The Electronic Newsletter of the Palm Beach County Library System

Contents:
1/ Introduction to Books & Bytes
2/ Overview of Outreach Services
3/ Useful Web Links Section Highlight – Science Links
4/ Reader's Advisory Section Highlight – Historical Fiction
5/ In Next Month's Issue

1/ Introduction to Books & Bytes

Welcome to the July issue of Books & Bytes. This month, we will provide an overview of our Outreach Services. This will be followed by an exploration of the Science category in Useful Web Links. We will examine the Historical Fiction section 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/ Overview of Outreach Services

Usually, people think of the library as a building with books. However, libraries reach out beyond their walls into the community. Outreach Services extends library services to residents who are unable to come to the library, or use regular library materials. Access may be limited for a variety of reasons, including age, disability, lack of transportation, or distance from a branch library. Outreach Services provides a number of special services for people with disabilities and for adult non-readers. These include the Literacy Project, the Bookmobile, Books-by-Mail, and Talking Books.

The Literacy Project recruits and trains volunteer reading tutors to work with English-speaking adults who read and write below a 5th grade level. No teaching experience is required. We offer free, ten-hour Laubach tutor training workshops and provide all necessary materials to help English-speaking adults learn to read and write. If you can spare three hours a week and make a nine-month commitment to a new learner, you will become part of the solution to the growing problem of illiteracy in Palm Beach County.

The Bookmobile brings the library to your neighborhood with a collection of over 2,000 books. Browse through adult and children's books, fiction and non-fiction, regular and large-print -- baby books to best sellers. The resources of the entire Library System are available to every Bookmobile user: staff will be happy to help you locate books not on the Bookmobile or find answers to your reference questions.

Books-by-Mail is a free library service which provides books to those who are not able to visit their local library facility due to a physical disability, long-term illness, or lack of transportation. Subscribers may request books through the mail or by telephone, and have them delivered to their residence by the U.S. Postal Service. Postage is paid both ways by the library. Readers may request assistance from Books-by-Mail staff in selecting books, and may request titles from the catalog, or any other source. Most of the books in our collection are large print.

Talking Books are current, classic, and popular books and magazines for adults and children recorded on cassette tapes for patrons who are unable to use regular printed materials. Any person who is unable to read small print due to blindness or a visual disability, or anyone unable to hold a book or turn pages due to a physical disability, is eligible. Talking Books are available in English, Spanish, and other languages. Books and magazines are also available in Braille. We lend Talking Books along with special cassette tape players, free-of-charge to eligible patrons. Catalogs are provided for patrons to select books, or library staff will assist with book selection. All services are available by mail, or in person.

For more information about our Outreach Services, please visit our web page at: http://www.pbclibrary.org/outreach.htm

3/ Useful Web Links

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 Internet experience to recommend web sites for each topic.

Are you planning to watch the next Space Shuttle launch, but need to know the date? Do you need to know how many kilometers are in a mile? Or do you simply want to get involved in keeping the planet clean? If so, visit the great links at: http://www.pbclibrary.org/links-science.htm

Science has four sub-sections: General Sites, Math, Technology, and the Environment.

Here is a small sample of the great links in “General Sites:

The “NASA” home page and the “NASA Human Spaceflight” pages contain a wealth of information about America’s space program.

We link to “National Geographic,” the most famous and popular science publication of the last century.

“The National Science Foundation” is an independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting science and engineering through programs and educational projects.

You can help locate extraterrestrial civilizations by donating computer time on your home PC through the “SETI” web site.

We have also provided access to a great chemistry tool with the “WebElements Periodic Table.”

A few great sites in the “Math” subsection include:

The “Interactive Mathematics Miscellany and Puzzles” with categories that include Games and Puzzles, Arithmetic/Algebra, Geometry, Probability, Math as Language, and much more.

“Martindale's Calculators Online Center” contains more calculators than you can...well, calculate! There are math, scientific, business, home, and all kinds of specialized calculators.

The “Measurements Converter” performs quick calculations and conversions in a wide range of fields including weight, length, speed, and time.

Under “Technology” you can view these sites:

“How Stuff Works” is a great site containing animation, cut-away graphics, and detailed information on everything from sunglasses to nuclear reactors.

“Inventors and Inventing” is a short, factual guide to famous inventors and their inventions.

To learn about a wide range of old and unusual technology, check out the “Museum of Ancient Inventions.”

Finally, the “Environment” subsection features:

Learn more about the famous environmental crusaders of “Greenpeace.”

“Scorecard” is the Environmental Defense Funds’ assessment of the pollution levels throughout the country.

The “World Wildlife Fund,” known by their panda logo, is the largest privately-supported international conservation organization in the world.

To visit these great sites and more, drop by the “Science” section of Useful Web Links at: http://www.pbclibrary.org/links-science.htm

4/ 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 page of our Reader's Advisory. This month, we will explore the world of "Historical Fiction."
http://www.pbclibrary.org/read-historical.htm

Historical Fiction is a very popular genre. It covers stories set as far back as ancient Egypt and all the way through the Middle Ages to the 20th Century. In our Reader’s Advisory, we link to sites that will help lead you to other exciting books in this genre, along with reviews and news.

“BookBrowser: Reviews of Historical Fiction” has one of the largest collections of reviews for fiction.

“The Historical Cheat Sheet” from the web site “All About Romance,” has wonderful essays and information sources for those interested in historical romance or just plain history.

The “Historical Mystery Appreciation Society” contains book reviews, author interviews, forthcoming historical mystery books, historical articles, and literary criticism essays on such authors as Anne Perry and Ellis Peters.

Red Inkworks: “Historical Fiction Resources” is a resource page striving to help you write the story while remaining true to the history of the time, place, and events.

“Soon's Historical Fiction Site” is the mother lode of information about all facets of historical fiction. Not only is there information about authors and books, but there are also links to sites on teaching history, historical research, historical societies, journals, and resources for writers.

So if you are looking for great stories about the olden days, take a look at the “Historical Fiction” section of Reader’s Advisory at: http://www.pbclibrary.org/read-historical.htm

5/ Next Month in Books & Bytes

In next month’s issue, we will look at our “Computer Training” page to learn more about the exciting hands-on and lecture-based classes that we offer throughout the Library System.