The Electronic Newsletter of the Palm Beach County Library System

Contents:
1/ Introduction to Books & Bytes
2/ Government Research Services
3/ Business and Finance @ your library
4/ Summer Reading Program Contests
5/ Independence Day Closing
6/ In Next Month's Issue

1/ Introduction to Books & Bytes

Welcome to the June issue of Books & Bytes. In this issue we will provide an overview of Government Research Services, invite you to join us for our Business and Finance programs, and encourage you to enter your children in our Summer Reading Program contests.

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

2/ Government Research Services

Since 1989, the Government Research Service Section (GRS) of the Palm Beach County Library System has responded to the research and information needs of public service staff and elected officials for the benefit of county, municipal and regional governments in Palm Beach County.

GRS maintains, indexes and updates the Palm Beach County Local Documents Collection at the Main Library. Also available for public use at the Main Library are Local Elections Files, containing news articles, election results, press releases and clip files dating back to the 1990 elections.

In addition to serving County employees, Government Research Service offers a wide range of resources for the public through their web site located at:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/grs.htm

Here is a sampling of the extensive range of links that GRS offers on their site:

E-Government Services - Links to government offices providing a variety of interactive forms and services via their web sites.
http://www.pbclibrary.org/grs-E-government_services.htm

PBC Elected Officials - A list of all the elected officials serving Palm Beach County, including representatives in Congress, Tallahassee, and on the County Commission.
http://www.pbclibrary.org/grs-electedofficials.htm

Government Online Forms - Links to local, state and federal agencies which have placed interactive registration, application and legal forms on their official web sites.
http://www.pbclibrary.org/grs-government_online_forms.htm

Local Maps Index - Links to local maps for Flood Insurance, Bus Routes, Hurricane Evacuation Zones, Street Names, and many more subjects available on the web.
http://www.pbclibrary.org/grs-maps.htm

U.S. Government Information - An interactive index of links to U.S. government search engines, statistical sites and useful services.
http://www.pbclibrary.org/grs-fedgovtinfo.htm

Legal Resources - The Government Research Service has prepared this bibliography of legal documents available at the Main Library, supplemented with links to Internet resources.
http://www.pbclibrary.org/grs-legal.htm

Local Document Collections - The Government Research Service maintains this collection of materials at the Main Library, but links to agency web sites and Internet resources provided online when available.
http://www.pbclibrary.org/grs-localdocs.htm

Online versions of the Update News - the official GRS publication - can be found at:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/grs-update01.htm

So when you require information about any level of government, from the County seat in West Palm Beach, through the State government in Tallahassee, and all the way up to Washington D.C., start with Government Research Services at:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/grs.htm

3/ Business and Finance @ your library

P/E ratios, "total quality management," the difference between a Bear market and a Bull market. Not quite sure what those things mean? Come to the library for a series of programs that will teach you the ins and outs of personal finance, career development, and how to start or improve your own small business.

Because business and finance are two of the hottest topics in our libraries, the Palm Beach County Library System has arranged close to fifteen different programs, at a variety of times and locations, to address our customers' needs. Several programs have already been presented; however there are eleven to come.

The times and locations of the programs are listed below. For questions regarding these programs, please call the hosting branch. Full descriptions of these programs are available online at:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/finance.htm

IT'S INVESTING, NOT GAMBLING
Tues., June 19, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Main Library

LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME
Wed., June 20, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Southwest County Regional

RESPONDING TO GOVERNMENT SOLICITATIONS (IFB/RFP'S)
Tues., June 26, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Main Library

THE DIVERSITY OF GENERATIONS WITHIN THE WORKPLACE
Tues., July 10, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Main Library

THE BUSINESS PLAN AND STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS
Tues., July 10, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
North County Regional

SMART WOMEN FINISH RICH
Tues., July 10, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Greenacres Branch
Wed., July 25, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
North County Regional

HOW TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WHEN STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS
Call 561-362-5620 to register.
Wed., July 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Main Library

TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE (for Senior Women)
Fri., July 13, 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Okeechobee Blvd. Branch

CREATING A WINNING PACKAGE - How to Sell Yourself in Today's Tough Job Market
Tues., July 17, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Greenacres Branch

PREPARING FOR LONG-TERM CARE
Wed., July 18, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Southwest County Regional

SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES
Call 561-362-5620 to register.
Tues., July 31, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Main Library

To learn more about our Business and Finance programs, please visit:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/finance.htm

4/ Summer Reading Program Contests

The Summer Reading Program is in full swing. One popular incentive to encourage children to visit the library is the weekly contests held throughout the program. We have already awarded the following books as prizes to lucky children:

"DK Dinosaurs" by Dr. David Norman and "It's Raining Pigs & Noodles" by Jack Prelutsky.

To enter a weekly contest, simply visit your local branch and have your child complete an entry form. Below is a list of the prizes that can be won @ your library this summer:

June 18 - June 24
Tickets: Florida Marlins Baseball Game

June 25 - July 1
Books: Aesop's Fables by Jerry Pinkney

July 2 - July 8
Book: DK My First Magic Book by Lawrence Leyton

July 9 - July 15
Book: DK Animal Encyclopedia by Barbara Taylor

July 16 - July 22
Book: DK Guide to Space by Peter Bond

July 23 - July 29
Book: Guinness World Records 2001

To learn more about the Summer Reading Program, please visit:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/srp2001.htm

5/ Independence Day Closing

Please note that all Palm Beach County Library System locations will be closed to honor Independence Day on Wednesday, July 4. All libraries will resume their normal operating hours on Thursday, July 5.

6/ Next Month in Books & Bytes

In next month’s issue we will look at the E-mail Reference Service, where we answer your questions online.