Need a Last Minute Recipe?

The libraries close by 6 pm this evening and won't be open Thursday or Friday. What happens when you need a recipe for the left-over turkey, mashed potatoes, or the three extra boxes of green Jello that were accidentally added to the grocery list (it happens to the best of us)?

Here are links for two great collections of recipes and food information: CMRLS Quick Reference Recipes and Food Preparation and Internet Public Library (IPL2)-Food . This is a link for a Google SEARCH for recipes and before you even type in an ingredient there are more than 252 million pages found!

We hope these links are helpful!

The staff of the CMRLS libraries wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday!

Tombstone Tuesday?

Did anyone reading this know that in the genealogy blogosphere it is Tombstone Tuesday? Gen-bloggers use this as the subject for Tuesday entries!

And, this the week of Flag Day, what better than Arlington National Cemetery to feature. Did you know that Glenn Miller, the big band leader, arranger, composer, and trombonist has a memorial marker at the Arlington National Cemetery? Miller, known at the time as Maj. Alton Glenn Miller, of the U.S. Army Air Corps has been missing in action since Dec. 15, 1944. Miller was eligible for a memorial headstone in Arlington National Cemetery as a service member who died on active duty whose remains were not recoverable. At his daughter's request, a stone was placed in Memorial Section H, Number 464-A on Wilson Drive in Arlington National Cemetery in April 1992.



If genealogy interests you, Brandon Public Library has three genealogy programs during the month of July. They are July 1, 8, and 15th. The workshops on July 8 and 15 are on Ancestry.com, so you must call ahead to reserve a spot. Space is limited!

Google "Tombstone Tuesday" to find thousands of entries on genealogy blogs. You may even find some new blogs that interest you!

Summer Reading 2009!

Be Creative!

Try this trial database

from EBSCO for the

next 30 days,

it's very creative!

Hobbies and Crafts Reference Center!

Watch the CMRLS blogs all summer
for new and creative website finds!

Feel free to leave your comments concerning
this resource.

Flu Season?

Here is a collection of links for information concerning the Swine Flu, Pandemic Flu, and how you can stay healthy!

PandemicFlu.gov - Official Health and Human Services site: A One-stop Access to U.S. Government Swine, Avian, and Pandemic Flu Information
Center for Disease Control (CDC): H1N1 Flu
World Health Organization (WHO): Swine Flu
WHO: Swine Flu Information in Spanish
MedlinePlus-National Library of Medicine: Swine Flu
American Red Cross: Preparing for a Potential Flu Pandemic
Medicare and Flu Information (link found here for Spanish also)
What is the Government Doing Now to Prepare for a Pandemic Flu Outbreak?
CDC: Recommendation for When to Close Schools
Flu History: The Great Pandemic of 1918, from PandemicFlu.gov

Also, use these link to find blog entries* through Google from across the web regarding Pandemic Flu; and through Ask.com or Yahoo! regarding swine flu.

If more information is needed, ask your librarian for help.
Librarians, the original search engines!

*Blog entries may be by news agencies, health organizations, or individuals just offering insights. Although this may be almost real-time information shared about different areas of the U.S. or the world, further research through trustworthy resources may be warranted.

Look at Next Good Book!

Next Good Book is found on the CMRLS website and can be used with or without signing up for an account. You will find new book lists on the CMRLS Bookshelves for "Living on a Shoestring", "Resumes and Interviews", and "Looking for a Job or Career". These CMRLS Bookshelves contain lists of books found in your libraries. You can search for books by subject or check out the New York Times Bestseller lists or dozens of different awards lists. Click on "Catalog" in any of the lists and request that book be sent to your library. If CMRLS doesn't have the book, speak to your library staff about requesting the book through I-L-L.

By signing up for a FREE account with Next Good Book you can comment on books you've read, read comments by others, and even keep a list of books you've read or want to read (and decide if you want to share your list with friends). If you need help setting up an account, just ask your library staff! Happy reading!

Reminders on Your Cell Phone!

The following are two ways to keep ahead of library items coming due. Each one of these will notify you so that you can return the items or renew them, if you wish.

Library Elf works with the CMRLS catalog to not only send you email when your items are due, you can have the reminders sent to your cell phone!

The CMRLS Early Email Notification will send you an email 3 days before you or anyone in your household or care has library material due!

