Holiday Closings at ASL

The various winter holidays are upon us once again, and that means that all state government agencies, including the Arkansas State Library, will be closed for several days in the next few weeks. We will be closed Friday December 23rd, Monday December 26th, and Monday, January 2nd.  The Central Arkansas Library will also be closed December 23rd-December 26th, and January 1st-2nd.

Any reference questions sent to us via email, phone, or snail mail during those times will not be answered until the next business day - Tuesday the 27th or Tuesday the 3rd. Thank you for your patience.

Remembering Pearl Harbor

As you no doubt know by now, today marks the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. There are many, many good resources out there about the attacks, its consequences for the United States and the war. Here are a few available on the web:

• From the History Channel: 5 Facts About Pearl Harbor. For instance, did you know that oil is still leaking from the U.S.S. Arizona?
• An blog post/article on NPR with links to stories by survivors.
• From NewsOne, an article with some facts about African-American soldiers at Pearl Harbor, and the response of the African-American community to the bombings.
• President Obama's 2010 Presidential Proclamation for Pearl Harbor Day.

 And of course, you can always visit your local library for books and articles.

New Books Feature in our Catalog

Thanks to the work of our Circulation Librarian, Jeff Kersey, we now have a feature in our catalog that provides a list of the new books that have been added to our circulating collection.  To access this list, visit our catalog, which can be reached from the Online Catalog link on Arkansas State Library home page.  Once on the catalog main page (which you can also use to find the books and government documents  in our collection), look for the New Book list in the menu (it is in the middle of the page).

 

The list will be automatically updated approximately once a month, so check back occasionally to see what is new.

Thanksgiving Closure

This week, I just want to remind you that the Arkansas State Library, along with all the other state agencies, will be closed Thursday and Friday in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday. Any reference questions submitted via the web form or voice mail will not be answered before Monday, November 28th.

Enjoy the holiday! If you are looking for some way to help those less fortunate during the holiday season, visit the Arkansas Foodbank or locally headquartered Heifer International. Be sure to do some research on any charity you may choose to donate to at sites such as Charity Navigator.

Ask a Librarian

Time for your semi-regular reminder about the reference services available at the Arkansas State Library.  While our primary mission is to serve state agencies and state employees, we are ready and willing to answer questions from the general public, public librarians, school teachers, college students, high school students, and everyone in between. If we can't find the answer in our databases and collections, we will do our best to find someone who does have the answer.  You can contact us by phone during office hours at (501) 682-2053, or any time by using our handy Ask a Librarian form, or by writing us at:

Arkansas State Library, Attn. Reference
900 West Capitol, Suite 100
Little Rock, AR 72201

Please include a reliable way to reach you; if you have email but only check it once a month, make sure we also have a phone number and/or mailing address.

If you prefer, you can also come to the library and speak to us in person.  Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. 

We generally answer questions within 24 hours, except during weekends and holidays.

Speaking of holidays, we will be closed Thursday and Friday of next week for Thanksgiving.

Veterans Day

This Friday is when the United States celebrates Veterans Day. For a history of the celebration, visit the Department of Veterans Affairs.

If you are looking for ways to remember and/or thank veterans this year, the American Red Cross is co-sponsoring the Holiday Mail for Heroes program, where they "collect holiday cards from regular citizens all across the country and distribute them to service members, veterans, and their families." Holiday cards can be sent to the program at the following address, and must be postmarked before December 9th in order to reach recipients in time:

Holiday Mail For Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

For more information about Holiday Mail for Heroes, visit the Red Cross webpage.

The Arkansas State Library will be closed on Friday, November 11th in honor of Veterans Day. Normal hours will resume on Monday.

Daylight Saving Time

This next weekend marks the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST) in North America. On Saturday night, be sure to set your clock back an hour before you go to sleep, especially if you have anywhere to be on Sunday morning! Remember, it is fall back, spring forward - if you don't get an extra hour of sleep (or TV watching or partying) you did it wrong.

For information about Daylight Saving Time is, its history, and why it is observed some places and not others, check out this page at Timeanddate.com. For a fun interactive look at DST, check out this page at Web Exhibits. If you need to check that you went the right direction when you reset your clock, or if you ever want to make sure your clocks are set at the appropriate time, check out the Official US Time at time.gov and click on your time zone.

See you next week - enjoy your extra hour!

Asking a reference question - quick tips

It is research paper time again for many students, which means it is time to find resources. Here are a few tips to smooth your reference transaction and help the librarian assisting you find the right answers:

• As far as you can, explain the situation.  We don't need all the personal details, indeed, we don't want them, but if we know you are looking for information about the history of cancer for a class report, we may find very different resources than if you need explanations of treatments for personal reasons. 
• If you are doing research for a school assignment, at any level, bring in the assignment. Most teachers and professors have guidelines for what sort of paper they expect, how many resources they want the student to use, and so forth. We will be better able to help you if we can see the actual question and assignment guidelines than if we get a general question like "I need everything about the history of war." (Yes, we do get questions like this from time to time.)
• Realize that not everything is available on-line. Yes, an awful lot of information, data, and scholarly research is now on-line, but there are also many books, journals, and archived files that are not. One of those resources might have the best information, even if it is not the most convenient. We try to provide on-line resources whenever possible, but sometimes, we can only find what you need in an off-line form.
• And finally, if you are calling or emailing us, make sure to give us complete and correct contact information, and let us know the best way to contact you, if we need clarification. If you do not check your email very often, but sent us an email request, tell us that you prefer a phone call to notify you that we have sent you a reply or resources. If you are never at your desk phone, or cannot answer your cell phone at work or school, let us know you prefer email. We work hard to answer every question quickly and accurately, and we want to make sure you get your resources.

