OttoP's blog

Drawing on dominoes

Make a mini work of art

Turn dominoes into works of art by drawing designs in ink during our upcoming program.  

Autism - Part 2

"Are you there, world? It's me, autism."

The Headquarters library is hosting its second program about autism:

Autism - Part 1

Headquarters Library is hosting a series of programs on Autism, beginning with: Dealing with "meltdowns."

Autism: Quick and Practical Strategies for Dealing with “Meltdowns” is Saturday, April 13, 2013, 3-4 pm in Meeting Room A, at Headquarters Library.

Don't invest your money!

Until you check out our Morningstar and Value Line databases!

The library has valuable investment resources for the beginning and seasoned investors.  This includes access to our Morningstar and Value Line databases.

Don't know where to start?

Check out Morningstar's Investment Research Center by clicking on the "Help & Education" tab or the "Portfolio" tab for resources such as these:

Take 1000 Ultimate Experiences!

Right from your library!

Check out Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Experiences!

You can find this and many other books like it in the Dewey Decimal area 910.2 for travel.

Want to learn how to speak a foreign language?  Try our Powerspeak database from our Research Page!

Gainesville Philosophical Self-Inquiry Discussion Group

Looking for ultimate truth? Come Join the discussion!

Trees in sunlightThe Gainesville Philosophical Self-Inquiry Discussion Group meets every Monday in March:

March 4, 11, 18 & 25 from 3:30-5 pm
Foundation Room, Headquarters Library

The purpose of the group is to find ways of seeking truth in a non-dogmatic framework, encouraging each member to question previously held beliefs and unseen rationalizations, ideally leading members closer to their ultimate goal.

Heaven Sent Me Kevin

Local author shares her son's experiences with ADHD and Schizophrenia

Heaven Sent Me Kevin by Sunnie WilliamsCome join us for an evening with local author:

Sunnie Williams
Monday, March 4 at 6 pm
Headquarters Library, Meeting Room A

Local author Sunnie Williams will discuss her book, Heaven Sent Me Kevin, where she shares her true story of the vow she made to provide the best life possible for her son Kevin, who was diagnosed with ADHD at age 5 and paranoid schizophrenia at age 9.

See video

Reference USA database lunch and learn @ your library

On March 7, at noon at Headquarters learn more about this premier resource for business and residential information.

A representative from our Reference USA database vendor will be here to highlight this premier source for business and residential information for reference and research.

See video

Last King of the Sports Page

An Evening with author Ted Geltner

Come join us for an evening with author Ted Geltner on Monday, February 25 at 7 pm in Meeting Room A at the Headquarters Library.  Geltner will share his book "Last King of the Sports Page: The Life and Career of Jim Murray."

In his book, Geltner chronicles Murray's sports writing experiences with twentieth-century American sports, culture, and journalism.  Murray was published in more than 200 newspapers and named Sports Writer of the Year fourteen times.  He became one of only four writers to receive the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for coverage of sports.

 

 

The Gainesville Sun Newspaper

You have several places to find it...

You can usually find today's copy of the Gainesville Sun newspaper at a local newsstand, but what if you missed a past issue? The library has the answer for you.

Most library branches have back issues to the Gainesville Sun newspaper for several weeks.

The library also gives you access to the Gainesville Sun and numerous other newspapers online through the Newsbank database. The Newsbank database has Gainesville Sun articles dating back to 1995.

Peace Corps Tales

Reading by author David Mather

One for the Road

Author David J. Mather will read from his book “One for the Road."  This is a a fictional story based on the author’s real life experiences while serving in the Peace Corps.

 

The Re-Solution

2nd chances to 1st efforts

Survive the holidays with these inspiring classics just in time for your New Year's resolutions. Then come join us Thursday, December 27 at 6 p.m. in the Foundation Room of the Headquarters Library as we discuss books that have helped us solve our problems, big or small, or maybe just made us feel better or more effective. You may also want to share your classic favorites as well.

Veterans Day

Honoring our veterans, past and present...

Not to be confused with the Marine Corps Birthday on November 10, Veteran's Day originally recognized the end of the fighting of World War I at the 11th hour on 11/11/1918.  Later, it became a "celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for th

Genealogy

Dig into your family history with Bobby Powell at these Headquarters branch programs.

Retired librarian Bobby Powell will be returning to the library for a series of monthly genealogy workshops.  Stop by the downtown library to learn more about how to research your ancestry and use the library's valuable resources.

Genealogy: Bringing the Dead Back To Life
Wednesday, October 31 at 6 pm (Halloween Edition)

Genealogy: Meet the Pilgrims & Your Ancestors at the Library
Saturday, November 17 at 10 am (Thanksgiving Edition)

Genealogy: Reunite with Your Family Ancestry
Monday, December 10 at 12 pm (Holiday Edition)

See video

Investment 101

Learn the basics of Mutual Fund investing on October 1, at 6 p.m. at Headquarters.

Happy New (FI$CAL) Year! Start out your fiscal year on the right path. Find out what mutual fund investing is all about and discover what you can do to invest in your future financial security. On October 1, at 6 p.m., Headquarters Library will be hosting an informational seminar on the basics of mutual fund investing led by investment professionals Geoffrey Patterson and Martha Kern, CFP, ChFC. 

Mindful Movies Film Series this Fall

be Mindful, see Movies ... and discuss

The library will be hosting the Mindful Movies film series September through December.  Mindful Movies is running this film series as a pilot project that tries to promote free thinking and explore various local and global issues through the use of documentary films and discussions.  For more information and to continue the open-discussion after the movie has been shown, you may visit the Mindful Movies Web site at mindfulmovies.info 

Back to School...

