TED: Technology, Entertainment, Design

I first encountered ted.com when I was sent an e-mail regarding the hyperbolic coral reef project http://crochetcoralreef.org/
It was a fascinating glimpse of an idea that combines science, women's art and ecology.

This small nonprofit is devoted to ideas worth spreading. Its inception was in 1984 as a conference that brought together people from three worlds: technology, entertainment, and design.Their mission is to spread ideas. As stated on their homepage they feel passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world.

They are building a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world's most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other. This website, launched April 2007, is an ever-evolving work in progress. They encourage participation.

Today, TED is best thought of as a global community.
"It's a community welcoming people from every discipline and culture who have just two things in common:they seek a deeper understanding of the world, and they hope to turn that understanding into a better future for us all."

Enjoy one more example:
Steve Jobs: How to live before you die
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html

Consult with a Librarian Service

For those who might wonder what Consult with a Librarian is about, here is a synopsis of what has occurred on that 2nd floor Wednesday night 5:30-7:00 time slot at the Health Computer location. First, you usually don't know what to expect and that can add to the excitement of wondering what the patron might need. Some examples of what I've "consulted" or taught or demonstrated follow:

• setting up email accounts
• writing and sending emails
• copy and pasting and adding attachments in email
• uploading resumes
• creating resumes
• job searching
• legal research to solve a specific problem
• remote library access

The people I have "consulted" with are an interesting mix:

• a man from Mexico
• a woman from Albania
• a man from Nigeria
• a young mother and college graduate
• a woman living in public housing

Library resources I have used:

• Job & Career Accelerator
• Mass Legal Services
• Yahoo email
• Books on resumes and cover letters

This is a beginning and we hope to expand into other areas such as finding books and magazine articles, accessing different online databases, finding resources on topics, and any other things a patron might want to learn to do. The patron "calls the shots" in this service. It is an interesting interaction and a nice way to get to know people on a professional level...whether it's One on One, Won on Won, or Win and Win...it seems to be working!

Read what people say about the library's chat reference service

"Tremendous service. i was having difficulty because i was accruing fines on a publication already returned. the librarian online went and checked the shelves & found the book! the time it took her to do this was quite a bit, and i would not have been able to stay on the phone (as I pay per minute) that long. LOVE the ONLINE service!"

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"loved it, loved it! the librarian was very helpful. It'll saved me some time... all i have to do is walk in the library, I know where to look. Great service."

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"This is a great service for anyone to use. I am able to get info that I need on subjects and areas that I'm not sure where to go to research them."

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"I am a librarian myself, and needed something for one of our patrons. The librarian was very helpful. Thanks"

Embracing eBooks - Embracing our Future

I am a WIRED geek. If I read nothing else, I always read WIRED Magazine cover-to-cover every month. This month I read a short article which struck a nerve: Abandon Ownership! Join the Rentership Society! by Chris Suellentrop (Wired November 2010). Suellentrop talks about a paradigm shift between an Ownership Society, as in home ownership, and a Rentership Society. He praised the idea of renting (houses, cars, DVDs), as a smarter choice that gives users more flexibility in our lives and allows more fluidity when we are reacting to change. The library has this down. We are all about renting books, renting DVDs, renting computers and renting rooms. Appropriately, the killer sentence in this article, for me, was: "The winner of the ebook sweepstakes will be the bookseller who becomes a book renter." He goes on to say, " I don’t want to own hundreds of books on a Kindle at $10 a pop. I want to Netflix them — pay for access to every book ever published. I’d rather be a renter in Borges’ library than the owner of my own." Why can't we win the ebook sweepstakes? We have the system set up already. It is time to focus our efforts to purchase ebooks that can be read on ebook readers: Kindle, Nook, and the iPad. We don't have to cover every technology that is out there, we just need to bet on the horse that is already winning. If we are going to reinvent ourselves to stay alive and stay current, this is how to do it. We can make this happen. After all, we have been rocking the "Rentership Society" for thousands of years.

Search Engine Optimization

About six months ago I was intrigued to read an article in the Boston Globe about marketing companies that "buried" bad news posted online about individuals and companies. Some of these marketing companies are able to charge their clients up to half a million dollars to offset the damage caused by negative blogs or press.

The strategy, I have since found out, is to pile good press and new websites into search engines like Google, Yahoo, AOL and others. This serves two purposes. First, a positive message is bolstered, and second, the negative information is suppressed. The goal is to push the negative content off the first page of a search engine and hopefully bury it at least five pages deep. This tool, called "search engine optimization," is based on studies of how people search. On average, 90% of Internet users will click on a link within the first three pages of the search results.

