Technology Tip #22: Online Weight Loss Tools

Times magazine wrote that one of the top New Year's Resolution to be broken is to "Lose Weight and Get Fit". As we herald in the New Year I thought it would be fun to share some free online tools that can help you try to maintain that resolution.

A lot of fitness websites will have a ton of features including ways to track your calorie intake, free exercise routines, blogging space, and a social networking capability. Let's face it...some websites do some things better. Based on my own experience and some online reviews here are some of the most popular websites for your fitness goals this 2012.

My Fitness Pal / www.myfitnesspal.com

I found this website easy to use and I even got a few friends to join with me. This is a community based website that allows you to track your food, exercising, and create a online profile to interact with friends. You can post updates directly to your Facebook from their website and there is a app that you can download for your smart phone. It will help you set fitness, calorie, and weight goals. Keep your friends up to date while blogging about your trials and tribulations. The best part is that everything is free.

Livestrong / www.livestrong.com

I used to use this website and I would recommend it for people that are serious about their fitness goals. It offers more tools than Fitness Pal and a far more comprehensive food tracking system called the Daily Plate. I suggest this for people that really want to track their nutrition intake and accurately track every calorie burned. Another tool I really loved was their tool called "LOOP" for directly tracking the route you took on a walk, run, bike, etc. This way you don't have to drive the car around your path for mileage. Most of the features on Livestrong are free but for some of the more advanced options you will have to pay a membership fee.

My Food Diary / www.myfooddiary.com

This website is easy to use and popular. Unlike My Fitness Pal it is not completely free and some of the options require a membership. You can still access a food diary, exercise log, and a weight loss forum so you can look for inspiration and support from other users.

Women's Fitness / www.fitnessmagazine.com

If you are just looking for quick workouts Women's Fitness magazine offers one page printable workouts. This is free but you will have to give them your e-mail address. These workouts are awesome and lately they have been providing quick 15 minute workouts that torch calories.

Do you have any fitness websites you suggest?

Technology Tip #21: Call Santa or Have a Fun Holiday Voicemail Message

From Gmail Blog, December 16th

Ho-ho-hold the phone: Santa’s on the line
Posted by Trevor Claiborne, Product Marketing Manager


Last year, Santa got his very own Google Voice number, and people around the U.S. received a special personalized holiday phone call from Santa Claus.

This year, Santa wants you to reach out to him (after all, reindeer are only so-so conversationalists). If you or your family members have a special request for Santa, you can call him right from Gmail* and leave him a message at his Google Voice number: 855-34-SANTA. Santa won't be able to return messages himself—it’s a busy time of year for him—but he's promised to keep us up to date on happenings in the North Pole day by day.

You also can create and send a unique, customized phone call from Santa to anyone you know, from your nieces and nephews to old college friends, over the phone (to U.S. numbers only). Listen to a sample phone call, and send a message of your own from SendaCallFromSanta.com.

Of course, Santa is never one to fall behind the technological times (word on the street is that Rudolph’s nose was recently upgraded to an energy-efficient LED). So while the red suit may never go out of style, this year Santa has come up with an extra special way to spread the holiday cheer. But you’ll have to wait until it’s closer to Christmas to find out what it is. So no peeking—but keep checking the site!

Happy Holidays from your friends at Gmail.

*Calls from Gmail are free for U.S. and Canadian users, but will cost people outside those areas $.01/minute (plus any applicable VATs).

Cross-posted on the Official Google Blog

Uncommone Genre 2: Historical Cookbooks

Marie Antoinette said "Let them eat cake!". I want to know what cake tasted like to Marie Antoinette in the 1700s. Since I definitely don't want to find cake that was made in the 1700s (ewwww), my best bet is to find a recipe from the 1700s and make it myself. So today I want to do a little research on a uncommon genre of books, historical cookbooks.

I can just do a web search for "1700s cake recipe" and get thousands of finds. If you use one of these recipes there is no guarantee it is authentic. Just because the person who posted it on the internet swears it has been in the family since the Colonial does not make it authentic. So today's post is going to focus on authentic resources that we can validate as being time period correct.

