Arkansas State Library Reference Desk

Arkansas State Government Resources

2012-01-25T11:48:00.000-06:00

Here in Arkansas, the Fiscal Session of the 88th General Assembly starts next month, on February 13th. Right now, legislators are preparing and filing proposed legislation and holding preparatory meetings. You can see the daily schedule of committee meetings, find information about state legislators, and once the session has started, see what bills were filed that day, all on the legislature's home page. You can also find links to searchable versions of the Acts of Arkansas back to 1987, and the Arkansas Code (the state statutes that provide the laws for the state).

Here at the State Library, we have the Acts of Arkansas going back to early statehood, as well as the most recent version of the Arkansas Code. Because we are a government depository, we also have information published by other Arkansas state agencies, as well as the rules and regulations that govern those agencies. These collections are all open for public use, and our reference librarians can help you find the materials you need. To send a request, use our Ask a Librarian form.

How to Request a Book

2012-01-17T10:00:00.000-06:00

In addition to the reference services, the Arkansas State Library also has an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service open to public, college, university, and special libraries, as well as requests for work-related materials for full-time permanent Arkansas state employees. State employees' requests must be directly related to their state jobs, and not to personal research, academic classwork, or extracurricular activities.

As with reference requests, there is a handy ILL form available for you to place your request. The state employee form is here, and the library form is here.

For more information on the ILL eligibility requirements, please visit the ILL page of our website or contact the library at 501-682-2053.

Ask a Librarian Reminder

2012-01-10T10:27:00.002-06:00

As I like to do periodically, I want to remind you how to ask a reference question of the librarians here 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, the library and all other state agencies will be closed next Monday, January 16th in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

E-Rate filing begins next week

2012-01-04T10:06:00.002-06:00

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

The filing window for E-Rate applications opens next Monday, January 9th at 11 A.M. If your library or school is eligible, now is the time to apply. If you have any questions of need help with the process, contact Amber Gregory, Coordinator of E-Rate Services, amber@library.arkansas.gov, 501-682-8576. For more information, you can also visit the E-Rate page of our website: http://www.library.arkansas.gov/Erate/Pages/default.aspx

Holiday Closings at ASL

2011-12-20T08:15:00.001-06:00

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

2011-12-07T15:41:00.001-06:00

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

2011-12-01T15:56:00.001-06:00

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

2011-11-22T13:24:00.001-06:00

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

2011-11-16T16:19:00.001-06:00

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

2011-11-07T10:41:00.001-06:00

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

2011-11-01T13:44:00.002-05:00

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

2011-10-28T10:41:00.000-05:00

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

2011-10-19T16:16:00.000-05:00

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

2011-10-12T13:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-10-04T13:40:00.000-05:00

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

2011-09-28T15:10:00.003-05:00

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

2011-09-21T13:51:00.000-05:00

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

2011-09-15T11:40:00.001-05:00

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

2011-09-07T13:28:00.000-05:00

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

2011-08-31T16:11:00.000-05:00

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

2011-08-23T08:54:00.000-05:00

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

2011-08-10T14:17:00.000-05:00

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

2011-08-03T10:14:00.000-05:00

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

2011-07-27T14:09:00.001-05:00

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

2011-07-20T10:37:00.000-05:00

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

2011-07-12T11:07:00.000-05:00

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

2011-06-29T08:30:00.003-05:00

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

2011-06-21T10:58:00.000-05:00

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.

Father's Day Facts

2011-06-17T10:46:00.000-05:00

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

2011-06-07T10:43:00.000-05:00

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

2011-06-01T10:40:00.000-05:00

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

2011-06-01T08:50:00.000-05:00

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

2011-05-24T08:52:00.000-05:00

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

2011-05-19T10:09:00.000-05:00

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

2011-05-17T10:29:00.000-05:00

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

2011-05-12T10:08:00.000-05:00

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

2011-05-03T15:27:00.000-05:00

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

2011-04-28T12:54:00.000-05:00

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

2011-04-18T09:00:00.001-05:00

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!

2011-04-11T08:21:00.000-05:00

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

2011-04-07T14:08:00.000-05:00

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

2011-03-30T10:33:00.001-05:00

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

2011-03-22T09:22:00.000-05:00

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

2011-03-14T09:16:00.000-05:00

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

2011-03-07T08:59:00.000-06:00

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

2011-03-01T15:15:00.000-06:00

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

2011-02-21T08:18:00.000-06:00

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

2011-02-17T08:57:00.000-06:00

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

2011-02-01T13:11:00.000-06:00

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

2011-01-27T13:25:00.000-06:00

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

2011-01-20T08:41:00.000-06:00

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

2011-01-14T15:16:00.000-06:00

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

2011-01-05T09:36:00.000-06:00

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.

Total Lunar Eclipse

2010-12-20T08:23:00.000-06:00

Tonight is not only the winter solstice, but also a total lunar eclipse. It will be visible (cloud conditions permitting) across all of North America. The eclipse will begin at approximately 12:30 AM Central Time, and will last for 3.5 hours. For more information, including a chart that provides specific times for all the major North American time zones, go to Stardate.org.

Read!

