It's raining, it's pouring

The weather in Little Rock has been damp lately, to say the least. This has put me in a weather sort of mood, so here are a few resources about the weather that are available at the Arkansas State Library:

• Let's start off with the Macmillan Encyclopedia of Weather by Paul Stein (QC 854 .S74 2000). This covers the basics of the weather, everything from Acid Rain to Mesocyclones to Winter Storms and Zonal Flow. The writing is easy to understand, and there are lots of color photographs and other illustrations.
• Tornadoes are a definite possibility in Arkansas, so to learn all about them check out The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm by Thomas Grazulis (QC 955 .G74 2001). Using both the stories of historical tornadoes and current scientific data, Grazulis demystifies tornadoes at the same time as he debunks tornado myths and provides safety information for the reader.
• For up-to-date and up-to-the-minute weather data, check out the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For anyone interested in the weather, this is a great website to spend some time on. There are pages about current weather, information for teachers, government reports, and other news. At the library, we also have access to a subscription database of NOAA climatology data available for in-house use.

For these and other weather-related resources, check out our website and catalog.

Ask a reference question

Although the main mission of the Arkansas State Library is to serve state employees and public libraries throughout the state, we also have many services for the general public.

For instance, if you are a state resident, you are eligible to apply for a library card that allows you to check out books from our non-fiction collection. All you need to apply for a library card is a driver's license or other government-issued ID, and a second form of identification that has your address on it, such as a utility bill.

You don't have to have a library card to make use of the library, however. You are welcome to come in whenever we are open (Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM) to use the computers, do research or ask reference questions. We have three full-time reference librarians to answer your questions, and if we can't answer the questions ourselves, we can usually find someone who can. There are several ways to get in touch with us:

• In Person: Walk in and ask away.
• Over the phone: Call our information desk at (501) 682-2053 and ask to speak to a reference librarian.
• Snail Mail: send requests to us at Arkansas State Library Reference; One Capitol Mall, 5th Floor; Little Rock, AR 72201
• Our on-line Ask A Librarian form. Simply fill in the blanks, and we will get back to you as soon as we have an answer.
  

Arkansas State Job Resources Online

Times are tough, and finding a job can be difficult at the best of times. Here are some Arkansas-based online resources that may be able to help.

Job Aspirations: An online career resource center with links to other Arkansas job search websites, as well as to job resources in other states.

Arkansas Jobs: An employment website. Including job databases, for job seekers and employers. The site is part of the LocalCareers.com Network.

Arkansas Department of Workforce Services A comprehensive array of services for Arkansas employers and job seekers.

Arkansas Business Arkansas Job Listings (formerly Arkansas Jobs.com):
A free jobs board, this service links employers in Arkansas to job candidates.

Arkansas Job Link: A government-maintained database of available jobs throughout the state.

Arkansas State Jobs: Database of available Arkansas state government jobs.

Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center: The main portal for a wide range of small business information and advice.

Arkansas Business Portal: A listing of various business-related state government websites.

Reading about TV

If you can't get enough TV, but also want to find something good to read, here are a few books about TV to help you out:

• Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street by Michael Davis (PN 1992.77 .S43 D38 2008) Covering the 40 year history of Sesame Street, this book tells the story behind the scenes of the longest-running children's show on television.

• For fans of Julia Child, Rachael Ray, or any of the countless other television chefs, then Watching What We Eat: The Evolution of Television Cooking Shows by Kathleen Collins (PN 1992.8 .C67 C65 2009) may be for you. Collins "illuminates fow cooking shows have both reflected and shaped significant changes in American culture" (from the book jacket).
  

• The Elephant in the Living Room: Making Television Work For Your Kids by Dimitri Chistakis and Frederick Zimmerman (HQ 754 .T4 C545 2006) will help you learn how much TV is too much, how to decide which shows are appropriate for your child, and how to turn TV into a useful tool, instead of a faceless babysitter.

All of these books are available to be checked out here at the Arkansas State Library.

Don't throw your computer out the window!

We have all been there - the software changes on your office computer, and you can't figure out how to do the everyday things that are essential for your job. Don't get upset - get yourself over to the Arkansas State Library. We have a range of materials to help you adapt and grow, in spite of the new software. Here are three recently arrived titles:

• 2007 Microsoft Office System Step By Step by Joyce Cox et al. (HF 5548.4 .M525 C69 2008): This comprehensive book covers all of the big Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, Access and Outlook. Each section covers the basics of the new formats, as well as explanations of the various features.
• For a more in-depth look at some of the programs, the library has Create Dynamic Charts in Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and Beyond by Reinhold Scheck (HF 5548.4 .M523 S34 2009) and Beyond Bullet Points: Using Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 to Create Presentations That Inform, Motivate, and Inspire by Cliff Atkinson (HF 5718.22 .A87 2008). Both of these books go into detailed demonstrations of the respective programs and the many new features you can use to improve your charts and presentations.
  
• Don't want to use a book, or need something a little more lively? The library also has a series of videos for Access, Excel, Word and Outlook. Ask a librarian for help finding these titles.
  

In addition to all of these, there are many other resources to help you tackle new programs without getting too frustrated (I won't promise perfections, since we are still dealing with computers!).