Most of the negative information is generated either by angry consumers, business competitors, or personal enemies. Consequently, the places to find negative postings are social networking websites. So, what is the best way to find negative online content?

A website called TopTenz.net has a link to the "Top 10 Free Tools to Monitor Your Online Reputation."

Holiday Cooking via the Web

The holidays will soon be here. It's not too early to think about what to serve to family and friends.

One very rewarding (not to mention appetizing) way to plan and prepare is to look to the Internet.

The following are among the most popular and helpful:

http://www.allrecipes.com/

http://butterball.com/

http://www.cookstr.com/

http://empirekosher.com/

http://www.epicurious.com/

http://www.foodnetwork.com/

http://landolakes.com/

http://nutrition.gov/

http://vegetariantimes.com/

http://yummly.com/

Let the cooking begin. Happy Holidays.

Read what people say about the library's computer classes

June 17, 2011
Priya was a great help in coaching me on my resume and cover letter. I am switching from business to education, so I was not fully confident on the wording I should use for prospective employers. She was an excellent resource to have on hand for my job search process, getting to know my background and strengths in order to improve my resume. Thank you so much!

Ryan Bousquet

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June 17, 2011
I learned of services offered at the library that I didn't know existed before, ie. 2nd floor has computers dedicated to job serach/career info. I'll definitely let others know about the resources at the library. Priya was also very patient, polite, helpful and knowledgeable.
Thanks
Teo Evans

Mar 4, 2011
My first day of the basics computer class was good.That is the facilitators are very good teachers. Besides, I was comfortable. Thanks to the library staff.

Olivia

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Computer Basics Class: Very good teaching!

Antonia

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Feb 25, 2011
Thanks to the staff, friendly and patient beyond belief. They are very supportive. I am not totally familiar with the laptop, but great team!

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I thank you all wonderful teachers. Right now my life is turning around and I wish you all the best and the strength to continue. God bless!
Thank you.

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Feb 18, 2011
Thank you Priya very much for your help. Very Good!

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Feb 11, 2011

Today's class is great. The teachers are very good and understand everything well. Thank you for your encouragement!

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Dec 23, 2010

The computer course I attended along with my daughter was taught by Mary who incidentally was always attentive to any questions I may have had during my library visits in the past. Also, Ping has assisted me numerous times and has been most helpful anytime that I have approached her. They are truly interested in being helpful to the library patrons.

Sincerely,
Pam P.

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Dec 23, 2010

Thank you so much for your help with job/resume/Internet. Priya was very helpful. I will be back to continue this lesson. Priya is an excellent teacher!!

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Dec23, 2010

The computer course was great. Jillian and Veronica were fantastic teachers. They were so patient and I learned so much. Would highly recommend it.

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Class was very informative and I learned a lot about the computer. Bill Sweeney was very helpful in showing me about e-mail.

Cindy M.

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Dec 10, 2010

The Internet is an incredible tool, that can benefit so many people - the tutors, teachers who help the average person learn to use the computer are accomplishing a great act which allows for growth and LIBERATION!

Rodi P.

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I am very blessed today with my new teacher. I started my new resume that will help me get the job I need. Thank you for your patience.

Damaris

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I thank God because he gave me this opportunity and I couldn't ask for better teachers. Thank you ladies for sharing your knowledge of computers with so many people and for changing peoples lives by doing it.

God Bless You!

Damaris

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Class is good and interesting. I like it. Teachers explain things very well. Thank you.

Maria Feliciano


I thought that the class was a real help, and thank you very much!

Ruben

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I learned the use of two buttons which I did not know before.

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I learned to move around and am building confidence.

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"Please know that I just attended the 'Job Search and Resume Help' Workshop. What an outstanding experience!!!
Mary and Priya were SO knowledgeable, professional, supportive and talented at meeting my specific needs that I am walking out of class with an "armful" of skills, resources and EXCITEMENT because I now know that I have a world of personal AND professional support behind me!"

M. J. B

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Oct 29, 2010
"I appreciate the computer class that showed me how to access an email address. It has been a significant lesson. Thank you for providing the opportunity to learn."

Rodi

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"The class was very helpful to someone like myself who needs to know how to put elements together to write a successful resume. I appreciate the help of the instructor."

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"My God! very informative and a lot of fun, very helpful staff! What a pleasure to take part in!"

