Tag Archives: Carrie’s picks

Resource of the Month: Science in Context

ScienceInContextGot a science fair coming up? Maybe a middle school or high school science paper due?  Check out Science in Context!

Science in Context is an online resource providing contextual information on hundreds of today’s most significant science topics. Science in Context helps students learn about the subject matter by integrating authoritative, curriculum-aligned reference content with today’s headlines and videos – showing how scientific disciplines relate to real-world issues, from weather patterns to obesity.  This resource also contains more than 200 experiments and projects that provide practical experience on many scientific concepts.

To access Science in Context, visit www.nclive.org and click on the Science and Technology subject heading. Choose Science in Context from the list of resources. If you are accessing this resource outside of the library, you will be prompted to log in with your library card number.

From the Science in Context home page, you can search for information on a variety of topics. You can also browse a list of topics, view maps related to various science topics, and view the curriculum standards in math and science by grade level both nationally and for North Carolina.

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Resource of the Month: Proquest Family Health

2014-09-03_0927In January 2015, many of our online resources currently available through NC LIVE will change. One new resource we’ll be offering is ProQuest Family Health. This database includes magazines and journals covering consumer health topics such as sports injuries, women’s health issues, children’s health, food and nutrition, midwifery, eye care, dentistry, and much more. As with some other databases in NC LIVE, ProQuest Family Health gives you the option to limit your search results to only full text articles, only peer reviewed articles, and other specifications.

ProQuest Family Health is useful for nursing students and those in related health professions. It is also invaluable for families looking for accurate, in-depth information about a variety of health issues. As you probably know, the internet is not always a reliable source of information about health issues, particularly those that are controversial or little-understood. Families who are trying to learn about issues such as ADHD, diabetes, or just what to look for in a pediatric dentist will find that ProQuest Family Health offers a sensible and reliable alternative to much of the “chatter” you might find when looking for information on the world-wide web.

To access this resource, visit www.nclive.org. Scroll down and click on the “Nursing & Allied Health” link. Click on “ProQuest Family Health” (you will be prompted to choose your library and provide your library card number).

Click here to see a complete list of our new databases.

Resource of the Month: Small Engine Repair Reference Center

As winter finally starts to fade and the weather gets warmer, many folks are looking forward to getting outside. In some cases, that means on a warm-weather vehicle, such as a boat, motorcycle, ATV, or jet ski. Or maybe you’re just ready to fire up your lawn mower, tiller, chainsaw, or – if you’re more of an ambitious type – your tractor. No matter what sort of small engine you’re ready to use, it might need a little tune-up after a long winter’s rest. In that case, the Small Engine Repair Reference Center, available online through the library, is at your service!

Simply go to www.nclive.org and click on the “Hobbies & Interests” category. From there, click on Small Engine Repair Reference Center and choose your engine.   You’ll need your library card to access the site, but it’s 100% free of charge.

So watch those fingers and toes, and get ready to repair your small engine!

Resource of the Month: Legal Information Reference Center

Legal Info Ref CtrIf you’re looking for expert guidance on a wide variety of legal issues, the Legal Information Reference Center is a great place to start.  Available through NC LIVE, this resource offers information on just about any legal topic you can imagine.  You can browse one of several categories, including information relating to:

  • business and corporations
  • family affairs and divorce
  • immigration and travel
  • money and financial planning
  • patents, copyrights, and trademarks
  • property and real estate
  • rights and disputes
  • wills and estate planning

You can search for specific legal forms for issues like bankruptcy, patents, accident claims, home buying and selling, green cards, adoption, wills, and more. You can narrow your search to forms by state, too – for example, only North Carolina forms. And finally, you can read online copies of several useful legal guides, including Nolo books on bankruptcy, neighbor guides, becoming a U.S. citizen, retirement plans, and several others.

After you’ve found some helpful information, you can save it to your online folder to peruse at your leisure.

So the next time you need legal information or forms, visit www.nclive.org, look under the Government & Law category, and check out the Legal Information Reference Center!

Resource of the Month: Business Link North Carolina

BusinessLinkGraphicAre you thinking about starting a new business, but are unsure how to begin?  Are you working on developing your existing business?  Do you need some tips on writing a business plan?  Are you curious about what financial resources are available to you?  If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then Business Link North Carolina may be a great resource to check out.

Business Link North Carolina is a website sponsored by the state of North Carolina specifically to help new and potential business owners navigate the twists and turns of doing business in NC.  It has answers to many common questions, such as “How do I get a business license?”, “How do I get a tax number?”, “Who can help me with a business plan?”, and the all-important “What kinds of funding are available for my business?”  In addition to a comprehensive web-based body of information, Business Link North Carolina also offers NC residents free business counseling by phone M-F from 8:00 to 5:00.

Business Link North Carolina also offers quick links to business forms, licenses and permits, state-sponsored loan programs, resources for rural businesses, and more.  For those who already have a business but are looking to expand or maintain it, there are resources to help with marketing and sales, workforce development, minority resources, and more.

Whether you are just getting started with your business idea or you are looking for help to make your existing business stronger, Business Link North Carolina has something to offer!

Book Review: Up in an Old Hotel – Joseph Mitchell



Up in the Old Hotel by Joseph Mitchell

In 1929, a 21 year-old farmer’s son from Fairmont, NC moved to New York City to try his hand at journalism. He ended up documenting the extraordinary lives of ordinary people – bartenders, street preachers, gypsies, and bums – with such honesty and interest that they seem like old friends. Mitchell may have been one of the first reporters to profile non-famous people; he certainly remains one of the best. One of the best things about his writing is the sense you get that he genuinely likes the people he interviews, and – what’s more – he just genuinely likes people. The age of the essays (ranging from the 1930s to the 1950s) provides a nice glimpse into how much times have changed, and how much human nature hasn’t. In an increasingly polarized and suspicious world, Mitchell’s enthusiasm for his fellow cranks is infectious; you may come away from this book liking your neighbors a little better, or at least better able to empathize with their quirks.