Tax form WIGS... just the thing for spring!

Need a craft to do with kids this summer? Or just the perfect spring fashion accessory? Your friendly library is here to help.

Just ask at our main library for some tax booklets (don't worry, we have plenty left over from tax season!). With two tax booklets, one pair of scissors and two pieces of tape, you'll soon be having a lot more fun than you ever expected to have with anything from the IRS. Except, perhaps, that refund!



To view the step by step illustrated instructions at your own speed, go to http://bit.ly/taxformwigs

Jennifer Hamilton
Reference Services Supervisor

eLibrary: A Great All-Purpose Database

The Terrebonne Parish Library System offers dozens of research databases that are available through any computer that can access the internet. Full-text databases are virtual libraries that contain thousands of additional materials such as books, magazines, newspaper articles, and images that would never fit within the walls of a public library.

A great first stop for your database search is eLibrary. This full text database offers basic and advanced search options covering resources in the following categories (a few examples are given):

· Newspapers (Washington Post, USA Today, Boston Globe)

· Magazines (National Geographic and Newsweek)

· Books (World Almanac, Compton's Encyclopedia)

· Maps (political, historical, and demographic)

· Websites (Federal Government websites)

· Pictures (Getty Images, Library of Congress photos)

· Audio/Video (CBS Evening News)

· Transcripts (network and cable news, National Public Radio)

By checking or unchecking the boxes next to the various sources, you can search for materials in one or more of these categories. This feature can be helpful when your teacher requests that you use multiple kinds of sources. Many teachers, for example, require students to find a information from a newspaper, a magazine, and a website.

ProQuest Essentials

The editorial team at eLibrary has created thousands of topic-specific Essential Pages on numerous popular subjects. These custom collections contain classroom and research ready content such as articles, images, video, and more. This is a one-stop-shop for finding numerous resources on a particular subject.

To access the ProQuest Essentials collection, go to the Publications tab and look in the top right corner to “Browse the ProQuest Essentials Collection”

A similar feature is the eLibrary Topic search, located between the main Search tab and the Publications tab. You can search the Topic list as well as browse through various topics grouped by category.

Publication Search

If you are interested in searching a specific publication (like National Geographic), or would like to browse at a list of publications contained in this database, visit the Publications tab. You will be able to browse by Name, Type, and Subject; and see what back issues are available for those publications. For example, you can browse National Geographic from the most recent issue back to 2001.

To search within a particular publication, visit the Advanced Search page located under the Search tab. Simply type in the publication name at the bottom of the screen before you click the search button.

Reference Search

Finally, the Reference tab offers an easy way to use a Dictionary, Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Almanac and Atlas all from one location.

If you haven’t looked at eLibrary yet, check it out. It’s a great way to start your research, and you don’t even need to come to the library to use it. If you have a valid library card and an internet connection, you’re ready to go!

- Kristen Sinclair

Reference Department

The Terrebonne Genealogical Society

One of the library's most valuable partners is the Terrebonne Genealogical Society. Formed in 1972, the TGS been working in close partnership with Terrebonne Parish Library ever since. Without the generosity and encouragement of the Society, the library would never have been able to develop its extensive genealogy collection.

The group’s focus is the area of the original Lafourche Interior, which was been divided into Terrebonne, Lafourche, and Assumption Parishes. TGS publishes a monthly newsletter, and a quarterly journal called Terrebonne Life Lines. Members have produced books on a large variety of topics, including censuses, indexes to newspaper deaths, and annual collections of obituaries. All publications are completely indexed, making it easy to find where a topic has been covered.

The Society meets at 1 p.m. on the last Saturday of every month (except for November and December), usually in the large meeting room of the Main Library. The public is enthusiastically urged to attend. Annual dues, which include the newsletter and journal, are $25 for an individual and $30 for families. For information on membership, and the many projects the Terrebonne Genealogical Society works on, see their website: http://rootsweb.ancestry.com/~laterreb/tgs/

Teen Job Fair Tomorrow!

The Terrebonne Parish Library System will be hosting their 5th annual Teen Job Fair this Saturday, April 9th. It will be held in the large meeting room of the main library from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. The purpose of the program is to provide teenagers in our community with valuable work experience, and the opportunity to earn money while developing their leadership skills.

Many local employers will be attending, including:

• Lowe’s
  
• Rouses
  
• Target
  
• Wal-Mart
  
• Raising Cane’s
  
• Buffalo Wild Wings
  
• McDonald’s
  
• Burger King,
  
• Howard Johnson Hotel
  
• Cannata’s
  
• Bayou Black Recreational Center
  

Company representatives will be available to take applications, interview and answer questions. Applicants are encouraged to dress in appropriate attire and be on time.

The job fair is free and open to anyone 16 years old and above. For more information please contact the Reference Department at (985) 876-1733.

Carlos Crockett
Reference Associate