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Oct 8, 2010

"This computer training class is very helpful in many ways. The course instructors, Veronica and Jillian, are very approachable and a non-threatening environment is evident. I've enrolled in the particular class for the goal of reinforcing computer skills I learned at Easter Seals in Boston. Along the way, I'm learning about websites that are brand new to me. Jigzone is the name of one site, for example. Many thanks to the person who make this series of workshops available to the public. They truly are helping me."

Lisa M
Worcester

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Super Class!
I'm 55 years old and can't do nothing on account of my not having any computer skills - so this is great - almost tailor made. Thanks a lot!

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"This class was very informative and great because of hands on help. I learned more than ever and I feel inspired to learn more."

Thank you.
Chris S

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"Thank you! Step by step and hands on take the mystery out of basic function that most people just assume you know. Jillian was very patient and demystifying - met everybody where they were. Thanks!!!
I stayed for some help with my resume class to get introduction to 'Job and Career Accelerator'. I was lucky to having all the attention of Priya tonight. I am so pleased with guidance and information I received."

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"This class is really improving me. Now I am getting used to computer."

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"Thank so much for the class. I do not know anything about computer but I want to learn.
Thanks!"

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"I am so happy today. I thank you very much for the class. I enjoy it. Now I know how to turn on the computer on and off and also I know some basics. I am proud of Priya . She was really good."

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"Thank so much for your help. I do really need it because I do know nothing about computers. Thanks, S.M."

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"I'm really satisfied with this class, the time they take to show you. I'm pleased."

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"WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!"

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"Thank you. No more headaches!"

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Click here for information about the library's computer classes.

Starting a Small Business? Are you Prepared to Write a Business Plan? You Can Find All of Your Information at the Worcester Public Library

Before you write the plan here are some resources to help you get started

1. Encyclopedia of Business Information Sources: a "where to find" directory for statistics, trade associations, price sources, Internet databases, newsletters and periodicals, handbooks and manuals.

2. How to Set up Your Own Small Business: This how to resource will direct you to legal sources, market research, sales forecasting, advertising, purchasing, franchising, home based business, bookkeeping, financing, personnel management, insurance, and more.

3. Small Business Profiles: answers to all the questions asked in a business plan for a hundred different start-up companies.

4. Small Business Sourcebook: print and online resources to help entrepreneur's get started.

5. Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network:

http://msbdc.som.umass.edu/ These folks provide high quality, in-depth counseling, training and capital access to entrepreneurs throughout Massachusetts.

Writing the Plan

Who will be Your Customers?

1. Best Customers: Demographics of Consumer Demand: analysis of the best and biggest customers for hundreds of individual products and services.

2. Household Spending: Who Spends How Much on What.

3. Market Share Reporter: an Annual Compilation of Reported Market Share Data on Companies, Products, and Services.

4. The American Marketplace: Demographics and Spending Patterns.

Where Will you Locate Your Store?

Find Out Where Your Customers Live and Where Your Competitors Do Business

1. Cole's Directory: using US Census data this directory indicates areas that are either "upper income, middle income, lower middle income, and lower income areas." This directory also lists total number of businesses and total new businesses on a street.

2. Reference USA: an online database accessible from home that will list any type of business at the zip code, city or state level. Find the sales volume, number of employees, CEO, and more. This database also contains a unique listing of home based businesses.

3. U.S. Census County Business Patterns: www.census.gov/econ/census07/

Use economic census data to find the number of establishments, payroll and employment size by type of industry or business. This database also shows businesses that have no paid employees by number of firms and sales receipts.

4. State Profile of New England: uses census data to project labor and population growth out to 2030 by city.

Finding Money for your Start-up

1. The Directory of Venture Capital & Private Equity Firms

2. Small Business Administration

Worcester Regional SCORE Chapter 173

446 Main Street

http:www.scoreworcester.org/

3. U.S. Small Business Administration

http://www.sba.gov/index.html

Search this site for free online training programs for entrepreneurs, contracting assistance, and financial help.

4. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: This is a government wide compendium of federal programs, projects, services, and activities that provide opportunities such as loans, grants, counseling, and procurement contracts to the public.

5. Government Giveaways for Entrepreneurs by Matthew Lesko. Sources of money, help and information to start or expand your business.

Need Legal Help

1. The Entrepreneur's Legal Guide

2. Small business Start-up Kit

3. Legal Forms for Starting and Running a Business

4. How to Start a Business in Massachusetts

5. The Trademark Register

HealthCare.gov

Today the government launched a new website to help Americans through the health care maze.
By clicking on the address listed below, you can gain needed information on how this site can help you make health care options much easier to understand.

