Judy Blume speaks about the importance of libraries

April 17, 2014 at 6PM

We are hosting a special presentation on the local job market

Another tip for all of our Windows users out there. For those of you using Windows 8.1 make sure to keep your computers current with upgrades and updates. The initial release of Windows 8.1 will become unsupported next month, meaning if you have not updated to the latest version your computer could become at risk. So remember to keep all those Windows 8 computers fully updated and happy computing!

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Your Library : An Overview of March 2014

This week the library received some books that will appeal to all of the good Southern cooks out there. If you are one of these cooks – or one of the eaters who enjoys the delectable dishes prepared by them, check out these newest Southern-style cookbooks.

Down South: Bourbon, Pork, Gulf Shrimp & Second Helpings of Everything by Donald Link with Paula Disbrowe. Donald Link is an award winning chef who is responsible for some of New Orleans’s favorite restaurants. In this cookbook he shares recipes for all types of Southern food and drinks. Filled with color photographs, you will find all sorts of tastes to make your mouth water. There are detailed instructions for everything from appetizers and beverages to deserts.

In a While Crocodile: New Orleans Slow Cooker Recipes by Patrice Keller Kononchek and Lauren Malone Keller. The authors are sisters-in-law who have taken some of the greatest New Orleans style dishes and adapted them for the slow cooker. In this book, also full of color photographs, you will find recipes for dishes such as Mardi Gras Meatballs, Flambeaux Gumbo, and Twelfth Night King Cake. The slow cooking allows the seasonings and spices to work their magic, making these dishes simply scrumptious.

These books are part of our large cookbook collection found in the Non-fiction section of the library. Look for Dewey number 641. As always, if you need help locating this section, just ask a helpful staff member.

On April 26 we will be collecting expired or unwanted prescription medications.

With support for Windows XP ending today, the library would like to remind its users of the Linux operating system. We use Linux on all of the lab computers at the library. It is a safe, reliable, and totally free alternative to Windows. If the price point or maybe susceptibility to viruses is a problem for you with Windows, then we encourage you to try Linux. There are many different versions available and almsot all completely free of charge. Good luck, and happy surfing!

The library has a large collection of DVDs for young children. Whether you are looking for educational programming, or just something fun to entertain the little ones, we can help. Check out some of our new arrivals.

Justin Time Goes Exploring! This Emmy nominated series seen on the Sprout Channel, is perfect for preschoolers and families who love inspiring stories about friendship, adventure and fun. Join Justin, Olive and Squidgy as they ride an emu in the Australian outback, chug through the Canadian Rocky Mountains aboard a train, and then blast off from Cape Canaveral Space Center.

For some old-fashioned fun, try going back in time with The Flintstone Kids: Rockin’ in Bedrock. This 2-disc set includes ten episodes from the cartoon series featuring Fred, Wilma, Barney and Betty as children. Whether riding to school on a brontosaurus, skating on their dino boards, or rocking to their favorite tunes, they have fun growing up the Bedrock way.

Or your little ones might enjoy the latest from VeggieTales – Veggies in Space: the Fennel Frontier. Join Captain Cuke, also known as Larry the Cucumber, and his first officer, Mr. Spork (Bob the Tomato,) as they bravely travel where no Veggie has gone before. This fun film also provides a lesson about sharing and includes a sing along portion.

These are just a few of our selections geared towards our youngest patrons and their families. Feel free to browse our extensive collection to find DVDs that the whole family can enjoy. Please remember, however, that not all of our DVDs are appropriate for everyone, and parents are reminded to monitor their children's selections.

Tech Tip for Windows users: Windows XP will be going "end of life" on April 8th. Microsoft will no longer be offering support, bug fixes, security patches, etc. after this date, making this operating system a veritable breeding ground for viruses. To maintain a level of security, we strongly urge you to update your OS before April 8th. Happy surfing!

Your Library : An Overview of February 2014

The library is always updating its collection of books for children of all ages. Each month we receive a shipment of books that have been selected by the editorial staff at Junior Library Guild. These experts review and select the finest new titles in children’s literature.

Check out some of the titles we received this month.

For our youngest readers, we have Betty Bunny Wants a Goal by Michael B. Kaplan, illustrated by Stephane Jorish. In this cute story, Betty Bunny is excited about playing soccer. However, she becomes so frustrated when she fails to score a goal in her first game that she decides to quit. Her family finally convinces her that she can do anything if she works hard and doesn’t give up.

For independent readers (usually grades 2-5), check out Almost Super by Marion Jensen. Two brothers from a family whose members all have superpowers are finally getting their own powers. But they are disappointed in the powers they actually receive. They are sure that these lousy powers will not do anything to help them defeat their evil nemesis. In time, however, they discover that their powers, along with their wits, and some help from friends, may be exactly what they need.

And our older readers (usually grades 6 and up) might enjoy Code Name Komiko by Naomi Paul. This exciting mystery features sixteen year old Lian. On the surface, Lian is a serious student destined for a career as a concert violinist. However, Lian has a secret identity. She is Komiko, part of a group of cyber-investigators who expose injustice and corruption. When she and her group investigate a dead body that has washed ashore, they are thrust into a dangerous situation that shows that no one is ever quite who they seem to be.

