Money Smart Week (R) 2013

This year, Ruidoso Public Library hosts Money Smart Week (R) April 2nd through 5th.  The slate of presenters has some of last year's most popular events and a few new faces, too.

Tuesday, April 2, from 10-11 am, Vera from First National Bank will speak on How to Apply for a Mortgage.  If that time does not work for you, or you have more questions, try a different perspective on Wednesday, April 3 at 4pm.

Later on Tuesday, April 2, from 11 am to noon, Debra Hendricks, of New Mexico’s Aging and Long Term Services Department, will present "Extra Help," a program to reduce your Medicare expenses. 

Wednesday, April 3, 10 am, begins with Credit Scores: what they are, what affects them, and how to improve them with Billy Jones of Ruidoso Credit Union. I saw this presentation last year and thought it could be useful for most anyone.  Then at 4pm Wednesday is the second mortgage application explanation by Lorri McKnight of City Bank New Mexico who will present a different perspective.

On Thursday, April 4, at noon, Rachel Weber of New Mexico’s Workforce Solutions offers Frugal Living Tips to Save Money.  Then at 4:30 pm, also on Thursday, April 4, Rutalee Todd-Jernigan of the Farm Bureau Financial Services will help you increase your financial smarts.  Come with any questions you have.

We wrap up Friday at noon with Ismael Camacho one of the state’s Assistant Attorneys General.  Mr Camacho presents “Don’t Get Burned” to help you explore the risks of identity theft and scams, including how to protect yourself.  

If you'd like to see the calendar, it's here.  For more information about Money Smart Week and the Federal Reserve, try this link.

Money Smart Week is an registered service mark of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

We hope to see you!  If your schedule does not allow a visit, comment below or email us ahead of time.  We can check into saving you a set of the handouts to pick up later.  If you think of a friend or acquaintance who might like a class, feel free to share this post's URL with them on Facebook, Twitter, or by email, too.

Speak up for Libraries' Access to Ebooks (and craft requests for Children's Library)

If you have not yet heard, there's a controversy out there.

Many of the newest, most popular books, are not available to libraries as ebooks.  Some that are have prices (to libraries) that might cause your jaw to drop.  Luckily, action is possible now.  Several websites are hosting information or petitions. Facebook has a group.  [Did you know Facebook changed the rules recently on "liking Pages"?  Now you not only have to like the page, but then, on that page, click on the little box with a gear and select "add to list"--and you may need to name that list the first time--in order to ever see that page's posts in your regular news-stream.]

One library advocate made a short video, comparing which titles you are accustomed to seeing in hardback at the library and which are still not available to libraries electronically.  http://youtu.be/l5anyt9jooI or

The blog where this video first posted is:
http://ebooksforlibraries.com/news/libraries-advocacy-and-ebooks-whos-doing-what/
It is one place to keep current with developments on this issue.

One library system is leading the charge.  Here is their specific list of actions to take: http://www.piercecountylibrary.org/books-materials/audiobooks-ebooks/Default.htm#scrooge

Does this affect you? Let us know in the comments or chat with us during your next visit.

P. S.: The Children's department hopes to collect stacks of the following items for this year's Summer Reading Programs crafts:
styrofoam trays (the kind under meats or produce at the store)
oatmeal containers
metal coffee cans (1 to 2 lb and 5 lb)
scrap 2x4s (about 5 inches)
net bags (the orange mesh around fruit and root vegetables)
everlasting flowers, or fresh flowers to dehydrate into everlasting displays
And just as a reminder: the rolls in wrapping paper or paper towels
the lids on juice bottles or milk jugs

Books under discussion

Back in October, a local book group met and discussed these books.  Check with us to see when they will meet again.  Titles available in the library are hyperlinked to see if currently available or request your copy.

