Project Recovery

The Terrebonne Parish Library System announces its partnership with LSU's School of Library and Information Science (LSU SLIS) for the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian program “Project Recovery.”

LSU SLIS was awarded a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to recruit and educate 30 students for professional employment in southern Louisiana libraries. Students eligible and selected to participate will receive IMLS-funded scholarships to earn master’s degrees in librarianship focusing primarily on academic, public, and school libraries.

Following completion of their coursework, students will be required to find employment in an academic, public, or school library in Southern Louisiana affected by hurricane disasters. On September 23, at 1p.m., Dr. Robert Ward will provide an information session for individuals interested in taking part in Project Recovery. This session will take place in the DISTANCE EDUCATION CLASSROOM, located on the second floor of the Main Library at 151 Library Drive in Houma, near the Civic Center.

Dr. Ward will be available throughout the day beginning at 10am to talk with individuals one-on-one and answer any questions they may have. Contact Lauren Ledet at 876-5158, ext. 234 for more information.

September Project 2009: Spiritual Freedom

The Terrebonne Parish Library is taking part in the September Project this year with a series of displays celebrating the protected American right to freedom of religious expression.

On the first floor of the Main Library, you'll find the Introductory Display Table, the Buddhism Table and the Minority and Alternative Faiths Table. On the second floor, you'll find Christianity, Judaism, The Freedom to Not Believe, Islam and Hinduism. Each display features a placard informing you of how many practitioners of that particular faith are in the U.S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Each display also offers a selection of books and DVDs selected to give you a well-rounded and fair view of each faith.

We selected the faiths for the displays based on the numbers of practitioners, but we did our very best to be inclusive and fair.

For more information on the library's participation in The September Project, contact Darryl Eschete at (985) 876-1733, ext. 242 or send him an email.

Salem Press-History From Home

The Terrebonne Parish Library System has something students of history in school and out might appreciate:

The Salem History Database

Just click the link and enter your Knowledge Card barcode in the blank (no spaces), and you are off and running.

The content in here is so high-quality that it's almost unbelievable, and you can get it all from home. Everything from Aesop to Zoroaster, FULL TEXT. No charge, of course. It's your tax dollars at work!

Be sure to tell a friend or a student you know!

Databases+Librarians+You=Better Grades?

School has started and we wanted to go over how to get to our databases once again.

Go to this page:

Terrebonne Parish Library Databases

and check out the many useful databases we've got.

As an information professional I guarantee that, with a little practice, you or a student you know can use these databases to make finding high-quality information much, much easier. And that should make better grades easier, too.

We're especially proud to announce that we've got WORLD BOOK ONLINE up and running. That link is set to take you directly to the World book "Info Finder," and that should be a good start.

Also, be sure to check out the Louisiana State Library's Databases. Just enter your Knowledge Card (Library card) number in the blank.

And don't forget to ASK TESS! if you have a research or study question you just can't seem to answer.

The Terrebonne Parish Library's Reference Department takes its motto seriously: "Your Information is Our Mission."

The Giant Leap

Forty years ago today, Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the lunar surface, fulfilling President John Kennedy's inaugural promise that, before the 1960s were over, we would accomplish that very task.

The images and words have been replayed so many times in the ensuring four decades that we earthbound masses can easily forget what an enormous accomplishment this was, especially considering that, at the time, NASA had no computers more powerful than a Commodore 64.

To commemorate the Apollo 11 mission and the feats of its crew, we present the following list of links:

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Apollo 11 40th Anniversary Page

The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Apollo 11 Page

We Choose the Moon

The History Channel: Moon Landing

Video: The Small Step


Discovery Channel: When We Left Earth

The Nixon Library's Moon Landing Page

Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World

Until April 24th, the first floor of the Terrebonne Parish Main Library will be the temporary home of a travelling exhibition about founding father Benjamin Franklin entitled Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World. The exhibition was organized by the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary of Philadelphia and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The creation of the exhibit was also made possible by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Terrebonne Parish Main Library is located at 151 Library Drive, across from the Civic Center. Interactive computers have been set up to allow patrons to explore more aspects of the exhibit and we encourage the public to check out materials dealing with the life, accomplishments and philosophy of Benjamin Franklin.

