Opportunity to learn your iPad or earn your GED at ENMU

Coda Omness of ENMU-Ruidoso will teach a class, "Navigating the iPad" from 5:30 to 7:30 pm on October 22.  You must bring your iPad and sign up in advance.  Call ENMU-Ruidoso at 575-257-2120 or visit them (the same parking lot as Lawrence Bros. Supermarket) to reserve your seat.  Many visitors at the library ask for this type of instruction, so I am happy to let you know this class has arrived!  Learn the basic settings, some apps, and how to explore your device.  There is a $35 fee, though it is only $29 for Lifetime Learning Academy (students over 55 years).

To learn about other pending community or continuing education classes, visit their online Fall Schedule at http://issuu.com/enmuruidoso/docs/fall_2013 .

FinishTheGED.com

The GED® Test is modernizing.  As of January 2014, the exams will be computer-only.  Cera (at New Mexico Workforce Connections, 575-258-1730) organizes the classes to prepare you for these exams.  The GED® training occurs at different times of day, depending on what works for your schedule or how well you can discipline yourself to work independently.  During the next few months you may still prepare for some of the topics with printed materials available at Ruidoso Public Library, or online, including a tutorial on what computer skills you may wish to practice before the test day.  FinishtheGED.com explains many details.  The Prepare tab on this page includes the computer skills tutorial and sample questions.  This video below (also available here) explains how the calculator has been built into the computer test.

If you need a little more convincing (or more information to share with someone looking into GED® credentials, the following are straight from the horse's mouth.

Attention GED® test-takers: Increase your chance of success. Adults who take the GED® test on computer are finishing faster and scoring higher. People say that testing on computer is “easier,” “less stressful,” and “simple.” Try the GED® test on computer risk free—we’re so confident you’ll like it that if you don’t pass your first test, you’ll get a free voucher for the next one.

Visit GEDtestingservice.com/riskfreeGED to see if you qualify.

 Learn More:

• • Free Test on Computer Tutorial: Preview how the GED® test on computer works right now. You can click through questions and practice using the system.
  • Locate Nearest Test on Computer Site: Like the GED® test on computer? Find the site nearest you by selecting the “Test on Computer” box and entering your zip code in our online locator tool.
  • Register and Schedule Online: With testing on computer, you can get your GED®test scheduled today with our easy-to-use online system. Get started today!

Your future is calling. With the GED® test, you can answer the call!

If you’ve already started the GED® test, you’re almost there. The current version of the GED® test is expiring at the end of 2013 and your scores will expire too if you don’t finish and pass the test by then. If you act soon, you won’t have to re-take the parts of the test you’ve already passed.

Don’t feel prepared to finish the GED® test? Don’t worry—we can help! Even with your busy schedule, you can prepare, plan, and succeed.  The GED®  test and preparation materials are also available in Spanish.

Passing the GED® test is a key to opening doors to college, a better job, and the respect you deserve. Don’t miss this chance to turn one small step into your next big opportunity! Finish your GED® test by the end of 2013 and earn your high school credential.

How to preserve your digital footprint

This is a 2-minute audio file from the Marriage of Figaro, Mozart's opera.

The file is from Wikimedia Commons.  It came from a wax cylinder recording at The University of California, Santa Barbara. It is one example of digital preservation.

What is a digital footprint?  It is the zeros and ones of your social media accounts, emails, Wikipedia edits, ebooks, etc.  Maybe you have posted "I miss you" on the Facebook account of a deceased friend.  The links below might help you understand what your digital footprint encompasses, as well as plan ahead to help friends and family know what to find, look for, or close down upon death.

The US Library of Congress lists 50 (fifty!) activities to select for exploring your digital footprint.
http://blogs.loc.gov/digitalpreservation/2013/05/fifty-digital-preservation-activities-you-can-do/

If time and training are not part of your current plans, this link is a single page of minimal precautions anyone can be aware of when first considering vintage or extant items.
https://www.heritagepreservation.org/PDFS/SaveYourTreasures.pdf

A Book Conservator at the US National Archives

The US Library of Congress is reliable resource for information on preservation.  Whether you are techno-savvy and ready to watch a video or want to print the PDF to share with a techno-avoider, try these resources.

This is a page of videos, how-to sheets, and webliographies (more websites):
http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/personalarchiving/padKit/handouts.html
I was impressed with the breadth of coverage, including how to preserve emails, digital videos, digital photographs, and other sorts of personal digital records.

