Tales of a Virtual Librarian

National Poetry Month

2009-04-02T08:19:00.002-05:00

As many of you know, April is National Poetry Month. In honor of NPM, I will be posting poetry on a regular basis this month.

For more information on National Poetry Month, visit the web site for the Academy of American Poets. This site offers small bios of famous poets, as well as their actual poetry. You can also shop for fun National Poetry Month items while you are there!

Bunny Burnstein

Talk Radio Stations

2009-03-03T10:00:00.004-06:00

Interested in staying on top of current events? Here are a few radio stations that will let you know what the government is up to!

National Public Radio
NPR (National Public Radio) is an internationally acclaimed producer and distributor of noncommercial news, talk, and entertainment programming. A privately supported, not-for-profit membership organization, NPR serves a growing audience of 26 million Americans each week in partnership with more than 860 independently operated, noncommercial public radio stations.

Federal News Radio
FederalNewsRadio.com made history 2/22/2000 as the first internet-only all-news radio station. It was a success story during the dot-com bust and it makes history again as the first internet radio station to migrate to broadcast airwaves. FederalNewsRadio.com has continued to expand and grow with the objective of being THE source for the latest news and information concerning feds - throughout the Nation's Capital and around the world!

CNN Radio
Listen to updated news 24 hours a day from the CNN Radio live Web stream.

C-SPAN Radio
C-SPAN Radio offers commercial-free public affairs programming 24 hours a day. You'll hear live coverage from Washington of important congressional hearings, key speeches from national leaders, along with archival recordings of presidential tapes, military memoirs & judicial proceedings from contemporary times and before the advent of television.

Bunny Burnstein

March Blog Spotlight: Library Stuff

2009-03-01T00:01:00.001-06:00

The library weblog dedicated to resources for keeping current and professional development.

This blog is the creation of Steven M. Cohen (and is published by Information Today, Inc.). Library Stuff, not only offers information on professional development duties, but also posts current news items that include or affect libraries. These posts vary in terms of source...everything from the New York Times to the Online Athens is used. News posts provide the source of the article, as well as links to the original full-text for anyone interested in more than a brief synopsis.

Library Stuff is a great resource for any librarian. If you want to know what is going on in the world of librarianship, this is the blog to read.

Bunny Burnstein

NOLA Stations - Music

2009-02-28T10:00:00.000-06:00

Here are some of the stations that I like...

Lagniappe Broadcast Network
A network of independent Internet Radio stations dedicated to providing quality music in multiple genres and formats.

WWNO 89.9 FM
Your source for NPR News and Great Classical Music. The University of New Orleans' radio station.

WWOZ 90.7 FM
Dedicated to bringing New Orleans music to the universe! Expect lots of Jazz and Blues.

WTUL 91.5 FM
Tulane University's radio station. Expect a wide variety from Punk to Jazz.

WLMG 101.9 FM
Continuous Soft Rock.

...more to come...

Bunny Burnstein

I Heard It on the Radio...ONLINE!

2009-02-25T10:00:00.003-06:00

Radio Locator
Provides "links to over 10,000 radio station web pages and over 2500 audio streams from radio stations in the U.S. and around the world." Find radio stations by call letters or dial numbers. Find online streaming radio by genre...or even by country!

Radio Tower
Another site that allows you to search by genre, country, or language.

Online Radio Stations
Free Internet radio and online music.

Live365 Internet Radio
Find stations that play the music you want!

Pandora
Open up this Pandora's box of music.

Next installment, you'll get to see some of the local stations that I listen to online.

Bunny Burnstein

81st Annual Academy Awards

2009-02-22T00:01:00.000-06:00

Tonight is the big night for many stars out there. Tonight...is Oscar Night!

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
This is the real site for the Oscars...the Academy. Check out information about the history of the awards. And don't miss the online exhibits!

Oscar.com
This is the place to go to follow this year's Oscars. Check out the red carpet, learn about the nominees. There is also a place to "play along" and pick who YOU think is going to win--live!