For Adults too!

Back to school season is not just for the kids.  Adults can always go back to school too.  In fact, going back to school has never been easier than today, thanks to the many resources available from Alachua County Library District.

Walk into history...

...at the Matheson Museum.

The Matheson Museum is full of local history treasures and only a minute's walk from our downtown library on University Avenue.  This August, the Matheson Museum is having a giant book sale Saturday, August 11; a 2nd Annual Civil War Symposium Friday, August 17 at 6 pm; and a Mini-Reenactment August 18 at 10 am.  The museum will also have a "War Comes to Gainesville: The Civil War Battle of August 17, 1864" exhibit.

See video

Free magazines!

No time to go online? Try mobile on the go!

It’s never been easier to access free online magazines and journal articles from your library.

With Ebsco Host mobile and Ebsco Host apps, you can access all the same content that you can already access through our MasterFILE database on your internet computer.  All you need is your Alachua County Library District card number.

Prepare now!

Summer storm season is here.

Tropical Storm Beryl is now history, but with the official start of Hurricane season on June 1st, more storms may be on the way.  Fortunately, the National Weather Service predicts a near normal storm season this year.

Money Smart Week

Attend a Morningstar presentation online!

Morningstar's Money Smart Week 2012

 

Morningstar is hosting 2 events for Money Smart Week this year, which runs April 21-28.

HOW TO CREATE A PORTFOLIO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BABYSIT
Wednesday, April 25, 6:30 pm Eastern Time (5:30 pm Central Time)

Serendipitarian 3.1: Gainesville Sun Newspaper

You have several places to find it...

 

You can usually find today's copy of the Gainesville Sun newspaper at a local newsstand, but what if you missed a past issue?  The library has the answer for you.

Most library branches have back issues to the Gainesville Sun newspaper for several weeks.

The library also gives you access to the Gainesville Sun and numerous other newspapers online through the Newsbank database.  The Newsbank database has Gainesville Sun articles dating back to 1995.

Car trouble?

Get help!

Check out this online automotive repair database that is free for all library card users. With content from some of the most recognized repair manual publishers, such as Nichols and Delphi, Auto Repair Reference Center covers more than 34,000 vehicles and dates back to 1945. Whether you’re a professional mechanic or a backyard tinkerer, this resource is sure to meet your needs.

VALUE Line is now ONline!

Find up-to-date investment information on companies, industries, stocks, mutual funds and more with Value Line.

Access the latest investment information on companies, industries, stocks, mutual funds and more from any internet computer.  Simply go to our Research page on our Web site and select the Business, Finance & Fundraising section.  There, you'll find access to our Value Line database with all the same information traditionally found in our print versions of Value Line and much more.

Happy New Year with GVRL!

Gale Virtual Reference Library has a new look for 2012.

Check out our updated Gale Virtual Reference Library collection online!  You will find it much more user friendly and very similar to other popular ebook options.  These reference ebooks are accessible from anywhere with an internet connection at any time of the day.

Our collection has several subjects including business, education, history, science and more.

Can't find what you need?  Also check out our Overdrive and Safari collections. You can view these and much more on our Digital Media and Research pages.

Invest wisely in 2012!

Use our free Morningstar database!

New and experienced investors can easily get started by accessing many tools from Morningstar Investment Research Center.

Simply go to the "Help and Education" tab, where you'll find "Database Guides" including:
 * New Tutorial Center (15-minute video)
 * User's Guide (pdf)
 * Quick Guide (pdf)
 * Glossary for terms
 * Methodology for ratings 

 

 

Follow the crowd this weekend...

...to the local Grove Street Festival

The Grove Street Festival is a free outdoor event open to all and will begin this Saturday, December 3 at 4 p.m. at 404 NW 14th Avenue.  Luminaries will be lit at 5:30 p.m.  Festivities will continue on Sunday with a reading of Jack Kerouac's Maggie Cassidy at Dreamers Garden on the corner of NW 10th Avenue and 4th Street beginning at 11 a.m.  The event will attract several people to the Grove Street neighborhood, including students, local Latin and fire hoop dancers, musicians, and readers.

Check out the library's Jack Kerouac collection or learn more about who he was in our Biography in Context database.

Simply collectible...

...to us...

They catch our eye and draw our attention.  We take them and keep them, and occasionally have to pay a price for them.  Over time, they may even acquire real value in addition to the personal value we may have for them.  To us, they are collectibles.

The Alachua County Library District Headquarters displays several collectibles from people throughout the community that wish to share their special collections.

For more information about submitting your collection, please call Sylvia at 352-334-3938.  You may also search our library catalog for more information about various collectibles.

Want a new car?

How about checking out our newly updated Auto Repair database instead?

Get free access to the newly updated Auto Repair Reference Center database with your library card number.  Check out our Consumer Resources page on our Web site and select Auto Repair Reference Center in the database list on the right.

Once you have gained access to the ARRC database, you may be able to access repair information, technical bulletins, recalls, diagrams, specifications, labor times, estimated cost of repairs, and diagnostic information.

11-11-11

Honoring our veterans, past and present...

Not to be confused with the Marine Corps Birthday on November 10, Veteran's Day originally recognized the end of the fighting of World War I at the 11th hour on 11/11/1918.  Later, it became a "celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good," according to the