The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall

Ecology of a Cracker Childhood by Janisse Ray

Wild Card Quilt: The Ecology of Home by Janisse Ray

Dr Orloff's Guide to Intuitive Healing 5 Steps to Physical, Emotional, and Sexual Wellness by Judith Orloff, MD

In the Water They Can't See You Cry by Amanda Beard

True Stories of Censorship--Battles in America's Libraries edited by Nye/Borco

Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times by Luis Rodriguez

Always Running by Luis Rodriguez

War Brides

Silver like Dust--One Family's Story of America's Japanese Internment by Kimi Cunningham

Do you ask the BIG questions? Plus some timely announcements at the bottom

[Edit note: class links below are now correct and lead to Ruidoso Public Library's subscription so you may take the classes on us.]

© Nevit Dilmen [CC-BY-SA-3.0  or GFDL ], via Wikimedia Commons

If you are interested in exploring questions of a religious or philosophical nature, the library is a great place to start.  Beyond the books or DVDs we can loan you, we have several self-paced online courses, free for you to fit into your schedule, 24/7. Whether your preference is New Age or Biblical, experiential or logical, there's at least one course that might interest you.

By Charles Dana Gibson [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

As with the business courses, there is an entry class on how to take online courses for novices which teaches you about email, adding an attachment, commenting on another's post, etc.  You may have several friends to share with and might want to request the conference room at the library to watch, learn, and discuss the materials together.  If so, please email, call, or stop in at your convenience; we'd love to hear from you.  Sharon and Jennifer have tried some of these online classes, if you want to talk about specific features of the process or material.

Here's the long list of possible topics:

World Religions 101

Islam 101: An Introduction

Judaism 101: An Introduction

Buddhism 101

Christianity 101: An Introduction

Bible Stories

Angel Healing

Angels 101: History, Religion, Spiritualism and You

Wicca 101

Tarot Cards 101

Magick Basics

Numerology 101

Working with Your Animal Allies, Teachers and Totems

Chakras 101

Cosmology 101

Crystal Therapy

Reiki 2nd Degree

Reiki Essentials

Reiki Attunements

Reiki Hand Placements

Spiritual Counseling 101

Haunted Places 101

Metaphysics 101

Philosophy 101           

Astrology 101

Auras: Viewing, Identifying, and Understanding

Become a Reiki Master

Chakra Clearing

Chakra Meditation 101

P.S. If you heard about the JAVA update that led to a security problem January 12, some updates are available.  For directions on how to uninstall older versions of JAVA and where to install the current patch (JAVA 7 update 11)

P.P.S. If you missed the movie, Forks Over Knives, last Tuesday, you can still catch the flick (online at hulu for free or by checking out the DVD at the library) and read some analysis of the science here.

P.P.S. The library is closed today, Monday, January 21.  We will open tomorrow at 9 am.

#7 Be loud at the library; meet a new book

One of a library's better known activities might be book discussion groups.  Ruidoso Public Library hosts one on the first Wednesday of each month (except in July, when the federal holiday pushes it to the second), at noon.  You are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch (one of the few exceptions to the no eating or drinking in the library rule).  Our library director, Corey Bard, and librarian, Sharon Stewart, join Sherry York and anyone interested in sharing a book or learning about novel novels (pun intended).

Book club meeting aboard GTMO Queen, by By Army Staff Sgt. Blair Heusdens [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

I have heard of book clubs that meet at pubs, private homes, and through church groups.  If you are interested in creating a group, or need any help finding discussion guides or title suggestions, please ask us.  Book clubs have gone online, too.  Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ hangouts can bring together people who cannot leave their homes or have crazy schedules that only let you socialize asynchronously (i.e. 2 o'clock in the morning).  If you have not read a book in a while, maybe because you felt the stories were all the same, a book club can help you jump out of that rut.

