The Answer

We now have Lynda.com, which means, if you have a Skokie Library card, you have Lynda.com!

The official description of  it is “Lynda.com Online Learning Library provides users with access to over 800 video training courses in computer related topics such as Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Word, iMovie, or Twitter.”

I have been using it nearly nonstop since we got the subscription.  It is an outstanding resource for anybody wanting to learn through videos/screencasts.

Be aware that Lynda.com does not work well with Internet Explorer, use Firefox, Google Chrome or another browser to view the videos.

Be sure to take advantage of this resource as well as all our technology books, online and off.

Rejoice, the FIFA World Cup has returned.  I am lifelong soccer fan and longingly look forward to each World Cup.

Yesterday, I led a World Cup 101 discussion here.  We discussed the rules of soccer, especially the very difficult to grasp offsides rule, yellow and red cards, direct vs. indirect kicks, and much more.

I also briefly touched on each and every team playing in the tournament.   I also discussed  some of the players to keep an eye on such as Wayne Rooney, Kaka, Lionel Messi, Arjen Robben, and Cristano Ronaldo.

The games will be live online at ESPN3.com (which isn’t working for me at the moment for some reason) and Univision.

The slides from the class are here. I love the World Cup and I hope you will too.

Every so often we get questions at the Reference Desk regarding forms for Section 8 housing vouchers, or other public housing programs typically offered by the Chicago Housing Authority. Rather than perpetually offering the forms to the public, the CHA instead has occasional open registration periods, where families can register for a waiting list. The last registration period happened in 1999.

Waiting list registration will re-open on June 14th, and run through July 9th.

There are some things you’ll need to know if you wish to sign up. Registration will be exclusively online, at chawaitlist.org. In addition to the Internet stations at the Library, there will also be 100 registration sites throughout the city.There will be no paper forms.

To qualify for public housing, Chicago residents must be 18 or older and make less than 80 percent of the median income. This currently stands at $60,000 for a family of four. Residents must also go to school, volunteer, or work up to 20 hours a week.

Once the registration period ends on July 9th, an outside party will generate 40,000 names to be placed in CHA housing units.

For more information, please see the CHA’s Frequently Asked Questions page. You can also find out more by calling 311 or 866-7THECHA.

Are you or someone you know interested in learning more about our ESL and World Language collections? Take a look at this great video tour given by one of our reference librarians! Then visit us and let us know if you need any help!

Also, don’t forget to check out these online resources for literacy and English as a Second Language.

You know, snakes don’t freak me out, but something about an animal that small (generally, I know about anacondas and such) being able to do me in with a bite does freak me out… a little.  That is why when I stumbled upon the World Health Organization’s Venomous Snakes Distribution and Species Risk Categories I spent about an hour playing with it.

Using the database it is possible to search by region (continent), subregion (Central America, East Asia, etc.), and country.  It is also possible to search by the name of the snake and species.  Less interesting is the ability to search by antivenom.

The snakes are categorized with either the number 1 or 2.  The number 1 means “Highly venomous snakes that are common or widespread and cause numerous snakebites, resulting in high levels of morbidity, disability or mortality”, number 2 is not less dangerous, just less likely to bite.  Our good friend in the picture above , the Copperhead, is a number 1.  I wish they had better descriptions, for instance if they said being bit by such-and-such snake kills you in under 10 minutes without antivenom or category 1 billion.   I guess that is what the Animal Planet is for.

World Health Organization’s Venomous Snakes Distribution and Species Risk Categories is an interesting website and worth the short amount of time learning how to use it.

Worried about phishing and spam? Well, if  not you should be!  Phishing scams are all over, and many are very difficult to detect.  Don’t believe me?  Try the  SonicWALL Phishing and Spam IQ Quiz.  I got 8 out of 10 correct.

How will you do? Let me know in the comments.

The Skokie Public Library Business Portal in a partnership with SkokieNet has recently added a local Business Directory.  The Business Directory is for local area businesses to have a free online presence.

Simply navigate to the Skokie Public Library Business Portal Business Portal, go to the Business Directory and click on submit your business.

Are you interested in expanding your online presence even more?  Contact us and we will be more than happy to help!

The Library hosted its annual Teen Job Fair this afternoon. Thanks to all of the local employers, organizations, and especially the teens who participated! If you would like more information about looking for a job, please ask a librarian and take a look at our online job and career resources for teens!

Did you know that Illinois has been home to at least 50 species of native orchids? Orchids are the most evolved and one of the largest and most widespread and diverse families of flowering plants in the world.

Even one orchid species can teach us volumes about the delicate interactions between humans and our environment. Orchids are indicator species for the high-quality surface water supplies people need. Not only are orchids beautiful, we must preserve them as sentinels of ecological health. This presentation will help you learn to identify many of Illinois’ 50 different species of orchids and show you how they are being conserved in Illinois, and especially, in the Chicago region.

Presenter Kathleen Marie Garness is a rare plant monitor for the Chicago Botanic Garden and has participated in their research programs since 2002. In 2008 she was awarded a Chicago Wilderness Conservation Leadership Award for her work with Audubon Chicago Region in developing the Chicago Wilderness passport program. In 2009 she was invited to speak about Orchid Conservation Strategies in Illinois at the annual Native Orchid Conference at the University of Wisconsin.

Her work has been published in Chicago Wilderness Magazine, the Habitat Herald, Illinois Audubon magazine, the Orchid Conservation Coalition and related websites, and in the Native Orchid Conference journals. She was also president of the historic Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts in Chicago. Working to explore the many interconnections between art and science, her botanical paintings are now in many private collections.

The program is this Saturday, March 27th, at 2PM in the Mary Radmacher Room. Sign up for the workshop online or by calling 847.673.3733.

A visit to Chicago Botanic Garden’s “Losing Paradise” exhibit is recommended before or after the program. The exhibit is open through April 4.

(Image: Lady Tresses Orchid, native to Central Illinois. Image courtesy Prairie State Outdoors.)

Hopefully you’ve received your Census form in the mail by now. This brief questionnaire will help the federal government learn more about the American populace, and in turn develop new programs and essential services across the nation.

If you haven’t received a form, we have forms available at the Library in the Community Services office. In addition to English, we have copies in the following languages:

• Chinese (中文)
• Korean (한국어)
• Russian (Русский)
• Spanish (español)

If you need assistance filling out your form, or have any questions, representatives from the Census Bureau will be here during selected times now through April 19th.

• Sunday: 1-5pm
• Monday: 9am – 12pm
• Wednesday: 5pm – 9pm
• Friday: 5pm – 9pm

For more information on the 2010 Census, please check out SkokieNet and the official Census website.

[cross-posted from The Soapbox]