The Official Academy Awards Database
This is a great site for anyone interested in past nominees/winners. You can search by different categories, by year. Browse nominees...or just look at the winners. This is a database near and dear to my heart!

Whether you watch it to see who wins or to find out who is wearing whom, enjoy the show!

Bunny Burnstein

Self-Defense Training

2009-02-19T10:00:00.003-06:00

The number one problem I seem to have when faced with options for self-defense/martial arts is...which one do I choose? What exactly is the difference between Karate and Kung Fu? Which one best suits my goals/needs? Well, here are some sites that will explain the different types of martial arts to you.

Types of Martial Arts
This site gives you a quick overview of the different types of martial arts. It also has a directory to find martial arts schools in your state. The directory does not include ALL of the schools in your area, though.

Starting Martial Arts
This site lists the different types of martial arts by ethnicity. Some of them include links to more information about that particular form of martial art.

About.com: Martial Arts
This site, as most About.com sites, offers a variety of information on the topic of martial arts. I particularly enjoyed the articles "What are the Martial Arts Styles?" and "What is the Best Type of Martial Arts?"

Bunny Burnstein

The Best Defense is Good Self-Defense

2009-02-16T10:00:00.002-06:00

America's Most Wanted Safety Center
Whether you are being physically attacked or financially scammed, this site has videos and tips for how to defend yourself in a variety of situations. Including tips like these.

National Crime Prevention Council
Remember McGruff, the dog who takes a bite out of crime? This is his site. The site offers statistics on crime, as well as tips for preventing different types of crime. My favorite sites are dedicated to personal safet y and preventing violence.

Women's Self-Defense Center
This site offers tips on how to deal with everything from rape and stalking to purse-snatching and car-jacking.

Here are two articles that delve into how to handle an attacker.

Self-Defense Tactics at SafetyCentral.

5 Quick Self-Defense Tactics That Can Save Your Life by Ryan J. Macdonald
(View other articles by Mr. Macdonald here.)

Always remember, a weapon you carry is a weapon that can be used against you. This blog neither condones nor condemns the carrying of such items. Just remember...don't carry anything on you that you aren't willing to use.

Articles are great, but taking self-defense or martial arts classes is better. Stay tuned for the next installment, where I will point you to some sites that can help you find the martial arts class for you.

Bunny Burnstein

American Heart Month

2009-02-13T10:00:00.004-06:00

This month is American Heart Month. Here are some great sites that can help you learn more about heart disease, as well as how to take care of this vital organ.

American Heart Association
The best place to go for information on taking care of your heart.

AHA Journals
Journals put out by the American Heart Association.

Delicious Decisions
Wonderful heart-healthy meal ideas!

Just Move
Get more active for a healthier heart!

And remember these signs of a heart attack...

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

• Shortness of breath. This feeling often comes along with chest discomfort. But it can occur before the chest discomfort.

• Other signs include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Bunny Burnstein

Oxford African American Studies Center

2009-02-10T10:00:00.000-06:00

February is National Black History Month. In honor of our first black president, the Oxford African American Studies Center is celebrating with free access to the public!

The Oxford African American Studies Center is a subscription database that "combines the authority of carefully edited reference works with sophisticated technology to create the most comprehensive collection of scholarship available online to focus on the lives and events which have shaped African American and African history and culture." This database will be available from February 1st to March 1st.

Visit www.oxfordaasc.com.

Username: barackobama
Password: president

Bunny Burnstein

Information posted in the Federal Documents @ Earl K. Long Library blog on Monday, February 2nd.

Use Your Mouse to Help the World

2009-02-07T10:00:00.000-06:00

Need a little break at work? Take some time to relax while doing some good!

Free Rice

Play a vocabulary game and help end world hunger! For every answer you get right, 10 grains of rice are donated through the UN World Food Program to help end hunger.

