Mapping America, Every City Every Block

Did you see this interactive census map from the New York Times?
Put in your zip code to check out your neighborhood.
Browse local data from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, based on samples from 2005 to 2009. Because these figures are based on samples, they are subject to a margin of error, particularly in places with a low population, and are best regarded as estimates.

Author Jon Katz on the importance of libraries

Here's a blog post by author Jon Katz (used to live in Montclair before moving to New York State to live on a farm with his dogs) about what libraries meant to him growing up.

Governor's Budget Imperils NJ Libraries

Brad Parks, author of FACES OF THE GONE, wrote a great editorial in Sunday's Star-Ledger about the Governor's proposed budget cuts:

"They’re talking about the 74 percent reduction to library funding in Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed budget, which includes a 50 percent cut in direct aid to libraries and the elimination of several statewide programs — like interlibrary loan, which was used 3.8 million times last year.

The cuts, which add up to $10.4 million, could also cost New Jersey access to $4.5 million in federal matching funds which, among other things, currently provides internet access for roughly two-thirds of the state’s 306 public libraries..."
Read more

Save New Jersey Libraries

THREATS TO NEW JERSEY LIBRARIES
(message from Highlands Regional Library Cooperative)

As many of you know, Governor's Christie's budget proposes cuts to the following budget lines: Library Network Aid, Per Capita Library Aid, Virtual Library. Additionally, the budget proposes moving the State Library under the auspices of Rutgers University, and there is a bill pending (A2555) to eliminate the 1/3 of a mil minimum funding for municipal libraries. For more details on these threats see NJLA's Legislative Alert.

We are working with the library community to develop an advocacy plan to address these threats. As our advocacy efforts develop we will be in touch with HRLC members through our listserv, webpage, blog, and all channels at our disposal.

We are asking for the restoration of 10.4 million dollars to local libraries. These funds provide libraries with Internet connections, website and email hosting, interlibrary loan, delivery of library materials, electronic resources, as well a library for the blind and handicapped.

Here are things you can do:

Use the talking points from Norma Blake


Point supporters to this Capwiz Link: http://capwiz.com/ala/nj/home/ and ask them to contact their state reps and the Governor to fight for funding. Capwiz makes it EASY!! Also, you can sign up for legislative alerts (and encourage other to do so too) here:
http://capwiz.com/ala/nj/lmx/u/?jobid=145361623&queueid=4898333736

Encourage your friends, family, and customers who support library service to Become a Library Champion so we can continue building our base of support.

Bookmarks for you to print and distribute! http://njla.pbworks.com/Library-Champions-Bookmarks (thanks to Heidi Cramer for providing)

Join (and encourage your friends, family, customers and colleagues) the Facebook Group Save NJ Libraries!

Register for the HRLC Annual Membership Meeting and Advocacy Rally

Need to book a flight?

If you're planning on booking a flight and want to get the best deal, read "Booking a Flight in the Frugal Way" by Frugal Travelers Matt Gross of the New York Times.

And you'll want to visit the library in person or BCCLS on-line to check out some travel guides for your destination. Perhaps you'd like to read some fiction set in your destination country. Here is a list from the Morton Grove Public Library's Webrary, or do a Google search of your own with relevant terms like "fiction set in England," etc.

Do you sometimes wonder why you love to travel in light of all the waiting and lost luggage and the confusion of finding your way? Jonah Lehrer offers some scientific conjecture in "Why We Travel," in The Frontal Cortex blog.

Bon Voyage!

New Jersey Building Codes

New Jersey Building Codes offers the following in pdf format:
2006 International Building Code® New Jersey Edition
2006 International Residential Code® New Jersey Edition
2006 International Mechanical Code® New Jersey Edition
2006 International Energy Conservation Code® New Jersey Edition
2006 International Fuel Gas Code® New Jersey Edition

eBooks now available on ListenNJLW

The Highlands digital partnership is pleased to announce that eBooks are now available at:
http://www.listennjnw.com/

At present these eBooks are compatible with the Sony Reader or the Nook. All you need to do is download Adobe® Digital Editions (available on the website). Note: you have the option to activate Adobe Digital Editions anonymously or with an Adobe ID. We're recommending that you use an Adobe ID. This will allow you to transfer the eBook from your computer (PC or MAC) to your reader.

There is an extensive Help section on the site which should be able to answer most of your questions.

If you or your patrons need additional help you may contact BCCLS support at: eaudio@bccls.org

Our starter eBook collection contains 116 titles. You can choose a loan period of 10, 14 or 21 days AND eBooks can be returned before the due date!!!

The ListenNJNW site now has links to Social networking sites Facebook and Twitter so your patrons can share their reading pleasures.

Happy Downloading!

The Book Club with Only One Member

Are your a social or solitary reader? These days book groups abound - ones in a physical place like the library, a classroom, a private home, or, more and more, with an online community of readers. "The Book Club with Just One Reader" by Motoko Rich in the Jan. 23 issue of the New York TImes discusses the social reading experience. And the Times is running a blog where you can voice your thoughts on the collective literary experience.

Giving to help Haiti's recovery

Below are some organizations providing disaster relief to Haiti's residents after the devastating earthquake.
The American Red Cross
http://click.e.tripadvisor.com/?qs=af772146f14abfb501d9ba3711711a40ca1fa7b860b0be88e090ccfec92c19b83db933bb52a6317c
Text "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 (billed to your phone)
The United Nations World Food Program
http://click.e.tripadvisor.com/?qs=af772146f14abfb51083471c3b5728598c4abc10400240baae54e667eca8a8e4cfab95bf661cd809
The Salvation Army
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)
http://www.msf.org/
Action Against Hunger
http://click.e.tripadvisor.com/?qs=af772146f14abfb5a8e0c071dc86b4917dc9d1a4a9f9daaec4adaa32155b376160761de742035c80
Project HOPE
http://click.e.tripadvisor.com/?qs=af772146f14abfb5422b851f04c2428527e386418f4f0ab5b996fdd4b67d1171414591184d403d89
Partners in Health
http://www.pih.org/

Texting aid is an interesting concept - http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hsJuKebFn2J1dGz3FRlzNzC95RSg

And the NYTimes offers experts opinions on the "Help that Haiti Needs." http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/the-help-that-haiti-needs/

Haiti's history of misery

Who can be untouched by Haiti's devastation by earthquake? Haiti appears to have had more than its fair share of chaos, poverty and natural disasters. And, as has happened so often in the nation's past, just when the situation was getting better, a fresh catastrophe struck, writes Nick Caistor of the BCC. Click over to http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8456728.stm to read the story. I try to check BBC frequently for their special reports and international coverage.

Play Games Online

OK, it's the weekend, so let's play
AddictingGames.com offers thousands of games - action, sports, puzzle and board, and more. Test your dexterity with Sketch a Match, do a jigsaw puzzle with Daily Jigssaw or relive your old Tetris days with Phit. Find more at FreeArcade.com

And, when you tire of all those games, go read a book!