Public

Getting to the Bottom of Affordable Care Act

Health Care Resources at Library

By Brigham Narins

So it’s November, kind of a busy month: On the 4th we had the mid-term elections—the Republicans came away pretty happy, the Democrats not so much. And on the 15th the second open enrollment period began for ObamaCare.

Among the happy Republicans was Mitch McConnell. Not only did he win his reelection race, he is also expected to be confirmed as the new majority leader in the Senate, a position he has reportedly coveted his entire political life.

On November 5, the day after the election, McConnell and Speaker of the House John Boehner published an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal in which the two congressional leaders renewed “our commitment to repeal ObamaCare, which is hurting the job market along with Americans’ health care.” Elaborating somewhat on that point, they wrote that “[h]ealth costs . . . continue to rise under a hopelessly flawed law that Americans have never supported.”

Read moreGetting to the Bottom of Affordable Care Act

“Redeployment” Wins National Book Award for Fiction

The National Book Foundation has awarded former Marine, Phil Klay, a National Book Award–his debut short story collection Redeployment, took home top honors as the winner in the fiction category.

Established in 1950, the National Book Award is an American literary prize administered by the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Their mission is to celebrate the best of American literature, to expand its audience, and to enhance the cultural value of great writing in America.

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Feature Focus: Highlights and Notes in Kids InfoBits

At one time or another, almost everyone has broken the rules and written in a textbook. When I was in school, our teachers reviewed our books at the end of the year and we had to pay a fine if they found writing in them; at the end of every school year I would frantically erase the notes and doodles that I had written on the pages of each textbook. Now, with Gale’s Highlights and Notes tool – available in Kids InfoBits, as well as many other Gale products – those days are over for students of all ages.

Read moreFeature Focus: Highlights and Notes in Kids InfoBits

Programming Tips for National Family Caregiving Month

Caregiver resources and ebooks

With an estimated 21% of American families involved in family caregiving responsibilities, National Family Caregiving Month is one worth observing at your library. Whether you are looking for quick links to trustworthy information, places to request a speaker, or a good book club idea, bringing National Family Caregiving Month to your library will be easy with this collection of online resources.

Read moreProgramming Tips for National Family Caregiving Month

It’s All about Horsepower for Gearhead Patrons

Chilton Auto Resources at Library

By Ryan Lee Price

The 305 cubic-inch engine in the Koenigsegg One “megacar” is capable of producing 1,360 horsepower from its gas-powered V8, propelling the 1,360-kg car to a top speed of 280 mph in 20 seconds. That’s a lot of power, and one can’t help but to imagine 1,360 horses hitched to the front of the $1.5 million car attempting to pull it up to 280 mph. However, in either guise—engine or horse team—1,360 horsepower represents the work of a lot of horses, and to understand how the term has been applied to cars, we have to go back about 100 years before cars were even invented.

Read moreIt’s All about Horsepower for Gearhead Patrons

The Britannica Elementary Collection added to Kids InfoBits

At Gale we are always working hard to make sure our products contain as much engaging, authoritative content as possible. Following that theme, we are proud to announce that The Britannica Elementary Collection – a set of 3,800 Britannica articles and associated media from 63 eBooks – has been added to Kids InfoBits.

Read moreThe Britannica Elementary Collection added to Kids InfoBits

Enhancements to the Free Access My Library Mobile App

Access My Library Mobile App eResources

You may be familiar with Gale’s Access My Library® (AML) app for iPhones and iPads that connects mobile users to the library’s Gale holdings. Now, it’s even better!  All your library users can save time and get faster answers by being able to access eResources on mobile devices.

Read moreEnhancements to the Free Access My Library Mobile App

Picture This:  Your community’s photography interests covered

Photography Programming Public Library

By Tina Creguer

Jay, a young professional, has always been interested in photography.  And now he finally has the time (sort of) and resources to pursue that interest more seriously.  He’s done with taking photos on his iPhone and trying to pass them off as artistic works.  Time to learn some real skills to make the most of his new digital camera.  He has found some free how-to videos online, but wants more reliable and professional instruction.  Where can he turn for expert resources?

More than 26 million people in the US participated in photography in 20101 – with varying levels of expertise.  With the lower cost of quality digital cameras making them more accessible than ever and the increasingly “photo-centric” nature of communications (especially with social media), this hobby is gathering steam.

Read morePicture This:  Your community’s photography interests covered

Libraries Add Economic Value to Local Communities

By Ken D.  The public library is a place of learning, a hub for educational resources, and a community center. Children discover new worlds as they’re read to, young adults learn new skills, and librarians assist patrons needing educational or business support. Not only have libraries historically proven to be beneficial to the areas they … Read more