For CMRLS Early Email Notification, just let your library staff know that you are interested and supply a valid email address. You can have everyone in your household linked to one email! For Library Elf, just follow the hyperlink and fill in the information. Library Elf works with the library catalog to notify you by email or cell phone!

Stay ahead in 2009!

Libraries' ToolBar

Have you looked at the link for the libraries' free personalized toolbar; it works with Internet Explorer and FireFox, Windows and Mac. There is even an uninstall, if you don't like it; and there is no SPAM, viruses, or junk mail that is linked to it. You get a one-click button to the libraries' website, online catalog, quick reference, news links, and our job notices...even a "search the library website" textbox! Check it out!

Library Closings

Wasn't the snow nice? Unfortunately it meant that the libraries were closed on Thursday, Dec. 11, but opened Friday morning at 10:30. Administration wanted to make sure staff and patrons would be safe on the roads. Simpson County libraries (Magee, Mendenhall, and Harrisville) are still closed today, Friday, Dec. 12, as the Simpson County Sheriff's Department asked that citizens not be on the roads. These libraries will be open Saturday, Dec. 13, 9:00 a.m., for their regular hours of business.

ALL CMRLS libraries will be CLOSED at 1:00 p.m., on Dec. 24, and remain CLOSED on Dec. 25, 26, and 27, for the Christmas holiday. Libraries will again close at 1:00 p.m, on Dec. 31, and remain CLOSED on Jan. 1 and 2, for the New Year's holiday. You may renew items during these times on the website using Rosie's Web the online catalog or by phone at 601-825-5450. Please have your library card with you when logging on or making the phone call. Your barcode and Personal Identification Number are needed to complete the transaction.

Books and Holidays

Need some help choosing a book for a gift? Here are several websites that have wonderful lists:

Best Gift Books 2008 on NPR
Top 20 Holiday Gift Books for kids
Top Ten Gift Books for the 2008 Holidays
Book Passage: 2008 Holiday Gift Book Guide
Amazon.com Book Gift Ideas

Or, checkout some great books @ your library to make your holiday special:
Advent & Epipheny
Holiday cookery & Holiday decoration
Holiday stress
Books, CDs, DVDs on Christmas & More Christmas items
Spanish Language Christmas items
Kwanzaa & Kwanzaa decoration
Hanukkah kids books & Hanukkah/Jewish cookery
Hanukkah children's books
Ramadan
Handmade Gifts for any holiday

Check us out on Twitter!

CMRLS can now be found on Twitter! You never know where you'll find a library!

Getting Ready for School

While your child is choosing which color notebook to use for which class, remember that the most valuable tool for school is a Central Mississippi Regional Library System (CMRLS) LIBRARY CARD. “The library card is FREE to anyone living, working, or attending school in Rankin, Scott, Simpson, or Smith counties,” said Kaileen Thieling, Director of CMRLS. Not only will the library card give your child access to more than 350,000 books, newspapers, and magazines to be checked out or used in the library; your child will have FREE online access to even more up-to-date books, newspapers, and magazines for those inevitable school projects. These may be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from the library website, http://www.cmrls.lib.ms.us/.

Think of needing an encyclopedia or magazine article late one evening when the library is not open! The article will be right at your fingertips from any online computer. “Most teachers do not accept sources such as Wikipedia™ or Yahoo Answers™ for school projects not because they are found on the Internet, but because the sources of the answers are not verified,” said Director Thieling. “The libraries’ online sources are reputable, peer reviewed journal articles, books, encyclopedias, maps, and videos in all the subjects needed by your elementary, middle or high school student.”

This year, CMRLS has added Internet Math™ to the homework help resources found online. Internet Math™ teaches and reviews math word problems for students in grades 1-8. Each problem is accompanied by a series of visual hints that teach the student how to solve the problem. Library staff will set up a FREE account for any student wanting to use this resource. Lessons are saved by using the student’s password, allowing students to return to the lessons as often as needed.

Students with library cards may also practice the 4th and 8th grade proficiency exams and study lessons on math, language, or computer skills on Learn A Test™, another online library resource. “Library staff will be glad to help students access any of these resources,” said the Director. “The libraries want to help make this a successful school year.”

