The Electronic Newsletter of the Palm Beach County Library System

Contents:
1/ Introduction to Books & Bytes
2/ Searching our Web Catalog
3/ Database of the Month – Opposing Viewpoints
4/ Get Ready for “The Book”
5/ A Quick Byte – Alt-F4
6/ In Next Month's Issue

1/ Introduction to Books & Bytes

Welcome to the January issue of Books & Bytes. This month we will provide a quick guide to searching in our new web catalog. In addition, we will look at Opposing Viewpoints in our Electronic Databases, and build excitement for “The Book.” Finally, “A Quick Byte” which will feature a short tip to help make your computer use easier.

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

2/ Searching our Web Catalog

The Palm Beach County Library System’s new web catalog provides access to our entire collection of books, videos, and music! Use our new catalog at the library, from home, or at the office to see what is available for your information or entertainment needs.

To reach our catalog, click on the “Search the Web Catalog” link on the library home page. From here, enter your search in the white text box in the “Search for” section. You may keep the default search for “words or phrase,” or use that drop-down menu to search by author, title or subject. If you wish, you may select your local library from the “Library” drop-down menu below the search box in order to narrow down results to items that are at your branch. When you are ready, click the “Search” button and in moments the results of your search will appear on the screen.

If you want more control over your results, you can use the “Advanced Search Options” found underneath the “Library” select drop-down menu. Here you may narrow your search by language, format (audiobooks, books, music CD, and videos and DVDs), or the reading level (adult, juvenile, young adult) of your choice. You can even enter multiple search terms and perform Boolean searches to produce powerful results.

Another way to search our catalog is through the “Popular Subjects” directory. It is a picture-based searching system that allows you to first select from a broad range of topics, and then narrow your topic down to a specific interest. For example, selecting “Business & Industry” will provide topics such as Advertising, Business Writing, Marketing, and more.

Our new web catalog provides easy access to the wealth of our collection. We hope you will enjoy this increased service. Check it out for yourself at:
http://www.pbclibrary.org

3/ Database of the Month – Opposing Viewpoints

Do you need to find articles to support your view on the proposed changes to the Immigration laws? Are you a student crafting an essay to argue against the Death Penalty? Does your organization need information to write a grant for funding to help the homeless? If so, you can find arguments for and against many of the major issues of our time in the Opposing Viewpoints database. This database can be found at:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/edb/patronlinks.asp

The Opposing Viewpoints database covers social issues such as gun control, genetic engineering, censorship, endangered species, and terrorism, including viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, court cases, and more. There are over a hundred different topics to choose from. This database is very useful for reports and debates since it presents both sides to an issue.

For example, the topic of gambling contains papers arguing about the benefits and problems of casinos, the history of legalized gambling, the addictive nature of gambling, and the pros and cons of government-sponsored gambling. Students can also find statistics concerning teen gambling, casino revenues, and taxation of gambling. In addition, there are links to newspaper and magazine articles, and institutions and organizations related to gambling.

For students, Opposing Viewpoints also offers some great research tools. These tools help students build their discriminative powers to determine which arguments have merit and to clarify how to present them in their own papers. It includes on online dictionary to locate word meanings. Also, there is access to a research guide that aids students in analyzing arguments and citing material. Finally, the toolbox feature is helpful for students to plan out essays and build their arguments.

Best of all, this information can be accessed from home. Locate information on hot topics of the day in the Opposing Viewpoints databases.
http://www.pbclibrary.org/edb/patronlinks.asp

4/ Get Ready for “The Book”

It is almost time for the 2004 Read Together Palm Beach County campaign. This spring everyone in Palm Beach County will be invited to read the same book at the same time, just as we read Fahrenheit 451 in 2002.

This time, however, the residents of Palm Beach County helped choose the book. Votes were cast from October 31 to November 27, 2003 to select one of these five titles:

“Bel Canto” by Ann Patchett
“The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
“The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother” by James McBride
“Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston
“Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom

The winning book will be announced on January 26, 2004. Your local library will have plenty of copies available so that everyone can join in. Watch our web site next week for the announcement of “The Book” and keep following it thereafter for information on discussion groups, special events, and more!

Read Together Palm Beach County – One Book, One Community!

5/ A Quick Byte – The Escape Hatch: Alt-F4

Have you ever had trouble closing a window or ending a program? Occasionally, a window may open without the close “X” in the top corner, or a program will run with no obvious way to stop it. When these circumstances occur, do not fret. There is an “escape hatch” to free you from this trap. Hold down the “Alt” button and then press the F4 button at the top of the keyboard. This will instantly close the active window. You can also use this trick to close down all your windows before turning off the computer by pressing the F4 button multiple times while holding down “Alt” until all windows are closed. So the next time you are caught in a stuck window, use Alt-F4 to escape.

6/ Next Month in Books & Bytes

We will provide a guide to renewing your materials online. We will also look at the PoemFinder database to locate information on famous poems and poets.