Click to Give

Click to Give Food

Click to Give Free Mammograms

Click to Give Free Child Healthcare

Click to Give Free Books

Click to Protect Endangered Habitat

Click to Give Free Food and Care to Animals

Bunny Burnstein

Desk Pains

2009-02-04T12:53:00.000-06:00

Many of us spend our days sitting at a desk. Don’t fall victim to the physical ailments that can happen when you’re just going through the (repetitive) motions.

Safe Computing Tips

This is a great site to get you started on a new and healthier way of working at a computer. This site does not just offer Carpal Tunnel (and other) exercises; it also offers information about how different disorders are caused (and how to correct them).

eMedTV – Carpal Tunnel Exercises

This site offers health information…including some useful Carpal Tunnel exercises.

Desktop Yoga

Need a stretch during the day? Can’t make it to a yoga class? This site offers easy yoga movements to keep you aligned during your workday.

Bunny Burnstein

February Blog Spotlight: The Kept-Up Academic Librarian

2009-02-01T08:30:00.000-06:00

Helping Academic Librarians "Keep Up" With News and Developments In Higher Education.

This blog, created by Steven Bell, is one of the ones I check every day. This, of course, caused me to put it in my February Spotlight. The Kept-Up Academic Librarian is a blog that focuses on issues in academia, including issues in academic libraries. Entries include news blurbs about what different universities and university libraries are doing, often providing links to full news stories.

The Kept-Up Academic Librarian is a great resource for academic librarians. If you want to know what is going on in the world of academic librarianship, this is the blog to read.

Bunny Burnstein

Reading Ahead

2009-01-26T09:03:00.001-06:00

Everyone wishes he/she could read another person’s mind at one point or another. But how many consider reading another person’s body instead? Here are some sites to help you out with that…

Body Language for Business Communication (University of Northern Iowa)

This site offers clues as to what certain actions and expressions mean. This is useful for reading other people, as well as for making sure that other people are reading you correctly.

Facial Expressions: What’s in a Face? (American Psychological Association)

This article discusses the art (and somewhat science) of reading facial expressions.

The Gestural Origins of Language (American Scientist)

This article talks about the origin of non-verbal communication, as well as how it has changed throughout history.

Human Nonverbal Communication (Bellarmine University)

This site links to several articles on the subject.

Now…it’s important to remember that body language isn’t always 100% accurate. Crossed arms could mean that the person is closed off from you (doesn’t like you or the topic, etc.)…or it could just mean that he/she is cold. While this information is interesting and has some merit, it shouldn’t be used in excess—i.e. in lieu of what the person actually tells you.

Bunny Burnstein

Inauguration 2009

2009-01-20T08:32:00.000-06:00

Today is a very historic day; today, this country inaugurates its first black president, Mr. Barack Obama. Today is also an historic day for me and my family, as my grandmother turns 100 today. But in honor of the inauguration, I’m posting some sites about past inaugurations…as wells as sites about today’s event.

Inauguration Day 2009 (District of Columbia site)

Offers information about the inauguration and the new President and Vice President.

Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (U.S. Senate)

Click on the History tab to find some interesting information about past inaugurations.

Armed Forces Inaugural Committee

For those interested in the military aspect of the inauguration, including parades.

National Park Service 2009 Inauguration Brochure

A lovely and interesting brochure on the history of the Inauguration.

Bunny Burnstein

To a Healthy New Year

2009-01-12T10:17:00.001-06:00

FACULTY POSITIONS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY

Since this is the time of year for resolutions and the occasional cold or flu, I thought it might be handy to point out some great (and free) health databases. Disclaimer: It is never a good idea to diagnose/treat yourself. These sites are not a substitute for a doctor’s care. Use these sites wisely.

HealthFinder
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

This site offers tips for healthy living, as well as personal health tools. It includes activity and menu planners, health calculators, quizzes to test your health habits, and an A-Z listing of various diseases/conditions. If you need more information on a condition, this site links to other reliable sites like the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association.

This site also helps you find doctors and hospitals near you. And the site can also be used in Spanish.