Part of the process of finding authentic books is actually being able to see the original book yourself. I do this by searching the internet for visual images of these older books. If you want to try browsing for them go to Google Books, look for cookbooks, and in the right hand side change the publish date to the desired years. Here are a few authentic resource examples.

---

American

American Cookery by Amelia Simmons (1798)

This is the first known American cookbook that used American ingredients. The book is available for purchase by several vendors but since it is not protected by copyright you can peruse digital images of the book at Michigan State University by clicking on the title.

If you would like to view 75 other cookbooks from 1798 through the late 1900s check out all of Michigan State University's project called Feeding America. There are images available all similar to American Cookery.

European

Early European cookbooks are harder to find because they are usually in the original language and not translated. If you are serious about finding them I thought I would at least give you a starting point. This book does not have any recipes but it lists all of the original print dates and titles of European cookbooks from that era. I recommend this only for serious culinary patrons because it is not available through Wisconsin lenders and it can be pricey.

Printed Cookbooks in Europe: 1470-1700: A Bibliography of Early Modern Culinary Literature. by Henry Notaker (2010).

Happy Cooking!

Technology Tip #20:YouTube Holiday Hellos!

Ah, the infamous Holiday Newsletter. Depending on the author it can be a instrument of entertainment or terror. You can still send traditional ink, but engage your family with a Holiday Video and post it on YouTube.

Holiday Video:

Step 1: Use a recording device like your digital camera, a web cam with microphone on your computer, etc and work with your family to make a short two minute video saying hello to everyone for the holidays. You can have fun with this by wearing your favorite holiday sweater and showing off your Christmas decorations.

Step 2: Go to www.youtube.com and upload your video. YouTube will generate a link that you can share with people. (Click here to be brought to the YouTube help page.)

Step 3: Send an e-mail to friends and family with the link to your Holiday Video.

Making the video is part of the fun and is a bonding opportunity with family members or unfortunate pets. It may not be a masterpiece but you will stand out from the ink newsletters. To give you a little courage check out Bob's family holiday video.

UnCommon Genre Week 1: Historical Military Westerns

Western sub-genres generally include the following categories which reflect the interests of western. One such sub genre is Historical Military Westerns. In this genre you read to Western novel fictions that have accurate details of the historical events. This helps you as a reader be entertained with a quick pace adventure and learn something with the detailed description of the action and events.

Try Reading:

Terry C. Johnston, The Plainsmen series
Will Henry
Cynthia Haseloff, The Kiowa Verdict: A Western Story
Don Coldsmith, The Trail of the Spanish Bit

Ashes of Heaven. Terry C. Johnston. A Plainsmen Novel, Book XIII.1998. 432p.
The Plainsmen series chronicles the final battles of the war against the indigenous peoples, as seen through the eyes of Seamus Donegan, a likeable and experienced soldier and scout out of Fort Laramie, Dakota Territory. Sent “to finish a long and bloody war”, the quick-paced, action-packed novel tells the story of the vain efforts of some to negotiate a humane end to the conflicts, which instead led to the Lame Deer Fight of 1877 and brought the once-mighty Sioux to their knees.

I, Tom Horn. Will Henry. 1975. 339p.
“Just him and the wind and the wolf, lone three. Out there! Out there!”
The recreated autobiography of Tom Horn, who left home at 14 after enduring his father’s last beating, to begin a life of adventure in the West. Recounted as his sat awaiting his hanging after having been sentenced by a jury that included men he had once arrested for cattle rustling, Tom tells the story of the unfortunate series of events that led up to his execution.

Riders of the Purple Sage. Zane Grey. 1912. 335p.
A young Morman woman, heir to her father’s extensive ranch, dares to defy the Mormon church elders and befriends a young man who is a Gentile, and is threatened and bullied by them. Out of the dust, just in time to save the day, rides the mysterious stranger who wil teach the brutal religious extremists a lesson they won't forget.

