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Friday Facts

Events, Friday Facts, Resources
April is Autism Awareness Month
April 3rd, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

Thursday, April 2, 2009 was World Autism Awareness Day, and April is Autism Awareness Month, sponsored by the Autism Society of America. There are several government resources to turn to when searching for information on Autism Spectrum Disorders, or ASDs. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides a user-friendly online Autism Information Center which contains an overview of ASDs, CDC activities, and directs users to related news. The National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus webpage on Autism also lists a wealth of different sources – from Diagnosis and Treatment to Genetics and Research. For quick access to answers, try the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke’s Autism Information Page. Try also Learning about Autism, from the National Human Genome Research Institute.

More DTV Coupons Now Available
In a March 24, 2009 press release from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), it was announced that the DTV Coupon Program is back on track. The program was designed to provide government subsidies for citizens who had to purchase digital cable converters for their analog televisions. Prior to the DTV Delay Act (PL 111-4), a major concern was that the program had run out of funding and was unable to provide coupons for households who needed them, thus creating an extensive backlog. However, because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the backlog has been alleviated. Households with expired coupons can contact the NTIA to get a replacement. Please see the press release for detailed contact information. The NTIA is accepting new applications for coupons and their stated turnaround period is nine days. However, as these coupons are being distributed on a first-come-first-served basis, citizens are encouraged to redeem their coupons as soon as possible.

Unwind with a Nice “Stay-cation” this Spring
Florida, Cancun, Jamaica… Indiana?! Why not Indiana for Spring Break? While it may not be an exotic location, Indiana has many tourist attractions and features for just about everyone. Instead of going away for Spring Break, many Hoosiers are deciding to take stay-cations and become tourists in their own city. The Indiana Office of Tourism and Development has packages and discounts to make staying in Indiana for Spring Break an attractive one. From resorts to museums to casinos, there is something for everyone here. For more information, please visit these websites and enjoy your stay-cation.

Census 2010 Preparation Getting into Gear
You and your patrons may notice U.S. Census workers soon in your neighborhood, sporting identification badges, starting now and throughout the year. Workers have begun canvassing addresses to make sure no one goes uncounted. One year from now, on April 1, 2010, the Census Bureau will begin counting the nation. Performing an accurate count of the population is very important. Information collected during the decennial census is used to: “distribute Congressional seats to states, to make decisions about what community services to provide, and to distribute $300 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year,” according to the Census Bureau’s Census 2010 website. One of the main differences for Census 2010 is that there will be no long form to fill out. Everyone will fill out the same short form which takes a convenient 10 minutes to complete. For more information, please visit Indiana’s Census 2010 website for more on Why the Census Matters and read the March 30 Indy Star article, Census wants to count on you.

U.S. Mint Honoring Louis Braille with New Coin
The U.S. Mint is yet again releasing a new coin. This one, however, is a little different than most. Officially known as the “Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar,” the coin was authorized by Public Law 109-247. It features inventor Louis Braille on the obverse (“heads”) side, and is the first U.S. coin to include readable Braille on it. The coins are available until December 31, 2009, and are non-circulating. Patrons interested in purchasing one can visit the U.S. Mint website or call their toll-free number at 1-800-USA-MINT. They can also view images of the coin by visiting the Mint’s Press Image Library. Any surcharges in sales will be sent to the National Federation of the Blind for its blind literacy programs.

by Katharine Springer, Elisabeth O’Donnell, & Kim Brown-Harden
Friday Facts, Resources
National Archives Offers Daily History Tidbits
March 27th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

Every day, Today’s Documents from the National Archives features a different document that represents an event that occurred that day in history. All documents displayed are relevant to American history. However, this is not your traditional Constitution and Gettysburg Address version of history. Rather, it includes pieces of Americana and coverage of other events that citizens may not know about. For example, March 24th featured Elvis Presley’s Acknowledgement of Service Obligation, when he joined the Army in 1958.

Each item in Today’s Document has been digitized, so viewers can see the actual record as it originally appeared. The website also includes links to related documents. In addition to Elvis’s Army agreement, the March 24th page lets viewers access a letter from Elvis fans to President Eisenhower and also gives tips on researching military records. There are also Classroom Resources available.

While you can check in every day to see the latest documents, you can also sign up for updates via their RSS feed.

American Memory Outlines History of Cherry Blossom Festival
According to the Library of Congress American Memory project’s Today in History website, “On March 27, 1912, First Lady Helen Herron Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted two Yoshino cherry trees on the northern bank of the Potomac River” in Washington, D.C. This event began the idea that grew into the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which takes place every Spring. The trees bloom at a different time every year, but the Peak Bloom Period usually covers late March to early April. Visitors plan their visit around these dates annually.

You can find a history of the festival on its official website. For historical photographs of the festival, use the search box on the American Memory website to search all Library of Congress online collections for “cherry blossom festival”.

DNR Seeks Entries for Annual Photo Contest
In celebration of Historic Preservation Month, the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA) of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is sponsoring its annual photo contest. The Division is asking shutterbugs and photo enthusiasts to capture some of your favorite subjects, especially historic sites or buildings over 50-years old. Indiana has a rich, historic landscape so there should be plenty of willing and available subjects.

The deadline to submit a photo is April 15th. You can view the contest guidelines to learn more about the contest. You can also get some good ideas by looking at the photos from previous contest winners. These photos are on display at the Indiana Statehouse and other historic state sites, as well as viewable online.

Census Bureau Releases 2007 Economic Data
Earlier this month, the first data from the 2007 Economic Census was released by the U.S. Census Bureau. According to a March 17 press release, “The economic census is conducted every five years and is the most comprehensive and detailed profile of the U.S. economy, covering millions of businesses representing more than 1,000 industries. The census provides the foundation and benchmark for gross domestic product, monthly retail sales and other indicators of economic performance.”