The books discussed at the June meeting follow (click on the links to check local availability):
Seasons of grief and grace: A sister story of AIDS, triumph, and family by Susan Ford Wiltshire
Same sweet girls by Cassandra King
The tooth of time by Sue Henry
Images of America: Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs by Lyn Kidder
Delay, deny, hope they die by Bill Dement
My life as a Cambodian refugee: Escape to America by Tony M SaVaun
Erotic resolution: a Flint Rock novel by Glenn Smith
Texas Tango, same author
Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
El Sicario by Molly Molloy, Charles Bowden, and El Sicario
The Rope by Nevada Barr
Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly
Dead end in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
Hole in my life, same author
One second after by William R Fortschen

Ruidoso Public Library is closed Wednesday, July 4, for the federal holiday.  We are open Tuesday and Thursday, regular hours.

Building Common Ground: Engagement: Compassion & Peace Studies, and Adopt-a-Cat Friday

Friday, March 2nd, from 2-4pm, Lincoln County Humane Society will have cats available for adoption.  This event has a special adoption fee of only $10 to cover vaccinations, fixing, microchips, and other costs. 

Saturday, March 3rd, from 11 am to noon, Ruidoso Public Library begins our Building Common Ground, Civility, & Compassion program for all of March.  These programs, films, workshops, and guests are made possible through grants from the American Library Association, the Fetzer Institute, and support from Ruidoso's Friends of the Library.  Les Field, Professor of Anthropology at UNM and Director of the Peace Studies Program, will lead a discussion on social issues with a goal of identifying solutions.

Saturday, March 10th, from 11 am to noon, John Cianciosi, author of The Meditative Path, joins us from the National Headquarters of the Theosophical Society in America.  Explore mindfulness, breathing, and awareness cultivation through a guided meditation followed by discussion.

Coming up Saturday, March 17 at 11 am, join our director, Corey Bard, in a discussion of Karen Armstrong's book, Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life.

We have eleven copies available, so drop in to read one before the discussion.  If reading (or the time for 222 pages) is not your thing, you are still welcome to participate.  Karen Armstrong has a talk at TED.com about her book, a webpage about the Charter for Compassion, and NPR interviewed her (listen to the 30 minute recording here).  The publisher offers a discussion guide with some questions to ponder before, during, after, or instead of reading, too.

Here are the Twelve Steps:

1.    1. Learn about compassion

2.     2. Look at your own world

3.     3. Compassion for yourself

4.     4. Empathy

5.     5. Mindfulness

6.     6. Action

7.    7.  How little we know

8.     8. How we should speak to one another

9.     9. Concern for everybody

10.  10. Knowledge

11.   11. Recognition

12.   12. Love your Enemies

Ruidoso Public Library also offers seven other books by Karen Armstrong (if not on the shelf, request it at the front desk):

The Spiral Staircase  200.92 ARM

Holy War: The Crusades and Their Impact on Today’s World  909.07 ARM

A Short History of Myth 398.2 ARM

Islam: A Short History  297.09 ARM

A History of God: The 4000 year Quest of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam  291.211 ARM

The Case for God  211.22 ARM

An online educational resource: TED talks (part 2)

If you haven't tried a TEDtalk yet, here's another hearty recommendation.

This one is Jeremy Gilley's history of starting a worldwide day of peace.  It is about 15 minutes long, inspiring, and bittersweet.  His peace day is coming up (every year) on September 21.




Join Andrea (of Common Ground) for a Peace Walk on September 21.

TED stands for Teaching, Education, and Design.  The speakers share insights into artwork, science, history, technology, economics, activism, teaching/pedagogy, and many more disciplines.

If you are interested in hosting a discussion club at the library with TEDtalks to initiate discussion, we would be happy to work with you.  Or, a TED group could be virtual!  Ruidoso Public Library (and this blog) could help you create a wiki, email group, or blog of your own, where anyone interested (or by invitation only) could suggest a TEDtalk to watch and then write your comments, observations, or questions online.  Virtual groups allow for the most flexibility in scheduling, save gas for driving to a meeting, and help people who can't get out feel involved.

Please email us (under the Contact Us tab on the homepage) or post your comments below if such a group appeals to you.  Thanks!