2010-12-09T11:36:00.000-06:00

Look what has popped up in downtown Little Rock! This picture was sent to us by the Arkansas Center for the Book. The website it recommends, www.read.gov, has reading suggestions for all ages, resources for parents and teachers, and links to interesting programs such as the Letters About Literature contest. Our Arkansas Center for the Book has its own Letters About Literature page. This year's contest entries must be postmarked by tomorrow, December 10th, so it might be too late to enter this year, but check back in 2011 for the next contest. Please visit our web page for more information about the Arkansas Center for the Book.

Holiday Closure Schedule

2010-11-23T13:14:00.000-06:00

The Arkansas State Library will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 25 & 26, for the Thanksgiving holiday. We will reopen on Monday at 8 AM. In December, the library will be closed December 23rd & 24th, reopening on Monday the 27th, and closed on the 31st for New Year's holidays. Any reference requests sent during that time may take a few extra days for a response.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

New Website Reminder

2010-11-17T10:43:00.000-06:00

Consider this a reminder to check out the new Arkansas State Library Website. There you can find information about scheduling a meeting in one of our meeting rooms, how to file the required state agency documents with our government documents section, and how to send in a reference request. You can also find links to other informational sites and connect to our catalog to find books.

If you have any questions or suggestions about the new website, send them through the Ask a Librarian form and we will pass them on to the appropriate people.

Veteran's Day Closures and Events

2010-11-10T10:19:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is Veteran's day. Some government offices and services will be closed or on reduced schedules. All Federal, State and local government offices are closed, including post offices and mail delivery.

From the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs website, information about ceremonies at the State Capitol:

The Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs will present a Veterans Day ceremony on Thursday, November 11th, at 11:00 a.m., in the State Capitol rotunda. This ceremony is to honor all veterans who have, and are serving this nation, whether in war and or peace.

Governor Mike Beebe will give the Veterans Day address. Arkansas Veterans’ Commissioner Colonel Tom Thomas, U. S. Army, Retired, will be the Master of Ceremonies. The 106th Arkansas Army National Guard Band will be providing the music and the Little Rock Air Force Base Color Guard will present the colors.

This observance will be held on the second level of the State Capitol rotunda. The tunnel entrance will be open with internal elevators to the second floor. Wheelchair access is available through this entrance as well. Veterans Day is a state holiday and there will be plenty of parking available.

Celebrate Veterans

2010-11-03T10:34:00.000-05:00

Next Thursday is Veteran's Day here in the United States. Veteran's Day was first officially observed on November 11, 1919 as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of the First World War. It became an official holiday in 1926, and in 1954 the name was changed to Veteran's Day to commemorate the sacrifices and service of American soldiers of all wars. For more information about the history of Veteran's Day, check out this page from the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 21.9 million military veterans in the United States. 1.5 million of those veterans are women. 5.5 million veterans are living with disabilities. For more statistics about veterans, visit the U.S. Census Bureau Facts page.

If you or someone you know is an Arkansas veteran in need of assistance or information, visit the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs webpage.

New Library Website!

2010-10-19T12:55:00.000-05:00

The Arkansas State Library has a new website! All the old information you are used to finding is still there, but in a new design. Spend some time looking around, and let us know what you think. You can use the Ask a Librarian page to send comments or questions, as always.

As a result of the change, the Ask a Librarian page also has a new address.

World Statistics Day October 20

2010-10-15T11:25:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, October 20th is World Statistics Day. To celebrate, here are some statistics provided by the Census Bureau. If you want to learn more, or find some interesting statistics for yourself, check out their Facts for Features pages.

74.5 million: The number of children under 18 in the U.S. in 2009. Source: 2009 population estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/national/asrh/natasrh.html>
5.3 million: Estimated number of “stay-at-home” parents in 2009 in the United States: 5.1 million mothers and 158,000 fathers. Source: America's Families and Living Arrangements <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam.html>
310 million: Estimated current U.S. population. We reached 300 million in 2006, 200 million in 1967 and 100 million in 1915. When our nation achieved independence in 1776, we had a population of only 2.5 million. *National and state population counts from 2010 Census data will be released by Dec. 31, 2010.
Source: U.S. and World Population Clocks <http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html>
24.3 pounds: Per capita candy consumption in 2009. Source: Current Industrial Reports, Confectionery: 2009 <http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/cir/historical_data/ma311d/index.html>

How to get an Arkansas birth record

2010-10-06T11:27:00.000-05:00

For genealogists, vital records, such as birth, death, and marriage certificates, can provide valuable information. If you too are searching for a record of a relative, or perhaps you just need a copy of your own birth certificate, the best place to start is with the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records Office. There, you can find the forms to order certificates, as well as a Frequently Asked Questions section for each type of record.

Birth and death records are available from 1914 t the present, marriages from 1917, and divorces from 1923. Some rules do apply about who may request records for individuals, but those circumstances are covered in the FAQ.

Go Pink for a Cure

2010-09-30T10:28:00.000-05:00

Governor Beebe has declared tomorrow, October 1st, as Go Pink for a Cure day, "to bring about awareness of the importance of mammography and to renew its commitment to remove barriers that prevent women from seeking mammograms." So, wear pink, find someone who will be walking or running in the Little Rock Race for the Cure on October 16th and give them a donation, and support the fight against breast cancer.

You can find the entire text of the proclamation on Governor Beebe's website, under the News Room tab. All other gubernatorial proclamations, executive orders, and news releases are also available there.

For more information about the Little Rock Race for the Cure, got to the Komen Arkansas web page.