MedlinePlus
(U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health)

This site is great for finding information on various ailments, prescriptions, and health topics. It also offers a medical encyclopedia, a dictionary, and a directory. This information can also be viewed in over 40 languages.

U.S. National Library of Medicine
(National Institutes of Health)

This site is great for finding information on ailments and health, as well as information about pursuing a career in the medical field. More importantly, this site links to other reputable sites on a variety of topics. It also includes online exhibitions and digital projects.

Bunny Burnstein

January Blog Spotlight: Beyond The Job

2009-01-01T12:50:00.000-06:00

Articles, job-hunting advice, professional development opportunities, and other news and ideas on how to further your library career.

This blog, compiled by Sarah Johnson and Rachel Singer Gordon, is one of my favorite blogs. So, when I decided to start a monthly blog spotlight for 2009 (a chance for all of you to see what blogs I enjoy reading the most), I had to start with Beyond the Job.

Beyond the Job is a great resource for librarians. Whether you want to take a professional development course or you are looking for career advice, this blog is the place for you. It also includes information on scholarships, writing opportunities, or conferences.

I enjoy reading this blog, and I hope you will, too! Happy New Year! I hope to be back on schedule by the end of this week!

Bunny Burnstein

Book Worm

2008-12-22T09:09:00.000-06:00

Looking for something good to read over the holidays? Maybe you need to find a book to give as a present. Well, here are some sites that might just help you out…

Whichbook

This is a fun site that lets you customize the search for the type of book you want. Using a sliding scale, you can choose a book that is happier or longer or bleaker. It’s a fun tool to play with. You can also choose what kind of character you want, based on gender, race, age and sexuality. There are also options for plots and settings.

Genrefluent

This is another fun site that allows you to browse books from different genres. This is especially great because the lists often include reviews of the various titles.

Fictionwise

This site offers free eBooks and can be great for finding something to read. Even if you the physical feel of a book (as, I confess, I do), you can at least get an idea of what the book is about before you go out and buy it.

Based on the Book

This site, brought to us by the Mid-Continent Public Library in Missouri, is for those of us who love books and movies. This site offers an alphabetical list of books that have been made into movies, as well as an alphabetical list of movies based on books. This can be a really fun game to play: read the book then watch the movie. You can even turn it into a discussion…not a bad idea for book clubs!

Bunny Burnstein

SL Adventures: Music Pavilion, Cultural Arts Museum

2008-12-16T08:30:00.000-06:00

In my post on November 26^th, I wrote about exploring the Cultural Arts Museum created by James Madison University in Second Life. Now, I mentioned visiting a Roman Grotto, a Roman Villa, a Greek Temple, an Egyptian Tomb, a Russian Orthodox Church, and the Starkweather Art Pavilion. Well, I did NOT mention a Music Pavilion…mainly, because there was not one when I visited the museum. Now, however, there is one! So, here is the SLURL… enjoy playing the harp and the piano. Also be sure to check out the beautiful scenery.

Bunny Burnstein

Museums from Home

2008-12-11T12:50:00.001-06:00

Today, it is snowing in New Orleans...so in honor for the ultimate snow-day, here are some fun museums you can visit in your pajamas with an Internet connection. Since there are so many, I'm just going to list them without chatting about them. Most of them are self-explanatory anyway.

American Red Cross Museum

Colonial Williamsburg Online Museum Exhibits

Electric Samurai Asian Museum

Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum

Museum of Unnatural Mystery

Natural History Museum

National Women’s History Museum

Olympic Museum

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

Roman Open-Air Museum (Tour a Roman Villa)

Toyota Automobile Museum

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

University of California Museum of Paleontology

World Art Treasures

Bunny Burnstein

Oh, the Cites You’ll See…

2008-12-07T12:24:00.000-06:00

With finals coming upon all the students out there, I decided this would be a good time to break out some of my citation websites. Enjoy!