Central Mississippi Regional Library System serves the public libraries in Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith counties. Further information may be found online at http://www.cmrls.lib.ms.us/ or by visiting your local library.

Not Today's Music!

RatherGoWalking, originally uploaded by msulibrary1. (Viewed during a breakout workshop at the MSU Library 2.0 Summit, 2008)

This is one of many scans of 100 year old sheet music from the archives of Mississippi State University! Check out the rest of the collection on Flikr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/msstatelibraries/sets/72157605711536723/.

NEW Library Card!

They are here!

The NEW plastic

CMRLS library cards

can be found at your

nearest CMRLS library.

Stop by your library with your current card and ask the staff to issue you one of the new plastic cards. You have the choice of a credit card sized library card or the convenient key tag library card. The key tag card easily slips on to your key ring just like your Kroger or CVS cards. You'll always have it with you!

The library staff will take your old paper library card and add it to the cards they have already collected. Make sure your signature is on the back, because your old card enters you into a drawing at the end of September! Each CMRLS branch will hold a drawing with prizes from local businesses.

While you are replacing your old paper card, you will want to tell the staff of any address, phone number, or email address changes that need to be made. EARLY EMAIL NOTIFICATION is available to those of you with email addresses. CMRLS will send you an email 3 days before any item you have checked out is due. This means NO late fees! Just tell your library staff to sign you up for EARLY EMAIL NOTIFICATION.

For branch location and hours of operation visit http://www.cmrls.lib.ms.us/BRANCHES.htm, with a new interactive CMRLS service area map!

Celebrate 100 Years - Ian Fleming

May 28, 2008 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ian Fleming who gave us that famous spy, James Bond! Check out his books and the movies @ your library. Take a look at the website Ian Fleming Centenary for a brief biography and news of the latest theatrical release coming in November. And, because of Fleming's Bond, not only do all of us expect spies to have great gadgets, we expect them to dress the part. Who would think of a spy not owning an x-ray vision camera pen and a tux, or two?

If you have enjoyed the Bond movies and haven't read the books, why not start with the latest release, Devil May Care, by Sebastian Faulks, writing as Ian Fleming. Just can't wait for your name to come up on the request list for Devil May Care? Try these series titles...

Hawke, by Ted Bell
Quiller bamboo, by Adam Hall
The spy who came in from the cold, by John Le Carre
Eye of the storm, by Jack Higgins

Still looking for something that reads like a James Bond novel? Ask your librarain!

LookyBook

Take a look at LookyBook, a great website with children's picture books that you can read online. I think my favorite is Bad Kitty, by Nick Bruel. I hope you enjoy it!

2008 Presidential Election

Have you made your mind up yet or do you need help making sense of it all? Try some of these websites to follow along the campaign trail.

From the Librarians' Internet Index:

AltWeeklies.com: 2008 Presidential CampaignCompilation of news stories and commentary concerning the 2008 U.S. presidential election, from more than 100 alternative U.S. and Canadian newsweeklies. Entries include headline, brief story summary, author, publication, and option to email the stories. Also includes links to the full stories. Listed chronologically. From the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies.

Election 2008: Vote by Issue QuizThis quiz helps you "[l]earn about the [2008 presidential] candidates through their platforms, not their personalities. [It] features some of the issues that have gained traction this campaign season." Also includes an "Election Issues" section (top menu, once you enter the quiz) with candidates' statements about health care, immigration, energy, Iraq, abortion, and other issues. From WBUR and the Online NewsHour.

The Onion: War for the White HouseThis satirical publication's coverage of the 2008 U.S. presidential election features "news" stories, humorous candidate profiles and candidate statements on key issues, videos, and a creative description of the election process. From the Onion, which "is not intended for readers under 18 years of age."

PolitiFact.comThis website was created "to help voters separate fact from falsehood in the 2008 presidential campaign. Journalists and researchers from the [St. Petersburg] Times and CQ [Congressional Quarterly] will fact-check the accuracy of speeches, TV ads, interviews and other campaign communications." Searchable; or browse the site's "Truth-O-Meter" by candidate, subject, political party, and other factors. Includes related articles and in-depth features.

Resources found elsewhere on the 'Net:

Declare Yourself - Quick and easy Learn about the 2008 election.