Hispanic Heritage Month

2010-09-21T11:35:00.000-05:00

September 15th marked the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. Here are some useful links that provide information about the month, suggestions about ways to celebrate, and government information for Spanish-speaking immigrants.

National Hispanic Heritage Month: A web portal put together by the Library of Congress, the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. This site provides information for teachers and visitors to various museums and institutions in Washington D.C.

StoryCorp Historias: StoryCorps Historias is an initiative to record the diverse stories and life experiences of Latinos in the United States. A joint effort between the Library of Congress and National Public Radio. You can hear stories and learn about how to record your own story.

GobiernoUSA: The Spanish-language portal for official government information.

The UALR Minority Student Advocacy group has a variety of events planned for the month. Visit their website for information about specific events.

Economic Census Data Conference

2010-09-09T10:08:00.001-05:00

The Census Bureau is conducting conferences and hands-on workshops for data users on the 2007 Economic Census during 2010.

New users learn about the range of data about businesses available from the Census Bureau, including both the Economic Census and more frequent data sets.
Experienced users learn about new features of the data, comparability issues, and qualifications of the data.
Attendees gain skills in accessing Economic Census data in American FactFinder.
Attendees have the opportunity to tell others about their own practical applications of the data and learn what others are doing.

The Arkansas State Library will be hosting 2 of these conferences on September20th, from 8:30 AM to Noon, and from 1 PM to 4:30 PM. For more information about the conference or to register for a session, visit the Census Bureau Economic Census Conference web site or send a reference request to Ask a Librarian.

Labor Day Facts and Figures

2010-08-31T09:01:00.000-05:00

Workers in the United States will celebrate Labor Day this coming Monday. Here are some facts and figures about Labor Day taken from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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 a “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.
154.4 million: Number of people 16 and older in the nation's labor force in May 2010.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf
7.6 million: Number of workers who hold down more than one job. So-called moonlighters comprise 5 percent of the working population. Of these, 4 million work full time at their primary job and part time at their other job. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as cited in the Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010, Table 596 http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/
-5.3%: Percentage decline in employment in the United States, between September 2008 and September 2009. Employment declined in 329 of the 334 largest counties (large counties are defined as having employment levels of 75,000 or more). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cewqtr.pdf
17.7 million: Number of commuters who leave for work between midnight and 5:59 a.m. They represent 13 percent of all commuters. Source: 2008 American Community Survey http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm

For more information about American workers and the Census Bureau, follow the link to the Census Bureau Fact page or the Census homepage.

Food Safety Resources

2010-08-25T09:34:00.000-05:00

You may have heard about the massive egg recall that has been in the news for the past two weeks and wondered if it affects you. Here are several websites that you can use to check on this and other food safety issues:

Foodsafety.gov : This site is "the gateway to food safety information provided by government agencies," and includes information about recalls, preventative measures you can take to keep food safe, and food poisoning. It also has an Ask the Experts section that provides phone numbers, email addresses, and links to live chats where you can ask your specific questions.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety : the FDA is one of the government agencies that provides information to the Food Safety website, but it also has its own website with news about current recalls (food, drug, and medical devices) and food safety.

Arkansas Department of Health : For information specific to Arkansas, check out the state's Healthy Arkansas site, which includes information about recalls, as well as information pages about diseases, healthy living, tobacco cessation programs, and heat safety tips.

Back to School Homework Help

2010-08-18T11:05:00.001-05:00

It is back to school time here in Arkansas (the continuing summer notwithstanding) so here are a few links to resources for the students in your life:

Internet Public Library: A web page with links to thousands of resources on a multitude of topics. You can also ask questions and have them answered by library professionals and librarians-in-training.

Infoplease Homework Center: Another great site for finding links and documents. "Information Please has been providing authoritative answers to all kinds of factual questions since 1938—first as a popular radio quiz show, then starting in 1947 as an annual almanac, and since 1998 on the Internet at www.infoplease.com."

LibrarySpot: According to their website, LibrarySpot is "a free virtual library resource center for educators and students, librarians and their patrons, families, businesses and just about anyone exploring the Web for valuable research information." The resources and links available " are hand-selected and reviewed by our editorial team for their exceptional quality, content and utility."

Refdesk.com: Refdesk is "a free and family-friendly web site that indexes and reviews quality, credible, and current web-based resources."

Historic Military Records for Arkansans

2010-08-10T08:54:00.000-05:00

One question we get fairly frequently is how to find military records for Arkansan ancestors who may have fought in the Civil War. While we have many books on the subject in our Arkansas Collection (just type Arkansas Civil War into the search box on our catalog), we do not have any of the actual service or pension records here at the Arkansas State Library.

There are two local archives, however, that do have military information. The first is the Arkansas History Commission. They have Confederate Pension Records as well as Confederate Home Records. To find links to more information about these and the other records the History Commission holds, look at their Military Records page.

The second archives in Little Rock is the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, part of the Arkansas Studies institute which is a joint venture between the Central Arkansas Library System and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The Butler Center was created "for the purpose of promoting a greater understanding and appreciation of Arkansas history, literature, art, and culture."

Both of these institutions are great resources for anyone looking for more information about the history of Arkansas and their own family's place in that history. And don't forget to check out our own Arkansas Collection of books.

