Between the Lines @ JCPL

Illustrated poetry and haiku of Pat Kopanda now at the DeMotte Library

2011-11-10T09:44:00.000-06:00

Art comes in many forms, and for local resident, Pat Kopanda, inspiration comes in the form of words combined with illustrations in poetry, haiku and couplets. During the months of November and December, the illustrated writings of Pat Kopanda will be on display on the art wall of the DeMotte Library.

Pat lives in DeMotte and writes poetry and stories, illustrating her own works. This mother, grandmother and great-grandmother is a member of the Prairie Writers Guild in Rensselaer, and has just recently begun illustrating her own haiku and couplets, and would like to share her works with our community.

If you have an art or photography collection that you would like to share by displaying it in the library, please contact the DeMotte Library at 987-2221.

30 Days Hath September, and 30 Reasons to Visit Your Library!

2011-08-19T09:34:00.000-05:00

September is Library CardSign Up Month, and we encourage you to visit your favorite branch of the Jasper County Public Library today.

In tough economic times, your library card gives you free access to books and computers, homework help, assistance with resumes and job searches, accurate financial information, adult education information, CDs, DVDs, and much more.

Since there are 30 days in September, we have given you 30 reasons to visit your library!

30 Reasons to Visit Your Local Branch of JCPL!!
1. Research job opportunities
2. Pick up voter registration information
3. Find out how to navigate the Internet
4. Find out the answer to a legal question or issue
5. Check out a magazine
6. Get new ideas for decorating your house.
7. Use the library’s resources to start a small business
8. Research the purchase of a new car
9. Learn about the history of your town
10. Decide which computer to buy using a consumer guide.
11. Check your stock portfolio
12. Borrow or download an audiobook for your next road trip
13. See an art exhibit
14. Volunteer!
15. Find a new recipe
16. Make photocopies
17. Take a computer class
18. Get to know your librarians, the ultimate search engine
19. Update your Facebook page and/or Twitter account
20. Scan a document
21. Trace your family tree
22. Prepare your resume
23. Teach yourself some home improvement skills
24. Learn how to use a database
25. Connect with people in the community
26. Plan a trip
27. Renew your driver’s license online
28. Attend a movie!
29. Check out the latest fashion trends
30. Check out an e-book

Transparent Language Now Available at JCPL!

2011-06-23T10:12:00.000-05:00

As part of our mission to inform, enrich, and empower our diverse community, we are always on the lookout for useful formats to add to our collection for your use.

One of the newest formats we have added is Transparent Language, an interactive language instruction program that focuses on vocabulary and on using words and phrases in an immersive, whole-language learning experience.

Transparent Language, which comes in a flash drive, combines visual and audio elements as tools for learning. Virtual flashcards provide a means for learning by seeing and hearing words. Some of the software even includes videos to enhance learning. Transparent Language is the next generation of language learning media and has become quite popular with JCPL patrons.

If your “bucket list” includes learning a language, give Transparent Language a try!

English
French
Chinese
Italian
Spanish

Spanish
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Hebrew

—all of which help them identify letters and sound combinations and everyday vocabulary.

Check it out!

One World, Many Stories, Coming To JCPL This Summer

2011-06-08T14:17:00.000-05:00

I think we can all agree that this winter has been a long time going. The calendar said “spring,” but Mother Nature said otherwise.

At the Jasper County Public Library we are fast forwarding to “summer.” It’s May, and Summer Reading will soon be underway! Children and teens will enjoy “One World, Many Stories,” while adults will pursue “Novel Destinations” without booking a flight or buying a train ticket! It doesn’t get any better than that! Summer Reading is a great way for kids, ages preschool to teen, to keep their reading and listening skills sharp during the summer months and be better prepared for the next school year. Vocabularies increase, socializing skills are sharpened, and comprehension levels increase, while kids read for fun and prizes!

What could be simpler or more rewarding? During the month of May, we will be visiting schools and information will be available in the library to explain when the program will begin and how to get registered. And it doesn’t stop with just reading! Be sure to check out our line-up of Summer Reading Program presenters too. Each week, for the duration of the program, special presenters will entertain you and encourage you to keep reading! You won’t want to miss a thing!

Adults have the opportunity to read for prizes too! We won’t leave you out of the fun! Visit our website, www.myjcpl.org for program details and if you are on Facebook, look for our page and become our fan! We will keep you posted on all the fun as we strive to inform, enrich and empower our diverse community.

Article contributed by JCPL Director, Patty Stringfellow

E-Books...Free Access Through JCPL!

2011-04-06T09:21:00.000-05:00

It seems that no matter where I go these days people are talking about e-books! It stands to reason that we are talking about e-books at the library. After all, books and reading and books and listening are a big part of what we do. However, these days conversations about e-books happen everywhere I go; at community meetings, on Facebook, at school events, around the dinner table at home. It is nearly becoming a daily occurrence. Even Andy Rooney did a segment on 60 Minutes about e-books recently! E-books are a hot topic!

According to a recent Northwest Indiana Times news article, 66% of libraries nationwide provide free access to e-books. We are one of those libraries. Since 2002, we have provided access to NetLibrary, where you can choose from thousands of downloadable digital audio books or browse instructional e-books online. You will find fiction classics and thousands of titles on a variety of topics.

At Bartleby.com you can read hundreds of free public domain e-books from the most critically acclaimed authors in history. This collection includes classic fiction, nonfiction and poetry, as well as several reference volumes including the Cambridge History of English and American Literature.

At Gutenberg.org you can download over 30,000 free e-books to read on your PC, iPhone, Kindle, Sony Reader or other portable device. We provide access to all of this e-content via our library website www.myjcpl.org. As a staff, we are constantly reading about and discussing our options for e-content so that we may provide the best possible collection that our resources will allow. Please let us know how we are doing and continue to bring us your questions! We love to talk about e-books!

In 2010 alone, e-books were used nearly 900 times, and patron interest is growing by leaps and bounds as evidenced by the numerous questions we get each day and an increase in monthly downloads.

*Article contributed by JCPL Director, Patty Stringfellow

Issues Today: Nuclear Power

2011-03-29T11:26:00.000-05:00

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.

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

2011-03-15T18:25:00.000-05:00

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.

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

2011-03-04T09:38:00.000-06:00

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 360º 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

Ready for Spring? Think Shorts

2011-02-18T09:27:00.000-06:00

Think of shorts and you might think summer, or light, or even casual and care-free. If you’re talking about short stories instead of pants, you’ve only just scratched the surface.

Wheatfield Branch Manager Diana Kooy will be holding the latest installment of her Reading Shorts program on Thursday, March 10 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. This program, aimed at adults, has been gathering a small but loyal crowd at the library as Kooy reads aloud selections from literary magazines such as The New Yorker as well as a variety of short stories from across a wide range of genres.

“They have been a variety of styles from light suspense, character studies, ones with surprise endings, or ones that made you smile,” said Kooy, who came up with the idea for the program after attending a library conference last March.

“The presenter did this same thing twice a month using thriller type stories at the downtown Seattle Public Library,” she explained. “The idea intrigued me, since we have a number of retired educators who attend programs at this library and appreciate programs like this.”

Kooy started the program not knowing how it would be received, but said the regular and attentive attendance has made the program a favorite.

“Those that come enjoy the stories and like the variety. After each one they do a little bit of discussion, which is fun. I had told them to make themselves comfortable, and one brought a pillow to rest her chin on while listening. One person brings her knitting or crocheting project while she listens.” Kooy said she also furnishes coffee and hot water for tea, hot chocolate or hot cider.

Kooy said she tries to draw on her family’s experiences with community theater when doing the program.

“My husband and my two children have been involved in high school and community theater plays in the past, but I was generally playing keyboard for musicals so I was in the pit out front, or behind. I didn’t want to be on stage myself, but having watched all the rehearsals, hearing the director’s notes and listening to my family discuss things, I’ve picked up some pointers to try to keep something like story reading interesting for the attendees. I also always liked reading out loud to my kids when they were young.”

Some of her favorite stories to date have included “The Year of Silence” by Kevin Brockmeier, “In the Eye of the Beholder” by Jeffrey Archer, and “By the Side of the Road” by Jules Feiffer. “That is actually a children’s book,” Kooy noted, “but I had heard the author read it on Public Radio and loved it.”

Kooy says she reads the stories through at least four times and once out loud before presenting them and makes notes for pronunciation. “I’m not good with accents,” she said, adding that the conference presenter had provided the reassuring tip that “unless you are a professional, it’s best to let the words of the story speak for themselves.”

“I have decided the stories are better if they aren’t more than 30 minutes long each. The audience is always attentive, but I think they like more variety, so I try to do shorter ones to keep up the pace.”

Kooy said sometimes a little extra work is involved in the process.

“It is a challenge to find stories that I think are worthy to read out loud. I keep them clean, so sometimes I have to scratch out an objectionable word and use a tamer version of it.”

The program is held in the library’s large meeting room and patrons are encouraged to come with a quiet craft and to make themselves comfortable. “I aim for no more than an hour,” she said, adding the audience has some say in the matter.

“The last time one person forgot her hearing aids and had to go back home to get them, so we started 10 minutes late. I asked before I started the last story if they wanted to keep going or stop. No one had a hot date, they said, so they wanted to keep on reading.”

Can’t Get Out for Library Materials? Let the Library Come to You!

2011-02-04T10:12:00.000-06:00

Are you confined to your home and unable to visit your local library? Let us bring the library to you!

The Jasper County Public Library will deliver library materials to and pick up library materials from homebound residents. You may request the following types of materials: books, magazines, audio books, music CDs, VHS/DVDs, and computer software.

Our Walking Books Service is available to residents of the Jasper County Public Library service district who are homebound, either on a permanent or temporary basis. Delivery may be door to door at the discretion of the library.

Books magazines, audio books, and CDs will circulate for 6 weeks, with one renewal of three weeks when necessary. Entertainment VHS and DVDs check out for one week, with renewals as needed. Patrons are not charged overdue fines.

In addition, our library website is available 24/7 and allows quick access to our online catalog, research resources, lists of new library materials, and our Community Resource Guide and much, much more. You will find us online at www.myjcpl.org.

To sign up for the Walking Book Service or for more information please contact any of our branches:

Rensselaer - 866-5881
DeMotte - 987-2221
Wheatfield - 956-3774

Community Resource Guide Offers Local Information

2011-01-05T16:54:00.000-06:00

Google co-founder Larry Page once said, “Basically, our goal is to organize the world’s information and to make it universally accessible and useful.”

That is quite a goal, and at the Jasper County Public Library, we find ourselves ‘googling’ a thing or two nearly every day of the week. However, we know that ‘googling’ isn’t the easy answer to everything, especially when it comes to community resources and knowing just who to call in our community for help with some of the challenges of everyday life. That is why we have created our Community Resource Guide.

Our Community Resource Guide is full of useful information, including who to call in an emergency, sources for local financial assistance, Township Trustees and complete contact information. In addition, you will find listings for local media, license branches, post offices and local utilities. Local organizations are included, such as the Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society, KVAIS Homeschoolers, and the American Legion, to name a few. We provide contact information for agencies that can help with health care/medical services, housing, education, employment, nutrition, legal services, senior services, social services, transportation, and child care. We include local officials such as the Mayor, City Council Members, and Town Board Presidents, and include a listing for various county offices such as the Assessor, Auditor and Treasurer. Each of our three communities, DeMotte, Wheatfield and Rensselaer, are included in this ten-page guide.

