The Electronic Newsletter of the Palm Beach County Library System

Contents:
1/ Introduction to Books & Bytes
2/ News and Events
3/ Holiday Closings
4/ Useful Web Links Section Highlight
5/ Reader's Advisory Section Highlight
6/ In Next Month's Issue

1/ Introduction to Books & Bytes

Welcome to the December issue of Books & Bytes. This month we will focus on the "News and Events" section to learn more about our upcoming programs. We will remind you about our holiday closings and explore another area of our Useful Web Links, the "History, Geography, & Genealogy" section. Finally, we will look at the "Reading Lists" provided in our Reader's Advisory.

We hope you enjoy receiving Books & Bytes. Please let us know what you think of our publication by writing to: webmaster@pbclibrary.org

2/ News and Events

Every month, the Palm Beach County Library System offers dozens of unique programs and special events.  They happen across our system, from the Glades, to Jupiter, and to Boca.  How can you keep track of what is going on @ your library?  Simply take a look at "News and Events."

Under "News and Events" we provide a quick way to discover this month's programs.  To learn about the adult programs in your area, simply click on "Adult Programs" and then choose your branch.  The same is true for our children's programs.  To find out what activities we are providing for the kids, click on "Children's Programs" and follow it through to your branch. In both cases, we update the programs listings each month.

Computers have become an important part of the world and a great tool for libraries.  To help you get the most out of these machines, we offer a wide variety of computer training classes.  We currently offer three lecture- based computer training classes: Basic Computers, Introductory Internet, and Intermediate Internet.  If hands-on training is what you need, then check out the schedule of classes for the Main Library Computer Lab, or learn about the computer lab at North County Regional.

If you want to learn even more about the library, we offer three different publications to meet your information needs.  "Happenings" includes our monthly programs and events guide.  It is available at any branch in a handy paper format, but can also be found on our web site.  You can read "Happenings" in standard text or enjoy it in a full color PDF document.  Back issues of "Happenings" and "Books & Bytes" are stored online in case you missed an earlier edition.  To round out our publications, Government Research Services provides bi-monthly updates on the new services and resources available online courtesy of your local government.

Whether you are looking for computer training, story times, or book discussion groups, the library offers over a hundred different programs each month.  To keep up to date, we suggest you frequently visit "News and Events" on the web, and then drop by your local library and enjoy all that we have to offer.

3/ Holiday Closings

All Palm Beach County Library System locations will be closed on Monday, December 24, and Tuesday December 25 in observance of the Christmas holidays.  (No materials due on these days; you may return materials in the book drop.)

All Palm Beach County Library System locations will close at 5 p.m. on New Year's Eve, December 31.  All locations will remain closed for New Year's Day, January 1.  (No materials due on this day; you may return materials in the book drop.)

4/ Useful Web Links Highlight

As a regular feature each month, we examine one section of our Useful Web Links.  Our web directory is compiled by librarians who apply their knowledge and experience of the Internet to locate the best web sites for each topic.

Are you researching the history of the American Revolution?  Do you need to identify the five largest countries in the world?  Or do you want to track down names on your family tree?  This month we will help you answer these questions by exploring our "History, Geography, & Genealogy" section.

Our "History" subsection provides a wealth of links about American and World history.  Learn about Florida's past through the "Florida Memory Project."  The history of the United States is covered in the Library of Congress' "American Memory."  View the National Archives "Historical Documents" to read, amongst other things, a copy of the Louisiana Purchase or the verdict of "United States of America v.s. Alphonse (Al) Capone."  If your interests reach into olden times, take a look at the "Labyrinth Medieval Resources Page" or "Voice of the Shuttle" to learn about life during the Renaissance.

The "Geography" subsection provides a wide range of maps, statistics, and facts about the people and nations of the Earth.  Find full color maps through "Altapedia Online" or view the extensive list of resources on our "Local Map Resources."  Explore "Country Links" through the "CIA Factbook" and use "Your Nation" to compare any two countries in terms of size, population, GDP, or any other measure you wish.  The CIA also publishes "World Factbooks" which provide detailed information about every country in the world.

Exploring your family tree is easy with the resources provided in our "Genealogy" subsection.  Tap into "Ellis Island Records" to learn more about the wave of immigrants who sailed into to the U.S. under Lady Liberty.  "Family Search" provides access to the great wealth of information compiled by the Mormon Church.  Or if your family has native Crackers in its past, then you may wish to search through the "Florida GenWeb Project" or link into the "Palm Beach County Genealogical Society."

Please take some time to view the many offerings available in the "History, Geography, & Genealogy" section of Useful Web Links.

5/ Reader's Advisory Highlight

Looking for more information on famous and not so famous literature?  Do you want to delve deeper into a genre?  Or do you simply want to read a good book?  As a regular feature each month, we examine one section of our Reader's Advisory. This month, we will explore our Reading Lists. http://www.pbclibrary.org/read-lists.htm

What do you think were the best books of the 20th Century?  Many people have offered their opinions on the topic.  We have links to lists of the great works of the last century, including the "Modern Library 100 Best Novels" and "100 Best works of Non-Fiction," plus the National Review's list of the 20th Century's Best Non-Fiction works.  The Modern Library lists include both those generated by the editors of Modern Library and a list voted on by the public.  It is amusing to compare the substantial differences between the two sides.  Also, we have links to the best selling books of the 1980's and the 1990's, offering a glimpse of popular culture during that time.

For the teen heading off to college, we offer access  to "New Outstanding Books for the College Bound" from the American Library Association.  The list is divided into five sections: fiction, biography, nonfiction, drama, and poetry. Finally, your library system offers a collection of reading lists for children with the "Reading Corner."  Here you can find books for toddlers all the way up to teens.

If you are looking for the best of the best to read, take a peek at our Reading Lists section of Reader's Advisory.

6/ Next Month in Books & Bytes

Our web site has undergone lots of changes and improvements over the past year.  In our next issue, we will take some time to bring you up to date with our new design features.