If All Arkansas Read the Same Book

2010-08-04T08:32:00.000-05:00

Have you been participating in this year's If All Arkansas Read the Same Book program? Are you as hooked on the Sookie Stackhouse novels as we are here at the Arkansas State Library? If so, you should head on over to the If All Arkansas Read the Same Book blog for some exciting news about the upcoming Charlaine Harris author event. And, if you are on Facebook, check out the Arkansas Center for the Book page that will keep you up to date on events and book club news.

Learn a Language!

2010-07-27T11:16:00.001-05:00

You took a foreign language in high school, mostly because it was required, but you've forgotten most or all of what you learned. You want to go on a vacation to a country where English is not the primary (or secondary) language. You want to impress a potential date with your knowledge of their language. All of these, and more, are reasons to learn a foreign language. And the Arkansas State Library can help.

We have a number of language-learning tools available for checkout*, such as Take Off in Italian, a set of 5 CDs and a coursebook that can help you start to learn Italian today. Some of the language-learning tools in our collection cover Italian, French, Greek, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Japanese. To see if the language you want is available, check out our on-line catalog, or give us a call at (501) 682-2053.

*Subject to normal borrowing restrictions, of course. Check with the Circulation desk for eligibility if you do not already have a library card.

Ask A Librarian

2010-07-21T09:14:00.001-05:00

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 link, 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.

Free Online Health Resources

2010-07-14T11:24:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't like free resources? Certainly not librarians - we love them. And we love to share them. Today, I am sharing a few health-related resources.

The first is healthfinder.gov. This site offers:

Guides for healthy living that are quick and easy to use.
Tools to help you stay healthy.
An encyclopedia of over 1,600 health-related topics.
The latest in health news.
Ways to locate services and information such as finding a community health center or your local library.
A listing of healthfinder.gov's most requested topics and popular searches.
News and information in Spanish; and
A calendar of special days, weeks, or months used to raise awareness of important health topics such as World AIDS Day or the Great American Smokeout.

You can check symptoms, get more information about medications you might be taking, and find a doctor, dentist, or other health practitioner in your area.

Next, letsmove.gov: According to the website

Let’s Move! will combat the epidemic of childhood obesity through a comprehensive approach that will engage every sector impacting the health of children and will provide schools, families and communities simple tools to help kids be more active, eat better, and get healthy [by]
empowering parents and caregivers
providing healthy food in schools
improving access to healthy, affordable foods
increasing physical activity.

There are activities for kids, facts, recipes and food plans, and much more.

The Arkansas Department of Health has a wide range of information about local programs for Arkansans, including links to in-home care programs and smoking cessation classes.

More Job Resources

2010-07-06T12:41:00.001-05:00

Here are some links to job search resources from the Federal government:

Career OneStop (formerly America’s Job Bank): http://www.jobbankinfo.org/
A U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored Web site that offers career resources and workforce information to job seekers, students, businesses, and workforce professionals to foster talent development in a global economy

Workforce3 One, Department of Labor/Employment and Training: http://www.workforce3one.org/
An e-learning, knowledge sharing webspace that offers workforce professionals, employers, economic development, and education professionals a dynamic network featuring innovative workforce solutions.

Department of Labor/Employment and Training: http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/
U.S. Department of Labor website intended to assist the nation’s workforce professionals in serving the needs of workers and business.

Bureau of Labor Statistics Jobseeker resources: http://www.bls.gov/audience/jobseekers.htm
Statistics and information about a wide range of occupations and industries.

Occupational Outlook Handbook: http://www.bls.gov/oco/

Small Business Administration: http://www.sba.gov/
An independent agency of the federal government created to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns.

FedJobs Career Center: http://www.fedjobs.com/
Federal job listing website that also includes a toolbox specifically targeted for federal job hunters, both first-time applicants and those already working in federal service.

Recovery.Gov http://www.recovery.gov/
The Federal Government website for information related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Job Seeking Resources at ASL

2010-07-01T11:27:00.000-05:00

Here are some job-seeking resources available in print here at the Arkansas State Library:

How to say it on your résumé: a top recruiting director's guide to writing the perfect résumé for every job by Brad Karsh HF5383 .K378 2009

Finding a job after 50: reinvent yourself for the 21st century Woodward, Jeannette A HF5382.7 .W68 2007

Résumé magic: trade secrets of a professional résumé writer 3rd ed. Whitcomb, Susan Britton HF5383 .W46 2007

Federal resume guidebook : write a winning federal resume to get in, get promoted, and survive in a government job 3rd ed. Troutman, Kathryn K. JK716 .T73 2004

Writing and formatting a scannable resume [electronic resource] United States. Office of Disability Employment Policy. L 41.2:2004018495/[ONLINE] http://webharvest.gov/peth04/20041108024600/www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/ek99/resume.htm

The essential guide to business etiquette Chaney, Lillian H. HF5389 .C468 2007

The complete idiot's guide to the perfect job interview Dorio, Marc A. HF5382.7 .D62 2009

The everything get-a-job book : the tools and strategies you need to land the job of your dreams McKay, Dawn Rosenberg HF5549.5 .I6 M327 2007

Top 100 computer and technical careers : your complete guidebook to major jobs in many fields at all training levels
Farr, J. Michael QA76.25 .F37 2009 (Earlier edition also available as e-book)

Top 100 careers without a four-year degree : your complete guidebook to major jobs in many fields Farr, J. Michael HF5382.5 .U5 F375 2009 (Earlier edition also available as e-book)

Occupational outlook handbook (Online) United States. Bureau of Labor Statistics L 2.3/4:[ONLINE]
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm

Election Results

2010-06-09T14:06:00.000-05:00

Wondering about the results of the June 8th primary run-off election? The Secretary of State's Vote Naturally page is your place to look. There, you can find a quick view chart listing the results from all of the races up for a vote in the election or you can find out the voter turnout by county (only 35% of registered voters in Pulaski County voted in the May 19th primary). You can even find information about past elections going back to 1992.