This page is the launching point for three different aspects of preservation:
http://www.loc.gov/preservation/family/index.html
If you are visiting family, these provide useful talking points for heirlooms or activities to help younger generations connect with elders.  The three areas are

• Collections Care, 
• Emergency Preparedness, and 
• Make a Family Time Capsule/Scrapbook/Album.  

AIC logo

If you are ready to jump into the deep end of the conservation pool, the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works has guides for you. http://www.conservation-us.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=497&parentID=472
This list offers printable (or web-enhanced) instruction based on the type of material, format, media, or content, from architecture to fiber, furniture to glass.  This site also refers conservators to do the work for you.

Let us know if you have any questions about preserving your family history.

Languages: Now available at Ruidoso Public Library

Ruidoso Public Library’s latest offering is Mango Languages.  This is a fun, flash-card way to learn languages.  The graphics are flashy and sharp.  There are men and women speaking each word, phrase, or sentence.  You can repeat each card, lesson, or section as often as you wish.

These have been a hot topic at the library this winter and spring.  Biblical Hebrew is popular with theology students.  Kids can learn how fun languages a”RRRRR”e in the Pirate section.  Try out a section before your next trip.  You may learn the basics (hello, goodbye, thank you) or jump to sections on restaurants or directions.

Mango Languages are on the library’s webpage.  Look for the bright green banner (seen above).  A duplicate link is available from the e-branch tab.  Use your library card number to log in from home or your smart phone or tablet.  

This is the complete listing of languages on offer:

Arabic (Egyptian, Levantine, or MSA)

Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin)

French or French (Canadian)

Greek (modern, Ancient, or Koine)

Hebrew or Biblical Hebrew

Spanish (Latin America or Spain)

German

Croatian

Czech

Danish

Dari

Dutch

Farsi (Persian)

Finnish

Haitian Creole

Hawaiian

Hindi

Icelandic

Indonesian

Irish

Italian

Japanese

Korean

Latin

Norwegian

Pashto

Pirate

Polish

Portuguese (Brazil)

Romanian

Russian

Slovak

Swahili

Swedish

Tagalog

Tamil

Thai

Turkish

Ukrainian

Urdu

Vietnamese

English as a Foreign Language is available for speakers of:

Spanish

Russian

French

German

Arabic

Polish

Italian

Greek

Brazilian Portuguese

Vietnamese

Turkish

Korean

Cantonese

Mandarin

Japanese

Jennifer wants you to know: "If you are an advanced speaker, I recommend the lessons on learning English.  I spent a happy hour digging through the meaty sentences explaining to Russians how Americans expect small talk about the weather.  I may try the Ancient Greek sometime—I have a poster from Homer’s Odyssey I hope to read."  

Mango Languages are very convenient.  You are not stuck in front of a computer.  Apple and Android apps are available.  Language, like math, benefits most from doing a little bit every day.  Continue a lesson during lunch, review phrases while waiting in line, or use it as a trivia game while you await your order at restaurant.  This video demonstrates:

Also in Universal Class:Education (GED or Home schooling)

Remember Daylight Savings Time begins next Sunday, March 10.  The clocks "spring" forward one hour.


  
Images from Universal Class

While the name Universal Class tries to express itself fully, today's blogpost digs into the school-age focused options, simply to clarify.  Some of the courses are designed to involve both parents and children or teachers and students, rather than ask kids to enroll and work online directly.  Some courses are targeted at older students or non-traditional students approaching the GED from many different levels of experience.

You are welcome to try any class; age is no object.  Whether your interest or need is for science, mathematics, grammar, history, or another language, I hope you find something useful.  This is not the complete list, by far; peruse other options here.

ABCs of Algebra
Algebra 101
Basic Math 101
ABCs of Geometry

ABCs of English Grammar
English Composition
Basic Research Skills
Essay Writing 101

ABCs of Physics
Biology 101
Astronomy 101
Chemistry 101

Geography 101
American Civil War 101
American Revolutionary War 101
American Government
American History Review
Ancient Civilizations 101
Economics 101
Economics 201

Computer Basics 101

ESL Basic Grammar
ESL Basic Writing Skills

First Grade Curriculum 101
Second Grade Curriculum 101
Third Grade Curriculum 101

GED Test Preparation

Do you run a business? Or think about it?

[Edit note: on January 30, 2013, I edited all the class links in the bottom list to open inside the Ruidoso Public Library's subscription so you can get the free access with your library card number now. My apologies.]

