Off the Shelf

There's an App for That: Junglespeak

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000-06:00

This app is fun for kids and adults alike, for the iPad only you can listen animal sounds, watch videos, color digital animal pictures, or read about the animals with descriptions and quick facts.

Learn more about Junglespeak at Gale Cengage.

Hidden Gems

2012-01-26T09:00:00.000-06:00

The library has many hidden gems, including back issues of magazines in the Archives.

The library collects selected titles that are placed in the Archives Room. Titles include Good Housekeeping, Ladies Home Journal, Time, Science, and The Watch Word.

To view magazines from the archives, like this August 1954 issue of Good Housekeeping, just ask for assistance at the Information Desk.

Learning To Knit

2012-01-25T09:00:00.000-06:00

The library has many books on learning to knit but today I stumbled across a great set of videos on YouTube from Lion Brand Yarn that show you how to do a few different knitting skills.

Database: Smithsonian Global Sound

2012-01-24T09:00:00.000-06:00

Are you interested in listening to music from around the globe? Then take a look at the library's online database Smithsonian Global Sound.

Smithsonian Global Sound is your online resource to the Smithsonian's collection of American Folk Music, Native American sounds, Blues, and traditional music from around the world.

This online database is available to you at home 24 hours a day 7 days a week. If you have any questions or comments about this database please contact the information desk at 847-429-4680.

National Handwriting Day

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000-06:00

January 23rd is National Handwriting Day. If you're like me then you have some need to practice on your penmanship. The more time I spend typing into a computer or phone the worse my handwriting gets, so I've picked out some library books that might just reform my dreadful penmanship.

Teach Yourself Better Handwriting
By Sassoon, Rosemary
Author Sassoon Rosemary
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This practical and informative book will help readers improve their handwriting and develop their own mature and individual style. "Teach Yourself Better Handwriting "includes self-diagnosis tests to identify problems, "before-and-after" examples illustrating common faults, and a detailed section on holding the pen. It also offers advice to those with special circumstances that may affect their handwriting, such as being left-handed or having a medical condition. …More

American Handwriting: Slow and Easy
By Haynes, Janette M.
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This multi-level workbook teaches students to read and write American handwriting. It is a step-by-step instruction workbook for handwriting in the context of filling out basic forms. Both printed and cursive forms of common handwriting are taught using spacing appropriate for adults and adolescents. American Handwriting was developed for those in the workplace or classroom who do not read or write the Roman alphabet. …More

Celebration Calligraphy: Complete Instructions and Templates for Special-Occasion Alphabets, Borders, and Motifs
By Booth, Ruth
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This practical book contains templates and techniques for creating twenty beautiful commemorative alphabets, from graceful Copperplate calligraphy and flourished Gothic hands to bold and colorful lettering styles, plus a selection of complementary borders and motifs.
Produce elegant flowing scripts for traditional weddings; ornate illuminated initials for decorating family trees and certificates; ghoulish letterheads for Halloween party invitations; and playful styles for birthday cards and scrapbook pages.
Includes a guide to tools and equipment; step-by-step instruction in basic penmanship skills and key techniques such as gilding, embossing, and measuring and folding card; and actual-size letter spacing guides. …More

The Art & Craft of Hand Lettering: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration
By Cicale, Annie
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A beautiful introduction to a popular art.
Thanks to the guidance of an experienced calligraphy teacher, anyone can add a touch of elegance to invitations, handwritten poems, and a variety of surfaces. Annie Cicale provides a complete, easy-to-follow course in the art of beautiful writing and an attractive resource filled with breathtaking images. She'll guide your pen as you master broad pen alphabets, including classic uncial, Roman and italic caps, as well as playful invented styles with added variations. Copy a historical letter technique, and understand the basics of layout, design, texture, and color. Seventeen projects include a traditional certificate with decorative contrasts and flourishes; journals and scrapbooks; and even a colorful silk-screened pillow.
…More

The Taxman

2012-01-20T09:00:00.000-06:00

It's Tax Season and the library is stocking up on forms from the IRS.

You can find Federal & State tax forms on the first floor of the main library building by the Movies, Music, & More room and at the Rakow Branch.