Our guide is available online. You will find it at www.myjcpl.org/guide. You may also visit any of our locations and request a print version. Our Community Resource Guide is just another way we strive to inform, enrich, and empower our diverse community

Congratulations to our holiday memories winning writers!

2010-12-30T09:50:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to the winners of the West Room Writer’s “Holiday Memories” Creative Writing Contest! The Junior Division winner of the contest is William Bonila, and the Senior Division winner is Keegan Starkey. Both William and Keegan won a $25 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble, sponsored by Town and Country Paving of DeMotte. Second place winner in the Senior Division is Alice Santell, who won a $15 gift card to Barnes and Noble, sponsored by the Jasper County 4-H Creative Writing Project.

The West Room Writers, a group of teens in grades 4-12 who love to write creatively, will meet again on Thursday, January 20 from 5:30-6:30 pm at the Demotte Library, where rules for the upcoming “Valentine Poetry Contest” will be announced, and other fun writing activities will be the order of the meeting.

Join us, and find out more about the West Room Writers or register to attend by logging onto the library’s website at www.myjcpl.org or calling the DeMotte Library at 987-2221.

JCPL Extends Thanks for Gifts and Donations

2010-12-03T14:07:00.000-06:00

At the Jasper County Public Library we strive to be a leader in our community, to provide information, recreation, cultural offerings, and lifelong learning opportunities for our citizens.

Our goal is to offer traditional library services while keeping pace with new methods of storing and transferring information and knowledge. We strive to provide the programs and services that are most needed in our community.

Indiana public libraries are funded primarily by county property taxes, but in addition to that revenue, we often receive monetary gifts from you. Those gifts are deposited into the Library Gift Fund of your choice; DeMotte, Rensselaer, or Wheatfield, and are used to purchase books, AV materials, magazine subscriptions, furniture and equipment, as well as program prizes and refreshments. Your gifts also support adult and children’s programs.

In addition, many of you support the library with your time as you actively volunteer or become a member of one of our Friends of the Library groups. We greatly appreciate your monetary gifts and the other wonderful ways you support your library. We couldn’t do all the things we do without your support!

As we wrap up 2010 we want to take this time to thank you for supporting your library with your gifts; your gifts of time and money. You make it possible for us to inform, enrich, and empower our diverse community, and we are grateful!

Pop Culture Universe...A Great Resource for Everyone!

2010-11-02T15:46:00.000-05:00

It is hard to believe that school has been in session for two and a half months! At this point in the school year, things are definitely in full swing. Perhaps you or someone you know has a history term paper or a creative writing assignment to complete before semester’s end. If so, Pop Culture may be for you!

Pop Culture Universe is an authoritative digital library of information on American and world idols and ideas that we can all relate to. New technology, movies, TV, radio, music, comics, graphic novels, sports, pastimes, fads, fashions, fast food; you can find it all in Pop Culture Universe! One-stop, informative, at-a-glance overviews of pop culture from the 1920’s to the present are available.

Teachers will appreciate the lesson plans and professional reading that will help them to use pop culture in the classroom. Hundreds of photos are included that illustrate various aspects of pop culture. Not only is it fun and irresistible, it’s also a great way to engage students in reading, writing, and research!

You don’t have to be a teacher or student to enjoy the benefits of Pop Culture Universe. History buffs, playwrights, writers, set designers, and costume designers will find a treasure trove of information that will be useful in their crafts. There truly is something for everyone!

Pop Culture Universe can be accessed via our library website, www.myjcpl.org. Click on the link for Research Resources and then scroll through your options until you find the link for Pop Culture Universe. It’s another way JCPL strives to inform, enrich, and empower our diverse community!

Check Out LS2PAC at JCPL!

2010-10-06T17:10:00.000-05:00

At JCPL, we are always reviewing and evaluating current technologies, implementing technologies that will help patrons access what they need quickly and conveniently. With that in mind, we have recently launched LS2PAC, a new interface for our online catalog that has numerous helpful features:

* Tagging
* List Making
* User Reviews
* RSS feeds to selected news media
* Predictive Results
* Faceted Results
* Genre Browsing
* A Book River, an eye catching representation of book jackets in the library’s collection

What does this mean for you? This means that you may add a small comment to an item such as your initials to remind yourself that you have read a particular book or the word movie to indicate that a book has been made into a movie; create an electronic list of books you have read or wish to read; write a user review; access selected news media which may be helpful for students needing a current event item on a related topic. In addition, the search box completes search terms as you type, and while searching for a book on a particular topic, you will be pointed to other types of library materials on the same topic.

We think you will enjoy using our new LS2PAC, which can be accessed from designated computers in the library and/or via our library homepage, www.myjcpl.org. Click on library catalog and then select LS2PAC. For those who prefer to use it, our Classic PAC is also available. If you have questions about either of our PACs or need to establish a PIN number (which is required to use some PAC features), please call or visit the library. Staff are trained and interested in helping you find the information you need as we strive to inform, enrich, and empower our diverse community.

Put Your Nose In A Book

2010-09-23T11:42:00.001-05:00

You may have a nose for news or you may want to keep your nose to the grindstone, or you may even find what you’re looking for right under your nose, but on Friday, October 1 from 10-10:15 am, the Jasper County Public Library invites everyone in our community to stop in the library and put their nose in a book to celebrate the joy of the written word as we all “Take Time Out for Reading.”

Take Time Out for Reading began in 2003, and was designed to heighten awareness for literacy across Northwest Indiana. Held in conjunction with Northwest Indiana’s “Books to Bridge the Region” reading initiative, Take Time Out for Reading is a fun way for people of all ages and from all walks of life to share their love for books and reading.

For more information, visit or call the Rensselaer Library at 866-5881, the Wheatfield Library at 956-3774 or the DeMotte Library at 987-2221. You can also check out the Northwest Indiana Literacy Coalition's site.

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Oct. 1 is also Follow a Library Day.

Use your favorite social networking place to share your love of your favorite library -- just let your friends know why you love us! -- and if you haven't added your library to your friends list or follow list, this is the day to start!

You can find JCPL on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/myjcpl. While you're there, mention what book you're reading for Take Time Out For Reading!

September is National Library Card Month

2010-08-26T10:40:00.000-05:00

September is National Library Card Month, and it is also a busy month here at the library as so many new patrons are getting their first library card ever! If you've been meaning to get a card, this is the month to do it. We're giving out free items for new sign-ups. If you haven't stopped in for a while, come see us too. Every time you use your card this month you can enter into a special drawing for prizes.

Library of Congress and Public Libraries

In 1814 (during the War of 1812) the British army burned down the U.S. Capitol and the first Library of Congress, about 3,000 volumes.

Thomas Jefferson had the largest private collection of books in the United States and Congress asked to buy his books as replacement. Jefferson's private library was three times larger than the one that was lost, about 9-10,000 volumes, and included many books on topics not related to law or government. Because of his collection, the Library of Congress changed to become a library of the people, not just the government. He also promoted the idea that libraries should be about all the subjects people might need to become more educated about their lives and the world.

What you can do at a library today is limited only by your imagination: Come learn a new craft or a new language, discover your family history, meet people, journey to new or impossible places, or more...

Check out 52 ways you can use your library card (one for each week of the year) and stop in to give them a try!

Meet George Cuddy

2010-07-09T15:16:00.000-05:00

On Saturday afternoon around 2 p.m., the Rensselaer Library will be hosting George Cuddy, who is spending his summer biking solo across the country from Boston, Mass. to Portland, Ore.

Cuddy is using the trek to build support and raise funds for a rowing program in his home community of Brighton, Mass. to benefit physically and mentally challenged athletes.

You can learn about the rowing program through a short online video. You can also follow Cuddy's trip online, via his Cross Country trip blog.

Cuddy contacted the library several weeks ago to see whether we would be interested in having him come talk about the program and about cross country cycling.

We hope if you are interested in either topic, you can find some time to duck out of the heat and stop by.

Note: He is leaving from Denver, Ind. and coming 65 miles before stopping in Rensselaer. That's definitely a day's work.

General Milroy Open House July 2

2010-06-28T09:11:00.001-05:00

July 2010 commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Milroy Statue erected in Milroy Park by the Jasper County Historical Society. The Civil War military career of General Milroy provided notoriety for Jasper County, and the Rensselaer Library houses a collection of items dating back to Milroy’s military career and life in the library’s Genealogy Room.

In keeping with the centennial anniversary of Milroy’s memorable contributions to our country, the Rensselaer Library is inviting the public to attend an Open House in his honor, held on Friday, July 2 from 1-3 pm in the library’s Genealogy Room, where selected items will be available for viewing and staff will be available to answer questions about Milroy, his life, and his military career.

Refreshments will be served. No registration is required, and all ages are welcome to attend. This Open House is held in conjunction with the Historical Society’s centennial celebration of the Milroy Statue on July 4 in Milroy Park. For more information, visit or call the Rensselaer Library at 866-5881.

To learn more about General Milroy online, visit the library's official Robert H. Milroy Collection online, where you can view pictures and read his wartime correspondence.

Splashes of color - DeMotte Library Community Garden

2010-06-23T14:24:00.000-05:00

Three years ago, the DeMotte Library began growing a Community Garden, filling it with perennials that added color to the library’s landscape. After 3 years, it was time to extend and thin out the garden, and with the help of the Purdue Master Gardeners from the Jasper County Extension Office, the library’s Community Garden has been expanded outward and the design thinned out and arranged so that the beauty of each plant in the garden stands out in colorful array.

The DeMotte Library thanks each and every member of the Purdue Master Gardeners for their hard work and dedication to this project, and invites everyone in our community to view the finished project, which beautifies the library from the outside, but may be seen from within the library as well.

We’d like to once again thank each and every person who donated their time and energy to this project and invite flower lovers from our community to enjoy the splash of color created by our Community Garden.

Legal forms at the library

2010-06-14T18:16:00.000-05:00

Did you know the State of Indiana has provided several easy-to-use forms for common legal needs including divorce, child support, small claims and appeals? These forms, available in the library's Research Resources collection, start with a web page that asks you a few basic questions and fills in the actual legal form based on your answers. You can then print this from home or at the library.

The Indiana Self-Service Legal Center, part of the Indiana Judiciary, is not intended to replace an attorney or legal advice, and the library strongly recommends patrons read all the information on the website carefully.

The Research Resources collection can be found two ways: the link on the front page of the library's website at http://www.myjcpl.org/ and as a folder on the desktop of any public Internet computer at the library, as well as on the library catalog computers.

If you're looking for other legal forms, from lease and rental agreements to living wills and more, be sure to look at our broader Legal Forms database, also available in our Research Resources collection.

Summer Reading

2010-05-25T19:44:00.000-05:00

The heat wave this week is the surest sign that summer is finally here (though the anxious faces on the kids finishing their final weeks of school was another dead giveaway).

Summer reading signups are underway now for kids and teens at the Jasper County Public Library. Adult programs will be held this summer also.

Children can enjoy programs including a bubbleologist, a magician, the Silly Safaris crew and more. Teens will have gaming parties and food events. Adults have their own selection of programs including a local history presentation on the Grand Kankakee Marsh.

And though we know the reading itself is reward enough, there will be prizes to keep you motivated to keep turning those pages all summer long.

So this summer, "Make a Splash at Your Library," “Water Your Mind: Read,” and don’t miss the chance to “take a mental vacation” this summer by escaping into a good book! For more information, visit our summer reading page on our website at http://www.myjcpl.org/ or call your library at 987-2221 (DeMotte) 866-5881 (Rensselaer) or 956-3774 (Wheatfield).