C.W. Post Campus

This first one is my favorite, partly because it is color-coded. Simply click on the link to the style you need at the top of the page, and you are ready to begin. Each page has a list of types of resources. Each resource has an example with each part color coded, so that you can understand what the cite should look like and what information goes where.

OWL at Purdue

This site, brought to you by the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University, lists the different types of citation style in a very useful way. Select the style you need and then scroll down to choose the type of citation format you need: in text vs. bibliography, online vs. print, etc. Once you find the section you need, you will see a list of how to cite different resources…including blogs!

Citing Information, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library

This is another site that breaks down the basics of each style. It’s not necessarily as user-friendly as the first two, but it is still a great resource!

Online!

This site, brought to you by Bedford/St. Martin’s, is a great place to learn about citation styles and even find resources for a particular topic. It’s a site definitely worth exploring.

The Writing Center

This site is a well-organized and easy way to check on the rules for various citations styles. It even offers orientation for each style, as well as other citation resources online.

KnightCite

This site is actually a type of cheat sheet brought to us by the Hekman Library of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. This little gadget does the citation for you…much in the way that some databases (i.e. Academic Search Complete) do. Now, this does not always work, which is why you need the other sites I’ve listed. Sometimes this gadget does not fit the type of source you may have perfectly. One caveat: always use a citation manual or one of these sites with the KnightCite. Some citations have different rules about capitalization, and KnightCite does not handle that aspect of the citation. So always double-check your work!

Check my del.icio.us account for some more sites aimed at specific citation styles! Some of these sites even offer writing tips!

Bunny Burnstein

Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.

2008-12-01T14:52:00.000-06:00

Today is World AIDS Day. It is a day when individuals and organizations around the globe focus attention on AIDS. This year also marks the 20^th anniversary of World AIDS Day. If you are interested in learning more about HIV/AIDS or World AIDS Day, here are some sites to point you in the right direction.

World AIDS Day

This site is dedicated to World AIDS Day. It offers ideas for promoting your World AIDS Day event, as well as ideas for getting involved.

LIFEbeat

This site is dedicated to raising AIDS awareness among today’s youth. It offers information about AIDS, as well as information about testing sites.

AIDS Info

This site by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers all kinds of information about HIV and AIDS in a user-friendly format.

CDC HIV/AIDS

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention also has a site on AIDS that can answer a lot of questions about the disease and what is being done to treat it.

National HIV and STD Testing Resources

This site allows you to search for testing facilities near you. Once you enter your zip code, a list of results will pop up. With the results, there is a sidebar that gives you the option for a more advanced search. This search includes an option for FREE testing centers. Be sure to take advantage of that if you believe you or someone you love has been exposed to HIV or AIDS.

UNAIDS

This is the United Nation’s site for AIDS, addressing the global aspects of the disease. It’s a great resource for anyone interested in what each country/region is doing/has to say about the epidemic. (Though, I must be honest, this page took a long time to load for me…so be patient.)

Bunny Burnstein

SL Adventures: James Madison University’s Cultural Arts Museum

2008-11-26T10:52:00.000-06:00

Earlier this week, I had the fortune to visit James Madison University’s Cultural Arts Museum in Second Life: SLURL here. This site is a lot of fun! It has a little bit of everything: a Roman Grotto, a Roman Villa, a Greek Temple, an Egyptian Tomb, a Russian Orthodox Church, and the Starkweather Art Pavilion. Plus, the entrance has an introduction and art exhibits of its own.

Since I couldn’t hope to do it justice with words, here is a slideshow of some pictures I took:

To see the photos, one at a time, go to my Picasa page. Or just scroll down to the very bottom of this blog to see my photo albums.

Bunny Burnstein

Second Life Seminar: Web 2.0 for Lawyers

2008-11-23T13:09:00.000-06:00

Yesterday afternoon, I attended a CLE (Continuing Legal Education) seminar in Second Life called "Web 2.0 for Lawyers." This seminar was part of the Speaker Series held in world by the Second Life Bar Association and taught by Cat Galileo (known in the real world as Kate Fitz). These seminars are free and open to anyone interested (and cost $25 for anyone interested in receiving CLE credit). I have attended quite a few of the SLBA seminars, and I must admit that each one has been informative and interesting. This particular seminar was no different.