Checkout the library's Tax Forms & Information webpage for links to additional Federal & State tax forms and for the tax websites for all 50 States.

Database: American Government

2012-01-18T09:00:00.000-06:00

Are you a political junkie or history buff? Our American History database is what you've been looking for.

Read articles about historic acts and current events, see photos and copies of original documents, and listen to historic recordings. Along with audio recordings you can also watch videos of presidents and world leaders in speeches and news reels.

This and other databases are available with your Gail Borden library card.

Remembering Dr. King's dream

2012-01-16T09:00:00.000-06:00

This month, take the opportunity to remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with two recent books about his life and work. In Through It All: Reflections on My Life, My Family, and My Faith, Christine King Farris shares her memories of her brother Martin as a small boy and as the leader he would become, and writes eloquently about their shared belief in the power of education. And if you'd rather hear from Dr. King himself, you can rediscover his most famous speech by picking up King's Dream by Eric Sundquist, which eloquently explores both the content and the context of the "I Have a Dream" speech.

Fourth graders from Watkins Elementary School recite Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial. From the Washington Post.

The Full Moon

2012-01-09T09:00:00.000-06:00

Tonight, January 9, 2012, is the full moon.

The moon has long been a source for folklore and speculation, especially on nights where the moon is full. From turning men into wolfs to influencing an increase in criminal activity the moon has been blamed for a lot of out of the ordinary occurrences and behaviors. Does the phases of the moon influence us or is it little more than a rocky body orbiting the planet?

Some links will require a Gail Borden Library card.

Full Moon
By Light, Michael
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The most thrilling of all journeys--the missions of the Apollo astronauts to the surface of the Moon and back--yielded 32,000 extraordinarily beautiful photographs, the record of a unique human achievement. Until recently, only a handful of these photographs had been released for publication; but now, for the first time, NASA has allowed a selection of the master negatives and transparencies to be scanned electronically, rendering the sharpest images of space that we have ever seen. Michael Light has woven 129 of these stunningly clear images into a single composite voyage, a narrative of breathtaking immediacy and authenticity that begins with the launch and is followed by a walk in space, an orbit of the Moon, a lunar landing and exploration, and a return to Earth with an orbit and splashdown. …More

Photographic Atlas of the Moon
By Lim, Albert
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The Photographic Atlas of the Moon is a daily photographic guide to observing the features of the Moon through a 40cm telescope and high-resolution, low-speed film. Whole Moon images are provided for each day of the 29-day lunar cycle, with labelled features and descriptive text. Selected lunar features are shown at high magnification to highlight and clearly illustrate certain regions. All lunar features are labelled using current IAU terminology. A comprehensive set of appendices detail the phases of the Moon, give a chronology of its lunar selenography and index all lunar features named in the text. …More

New Year's Resolution

2011-12-28T14:27:00.004-06:00

Will you be making a resolution to lose weight this year? There are so many different diet plans that it can be hard to know which one to follow. WebMD's Healthy Eating and Diet page gives information on many popular diets so you can choose the one that's right for you. And don't forget to visit the library for books on healthy cooking, dieting and exercise!

Website Wednesday: Tumblebooks

2011-12-28T09:00:00.000-06:00

Learn more about Tumblebooks, our animated picture books for young readers with this Website Wednesday video.

There's an App for That: Daytum

2011-12-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

If you have ever wanted a way to obsessively track everything about your life you have to check out Daytum. Daytum is available on the web or as an iPhone app.

Daytum allows you to track any facet of your life, from how many glasses of soda you drank to what kinds of dogs you see in your neighborhood.

Inspired by the Annual Reports created by the designer Nicolas Felton you too can track the minutia of life.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T18:03:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas and Happy Reading from everyone at the Gail Borden Public Library!

The opposite of correct genealogy is...

2011-12-22T15:02:00.001-06:00

Countless book have written on how to research your family correctly and thoroughly, but every genealogist needs to be reminded of how not to research! Pitfalls in Genealogical Research is that reminder. In 71 informative (and sometimes humorous!) pages the author describes thirteen pitfalls that even experienced family history researchers can be trapped by. An excellent example is chapter two, "Relationships of Similar or Identical Surnames"-- not everyone with the same surname is related. Other chapters discuss examining family traditions critically, educating yourself in obsolete terminology, and knowing the history of the places you are researching. A perfect title to absorb on a winter day off.