Western sub-genres generally include the following categories which reflect the interests of western reader’s advisory at my library:

Historical/ Military Westerns: Read to gain an accurate understanding of the real events and people that shaped the West, preferably related in a well-written adventurous tale that moves along at a fairly quick pace, with lots of detailed action.
Terry C. Johnston, The Plainsmen series
Will Henry
Cynthia Haseloff, The Kiowa Verdict: A Western Story
Don Coldsmith, The Trail of the Spanish Bit

Ashes of Heaven. Terry C. Johnston. A Plainsmen Novel, Book XIII.1998. 432p.
The Plainsmen series chronicles the final battles of the war against the indigenous peoples, as seen through the eyes of Seamus Donegan, a likeable and experienced soldier and scout out of Fort Laramie, Dakota Territory. Sent “to finish a long and bloody war”, the quick-paced, action-packed novel tells the story of the vain efforts of some to negotiate a humane end to the conflicts, which instead led to the Lame Deer Fight of 1877 and brought the once-mighty Sioux to their knees.

I, Tom Horn. Will Henry. 1975. 339p.
“Just him and the wind and the wolf, lone three. Out there! Out there!”
The recreated autobiography of Tom Horn, who left home at 14 after enduring his father’s last beating, to begin a life of adventure in the West. Recounted as his sat awaiting his hanging after having been sentenced by a jury that included men he had once arrested for cattle rustling, Tom tells the story of the unfortunate series of events that led up to his execution.

Riders of the Purple Sage. Zane Grey. 1912. 335p.
A young Morman woman, heir to her father’s extensive ranch, dares to defy the Mormon church elders and befriends a young man who is a Gentile, and is threatened and bullied by them. Out of the dust, just in time to save the day, rides the mysterious stranger who wil teach the brutal religious extremists a lesson they won't forget.

Compiled by Cathy Marciniak in August of 2004

Reader Advisory - Thoughts on Reading

Betty Rosenberg is an idol of mine. She was not a First Lady or an inventor. She was a wickedly clever librarian employed by UCLA who had a shock of white hair and chain smoked cigarettes. Her written words always have a ring of reverent wisdom and truth and my favorite Rosenberg quote is: "Never apologize for your reading tastes".

I agree wholeheartedly with that quote and believed in its meaning before I heard about it from Betty. I grew up in a family that loved to read, but every single one of us had an entirely different taste. My Mother is a fervent reader and can always be found reading romance novels, anything about UFOs, and Soap Opera Digest. As if to prove how much my Father loves reading he built in magazine/book racks into the toilet paper dispensers at our house so he could keep his Science Fiction novels near. My Grandfather was more of a literary reader and taught me appreciation of Shakespeare, Steinbeck, and the beauty of poetry. The point being....each one of these people loved to read something different. When it comes to reading for enjoyment I believe that UFOs are just as important as Steinbeck. Read what you love and sometimes try reading what other people love.

With that in mind I would like to provide some reader advisory tools for some genres that don't get as much appreciation as they should. Every month I will try to provide some reader advisory tools for a specific genre. So look for that blog post titles with "Reader Advisory". Our first blog will come next week. If you have any suggestions please comment! Thank you!

Technology Tip 19: Getter Better Gifts

It is that time of year where the media jollily reminds us how many days we have left until Christmas. (25 in case you were wondering). Be prepared this year and use the library to help you pick the best quality gifts.

If you are thinking about a particular item, anything from an e-book reader, digital camera, snow tires, or washing machine, Consumer Reports has probably reviewed it and can make some suggestions.

Call us at 262-363-6411, e-mail us at mukref@gmail.com, or stop in and we can help you find these rating.

Expansion Photos Nineteen

Oooh... the big day is almost here. This week the shelves are being finished and the new furniture is being delivered and installed. While it won't all be done until we actually move back, nearly everything that isn't at our temporary home is now at our gorgeous, new home. Here are some photos from earlier today:

Here is a portion of the children's area, with new shelving on the left (without the wood end caps which will be installed by Friday, Dec. 2), the four children's computer stations (center), and the board book bin (right) all in place.