In this seminar, Cat covered a wide variety of topics, including blogs, wikis, and social networking sites. She discussed how these new 2.0 technologies are being used in the legal world. She explained these various technologies - what they are, how they work - and then she explained how these technologies are becoming legitimate professional tools in the legal world...which, in turn, means they can be legitimate tools for a multitude of professions.

I, personally, appreciated that last part. As a librarian, I have always believed in the importance of exploring new technologies. We are the gatekeepers of information. The more we know...the more we can teach others. Unfortunately, not everyone feels this way. A lot of people believe that these new technologies are "toys," and that librarians are "playing" when we use them. To hear Cat discuss the use of these tools in a legal environment validated my own feelings about exploring applications like Blogger, Twitter, Facebook, and, yes, even Second Life.

Anyway, long post short...I really enjoyed the seminar and highly recommend any future seminars by SBLA or Cat Galileo. For anyone interested in the information provided during this seminar, here is a link to the handout. Enjoy!

Bunny Burnstein

Web Design on a Dime

2008-11-21T10:51:00.000-06:00

Since I’ve been playing with Blogger, Twitter, and other web applications a lot this week, I thought that it was time to post some free web design tutorials/resources!

W3 Schools

This is a great resource for learning HTML, XML, and other scripts, such as JavaScript. All of the tutorials are free and include examples, quizzes, and other resources. You can also choose to get certification in a particular web language, though that does cost money.

My favorite part of this site (and the part I use most) is the Tryit Editor. This program allows you to type in your script and preview it. This is a lot easier than altering the text in your htm/html document, saving the document, and then viewing it again. It saves a lot of time. Many times, my web project will have an error that I just can’t shake…the Tryit Editor allows me to manipulate the text a little at a time to fix it.

HTML, XHTML, & CSS by Elizabeth Castro

This web site is actually supplemental material for Elizabeth Castro’s book HTML, XHTML, & CSS, 6^th Edition. I highly recommend this site, as well as the book…which can be purchased from Amazon for under $25. It is a great beginner’s guide, but it also teaches some more advanced skills, making this a wonderful reference book that can guide you in years to come. The site itself has a lot to offer—examples, basic scripts, etc. One of the best ways to understand the examples, though, requires a little work. Click on the example, which will open up in a new tab or browser. Then go to View on your browser and choose Page Source (Firefox) or Source (IE). Then the code is there for you to explore. You can also find examples from the previous two editions online.

Basic HTML Tag Tutorial

This site doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the other two, but it does give straightforward instructions (along with examples). It is also indexed according to what the user wants to know. It is designed more with beginner’s in mind, so it may not be as useful to advanced users. But it is a good, simple resource.

Some cool sites…

HTML Color Codes: Can’t remember the code for blue? Not sure which shade you want in your site? This resource is for you! This site shares the codes for the different colors that can be used in web design. Simply select the color you want, and the code pops up. Have a code, but you aren’t sure what color it is? This site also has a section where the user can type in the code and view the color that corresponds!

E-Mail Icon Generator: Want one of those cool icons for e-mail? This site generates them, free of charge! Simply type in your email address and click generate. If you don’t like the design, click on the link Provider not available? Click here! to change it. You can even alter the font!

Check out mine!

FavIcons from Pics: This is one of my favorite resources! Take a look at the URL address bar…see the orange icon with a B? Want one of those on your site? With a picture of YOUR choosing? This is the site for making one. Simply upload the picture you want and click generate FavIcon.ico. You can choose a stationary icon or an animated one! Simply download the icon, and it is ready to be inserted into the coding for your page (with the proper coding, of course).

Bunny Burnstein

“Language is the blood of the soul...