From the Vote Naturally homepage, click on the green Election Results button to get to the Election Results page, then pick your election.

Oil Spill Information

2010-06-02T10:21:00.000-05:00

One of the biggest news items right now is the continuing oil spill in the gulf of Mexico. If you are interested in following the story more closely, here are a few resources:

Live video feed of the spill is available many places. Here is the feed provided by the House of Representatives Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

The Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness has a website with projected trajectories for the spill, using Google Earth, along with phone numbers for people interested in volunteering, reporting oil on the shore and other related matters.

Both Alabama and Florida also have web pages set up to provide more information to their citizens about the spill.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Response and Restoration has an incident page with information about the spill that is updated daily.

Memorial Day

2010-05-25T12:57:00.000-05:00

Next Monday, May 31st, is the day that Memorial Day is observed this year. For many Americans, the three-day weekend marks the beginning of summer, and is hardly more than a day off from work or school. It's origins, however, are much more solemn. In the aftermath of the Civil War, it was seen as a day of reconciliation and remembrance. The Library of Congress American Memory website says that:

In 1868, Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic issued General Order Number 11 designating May 30 as a memorial day "for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land."
The first national celebration of the holiday took place May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery, where both Confederate and Union soldiers were buried. Originally known as Decoration Day, at the turn of the century it was designated as Memorial Day.

If you are interested in visiting historical sites that also act as memorials over the long weekend, one option here in Arkansas is Pea Ridge National Military Park. Arkansas was an active front during the Civil War, and and according to the National Park Service website, "Pea Ridge was one of the most pivotal Civil War battles, and is the most intact Civil War battlefield in the country."

If you would prefer something a little closer to home, Mount Holly Cemetery is "listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the final resting place for 11 Arkansas governors, 14 state Supreme Court justices, five Confederate Generals, and numerous heroes of military conflicts." (taken from Online Little Rock). It is just south of downtown Little Rock at 1200 Broadway.

Arkansas State Library on Facebook!

2010-05-11T10:03:00.001-05:00

There is now another way to get information about the Arkansas State Library: the Arkansas State Library State Library Services Facebook Page.

You can also find the Arkansas Center for the Book, which is where If All Arkansas Read the Same Book is housed, and the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

Check the pages out and then come in to visit.

Privacy Week

2010-05-04T09:29:00.000-05:00

The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom has declared May 2-8 Privacy Week.
Here is a statement to our patrons, taken from a prepared handout on the site:

Our library is committed to protecting the privacy
and confidentiality of our users. Why?
Because we believe that freedom of speech is meaningless
without the freedom to read. Confidentiality and privacy are
essential to these freedoms, because if library users have to
worry about being judged, punished, ostracized, or put under
surveillance, they may censor themselves. They may not seek
answers to their questions or read the things they want to
read, either in print or online. To be free and to govern
themselves, people must be able to explore ideas—even
controversial ideas—without fear.
If library users aren’t doing anything wrong, why
should they care about privacy?
There are many reasons why library users might want their
privacy and confidentiality protected. Perhaps they have been
diagnosed with a disease and want to learn more about it
before they tell their children. They may be suffering from
domestic or child abuse and want to find out how to get help.
They may be researching their rights before deciding to blow
the whistle on illegal activity at work. Or perhaps they’re
planning a special vacation as a surprise gift for a loved one.
Privacy isn’t about protecting people who are doing bad
things. It’s about giving our users the power to decide for
themselves who will know about their reading and research
interests. If a user chooses to share her reading list with
others, that’s fine; but we can’t assume everyone wants that.
But what if someone is doing something wrong, and
the police need to see their library records to
investigate a crime?
Librarians comply with law enforcement requests for
information about users—as long as those requests come in
the form of court orders. This ensures that a third party has
considered whether the information is really critical for the
investigation, and it helps prevent unnecessary invasions of
privacy.
Questions?
Please speak with the library director or a member of the
library staff.

For more information about Privacy Week, visit the Privacy Revolution website.

Arbor Day

2010-04-29T10:58:00.000-05:00

Apple Blossom, picture taken at Queen Wilhelmena State Park, March 2009

Arbor Day is tomorrow, April 30th. Did you know it was first celebrated in 1872? It is not a major holiday, there are no chocolate trees or special Peeps commemorating the day, but that doesn't mean you can't have some fun with it. Here are a few ideas for you from the Arbor Day website:

Plant a tree in your yard
Take a hike in the woods and enjoy being in the trees. Arkansas has many fine state parks with hiking trails for all abilities. If the weather isn't good this weekend, plan to go hiking next weekend.
Learn to identify the trees in your neighborhood. The website has a great interactive page to help you with that.