If you have any reference questions to ask the Arkansas State Library, you can call us at (501) 682-2053, or send an email through our Ask a Librarian form, or visit us in person. We are located at 900 W. Capitol, Suite 100, in Little Rock.

Halloween Facts

I know, I know, Halloween is still over a week away, but with the newly arrived Fall weather, and the candy in the grocery store, it seems appropriate to talk about it today (but I might just return to it next week as well). Here are some facts about Halloween taken from the Census Bureau:

• 41 Million: The estimated number of potential trick-or-treaters in 2010 — children 5 to 14 — across the United States. Of course, many other children — older than 14 and younger than 5 — also go trick-or-treating. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, <http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml>.
•  1.1 billion pounds: Pumpkin production by major pumpkin-producing states in 2010. Illinois produced an estimated 427 million pounds of the vined orange gourd. California, New York and Ohio were also major pumpkin-producing states, each with an estimate of more than 100 million pounds. (ed. note -That will be less this year, thanks to the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, which caused flooding in parts of New York and other New England states). Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/VegeSumm/VegeSumm-01-27-2011.pdf>
• 24.7 pounds:  Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2010. (ed. note - Really? That seems a bit low to me, remembering how much candy I ate as a child...) Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Industrial Reports, Confectionery: 2010, Table 1, <http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/cir/historical_data/ma311d/index.html>

If you have any Halloween-related reference questions, or regular reference questions for that matter, ask away. Use our Ask a Librarian form to send us a question. We generally reply within 1 to 2 business days. Or give us a call at (501) 682-2053, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.

Patents and Trademarks at the Arkansas State Library

It has been quite a while since I mentioned one of the more important services available here at the Arkansas State Library: Patent and Trademark assistance. We are designated a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). As a PTRC, the Arkansas State Library offers access to the following materials and services:

• Backfile Collections and Current Issues of Patents
• Official Gazette - Patents
• Official Gazette - Trademarks
• Reference Assistance and Referrals
• Patent Classification Research Instruction
• Supplemental Reference Materials
• Training Opportunities

While we do not file patent or trademark applications for you, and we cannot actually do any searches for you, we can show you where to go and the steps you will need to follow to file. We can also show you how to conduct a patent or trademark search (an essential step of filing for a patent or trademark), and provide additional resources to help you along your way. For any specific questions, you can call the library and ask to speak with a reference librarian (501-682-2053) or fill out an Ask a Librarian request.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, about 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer in women will be diagnosed in 2011. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. For more information about breast cancer, please visit the American Cancer Society, the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month website, and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure website. Locally, the Little Rock Race for the Cure will be held on October 22nd, and many staff members from the Arkansas State Library will be participating.

At the library, we also have many resources to help you understand and deal with a cancer diagnosis. While we cannot offer any medical or legal advice, we are ready to assist you in finding books, articles, and websites that can help you or a loved one. If you would like to know more about our databases or books in our collection, you can call the reference desk at (501) 682-2053 or send us a reference question using our Ask a Librarian form.

Ask A Librarian Reminder

It is time again for me to remind my loyal blog readers about the reference services available at the Arkansas State Library.  While our primary mission is to serve state agencies and state employees, we are ready and willing to answer questions from the general public, public librarians, school teachers, college students, high school students, and everyone in between. If we can't find the answer in our databases and collections, we will do our best to find someone who does have the answer.  You can contact us by phone during office hours at (501) 682-2053, or any time by using our handy Ask a Librarian form, or by writing us at:

Arkansas State Library, Attn. Reference
900 West Capitol, Suite 100
Little Rock, AR 72201

If you are feeling really ambitious, or just want to visit and see our lovely facilities, you can also come to the library and speak to us in person.  Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. 

We generally answer questions within 24 hours, except during weekends and holidays.

Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week 2012 starts this Saturday. In celebration, the Arkansas State Library will have a display of some frequently banned books, and some members of the staff have written reviews of some of the banned books they have read. The Central Arkansas Library System has a banned book related event scheduled for Saturday evening at the Main Branch in the River Market. For more information on that event, check their website. Here is the official description of Banned Books Week from the American Library Association:

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment.  Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.
Intellectual freedom—the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular—provides the foundation for Banned Books Week.  BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them.

For more information about banned books and Banned Books Week, visit the Banned Books Week homepage.

Reference Services: Obituary Searches

One popular service we provide here at the Arkansas State Library is obituary searches.

