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| New This Week for June 4, 2009 |
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This Week Lots about money this week – demographics, credit, bankruptcy, and massive fraud – plus getting girls interested in engineering, woodpeckers and your walls, homestead history, and tweets from your government. Bon appetit from librarians Maria, Charlotte, Wendy, and Jennifer. Tip of the Week Starting in July, the email version of our newsletter will be discontinued but will continue to be available via RSS subscription -- get signed on now so you don't miss an issue. An archive of our newsletters since October 6, 2005, is available from our main page. |
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Arts and Humanities
Centuries of Progress: American World's Fairs 1853-1982
Online version of an exhibit about U.S. World's Fairs. Includes images from select fairs, a timeline of fair firsts (Otis mechanized elevator in 1853, telephone in 1876, Ferris wheel in 1893, cotton candy in 1904, assembly line in 1915, Miracle Whip in 1933, nylon in 1939, home computer in 1962, Belgian waffle in 1964, and computer touch screen in 1982), and a bibliography listing books for adults and children. From the Hagley Museum & Library.
URL: http://www.hagley.lib.de.us/wf-site/index.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/27693
Immigration: The Changing Face of America
This site introduces teachers and students to online collections of the Library of Congress related to U.S. immigration. "It is far from the complete story, and focuses only on the immigrant groups that arrived in greatest numbers during the 19th and early 20th centuries." Browse by country to find illustrated essays on selected immigrant groups. Also includes international recipes, interviews, and more. From the American Memory Project of the Library of Congress (LOC).
URL: http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/immig/immigration_set2.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/27985
Business
Fact Sheet: Reforms to Protect American Credit Card Holders
This White House fact sheet describes key points of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009, including bans on unfair rate increase and fee traps, requirements for "plain language in plain sight" disclosures, credit card issuer accountability, and protections for college students and young adults.
URL: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Fact-Sheet-Reforms-to-Prote...
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/28375
Social & Demographic Trends: Reports on Money
This series of demographic reports covers topics related to money, personal finance, and the economy. Includes reports such as "Different Age Groups, Different Recessions: Oldest are Most Sheltered," "Luxury or Necessity? The Public Makes a U-Turn," "Baby Boomers: The Gloomiest Generation," and "The Middle Class Blues: Pricey Neighborhoods, High Stress." Reports, which include statistical charts and graphs, go back to 2006. From the Pew Research Center.
URL: http://pewsocialtrends.org/topics/money/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/28347
Survey of Credit Card Plans
"Every six months the Federal Reserve System surveys the terms of credit card plans offered by financial institutions and publishes a report of the findings." This report includes annual percentage rate, type of pricing (fixed or variable), index, grace period, annual fee, and other features of each credit card. Sort alphabetically or by annual percentage rate or annual fee. Provides data back to 1990, and related links. From the Federal Reserve Board.
URL: http://www.federalreserve.gov/Pubs/shop/survey.htm
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/28362
Government
GovFresh
This service, launched on May 1, 2009, "is a live feed of official news from U.S. Government Twitter, YouTube, RSS, Facebook, Flickr accounts and more, all in one place." Click on each government entity (such as White House, Supreme Court, Department of State, FBI, and Army) to see specific material. From an enthusiast.
URL: http://govfresh.com/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/28335
Twitter: USA.gov
Follow this Twitter feed "to stay up to date on the latest official government news and information." Feeds include links to a U.S. Government YouTube channel, and include related material such as protecting yourself from identity theft, U.S. government job opportunities, tax refunds, and more. Also includes links to other U.S. government Twitter feeds.
URL: http://twitter.com/USAgov
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/28334
Health
California Health Literacy Initiative
Website for a California initiative to "positively impact the health and well-being of individuals with low-literacy skills, their families, and their communities." It is anticipated this initiative will serves as a "groundbreaking, national model for health literacy." Site features annotated links to material on health literacy information and training (such as plain language health resources, multicultural and multilingual health information, and health literacy policy). Also includes a directory of health literacy professionals.
URL: http://cahealthliteracy.org
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/28377
Home & Housing
Pests in Gardens and Landscapes: Woodpeckers
This fact sheet addresses concerns with woodpeckers and homes. "Woodpeckers come into conflict with people when they use human dwellings in their search of food, or as a surface for territorial/social drumming, or for nest construction. Such activities not only create disturbing noises but, more significantly, may cause structural damage." Discusses the effectiveness of physical exclusion, frightening devices, repellents, and other control methods. From the Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, University of California.
URL: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74124.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/27877
Preventing Woodpecker Damage
This illustrated publication focuses on pest management of woodpeckers, which "cause property damage by drilling holes in wood and synthetic stucco siding and eaves, and are an annoyance when hammering or 'drumming' on houses." Describes control methods such as visual repellents, loud noises, exclusion, and nesting boxes. It notes that lethal methods require a federal permit. From Colorado State University Extension.
URL: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/Pubs/natres/06516.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/27876
Law
Bankruptcy Basics
This site "provides basic information on different aspects of the federal bankruptcy laws," "a basic explanation of the different chapters under which a bankruptcy case may be filed and ... answer[s] some of the most commonly asked questions." Topics include Chapters 7 (liquidation), 13 (individual debt adjustment), 11 (reorganization), and 9 (municipality). Also includes a glossary. From the Bankruptcy Judges Division, Administrative Office of the United States Courts.
URL: http://www.uscourts.gov/bankruptcycourts/bankruptcybasics.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/28382
The Madoff Affair
Companion to a 2009 PBS Frontline documentary about Bernard Madoff that "unearths the details of the world's first global Ponzi scheme -- a deception that lasted longer, reached wider and cut deeper than any other business scandal in history." Features interviews, a timeline, statements of Madoff clients, and investors' stories. Also includes readings and links, classroom guide, and show transcript.
URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/madoff/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/28376
People
There's a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak
Companion to a 2008-2009 retrospective exhibit "of the work of author and artist Maurice Sendak ... [that] focuses on Sendak's personality as a storyteller engaging with difficult and mysterious themes and memories in his work. It explores Sendak's prolific imagination through the characters, influences, and settings of his books." Features slideshows and video clips from an interview with Sendak on topics such as "Where the Wild Things Are." From the Rosenbach Museum & Library.
URL: http://www.rosenbach.org/exhibitions/sendakonsendak/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/27866
Regions of the World
Homestead National Monument of America
Website for this National Monument in Nebraska dedicated to the impact of the Homestead Act of 1862. Includes a map of homesteading states, and essays on topics such as "exodusters" (African American homesteaders), Abraham Lincoln and the West, and the last homesteader (who filed a claim in 1974). Also includes background about famous homesteaders and their descendants, material on the nature and science of the area, photos, and more. From the National Park Service (NPS).
URL: http://www.nps.gov/home/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/27743
Science
Engineer Your Life
This "guide to engineering for high school girls" provides reasons for entering the engineering field, profiles of women engineers, steps for exploring engineering study, and profiles of careers in fields such as aerospace, civil, and mechanical engineering. Includes material for engineers, counselors, and parents, and a link to an engineering website for middle-school girls. From a coalition of engineering companies, organizations, and universities, produced by the WGBH Educational Foundation and the National Academy of Engineering.
URL: http://EngineerYourLife.org
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/27394
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Thanks for reading LII New This Week!
Jennifer English, Liaison to Califa Library Group
Wendy Hyman, Senior Editor
Maria Brandt, Associate Editor
Charlotte Bagby, Senior Weeder
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