Yard Sales and Scavenger Hunts

2010-04-30T14:45:00.000-05:00

May 1 is the town wide yard sale in Rensselaer, and most of the community will be out hitting the streets in search of a good deal.

Of course we know one of the best deals in the community are the free books, movies and services provided by the library, but you can rest assured we'll still be here when you're done shopping, or when you're ready for a break.

Tomorrow, we expect, will also introduce a new crowd to the library. Just for the fun of it, a group of local businesses have arranged a scavenger hunt to go on during the day. Proceeds will benefit local organizations including the Jasper County Animal Shelter and the Crisis Center.

Without giving anything away, we can say we are a stop on the scavenger hunt trail, and we hope to see you tomorrow. For more information about the hunt, look for signs in participating businesses, or check out the website at http://www.huntrensselaer.com/.

Good luck to all the teams hunting tomorrow, and for those doing their own special deal hunting.

Happy April Fools Day

2010-04-01T17:25:00.000-05:00

Did you know penguins could fly? They can with the magic of the British Broadcasting Corporation and an expert team of skilled video technicians. If you visit the JCPL Kids Zone in April, you can find the video and read more about April Fools Day.

Did you know the BBC also once aired a video about the endangered Swiss spaghetti harvest, back in 1957? You can also see this interesting video clip via YouTube.

Using television (and other means) to pull practical jokes on friends and the public at large is a tradition that may go back to our primal roots, when early cultures praised the actions of the clever human tricksters that braved the gods and brought us stories (Ananse - Africa), or fire (Prometheus - Greece), or light (Raven - Native American).

Most people know of someone who has been "gotten" by an April Fools Day prank, but those done in good humor and with a good heart are bound to provoke a laugh no matter how long ago they were pulled, and how ludicrous they might seem today.

For an interesting roundup of April Fools Day pranks, check out the Museum of Hoaxes, which has created a user-friendly list of the Top 100 April Fools Day Jokes.

May your spirits of jest always be in good cheer!

Census 2010

2010-02-08T16:23:00.000-06:00

It is time again for the U.S. Census, the count of population the country undertakes every 10 years as required by the Constitution, and though this year's form promises to be one of the shortest in history, there will still be plenty of questions about what it is, who must take part, and why.

The what is, simply, the Census counts people. Why? Census information affects the numbers of seats your state occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives, but more than that, the information the census collects helps to determine how more than $400 billion dollars of federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and services like:

Hospitals
Job training centers
Schools
Senior centers
Bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects
Emergency service

And the who is everyone must take part so the country can have as accurate a count as possible. In March, forms will come to every home in the United States. If the forms are not returned, employees of the Census Bureau known as census takers will follow up with each address.

Thanks to the Internet, there are plenty of sites online to help answer questions about the process. You can even see an advance copy of the form.

You can begin your search here: http://2010.census.gov/ or in Spanish at http://2010.census.gov/espanol/. For common questions about how your information will and will not be used, check out the Census's Common Privacy Questions or check out some common questions asked about the Census itself at The Whole Story.

For those interested in how the Census is going around the country, you can track the progress this year through video, audio and photo blogs, and get an interesting snapshot of American in the process, at the Census's Take Part page.

Whether you are a government planner trying to get money to improve roads or schools or just someone looking for a long-lost ancestor, Census records play an important part in all our lives. For some interesting information gathered from the last census in 2000, check out the main Census site at http://www.census.gov/. Or for something a little closer to home, check out the special list of Census facts gathered about Indianapolis and New Orleans for the Super Bowl XLIV crowd.

Library Lovers Month

2010-02-02T20:04:00.000-06:00

February has always been the month for lovers. From sweet nothings of the pen to sweet nothings of the chocolate variety, the month that gave us the Valentine has been the month of romance and amour.

Now, thanks to the Friends and Foundations of California Libraries, it is also the month for those who love their libraries, and frankly, we couldn't be more flattered.

Libraries are non-profit organizations that depend on the support of individuals, corporations, and foundations to help ensure that libraries remain free to the millions of people who visit in person or via the web each year. While government funding supports the basic operations of many of our nation's libraries, those funds don't provide for the many small niceties that make library service such a beloved part of our communities.

From their website "How to Love Your Library," we offer just a few suggestions for ways you can show your support for your favorite public library (wherever it may be):

Nominate your library as your community, school or corporate organization's project for the year.
Buy your library a subscription to a popular magazine.
Donate a book...or a whole shelf of books.
Remember your library in your estate planning.
Join your library's friends group and come to a meeting or two.
Share your passion by offering to present an adult program or fill a display case.

Whatever you give your love to this year, we are glad that many people out there are thinking of libraries. In turn, you can know we are also thinking about you.

Healthy and Helpful

2010-01-26T19:45:00.000-06:00

If you've held on this far through the winter without a sniffle, you might think it's all behind you, but according to the Centers for Disease Control, February has been the highest month for flu activity for the past several years!

Now might be time to look at some JCPL resources and recommended links for staying healthy. Through our digital collection of databases, you can check out Facts on File's Health Reference Center. All you need to access these sites at home is your JCPL card and a four digit PIN number. If you don't have a number, call your local library today and we can set one up for you over the phone.

In February you can also stop in at the library and get free and low-cost health screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol and vision. There are different programs offered at each location. Check out our monthly events calendar for more information.

The National Institutes of Health has recently announced NIH Senior Health, a site aimed at older Americans that features larger print options, a print contrast control for easier reading, and each page comes with the option to have the text on the screen read to you.

You can also check out a wide variety of health topics at the NIH's Medline Plus site all year long.

***

On an unrelated but timely note, the state of Indiana also sends us this helpful link this week to the Better Business Bureau's charity check website. Click on the special button for tips and information about those charities registered and working in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. Now you can check before you give.

That time of year again

2010-01-19T19:53:00.000-06:00

Once again the Rensselaer Library will be offering AARP-sponsored Tax Assistance appointments free to low and middle income taxpayers,with special attention to those 60 and older.

You can now call the library to schedule an appointment. The appointments will only be scheduled on Thursday, Friday and Saturday: each of those days from 9:15am to noon, Thursday and Friday also from 1-5 p.m. All appointments are one hour, except the 9:15am appointments, which are 45 minutes.

Call now, as appointment slots fill up quickly. Appointments will begin on Saturday January 30 and will run through Thursday April 15.

You can also check at your local library to see what tax forms are available. As with previous years we receive only a limited number and range of forms. If we don't have what you need, we should be able to get it for you online at the cost of 10 cents per page.

Happy filing!

New Year, Lots to Do

2010-01-12T19:51:00.000-06:00

If you're lucky, or careful, by now you have probably stopped putting '09 on your correspondence and started adding in the required '10. If you're more like me, you have learned by now you can squeeze that 1 in before the zero and usually it doesn't look too bad.

Speaking of squeezing things in, there are a few more note-worthy events going on this month at the library.

The Prairie Writers Guild will be finishing up their tour of the Jasper County Public Library system this month with a stop in Rensselaer on Monday, Jan 18 at 6:30 p.m. Members were at DeMotte in November and Wheatfield in December, reading from the 2009 edition of From the Edge of the Prairie.

This book, which has been in publication since 2004, has become a place to showcase some of the best writing of the community. This year in addition to guild regulars, the works of several students are featured in its pages, as well as the poetry of Norbert Krapf, the Indiana Poet Laureate in 2008.

Books will be available for purchase, and you can get yours signed by the authors.

***

For those with an artistic bent, the DeMotte Library this month is offering an opportunity for patrons to explore the world of oil painting with an all-day (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) class on January 23. The class, which costs $55 for materials, is geared at those of all skill levels. Even if you've never picked up a brush before, you will leave at the end of the day with a finished project.

***

DeMotte is also hosting a reading program all month long. See how much your family can read and compete against other families for prizes. For more information, or to get a log book, stop in at the library and see how much time you can rack up with the written word.

***

For the younger patrons, there are programs at each location. Teens can check out DeMotte's West Room Writers; younger siblings can check out the Library Kids and Third Thursday program at Rensselaer; and Wheatfield Library is offering some unique storytimes for tots ages 3-5 next week themed around pirates and Strawberry Shortcake.

***
All of these stories can be found at our website myjcpl.org.

Whatever you decide to do with all the time in the month or the year that you have left, think on the recent buzz in the library world from New Bedford, Mass., where a patron returned a book that was 99 years overdue. The full story can be read here, but the short fact is, it is never too late to do something worth doing.

Family Holiday Project

2009-11-25T09:08:00.001-06:00

Are you looking for something to fill those hours tomorrow between rounds at the food table? Or maybe you're planning to skip the Black Friday rush and just stay home, but you're not sure what to do instead of shopping.

Here's an idea that's guaranteed to build a little holiday spirit for you and your loved ones:

The DeMotte Library's Gingerbread House Contest is just around the corner and the library is inviting anyone interested to create a gingerbread house and enter it for judging. The library will be accepting donated houses anytime between December 3-5. The houses will go on display December 7-12, during which time patrons will be able to vote for their favorites by placing money into the associated jars. An auction of the houses will follow on the 14th.

Check out our contest page to see more information, as well as some JCPL books about gingerbread decorating. Put on your most creative hats and have fun. Whatever you come up with, we hope you find a bit of peace on earth and goodwill towards mankind in the process.

Contest entries showcase local writing talent

2009-11-19T14:26:00.000-06:00

For those of you who are Stephenie Meyer fans, no doubt Friday's debut of the New Moon movie, the second in her popular Twilight series, has been on your calendar for some time -- probably dotted with hearts or slogans to designate the side you have taken in the thrilling debate started in this book: Team Edward, or Team Jacob.

Several of you showed your affection for the series earlier this fall, as well as considerable writing talent, to lend your thoughts as to what the next installment of the series might look like. These entrie s can be found on our website, along with the original contest information, in case you know of a group (school, homeschool, etc.) which might want to try their own version.

It was a difficult choice, but Kimi Peterson's entry was chosen by JCPL staff as the winner of the contest. She won free tickets to the opening night of New Moon at Rensselaer's Fountain Stone Theaters and a copy of the New Moon soundtrack. Congratulations to her and to all those who entered. We're proud to share this literary phenomenon with you as time goes on.

Go Team (insert your favorite name here)!

Halloween Happenings at JCPL

2009-10-21T13:56:00.000-05:00

It's time for the fall holidays to begin and at JCPL we have several events coming up sure to get you in the mood for a haunting good time.

On Saturday, Oct. 24, stop in at the Rensselaer Library from 2-3 pm for the Riley Read. A long-time Rensselaer tradition that the Library has been pleased to continue, the Riley Read celebrates the poetry of Hoosier native James Whitcomb Riley. All ages are welcome to attend as veteran storyteller Jane Lord will usher back to a time of Gobble-uns and orphants, strawberries melting on the vine and frost on the punkin. This family event is open to all ages. Registration is requested.

If spooky tales are more to your fancy, consider the DeMotte Library's traditional Ghost Stories at the Fairchild House on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 6-8pm. Registration required. Karen Slager from the Northwest Indiana Storyteller’s Guild will share stories of ghostly encounters on the lawn of the neighboring Fairchild House. Scarier stories will be told later in the program. Participants are encouraged to bring family-friendly ghost tales of their own to share.