The library’s collections for children are divided by age level. Books for our youngest patrons and those who read to them, are located in the XF or XPB sections. Our PF and JPB sections are geared toward independent elementary school readers. Middle and high school readers can find their books in the JF section. JF books with a YA sticker, and books found in the YPB section are intended for young adult readers. Of course, all of these designations are merely suggestions and parents are encouraged to monitor their children’s selections for both reading level and content appropriateness.

Coming soon to the Beauregard Parish Library: A brand new microfilm/microfiche scanner! This brand new Scanpro 3000 will combine all the great features for looking through microfilm into an easy to use and easy to manage computer interface. No more twiddling knobs or spinning a color wheel, the onscreen buttons make everything incredibly user-friendly! So if you'd like to look through some of the librarys microfilm collection come on in and ask about the new Scanpro 3000. We promise you won't be dissapointed!

As of approximately 1:45 this afternoon all services to the East Beauregard branch of the library have been restored. We apologize for any inconvenience this closure may have caused, but we assure you the Wye branch is now open and ready for your business! Thank you, and we hope to see you there!

Our East Beauregard branch in Wye community will be closed until further notice. A traffic incident in the vacinity this morning took out several power lines in the area. We are working with BECI to restore services as soon as possible.

We certainly apologize for this unforeseen inconvenience. Items returned to the East Beauregard book drop during this closure will not accrue late fees. In the meantime, all other branches will operate on their usual schedules. Remember: even when our buildings are closed, our digital collection is always available from our website!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The Holiday

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th. That date is the feast day of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick was a missionary to Ireland in the A.D. 400's. He converted the Irish to Christianity. St. Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Ireland. It also is celebrated outside of Ireland in cities with a large number of people of Irish descent.

In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is primarily a religious holiday. People honor Saint Patrick by attending special religious services. They also enjoy family and community gatherings. They celebrate by wearing shamrocks. According to legend, Saint Patrick used a shamrock to explain the idea of the Trinity to the Irish (see Shamrock).

In the United States, St. Patrick's Day is primarily a secular (nonreligious) holiday. Many people wear green clothing. They also hold parties and march in parades. The first St. Patrick's Day celebration in the United States was held in Boston in 1737. Today, more than 100 cities hold parades. The St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City is the largest.

Source: Myers, R. J. (2014). Saint Patrick's Day. In Public Libraries. Retrieved from http://www.worldbookonline.com/pl/referencecenter/article?id=ar484840

The Language

Irish is the national language of the Republic of Ireland and is spoken by about 355,000 speakers in Ireland and abroad. Mango Languages has Irish as one of its many language offerings.

You can learn greetings, numbers, words for dining and shopping, sightseeing, and getting help. Mango also has convenient apps for both Apple and Android so you can use the product easily on the go.

St. Patrick's Irish from Mango Languages

If you are interested in other languages, Mango has you covered. Mango currently has 57 different foreign languages, 17 English as Second Languages courses, and 4 languages in the religious and scholarly collection. Try it for free today!

If you enjoy a good Western story, we have some new items that might interest you. The library has an extensive collection of Westerns in many formats.

Some people like to read their Westerns in the traditional paperback book. Check out seven-time Spur Award Winner Elmer Kelton’s story Hard Trail to Follow. This story follows a former Texas Ranger turned farmer who is called back into action when he is needed to bring justice to a gang of escaped bank robbers who have killed his friend.

If you prefer large print, try Lawless Trail by Ralph Cotton. In this exciting tale, two lawmen clash as they attempt to capture the same outlaws. The outlaws are brothers who are known for their polite manners as they rob their victims of their life savings. Neither lawman has any sympathy for these gentlemen criminals, and both are determined to stop them in their own way.

If you would rather listen to a good Western story, we have several new books on CD, including Strike of the Mountain Man by William W. Johnstone. Smoke Jensen is trying to live at peace until a range war erupts around him. His neighbor has died and left his ranch to a young relative, but a greedy cattle baron is determined to drive him out and kill as many people as possible in the process. Smoke must help this young man keep what is rightfully his and stop the killing.

Check out these and many other Western titles in whichever format is your favorite!

Are you a fan of superheroes such as Batman or Spider-man? If so, some of our recent additions might interest you. We have a collection of graphic novels that include both of these legendary characters, as well as many others. These books are located in the non-fiction section of the library in Dewey number 741.5. You will also find several of the popular Manga series in this section, as well as other types of graphic novels.

Check out these new titles.