Electoral Vote - Track the electoral college and congressional elections with a red/blue map of the US updated daily using the latest state polls.

2008 Presidential Election from Yahoo! - Full news coverage and opinions on the 2008 presidential election. Find photos, audio, video, and related sites about the 2008 election on Yahoo! on Yahoo!

The 2008 Election with CNN - Latest headlines and video, candidates' positions on the issues, fundraising totals, States to Watch news and analysis, and a unique side-by-side visual ...

NPR & the 2008 Election - In-depth coverage of the 2008 presidential election, Democratic and Republican candidates, and primary elections and caucuses. Listen to audio and video ...

Election 2008 - Ongoing collection of nonpartisan and partisan national polls.

For teachers from Scholastic.com - Read our extended news reports of the Election 2008 campaign. This special report include stories, activities, background information and more.

From USA Today - Up-to-the-minute breaking news coverage of US politics, including election 2008 and the presidential candidates. Visit USATODAY.com for complete access to ...

From Wall Street Journal 2008 presidential election -Learn more about the 2008 Presidential Election with news and headlines from the Wall Street Journal.

Reuters - Election 2008 - Link to Reuters Special Coverage pages for the major 2008 US Presidential candidates.

Best of 2007

If you "Google" the phrase 'best of 2007' today (Jan. 2, 2008), you get 2,050,000 hits! That number will change tomorrow. Here is a list of some of the interesting ones, in no particular order.

50 Best Websites of 2007 from Time
100 Best Companies from Working Mother
2007 World's Best Awards for Travel and Leisure from American Express
Best Books of 2007 from Amazon.com
Best Books of 2007 from Library Journal
Best Cars of 2007 from CNN and Consumer Reports
Best Employers of 2007 from AARP
Best Hospitals of 2007 by US News & World Report
Best of 2007 by Surfing the Net with Kids
20 Top Tens of 2007 by LifeHacker
Best of Zen Habits for 2007 by Zen Habits
Best of the Best Lists by Filmoculous.com (Lots of lists!)
Book Awards Lists
Best CDs of 2007 by NPR Music
100 Best Products of 2007 by PC World magazine
The Best of What's New for 2007 by Popular Science (PopSci.com)
Best Books of the Year by Publishers Weekly
Best of 2007 by Rolling Stone
Best 10 Books of 2007 by New York Times
TV's Best of 2007 by San Francisco Chronicle

Have fun finding out what others thought made 2007 a great year!

December Closings and Holiday Material

CMRLS Libraries will be closed Saturday, Dec. 22 through Tuesday, Dec. 25, for the Christmas holiday. Libraries will open for regular business on Wednesday, Dec. 26.

So, be sure to check out the holiday videos & DVDs before the 22nd; and the holiday cookbooks; and the children's easy books to keep everyone occupied! Brandon Library even has jigsaw puzzles to check out! How about holiday music to play in the background? Let the library help make your celebration special.

Did you know...
The U.S. Postal Service expects to deliver 20 billion pieces of mail between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. The busiest mailing day is set for Dec. 17, as more than three times the average daily volume of cards and letters should be mailed (more than 275 million versus 82 million). This and other interesting holiday facts can be found at the US Census website.

Did you know...

September is National Piano Month? It is also National Biscuit, Chicken, Honey, Mushroom, Rice and Wild Rice Month! There is a meal in there somewhere. Here is a webpage with recipes for chicken, mushrooms, and rice recipes; and click here for chicken and honey recipes!

It's Update Your Resume Month! The G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library will be holding a two-part program to help with this. Monday, Oct. 1 and Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 6:00 p.m., participants will learn the basics of writing a winning resume; and will spend time drafting individual resumes. The programs last until 8:00 p.m. Registration is required. Call the library at 601-919-1911. This a free program.

Patriot Day - September 11, 2007

These are just a few links to information concerning September 11, 2001. Your librarian can help you find even more resources for those writing papers or preparing homework assignments, or those just remembering that tragic day and the days that followed.

Celebrate September 11 as Patriot Day.

September 11 Terrorist Attacks - materials @ your library
September 11 Digital Archives - includes more than 150,000 digital items, with more than 15,000 digital images
September 11 Resources from http://www.lii.org
Resolution naming 9/11 as Patriot Day
Presidential Proclamation Recognizing the first Patriot Day