While we do not have the staff or the resources to do in-depth genealogical research for our patrons, we can search the Arkansas Gazette and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for obituary notices. If you are interested in having us do an obituary search for you, please provide us with a name and an exact date of death. The search covers approximately one week following the provided date. Unfortunately, we cannot do a search without the date of death, although you are welcome to come in person and search the microfilm yourself.

The Arkanas Gazette archives go back to 1819 on microfilm, and the Democrat-Gazette records are available through an online subscription from 1984 to the present.

A couple of caveats about obituary searches: There will be no obituary if the family did not provide one to the newspaper. If the deceased did not live in Little Rock or the surrounding towns, the chances of there being an obituary go down sharply. You may need to search the local paper instead; we do not have any local papers here at the library, but the Arkansas History Commission has a wide range of historical Arkansas newspapers on microfilm. And finally, African-American deaths were often not noted in the newspaper during the 19th and early 20th century.

Requests can be made in person, over the phone, and through the Ask A Librarian form on our website.

Library Science Collection at the Arkansas State Library

Among the various circulating collections here at the Arkansas State Library is the Library Science collection. With a continually updated collection of almost 4000 books and subject-specific journals, we have books on just about any library-related topic you can think of, be it reader's advisory, disaster preparedness and recovery, reference training and advice, or metadata for librarians. Since Arkansas does not currently have an accredited library science program, it is probably the best collection of library-related materials in the state. And they are all available to be checked out, as long as you have a Arkansas State Library card.  If you are not in the Little Rock area, you may also be able to request items through Interlibrary Loan.

For a list of the resources that are available, visit our catalog and do a power search, selecting Library Science from the drop-down menu next to the category "Type."

For information about our library card policies, visit the Circulation Loan Policies page of our website.

If you are interested in Interlibrary Loan, please check out their page on our website to see if you are eligible to request items, and to use the online request form.

If you have any further questions, send us an email using our Ask a Librarian form or give us a call at (501) 682-2053.

Labor Day

Just a reminder - the Library will be closed for Labor Day on Monday, September 5th. Any reference questions sent after 4 PM on Friday will not be answered until Tuesday.

Here are some facts about Labor Day, taken from the U.S. Census Bureau website:

• The first observance of Labor Day is believed to have been a parade of 10,000 workers on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by Peter J. McGuire, a Carpenters and Joiners Union secretary. By 1893, more than half the states were observing “Labor Day” on one day or another, and Congress passed a bill to establish a federal holiday in 1894. President Grover Cleveland signed the bill soon afterward, designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day.
 

• 153.2 million: Number of people 16 and older in the nation's labor force in July 2011. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics <http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf>  

• 26.2 million: Number of female workers 16 and older in management, professional and related occupations. Among male workers, 16 and older, 24.0 million were employed in management, professional and related occupations. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 American Community Survey, Table C24010 <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/>

•  $47,127 and $36,278: The 2009 real median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers, respectively. Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009 <http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/p60-238.pdf>

Test Prep Guides at ASL

Students are returning to school here in Arkansas, and although this school year is just starting, many are already thinking about next year, and the tests they have to take to get where they want to be. From AP exams and SAT tests to the GRE and LSAT, we have exam study guides and other test prep resources here at the Arkansas State Library. We also have study guides and information for the post office jobs exam, as well as many career advice books.

If you are interested in checking out any of these books, please contact our reference librarians for help.  They can be reached by phone (501-682-2053) or through our Ask a Librarian form, or in person, of course. If you need a library card, we can help with that too. When you come to pick up the books, just bring your driver's license or other state issued picture ID, and a utility bill or voter registration card (something with your current address on it) and our circulation staff will issue you a card.

Genealogy Resources in Little Rock

One set of questions we get asked a lot are genealogical questions - a request for an obituary, a birth or death record, any other information about a particular person or family history. Sadly, we cannot answer most of these questions, because we do not have many of the genealogical resources needed to do so.  We can do obituary searches, but only in the Arkansas Gazette/Democrat-Gazette and only if we are provided with an exact date of death. Unfortunately, in many cases the chances of us finding a very old obituary are fairly low, especially if the deceased was outside of the Little Rock area, was not a well-known state figure, or was poor or African-American.

So who should you contact for more information?

• For birth and death records after 1914, the Vital Records and Statistics office of the Arkansas Department of Health should be on your list. Prior to 1914, you may be able to get information from the local county courthouse where the birth or death took place, but that is not always the case. It may take more digging on your part.
• If you are looking for Civil War records, some county records, newspapers from around the state, and other state government-related genealogical materials, the Arkansas History Commission and State Archives is a good place to start.
• Another genealogical resource that also has a wide range of Arkansas-related historical material is the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies. Part of the Arkansas Studies Institute and a department of the Central Arkansas Library System, the Butler Center was created " for the purpose of promoting a greater understanding and appreciation of Arkansas history, literature, art, and culture" and has "more than 10 million documents and photographs on Arkansas history available for public use."

