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September 26, 2005
Learn More About Instant Messaging
The latest Tech Talk focuses on the popular Internet-based communication tool known as Instant Messaging (IM). While teens and twenty-somthings have embraced it wholeheartedly, the use of IM by businesses, libraries and other organizations shows its potential as a communication tool.
Printed copies are availble on the new non-fiction shelf and throughout the library. If you have a suggestion for a topic, drop Mike an E-mail at moetting@hinsdale.lib.il.us.
[MBO]
Posted by hinsdalereference at 2:21 PM
September 23, 2005
Charitable Giving with Confidence
With another weather related emergency facing the Gulf Coast emergency funds and social support networks will be stretched thin. The generosity of the public at large demonstrates their faith that the funds are going where they are truly needed and are being used wisely.
But the outpouring of generosity may attract those with less than noble intentions. To reassure yourself that the funds you donate will be properly and swiftly distributed, the ResourceShelf, an online newsletter created by librarians, has assembled a list of agencies and organizations that investigate, examine and regulate charitable organizations. The list was uploaded to their site on September 8, 2005 as their Resource of the Week.
Posted by hinsdalereference at 11:08 AM
September 20, 2005
Field's Fading
First they took Frangos out of state, now they’re taking away the Field’s nameplate. Federated Department Stores has announced that the Marshall Field and Company stores will become Macy’s by fall 2006. As reported this afternoon on the Chicago Tribune’s Web site:
No miracle on State Street: Marshall Field's to change to Macy's
Daley promised a possible return of Frango production to Chicago
Tribune staff reports
Published September 20, 2005, 3:15 PM CDT
Marshall Field & Co., a name long venerated in the history of Chicago retailing, will disappear in the fall of 2006, to be replaced by Macy's.
All 62 Field's in Illinois and seven other states will be converted to Macy's, according to today's announcement by Federated Department Stores Inc., Field's new owner.
See the full article on the Chicago Tribune Web site. (Registration required.)
A Chicago institution, Marshall Field and Company survived the Great Fire, the Great Depression, recessions, the State Street Mall, and missteps by prior corporate owners.
Marshall Field’s rise to merchant king of Chicago can be followed in the Encyclopedia of Chicago. The Encyclopedia of Chicago is a new reference book and Web site created by the Newberry Library and Chicago Historical Society. Further entries related to Field and his heirs include Marshall Field III, Field Enterprises, the Field Museum, and the Merchandise Mart.
[LA]
Posted by hinsdalereference at 4:30 PM
September 14, 2005
Supreme Court Nomination Hearings: More at Stake after Rehnquist’s Death
The death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist and President Bush’s decision to vault Mr. Roberts’ nomination toward the Chief Justice position intensified the nation’s interest in the Supreme Court Nomination hearings.
The major cable news outlets and National Public Radio are offering complete coverage and analysis. The New York Times (free registration required) presents many interactive and informative articles under the “Washington” heading. One outstanding feature is the collection of interactive profiles of other possible candidates for Justice O’Connor’s seat on the court.
Findlaw.com offers a profile of Judge Roberts
The United States Senate offers a detailed history and explanation of the nomination process on their Web site.
Also you will find complete transcripts for the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings 1971 to the present on their Web site.
One of the library's many subscription databases, CQ Researcher, provides some interesting perspective on this issue. To access this resource, simply visit the Library's Databases page, login with your library barcode number and select CQ Researcher from the list. Once on the CQ Researcher page, you can quickly find an interesting report entitled “Supreme Court’s Future” within the “Bush Boosts Roberts” story on the front page. The article, written while Chief Justice William Rehnquist was still alive, offers a primer to the court and several sidebar articles covering Rehnquist’s career and leadership of the court.
The software and database company askSam is providing a free searchable database of Judge John G. Roberts published opinions.
[LA]
Posted by hinsdalereference at 4:13 PM
September 6, 2005
Hurricane Katrina Coverage Continued
Animal lovers interested in contributing to pet rescue operations can contact the following:
Humane Society of the United States
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
Some interesting news stories from various news Web sites:
Counterfeit goods helping victims
Volunteers set up Internet access
Countries offer help:
CBS News Report
Fox News Report
Former Presidents Bush and Clinton head relief fund
Past hurricane victims offer advice
Historical perspective: Rising tide : the great Mississippi flood of 1927 and how it changed America
Availability of our copy
[PP]
Posted by hinsdalereference at 3:18 PM
September 1, 2005
New Tech Talk on digital cameras released
Learn about digital cameras in the latest edition of Tech Talk, a series of informational publications on technology by reference librarian Mike Oetting. Printed copies are availble on the new non-fiction shelf and throughout the library. If you have a suggestion for a topic, drop Mike an E-mail at moetting@hinsdale.lib.il.us.[MBO]
Posted by hinsdalereference at 3:00 PM
Blogging Hurricane Katrina
Blogging, short for "web logging," allows anyone with an Internet connection and the right software the ability to broadcast information. As a result, blogs are becoming an important source of information, particularly in times of crisis. The immediacy of the information makes for an engaging, unfiltered and compelling narrative. But since the typical blogger has no formal training in journalism, fact checking, balance, conciseness and other traits of traditional journalism are, at best, inconsistent.For a fascinating example of how blogging can provide first-hand reports of an emerging situation, take a look at the Michael Barnett's Interdictor blog, which relates his ongoing experiences in an office building in downtown New Orleans. His comments, and those of visitors to the site, are emotionally charged and contain some bad language. Please exercise discretion in visiting this site. Wired News has posted a story about Mr. Barnett's blog.
In response to the blogging phenomenon, major news outlets have created blogs as well. Here are some examples:
- Steve Harrigan's blog from FoxNews
- Brian Williams' blog from MSNBC
To find other blogs regarding Hurricane Katrina, search for Google using the terms "Katrina blog," or visit The Truth Laid Bear's special report on Katrina, which lists hundreds of blogs providing coverage.
Note: The Hinsdale Public Library does not endorse the views contained within any of the blogs listed on this page.
[MBO]
Posted by hinsdalereference at 10:22 AM