The Wheatfield Library will also touch on the spooky side of things with November's book discussion, The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. Margaret Lea is going to write the life story of Vida Winter and becomes mesmerized by her story telling. Things come to light and they fight the ghosts that have haunted both of them their whole lives. Join us Nov 10 at 6:30 pm as we discuss this tale. In celebration of the nine year anniversary of the Wheatifield Library’s Book Club, a carry in meal will precede the discussion, and everyone in attendance is welcome to bring their favorite dish or dessert along…

Check your local library for upcoming childrens events for the holidays, and don't be surprised if you stop in on Oct. 30 or 31 and see your favorite librarians dressed up in their own costumes! Trick-or-treat!

Wishing you a safe holiday season. -- JCPL

Family Matters. Read about it at JCPL this month.

2009-10-06T16:03:00.000-05:00

This month the Jasper County Public Library will be participating for the second year in “Books to Bridge the Region,” a regional program to encourage residents of all ages to read selected titles and share their reading experiences with one another.

Other participating counties include Lake, LaPorte, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, and Starke.

“Family Matters” is this year’s theme and is carried out in three book selections for adults, teens and children.

Adults are invited to read The Ride of Our Lives by Mike Leonard, children and teens are invited to read The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis and the chosen title for preschoolers and young children is A Day With Wilbur Robinson by William Joyce.

The books chosen for this program focus on the common theme of the importance of family, and each library will hold special programs related to the selected titles. Special events and programs include book discussions at each branch of JCPL, as well as author visits and other related programs.

For more information about “Books to Bridge the Region,” including a list of the special programs we have going on this month, check out our Community Reads page.

New System / New Look

2009-09-30T14:50:00.000-05:00

If you have been to the library catalog this week, you might have noticed a new look and some features we hope will prove to make the system easier to use.

Below is a screen shot of a search in the new catalog.(Click image to enlarge.) A search for the popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians series yields 16 separate items in the library system, some with multiple copies. Notice that on the upper right corner of each item now is a picture that lets you know what type of material you are looking at, whether it be a book or a book on cd. There are also icons for films and software for other titles.

At the top of the screen you can choose the familiar options of searching by title, author, series, subject and more. The choice to set limits, however, is a little more user-friendly than it used to be, and comes with a little help button (question mark) in the upper right corner that explains all about how set limits can help your searching.

Putting items on hold now should also be just as easy as before. On the left side of each item there is an image that looks like a stick pin. (Click image to enlarge.) Click the box and press the stick pin and you get a window that gives you a chance to put in your card number and four digit pin. You have now been added to the queue for that item. Don't forget to request which branch you want the item sent to. The option should be very useful for our patrons who like to pick up items at work on their way home.

We hope you like the new look and the new features this upgrade brings to the catalog. If you have any questions about it, or about any other library features, please stop in at your local library and ask. We're happy to help.

How would you tell the Twilight story?

2009-09-18T16:38:00.003-05:00

If you have been a fan of the Twilight series, you probably had your own ideas of what might happen next for the Cullen family and their friends and foes.

Now is your chance to put your creative skills to the test and try for a chance at free movie tickets and a copy of the soundtrack for the New Moon movie.

The contest details can be found at the JCPL website.

For those adults who may wonder what this contest will do for their kids or students, we encourage you to check out the page for Teachers/Librarians. Not only will this contest tap into some creative writing juices, but it will give writers the opportunity to learn some research skills, as well as explore geography, mythology and art.

This project could be incorporated in a wide variety of subjects and lessons—what better way to get students enthused than to base a lesson around their favorite books?!

Lincoln History Exhibit includes a little bit of JCPL

2009-08-20T10:02:00.005-05:00

This month the Frankfort Community Public Library in central Indiana is hosting a national touring exhibit of the history of President Abraham Lincoln. Included among the many items of Civil War memorabilia and history are several contributions from the Robert H. Milroy collection, housed at the Rensselaer Public Library.

Milroy, a Rensselaer resident, served as a Union General under Lincoln. His family bequeathed several of his war-time letters and documents to the library, including items from Lincoln. Other JCPL contributions to the display include Milroy's military uniform and a fife, as well as a hand-drawn "Valentine" card to Milroy from a southern rebel sympathizer.

Abraham Lincoln: A Man of His Time, a Man for All Times is from the Gilder Lehrman Institute for American History. The exhibition will be in the Anna & Harlan Hubbard Gallery at the Frankfort Community Public Library through August 28.

Closing for new carpet

2009-08-14T10:31:00.004-05:00

The Rensselaer Library will be closed on Monday, August 17 and Tuesday, August 18 for carpet re-installation due to defective carpet.

The library’s book and video drops will be open for the return of materials. Late fees will not be assessed for items due on the days that the library is closed.

The library is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, August 19. For more information, visit or call the Rensselaer Library, 866-5881.

2009 Summer Reading program a huge success at our libraries

2009-08-07T17:02:00.001-05:00

Creativity was found in every person who participated in the Jasper County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. The library hosted six weeks of programs for children and teens this summer. Some of the children’s programs included a bunny and her magician, a visit from Amazon John and his wild friends, the musical treat of Yurtfolk, and talking puppets at the ventriloquism show. Teens were treated to cooking lessons, crafts, stinky selections from the Food Fear Factor Program, Wii competitions, Guitar Hero, a movie on the library lawn and more.

This year’s theme for children was “Be Creative@ Your Library” and “Express Yourself @ Your Library” for teens. In all, more than 615 children and 174 teens took part in our programs this year, which would not be possible without the support of our local businesses.

JCPL would like to extend a huge thank you to those who donated cash and coupons, including the Friends of the DeMotte Library, AFC International, the Gary Railcats, Hoosier Metals, Indiana Beach, KFC, Kingma Greenhouses, Leestma Medical Clinic, Subway, Movie Madness, Pizza Hut, Wal-Mart, Save-A-Lot, The Strike Zone, Long’s Gifts, Rico’s, Friends of the Rensselaer Library, Rensselaer Parks Department, Alliance Bank, Jordan’s, Blockbuster, Pizza King, A New Beginning, Con-Agra, Friends of the Wheatfield Library, First Trust Credit Union, Novotny Insurance, Tysen’s Grocery, Bierma Hardware, Signature Homes, Boersma Funeral Home, Family Express Corporation, Schnick’s Good Eats, Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate, and Build a Bear, and thanks to our grant received from Jasper County REMC. These donors made this year’s Summer Reading Programs for both young children and teens a great success.

Another force behind our programs is our Summer Reading volunteers. JCPL would like to extend a huge thanks to Tatiana Adams, Nick Arnold, Ryan Beere, Tara Beere, Emmy Cobb, Hannah Dobson, Toni Jackson, Madi Klauer, Cari Knip, Megan Kralik, Malachi Kristoff, Kate Lott, Cassie Mestrovich, Amber Scesney, Genna Truelock, Erin Uhrhammer, Courtney Way, Felicity Way, Stephany Way, Laura-Jane Capehart, Rebecca Capehart, Cody Carter, Megan Green, Skyler Kemp, Jessy Kuiper, Sadie Rodriguez, Jose Saavedra, Samantha Salyer, Virginia Salyer, Johanna Sampson, Jessica Ybarra, Nina Maze, Melanie Loslo, Jacob Vujko, Samantha Vigliotti, Addie Cobb, Nicole Jaki, Tyler Pritt, Jordan Wilcox, Brooklyn Starr and Emily Myers for volunteering their time, energy and dedication throughout the program.

The support of each above mentioned business and individual made it possible for our area youth to enjoy a summer of reading and fun!

Five things we learned from books this month

2009-07-31T09:30:00.002-05:00

Everyone is always surprised when they find out working in a library is not about reading books all day. In fact, because we do love books, most of us usually regret not having more time to read in our busy lives. So when we get a few minutes to sit down and relax with the written word, it's time to celebrate!

Here is a roundup of some things JCPL staff learned from books this month:

“I learned that a pigeon is in the dove family.” National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds
PW @ R

“There are lots of things to do and places to go after you think everything is closed.” Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
EB @ D

“The drunkest city in the United States is Denver, Colorado. In fact, this book is full of crazy facts.” Don’t Go There: the Travel Detective’s Essential Guide to the Must Miss Places of the World by Peter Greenberg
JJ @ R

“Toward the end of Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, Greg said that he is convinced that Osama Bin Laden is no longer living. He has seen no evidence while he has been in Pakistan and Afghanistan, to make him think that Bin Laden is still alive. This was from the 2007 edition of the book. I found that to be very interesting.”
DK @ W

“There has been a serial killer on the loose in Juarez, Mexico for 17 years.” Daughters of Juarez by Theresa Rodriguez
ED @ R

DeMotte Library to close For Town And Country Day

2009-07-25T14:36:00.002-05:00

The DeMotte Library will be closed on Saturday, August 8 for the Town and Country Day festival in DeMotte.

The library’s lobby and restrooms will be open to the public from 8-4 that day. For more information, visit or call the DeMotte Library at 987-2221.

Movies at the Library

2009-07-23T10:24:00.003-05:00

Did you know the Library doesn't just provide movies on DVD and VHS for you to check out, but that we also show movies throughout the year?

Wheatfield and DeMotte Library both offer monthly movie programs during the day aimed at seniors and adults.

Rensselaer offers an evening movie program on the second Tuesday of the month with titles that appeal to a variety of ages.

Other movies are offered from time to time during reading programs or just as special treats. Rensselaer Library also shows movies on the lawn, where friends and family can spread a blanket or bring chairs and have an old-time outdoor experience.

Stop in at your library and ask about upcoming titles, or check out what's going on at www.myjcpl.org/events

North End Yearbooks Wanted!

2009-07-15T16:28:00.007-05:00

The Jasper County Public Library houses local high school yearbooks in our collection for public reference. Can you help us complete our collection?

The DeMotte Library is seeking yearbook donations of the Kankakee Valley High School years 1973, 1976, 1977, 1986, 1993, 1996, 1998 and 1999, as well as any other yearbook donations.

The Wheatfield Library is seeking Kankakee Valley High School yearbooks 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1992, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, Keen Keener High School yearbooks prior to 1941, and the years 1942 and 1952, as well as Wheatfield High School yearbooks prior to 1951 and any yearbooks from Tefft High School with the exception of the years 1962 and 1964.

For more information, please contact the DeMotte Library, 987-2221, or the Wheatfield Library, 956-3774.

Summer Reading still going strong

2009-07-01T16:58:00.003-05:00

There have been some great programs this year for the kids and teens summer reading at the libraries. You can see some of the photos from these events online at our Flickr site. You can also see the video we took today of the RCHS Color Guard performing at the Rensselaer Library.

Summer reading is more than a relaxing pastime here at the library. We encourage you to sign up today and get involved in our full-contact sport of reading!

JCPL on Facebook

2009-06-17T16:13:00.006-05:00

Are you a fan of Facebook? If so, then be sure to check out the Jasper County Public Library's Facebook page. This is the latest step the library is taking to meet our users where they hang out online and to use the services you use to let you know about our upcoming events and services.

To find the Library’s Facebook page, just login to Facebook and type “Jasper County Public Library” in the search box. You can become a fan, leave a comment, or just check out library information posted just for you. We’ll see you there!

For more information, visit or call the Rensselaer Library, 866-5881, the DeMotte Library, 987-2221, or the Wheatfield Library, 956-3774.

To look at some of the other places you can find JCPL online, check out the handy list to the right on this blog titled "JCPL Elsewhere Online."