Reminder: Ask a Librarian

Every so often I like to remind readers about the reference services available at the Arkansas State Library.  While our primary mission is to serve state agencies and state employees, we are ready and willing to answer questions from the general public, public librarians, school teachers, college students, high school students, and everyone in between. If we can't find the answer in our databases and collections, we will do our best to find someone who does have the answer.  You can contact us by phone during office hours at (501) 682-2053, or any time by using our handy Ask a Librarian form, or by writing us at:

Arkansas State Library, Attn. Reference
900 West Capitol, Suite 100
Little Rock, AR 72201

If you are feeling really ambitious, or just want to visit (we have strong air conditioning, which is a big plus in this heat), you can also come to the library and speak to us in person.  Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. 

We generally answer questions within 24 hours, except during weekends and holidays.

Arkansas History Hub

There is a new resource for Arkansas state history teachers: the Arkansas History Hub. Its mission, as taken from the website is "to improve the quality of Arkansas history education across the state by providing comprehensive access to online resources, as well as facilitating the open exchange of ideas and materials between teachers, institutions and history professionals."

There are lesson plans for all ages and grade levels, a database of potential Arkansas history field-trips, and listings for professional development opportunities. You can also sign up to become a member and contribute links and plans.

Here at the Arkansas State Library, we also a range of Arkansas history-related materials, including our Arkansas Collection and Arkansas government documents.

Stay safe on and in the water

With all the hot weather we have been having here in Arkansas, many people are heading to the rivers and lakes to go boating and swimming. An increase in traffic means an increase in potential accidents. Here are some websites with tips and information to help you stay safe.

• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Boating Education: According to their website "Anyone born on or after January 1, 1986, and of legal age to operate a motorboat, must have successfully completed an approved Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Boating Education Course and carry proof while operating a motorboat on Arkansas water. The law also affects operators of sailboats." Classes and testing are provided by the AGFC. 
• The United States Coastguard also has a wealth of information about boating safety, as well as links to other organizations, such as the National Safe Boating Council.
• The Centers for Disease Control has a Fact Sheet about unintentional drowning that provides statistics about drowning (nearly 80% of all drowning victims are male) and a list of signs to watch for. This great blog entry written by a Coast Guard marine safety specialist also points out that drowning in real life doesn't look like drowning in the movies.
• Don't forget to keep your pets safe as well. While some dogs, like Labradors and Portuguese Water Dogs, are natural swimmers, others like bulldogs and Dachshunds are not. And even natural swimmers can become distressed and tired. Here is a list of 5 water safety tips for dogs.

Here at the Arkansas State Library, we also have numerous books on boating - from repair manuals to travel guides for cruises. If you are interested or want more information, please call the reference desk at (501) 682-2053, or send us an email request using the Ask a Librarian web form.

Coping With Extreme Heat

We have been experiencing some extreme heat here in Central Arkansas this past week, and it doesn't look like it is going away any time soon.  The Center for Disease Control has an Extreme Heat page with a lot of helpful information about how to deal with the heat, including how to spot the sign of heat distress in the elderly and guidelines for how much water you should drink and how often you should be drinking it.

Don't forget about your pets during the heat of summer. The ASPCA has hot weather tips for keeping your cats and dogs safe.

Here in Arkansas, most counties are under a burn ban because of the heat and dry conditions. To check if your county is affected, visit the Arkansas Forestry Commission's website.

If you do not have air conditioning at home, the Salvation Army has set up a cooling center at 1111 West Markham that will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. on days when the heat index is above 100. In addition, the City of Little Rock has opened Alert Centers and some community centers to the public. Check this article for more details.

If you need help paying your energy bills on account of the high temperatures, the Central Arkansas Development Council and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program are holding mass enrollment days for low-income residents. Today is the last day for Little Rock and Pulaski County, but other counties in the area still have days scheduled. For more information, please visit the CADC website.

To check the temperatures and the heat index, visit Weather.com or the Weather Underground. NOAA also has weather information and drought status updates for Arkansas.

Stay cool - come to the library!

4th of July Facts

This coming Monday is the 4th of July, when Americans celebrate the approval of the Declaration of Independence. To get you prepared for the holiday, here are some facts from the U.S. Census Bureau about the 4th of July:

Population

2.5 million: In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation. Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970 http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab.html 

311.7 million: The nation's estimated population on this July Fourth. Source: Population clock http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html;

Patriotic-Sounding Place Names:

*Thirty-one places have “liberty” in their names. The most populous one as of April 1, 2010, is Liberty, Mo. (29,149) Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.

*Thirty-five places have “eagle” in their names. The most populous one is Eagle Pass, Texas (26,248).

*Eleven places have “independence” in their names. The most populous one is Independence, Mo. (116,830). Nine places have “freedom” in their names. The most populous one is New Freedom, Pa. (4,464).

*One place with “patriot” in the name. Patriot, Ind. (209).

*Five places have “America” in their names. The most populous is American Fork, Utah (26,263). Source: American FactFinder; www.census.gov

There are many more facts where those came from at the Facts for Features page at the U.S. Census Bureau.

And for those of you who would like to read the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution this weekend, you can visit the Charters of Freedom page from the National Archives, and download a high-resolution version on your computer.

Finally, the Arkansas State Library will be closed on Monday, in celebration of the holiday.If you have any reference questions that need prompt assistance, please give us a call by Thursday of this week, or come back on Tuesday.