Our new meeting room, now with tables and chairs! They are surprisingly comfortable chairs for multi-purpose, meeting room, stackable chairs.

These "not quite ready for prime time" booths that will be part of the Young Adult area. When complete and properly installed, these will make a nice seating area for our teen and college-aged patrons.

Expansion Photos Eighteen

Take a glimpse at our new Children's Area. Miss Jane will be right at home in the bright and fun interior. Check out those fish!

Here is a similiar view, but a little brighter. If you see the shelving unit near the back you get a sample of what some of the furniture will look like.

Now begins the process of putting together all of the shelving units. Something neat about the new library is our entire collection will be availble on the library floor. (No more circulation reserve).

They are alive! Watch as our shelving units get put together and rise towards the ceiling. Look at all the boxes they came in.

Imagine this space filling with library materials. Hardcover, softcover, DVDs, periodicals, CDs, oh my!

Expansion Photos Seventeen

The front entrance is looking bright and cheerful in preperation for our return. The skylights provide extra illumination in the heart of the library.

Here is a view from behind one of the desks at the library. This gives you what the library looks like from a staff's perspective.

Look at all of the sunglight that streams in from the windows. The park and ballfield will be viewable from those big windows.

The circulation desk is ready to go. The lamps wll be unveiled soon and ready to glow for our open house during Midnight Magic.

The shades for the large windows will come in handy during the summer months. Look at how well they can block out the extra sunlight.






We are getting excited! Are you?

Technology Tip 18: Manage Your Facebook

If you aren't on Facebook I bet you have heard about it in the news. This website has more than 800 million active users. When you post something interesting it can spread like wild fire around the world. There are countless stories of people losing their jobs, marriages, and more about the carelessness of their posting and who sees it. There is also concerns from parent's about children posting information on the internet and who has access to it.

The truth is, Facebook is as private as you would like it to be. You can choose who can view your information, what information you see, and even if someone can find your name when they search the website. One of the best resources I have found that guides you through Facebook is the CIO Facebook Bible. If you want to start out with ten simple steps try their 10 Essential Tips & Tricks for all Facebook Users.

I just learned to clean up all those game requests I keep getting and have no interest in!

Technology Tip 17: Gmail Shortcut Keys

Keyboard shortcuts (from Google Help Page)

I was ecstatic to come across these shortcut keys for Gmail! If you have questions please feel free to e-mail us at mukref@gmail.com.

Keyboard shortcuts help you save time by allowing you to never take your hands off the keyboard to use the mouse. You'll need a Standard 101/102-Key or Natural PS/2 Keyboard to use the shortcuts.

To turn these case-sensitive shortcuts on or off, click the gear icon at the top of any Gmail page and then Mail settings. Choose the option next to "Keyboard shortcuts" to turn them on. You can also enable shortcuts automatically by going to http://mail.google.com/mail/?kbd=1