Digital TV - this time they mean it

2009-06-12T14:27:00.003-05:00

As of today, the government says those converter boxes you were asked to buy last year will be absolutely necessary for households that still get television reception through an antenna.

According to the usa.gov site about Digital Television (DTV), coupons are still available for eligible households.

It typically takes nine business days to process and mail the coupons, and they will expire within 90 days of the date they are mailed. You should also call ahead to confirm availability of coupon-eligible converter boxes on the day you plan to shop.

If you or other family members still have questions, you can also call 1-888-CALL-FCC (voice) or 1-888-TELL-FCC (TTY).

A new way to search the web

2009-05-18T09:32:00.003-05:00

There has been a lot of buzz among those who use the Internet for research about a new search portal debuting this week.

Wolfram Alpha is not a search engine, as it does not look up answers to questions from a database or try to match key words to words used on web pages.

Instead it mathematically computes answers and creates relevant visualizations on the fly from a knowledge base of structured data. The farther you get from hard sciences, the less Wolfram Alpha will be able to help. But for those looking for the length of an American football field, fast measurement conversions, the weather history of Chicago, stock comparisons, the chemistry of gold, the mathematical properties of pi, or even the velocity of an unladen swallow (for fans of Monty Python), this can be a very helpful place to stop.

To get some ideas of just what this engine can do for you, check out this screencast video made by creator Stephen Wolfram. It might give you some time and work saving ideas.

Some fun queries: meaning of life ; 7PM CST ; hello ; football field divided by tyrannosaurus rex length

Try it out!

Spring has finally Sprung at JCPL

2009-05-04T10:01:00.007-05:00

If you were able to get out this weekend, you might have noticed the season actually changing before your eyes! On Saturday, the leaves on the trees were kind of timid and hesitant, but by Sunday they had opened up and let down their shade with all the glory they know how to do.

It is also spring at JCPL, and we are celebrating with programs such as Garden Recycling, May 7 at the DeMotte Library and Herb Gardening, May 18 at the Rensselaer Library.

Another sign that Spring is finally upon us can be found at JCPL this month with the beginning preparations for Summer Reading. Check at your local library for sign up and program information. The theme this year for adults and children is Be Creative and teens can Express Yourself @ Your Library.

In May we will also be celebrating Children's Book Week with a week-long series of programs and events at all three libraries.

Here's hoping you a wonderful month!

A legacy worth preserving

2009-04-14T19:30:00.007-05:00

Before today you might never have heard of Judith Krug, but it is very likely you have heard of her legacy. Krug, who died of cancer April 11 at the age of 69, was head of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom and the founder of Banned Books Week.

BBW has been celebrated annually by libraries since 1982 as a way to call attention to the continuing international threat of censorship and its effect on the intellectual freedoms of all people.

To quote from the ALA's website, books usually are challenged with the best intentions—to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information. However, as John Stuart Mill wrote in On Liberty: “... the peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race... If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error.”

Thanks to the tireless efforts of people like Krug, Americans have continued to have access to a diversity of thought and ideas that most of us take for granted, including works such as Lord of The Rings, To Kill a Mockingbird, the Harry Potter series and more.

Though there are many willing to take up the mantle she shouldered, it is often the first name, the first voice, that gives guidance for so many to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Freedom to Read Foundation, 50 East Huron St., Chicago IL 60611.

Read more - ALA: Judith Krug, librarian, tireless advocate for First Amendment rights, dies

School Library Journal: Judith Krug, Defender of Intellectual Freedom, Dies at 69 (Photo)

Literacy at Your Library

2009-03-30T10:38:00.008-05:00

Did you know the Jasper County Public Library has a Literacy Committee?

Did you know that as part of our mission to "Inform, Enrich and Empower" our diverse community, the library purchases items each year to promote literacy for all ages, from pre-readers to life-long learners?

Some of our recent and annual purchases have included:

English as a Second Language materials
Spanish language materials
Hooked on Phonics
Leap Pad and Leapster units and books
Study guides for GED, Praxis and more
Career Planning and Development Guides
High-Interest Low-Skill (Hi-Low) books for developing reading skills in teens and adults
Great Courses (college-level courses on DVD and CD)

We also recently added a bi-lingual computer at DeMotte devoted to educational games and concepts for preschool through later elementary school learners. This project was supported by the Institute of Museums and library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Indiana State Library.

Each year we invite teachers, home school parents, adult literacy workers and other groups to communicate their needs to us. If there are items or programs that you feel could benefit your particular educational needs, we are open to suggestions from the community.

We hope you enjoy the efforts we make to help all the learners of the JCPL community.

Flooding information

2009-03-11T21:03:00.004-05:00

It's spring time again in Jasper County and in recent years that's come to mean flood time.

Whether you are simply looking for safe ways to get to work or worried about your home and property, there are some links online that can help you with your water-related plans.

To keep an eye on the weather, or the water, the U.S. Geological Survey keeps a flood site for each state, including the Indiana Flood Watch page. You will find real-time flood information and stream conditions. You can also check out the National Weather Service forecast for Northern Indiana, as well as a great flood preparedness brochure with safety tips and instructions on how to pack an emergcency kit and have a family safety plan.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a website about floods with sections about preparing for a flood, dealing with the aftermath, and more importantly, what to do during a flood.

Some simple tips to keep in mind, from their site:

If a flood is likely in your area, you should: Listen to the radio or television for information.

If you plan to leave your home, you should secure it. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture. Move essential items to and upper floor. Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.

If you have to leave your home, remember these evacuation tips: Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you. Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away.

When driving in flood conditions: Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling. A foot of water will float many vehicles. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUV’s) and pick-ups.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has another good site to check after a flood. On their site you can find specific information to deal with septic systems and drinking wells.

The Weather Whiz Kids site has a nice page of flood terms and lingo, plus family weather experiments that show the power of rain and storms.

Finally, the National Flood Insurance Program and Department of Homeland Security have a website to help you file your flood insurance claim and work through the aftermath of a flood.

Hopefully none of these sites will be needed by you or anyone you know, but it's good to know they are out there, just in case.

Food Safety on the web

2009-01-23T14:31:00.005-06:00

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recalled peanut butter and products containing peanut butter from several companies within the last two weeks because of concerns over Salmonella outbreaks. Some of the recalls include products made by Wal-Mart, Meijer, Trader Joe’s, and more.

You can search for Peanut Butter Product Recalls at their website to make sure your kitchen doesn't contain the suspected products. The list is updated almost daily. You can also check for other product-related health alerts.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the case count is now 488 in 43 states with the latest reported illness beginning on January 8, 2009. You can access a map of the outbreak via the CDC’s Investigation Update. See also the CDC and FDA recommendations for consumers. The American Peanut Council provides a list of peanut butter brands NOT affected by the FDA recall. The Indiana State Health Department also keeps a list of Recalls and Advisories. More information on Salmonella can be found at the USDA Food Safety & Inspection website.

Email hoax spotting 101

2009-01-22T15:59:00.008-06:00

Every now and then some caring person in my email network, trying only to save her friends from certain doom, spreads around an email hoax.

A hoax is anything designed to trick someone into believing or accepting as genuine something false.

A lot of these are rather clever, but I like to think I have a pretty good success rate at sniffing them out, so I thought I would share my tips and tricks at hoax spotting:

1. Does the email overly excite or threaten you in some way?
After reading the email do you get a little tingling feeling in the pit of your stomach, or feel the hairs rise on your arms or the back of your neck? These are primal responses to fear. Even in the age of Internet, they serve you well.

The email could be threatening you with annoying calls from telemarketers on your beloved cell phone (with the additional threat that you may have to pay for these unwanted calls) or with the loss of value of your cash cards for store merchandise at the Christmas season, but these threats are just that: promises of potential harm to you or things you value. Hoaxers and spammers have also gotten smart, using devices such as politics and primal urges to get you to click on their unexpected emails.

2. Does the email prompt you to immediate action?
Are there clear consequences for your failure to act at once? Is there a deadline? Is there a clearly defined path of easy action for you to take in your fearful or excited mood?

3. Does it seem in any way incredulous?
Do you read the email and think to yourself, Why haven't I heard of this before? How could this have been a big secret? How could this have happened? This isn't fair!

4. Are you wondering how did I get this email?
Most email has an easily defined purpose:
Friends or co-workers communicating directly with you.
Jokes and inspirational notes from friends to make you smile, laugh or ponder.
Information or offers from businesses you know for services you signed up for.
Spam -- email you did not ask for about services you did not ask for from people you don't know

Hoaxes blur the borders between these classes. They are usually email you did not ask for about services you did not ask for from people you know.

If your email meets any of those criteria, it should be enough to send you to the Internet to search.

Usually just doing a random search for the subject of your email (google or your favorite search engine) will get you a recent post or two on the subject. The Internet is pretty small these days. If you've heard about your email, chances are pretty good someone else has too.

If that hasn't given you enough information to decide, you can always try the Urban Legends Reference Pages at snopes.com. The folks there have been testing and debunking Internet myths since 1995, so they have a lot of records to compare to. It's amazing how often the same hoaxes come around dressed in different clothes.

Sometimes the email is not a hoax at all, but has been sent to you so you will open it, read something, and click on a link (or download a video player) to see more, allowing the hidden programs at the other end of the link to infect your computer.

Sometimes the email is not even a hoax. There was one last summer about a ship being launched made of scrap steel from the World Trade Center. It met the first of the criteria, overly exciting, and the third, why didn't I hear about this before? but not the other two. Enough to prompt a dive for snopes, and to a page which said, "Rumor... True."

So not all news is bad news, but it never hurts to be critical, or optimistically skeptical, as I call it.

Nine things you are looking forward to in 2009

2008-12-29T11:40:00.004-06:00

It's the end of another year, and while it is tempting for many of us to close the door quickly on this particular one and not look back, it might be better to think of the opportunities that always lie ahead.

I'll challenge each of you to come up with nine things you are looking forward to in 2009. If you can come up with three, keep pushing. The other six are out there.

Better still, take a piece of notebook paper or a journal page and hand-write them all on there with your new year's resolutions. If you have a facebook or a blog, share it with your family and friends.

Sometimes just the act of writing it down makes it more real. Or maybe you like to say them out loud to a friend. Whatever it takes to make 2009 the best year it can be.

I'll include a few quotes here from a website I've stumbled across. BrainyQuote.com is a great resource for that perfect bit of inspiration to add to an email (or a blog post ;) from people who said it perfectly.

So goodbye to 2008:
"It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose yours."
-- Harry S. Truman

"You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space."
-- Johnny Cash

And hello to 2009:
"Life is a series of collisions with the future; it is not the sum of what we have been, but what we yearn to be."
-- Jose Ortega y Gasset

Here's hoping you a bright and wonderful 2009

A picture worth a thousand words

2008-12-03T15:09:00.010-06:00

If you have been to the Rensselaer Library this fall, you might have noticed the display of large artworks and photos throughout the library. These images were provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of a project to make important images of our history available for the public. The Picturing America program is also available online and gives details about the images and their meaning to us as a nation.

On Dec. 2, CNN had an interesting story that ties in to this collection. Katherine McIntosh of Modesto, Calif. turns 77 this week. She is one of two young children, faces turned from the camera, pictured with their mother in an iconic photograph depicting the Great Depression.

McIntosh, who remembers the hard lessons she learned as a migrant child living in a tent with her mother and siblings, says the photograph brought both shame and determination to her family and is still talked about the family today.