Asking a Reference Question

Here are a few tips to smooth your reference transaction and help the librarian assisting you find the right answers:

• As far as you can, explain the situation.  We don't need all the personal details, indeed, we don't want them, but if we know you are looking for information about the history of cancer for a class report, we may find very different resources than if you need explanations of treatments for personal reasons. 
• If you are doing research for a school assignment, at any level, bring in the assignment. Most teachers and professors have guidelines for what sort of paper they expect, how many resources they want the student to use, and so forth. We will be better able to help you if we can see the actual question and assignment guidelines than if we get a general question like "I need everything about the history of war." (Yes, we do get questions like this from time to time.)
• Realize that not everything is available on-line. Yes, an awful lot of information, data, and scholarly research is now on-line, but there are also many books, journals, and archived files that are not. One of those resources might have the best information, even if it is not the most convenient. We try to provide on-line resources whenever possible, but sometimes, we can only find what you need in an off-line form.
• And finally, if you are calling or emailing us, make sure to give us complete and correct contact information, and let us know the best way to contact you, if we need clarification. If you do not check your email very often, but sent us an email request, tell us that you prefer a phone call to notify you that we have sent you a reply or resources. If you are never at your desk phone, or cannot answer your cell phone at work or school, let us know you prefer email. We work hard to answer every question quickly and accurately, and we want to make sure you get your resources.

If you have any reference questions to ask the Arkansas State Library, you can call us at (501) 682-2053, or send an email through our Ask a Librarian form, or visit us in person. We are located at 900 W. Capitol, Suite 100, in Little Rock.

Father's Day Facts

From the Census Bureau's website, here are some facts about Father's Day and fathers:

The idea of Father's Day was conceived slightly more than a century ago by Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Wash., while she listened to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart, a widowed Civil War veteran who was left to raise his six children on a farm. A day in June was chosen for the first Father's Day celebration — 101 years ago, June 19, 1910, proclaimed by Spokane's mayor because it was the month of Smart's birth. The first presidential proclamation honoring fathers was issued in 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Father's Day has been celebrated annually since 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed the public law that made it permanent.

154,000 - Estimated number of stay-at-home dads in 2010. These married fathers with children younger than 15 have remained out of the labor force for at least one year primarily so they can care for the family while their wives work outside the home. These fathers cared for 287,000 children. Source: America's Families and Living Arrangements <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam.html>

 1.8 million - Number of single fathers in 2010; 15 percent of single parents were men. Source: America's Families and Living Arrangements <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam.html>

70.1 million - Estimated number of fathers across the nation. Source: Unpublished data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation 

For more facts and information, visit the Census Bureau website. The Arkansas State Library is an affiliate of the State Data Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, part of the Census Bureau network in the states.  We have census information for past years, and our librarians can provide individual training on using the Census Bureau databases. If you have any questions, please call the Reference Desk at (501) 682-2053, or send a question through the Ask a Librarian form.

Ask a Librarian

Every so often I like to remind readers about the reference services available at the Arkansas State Library.  We are ready and willing to answer your questions, no matter how small or how big.  If we can't find the answer, we will do our best to find someone who can.  You can contact us by phone during office hours at (501) 682-2053, or any time by using our handy Ask a Librarian form, or by writing us at:

Arkansas State Library, Attn. Reference
900 West Capitol, Suite 100
Little Rock, AR 72201

If you are feeling really ambitious, or just want to visit, you can also come to the library and speak to us in person.  Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. 

We generally answer questions within 24 hours, except during weekends and holidays.

June is National _______ Month

Every month has a slew of designations, some proclaimed by national agencies, others by advertisers or civic organizations.  Here are just a few named for June.

• Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month: Shelters are typically overrun with cats and kittens this time of year. For more information about adopting shelter cats, and for information about preparing your pets for disasters, check out the ASPCA and the American Humane Association.
• June is also National Safety Month, sponsored by the National Safety Council., whose website states that the goal is "to increase awareness of the top causes of preventable injuries and deaths and to encourage safe behaviors." Each week in the month has a different theme, such as Summertime Safety and Teen Driving Safety.  For more information, posters, and tip sheets, visit the NSC.
• And for all the Beatles fans out there, June 1st is the 44th anniversary of the release of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which included songs such as "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," and "With a Little Help from My Friends."

Blood Drive Reminder

Just a quick reminder about this week's blood drive, scheduled for tomorrow, June 2nd here at the Arkansas State Library.  There are still slots available for donors - you don't need to be a library or even a state employee.  Please consider donating to help your fellow Arkansans and to help save lives.  For more information, visit the Arkansas Red Cross or sign up online:

https://www.givelife.org/index.cfm

Our Sponsor Code is: ASLLR

Arkansas State Library Blood Drive

Next Thursday, June 2, the Arkansas State Library will be hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive.  It is open to all volunteers, not just staff members or state employees. If you are interested in donating blood, you can sign up for a scheduled time on-line:

https://www.givelife.org/index.cfm

Our Sponsor Code is: ASLLR

There are plenty of appointments still available.  Please consider donating if you are eligible; you can check your eligibility here. Between the flooding and tornadoes across the south, many people will be in need of blood in the coming weeks. Giving blood is a great way to help.

