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!