Batman Incorporated: Volume 1: Demon Star. Eisner Award-winning fan-favorite writer Grant Morrison concludes the Batman epic he began nearly a decade ago in BATMAN & SON, pitting the entirity of Batman Incorporated against the Levianthan organization headed by the Dark Knight's former romantic interest Talia al Ghul. As Leviathan enacts a plan that threatens the world, Batman and his allies must fight against the rising storm--but not everyone will make it out of the encounter alive. (from Amazon.com)

Superior Spider-Man: Team-Up: Friendly Fire. The saga of the Superior Spider-Man continues as Doc Ock takes Peter Parker’s body for a joyride through the Marvel Universe, taking on heavy hitters from both sides of the coin! (from back cover)

These are just two of the many titles just waiting for you to check out and enjoy. If you need help locating this section, please ask any of the helpful library staff.

I've noticed some people have been having a bit of bother printing from Google Chrome. I think part of the problem is that Chrome can get a little confused when trying to print straight from its web interface to our printer. The solution I like to tell people to use is to download a copy of whatever you are printing in PDF form first. Then print the PDF after its been downloaded. This always works and you don't need to try and bend Chrome to your will anymore.

Remember if you have trouble converting to a PDF, or just don't know how, feel free to ask one of our friendly clerks. If they can't help you they will find someone who can. Happy printing Beauregard!

One week to go!

Do you listen when TEDTalks?

Our library happily offers Access Video on Demand, a streaming video service with films covering a vast array of topics from producers like PBS, Frontline, BBC, National Geographic, NBC News and many more.

Below is one example of the TEDTalk films available for viewing. All you need is your library card and a connection! To explore the seemingly unlimited videos anytime, click "AVOD Video on Demand" in the left hand column.

"TEDTalks: Matthieu Ricard Habits of Happiness." Access Video On Demand. Films Media Group, 2007. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.

Checked out any digital magazines lately?

With Zinio, patrons can check out the newest magazines to their computers or mobile devices. Back issues are available, too!

The best part is that patrons never have to worry about overdue fines or returning Zinio magazines. They are kept in a personal Zinio account, and they don't expire.

New magazine issues are added regularly. Click the link at left in our digital library to find your next magazine!

Love the library but love your Kindle too? Wish the library was online so you could read anytime? Well we have an app for that. It's called Overdrive and it is available for smartphones, e-readers and there is a desktop version too! With Overdrive you can check out a library book from right here and download it straight to your device. Of course since it comes from your favorite library it is absolutley free!

Another great thing about Overdrive is that you do not have to worry about returning the book because it does it automatically! You can also renew them just like a physical library book. So if you want the library with you wherever you go we have you covered. Just ask one of our friendly clerks how to download the overdrive app to your device today!

Staff Meet & Greet

“Staff Meet & Greet” is a weekly series where you’ll get to know the people behind the scenes at your Beauregard Parish Library.

My name is Sue. I work at the Beauregard Parish Library in DeRidder, LA. on South Washington Street. I have been working for the Library for 29 years.

I have cleaned, delivered, repaired, shelved and sorted books. I also work on schedulling. Every day will be different from the day before. It's my responsibility to make sure all of our branches and phones are covered so that we can serve the people

I enjoy reading; one of my favorite authors is Beverly Lewis. Her book "The Secret" is truly enjoyable.

Starting a business? Universal Class can help!

Beauregard Parish Library is proud to bring its patrons Universal Class, over 500 free online continuing education courses in a variety of subjects. To access, click the link at left and crease or log in to your account. The classes are available 24/7, and certificates of completion are issued for pass rates of 70% or higher.

Entrepreneurs, these are just some classes that might interest you:

• Small Business Guide
• How to Start and Run an Online Business
• Home Business
• Accounts Receivable Management
• Accounts Payable Management
• Business Analysis
• Office 2010: Word, Excel, PowerPOint and Outlook
• Accounting & Bookkeeping
• Payroll Management

If you are interested in topics other than starting a small business, Universal Class has just the right courses for you.

If you are looking for ways to improve your mind and learn new things, check out the library’s Non-Fiction collection. We have books on all sorts of informational topics, so whether you want to learn the latest gardening strategies, or build a birdhouse, or learn about physics or philosophy, or thousands of other subjects we can help!

This week we received several new Non-Fiction books that might interest you.

The Science of Happily Ever After. This book is written by Ty Tashiro, Ph.D, a relationship expert for the Discovery Network’s Fit & Health Channel. In it Dr. Tashiro explains the science behind choosing a mate for a long and happy relationship. It contains entertaining stories based on real-life situations to illustrate its scientific findings.

The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything Fast by Josh Kaufman. Some research shows that it takes 10,000 hours to develop a new skill. However, in this book, the author shows that by completing just 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice it is possible to learn a new skill reasonably well. He used his techniques to rapidly learn several different skills and will show you how to accomplish this method. So, whether you want to learn yoga, paint a picture, or write web-based computer programs, check out this book and see if it helps you to learn a new skill quickly.

1001 Ideas that Changed the way we Think. This book starts with ancient times and goes right up to the present and explains the ideas that changed the way people see their world. It is arranged chronologically, but contains an index by category so that you can easily find ideas that interest you. It contains ideas from all cultures throughout history.

The library’s Non-Fiction collection is arranged by Dewey numbers that are assigned to the books based on their subject. Any of the helpful library staff will be happy to assist you in locating books on any topic that interests you.