Find out the History of Your Kane County Home

2011-12-22T08:30:00.000-06:00

Many owners of historic buildings want to fully understand the history of their property. While unlocking the past of your home can be rewarding, the task of researching and establishing the validity of information can lead you to many sources.

The library has the resources to start you off on the right path. With the House Research page you can discover a number of helpful city and county resources.

Crossword

2011-12-21T09:30:00.000-06:00

The first crossword puzzle was published in a supplement to the New York World on December 21, 1912. Take a look at why this little puzzle has become a daily ritual for so many people.

Cruciverbalism: A Crossword Fanatic's Guide to Life in the Grid
By Newman, Stanley
Author Lasswell, Mark
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Offering an inside look at the world of crosswords, this guide to life on the grid pulls back the curtain on puzzle-making itself, outlining the history of crosswords and showing how rules and mindsets of puzzle editors have changed over time. …More

Four-Letter Words: And Other Secrets of a Crossword Insider
By Arnot, Michelle
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Crossword puzzle expert and champion Arnot has complied this irresistibly funand entertaining manual filled with fascinating facts, puzzle miscellany, andsurefire tips for puzzle solving. …More

Wordplay
By Creadon, Patrick
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From the masters who create the mind-bending diversions to the tense competition at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, Patrick Creadon's documentary reveals a fascinating look at the addictive pastime. Creadon captures New York Times editor Will Shortz working with crossword puzzle builders, talks to celebrity solvers—including Bill Clinton and Ken Burns—and presents an intimate look at the national tournament and its competitors. …More

Holiday Parties = Stains

2011-12-19T08:00:00.001-06:00

Mr. Clean Sample Bottle, 1958
Originally uploaded by Roadsidepictures

With the holidays here it is time to have friends and family over to celebrate which also can lead to accidents involving punch and the carpet. So be prepared with the know how to clean up those stains quickly and keep the party going. Check out the handy information from these websites and books to keep your holidays stress free.

Quick 'n Easy Stain Removal
University of Illinois Extension

Stain Removal Ideas and Tips
About.com: Housekeeping

Crayola Stain Removal Tips
Crayola

Heloise Hints

Boston Tea Party

2011-12-16T12:58:00.001-06:00

Bronze Franklin Mint Boston Tea Party Bicentennial 1973
Originally uploaded by kevindooley

On December 16, 1773 a group of angry men left the Old South Meeting House dressed as Native Americans and dumped ninety thousand pounds of tea into Boston harbor.

By 1773 Boston was already in an outcry over the letters of royal governor Thomas Hutchinson's letters that proposed cutting back on American liberties and a proposal to pay the civil list from customs revenues. With all the existing tension the Americans learned of the Tea Act, this act granted the East India Company to undersell competitors and still pay the Townshend duty on imported tea.

The Americans tried to stop the East India Company from delivering tea to Boston but on November 28, 1773 the first of 3 tea ships arrived in Boston harbor. Bostonians would not let the tea be received by customs and the governor would not let it be sent back to England. If the duty on the tea was not paid by December 17th the tea would be seized and sold at auction by the British customs officers. On the 16th of December a group of 150 men descended upon Griffin's Wharf and destroyed £9,659 worth of tea.

The actions at the Boston Tea Party were celebrated by the Americans but looked at as an unforgivable rebellious act by the British. New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston also participated in preventing duties tea from landing, but Boston was the only city that destroyed property. In an effort to stop this behavior the British made an example of Boston and held the whole city responsible for the Boston Tea Party.

Some links will require a Gail Borden Library card.

Nostradamus

2011-12-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

Nostradamus
Originally uploaded by dierk schaefer

Michel de Notredame, more commonly known by his Latinized name Nostradamus, was born on December 14, 1503 in the south of France. In 1925 Nostradamus graduated from the University of Montpellier with degrees in medicine and astronomy. The beginning of his career was occupied with caring for those infected with the bubonic plague which was sweeping through the French countryside. Where most doctors knew nothing about how to cure or stop the spread of this horrific plague, Nostradamus cured entire towns with the prescription of fresh air and water, new bedding, and an herbal remedy that contained rosehips, an ingredient that was rich in vitamin C. When the plague returned to France Nostradamus was unable to save his wife or children from the deadly illness. This led to Nostradamus' disgrace, everyone turned on him and he left a fugitive.