Ruidoso Public Library is full of resources specifically selected for a community like Ruidoso or Lincoln County, where new businesses, small business, home-based or online businesses are the heart of our economy.  Whether you are an employee, the manager, or an owner, the library has *Free* classes that you can take at your convenience.  The next several posts will explore different sets of courses, including health, homeschooling or GED preparation, New Age/Spiritual/Religious Studies, Writing, Law/Legal, and many different hobbies.  Over 500 courses are available, and I won't describe them all, but if something takes your fancy, feel free to stop by the library for assistance, if the links don't work, or to let us know about a subject that is missing.

Before I list courses, I will try to explain how this works.  The library subscribes to Universal Class so you may log in with your library card number, for free, anytime, day or night, any day of the week.  If you have not done much online, one of the first things to do is learn how to take an online class.  These courses have videos to watch and listen to, or just read the text articles/lectures.  Each section may take from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on how new the material is for you, and how many of the supplemental links you explore.  There are assignments, quizzes, and exams, which are graded.  At the end, there is a document you may print or email as proof of the time you spent.

What does this mean for you?  As an employee, it might help you feel more confident making phone calls or facing difficult customer situations.  As a manager, assigning a course might help you provide employee development or address a specific safety concern.  Maybe you are desperate for a pay raise, but need some strong evidence to prove how you are applying yourself in ways to help the company.  These courses require the self-discipline to apply yourself, but you can do all the segments at once, or spread out over days and weeks (up to six months).  Outside of your time, they are free.  And if you don't have the home computer/internet thing yet, you are welcome to use the public stations at the library.  This is a slow time of year and we can help you get started on the computers, though you do need an email address to create your Universal Class account.  If enough people comment below, or call the library, I can look into a class on creating your first email account, too.




For employees looking to improve their resumé or support a request for an increase in pay:
Interview Skills
Customer Service
Personal Protective Equipment
Work Place Safety
Waiter or Waitress Training
Telephone Skills and Quality Customer Service

For managers' skill sets:
Payroll Fundamentals
Marketing for Small Business
Employment Law Fundamentals
Personal Protective Equipment
Work Place Safety
Worker's Compensation
Understanding Business Administration 101

For business starters/owners:
Small Business Guide
Pet Sitting
Home Business Guide
Daycare
Start a Concierge Service

Of interest to all types:
Sexual Harrassment Compliance
Bookkeeping and Accounting for all
Accounts Payable Management
Accounts Receivable Management
Anger Management
Assertiveness Training
Confidence Building
Negotiation Skills
Dealing with Difficult People
Retail Business 101
Creating an Effective Sales Team

A re-introduction to our homepage's resources: the Reference tab

I've noticed myself blithely clicking through the library's homepage, hardly noticing what has changed.  As staff at the library, I ought to be acutely aware of the resources at hand.  So, to re-acquaint myself, I will take you, dear reader, with me on a trip through the library's homepage.

Libraries are all about order and sequence, but this time I will hop around the tabs instead of starting on the far left and working to the right.  Or maybe I just want to start with the Reference Tab.  Allons-y!

The bar of tabs on the homepage

When your mouse hovers on the Reference Tab, two options appear: Ancestry and ABE/ESL students.  The Ancestry option works inside the library building; it takes you to our subscription for Ancestry Library Edition, which is similar to Ancestry.com.  Look up a name, learn how to interview a relative to preserve family history, or connect with other potential family.

The ABE/ESL option stands for Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language.  This tab suggests some fee and a few free sites to support anyone preparing for the US Citizenship Exam, GED, or California's Distance Learning Project.

When you click on the Reference Tab, the screen displays a plethora of link options, in fact 23 groups! Here is a brief overview of the categories:

About Computers (how-to classes from the very basic to the mildly advanced)

Business & Finance (small business beginnings to stock market information)

Consumer Information (Ruidoso's Chamber of Commerce and links to the federal government)

Create Free e-mail (most of these sites require a cell phone with text-messaging to get started anymore)

Education (how to start homeschooling, find money for college, or create a citation for your paper)

Elections (see where your precinct is, where to vote, request an absentee ballot, read the League of Women Voters or Project Vote Smart's interviews with candidates, sample ballots when available)

Fast Facts (what you used to ask the librarian for: statistics, local facts, safety recalls, or almanacs)

Federal Student Aid (guides to the FAFSA--often required for students to work in college)

For Seniors (local health services, NM's Aging & Long-Term Services Dept, and Social Security info)

Health (Doctor Finder, travel updates, and scientific or medical journals)

Jobs (State and Federal job listings and help sites; information for career seekers/changers)

Language (quote dictionaries and dictionaries for all ages)

Legal Forms (Bankruptcy, divorce, contract examples, and basic assistance)