Disaster Resources for Libraries

Here are a few more disaster recovery resources, specifically for libraries.

LYRASIS, "the nation’s largest regional non-profit membership organization serving libraries [with a] mission of supporting libraries and information professionals by offering creative solutions and increased savings opportunities through collaboration, consulting, digital and preservation services, professional development, and group purchases," offers a number of planning resources, as well as connections to recovery assistance and volunteers.

The National Archives provides information about how to deal with papers, books, artwork, and other materials that may have been damaged in a disaster such as a flood or fire.

Disaster Recovery Resources

On May 1st, Governor Beebe "sent a letter to President Obama requesting a major disaster declaration for 57 Arkansas counties impacted by severe storms, tornadoes and floods beginning April 14. Those counties include Arkansas, Baxter, Benton, Bradley, Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Chicot, Clark, Clay, Cleburne, Cleveland, Conway, Craighead, Crawford, Crittenden, Cross, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Franklin, Fulton, Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Howard, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Lonoke, Madison, Marion, Mississippi, Monroe, Montgomery, Newton, Perry, Phillips, Pike, Polk, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Searcy, Sharp, St. Francis, Stone, Van Buren, Washington, White, Woodruff, and Yell." (From the official press release.)  This declaration means that storm victims are eligible for federal aid, as well as assistance from the Small Business Administration Disaster Loan program.

According to the Small Business Administration, you do not have to own a business to be eligible for assistance. "Renters and homeowners alike may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, cars or appliances damaged or destroyed in the disaster. Homeowners may apply for up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence to its pre-disaster condition." Some conditions do apply, so anyone interested in such a loan should contact the SBA and read the fact sheets before applying.

The Arkansas Chapter of the Red Cross has opened shelters in areas affected by flooding. For more information or to find a shelter near you, visit their webpage.  The Red Cross also has disaster preparedness kits and weather radios available to purchase.

For information about how to stay safe in floods, you can visit the Red Cross Flood Information page, and for more information about how floods form, the different kinds of flooding, and other weather related information, visit the National Weather Service Flood Safety homepage.

Arkansas Heritage Month

I am a little late bringing you this announcement, but May is Arkansas Heritage Month. The theme this year is "Conflict and Consequence: Commemorating the Civil War." From the Heritage Month 2011 website:

Today, as our nation again encounters painful strife in our country, we experience fierce and often hostile debates over cultural issues -- fortunately without the rush to arms. What better way to revisit the lessons from the Civil War to learn how to deal with our internal differences? How was your community or area affected by the Civil War? Did battles or skirmishes take place near your hometown? How did the locals live and survive during that time? What was it like for those left at home while fathers, brothers and sons went off to war? Do any Civil War-era structures remain in your community? Think of ways to commemorate this time in our history by planning a Heritage Month event to take place in May 2011.
 

 For a list of events around the state commemorating the Civil War and Heritage Month, go to the Heritage Month 2011 website.

Weather Resources On-line

We sure have been having wild weather here in Arkansas this spring. After the tornadoes came the rain and now floods. Here are a few resources to help you keep on top of it all.

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration : NOAA has everything from weather forecasts to analysis of past weather, to weather and climate related research information.
• Weather.com : The online branch of cable's Weather Channel. You can find forecasts and monthly totals for your zip code, as well as severe weather alerts and warnings.
• Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department : Get information on road closings for everything from traffic to ice to flooding.
• And a repeat from last week, Arkansas Red Cross. Give time and monetary donations to help your fellow citizens affected by the storms.

Help for Tornado Recovery

Those of us at the Arkansas State Library extend our condolences to all the people affected by this weeks' storms in Arkansas and across the South.  If you would like to help, either with you time and talents or with a monetary donation, here are a few ways to get started:

• American Red Cross: " the nation's premier emergency response organization," the Red Cross helps survivors of small and large disasters. You can help by donating money, blood or time. Here is the website for the local Arkansas chapter.
• The Salvation Army is also accepting donations and helping survivors in Arkansas and Alabama.
• According to this notice on the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette web site, anyone interested in volunteering for the Vilonia clean-up effort can call 501-626-2093 or 

  People who want to volunteer to help, should go to the Vilonia Primary School on U.S. 64. It will be open 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Bring identification so that authorities can scan a driver's license or other identification and produce a volunteer badge to give volunteers a badge and the accompanying access needed to help.

   

Hunger in Arkansas

As the gardening season gets going here in Arkansas, it is a good time to think about those who do not have enough to eat on a regular basis.  Did you know that almost 18 % of the people in Arkansas are food insecure?  That is 505,000 people - half a million of your fellow Arkansans.  What is food insecurity?  According to the national charity Feeding America, food insecurity is the USDA's measure of the "lack of access, at times, to enough food for a healthy life for all family members [and] limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods." Check out all the facts about hunger in Arkansas and the United States at Feeding America.

If you want to help, Feeding America is a great place to start.  From their mission statement: "Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Our mission is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger." Their website has information about finding a food bank in your area, volunteering, and donating money.