Nostradamus spent the next several years traveling the southern parts of Europe. Scholars believe that these troubling times may have contributed to Nostradamus' clairvoyant abilities. After setting with a new family in Salon Nostradamus started his practice of spending the nights studying a brass bowl filled with water. Meditation over this bowl led Nostradamus into trances that allowed visions of the future to appear. Some of these visions were published into the books of prophecies. These books contained quatrains, rhyming four-lined verses, which provided hints of future events.

Some links require a Gail Borden Library card.

Smithsonian Global Sound

2011-12-13T20:57:00.000-06:00

There's an app for that: Evernote

2011-12-12T17:39:00.003-06:00

The one app that I suggest to everyone is Evernote, it's the app I can't live without and use everyday.

Evernote is my external memory, I throw anything I want to remember here and can find it in one place. Notes from meeting at work, an article from the web about hot air ballooning, a picture of a scarf I want to knit; all of this and more can go into Evernote.

Take notes with text, voice, or photos and you can access them on the web, on your Mac or PC, and on your mobile device. They all sync together and can be searched, better yet this app is free. Check it out on your mobile device, it's available on iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows phone 7, and Web OS.

2011-12-08T10:16:00.001-06:00

For true crime lovers, what could be more tantalizing than viewing the details of all the murders in Chicago between 1870 and 1930? Check out Homicide in Chicago 1870-1930, Northwestern University's Chicago Historical Homicide Project. Not only can you search 11,400 homicide records, by name, date, address, weapon used, and many other search terms, but links provide access to twenty-three crimes of the century and ten online articles detailing aspects of crime in Chicago during those decades.

This is also useful for students researching famous Chicago murder cases, organized crime during Prohibition, changes in criminal activity, and use of capital punishment.

Turkey-Day!

2011-11-22T09:00:00.000-06:00

Heritage Turkeys
Originally uploaded by ExperienceLA

With Thanksgiving just a few short days away I wanted to point out some great websites to help with your holiday meal.

For those of you cooking a turkey this year Butterball and Jennie-O have created websites dedicated to creating the perfect Thanksgiving Bird.

Know When Your Turkey Is Done From Butterball
Use a meat thermometer to take the guesswork out of determining when your turkey is done. A meat thermometer is designed to give you an accurate reading for a thoroughly cooked turkey.

Jennie-O Turkey Store Everyday Turkey Guide
Whether you are roasting, grilling or deep-frying your turkey, Jennie-O Turkey Store can help. Find tips and cooking times in their Holiday Turkey Guide.

Don't forget the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, 1-800-BUTTERBALL, they are there to take your turkey calls on Wednesday from 8am - 8pm. Butterball will even text turkey, check out their mobile site options.

For the rest of your meal check out the recipes from Betty Crocker, All Recipes, and Cooks.com.

Remember that the library will be closed this Thanksgiving.

Faxing at the Library

2011-11-18T19:45:00.000-06:00

Did you know the library had a fax machine, located on the second floor behind the Newspaper Copier Desk? This machine is available for sending faxes, but cannot receive them. Payment may be made by Credit Card or by FAX Cash Cards, available for purchase at the Newspaper Copier Desk.

Domestic Rate

FAX Cash Card: $1.50 for one page; $3.50 up to 3 pages; $6.50 up to 6 pages
(With the Fax Cash Card 1 page can be sent 3 places for $3.50)

Credit Card: $1.50 for the first page; $1.00 for each additional page
(With a Credit Card 1 page can be sent to 3 places for $1.50 a page for a total charge of $4.50)

International Rate

FAX Cash Card: $3.50 up to one page; $6.50 up to 2 pages

Credit card: $4.95 for the first page, $3.45 each additional page

For additional information please contact the Newspaper Copier Desk at 847-429-4598.