Lincoln County Libraries (find Capitan, Corona, ENMU, public schools, and digital libraries in the county)

New Mexico Facts (Cities, maps, tourism, genealogy and government links)

New Mexico Law Library (more forms, regional court specifics, statutes, and municipal codes)

New Mexico Links (MVD's driver's manual, oral history projects, and fun sites)

People (find people, phone numbers, businesses, or census data)

Reading Suggestions (social networks for book lovers, a database of all mystery books ever, find which book is next in a series, or find a suggestion to try next)

Research (encyclopedia, more genealogy, maps, other municipal codes)

Tax Help (state and federal websites and forms and how to file in other states)

Village Emergency (where to register your physical address with the village or county to hear about evacuations or frozen pipes on your cell phone while you are out of town)

Other (look up ZIP codes, the World Fact Book, and read about jobs and salaries in the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Dept of Labor)

Was that too much for one blog-post?  Probably.  If you find a broken link, please comment below or send an email to the library.  I check them every year, but that may not be often enough these days.

#8: What happened to Reference?

One library stand-by is The Reference Collection:
the maps,
encyclopedias,
NADA guides for car prices, and
almanacs.
Ruidoso Public Library still carries these.  Luckily many are available online 24/7.  Personally, I still like a printed atlas to identify a trip destination or plan the route and what side trips to include.  Then I can check Yahoo, Mapquest, or Google for the shortest route and turn by turn directions.  (Can you tell I don't have a GPS?)
Ruidoso's greatest need for maps was highlighted this summer during the Little Bear Fire.  For future, INCIweb has the latest news as a direct feed from the Incident Command Post.  The Southwest New Mexico Weather site also provided timely map resources.  If your computer can handle it, GoogleEarth (works on iPads, too) can open the maps and images as they are released by federal or state agencies.

Photo by Surya Prakash SA at Wikimedia Commons

We have several encyclopedias, most are subject specific (such as Native American Tribes, Music History, Popular Music, or Children/Students).  If (like most people) this is a last minute school assignment, these resources are online: GALE (many academic journals; use your library card number to access), Opposing Viewpoints (articles, books, and pictures about several angles of each topic; also requires card number), and   GVRL (a whole e-book-shelf of encyclopedias, from animals to environment to history).  These online resources are published by the same companies that make the print books, but for money-reasons put the materials online instead of printing them out anymore.  If your teacher said, "No online resources," please have him or her call me, Jennifer Stubbs, at the library (though if this is a last-minute assignment you may not have time to call?).

Are you looking to buy or sell a car?  We have the current issues of the NADA appraisal guides.  If you can't get here, Kelley's Blue Book Values and Edmund's have gone digital, too.

Finally, we have almanacs:
The Old Farmer's Almanac,
The World Almanac,
Time's Almanac, even
Llewellyn's.
Or if you need the 2am Sunday morning access, GALE (above) has The World Almanac and Book of Facts, though it may not be as easy to thumb-through. (That link may not work as GALE requires your card number to log in.)  The Old Farmer's Almanac is also available online, as is The Farmer's Almanac.

image at Wikimedia Commons

#3 Research Assistance

Gloria H, Chaparral, NM, 9 y.o.

When you have a pesky problem to solve, Google may be the first thing you think of, but a librarian (and the library) can provide depth, context, and help identifying the real question.

Merrit B, Santa Fe, 13 y.o.

We have helped with information on legal forms, medical conditions, and shopping comparisons.  As librarians, we cannot advise on legal or health matters, but we can help you think through what you really want to ask.  We can share books, websites, and county or state government resources, which define terms, explain the steps necessary for filing a form, or to whom else you might best ask your questions.

If you are considering a new pet, vehicle, or vacation, we'd love to help you.  We have books for all ages on which pet fits your personality, how to take care of the pet you have, or how to mourn the loss of a pet.  The library subscribes to Consumer Reports, both the magazine and the annual buying guide.   If you cannot decide on where to spend your vacation, you may check out travelogues, travel guides, and how-to travel books (hiking, trains, cruises, or accessibility).

If you are interested in very deep research, you can set up an appointment with a librarian to take a quarter of an hour or more to explore your topic, then give the library some time, maybe a few days, to gather the very best resources for you to explore.  One of my favorite tasks at the library is demonstrating Grzimek's (said Chimex) Animal Encyclopedia or Opposing Viewpoints (two online databases or encyclopediae) for a student writing a paper on zebras or the economy.  