Want to find something more local? Arkansas Rice Depot is Arkansas's largest food bank. They also have a list of ways to help in the community.  Arkansas Food Bank is another Little Rock-based food distributor that you could help by volunteering or donating time and money.

Many churches and civic organizations also support local food pantries. Some food pantries may accept home-grown produce; if your zucchini produces more than you could ever eat, why not give some of it to a food pantry?

Celebrate National Library Week!

April 10-16 is National Library Week all around the country.  Here at ASL we are celebrating by highlighting our new books in the display cases on the first floor and by giving all patrons who sign up for a new library card an "I love my library" button.  If you are interested in getting a library card, please check our policy page for the requirements.  If you have any questions about the Arkansas State Library and our policies, you can send us a reference request using the Ask a Librarian form, or you can give us a call at (501) 682-2053.

It's Tax Time Again

Your Federal and State taxes are due next week. Did you know that there was no income tax until the Civil War? or that the 16th amendment to the Constitution was passed in 1913, setting up the Internal Revenue Service? For more general history on the income tax, check out this article from InfoPlease.

In Arkansas, the Department of Finance and Administration contols the state income tax process. For more information about the history of this state agency, check out their entry in the Encyclopedia of Arkansas.

Here at the Arkansas State Library, we have state forms available on paper and electronically.  While we do not have the Federal forms and we cannot help you fill them out, we can help you access them through the IRS.gov website, and provide you with resources that may help you, including Bender's Tax Return Manual. 

Automotive and DIY Resources at ASL

While the main mission of the Arkansas State Library is to assist state agencies and state employees with government documents and other resources, we do also help other patrons with a wide range of requests.  We have several databases that may be of interest to anyone who wants to do their own automotive repairs or other DIY projects.  These and other databases can be accessed remotely by approved state employees, and in-house by the public.

• Auto Repair Reference Center : Contains information on most major manufacturers of domestic and imported vehicles, with repair information for most vintage makes starting as far back as 1945. Database content includes approximately 26,000 vehicles covered from 1945 to present, over 150,000 factory drawings and step-by-step photographs, approximately 70,000 technical service bulletins, recalls issued by the original equipment vehicle manufacturer, over 100,000 enhanced wiring diagrams for easy viewing and printing, specifications, and maintenance schedules. 
• Home Improvement Collection : Even the smallest home improvement project can be daunting: with this collection of nearly 100 home improvement focused titles, hobbyists and professional carpenters alike will immediately put their projects on a more solid foundation. Coverage includes such topics as architectural techniques, tool and material selection, zoning requirements, and many more.
• Small Engine Repair Reference Center : This database serves as a reference and provides instructional information about small engine machinery maintenance and repair. SERRC contains the full set of small engine repair manuals from Clymer. These manuals contain thousands of accurate and concise step-by-step maintenance and repair instructions for hundreds of small engine machines and their supporting components. Routine maintenance, such as tune-ups and brake service, as well as more extensive repairs involving engine transmission disassembly are covered. Engines types include: motorcycles, ATVs, personal water craft, snowmobiles, lawn mowers, tractors, snow blowers, generators, and more.

We also have a large collection of Chilton repair manuals in the physical collection that are available for checkout.  For more information about our databases and eligibility for off-site access, visit our website.

Last chance to sign up for E-rate

Thursday marks the final day for schools and libraries to file E-rate paperwork for funding year 2011. If you are a potential recipient and need more information about the deadline, contact Amber Gregory, the state coordinator of E-rate services, at amber (at) library (dot) arkansas (dot) gov or call her at (501) 682-8576.

For the rest of you who may be interested in learning more about E-Rate, visit the E-rate page on our website. There you will find a description and more information about the program:

E-Rate is a program through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that allows schools and libraries to receive discounts on technology such as telecommunications and internet access.  By funding discounts on connectivity, E-Rate allows schools and libraries to keep pace with constantly evolving technology.

Earthquake preparedness and Relief options

We are all touched and saddened by the news that has been coming out of Japan this week following the earthquake and tsunami on Friday. If you are interested in making a monetary donation to relief organizations, consider using a charity rating system, such as Charity Navigator, to help decide which group to support. Charity Navigator ranks charities based on a variety of areas, including how much donor money actually gets to the people the charity serves.  Doctors Without Borders is rated as a 4-star (out of 4 stars) charity, as are World Vision and Save the Children. There are many 4 and 3 star charities to choose from.

Here in Arkansas, the earthquake in Japan, as well as the recent earthquake swarm near Greenbrier and Guy, should remind us to have emergency kits and plans in place, before a natural disaster strikes. For more information about how to prepare, visit Ready.gov, FEMA, and the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut.

A quick patent video

Here is an interesting, short (4 minutes) video from the White House about the length of the patent process, and some of President Obama's suggestions for reforming the current system to make it more efficient.

 The Arkansas State Library is a Patent and Trademark Depository Library, and we offer inventors and businesses assistance in starting the patent or trademark process. We cannot help you to do the requisite patent or trademark searches, but we can show you the basics of the process and provide resources that try to demystify the process. If you have questions about the patent or trademark process, please get in contact with our reference staff. You can call us at (501) 682-2053, use the Ask a Librarian email form on our website, or come visit us in person, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.