2008-11-17T09:50:00.000-06:00

…into which thoughts run and out of which they grow.” ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Being a lover of languages myself, I thought this would be a wonderful time to introduce you to some great sites that offer FREE language tutorials.

BBC Languages

The BBC web site offers lessons in several different languages, including French, German, Spanish, and Italian. It also offers lessons in Portuguese, Greek, and Chinese. You can also learn little snippets of other languages, such as Urdu, Japanese, and Polish. The site also offers a page that teaches various phrases in 36 different languages. The site offers audio and video to accompany your studies, which can be great for learning pronunciation. This is a great site if you need to brush up on a language…or if you are just starting your studies.

101 Languages

This site offers instruction in many different languages. It does not offer audio, so pronunciation might be a little more difficult to nail. But it does offer a variety of other resources, including information about the region that speaks that language. This includes news, geography, and history. It’s a great place to learn about the culture behind the language while learning the language itself.

Free Online Language Courses

This site is not an actual learning site. It is, instead, a resource that offers users a list of FREE online learning sites for various languages. This is a great place for polyglots who are interested in learning multiple languages online. The languages are arranged alphabetically, and the list is quite extensive. It includes popular languages, as well as rarer ones. I highly recommend this site.

Polyglot

This site isn’t a learning site, either. It’s something better. It is a free pen-pal site, allowing people from different countries to connect and communicate. It’s a great way to practice a particular language…or to help someone else practice English. Users also get the chance to learn about other cultures through their pen-pals.

Bunny Burnstein

Knowing Your History

2008-11-12T14:31:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite classes in library school was my genealogy class. There is something wonderful about discovering your heritage. If you are interested in learning about your family history, here are free some sites to help you along your way…

Ellis Island Foundation

The Ellis Island Foundation provides this free resource for the public. It allows the user to search the Ellis Island/Port of New York records for a particular passenger. You can also browse the list of passengers by ship. The site also offers free genealogy forms (click on Genealogy, then click on Free Charts and Forms). The site also offers personal stories from immigrants who came through Ellis Island, as well as a timeline of immigration history.

Even if you don’t have family who came through Ellis Island, it’s still a fun site to explore.

Family Search

Family Search is a free resource provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This site is not only useful for searching through records; it also doubles as a kind of Genealogy 101. Several links offer information to the novice researcher, including how to get started, research guidance by location, and forms and maps! It even offers a list of free resources. Though, honestly, not all of these resources are free. Some are subscribed to (i.e. paid for) by libraries, but any user can access them from those particular libraries.

My Heritage

My Heritage is a new site for me, but I’m intrigued by its promising future. This site allows you to create, free of charge, your own family tree. You can also use the site as a search engine, searching multiple resources at one time for a particular ancestor. It does require you to register, though. The results, however, are impressive. A list is generated of all the resources that have information on your particular ancestor. Each resource is marked with various icons. A dollar sign for sites that cost money, a gold star for popular sites, a blue I for indexed sites, etc. This is very useful if one is trying to find free resources. The only annoyance I have discovered (so far): some of the resources require you to register with them. I understand why this is necessary, but I quickly lost interest in those resources on a day when I didn’t feel like going through the hassle. Otherwise, I think this could be a wonderful resource!

National Archives and Records Administration

Now, one can’t actually use NARA online. Users can find a library with a NARA microfilm collection; they can also request specific documents through the mail. I’m mentioning NARA for a completely different reason: our national history. Look to the left of the page, under Explore & Interact. Click on America’s Historical Documents. Here you will find some truly amazing images: The Louisiana Purchase Treaty, the Articles of Confederation, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and more! Take some time to enjoy these historic documents.

Don’t forget to check out their American Originals Exhibit!

To me, genealogy is more than knowing who was born of whom. It's about stories. The story of my great aunt’s experiences on Wall Street on Black Thursday. The story of ancestors who died on the Cherokee Trail of Tears. The story of how parts of my family fought on different sides of the American Revolution. And, some day, my story.

Bunny Burnstein