ReferenceUSA Winter Webcast Schedule

Are you interested in learning more about ReferenceUSA? The following webcasts, offered by ReferenceUSA, are designed to help you get a deeper understanding of how to be effective and efficient when using the resource. To register for any session date, follow the link, select your time zone and complete the form. You will then receive meeting coordinates and confirmation by email. Attendees will need an internet connection to participate in the webcast.

We recommend starting with Search Essentials to lay down a good foundation before proceeding to the other offerings that again will either enhance the search experience (Big Data –Mapping & Data Visualization) or specific to an area of interest (Start, Manage & Grow Your Business,Uncover the Hidden Jobs Market). 

ReferenceUSA Search Essentials [Click to register]
Date: Fridays (January, February, March)
Time: 11:00 AM (1 hour)

Designed for anyone new to using the database, this hour-long session will cover all the basics of getting started with ReferenceUSA. This is also a great opportunity for current users to learn some new tips, tricks and techniques.

Uncovering the Hidden Job Market [Click to register]
Date: Wednesdays (January, February, March)
Time: 2:00 PM (1 hour)

Attendees will learn how to use ReferenceUSA as part of their Career Searching Strategy. Included will be information on the importance of having accurate information for applications and resumes, creating engaging cover letters, assembling a network of references and referrers, finding key persons at a business to act as mentors, building datasets of potential employers based on skill set, work history and preferences as well as how to prepare for interviews and interactions through thorough research.

Start, Manage & Grow! Your Business [Click to register]
Date: Mondays (January, February, March)
Time: 2:00 PM (1 hour)

Entrepreneurs and business owners will learn how to use ReferenceUSA to find the mission critical information necessary to start, manage and grow a business. 

Topics include: 
• name Search for Business
• locate hard to find vendors, both locally and nationally
• locate subject manager experts and professional services
• find investors, venture capitalists and angels
• network with other businesses in your area or in your industry
• develop relationships with related business for co-branding opportunities
• understand community demographics
• survey locations for expansion
• conduct competitive analysis
• plan delivery routes and service areas
• source new employees

ReferenceUSA Big Data [Click to register]
Date: select Tuesdays (January, February, March)
Time: 2:00 PM (1 hour)

Data Visualization is the next BIG thing in data. Going beyond static lists of information, 
ReferenceUSA can help you ‘visualize’ data elements on a map. Great for understanding how locations relate to each other or seeing densities within a specific area, the ReferenceUSA mapping tools give you a new and powerful way to better understand the landscape. Learn how to build a map to display results and how to manipulate the mapping tools to your advantage.

Reference Quick Tip: Gale Legal Forms

--Tiffany D., Reference

The Splendor of Columbia Granger's World of Poetry

What do the movies Shakespeare in Love (1998), Bright Star (2009), and Howl (2010) have in common?  They are all based on poems and poetry.  The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry database is an accessible and informative resource for poets and their works.

The quick search feature at the bottom of the home page allows users to search for poets and poems by name.  There are tabs across the top for searches by subject, biography, commentaries, history and criticism, poetry sources (ex. Afghan poetry), and a glossary.  There is a nice feature that allows users to hear a poem read aloud by clicking on the "audio" link for a poem.

For students, there is a feature that allows the user to compare poems.  There is poetry trivia on the home page and  a featured poem.  There is also a free smartphone app for the featured poem and trivia.  The only drawback to the this excellent database is that some poems, presumably due to copyright restrictions, are not reproduced in full.  The biographical information and list of poems for each poet are extensive and there are references for further research.

Finally, under the final tab on the home page, the last link is for the top 500 most anthologized poems, a treat.  The number one poem? "Kubla Khan: or, A Vision in a Dream" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.  Well worth reading.

--Harry C., Reference

CNet Review - How do I know what to buy?

Looking for the perfect present for yourself or someone else? Check out our link to CNet Reviews (Research > Consumers). This resource has the latest reviews on new products as well as their “Hottest Reviews” and “Top Review Categories.”  From Camcorders to Wearable Tech, you can find reviews on many tech items here.

For the “Hottest Reviews,” you can glance at the subject headings; price and ratings or you can click on an item of interest and get a more in-depth review. For instance, when you click on Our Favorite Windows Laptop of the year, it lists the good, the bad and the bottom line and a full synopsis as well as quick specifications. The page also details the CNet Editors’ Rating and the Average User Rating.  The price range and the review date are also given.

By looking at the “Top Review Categories” you can pick the item you are interested in and click on it or you can click on Best and the results will be a list of items reviewed.  The review will include the name, price point, stars and a brief description.  More information on that product is available by clicking on the full review.

While this is not the only source for finding reviewed items and it won't tell you where to find the item, it is a good and reliable place to start your search.

Happy reviewing and good luck finding that perfect gift!

--Cindy M., Indian Trails Branch

Help! I need a book!

What happens when you have just finished the last book in your favorite series?  If you are like me, you have a good cry and then you begin your search for another book. Although there are many sources for book suggestions, my personal go-to is the NoveList Plus database for the  Recommended Reading Lists.

To get started, first go to Research from the library’s homepage. Then, choose Literature and scroll down to find NoveList Plus. On the left side of the NoveList home page, you will find several choices for recommended reading lists.  First, select the Fiction tab or the NonFiction tab.  Then, choose the age group you are interested in.  Finally, select the genre or subject. There are typically multiple lists within a genre or subject, depending on what you are in the mood to read.

I do love a good teen book that makes me laugh out loud, so I selected the Fiction tab, the Teen age group and the Humor subject.  I had my choice between Humor, Humourous Short Takes and Humor for Guys reading lists.  After reading the book summaries and various reviews, I made my decision and checked out Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, which promised to be a hilarious read!

--Stacey L., Reference