#2: What to read....what to read next....what to try while waiting

Possibly earliest photograph of a tornado

Libraries are a great resource for something called "Readers Advisory."  That's not a warning about looming dangers in a book, as in Tornado Advisory.  It is a spectrum of answers for the dreaded question, "What to read now?"  On one hand, this can be a rhetorical question, not expecting a real answer; on the other hand, it can become a great conversation over days or years of careful give-and-take between a patron's reactions to books read and a librarian's careful research into similar (or different) books to attempt.

To help librarians help you there are a few things to add after asking, "What shall I read next?"  These include:
1. several books you have read and liked (and maybe want more of),
2. a few books you did not like (and why),
3. what sort of book, story, character, or feeling you are in the mood for next.

Please don't think of it as homework, though the more thought placed in the answers, the more reliable a librarian's research into what titles to suggest may become.  If you want to delve into the analysis of books, this is where plot, character, setting, and pacing come into play.  As every person reads a book through a different life-lens, these analyses are not set in stone.  Each book may have several different "appeal factors" (genre, setting, pacing) and you see the one that interests (or disgusts) you at that time.

Sometimes I prefer a book that emphasizes pacing.  This may be Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  Other times I can appreciate a book that explores, without any hurry, the internal monologue (see: Atonement by Ian McEwan).

Whether the sense of place, frenetic pacing, complex and dynamic characterization, or just what everyone else is reading is your cup of tea, ask a librarian--but be prepared for a conversation rather than a Google-fast result.

If you prefer the DIY (do-it-yourself) approach, there are many websites that can help as well.  For mystery fans, Stop, You're Killing Me! can help you recall your favorite character's author, or authors who write similarly to your favorite author.  If you prefer to know beforehand whether a book has mature language (or just how much), various aspects of romance (or how much from hand-holding to well beyond kissing), violence (implied or explicit and how much), and many more aspects look to All Readers.  With either site, look up books you have already read to see what volunteers have posted about them.  That way you will know what terms to look for (or avoid!) in searching for new possibilities.

Ruidoso Public Library hosts the World Premier of Camp Capitan, a local playwright's introduction to a CCC camp in the county and life during the Great Depression.  Two shows, Thursday, May 31, 10:30 am and 7 pm.

Preserving family heirlooms

Bookmark by ALA

Public libraries are occasionally confused with archives.  The first serves today's public, their needs and some wants.  An archive preserves artifacts of history with a specific topical, regional, or chronological focus.  You can be your family's archives.  April saw the American Library Association's Preservation Week, which collected a variety of programs (recorded for you to catch up on now or later) and resources to answer your questions on how best to ensure today's objects are available for future generations of your family.  These are some basic tips (check out the Preservation Week webpage for details).

Preserving Your Treasures

Quick Preservation Tips

Here are a variety of simple, practical actions to preserve your personal and family collections:

•          Handle with a clean, gentle touch

Protect your treasures from dust, dirt, oil, food, and other hazards by handling items carefully, with clean hands.

•          Store safely in stable conditions

Protect your treasures from light, harsh temperatures, and humidity.   Learn what storage options are right for your collections.

•          Foresee and avoid risks

Assess storage and display surroundings for potential problems like water, pests, mold, and breakage.  Relocate your treasures or take other measures (for example, put items in protective containers) to reduce risks.

•          Make a copy

Copy treasures like photographs, newspapers, and letters when possible and appropriate. Store the original safely and use the copy.  Digital copies allow treasures to be easily shared, but remember digital items need preservation, too.

•          Ask a professional

Seek professional advice before trying at-home repairs or cleaning treasures yourself.

•          Visit a museum or archives

Consult an archivist for great resources and additional tips on how to preserve your treasures.

•          Pass it on!

Share your treasures with your family and community. Your heritage is their heritage

Meet UC--your chance to learn at your own pace

Meet Universal Class (24/7 anywhere there's internet)

Tomorrow or next Wednesday

Learn how to 

-take an online class (social networking)

-train your dog 

-balance bank accounts

-medical terminology

-homeschooling lessons

-cooking

-computer skills 

-spirituality

-classroom management

-GED preparation

 

and almost 500 other topics!

What's special about Universal Class this week is the two chances to learn about it yourself.  

If this is all new to you, please call the library today (Tuesday for this week's webinar) and we can have a station ready for you to watch from Ruidoso Public Library, or feel free to click on either link below to register (you will need an email and password to receive a URL unique to you).

Wed, Sep 14, 2011 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM EDT

Wed, Oct 12, 2011 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM EDT

Photos by: Charley Lhasa, VectorPortal, lejoe,