahan, Tess
The signal by Carlson, Ron
Before the storm by Chamberlain, Diane
Remarkable creatures by Chevalier, Tracy
Gone tomorrow : a Reacher novel by Child, Lee
Soldier from the war returning : the greatest generation's troubled homecoming from World War II by Childers, Thomas
Gone to green by Christie, Judy
Dare to be great by Clarke, Shaneen
The winner stands alone by Coelho, Paulo
The gates by Connolly, John
South of broad (LT) by Conroy, Pat
The Scarpetta factor by Cornwell, Patricia
5 conversations you must have with your daughter by Courtney, Vicki
Sweet Chic Kids : sewing designer nursery and kids decor on a budget by Cousineau, Susan
Seducing Mr. Darcy by Cready, Gwyn
Alexandria by Davis, Lindsey
Star power : a talent novel. by Dean, Zoey
Wilde thing by Denison, Janelle
Red to black by Dryden, Alex
Reason, faith, & revolution : reflections on the God debate by Eagleton, Terry
Rebecca's choice by Eicher, Jerry
Fragment by Fahy, Warren
Vanished (LT) by Finder, Joseph
Dark places by Flynn, Gillian
How to read literature like a professor : a lively and entertaining guide to reading between the lines by Foster, Thomas
Even money (LT) by Francis, Dick
Return to Sullivan's Island (LT) by Frank, Dorothea
Mercury in retrograde : a novel by Froelich, Paula
The neighbor (LT) by Gardner, Lisa
The odds by George, Kathleen
Prairie tale : a memoir by Gilbert, Melissa
Clintonomics : how Bill Clinton reengineered the Reagan revolution by Godwin, Jack
Home in time for Christmas by Graham, Heather
Ravens by Green, George
False convictions by Green, Tim
Inquisition : the reign of fear by Green, Toby
Vicksburg, 1863 by Groom, Winston
Deep down by Harper, Karen
A touch of dead by Harris, Charlaine
Grass, sky, song : promise and peril in the world of grassland birds by Herriot, Trevor
Sweet and simple baby quilts by Hickey, Mary
SuperSense : why we believe in the unbelievable by Hood, Bruce
Blood ties by Hooper, Kay
How to build a dinosaur : extinction doesn't have to be forever by Horner, John
Burn (LT) by Howard, Linda
Marine One by Huston, James
Chosen to die (LT) by Jackson, Lisa
Lucy's legacy : the quest for human origins by Johanson, Donald
Dark horse : a Walt Longmire mystery by Johnson, Craig
Gathering Storm by Jordan, Robert
The walking people by Keane, Mary Beth
The snakehead : an epic tale of the Chinatown underworld and the American dream by Keefe, Patrick
Evidence (LT) by Kellerman, Jonathan
Death wore white by Kelly, Jim
Afraid by Kilborn, Jack
Sweet life by King, Mia
Take two (LT) by Kingsbury, Karen
Dead and alive by Koontz, Dean
A big little life : a memoir of a joyful dog by Koontz, Dean
Relentless : a novel by Koontz, Dean
The phoenix transformed by Lackey, Mercedes
Crisis of doubt : honest faith in nineteenth-century England by Larsen, Timothy
Super : a novel by Lehrer, James
About face by Leon, Donna
Yes, my darling daughter by Leroy, Margaret
Home game : an accidental guide to fatherhood by Lewis, Michael
The family man by Lipman, Elinor
Patient zero by Maberry, Jonathan
Dangerous games : the uses and abuses of history by MacMillan, Margaret
92 Pacific Boulevard (LT) by Macomber, Debbie
Be my angel (LT) by Macomber, Debbie
The best of friends by Mallery, Susan
The great perhaps : a novel by Meno, Joe
A Creed Country Christmas by Miller, Linda
Skinny cooks can't be trusted / In the Kitchen With Mo'nique by Mo'Nique
American heroes : profiles of men and women who shaped early America by Morgan, Edmund
The courtship by Morris, Gilbert
Keeper of light and dust by Mostert, Natasha
Londongrad by Nadelson, Reggie
The mist (LT) by Neggers, Carla
Rocket men : the triumph and tragedy of the first Americans on the moon by Nelson, Craig
The love shack : the place people search for that draws them to best-selling books like The Shack, The Love Dare, Woman, Thou Art Loosed! by Nori, Don
Tears in the darkness : the story of the Bataan Death March and its aftermath by Norman, Michael
The Best of Frank O'connor by O'Connor, Frank
Hardball (LT) by Paretsky, Sara
Killer summer (LT) by Pearson, Ridley
Lucky break by Phillips, Carly
The well and the mine : a novel by Phillips, Gin
Idiot America : how stupidity became a virtue in the Land of the Free by Pierce, Charles
Sins of the night by Quinn, Devyn
Not becoming my mother : and other things she taught me along the way by Reichl, Ruth
Masters and commanders : how four titans won the war in the West, 1941-1945 by Roberts, Andrew
The philosopher and the wolf : lessons from the wild on love, death, and happiness by Rowlands, Mark
The angel's game by Ruiz Zafón, Carlos
Red and me : my coach, my lifelong friend by Russell, Bill
The immortal hunter (#11) by Sands, Lynsay
Love bites (#2) by Sands, Lynsay
Gomorra by Saviano, Roberto
Quilts, bibs, blankies-- oh my! : create your own cute & cuddly nursery by Schaefer, Kim
Shanghai girls : a novel by See, Lisa
The wish maker by Sethi, Ali
Bloodline by Shayne, Maggie
Wicked : a pretty little liars novel by Shepard, Sara
The great decision : Jefferson, Adams, Marshall, and the battle for the Supreme Court by Sloan, Cliff
Nightfall / Nightfall by Smith, L. J.
A measure of mercy (LT) by Snelling, Lauraine
Dead before dark by Staub, Wendy
The ties that bind by Steel, Danielle
Rick Steves' travel as a political act by Steves, Rick
The smart approach to baby rooms by Still, Joanne
World War One by Stone, Norman
Young woman and the sea : how Trudy Ederle conquered the English Channel and inspired the world by Stout, Glenn
The call of Zulina by Strom, Kay Marshall
The secret life of Marilyn Monroe by Taraborrelli, J. Randy
Long Knife by Thom, James Alexander
You can run-- by Thompson, Carlene
The strain by Toro, Guillermo
My father's tears : and other stories by Updike, John
Rabbit Angstrom : a tetralogy by Updike, John
Into the beautiful North : a novel by Urrea, Luis Alberto
Obsession : an erotic tale by Vanderbilt, Gloria
Finding Grace : a true story about losing your way in life-- and finding it again by VanLiere, Donna
You're so vein by Warren, Christine
The last Indian war : the Nez Perce story by West, ElliottSag Harbor (LT) by Whitehead, Colson
Finding the quiet : four simple steps to peace and contentment; without spending the rest ofyour life on a mountaintop by Wilson, Paul
How the world makes love : and what it world taught a jilted groom by Wisner, Franz
Kisser by Woods, Stuart
Uranium : war, energy, and the rock that shaped the world by Zoellner, Tom