State Library Services Will Come To You!

2010-04-20T08:42:00.000-05:00

Are you interested in how the Arkansas State Library could help your department or agency? Confused about how to make use of Interlibrary Loan or Ask a Librarian? If you are a State Agency, let the State Library Services staff come to you! We have a presentation that is ready to take on the road that will cover all our services, including:

Circulation
Interlibrary Loan
Ask a Librarian and other reference resources
Databases
Patents and Trademarks

In less than an hour, we cover these topics and show what we can do for you. If you are interested, contact the State Library Services supervisor, Michael Strickland, through Ask a Librarian or by calling (501) 682-2053.

Are you registered to vote?

2010-04-13T08:47:00.000-05:00

April 19th is the deadline for Arkansans to register to vote before the May 18 Preferential Primary. Are you registered to vote? If you are, do you know where your polling place is? The Secretary of State's office has several ways for you to find out.

The Vote Naturally web page. This is your one-stop shopping place for all election information. You can search the voter database by your name and birth date; if you are registered, you will see the address where you are registered, as well as your various congressional, judicial, school and state congressional districts. Your polling place location and address will also be listed. Vote Naturally also has information about when and how to vote, candidates, the machines you will be using to vote, and past elections.

Prefer to check via your smart phone? The Secretary of State has just introduced a new mobile application for you. Check it out on the SOS website: www.sos.ar.gov/m

Plan to vote and make your voice heard.

April Showers (of information)

2010-04-06T13:35:00.000-05:00

These days, every month (and every week) has a plethora of celebrations, awareness-raising causes, and anniversaries associated with it. April is not only Tax Month and Census Month, it is also National Kite Month, Alcohol Awareness Month, and National Pecan Month. Here are a few more April Celebrations and Causes:

Child Abuse Prevention Month : Sponsored by the National Exchange Club Foundation. Their website has lists of resources about child abuse prevention. For information about reporting child abuse here in Arkansas, go to the Arkansas Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting page of Arkansas.gov.

Jazz Appreciation Month: The Smithsonian Museum launched JAM in 2001 as an annual event that pays tribute to jazz both as a historic and living American art form. It has since grown to include celebrations in all 50 states and 40 countries.

National Donate Life Month: "Every day in April, people across the U.S. make a special effort to celebrate the tremendous generosity of those who have saved lives by becoming organ, tissue, marrow, and blood donors and to encourage more Americans to follow their fine example." At the website you can find information about how to become a donor and read President Obama's proclamation declaring April National Donate Life Month.

These Month designations and many more have been taken from Chase's Calendar of Events 2010, which we have available here at the Arkansas State Library. Now, go out and celebrate April!

Get Counted!

2010-03-23T08:39:00.003-05:00

Last week I wrote about taxes, but that is not the only activity this season - it is also time for the decennial census. Every 10 years, the people of the United States are given the opportunity to be counted. Census questionnaires are being mailed out to every household in the country, and your response will help the government better allocate funds to improve your community.

Here are some facts about the history of the census, taken from the Census.gov website:

The first census began more than a year after the inauguration of President George Washington. At its conclusion, the U.S. population totaled approximately 3.9 million and the largest cities were New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; and Boston, MA.

Following the abolition of slavery in 1865, ex-slaves were named in the 1870 census for the first time. Before then, they were simply recorded numerically by age.

The 1900 census included Hawaii (annexed in 1898) for the first time. Census takers counted approximately 154,001 inhabitants on the islands.

The 1940 census collected information about the population and its housing. It was also the first decennial census to use advanced statistical sampling techniques. Sampling allowed the addition of a number of demographic questions without unduly increasing the overall burden on respondents and data processing.

Census 2000 incorporated a $167 million advertising campaign to reach every person living in the United States. This advertising contributed to a reversal in the decline of response rates experienced since the 1970 census.

For more information about this year's census, visit the 2010 Census page. If you have questions, or need help filling out your form, the English language assistance number is 1-866-872-6868.

Tax Season

2010-03-16T09:09:00.002-05:00

It is tax season once again, so here are a few links that can help you file your taxes.

Internal Revenue Service: The website for the IRS has information about filing your taxes, from the most simple, to the more complex. All the forms you need are available for download, and there are links to e-file providers. You can also find a link to IRS offices in Arkansas, where you can go to get help with problems and questions about tax law.

Here in Arkansas, we also have to file Individual Income Taxes, so you will need the website for the Income Tax Office. As with the IRS website, you will find forms, instructions, and a FAQ section to help you file your taxes. If you are eligible to file electronically for your federal taxes, you may also be eligible to file your state income taxes electronically, and you will find the links for state e-filing here.

Some low-income, military and/or elderly filers may qualify for free tax-preparation assistance. For more information on who qualifies, go to the IRS Free Tax Preparation page.

Opening Day!

2010-03-10T09:55:00.002-06:00

It is official! We will be re-opening to the public on Monday, March 15. Our hours will be 8 AM to 4:30 PM, and we will still have public computers available, as well as reference services, patent and trademark information, and plenty of books to check out.