These photos and paintings are part of our national story. We really hope you take the time to check them out and see what stories they inspire in you.

Books and Movies - a reason to be thankful

2008-11-24T10:43:00.005-06:00

On Friday night at Fountain Stone Theater, several JCPL'ers (and their suffering spouses) were part of the group of adoring fans who attended the opening night of the Twilight movie.

Today the buzz at work is still "what did you think?" If you look anywhere on the web, you will find mixed reactions to the movie, and certainly you'll find them here, but the last time we have seen such a reaction to a book-turned-movie had to be each installment of the Harry Potter movies.

For those of us who read Stephanie Meyer's series -- and at current count it's over half the staff here at JCPL -- we STILL can't get enough.

There are a lot of good movies out right now, or coming soon, based on excellent books. Sue Monk Kidd's beloved The Secret Life of Bees is still in theaters. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas opened in select communities earlier this month.

A movie that is sure to delight holiday viewers is Marley and Me, the tale of a family and their neurotic but lovable dog, which opens on Christmas Day.

For those movies, and many others, we at the library give thanks that they bring really good stories to viewers who might otherwise miss them. We also are thankful every time they introduce a non-reader to the magical world of reading, or inspire a so-so reader to go after a book to find more information about the characters they loved on screen.

For those parents, boyfriends, friends and fathers who watched Twilight this weekend and wondered what it was that captured the hearts and minds of so many fans, all I can offer is this: read the book and find out.

Honoring our Veterans

2008-11-10T09:22:00.008-06:00

Nov. 11 is Veterans' Day and while many businesses will close for this Federal holiday, the Jasper County Libraries will be open to serve you during normal hours. Additionally, for the entire month of November, the DeMotte Library staff has decorated with a theme honoring our local veterans.

There are donated displays of a footlocker, uniform, and battlefield items. Come and browse hundreds of stars with the names of local veterans around the library, soldier flags made by the residents of Oak Grove Christian Retirement Village, and see the yellow-ribbon decked Heroes Tree, part of a national movement, organized locally through Purdue University's Military Family Research Institute, to recognize those serving in the military at the holidays.

Also, library staff have selected information about the various wars the United States has been involved in dating back to the Spanish-American War, and you can find the information on display at the library tables to read. Through the US Department of Veterans’ Affairs, there are also resource kits teachers and parents can download online to use on this important holiday.

Originally a tribute to the end of World War I, Veterans' Day is a federal holiday observed on November 11 honoring all wartime American servicemen and women. First called Armistice Day when it began in 1919, the day was renamed Veterans' Day in 1954 to pay tribute to the soldiers who fought in World War II and Korea.

For those wanting to send holiday wishes to those currently serving, check out Lt. Governor Becky Skillman’s "Hoosier Cheer for Our Heroes" letter-writing campaign. This program collects letters and cards which must be received at the Lt. Governor’s office by November 17th.

For more on Indiana's role in World War I, check out the Indiana War Memorial online, and the Indiana State Library's WWI Resource List. The Indiana Department of Veterans’ Affairs website also provides information about the many services available to veterans in the state of Indiana.

President of the United States - Do you qualify?

2008-11-03T16:16:00.004-06:00

If you have ever wondered just what it takes to be President of the United States, here is your chance to find out. Just in time for the election, Ferguson's Career Guidance Center -- one of the exclusive online resources available to JCPL patrons -- has added this job description to their database of thousands of career options.

The quick facts for this job paint a less than hopeful picture for most candidates, however. Consider the following: there are no formal education requirements, but you do have to be a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years of age, having lived in the United States for at least 14 years. The salary is $400,000 per year, but the competition is fierce for this position, since it can only be held by one person at a time.

Advancement prospects are also poor, because the president is the top political office in the country. After you have been president, you can pretty much expect to retire from politics.

To learn more about this career option -- or to look at resume and interviewing skills, college options and career planning -- you can access Ferguson's Career Guidance Center at any computer at your local library through our Research Resources collection. You can also access it at home from our website using your JCPL library card number and the same four-digit PIN you use to check your account from home. Don't have a PIN? Call your local library and we can set one up for you.

These resources can be reached from the main page of our website at http://www.myjcpl.org. In the Main Menu on the left side, look for the option to Search our Electronic Databases.

Tuesday, Nov. 4 is Election Day. We also hope you get out to vote for your candidates. The library will be open regular hours for this day.

For information about where to vote, and for a list of candidates in your area, check out the following links provided by the Indiana State Library:

Indiana Statewide Voter Registration System, part of the office of the Indiana Secretary of State.

National Voter Guide, hosted by e.thePeople, featuring candidate questionnaires sponsored by CBS television and the Indianapolis Star.

Vegetarians and Vampires

2008-10-13T14:24:00.004-05:00

For those who have been following the tremendously popular Twilight series, the notion of "Vegetarian Vampires" will not be new.

This month, as part of Monster Month and in preparation for the release of the Twilight movie in November, the Indiana Blood Center will be holding a blood drive at the Rensselaer Library on Saturday, Oct. 25 from noon-4 p.m.

If you are able to donate, and meet the eligibility requirements for donating, we would love to see you there. (Ask any Twilighter, Carlisle Would Approve.) Donors can ask for a special Twilight-themed button to mark their donation.

Coincidentally, the month of October is also Vegetarian Awareness Month, and the USDA is partnering with the Centers for Disease Control to promote vegetable-rich diets as an option for controlling obesity and heart disease.

Stop by your library today and check out our many vegetarian and vegan cookbooks. Learn a new recipe your whole family will fall in love with.

Green community

2008-09-24T10:25:00.002-05:00

Being environmentally friendly isn't just the right thing to do, but it can also save your business money.

That was the message last night at the Rensselaer Library. As part of the Going Green Initiative that continues at the library next month, students from Mike Feagans' Marketing 2 class at RCHS talked about the Footprint Program hosted by the Greater Rensselaer Chamber of Commerce.

The students will be talking to the Rensselaer Rotary next week and visiting area businesses soon to talk more about this program, which recognizes businesses for going green and gives simple steps to become a business with a smaller environmental footprint.

Most of the changes are simple for businesses to make, said chamber representative Tracy Mark.

"Some businesses can't turn off all their computers at night, because they may be on a network, but just turning off the monitors and printers can make a difference."

Using rechargeable batteries, energy saver light bulbs and filtered water rather than bottled water are some of the basic steps. Another step Feagans encourages his students to adopt is to buy a reusable coffee mug instead of using paper or plastic cups.

"One of these you can use over and over again forever," said Cody Lintner, one of the students who spoke about the program.

Feagans said 16 businesses have already joined the program, pledging to make a commitment to become a greener business.

For more about the Footprint program, contact the Chamber of Commerce at (219) 866-8223.

Also be sure to check out the last installment of the Going Green Initiative on October 28: “Recycling 101…the Basics.”

Safe Routes to School

2008-08-22T12:20:00.002-05:00

Back-to-school time may not mean bicycle time for many families in the modern age, but any time is a good time to think about bicycle safety.

The State of Indiana has provided an online Bicycle Safety Activity Kit (English) / (Spanish) for parents and kids to explore and go over the rules of the road.

The kit is part of the state's Safe Routes To School program, part of a national effort to get more kids active before and after school.

A video, "Why Safe Routes Matters," explains the reasons behind this effort, including better alertness in school, stemming the national obesity epidemic, and reducing pollution and traffic caused by parents rushing their children to schools each morning.

It is interesting to see how even in our own communities, we can be thinking about better opportunities for our children to play healthy and safe.

About an Author - Danielle Steel

2008-08-18T10:16:00.002-05:00

One of the interesting things about working surrounded by popular reading material is to watch what goes off the shelf and what flies off them.

Romance author Danielle Steel, who just released her 75th novel, is a perennial favorite among readers around the world.

Sometimes, with all the other options and distractions out there, you wonder what could make readers so loyal to a writer, a series and a literary formula.

In this engaging interview from CNN, Steel talks about "Rogue," her latest book, which has come out not just to expected fan approval but to mild critical buzz.

It is an unexpectedly telling look at an author who has carved a firm place in the world of modern reading.

JCPL around the world

2008-08-11T12:02:00.004-05:00

Time is running out on our 2008 Summer Photo contest. The rules are simple, take a photo of you using a JCPL item anywhere in the world this summer and you are entered in a drawing for prizes.

We have some great entries, but would love to see more. Prizes will be given out for photo taken farthest away and for most creative photo.

Show us what you can do!

Check out our contest rules.

Check out our flickr page

See where the entries came in from on our contest Google Map.

Zombies in Jasper County

2008-08-06T15:25:00.003-05:00

We couldn't help commenting on the movie being filmed this week at the Ritz Cinema in Rensselaer. The cinema website has a little bit of information about it, and some Rensselaer Library employees (who went over on their lunch to be extras) may be part of a scene, but the best part has been watching the zombies milling around aimlessly on our otherwise sunny and calm streets.

We can't wait to see the finished project when it comes out!

Butterflies at the Library

2008-08-06T15:07:00.005-05:00

In honor of this year's summer reading theme, "Catch the Reading Bug," our branches became involved with butterfly gardens over the summer. A particular joy for the Rensselaer branch was the seven caterpillars we received from a local parsley patch and nurtured in July until they emerged today as Black Swallowtail butterflies.

We're very excited about our new and hungry babies, as with all the insects we have been able to watch and share their tender days with.

We invite you to stop in and check them out before they are gone, out to finish their days in the summer sun!

Charlie Halleck Discovery

2008-07-31T09:16:00.005-05:00

Whether you live in DeMotte and drive down Halleck Street or go to Saint Joseph's College and visit the Halleck Center, it's hard to avoid the lingering traces of this former national statesman from Jasper County.

The Rensselaer Central Schools has unearthed a new historical link to Charlie Halleck, in the form of a 48-star U.S. Flag and a letter describing its significance. I'll advise you to read more about it in this blog post by RCS teacher Mark Heinig.

For more about Charlie Halleck, I welcome you to visit our Charlie Halleck Day local history collection on the JCPL website.

Fair Ideas

2008-07-15T14:07:00.004-05:00

While you're out at the Jasper County Fair this week, if you get little ones with questions or get a sudden idea for next year's project, stop by the library and get some more information.

We have books on breeds and care and tending of animals, canning and baking, cake decorating, fabrics, photography, electric motors, and more.

Whether you're a first timer or an advanced 4-H'er, come and browse our selection to see how we can help with your projects.

JCPL wishes the best of luck to all our kids showing off their skills, their self-education and their hard work this year at the fair.

Early starts

2008-07-08T14:49:00.002-05:00

Some of our youngest patrons are getting a boost in computer and literacy skills, thanks to some new kid-friendly computer accessories.

The brightly color-coded keyboards help young learners identify vowels, consonants and numbers as they play educational games.

The child-sized mice and headphones are also right-sized for their use.

These keyboards are available at the Rensselaer Library. We are excited about how they can help young learners along their path.

Busy week ahead in the county

2008-06-20T17:00:00.004-05:00

The Prairie Arts Council next week will be starting up its annual ARTCAMP, a week-long series of community art classes for all ages.

If you have not taken part in one of these programs before, this community effort is one of the summer highlights of Jasper County.

To learn more about it, their website is under construction, but you can always stop in at the Carnegie Center in Rensselaer (the old Rensselaer Library!), call them at 866-5ART or email them at prairie@nwiis.com.

There will also be an art display from the ARTCAMP participants on the center grounds on Saturday, during the Taste of Rensselaer community cook out.