Books for Children (Fiction and Nonfiction)
May Bird and The Ever After by Anderson, Jodi
Warrior princess by Anderson, Jodi
May Bird among the stars by Anderson, Jodi
Black circle by Carman, Patrick
Meet Rebecca : an American girl by Greene, Jacqueline
Candlelight for Rebecca : an American girl, 1914 by Greene, Jacqueline
Changes for Rebecca : an American girl, 1914 by Greene, Jacqueline
Rebecca and Ana : an American girl, 1914 by Greene, Jacqueline
Rebecca and the movies : an American girl,1914 by Greene, Jacqueline
ebecca to the rescue : an American girl, 1914 by Greene, Jacqueline
The essential guide to G.I. Joe by Hidalgo, Pablo
The lottery rose by Hunt, Irene
The Confidential G.I. Joe files by James, Brian
Faith, hope, and Ivy June by Naylor, Phyllis
A good night for ghosts by Osborne, Mary
Disney in shadow by Pearson, Ridley
Cold fire by Pierce, Tamora
Sandry's book by Pierce, Tamora
Shatterglass by Pierce, Tamora
Street magic by Pierce, Tamora
G.I. Joe combat heroes : we are G.I. Joe by Schmidt, Andy
Crown of horns by Smith, Jeff
100 cupboards by Wilson, Nathan
Dandelion fire by Wilson, Nathan

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Investing Tip of the Month

In Investing, 'I Don't Know' Can Be the Right Answer, by Christine Benz, Director of Personal Finance and Editor of Morningstar PracticalFinance.