2010-01-19T09:53:00.003-06:00

The blogosphere and traditional news are full of appeals and information about how to give money to help Haiti. If you decide to give money, it is important to make sure that the charities you give to will use your money wisely, not just now in a time of crisis, but on a regular basis. There are several places online that you can go that evaluate charities. My favorite is Charity Navigator. From their website:

Charity Navigator's rating system examines two broad areas of a charity's financial health -- how responsibly it functions day to day as well as how well positioned it is to sustain its programs over time. Each charity is then awarded an overall rating, ranging from zero to four stars. To help donors avoid becoming victims of mailing-list appeals, each charity's commitment to keeping donors' personal information confidential is assessed.

This information includes the CEO pay, how much money goes to fund-raising and operational costs, versus how much goes to actually doing their charitable work.

The Better Business Bureau also has a database with information about charities for donors.

Moving Update: The library is in the process of settling in to the new building. We are still closed to the public, but are taking phone and email reference requests. No firm re-opening date has been set, although it is likely to be in late February or early March.

Moving Reminder

2009-12-01T13:19:00.002-06:00

This Friday, December 4th, is our last open day here at One Capitol Mall. Effective December 7th, public access to the library will be restricted to the following:

returning checked out materials
filing documents with Document Services
returning materials to the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
email and phone reference services. This means that you can still call us at 501-682-2053 or use our Ask A Librarian form to ask reference questions. This service will be available as long as we have access to resources to answer questions.

The public access computers will not be available during the move. Nor may any materials be checked out.

Keep watching this blog for information about our reopening some time in late January or early February.

Thanksgiving resources

2009-11-25T10:51:00.003-06:00

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and the Christmas feast is just a month away. If you are stuck for ideas, or want to do some research about the history of turkeys, check our databases. In particular, the Culinary Arts Collection includes 150 of the major cooking and nutrition magazines. Coverage includes thousands of searchable recipes, restaurant reviews, and industry information.

Have a safe and fun Thanksgiving!

Autumn facts

2009-11-12T08:41:00.003-06:00

Here are a few facts about autumn, gleaned from our databases:

"Though not as popular as spring, autumn has been a frequent subject of poetry since the classical Roman era, when certain conventions were established. Autumn, of course, has two aspects: it completes summer and it anticipates winter, it celebrates the harvest of the summer’s crops and it mourns the death of the year; it is, in Dickinson’s words, “A little this side of the snow / And that side of the Haze” (no. 131). " In A Dictionary of Literary Symbols. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/litsymb/autumn

"English acquired autumn from Latin autumnus, partly via Old French autompne. Where Latin got the word from is a mystery; it may have been a borrowing from Etruscan, a long-extinct pre-Roman language of the Italian peninsula. In Old English, the term for ‘autumn’ was harvest, and this remained in common use throughout the Middle Ages; it was not until the 16th century that autumn really began to replace it (at the same time as harvest began to be applied more commonly to the gathering of crops). Fall, now the main US term for ‘autumn’, is 16th-century too." In Word Origins. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/acbwordorig/autumn
From the Encyclopaedia Britannica Online, autumn is the :

season of the year between summer and winter during which temperatures gradually decrease. It is often called fall in the United States because leaves fall from the trees at that time. Autumn is usually defined in the Northern Hemisphere as the period between the autumnal equinox (day and night equal in length), September 22 or 23, and the winter solstice (year's shortest day), December 21 or 22; and in the Southern Hemisphere as the period between March 20 or 21 and June 21 or 22. The autumn temperature transition between summer heat and winter cold occurs only in middle and high latitudes; in equatorial regions, temperatures generally vary little during the year. In the polar regions autumn is very short . . .

The concept of autumn in European languages is connected with the harvesting of crops; in many cultures autumn, like the other seasons, has been marked by rites and festivals revolving around the season's importance in food production. Animals gather food in autumn in preparation for the coming winter, and those with fur often grow thicker coats. Many birds migrate toward the Equator to escape the falling temperatures. A common autumn phenomenon in the central and eastern United States and in Europe is Indian Summer, a period of unseasonably warm weather that sometimes occurs in late October or November.

We're moving!

2009-11-03T08:55:00.002-06:00

It is official - the Arkansas State Library will be moving house. Our last day open to the public before the move will be Friday, December 4th. We will reopen at our new location, 900 W. Capitol, just down the road from our current address, sometime in late January or early February.

Any books that have been checked out can be returned before we close, or you can hold on to them, with no penalty, until we reopen

Check back here for more news and updates as they becomes available.

Halloween is coming!

2009-10-27T10:19:00.003-05:00

Did you ever wonder about the origins of Halloween? Are you interested in cultural analysis of Halloween customs or movies? Well, we have databases that can help you fulfill both those needs, and many more.

For scholarly takes on Halloween, or other pop culture phenomena, try out the Pop Culture database. This collection provides useful information for any researcher in a social science, history, art, or liberal arts course. The collection is made up of 100 subject-appropriate periodicals, which are predominantly full-text.

For less-in depth, but still useful information, check out Credo Reference, a reference tool containing full-text entries from encyclopedias, traditional and bilingual dictionaries, biographies and quotations. That is where I found this description of the history of Halloween, taken from the Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary:

Halloween has its ultimate origins in the ancient Celtic harvest festival, SAMHAIN, a time when people believed that the spirits of the dead roamed the earth. Irish settlers brought their Halloween customs—which included bobbing for apples and lighting jack-o’-lanterns—to America in the 1840s.