If you want to get started with the process or just want more information about the Patent and Trademark Office, you can visit their website and click on the appropriate section.

Disaster Preparedness

On Sunday evening, we had the most powerful earthquake in Arkansas in 35 years. It even made the New York Times!  The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management has provided a page with helpful tips to help you get prepared, in case the next earthquake is even bigger.

Earthquakes aren't the only natural disasters that hit Arkansas - we also get tornadoes, fires, floods, and the occasional ice storm. The best way to stay safe in such events is to be prepared. The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has information about disaster preparedness kits, for home, work and school.

Spring is on its way here in Arkansas. Why don't you take some time out of your spring cleaning to make an emergency kit for your family?

Patent Office in the News

There is an interesting article in the New York Times today about the United States Patent Office and the new director's attempts to modernize and speed up the patent process. If you are interested, you can read the article here.

The Arkansas State Library is a Patent and Trademark Depository Library, and we offer inventors and businesses assistance in starting the patent or trademark process. We cannot help you to do the requisite patent or trademark searches, but we can show you the basics of the process and provide resources that try to demystify the process. If you have questions about the patent or trademark process, please get in contact with our reference staff. You can call us at (501) 682-2053, use the Ask a Librarian email form on our website, or come visit us in person, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.

If you want to get started with the process or just want more information about the Patent and Trademark Office, you can visit their website and click on the appropriate section.

Next Monday's Holiday

Next Monday is the observance of George Washington's birthday, and for Arkansans, the celebration of Daisy Lee Gatson Bates.  The popular name for the holiday is President's Day, or is it Presidents' Day?  There is some confusion in the name, and what is being celebrated. Officially, it is to commemorate the birth of George Washington, the nation's first president, although many people assume it is to celebrate all presidents.  There used to be a separate holiday in February for the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, but it was sort of subsumed into the more general holiday.  If you are interested in learning more about the "controversy" over the holiday, check out this article on Snopes.com.

For those of us in Arkansas, the day also commemorates the life and legacy of civil rights activist, Daisy Gatson Bates.  She was a mentor to the Little Rock Nine, and with her husband published a newspaper, the Arkansas State Press. For a more detailed biography, as well as pictures and suggestions for further reading, visit the Encyclopedia of Arkansas.

Here at the Arkansas State Library, we have books by and about Daisy Gatson Bates, as well as books about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other presidents - if you prefer the idea of celebrating all presidents.  You can look through our catalog by visiting our main website, where you can also submit an electronic reference question, or you can call a reference librarian at (501) 682-2053, or you can come visit us in person, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.

African-American History Month

February is African-American History Month in the United States. Here is a bit of the background on this commemoration, taken from the U.S. Census Bureau Fact for Features:

To commemorate and celebrate the contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, American historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week. The first celebration occurred on Feb. 12, 1926. For many years, the second week of February was set aside for this celebration to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist/editor Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, as part of the nation's bicentennial, the week was expanded into Black History Month. Each year, U.S. presidents proclaim February as National African-American History Month.

Here at the Arkansas State Library, we have many print resources that center on African-American history and African-Americans.  We also have online databases, such as Gale Biography in Context, the Diversity Studies Collection from Gale, and the Chicago Defender newspaper archives, that can help students or others looking for more information about African-American history. These databases are available to the public here at the library.

Go Red for Women

February is American Heart Month in the United States.  During this month, the American Heart Association will focus on women and women's heart health.  From the goredforwomen.org site: "To dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of women, the American Heart Association created Go Red For Women – a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health."

Plan to wear red on February 4th in support of women, and visit the Go Red for Women website for more information.  If you choose to make a donation, "The American Heart Association uses all revenues from local and National Go Red For Women activities to support awareness, research, education and community programs to benefit women."

Government Resources

Perhaps you have heard mention of the weekly presidential radio address before, but if you are like me, you were never able to find out when or where it was broadcast.  Now, thanks to the White House web page, you can view videos of these weekly addresses and read the transcripts.  Elsewhere on the web page, you can find links to the president's schedule, issues that President Obama is working on, information about the various branches of the American government and much more.

Did you also know that Governor Beebe also has a weekly address? It is available as a podcast on his website. This, and the main Arkansas state government website, have valuable information for the citizens of the state. If you are not already familiar with the website, take some time to check it out and poke around. You never know what information you may find.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Monday is the observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day - all state offices will be closed, including the Arkansas State Library.

The Little Rock Central High National Historic Site will hold several commemorative events on Monday.  For further information, visit their website.

A few reminders for the New Year

A new year is the perfect time to remind you about all the services available through the State Library Services Division of the Arkansas State Library.

• Public Access computers, with up to two hours of access a day
• A large circulating non-fiction collection and Arkansas collection
• Reference librarians available Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM in person or over the phone (although if you need an immediate answer you would be best to call before 4:30) (501) 682-2053
• The Ask a Librarian email form for reference questions that are less urgent.

For more information about the Arkansas State Library and our services, please visit our website, give us a call, or drop by for a visit.