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/10/20101001b.html

Public Library Trends

Here are some interesting statistics concerning public libraries:

According to a 2009 survey visits to public libraries nationwide rose 19% between 1997 and 2007. During that same time period circulation increased by 12%.

Between 2000 and 2007 the use of Internet terminals increased by 90% (public libraries are the only source of free Internet access). In addition, expenditures on electronic materials increased by 81% between 1997 and 2007.


Most of the above statistics have been discussed in the media during our current economic recession. Library advocates use these statistics to stress the growing need for public library services. However, there are other public library trends that demonstrate a wider diversity of services that patrons need and expect.

• Electronic databases with remote access are replacing print resources for journals, magazines, newspapers and reference materials in ever increasing numbers. Patrons require research assistance to help navigate these databases.
• Wireless local area networks are becoming commonplace in libraries as patrons use the library as a working space.
• Demand for down loadable electronic books. The ability to order and renew all library items online.
• Help with online job applications as America's leading companies require potential hourly employees to submit applications electronically
• Assistance creating e-mail accounts
• The growing need for subscription job databases and links to web-based job sites.
• Assistance creating resumes and cover letters
• More and more state and federal government services are moving online. Consequently, patrons need help downloading state and federal tax forms and instructions; Registry of Motor Vehicle forms, and unemployment forms.
• Low income patrons have come to rely on free tax preparation services
• Access to civil service exam materials online
• Classes in basic computer skills
• The new generation of library users want to find information online. They expect portals that combine book catalogs, e-journals, and reference materials
• The new generation also expects virtual reference (answering reference questions electronically in real-time). Virtual reference is the current extension of remote-based services.
• The new generation participates heavily in online interactive group spaces. Libraries now use these tools (blogs, microblogging, my space, facebook) to build awareness of library programs and services as well as reader's advisory
• The library is one of the only free sources patrons have for ESL services and resources

According to current trends in library careers the most highly requested skills include experience in teaching and instruction, knowledge of integrated library systems, and the ability to create online tutorials.

Child & Family WebGuide

http://www.cfw.tufts.edu/?/page/about-us/1/

Due to the ever expanding World Wide Web parents and professionals often have difficulty locating the information they want. Even when this information seems to be relevant it is difficult to determine if it is credible.

The Child & Family WebGuide, sponsored by Tufts University, describes trustworthy websites on topics of interest to parents and professionals. All the websites listed have been systematically evaluated by graduate students and faculty in child development. These websites, selected from thousands that are available, are chosen because they provide the most up-to-date research on the topic. The goal of this web portal is to give the public easy access to the best child development information on the web.

There are five main categories of information: family/parenting, education/learning, typical child development, health/mental health and resources/recreation.The articles are updated regularly. This resource offers an option of searching for sites that are especially relevant to a particular age group (topics by age) and it offers several features requested by parents (e.g., ask an expert and research news).

Resources for High School and College Students at the Worcester Public Library

Many people are not aware that public libraries house a vast collection of magazines, newspapers, newsletters and scholarly journals. Scholarly journals are a great source for research topics for a number of reasons: they are written for students and/or professionals, the articles are reviewed by other scholars, and these articles frequently contain tables, charts, graphs and statistics.

Scholarly journals qualify as primary source material when the article was written at the time of the topic. They also qualify as such when the article constitutes a report that reflects the results of a scientific experiment or study. Other primary sources, such as a letter, speech, or interview, can also be found in these journals.

The easiest way to find an article on your topic is by searching one of several online databases. Many of the articles contain the full text and can be printed or emailed. Online databases are a fairly new technology. Consequently, the articles available will only date from about the 1980s to the present. However, database articles do cover all topics: literature, social sciences, health, business, biography, law, and more.

With a valid library card you can search the databases from home or in the library by clicking ONLINE DATABASES from our homepage: http://www.worcpublib.org/ The following are just some of the databases:

Contemporary Literary Criticism
Biography Resource Center
Health Reference Center
General Business File
Expanded Academic
General Reference Center


If the database does not have the full text of an article the library will get it for you. Just write down all or most of the following information:

1. title of the article
2. author
3. name of the magazine the article is in
4. volume or issue number of the magazine
5. date of the magazine
6. page(s) tht the article appears on

If the topic of interest dates back further than the database (pre-1980) you can still find articles. The library retains and archives back issues of its magazine subscriptions. Simply use one or more of the appropriate "indexes" that are kept in our periodicals department. Ask any librarian to assist you. Some of the indexes include:

Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature
International Index Guide to Periodical Literature
Humanities Index
Social Science Index

Newspaper articles are another great primary source if the article was written at the time of the topic. The Worcester Public Library has an online resource called MASSACHUSETTS NEWSTAND that provides full-text articles from the following newspapers: the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, and twelve other newspapers from cities and towns in Massachusetts. Most of the newspapers in the database date back to 1990 and some as far back as 1980.

