Free Animal Health Resources

If there is new wildlife under your tree tomorrow you'll want to take a list at these free animal health Internet resources assembled by the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine . Look here for free Internet resources providing quality-animal-health-related information.

As always, please remember that your veterinarian is the very best person to consult with questions regarding your animal's health, especially if your animal is ill. If your concern is urgent, please be sure to contact him or her immediately.

Cultured Traveler

Rare Books Don’t Always Live in Glass Cases
There are dozens of libraries across the United States that house dazzling collections and often mount eccentric exhibitions but largely remain unfamiliar to the public. “What is fun is to become aware of these marvelous libraries that, though open to the public, are not well known and are filled with wonderful treasures,” said Robert S. Pirie, a prominent book collector who lives in Manhattan and has his own library of several thousand volumes.

This NY Times article describes some collections and leaves you curious to discover more.

Travel & Leisure's Top Travel Websites

Travel & Leisure's Top Travel Websites
Researching travel has become an art with myriad articles and blogs on how to get the best fares, stay in the best hotels, eat the best food, etc. etc. "T+L put hundreds of travel websites to the test to uncover the top 45 you need to bookmark before planning your next trip." And this list is so extensive that experimenting with the 45 sites may take as long as your next vacation. Consider it armchair travel and save a bundle, one way or another.

NPR's Complete List of Holiday Book Recommendations

NPR assembles all of its lists in their complete list of holiday book recommendations including Most Mesmerizing Mysteries, Best Young Adult Fiction, Nancy Pearl's Choices, Best of Foreign Fiction, Best Cookbooks, 5 Best Books to Share with Friends. If you can't find something to tempt you here, you are in big trouble!

Overlooked New York

Overlooked New York is a collection of portraits and interviews with ardent New Yorkers by Zina Saunders. Sometimes it's just interesting to live in someone else's head for a few minutes. Click first on the category (such as Rooftop Pigeon Guys), and then on the thumbnail portraits at the top of the page for each person's story. Ah, the wonders of the web!

In the News - Global Warming

The New York Times offers two very informative interactive graphic sets on global warming providing background for the Copenhagen international conference on global warming.

Who’s at the Climate Talks, and What Do They Seek?
As big greenhouse gas emitters, the United States and China are expected to be pivotal to the outcome of the climate talks in Copenhagen. Many other countries fall into the formal and informal clusters described here.

Interactive Feature
Science and Politics of Climate Change
A timeline of climate study and diplomacy.

The Perfect Gift

If you're searching for the perfect gift for the young people in your life, consider these holiday gift book recommendations from the Youth Services Committee of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System. December 2009 http://web2.bccls.org/web2/tramp2.exe/log_in?setting_key=BCCLS&screen=BCCLSVisor-December2009.html