The Carnegie Center is located at 301 N Van Rensselaer St, Rensselaer IN 47978.

And when you're ready for a break, or to grab a book or movie to take home after a busy day, the library is only one block away.

***

You will also find some library staff this Friday night June 27-28 at the 2008 Jasper and Newton County Relay for Life at the Jasper County Fairgrounds in Rensselaer. Our staff members have formed a team, Librarians Against 616.994, and will be doing our part to reach a cure one step at a time.

We hope to see you there.

Disaster Information for Kids Online

2008-06-13T16:47:00.006-05:00

When the weather gets nasty or the news has stories about people involved in weather disasters, kids may have lots of questions.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a website that may not only help answer their questions, but some of your own as well.

FEMA's The Disaster Area is a kid-friendly website that has useful information about thunderstorms, tornadoes, wildfires and even national security emergencies.

And for more grown-up kinds of questions and answers, and step-by-step family safety plans, there is always FEMA's main site at fema.gov.

Finding your feminine side

2008-06-04T09:01:00.002-05:00

Advocates of "herstory" (as opposed to history) point out how infrequently the contributions of women are recorded for future generations to learn from. Anyone who has searched for female ancestors in their family tree would likely agree.

Prior to the 20th century, many records (such as bank transactions or land deeds) were recorded in the husband's name. Women changed their name with marriage, and with higher death rates (and even some divorce) may have changed their names several times over their life. Whether out of social convention or personal taste, many newspaper articles and even gravestones will refer to a woman only by her married name, "Mrs. John Doe."

These wrinkles can be frustrating to any historical researcher or archiver.

The January 2008 issue of Family Tree Magazine, available at the Jasper County Public Library, offers several tips and solutions for tracking down your feminine side.

Stumped by a vague gravestone? Chances are the woman may have been buried near her family. Contact the cemetery caretaker or the church office for the burial record, which could provide more clues, including who purchased the stone and surrounding plots.

For more tips, check out this and similar magazines at your library, or check out our two genealogy databases (Ancestry Library and Heritage Quest) available in Research Resources at any of our patron computers or online catalog machines.

Heritage Quest is also available to our patrons at home through our website at http://www.jasperco.lib.in.us. You must be a JCPL patron and have a PIN number for home use of your account. (This may be different from the password you have to use Internet at the library.) Contact your local library if you would like to use this service and don't already have a home PIN.

Get ready for new money.... all over again

2008-05-23T12:15:00.004-05:00

If the new five dollar bill (right)isn’t already throwing you for a loop, get ready for more changes in your wallet.

This week the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the American Council for the Blind that the changes the U.S. Treasury Department have made to our foldable money since 2003 have not addressed the group’s concerns that our money is too similar for people of low vision to tell apart without assistance, a hardship that violates their constitutional rights.

Possible changes the ACB has requested, which are done in many other countries, include printing different denominations in different sizes, and with remarkably different color, or with raised printed areas which can be deciphered by touch.

In the court’s ruling, handed down May 20 in the District of Columbia, there is no recommendation for how the Treasury should make the bills compliant, only the admonishment that the organization could have saved tax payer dollars by making these changes part of the current redesign of money, which the Treasury Dept. says was done to foil counterfitters.

Perhaps before all is settled, there will be yet another appeal of this case, originally filed in 2002 and decided by a lower court, again in favor of the ACB, in 2006. Time will tell.

The ever present TV / computer

2008-04-22T13:35:00.005-05:00

When putting together our webpage about Turn off Your Television Week, I came across a social group whose mission is to get people to turn off their televisions every week. Their quizzes about media and television addiction are included on our page.

For someone like myself who is a media addict (mostly computer, very little tv), some of the questions are almost laughable: do you have a tv in your bedroom (uh.. who doesn't?), can you tell time by what tv show is on (um.. yeah, giggle.) But others are kind of not so funny: do you watch tv/spend time on a computer more than you talk to your family? (um.. heh.)

It's really easy to get carried away in our hobbies, especially when they seem more compelling than other, boring things. I know most of the people I hang out with online say this is their socially interactive alternative to just watching TV. Is it better? Perhaps. Is it still keeping us indoors, breathing stale lint bunnies instead of fresh prairie air? Yeah.

The staff at the Jasper County Library has made an effort again this year to bring you a week of quality family events you can do instead of hang out around the flickering screen. Whether you choose to spend this week with us or doing something else exciting in the wonderful weather, we hope you spend it well.

Even just one week of vacation away from our social addictions can give us a new look on things.

Local History: "The past is a gift to the future"

2008-04-18T09:19:00.004-05:00

With all the excitement from CIL fading a bit, I wanted to get back to something amazing and local I learned about before I left.

Earlier this month, the Rensselaer Ladies Literary Society hosted Brian Capouch, who talked about the work he has been doing restoring old buildings and houses in the Jasper, Pulaski and White county areas.

Capouch, a professor at St. Joseph's College, has discovered quite a lot about Jasper County history through his research on his own properties and on properties he drives by that pique his interest.

He has uncovered stories about homes in the area that used to be stops on the underground railroad, and homes that belonged to Jasper County's first white settlers. He also shared the story of a town that might have become the county seat -- as it had the first blacksmith shop, first school and first store -- if the railroad hadn't come through a little farther southwest than the little town at the fork of the Iroquois and Pinkamink rivers, an area known today as Pleasant Grove.

Capouch said he considers these lonely old homes and sites in rural areas just as valuable as any big-city preservation site for the history they have seen, and more at risk, often because the land is considered more valuable as farm ground than as a home or a historic site.

Capouch said he learned a hard lesson early on in his restoration work, when he discovered the log cabin his family had built. Going on with the new owner about how he could restore the property, he failed to notice how his intentions were not being welcomed, he said. A few days later, the home burned to the ground.

Since then, he said he tries to offer assistance and to convince property owners to consider the possible return on investment of restoration as opposed to letting the home deteriorate and be razed. Sometimes, he has paid out of his own pocket for stopgap measures on other people's property, such as to repair windows to buy a home a few more years. "If you can keep the rain out, keep the animals out, then you can keep these homes going," he said.

Capouch has also started a website about his work, http://www.oldmedaryville.org/. The photo galleries are especially interesting.

The title for this blog post came from Capouch's site. As a fan of history, I couldn't agree more with the sentiment.

CIL websites from day 1

2008-04-07T16:22:00.007-05:00

Just a random list of websites from my notes, day 1

Keynote Speaker: Lee Rainey, Pew Internet and American Life Project

Dewey & Main - Presenter, "Going Local in the Library"

Placeblogger - blogs about locations

Everyblock - News about your block, experimental project in New York, Chicago and San Fransisco, maybe coming soon to a street near you

Presenter Beth Galloway's slides, "Digital Convergence and People Apps"

infodoodads.com - Presenters from "The Global Librarian: Online Social Networks"

Chow Hound - Food and restaurant search engine

GetClicky.com - Website statistics

Problogger - Blog promotion tips and tricks

Sortfix - A visual way to improve your searching techniques

Learning and sharing

2008-04-07T07:40:00.005-05:00

Striving to stay on top of the latest technology and info, JCPL staff have headed to two conferences in recent days. Last week members visited the national PLA conference to bring back ideas to improve our library services. This week, our tech-oriented staff is visiting Computers in Libraries, where we will hear about the cutting edge in Internet and computer use.

Our keynote, Monday, day one of the conference, is "Libraries Solve Problems," and it's a really nice reminder of our mission as a library professional. We are the place where the community can come for books, for movies, for computer use, but we are also the place where the community comes to learn. We're proud to keep learning new ways to help you do just that.

The JCPL-Hollywood Connection

2008-03-28T09:07:00.011-05:00

Three of our library people were among the crowds who went to Crown Point this past week to see Johnny Depp working on the new Michael Mann picture Public Enemies, and to shake his hand!!!

The movie is about John Dillinger's nation-wide crime wave in the early 1930’s and stars Depp as Dillinger. The Indiana portion will include scenes shot at the Crown Point jail from which Dillinger famously escaped. (Although the East Chicago bank where Dillinger shot an officer during a robbery is now a Walgreens store, according to the Post-Tribune.)

Other films shot on location in Indiana in recent years include Rain Man, Hoosiers, A League of Their Own and The Insider. The Filmed in Indiana page from the FILM Indiana website lists many other movies shot in Indiana. FILM Indiana also provides information about film festivals around the state as well as job opportunities on upcoming movie shoots.

Emily, Rayann and Angela, who work at the Rensselaer Library, drove up after work one evening to get a glimpse of the popular actor.

"He seemed to really appreciate his fans," said Angela, who noted he made a point of rolling down his window and waving as his car went by the spectators. At one point, she and Rayann were about two to three feet from the star.

Emily and her daughter found themselves in exactly the right place when Johnny made his way along the barricade to meet the fans.

"He took my hand, then he looked up to see whose hand he had," she said with a huge grin, remembering the moment. "I said, 'Hi Johnny.'"

This post is in no way related to or inspired by the life-sized cut-out the office still has of Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.

New Look for Community Connection!

2008-03-27T10:24:00.006-05:00

This month we are unveiling a new look for our Community Connection newsletter.

The newsletter, available each month at your local library or at various places in your community, gives an overview of programs and highlights for the upcoming month.

In it you will find programs for adults, teens and kids; features about programs and services the library offers; new books and materials and more.

You can also read or print out your own copy, and you can find it each month in the Featured Links on the front page of our website. Feel free to look through our archived issues as well.

We hope you find something new to enjoy about your library.

Is it rumor or is it real?

2008-03-26T11:18:00.004-05:00

The other day at work we received an email warning about a potential phone scam. In the scam, the email stated, a person would call and claim there was a warrant out for your arrest because you had failed to report for jury duty. The caller would then ask you to verify your name, birthdate and Social Security Number to make sure there was not an error. At the end of the call, if you had complied, the caller would then have all the information needed to steal your identity.

Sounds scary, but is it a real threat?
Yes it is.

We know this thanks to the folks at Snopes.com, a.k.a. the Urban Legends Reference Pages, who have been researching and debunking or validating urban legends on the Internet since 1995.

According to their research, this particular warning first began circulating on the Internet in 2005 and like most emails will pop up again from time to time, with slight variations, as email makes its way back and forth across the online world.

What makes this site considered an authority is their scientific goal and method of verifying information rather than to initially prove or disprove claims. The couple who run the site emphasize the "reference" quality of the site and document each of their points and conclusions with footnotes for you to do your own detective work if you choose.

Thankfully a site like this is out there to help the average citizen get informed about the stuff in their mail. Next time you get one of those "too good to be true" offers or "I really hope that isn't real" warnings, chances are excellent you will find information here to help you determine whether you should pay attention or ignore it.

A word to the wise, if the email post says "this was checked out on Snopes and it's true," don't take their word for it. Go check it out yourself.

DM Library Silent Book Auction

2008-03-24T09:50:00.005-05:00

The Friends of the DeMotte Library is offering book lovers the opportunity to name their price on several collectible titles during a Silent Auction throughout the month of March.

A variety of books, old and new, children and adult, are available through this silent auction, and are on display in a glass case near the library’s circulation desk.

Some items to be auctioned off include a 100th Anniversary Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Souvenir Program & Magazine along with two circus posters, the Civil War Era by James M. McPherson, an Elizabeth Taylor Collection of books and videos, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and many other titles.