In the United States children go from house to house in costume—often dressed as ghosts, skeletons, or vampires—on Halloween saying, “Trick or treat!” Though for the most part the threat is in jest, the “trick” part of the children’s cry carries the implication that if they don’t receive a treat, the children will subject that house to some kind of prank, such as marking its windows with a bar of soap or throwing eggs at it. Most receive treats in the form of candy or money. But Halloween parties and parades are popular with adults as well.

Because nuts were a favorite means of foretelling the future on this night, All Hallows’ Eve in England became known as Nutcrack Night. Other British names for the day include Bob Apple Night, Duck (or Dookie) Apple Night, Crab Apple Night, Thump-the-door Night, and, in Wales, APPLE AND CANDLE NIGHT. In the United States it is sometimes referred to as Trick or Treat Night.

These and other databases are available to state employees for remote access. Please contact the Circulation Department for more information. The general public may use the databases for free here in the library.

Patents and Trademarks at ASL

2009-10-21T08:59:00.003-05:00

The Arkansas State Library is designated a Patent and Trademark Depository Library (PTDL) by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). As a PTDL, 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.

What you can check out

2009-10-13T09:56:00.002-05:00

Once you have your library card, you can check out books from our general non-fiction collection, as well as our various special circulating collections. These include:

Arkansas Documents Information published by or for the Arkansas state government.
Arkansas Collection Published materials about Arkansas, its history, and its people. Limited circulation.
Arkansas Regulations The rules and regulations of Arkansas state agencies.
Library Science Materials reflecting the current body of knowledge of the library and information science fields.
Federal Documents Local access to publications from all three branches of the Federal government.

For more information about the Arkansas State Library services, check out our website.

You too can check out our books!

2009-10-08T13:43:00.001-05:00

Active Arkansas state employees and Arkansas citizens are eligible to register for a library card with the State Library. Library cards must be applied for in person.

State employees must present the following:

State ID badge
Valid Arkansas Driver's License

Arkansas citizens must be at least 18 years of age, and present the following:

Valid Arkansas Driver's License
Recent bill or statement showing the applicant's current physical address

Checkout Rules:

New borrowers are limited to 2 items their first checkout
No more than 10 items at one time
Limit of 6 books on a single subject
Limit of 2 videos, 3 audio materials, or 1 set of language materials at a time

National Parks

2009-09-29T13:03:00.004-05:00

This week, PBS is airing the Ken Burns documentary, The National Parks: America's Best Idea on stations around the country. If you meant to watch, and forgot, or couldn't get to a TV when it was airing, never fear! PBS has the episodes available for online viewing through October 9th. Just start at the website for the series and follow the links for viewing full episodes.

We will soon have the accompanying book available for checkout. In the meantime, we also have travel guides and other materials about the National Parks available in the library.

If the show is inspiring you to go out and visit some parks, or do some hiking, start at the U.S. National Park Service. There you will find maps, podcasts, photographs, and links to all of the national parks, including Little Rock Central High School and the Pea Ridge National Military Park.

Swine Flu Information

2009-09-24T10:07:00.002-05:00

School has started again around the country, and swine flu cases are being reported everywhere. To keep yourself educated and up to date, check out the Centers for Disease Control website.

The Arkansas State Library also has health-related databases where you can find more information about keeping yourself healthy.

To try these and other databases, start at the database page on our website. For questions, please use the Ask a Librarian form on our website.

New databases at ASL part 3

2009-09-16T15:26:00.002-05:00

Here are a few more of the new databases available at the Arkansas State Library.

Diversity Studies Collection: This collection explores cultural differences, contributions and influences in our global community. This set includes 150 full-text journals. Coverage begins in 1980.

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues Collection: This collection of over 30 largely full-text journals aims to provide balanced coverage culture, covering such topics as gender studies, family and marital issues, health aspects, and many more. Coverage begins in 1980.

Religion & Philosophy Collection: Users of this collection can research different religions and philosophies and how they impact our daily lives. The collection is comprised of 250 periodicals, many of which are full-text. Coverage begins in 1980.

To try these and other databases, start at the database page on our website. For questions, please use the Ask a Librarian form on our website.

From Planting to Harvest

2009-09-09T09:08:00.003-05:00

As we move into fall, it is time to harvest some crops and plant others. If you are a beginning gardener or a professional farmer, we have resources that can help you decide what to plant, learn when to plant it, and care for your crops throughout the year.

Year-Round Home Garden Planting Guide: Produced by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension services, this booklet provides a quick and easy guide to planting for home gardeners in Arkansas. It is available on-line through our catalog, and in hard-copy at the library.
For home farmers and professionals, the Agriculture Collection may also be of use. It is one of the databases that ASL has recently acquired. With broad coverage of agriculture and its related fields, this collection provides a comprehensive view of this growing body of knowledge. Comprised of nearly 200 titles, researchers will have access to current and authoritative content that spans the industry, from practical aspects of farming to cutting edge scientific research in horticulture.
Another new database, the Gardening, Landscaping, and Horticulture Collection has resources for farmers, landscape architects, and biotechnologists alike, with this collection of nearly 50 journals focused specifically on key issues in gardening, landscaping, and other areas of horticulture. A fertile and growing collection, this collection includes content relating to both the practical aspects as well as the scientific theory of horticulture studies.

To try these and other databases, start at the database page on our website. For questions, please use the Ask a Librarian form on our website.