Resolve to find a better job

One of the most common resolutions at the new year is to find a better job. US News & World Report has recently named the best 50 careers of 2010. Check out the compiled report and further research in the library's Jobs and Occupations section. Here you'll find materials such as the Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, Green Jobs, civil service exam workbooks, and how-to guides for resumes and cover letters. Get a jump on your 2010 job search by starting with the resources at the library.

Book Tree

From the American Library Association e-newsletter comes this photo of a librarian created Christmas tree (of over 300 volumes of the National Union Catalog) at Loyola Marymount University Library.

US News & World Report 2010 Best Cars

US News & World Report has released its list of the 2010 Best Cars for the Money. See the video slideshow. Look for the latest US News & World Report on PCL's magazine rack every month. Back issues are able to be circulated for a three week period.

How many have you read?

The New York Times has compiled a list of the 1oo Most Notable Books of 2009. The list will appear in print on Sunday, December 6th in the Book Review, however for a preview go to their web page. Titles on the list that are available at PCL include:
Cold: Adventures in the world's frozen places/Bill Streever
Columbine/Dave Cullen
Cowboys Full: The story of poker/James McManus
The evolution of god/Robert Wright
The fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii lost and found/Mary Beard
Lit: A memoir/Mary Karr
Losing Mum & Pup: A memoir/Christopher Brinkley
Open: An autobiography/Andre Agassi
Zeitoun/Dave Eggers

Questia Quiz - The Piano

Only one of the following statements is TRUE. Which one?

A. The piano is known as "The Queen of Instruments."
B. The total string tension in a concert grand piano is close to 20 tons.
C. Felt, buckskin, paper, steel, iron, and copper are among the materials used to make various parts of the piano's playing mechanism.
D. The first practical piano with an escapement mechanism for the hammers and capable of being played softly and loudly was built in Japan in 1887.

The one true statement – and correct Quiz answer – is C: Felt, buckskin, paper, steel, iron, and copper are among the materials used to make various parts of the piano’s playing mechanism. According to Piano World, because of its broad tonal and dynamic ranges and ability to produce melody and accompaniment at the same time, the piano is known as "The King of Instruments." The total string tension in a concert grand piano is actually close to 30 tons. And the first practical piano with an escapement mechanism for the hammers and capable of being played softly and loudly was built in 1700 by an Italian, Bartolomeo Cristofori.

U.S. News & World Report Best Universities

In late October, U.S. News & World Report released their compiled list of the top 200 universities worldwide. Check the rankings and the methodology for their compilation at World's Best Universities.

Doing your own research at PCL? Our selection of tools includes:

The college blue book (2009)

BusinessWeek guide to the best business schools (2003)

Campus visits & college interviews: A complete guide for college-bound students and their families (2002)

Early entrance to college: A guide to success (2007)

How to pay for college: A practical guide for families (2005)

PCL also has publications available on local Lehigh Valley colleges and universities, just ask at the Reference Desk.

Inventors and Inventions

A new 4 volume set titled Inventors and Inventions is available in the Reference section.

This publication features 413 inventors throughout history, both nationally and internationally renown, detailing their life and works in 3-4 pages. Each entry also includes the impacts of their inventions (useful for History Day research) as well as an annotated bibliography (to track down additional sources).

Available in print in the Reference section at 609.22 GRE or access online from the Parkland Community Library homepage following this path: Reference Services > Research Databases > Inventors and Inventions