A reporter recently asked me a question that stumped me. In response, I said, "I don't know."

"You're my hero!" he said. "No one ever says they don't know!"

Well, I do, and I think you should, too--particularly when it comes to making certain investment decisions.

That's because investing, at its heart, entails a lot of uncertainty. Part of the uncertainty stems from investors' own tendency to act on their emotions rather than on the cold, hard facts. Scores of studies of investor behavior have shown that individual investors often become overly exuberant and exhibit risk-tolerant behavior in up markets only to pull in their horns when the markets are in the dumps.

And even when you've done your homework on a security, it's usually impossible to say that it will definitely go up or down and by how much, particularly if it's a new company or operates in a volatile industry. To reflect that there's a range of outcomes for any stock, last year our equity analysts rolled out Uncertainty Ratings for the companies they cover.

For a similar reason, you should question any market prognosticator's ability to forecast a precise value for the Dow by year-end or the direction of a given currency. Think, for a second, about the dizzying number of factors you'd have to get your arms around to correctly forecast the value of the dollar versus the euro by year-end. You'd have to have a pretty clear knowledge of where the U.S. economy was headed, of course, but you'd also have to draw a bead on the economic health of Europe and all other large economies, as well as interest rates, inflation levels, and geopolitical factors. If that seems downright impossible, you're right.

In a similar vein, I'd argue that there are no black-and-white answers to many investing debates, both the big ones (is it better to own individual stocks or mutual funds?) and smaller ones related just to your portfolio (should I sell the fund that just had a manager change?). You can stack the deck in your favor by investing based on where you think the preponderance of evidence lies, but also put in place a slight hedge in case you're wrong.

Here are some of the key debates where "splitting the difference" is apt to be the right course of action.

1. Index Mutual Funds vs. Actively Managed Funds
The debate about whether you're better off buying an index fund that passively tracks a market benchmark or buying one run by an active stock-picker has been simmering steadily for years. It's irrefutable that many active stock-pickers don't earn their keep, and I've long said that you can do just fine with an all-index fund portfolio (or an all-ETF portfolio, for that matter). By the same token, I don't think you'll go too far wrong if you stick solely with top active managers like the ones who populate Morningstar's Fund Analyst Picks list.

However, perhaps a better course of action for many investors is to do both, according to a recent study by the Vanguard Group. Based on the firm's analysis of more than 200 million different portfolio combinations, even those portfolios composed entirely of funds run by top managers exhibited an improved risk/reward profile when a dose of index funds (accounting for roughly 25% or so of the overall portfolio) were thrown in for good measure. (Before you complain that Vanguard has a horse in this race, thanks to its indexing prowess, it's also worth noting that the firm fields scores of actively managed funds.)

These findings translate perfectly into real-world portfolio management. If you have a lot of confidence in your ability to pick talented managers (and your real-life investment results back up your assertion), go ahead and invest the bulk of your retirement portfolio (that is, your 401(k) and IRA) in active funds. Your retirement account is the better place to hold actively managed funds because such funds are likely to be less tax-efficient than index funds; in addition, you won't trigger taxable gains if you decide to switch one of your holdings.

At the same time, consider devoting at least part of your taxable portfolio to a broad-market index fund or ETF. Plain-vanilla index funds are extremely tax-efficient and can serve to damp the volatility associated with your active funds' holdings.

2. Stocks vs. Funds
As with the indexing versus active question, here's another debate where the combatants often imply that the decision is absolute: You're either with them or against them. Stocks are too risky and time-consuming, the fund geeks argue, whereas the stock jocks sometimes imply that funds are strictly for girly men (or girly girls).

True, an all-fund portfolio can make sense for investors who are in search of low- to no-maintenance portfolios. And I know many investors (including several in our stock-analyst ranks) who have generated healthy returns using all-stock portfolios.

For most investors, however, stocks and funds can coexist peacefully in a portfolio as long as they're not overlapping too much. If you have an S&P 500 Index fund, for example, it's probably unwise to also have a big position in ExxonMobil (XOM). (In Morningstar Investment Research Center's Portfolio X-Ray tool there is a Stock Intersection feature that helps you check for overlap.)

As with index funds, you may want to concentrate your stock-investing efforts in your taxable accounts. That's because stock-only portfolios tend to be more tax-efficient than those involving funds, because you only pay taxes when you yourself sell a stock in which you have a gain. You might also think about holding stocks in the sectors and industries that you truly understand. In areas where you have less hands-on experience or where the information flow may be scant--say, in emerging markets--you're better off delegating security selection to a portfolio manager who's a specialist. Our Fund Analyst Picks list is a good starting point if you're in search of funds run by best-of-breed managers. If you're looking for high-conviction stock ideas, use our Stock Screener to look for those rated 4 or 5 stars with a fair value uncertainty rating of medium or lower.

3. Selling vs. Holding On
I often hear from readers who are wrestling with whether to sell a mutual fund, either because performance is in the dumps or a fund manager has left. The question is usually, "Should I stay or should I go?"

Sometimes, the answer is pretty obvious. If your tame bond fund has jacked up expenses from 0.5% to 1.5%, or if the CFO of a company whose stock you own has fled the country after apparently cooking the books, the answer is pretty easy: Sell it.

But in other situations, the decision is less than clear-cut. Even if you have reason to believe that you'd be better off in some other stock or fund than the one you own, you also have to factor in the tax and transaction costs associated with the trade. If you're not sure that you'll out-earn those transaction costs in the form of higher returns in the future, you may be better off staying put in your less-than-perfect stock or fund.

There is a middle ground, however, yet it's one that many individual investors don't often consider. Why not sell a portion of your shares and hang on to the rest? That can be a particularly effective strategy if you've already made a nice profit in a fund or stock. You can sell a portion, effectively locking in your gains, yet hold on to some of your shares to hedge against the possibility that you're selling prematurely.

4. Roth IRA vs. Traditional Deductible IRA; Traditional 401(k) vs. Roth 401(k)
Here's a smaller-scale portfolio-management question but one that's relevant for many investors: Assuming you're eligible for both, are you better off contributing to a Roth IRA or a traditional deductible IRA? What about investing in a traditional 401(k) versus a Roth 401(k)? In both the traditional deductible IRA and 401(k), you don't pay taxes on your contributions but are taxed on your withdrawals. If you opt for the Roth IRA or 401(k), you contribute aftertax dollars but withdrawals are tax-free.

For this one, I'd go back to my original point about uncertainty. The decision about whether to invest in a traditional 401(k) or IRA versus a Roth rests on two key questions: What tax bracket are you likely to be in when you retire, and do you expect federal tax rates to be higher or lower at that time? Needless to say, those questions are pretty close to unanswerable (unless you're a time traveler, that is).

For that reason, I'd say that the right answer to this question is to split the difference, thereby diversifying the future tax treatment of your 401(k) and IRA assets. If you already have a lot of assets built up in a traditional IRA or 401(k), it makes sense to opt for the Roth for your future contributions. Those who have been unable to contribute to a Roth IRA because they earn too much have a particularly strong incentive to consider the Roth 401(k), because without it, all of their tax-sheltered assets will be taxed upon withdrawal.

5. Mortgage Paydown vs. Investing in Stocks and Bonds
Similar to the 401(k) question above, this one lands in the realm of capital allocation. At the crux of whether to pay down your mortgage aggressively versus investing in the market is an unknown variable: Will your investment returns be able to out-earn your mortgage interest rate? Because you don't know the answer to that question, most investors, particularly those who are paying private mortgage insurance or who don't enjoy much of a mortgage-interest tax deduction, should chip away at their mortgage principal on a more aggressive schedule than their lenders require.

How aggressively, you ask? That depends on your asset-allocation mix. If you're young and have the bulk of your portfolio in stocks, you at least have a fighting shot at outgunning your mortgage interest rate, even on an inflation-adjusted basis. If, however, your portfolio is heavy on cash and bonds and you're carrying a big mortgage, extra payments toward your mortgage principal are a better use of your household capital.