For more information, call 985-876-1733 or email us.

Reference DVDs

The Terrebonne Parish Library System recently added some DVDs to its collection which, because of demand and cost, we can't allow to check out. However, patrons can ask for them at the reference desk and, upon leaving some form of identification, can take them to one of our public-access computers. Our computers are equipped with software that make it possible to watch NTSC-encoded (American) DVDs.

The DVDs can be moved between branches for patron convenience, but cannot leave any library building without special permission.

The DVDs available are:

-CDL Skills and Road Test: Straight Trucks

-CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Test: Straight Trucks

-CDL Skills and Road test: Tractor Trucks

-CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Test: Tractor Trucks

-CDL Written Test Refresher

-The World According to Google

-Information Literacy: The Perils of Online Research

-The Vocabulary of Film and TV

The DVDs are all less than one hour long. For more information about the DVDs, call Reference Supervisor Darryl Eschete at 985-876-1733 ext. 242 or email deschete@terrebonne.lib.la.us

Test Preparation...Online!

As the Terrebonne Parish Library is a member of the Louisiana Library Consortium, our patrons have access to "Learning Express Library," a database which allows you to take real-time practice tests as well as to download great test preparation materials...at no cost to you.

To use the Learning Express Library:

1. Go to http://lalibcon.state.lib.la.us

2. Pull down "Terrebonne Parish Library" on the pull down menu.

3. Enter your library card number where you are prompted. You can find this number on the back of your library card--we call it "The Knowledge Card"--beneath the bar code. It begins with "20268..."

4.

Scroll down until you find the "Learning Express Library" link (as shown above) and click on it.

5. You'll be taken to the page of Learning Express Library. You'll have to make a username and password, but remember, it's free. You register at the screen that looks like this:



6. Then, choose your subject area (like college prep)...



7. Then choose the test you desire:



And that should get you started. Remember, you can call the Reference Desk at 985-876-1733 if you need some help.

Save Gas With the Fuel Economy Guide!

The Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy jointly publish a yearly guide to fuel economy to let automobile consumers know which models guzzle and which models sip.

The guide is available online, and is a handy tool when you're in the market for a new or used car.

EPA Fuel Economy Guide 2009

Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month

Approximately 5 million people were victims of identity theft in the past year, according to FBI crime reports. That's more people than live in the entire state of Louisiana. Identity thieves are ruthless and shrewd and, worse, without conscience. December is National Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month, and thus a very good time to learn to protect yourself. Here are some links that might help you do that:

The Louisiana High Tech Crime Investigation Association has some great links to help keep you safe online.

The US Department of Justice Identity Theft and Identity Fraud page

The AARP's Guide to Preventing Identity Theft

The Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Reference Desk


The FBI's Guide to "Protecting Your Good Name From Identity Theft"

The FTC's guide to what to do if you have already been a victim of identity crime.

Another victim's guide, from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

Lung Cancer/COPD Awareness Month

Ever been around somebody smoking a cigarette? Don't they smell terrible? They don't look so hot, either. Well, November is LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH and COPD AWARENESS MONTH, so you might take the opportunity to tap your friend on the shoulder and say, "Hey! You don't just look and smell bad, but you're killing yourself and possibly me!" Then, direct them to this blog so that they might explore the following links:

Lung Cancer

The National Cancer Institute's Lung Cancer Page--has so much good, solid information laid out so neatly that it makes you feel like a medical professional just to look at it. Includes an amazing Dictionary of Cancer Terms.

The American Cancer Society has chapters all over America with support and information for victims of the disease.

Medline Plus is the user-friendly interface of the National Library of Medicine.

And what if you DO get diagnosed? Cancer.net has a find an oncologist database that helps you find a doctor who can treat it.

COPD

What, exactly, IS COPD? Once again, the National Library of Medicine can help.

The American Lung Association's COPD Center has great information about the disease.

The Mayo Clinic's COPD page is very easy to use and well-organized.

About.com's COPD page is run by a registered nurse with respiratory therapy expertise...and a useful and informative blog.

This article from Medline tells us the number one cause of COPD: smoking.