If the topic precedes these dates you can try using the newspaper indexes in the periodicals department: the Boston Globe Index or the New York Times Index. The library has every copy of the New York Times on microfilm back to 1851, the Boston Globe back to 1960, and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette back to 1888. The library also has another half dozen or more Massachusetts and Worcester newspapers on microfilm that date back to 1821 and are kept in the history department.
Official Records are also considered a primary source. Consequently, some of the best primary source material at the Worcester Public Library can be found in the large collection of government publications. The federal government is one of the largest publishers in the world and the Worcester Public Library was designated to collect and archive many of those publications.

For instance, government publications contain current and historical Census materials, Congressional publications and reports, as well as laws and regulations. Other primary sources include presidential papers and speeches, military histories and tactics, maps from the U.S. Geological Survey, transcripts of war trials, and publications of the National Archives. Government publications are also your best source for statistics on every subject imaginable.
Government publications can be found by using the Library Catalog. The library uses Library of Congress subject headings to classify those publications as well as all other books, video, and audio recordings. Primary source keywords are:

• correspondence
• diaries
• interviews
• speeches
• personal narratives
• documents
• sources
  

Employment & Training Resources in Worcester

The following is a list of agencies in Worcester that offer services to adults who are seeking employment. The agencies in the second half of the list cater to special populations. I have excluded any agencies, like the YWCA, that charge a fee.

Workforce Central Worcester
http://www.workforcecentralma.org/
340 Main Street, 4th Floor
Worcester, MA 01608
(508) 799-1600 to register


Services Provided:
Career counseling & referrals to job openings.
Job search skill development (resume and online application help).
Computer training classes.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Business Empowerment Center
http://www.mlkj-bec.org/
237 Chandler Street
Worcester, MA 01609
(508)756-6330


Services Provided:
Resume and interview preparation.
Job search skills.
Computer training.


Worcester Public Library
http://www.mywpl.org
3 Salem Street
Worcester, MA 01608
(508)799-1655


Services Provided:
Resume help on Wednesday evenings, by appoint. Call 508-799-1655 x3.
Job & Career Accelerator database classes Wednesday evening and Friday morning.
The database provides a platform for creating a resume and cover letter, Internet job
searching, tutorials, and exam preparation.

Training Resources of America
332 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
(508)753-2991

Services Provided:
Provides assistance to persons aged 16-24 with career counseling and assistance in finding
work.


Worcester Community Action Council
Job and Education Center
484 Main Street, Denholm Building
Worcester, MA 01608
(508)754-1176

Services Provided:
Multiple service education, job skills and job placement for eligible out-of-school young adults
ages 16-24.

Dress for Success
484 Main Street Suite 101 Denholm Building
Worcester, MA 01608


Services Provided:
Provides clothing appropriate for job searching as well as career coaching.

Unemployment Benefits
Workforce Central
340 Main Street, 4th Floor
Worcester, MA 01608
(508)799-1600

You can apply in person or by phone. If applying by phone call the TeleClaim Center at
1-877-626-6800.

Sign up for FREE Computer Classes!

Need help with Internet, Email, Online Job Applications and Searches? A librarian can help!

Sign up for FREE Computer Classes
at the 2nd floor desk or call 508-799-1655 x3

I. Computer Basics for Beginners (4 Fridays, 9:30 am -10:30 am)

If you do not have any computer skills, need to get started with Internet, MS Word, or email, this course will help you. The course will teach you how to:
• Get comfortable with the mouse and keyboard
• Use the computers at the library
• Use the Internet
• Open up an email Account
• Open up and save a Microsoft Word Document

Time: Friday 9:30 am – 10:30 am
Location: 3rd floor, Computer Lab

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II. Resume and Job Search Help (one session, Friday, 10:30 am -11:30 am)
If you need help creating a resume or emailing your resume, searching for a job or filling out an online job application, this course is for you. You can make half hour appointments at 10:30 or 11:00. It is required that you take the Computer Basics course first if you are not comfortable with using a computer. The course will teach you how to:
• Use Job and Career Accelerator
• Search for jobs
• Create your resume and cover letter
• Tips for interview

Time: Friday 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Location: 3rd floor, Computer Lab

Call 508-799-1655 x3 or email wplref@worcpublib.org for more information