Shortcut Key	Definition	Action
c	Compose	Allows you to compose a new message. + c allows you to compose a message in a new window.
/	Search	Puts your cursor in the search box.
k	Move to newer conversation	Opens or moves your cursor to a more recent conversation. You can hit to expand a conversation.
j	Move to older conversation	Opens or moves your cursor to the next oldest conversation. You can hit to expand a conversation.
n	Next message	Moves your cursor to the next message. You can hit to expand or collapse a message. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
p	Previous message	Moves your cursor to the previous message. You can hit to expand or collapse a message. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
o or	Open	Opens your conversation. Also expands or collapses a message if you are in 'Conversation View.'
u	Return to conversation list	Refreshes your page and returns you to the inbox, or list of conversations.
e	Archive	Archive your conversation from any view.
m	Mute	Archives the conversation, and all future messages skip the Inbox unless sent or cc'd directly to you. Learn more.
x	Select conversation	Automatically checks and selects a conversation so that you can archive, apply a label, or choose an action from the drop-down menu to apply to that conversation.
s	Star a message or conversation	Adds or removes a star to a message or conversation. Stars allow you to give a message or conversation a special status.
+	Mark as important	Helps Gmail learn what's important to you by marking misclassified messages. (Specific to Priority Inbox)
-	Mark as unimportant	Helps Gmail learn what's not important to you by marking misclassified messages. (Specific to Priority Inbox)
!	Report spam	Marks a message as spam and removes it from your conversation list.
r	Reply	Replies to the message sender. + rallows you to reply to a message in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
a	Reply all	Replies to all message recipients. +aallows you to reply to all message recipients in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
f	Forward	Forwards a message. + f allows you to forward a message in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
	Escape from input field	Removes the cursor from your current input field.
+ s	Save draft	Saves the current text as a draft when composing a message. Hold the key while pressing sand make sure your cursor is in one of the text fields -- either the composition pane, or any of the To, CC, BCC, or Subject fields -- when using this shortcut.
#	Delete	Moves the conversation to Trash.
l	Label	Opens the Labels menu to label a conversation.
v	Move to	Moves the conversation from the inbox to a different label, Spam or Trash.
+ i	Mark as read	Marks your message as 'read' and skip to the next message.
+ u	Mark as unread	Marks your message as 'unread' so you can go back to it later.
[	Archive and previous	Removes the current view's label from your conversation and moves to the previous one.
]	Archive and next	Removes the current view's label from your conversation and moves to the next one.
z	Undo	Undoes your previous action, if possible (works for actions with an 'undo' link).
+ n	Update current conversation	Updates your current conversation when there are new messages.
q	Move cursor to chat search	Moves your cursor directly to the chat search box.
y	Remove from Current View*	Automatically removes the message or conversation from your current view. From 'Inbox,' 'y' means Archive From 'Starred,' 'y' means Unstar From 'Trash,' 'y' means Move to inbox From any label, 'y' means Remove the label * 'y' has no effect if you're in 'Spam,' 'Sent,' or 'All Mail.'
.	Show more actions	Displays the 'More Actions' drop-down menu.
+	Opens options in Chat	+ moves from edit field in your chat window to select the 'Video and more' menu Next, press to select the emoticon menu Press to open the selected menu
?	Show keyboard shortcuts help	Displays the keyboard shortcuts help menu within any page you're on. (Note: Typing ? will display the help menu even if you don't have keyboard shortcuts enabled)
k	Move up a contact	Moves your cursor up in your contact list
j	Move down a contact	Moves your cursor down in your contact list
o or	Open	Opens the contact with the cursor next to it.
u	Return to contact list view	Refreshes your page and returns you to the contact list.
e	Remove from Current Group	Removes selected contacts from the group currently being displayed.
x	Select contact	Checks and selects a contact so that you can change group membership or choose an action from the drop-down menu to apply to the contact.
	Escape from input field	Removes the cursor from the current input
#	Delete	Deletes a contact permanently
l	Group membership	Opens the groups button to group contacts
z	Undo	Reverses your previous action, if possible (works for actions with an 'undo' link)
.	Show more actions	Opens the "More actions" drop-down menu.

Combo-keys - Use the following combinations of keys to navigate through Gmail.

Shortcut Key	Definition	Action
then	Send message	After composing your message, use this combination to send it automatically. (Supported in Internet Explorer and Firefox, on Windows.)
y then o	Archive and next	Archives your conversation and moves to the next one.
g then a	Go to 'All Mail'	Takes you to 'All Mail,' the storage site for all mail you've ever sent or received (and have not deleted).
g then s	Go to 'Starred'	Takes you to all conversations you have starred.
g then c	Go to 'Contacts'	Takes you to your Contacts list.
g then d	Go to 'Drafts'	Takes you to all drafts you have saved.
g then l	Go to 'Label'	Takes you to the search box with the "label:" operator filled in for you.
g then i	Go to 'Inbox'	Returns you to the inbox.
g then t	Go to 'Sent Mail'	Takes you to all mail you've sent.
* then a	Select all	Selects all mail.
* then n	Select none	Deselects all mail.
* then r	Select read	Selects all mail you've read.
* then u	Select unread	Selects all unread mail.
* then s	Select starred	Selects all starred mail.
* then t	Select unstarred	Selects all unstarred mail.

