Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Swine Flu & You



So there's a lot of talk about swine flu right now, and some of it is pretty scary. No need to panic, the doctors tell us, and a little information might help. So far, there have been no cases in Louisiana and with some precautions, the residents of this state might be able to keep it that way. Here are some links for people curious about the outbreak:

Pandemicflu.gov--One stop shopping for all your swine flu information needs.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Information on Swine Flu

FluLA.com

The Centers for Disease Control Swine Flu Page

The National Library of Medicine: Swine Flu

The World Health Organization: Swine Influenza

The Public Health Agency of Canada: Human Swine Influenza

The National Health Service of the United Kingdom: Swine Flu Alert

What to Do If You or Someone You Love Contracts Swine Influenza

A Little Perspective: Endemics and Pandemics of the Past

In 165 AD, smallpox killed an estimated 5 million people--about 3% of everyone on the planet. The Spanish Flu of 1918 killed 50 million, or 5%. As of this writing, there are 112 confirmed cases of swine influenza on planet Earth. History has a way of giving us some perspective like that. Here are some links about the history of disease outbreaks:

The Swine Flu Scare of 1976

Reuters Factbox: Past Flu Pandemics

The Worst Outbreaks of Disease in History

Library Books That You Might Enjoy

Terrebonne Parish Library System Catalog Search: Disease Outbreaks

Friday, April 24, 2009

Ladybug Ball



The Terrebonne Mobile Library will be available at the Ladybug Ball this weekend, so be sure to stop by and see how we bring the library show on the road!

According to the Houma Daily Courier:

"The 10th Annual Ladybug Ball, sponsored by Re/Max Good Earth Realty of Houma, is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Southdown Plantation, 1208 Museum Drive in Houma.

Admission is free. Activities range in price from $1 on up.

A shuttle service from the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“It’s just a magical day,” said Linda Faulk, founder and chair of the event.

The Ladybug Ball centers on the release of 100,001 ladybugs and 201 butterflies, scattered into the air by local officials stationed at 10 to 12 release posts around the plantation grounds."




Click here for more information about the Ladybug Ball.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Earth Day 2009

April 22nd is Earth Day, a day to reflect on the state our planet's ecology is in and how we both hurt and help the situation with our personal choices and choices as a society.

Here are some links that might help you live a "greener" life:

The Earth Day Network--How can you join the movement to help the Earth? The website of the Earth Day Network can tell you more.

Earthday.gov--The US Government's Earth Day portal.

Learn the Issues--The Environmental Protection Agency's public education page. Also, the EPA's Earth Day event guide for our area of the country.

The EPA Fuel Economy Guide--Is that clunker of yours wasting gas...and money? Find out how which new models just sip and how you can get you more goin' per gallon in the car you already drive.

Topic Guide:Recycling by 42explore.

The Alliance to Save Energy--has TONS of great information, including tips for lowering energy bills.

The Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN)--Keeps you up-to-date on the fight for the earth in Louisiana.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality--Tells Louisiana citizens what's up in the effort to keep Louisiana safe and clean and to make sure polluters get theirs.

John Muir founded the Sierra Club in 1892 to protect the wilderness of the American west. Read more about conservation issues on their website.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

International Guitar Month



April is International Guitar Month! That's right: we're halfway through the month of the instrument of Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Jimmy Page, Andres Segovia and Matteo Carcassi.

So what can you do? How about buying a guitar? The Houma-Thibodaux area has many great music stores with new and used guitars available and most offer lessons.

If you already own a guitar, learn to play by checking out a book about guitar playing from the Terrebonne Parish Library System!

There are also many great online sources for guitar players:

Online guitar chord chart--Even has links that play the chord when you click it so you can hear how it sounds.

Freeguitarvideos.com has neat online guitar lessons complete with detailed video explanations of what they're teaching you. Clear views of the teachers' hands.

Free guitar lessons for beginners by about.com.

Need to tune a guitar? Here's an online tuner that makes life a lot easier for guitarists. Just select your desired tuning (standard, drop D, double drop D) and pluck away.

If you want more information about the library's resources for musicians of all stripes, call or email the Reference Department. The phone number is 985-876-1733. You can also contact us via online chat! You can find the "Instant Librarian" chat box on the front page of our website.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

National Poetry Month

And now befalls us April, the first full month of Spring,
When flowers bloom and Sun shines warm,
And honeybees take wing.

But so much more’s upon us than the lifting of winter’s curse!
To wit—This is National Poetry Month,
Thirty days of rhyming verse!

So come into the library to find a quaint quatrain,
(And maybe check a couple out),
It’s vacation for the brain!

Poetry Night

On the fourteenth eve of April,
At 7 pm, to be exact,
It’s “Poetry Night” at the East Houma Branch
Complete with drinks and snacks!

Come to read what you have written
And hear what others write,
With Erato become smitten
And pass a joyous night.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Teen Job Fair



If you or someone you know is a teen in search of a job, you'll be interested in our Teen Job Fair happening at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library April 18th from 9am-Noon.

Local teen-freindly businesses in attendance includes Rouse's Supermarket, Raising Cane's and Chick-Fil-A. In past years, many teens have successfully found work and businesses have found great employees through the library job fair.

Teens aged 15(with work certificate) to 19 are encouraged to attend and bring a picture ID. Neat dress is also encouraged.

For more information, contact reference Paraprofessional Carlos Crockett at 985-876-1733 or by email at ccrockett@terrebonne.lib.la.us

Friday, April 3, 2009

Jubilee Jambalaya Writer's Conference

Nicholls State University and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities presents the 2009 Jubilee Jambalaya Writers' Conference on Saturday, 4 April 2009 at the beautiful Terrebonne Parish Library, located at 151 Library Drive in Houma, located 58 miles southwest of New Orleans, off Highway 90.

Jubilee Jambalaya Writers' Conference 2009 is supported by Louisiana Division of the Arts Decentralized Grant from Houma Regional Arts Council, Friends of the Terrebonne Public Library, Terrebonne Parish Main Library, Nicholls State University, ABDON Callais Offshore, SWeeDee Garbage Disposal, Community Bank and Bent Pages Bookstore.

Featured guests at this year's event include author Heather Graham, C.C. Lockwood, Darrell Bourque and many other notables. Novelist and screenwriter Alexandra Sokoloff will give a workshop on screenwriting starting at 8:30am.

Click here for a full conference schedule.

For more information, contact Amy Whipple or Lauren Ledet at 876-5158.