Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Issues Today: Nuclear Power

With all the talk about Japan's recent troubles with nuclear power, it's only natural to want some perspective on this critical issue. Salem Press, one of our electronic information providers, has put together some free resources to shine a light on nuclear power, and on its troubled and promising history as a power source. You can reach these special topics for a limited time at Salem Press's Issues Today page. You can also browse through our extensive collection of electronic Research Resources that we offer all year long, 24-7, for your information needs.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Post Tribune columnist, author, to visit DeMotte Library in April

Post-Tribune metro columnist Jerry Davich is a people person. Reaching out to northwest Indiana through daily articles featuring a variety of issues, people, and situations that draw the reader in, Davich manages to tug at heartstrings through the detailed chronicling of the everyday lives of ordinary people who go through extraordinary circumstances, shining a light on the darkest corners of society through the magic of the written word.

The DeMotte Library is proud to invite all interested adults to come to the library on Monday, April 11 at 1 pm, where Jerry Davich will be visiting, discussing his life as a journalist and talking about his book, “Connections: Everyone Happens for a Reason."

From the beginning of his journalism career in 1995 to his present day career as a full time metro columnist for the Post Tribune, the same newspaper he delivered as a boy, Jerry says he has “offered a voice to the voiceless “ and that “one story led to one hundred,” as he writes about a myriad of issues, including the last days of a woman suffering from terminal cancer, visiting Ground Zero just days after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, witnessing a coroner perform an autopsy, and skydiving out of a plane with a tape recorder in hand.

His book, “Connections” explores the timely and timeless need for human interaction in this fast paced, drive through society that we live in. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with this man whose journalism keeps northwest Indiana informed because he never leaves home without his pen, notebook and curiosity.

Copies of his book will be available for purchase. Sponsored by the Friends of the DeMotte Library, registration is available online at http://www.myjcpl.org/ or by visiting or calling the DeMotte Library at 987-2221.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Looking For Great, New Information? Check the Library’s Website!

When it’s time to write the feature article for the Community Connection, I often find myself poking around on our library’s website to see if there is a service, program, or event that needs to be promoted. I look for things you may have forgotten about, things that are shiny and new, or things that have been revised or updated in some way.

This time I managed to find several really cool items I didn’t even realize we offered on the website. If I didn’t know they were there, maybe you don’t either!?

Today’s finds included:

A “Today in History” link that leads to the Library of Congress American Memory page where I can quickly discover what happened in American history today and every day!

A “Downloadable Reading Journal;” staff members at JCPL have created this attractive reading journal for you to download and use with Microsoft Excel to keep track of your reading on your computer at home or to print and fill in by hand.

A link to “Jasper County Courthouse Virtual Tour;” you can access a 360ยบ virtual tour and view interactive images of the interior rooms and exterior views of the courthouse; still photographs and historical details are also included.

A link to “What Do I Do After High School;” you can find information on how to pick a school, how to pay for school, how to prepare for college, and important dates like SAT test dates and FAFSA filing dates.

We are constantly revising and updating our website so it should come as no surprise to me to find something new there today. Visit www.myjcpl.org and see what you can discover, and while you’re there, take our website survey! This is your opportunity to let us know how we are doing as we strive to inform, enrich and empower our diverse community virtually.

Article contributed by JCPL Director, Patty Stringfellow