Reading Resources for Kids -- Websites

Here are several excellent sites if you are interested in children's literature, which we encourage through the "Take Time to Read" program:

· The Center for the Book at the Library of Congress helps oversee the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature – www.childrensbookambassador.com
· …in collaboration with the Children’s Book Council – www.cbcbooks.org
· National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance – www.thencbla.org
· The center also oversees a new website that provides reading resources especially for kids and teens, as well as adults, educators, and parents –
www.read.gov

Source: American Libraries 12-09, p. 22 “Space for Children and Teens Created at Library of Congress.” Thanks to Leora Kemp, UNT Dallas Library Director

Haiti Support -- Information Pages

Several libraries have created web pages full of information relating to Haiti and supporting Haiti in the earthquake disaster.

Brooklyn Public Library in New York
Boston Public Library
University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Also, an in depth health-related page on this is now available from the National Library of Medicine. It includes a section on language materials and will add information on hazards from airborne particles from collapsed buildings.

An earthquake engineering center, MCEER, from the University of Buffalo, also has a Haiti 2010 disaster clearinghouse page. It includes aerial imagery and maps.

Confirm Email Rumors at Snopes.com!

Snopes.com is a great, trustworthy resource to be aware of. When you get a disturbing or alarming email or just hear a rumor, Snopes is the place to find out the truth. They research the stories, publishing sample notices and investigating and documenting the truth about each concern.

Next time you get an alarming email, pop by Snopes first. Then you can pass along accurate information or help stop false rumors yourself.

Research Reporting Guidelines List

A chart showing links to biomedical research reporting guidelines is now available via the PubMed homepage by clicking on the Topic-Specific Queries link under PubMed Tools. The page also includes a link to a search on the topic.

Anatomy images online at NLM

Images from historical anatomy books are now available online via the National Library of Medicine's Historical Anatomies on the Web. Included are a number of pages from a Vesalius book. You can currently see a Vesalius on display in our own library.

Free online education

A number of universities provide free online access to audio, video and print materials. These sites do not necessarily offer credits or CE, but if you just want to learn, try them!

Academic Earth
OER Commons -- Open Educational Resources
iTunes U -- inside the Apple iTunes Store, to download to your iPod

These universities are developing free scholarly materials and software tools. In some cases you can make arrangements to receive course credit (may require payment):
Connexions from Rice University
OpenCourseWare from MIT
Open Learning Initiative from Carnegie Mellon

Insurance fraud and scams -- NICB

The nation's premier not-for-profit organization dedicated exclusively to fighting insurance fraud. The NICB hotline is 800-TEL-NICB (800-835-6422). The NICB partners with insurers and law enforcement agencies to facilitate the identification, detection and prosecution of insurance criminals.

Consumer Shopping Tips

1. FTC - Shopping by Phone or Mail - BBB News Center www.bbb.org/us/article/ftc--shopping-by-phone-or-mail-4527 A number of tips for consumers offered by the Better Business Bureau and the U. S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid these practices. Beware of price comparison websites, many have been found to receive payments from merchants in exchange for a high rating. One that is apparently reliable is PriceGrabber.

2. The Texas Attorney General's office is a consumer watchdog. You call their complaint line at 1-800-252-8011 or on their website http://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov