As a way for companies to become greener, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) encourages them to enroll in the Voluntary Idling Program (VIP) for Cleaner Air. The goal of VIP is to reduce emissions by cutting down the time that trucks are idling. Idling not only releases exhaust fumes into the air, but also wastes fuel and costs money. IDEM lists several advantages to taking part in this program, in addition to environmental and health factors: being more fuel efficient “reduces petroleum consumption, fuel costs, engine wear and maintenance costs, diesel emissions, and noise.”

Companies have idling problems to various degrees. Because of this, VIP offers a variety of options – some are free, while others cost thousands of dollars. Ideally, however, the money saved on fuel costs will eventually surpass the cost of the initial program. The program is available to freight carriers, manufacturers and retailers throughout Indiana.

VIP includes a list of Facts and Myths about diesel idling. For example, did you know that letting a diesel engine idle is actually worse for an engine than stopping and starting it? The website also includes links for those interested in signing up for the programs, whether they’re on the transportation or manufacturing side.

IDEM: http://www.in.gov/idem/
VIP: http://www.idem.IN.gov/4128.htm
Facts and Myths: http://www.in.gov/idem/4459.htm
Info for Freight Carriers: http://www.in.gov/idem/4463.htm
Info for Manufacturers, Distributors and Retailers: http://www.in.gov/idem/4462.htm

VISIT INDIANA
Visit Indiana for a wonderful holiday getaway! You don’t have to travel across the country or around the globe to see exciting views and sights. Indiana has a variety of attractions and packages for the entire family. Whether you want to go howling at Wolf Park or visit the Potawatomi Inn in Angola, there is something for everyone. If your budget is tight, there are a number of discount packages for just about any budget. Visit Indiana offers discounts for dinners out, shows and even museums all around the state. Several places around the state offer holiday attractions, whether they be nighttime horse and buggy rides or light displays. One thing to keep in mind – this is winter in Indiana. No matter where you go this holiday season, remember to travel safely and get travel updates. For Winter Driving Tips and information about highway closures, go to the Indiana Department of Transportation’s website.

Visit Indiana is not limited to the holiday season, but offers trip planners and travel guides all year long. Their site also includes a helpful travel map. Next time you want to travel on a budget, be sure to stop here first! Travel brochures on varying themes are also available on the website.

Visit Indiana: http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/
Discount Packages: http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/travel/discounts.aspx
Winter Driving Tips: http://www.in.gov/indot/7261.htm
Highway Closures: http://www.in.gov/indot/2400.htm
Travel Map: http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/travel/maps.aspx

PREPARE YOUR CAR FOR WINTER
The icy roads this week were a good reminder to get vehicles ready for the winter weather. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues an emergency preparedness advisory: Extreme Cold: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety. Take a look at the Winter Survival Kit for Your Car, which advises drivers to equip cars with blankets, waterproof matches, a collapsible shovel, survival food, and other items. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security also provides a PDF of Winter Safety Tips for the Vehicle. If you do become trapped in your car during a blizzard or snowstorm, here are some tips. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency also offers many tips for winterizing your lawn equipment.

Regardless of the weather, safe driving is a major concern. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation sponsor a website called SaferCar.gov. It features a Recall database containing information on vehicles, child restraints, and tires that have been recalled. There are also a 5-Star Safety Rating search, Safe Driving Information organized by topic, and other online resources such as copies of auto safety publications. Remember to stay safe on the roads during holiday travel!

Extreme Cold: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/guide.asp
Winter Survival Kit for your Car: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/guide.asp#car
Winter Safety Tips for the Vehicle: http://www.in.gov/dhs/3069.htm
PDF: http://www.in.gov/dhs/files/Winter_Safety_Tips_for_the_Vehicle.pdf
Winterizing your Lawnmower: http://www.epa.gov/reg5oair/mobile/winter.htm
SaferCar.gov: http://www.safercar.gov/

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE
On December 23, 1913, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act into effect and the Federal Reserve System was born. The Federal Reserve (“The Fed”) is the central bank of the United States. It has four principal functions: conduct the nation’s monetary policy, supervise and regulate banking institutions, maintain the stability of the financial system and provide financial services to government, depository and foreign official institutions.

As a reflection of today’s troubled economy, the Fed’s website has features for citizens facing foreclosure and for those seeking help with other banking difficulties. There are also links to statistics relating to consumer credit, banks, foreign exchange and business finance. Both historic and current data are available.

For more information, visit Fed 101. It’s an interactive site that gives brief descriptions of the history, structure, financial services and more of the Federal Reserve. Visitors to the site can also read about the life of a check or of a dollar bill. Videos of the process are included as well. There are even quizzes and classroom guides available for teachers. For more detailed information, see Federal Reserve System: Purposes and Functions, available in PDF on the Fed’s website.

The records for the Federal Reserve System are held at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). An overview of what they have is available at their website.

Woodrow Wilson: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/ww28.html
Federal Reserve Act: http://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed/fract.htm
Federal Reserve System: http://www.federalreserve.gov/
Foreclosure: http://www.federalreserve.gov/consumerinfo/foreclosure.htm
Fed Consumer Help: http://www.federalreserveconsumerhelp.gov/?District=13
Statistics: http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/
Fed 101: http://www.federalreserveeducation.org/fed101/index.htm?CFID=2512914&CFTOKEN=18139871
Classroom guides: http://www.federalreserveeducation.org/FED101/classroom/index.cfm
Federal Reserve System: Purposes and Functions: http://www.federalreserve.gov/pf/pdf/pf_1.pdf
NARA http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/082.html

ACCESS TO ARCHIVAL DATABASES
Are your patrons unsure of where to find the historical records they need for their research? Ask them to try the Access to Archival Databases (AAD) website, provided by the National Archives. Information is organized by category, subject, and time span. The website has a helpful Getting Started Guide which explains how the records are selected – they are chosen because of how they “identify specific persons, geographic areas, organizations, and dates” and “cover a wide variety of civilian and military functions and have many genealogical, social, political, and economic research uses.” The National Archives is always adding databases to its collection, so keep checking back for more. You never know – these could help you and your patron answer your next question!

Access to Archival Databases http://aad.archives.gov/aad/
National Archives http://www.archives.gov/
Getting Started Guide http://aad.archives.gov/aad/help/getting-started-guide.html

by Katharine Springer & Elisabeth O’Donnell