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, June 06, 2009

Radiologic Technologist practice exams

Future Radiologic Technologists can now practice for important certifying exams online at their convenience. This is a welcome addition to the hundreds of practice tests available for free to library patrons through the LearningExpress Library website.

To be certified as a Radiologic Technologist by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists® (ARRT) a candidate must meet educational preparation standards, comply with ethics standards, and pass a certification exam.

Certification as a Radiologic Technologist demonstrates to employers, state licensing agencies, and federal regulators that the individual meets the national standard for the knowledge and competence that underlies Radiologic Technology practice.

The LearningExpress Radiography Practice Exams offer Radiologic Technologist certification candidates the essential, authentic practice they need to perform their best on the ARRT's official Examination in Radiography.

Each Radiography Practice Exam offers:
  • A complete 200-question, multiple-choice practice exam designed to familiarize students with the content, format, and timing of the ARRT's official Examination in Radiography
  • Authentic practice with a computerized testing environment
  • Instant online scoring and detailed answer explanations
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
  • Radiologic technologists take x-rays and administer nonradioactive materials into patients’ bloodstreams for diagnostic purposes.
  • Radiologic technologists held about 196,000 jobs in 2006.
  • The median annual income in 2007 was $51,150.
  • The number of jobs in radiologic technology is expected to grow 15% by 2016.
So if you're thinking of a career as a Radiologic Technologist, be sure to prepare for your tests at LearningExpress Library. Grab your library card and get started now.

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Certified Pharmacy Technician practice exams

Future Certified Pharmacy Technicians can now practice for important certifying exams online at their convenience. This is a welcome addition to the hundreds of practice tests available for free to library patrons through the LearningExpress Library website.

To be granted the title of Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), candidates must take and pass the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians' (ICPT) national certification exam, the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT).

Certification as a Pharmacy Technician demonstrates that the individual meets national standards for the knowledge and competence that underlies pharmacy technician practice.

The LearningExpress ExCPT Practice Exams offer Pharmacy Technician certification candidates the essential, authentic practice they need to perform their best on the ICPT's official ExCPT.

Each Certified Pharmacy Technician Practice Exam offers:

  • A complete 100-question multiple-choice practice exam designed to familiarize students with the content, format, and timing of the ICPT's official ExCPT
  • Authentic practice with a computerized testing environment
  • Instant online scoring and detailed answer explanations

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

  • Pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists provide medication and other healthcare products to patients.
  • Pharmacy technicians held about 302,000 jobs in 2006.
  • The average annual income in 2007 was $27,560.
  • The number of pharmacy technician jobs is expected to grow 32% by 2016.
So if you're thinking of a career as a Certified Pharmacy Technician, be sure to prepare for your tests at LearningExpress Library. Grab your library card and get started now.

Monday, June 01, 2009

Certified Medical Assistant practice exams

Future Certified Medical Assistants can now practice for important certifying exams online at their convenience. This is a welcome addition to the hundreds of practice tests available for free to library patrons through the LearningExpress Library website.

According to the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the CMA (AAMA) credential "is considered the gold standard of medical assisting professionalism." Medical Assistants who earn their certification by graduating from an accredited program and passing the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants' CMA (AAMA) Certification/Recertification exam enjoy increased job opportunities and security, and are recognized as being at the top in their field for their knowledge and competence.

The Learning Express Certified Medical Assistant Practice Exams offer Medical Assistant certification candidates the essential, authentic practice they need to perform their best on this crucial professional exam.

Each Certified Medical Assistant Practice Exam offers:

  • A complete 200-question multiple-choice practice exam designed to familiarize students with the content, format, and timing of the AAMA's CMA (AAMA) Certification/Recertification exam
  • Authentic practice with a computerized testing environment
  • Instant online scoring and detailed answer explanations
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

  • Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly.
  • Medical assistants held about 435,000 jobs in 2007.
  • The average annual income in 2007 was $28,270.
  • The number of jobs in medical assisting is expected to grow 35% by 2016.

So if you're thinking of a career as a Certified Medical Assistant, be sure to prepare for your tests at LearningExpress Library. Grab your library card and get started now.