updated 09/21/2011

National Native American Heritage Month, 2011

As Thanksgiving draws near we can put some thought on the holiday and how much Native Americans had to do with our history. President Obama's recent proclamation puts honor towards that history with the National Native American Heritage Month for the month of November. If you read through the proclamation it also illustrates how this is important for the future.

Presidential Proclamation -- National Native American Heritage Month, 2011

NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, 2011

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

From the Aleutian Islands to the Florida Everglades, American Indians and Alaska Natives have contributed immensely to our country's heritage. During National Native American Heritage Month, we commemorate their enduring achievements and reaffirm the vital role American Indians and Alaska Natives play in enriching the character of our Nation.

Native Americans stand among America's most distinguished authors, artists, scientists, and political leaders, and in their accomplishments, they have profoundly strengthened the legacy we will leave our children. So, too, have American Indians and Alaska Natives bravely fought to protect this legacy as members of our Armed Forces. As service members, they have shown exceptional valor and heroism on battlefields from the American Revolution to Iraq and Afghanistan. Native Americans have demonstrated time and again their commitment to advancing our common goals, and we honor their resolve in the face of years of marginalization and broken promises. My Administration recognizes the painful chapters in our shared history, and we are fully committed to moving forward with American Indians and Alaska Natives to build a better future together.

To strengthen our economy and win the future for our children, my Administration is addressing problems that have burdened Native American communities for too long. We are working to bolster economic development, expand access to affordable health care, broaden post-secondary educational opportunities, and ensure public safety and tribal justice. In June, I signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Rural Council, to strengthen Federal engagement with tribal governments and promote economic prosperity in Indian Country and across rural America. This comes in conjunction with several settlements that will put more land into the hands of tribes and deliver long-awaited trust reform to Indian Country.

To bring jobs and sustainable growth to tribal nations, my Administration is connecting tribal economies to the broader economy through transportation infrastructure and high-speed Internet, as well as by focusing on clean energy development on tribal lands. First Lady Michelle Obama's recently launched Let's Move! in Indian Country initiative will also redouble efforts to encourage healthy living for American Indians and Alaska Natives. These actions reflect my Administration's ongoing commitment to progress for Native Americans, which was reaffirmed last year when we announced our support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Through a comprehensive strategy where the Federal Government and tribal nations move forward as equal partners, we can bring real and lasting change to Indian Country.

This month, we celebrate the rich heritage and myriad contributions of American Indians and Alaska Natives, and we rededicate ourselves to supporting tribal sovereignty, tribal self-determination, and prosperity for all Native Americans. We will seek to strengthen our nation-to-nation relationship by ensuring tribal nations have a voice in shaping national policies impacting tribal communities. We will continue this dialogue at the White House Tribal Nations Conference held in Washington, D.C. next month. As we confront the challenges currently facing our tribal communities and work to ensure American Indians and Alaska Natives have meaningful opportunities to pursue their dreams, we are forging a brighter future for the First Americans and all Americans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2011 as National Native American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to commemorate this month with appropriate programs and activities, and to celebrate November 25, 2011, as Native American Heritage Day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

BARACK OBAMA

Technology Post 16: Poll Your Friends and Coworkers!

Technology can allow you to connect with people in new ways. Polling may be an unexplored avenue you should consider using. All you do is ask a question and wait for people to respond through a web browser, cell phone, or other devices. It is quick, fun, and different.