A booklet listing items is located on the display case that holds the materials to be auctioned off. Items may be bid on more than once, and bids may be checked during the auction for current prices. The winning bidders will be notified at the end of the auction.

For more information, visit or call the DeMotte Library at 987-2221.

If there is a holiday, you can bet Google will be there

2008-03-22T15:56:00.006-05:00

I personally have been a fan of Google for about as long as the search engine has been around, and view it as another practical tool to help our patrons.

One of my favorite features, I regularly use the language tools translation as I attempt to teach myself Spanish. Right now I'm reading "Clic, Clac, Plif, Plaf: Una Aventura de Contar," by Doreen Cronin, who wrote "Duck for President." It's a counting book showing what all the animals do when the farmer is asleep.

There are other search engines out there, and I wouldn't speak badly of them. In fact, Ask.com received some good play in 2007 among serious researchers for its more intuitive responses to general questions.

But I'm not alone in my personal fandom, and Google has happily created a whole section of its website devoted to library workers and a short film based on tips and suggestions from library workers on how to use their website. Feel free to check out that and other related videos to pick up tips on how to "research like a pro."

The thing about Google that grabs my attention is their constant effort to be creative. It's not their endless search for new technology and services to bring to users, or even the fact that they sponsored the first private space voyage (XPrize Foundation). No, for me it starts with the little logos they come up with for special days and holidays.

If you go through the About Google link, you can find the entire index of the holiday logos and "Google Doodles," multi-day themed logos for events like the Olympics. You can also read about the artist who has made most of them possible. So in honor of the Easter holiday is this gem from 2000 featuring a Java applet game where you can make the bunny spell out Google in Easter Eggs.

Hope yours is a hoppy event.

Teen Tech Week

2008-03-03T15:16:00.002-06:00

We're very excited to be part of the national celebration of Teen Tech Week with some special events March 2-8.

The event was created by the American Library Association (ALA) to celebrate and encourage the efforts of teens with what will undoubtedly be the building blocks of their futures: emerging technology.

Check the teen programs page for specific events going on at your local library, or take our online quiz and find out "How techie are you?"

Not surprisingly, the Pew Internet & American Life Project tells us online content creation by teenagers is a rapidly-growing trend.

The use of "social networking" sites may be the largest contributor. More than ever, teens are using sites such as flickr, Facebook, MySpace and the like to form online friend networks and communicate with people around the world.

The ALA's Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) offers more information for teens, as well as librarians and educators working with teens, on the safe and exciting uses of these newer technologies.

For those who may have reservations about online use by younger generations, David Pogue also has written a very timely article for the New York Times talking about his own research, and a Frontline episode titled "Growing up Online," about Internet use by children and teenagers.

If, as Pogue asserts, this is simply the latest form of socialization for teens in an ever-changing world, we all have a lot to learn.

Lunar Eclipse on You Tube

2008-02-29T09:16:00.004-06:00

For those of you who missed the lunar eclipse last week, there are now plenty of You Tube videos capturing the experience. Though shaky, this one is pretty quick and easy on the eyes. And, captured live in Winnipeg, Canada, it's from our own Central Time Zone. Huzzah!

More than the printed page

2008-02-28T17:21:00.008-06:00

This week we've added a new section to our website that we hope many of you will find fun and helpful.

We now have an indexed set of links to several websites created by authors of childrens, teen and adult books.

(Much thanks and kudos go to our clerks, who took the idea and researched these links. They did an excellent job!)

From our front page you can click on the choice "For Readers" in our left-hand Main Menu. From there you can look through our selected reading choices (which have always been there) and now through these websites as well.

From Seussville to Joanne Fluke's MurderSheBaked.com, there are online adventures and fun for all ages.

If there are author websites you would like to see added, there is a friendly link at the bottom of each page for you to email us your suggestion. To help us, please be as detailed as possible, and mention the category in which you think your author belongs.

The battle of the blogs

2008-02-22T11:18:00.010-06:00

Ever wish you could plug yourself into a national election poll and see how candidates fare in the public opinion from day to day or hour to hour? Want to know what the other side is saying about your candidate?

This year you can, and without spending your entire life in front of a computer screen.

Wonkosphere, launched to cover the 2008 national election, uses patented software to track the volume, and more importantly the tone, of "buzz" in over 1,200 blogs.

Organized into pools of conservative, liberal and independent blogs, the website allows a glimpse into what each camp is writing about at the moment, and for the previous 24 hours, and whether the tone is critical or complimentary.

Friendly graphics make it easy to compare how the candidates are doing both in their own political sphere and in the others.

Wonkosphere is the latest application of a patented network text analysis technology developed at Arizona State University and licensed to Crawdad Technologies. The company is now using the program, called Listening Post (TM), to help companies keep in touch with what people are saying about them in the blogosphere.

As for Wonkosphere, it may only be a temporary event, but it does allow interested parties -- newspapers, political scholars and voters alike -- to pore through volumes of freshly-generated thought quickly and with ease.

The self-promotional buzz from Crawdad co-founder Steven Corman in a news statement: “It is a real-time scorecard for which candidate is winning the battle of the blogs.”

Technorati

2008-02-22T09:26:00.003-06:00

Today JCPL joins the blogging elite. We're introducing this blog to Technorati, a global blog tracker.

We'll have more details later on how you can help, but if you want to help raise our ranking, and our global visibility, please check out our Technorati Profile.

JCPL takes over ... THE WORLD.

With your help, of course :)

No moon on Wednesday

2008-02-18T10:43:00.005-06:00

At 10:26 p.m. on February 20th, residents of North America, South America, Europe, and Africa will be treated to a total lunar eclipse. The eclipse will begin around 8:43 p.m., peak at 10:26 p.m. and wrap up about 12:08 a.m.

For more information about lunar eclipses and projected dates of future eclipses, visit the NASA Lunar Eclipse website.

Pokagon State Park in Angola, Indiana will host a free lunar eclipse viewing. For more information, see their press release.

Pokagon State Park Jan-Feb 2008 activities PDF.

Are you ready to vote?

2008-02-11T12:09:00.000-06:00

Registering to vote, making address changes and the like should be much easier this year thanks to a new website promoted by Secretary of State Todd Rokita.

www.indianavoters.com is a new electronic database that links all of Indiana's 92 county's voter registration records with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles database and the Social Security Administration database, to help verify voter registration records.

You can put in your name, county and date of birth and find the address with which you are registered with your county voter registration office, as well as contact information to change it if this is incorrect. If it is correct, you can find your polling place, driving directions, and all precincts for which you can vote in upcoming elections.

Also check out the state's Voter Information Portal, provided by Rokita's office, which is in charge of elections across the state. There are links and downloadable guides for a wide range of interests, from first-time voters to poll workers, as well as information about A.D.A. compliance, voting machines, and information for Spanish-speaking residents. Also, a 2008 calendar of important election deadlines.

Be Your Own Librarian

2008-02-07T13:07:00.001-06:00

This week we unveiled new self-check kiosks at each library that patrons can use to check out their own materials.

We hope these kiosks, which offer touch screens and step-by-step on-screen instructions, enhance your library experience.

-- In a hurry and just want to grab a quick read over lunch? You can!
-- Just want to renew your books? Bring it with you and scan it in. If you have a renewal left, it will do it for you.
-- Want to see if the book you requested has arrived? Scan your card and the kiosk will tell you if you have any holds waiting for you at that branch.

There are some restrictions. You will not be able to check out materials that require staff to retrieve them. And the kiosks won't let you check out materials, such as reference books, that cannot be circulated.

Stop by your local library today and CHECK IT OUT!!!

Note: We owe a lot of thanks for this project and don't want to leave out the people who made this possible! This project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Indiana State Library. Thank you!

MLK - History Online

2008-01-21T09:59:00.000-06:00

Stanford University has created a nice website for learning about Martin Luther King and the legacy of his struggle to advance civil rights in America.

At their website The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute look for the Quick Links option of "Teaching King."

From there you can find lesson plans, primary and secondary sources online, classroom resources, an encyclopedia and more.

The Library of Congress also has an amazing set of links to source materials for teaching about the American Civil Rights Movement.

For Indiana Authors

2008-01-14T09:34:00.000-06:00

The Indiana Center for the Book is welcoming all Hoosier authors to submit entries into the fourth annual 2008 Best Books of Indiana competition.

This state book contest is open to books with original publication in 2007 and written either by an Indiana author or with an Indiana theme. Deadline for entries is March 31, 2008.

For more information, entry forms, competition guidelines and past winners, check out their website at http://www.in.gov/library/2315.htm

The Indiana Center for the Book is a program of the Indiana State Library and an affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

Living History Videos

2008-01-12T18:29:00.000-06:00

Jasper County Historian Beulah Arnott can spin a yarn about her own memories of Rensselaer in days gone by, but she also has dedicated her life to carefully researching and collecting other people's memories and stories.

Thanks to the Rensselaer Republican's website, http://www.rensselaerrepublican.com/local_video/, Arnott is sharing her vast knowledge of this area with the general public in a series of Living History videos.

The videos, produced by the Republican's staff, are about 13 minutes long and can be streamed live from a computer over the Internet. Clayton Doty, one of the producers of this noteworthy project, said they are planning to continue the series with a new video each week for perhaps a year or more.

The Republican has also made DVD copies of the videos available for the public to view at the Rensselaer Library. They are not available for check out at this time.

We applaud this amazing local history initiative and look forward to seeing all of the videos as they are made.

Arnott, and the Jasper County Historical Society, has also been working with Campbell's Printing in Rensselaer for the past few years to create a local history publication, Vintage Views, which is available for browsing at the Rensselaer Library as well.

A further note on Taxes

2008-01-12T18:26:00.000-06:00

Some helpful links provided by our state government.

I-FILE AVAILABLE TO INDIANA TAXPAYERS
I-FILE is a free online tax filing service for the state of Indiana that all Indiana residents are eligible to use, provided you meet just a couple of requirements. To qualify to use I-File, you must have completed your 2007 federal return, have filed an individual return in any format with the state of Indiana in the past, and your first or last name must not have been legally changed since you last filed.

I-FILE is beneficial for taxpayers as it helps filers avoid clerical and mathematical errors on their returns, helps filers receive refunds more quickly and can be a good option if you wait to the last minute to file. I-FILE benefits the Department of Revenue as well, as the department is able to process returns more quickly and at a savings of 96 cents per return.

To use I-FILE, please visit the Department of Revenue’s I-FILE website. To download Indiana state tax instructions and forms for the current year and for previous years, please visit the forms page. If you have to file state taxes for a state other than Indiana, visit the Federation of Tax Administrators link to forms for all 50 states.

Indiana Department of Revenue, I-File: http://www.in.gov/dor/ifile/

Indiana Department of Revenue, Tax Forms: http://www.in.gov/dor/taxforms/

Part-year resident or employee in another state: http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/link/forms.html

Tax Season

2008-01-11T09:58:00.000-06:00

It’s that time of year again, the other time of year you make your list and check it twice.

Some of you will be the lucky ones who will painlessly fill out a few boxes, file, and begin consulting a vacation planning website while waiting for the return check.

Others will stay up more than one late night trying to remember important details from that “client-scouting” trip you took, which just coincidentally happened to be in the same town where your wife’s sister lives.

Whatever your plan for the next few months, we have forms which may help, or if we don’t have them on our racks, we can print them out for you online.

You will need to know in advance what forms you need, and any forms we print for you will incur normal printing costs (10 cents per page).

Best of luck, and hope you bag a big one… or is that another season?