My favorite tool for this is a website called Poll Everywhere. I like it because you can create a poll within 30 seconds and people can respond on the web, by texting, or through Twitter. Hear are some ways to use it:


-Texting everyone in your circle to see where they would like to eat for dinner. This way everybody gets a vote, and you don't get to hear the complainers.
- When you need an anonymous vote to make a workplace decision.
-Trying to stimulate your friends to get them politically intereseted.


The results get displayed in real time as people respond and can be seen on your web browser, cell phone, or utilized in a PowerPoint display. This is a really basic example:

Create interactive meetings at Poll Everywhere

Mmmmmmm....Food

The holidays are my favorite time for sumptous treats and divine eats! The library has all sorts of great resources to help you plan your largest holiday meal or think up something new to bring to your office potluck.

Come check out our lage magazine collection with magazines like the Food Network, Every Day with Rachel Ray, Good Housekeeping, and Cooks Illustrated. We have hundreds of cookbooks and many specialized versions for your diet or preferences.

I am more likely to bring home something about sweets like Good Housekeeping's The Great Christmas Cookie Swap Cookbook. That doesn't mean you can't make a healthier decision :).

Expansion Photos Sixteen

This is the new building profile that will be greeting you when you drive in. With the larger parking lot it should be easier to find a convenient spot place.












The landscaping around the building is underway. Here is one of the paths along the library. Look at how large and deep those paving stones are!












The inside of the library is starting to look a lot more like home. We have ceiling tiles installed, painted walls, trim, doors, and more galore!







The installation of carpet warms up the entire building. Soon this carpet will be getting tested by patrons (and the winter snow).

The old library had a comfortable and familiar feel with all of the mission style wood furniture. The library aims to keep that feeling and you can see that mission style in our new lamps!

Technology Tip #16: Type Faster!

Increase your productivity at work and stop using your pointer finger to peck at your keyboard. Invest 15 minutes a day for practicing typing and increase your speed and accuracy. Many standard office and administrative jobs have a mandatory typing speed between 30 to 50 WPM. What is yours?

I used to teach typing courses for Department of Workforce Development clients. My favorite tool to use outside of the classroom was to suggest the website TypingWeb. It is a great website because you create your own account and it will track your progress. It will also help you catch where you make mistakes. If you make it to a certain level or finish a program it will also make printable certificates. The best part? It is free.

So at least check it out, and see how fast you can type!

New Library Open House During Midnight Magic!

While the entire town is opening their doors for Midnight Magic we will be opening our new doors! Come and celebrate our official open house at the new Mukwonago Community Library building! Photos with Santa will be taking place in our new community room on Saturday, December 3rd.

We will begin the move back to the new building on Friday, December 9th and if all goes according to plan reopening our doors on Wednesday, December 14th.

We are excited to be moving back home! Last time we had a smooth move with most of that thanks going to our volunteers. If you are available to volunteer for help during our open house or to help us move please contact Laura at 262-363-6411. Thank you again for all of your support and continued enthusiasm during our expansion process!

Calling All Writers!

Do you think you can write a novel in one month? Are you interested in just trying it out. Join us in the international celebration of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).

This is simply about inspiring literary abandon. We will be having a get together here at the library on Sunday, November 19th from 10 am to 1 pm. So starting writing tomorrow, collect what you have on the 19th and come visit with like minded writers. Get opinions, guidance, and just have fun!

I (Tristan) will be participating with writing a novel this month. I have never written an entire novel. I can promise you one thing and one thing only...it will not be very polished...or very good. But I am going to try! So try with me!

Check out this website for more details, local groups, and more information.

Technology Tip 15: How to Make An ePUB Book

Now I must admit you may wonder....why would I ever need to make an e-book? Here are a few ideas I came up with.

-You have always wanted to write a book and disregarded the idea because self publishing can be expensive. Creating a e-book can be free to create and disperse.

-Preserving family recipes and making a easy to e-mail e-book!

-You may be a student and get tired of lugging all of your books around. Transport your notes to a e-book and then you can just e-mail your information.

If you are interested check out the University of Washington's website for their step by step instructions on how to make a e-book. If you have any questions or troubles come see us at the Reference Desk!