The report findings include an increase of more than $1.4 trillion in manufacturers’ shipments from 2002 to 2007, the largest increase of all sectors covered. Manufacturers also experienced the largest decrease of all sectors – in employment – during the same period. More information about specific statistics may be found by viewing the 2007 Economic Census (through 2011) data release schedule.

Public Printer Promotes GPO Initiatives
In an effort to increase the transparency of the federal government, Public Printer Robert Tapella has sent a letter to President Obama stating his support for the initiative and promoting new ideas from the Government Printing Office (GPO). One of these ideas is the increased usage of GPO’s Federal Digital System, or FDSys. While not yet fully released, FDSys is expected to be a cleaner and more efficient search engine than the current system. According to the letter, it is also an ideal system for providing a forum on legislation. One proposal for the “transparency initiative” allows for a comment period on legislation before it is made into law. The functionality of FDSys could allow for this. There is also an effort to create more synergy between FDSys and the White House website.

FDSys employed to its full potential will be an invaluable tool for librarians and patrons. Not only will it allow for easier searching capabilities on a wide variety of government publications, but it will be another avenue to allow citizens to participate in the democratic process.

by Katharine Springer, Elisabeth O’Donnell, & Kim Brown-Harden
Events, Friday Facts, Resources
March is Red Cross Month
March 20th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

According to a March press release from the American Red Cross, in 1943, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the first to declare Red Cross Month in March, in order to raise funds for World War II. President Obama has signed a Presidential Proclamation for 2009, which details the services offered by the organization: “supporting our military and their families, collecting and distributing blood, helping the needy, delivering health and safety education, and providing aid abroad.”

The Red Cross website and the Red Cross Chat blog offer real-time disaster updates and information about assisting within your community. Under Your Local Red Cross (right-hand side of the main website), enter your zip code for local offices and blood drive locations. You can even donate online or shop for Reference Guides in the Red Cross store.

IndianaMap Turned 52 on March 18
…Fifty-two Indiana counties sharing data with IndianaMap, that is, according to a recent press releasefrom the Indiana Geographic Information Council. IndianaMap is an electronic statewide map for Indiana. It is used to help manage things such as hiking trails, business development, and highway construction projects. It is particularly valuable in emergency response and recovery efforts. If you’ve ever searched for something on Google Maps, it’s highly likely that the aerial photography came from IndianaMap.

The state Geographic Information Office was created on July 1, 2007 by Indiana Code 4-23-7.3 and located within the Indiana Office of Technology to coordinate GIS activities statewide. The Indiana Geographic Information Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization of GIS users, professionals, and educators. Administered by an elected board of directors, IGIC is recognized as the official statewide coordinating body for Indiana geographic information.

World Water Day Promotes Sharing Resources
World Water Day. Founded in 1992 following a United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, it was designated as a day for people to recognize the importance of freshwater and to work on developing ways to maintain that freshwater.

This year’s theme is Transboundary Water: Sharing water, sharing opportunity. According to the official website from the UN, cooperation between countries sharing bodies of water can “help build mutual respect, understanding and trust among countries and promote peace, security and sustainable economic growth.” As a state bordering the Great Lakes, this is a relevant topic for Indiana. The UN’s website includes an interactive map of World Water Day events from around the world. It also provides posters and brochures that are available for download. For information about the important connection between clean water and good health, see the CDC’s website.

You can find information regarding Indiana’s Water Shortage Plan on the DNR’s website. For general information about water in Indiana, including water availability and how to obtain various permits, see the Department of Water. You can also visit the Central Indiana Land Trust to see how you can help the environment. The EPA is an additional source of information to learn about your local watershed.

Useful Tool Offers Variety of Local Data
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s Hoosiers by the Numbers website includes a new County Highlights feature that is full of data about the communities where you and your patrons live and work. Go to County Highlights, click a county on the map of Indiana, then select from eight different sections on each county profile: Overview, Population, Education, Commuting, Labor Force, Industry, Income, and Firm Size. Each section contains a variety of information in narrative, tables, charts, and graphs formats. Choose Lake County’s Industry section, for example, and view Average Employment by Sector for the county.

As stated on the website, the data is updated throughout the year, not just on an annual basis. The resulting tables and charts list their sources and are printable from the screen. Or download the data you need into Word, Excel, or PDF formats using the links on the top, right-hand side of the screen.

by Katharine Springer, Elisabeth O’Donnell, Kim Brown-Harden
Friday Facts, Grants, Resources
Congress in the Classroom Program Seeks Applicants
March 13th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

Congress in the Classroom is a program designed to instruct teachers on new methods of teaching about Congress and the United States Government. The program is sponsored by the Dirksen Congressional Center and held in Peoria, Illinois for three days in late July. High school and middle school teachers who teach history, social studies, government or political science are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is April 15, 2009 and forty participants will be selected. While this program is designed for teachers rather than librarians, libraries may be interested in posting this for any teachers in their community.

Those who are not selected for the workshop can also learn about new teaching techniques via the online edition. Children and young adults may be interested in the Dirksen Center’s Congress for Kids website. This interactive site uses activities and fun illustrations to teach kids about Congress. Of course, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have their own websites, both of which provide access to current legislation, as well as information about members of Congress and the history of the institutions.

For more information on Congress in the Classroom, please see the Dirksen Center’s information sheet

YUCK! Poison Prevention Week Starts Next Week
March 15-21 2009 marks National Poison Prevention Week. More than 2 million poisonings are reported to poison control centers each year. Most of these cases that are non-fatal occur among children under the age of six. National Poison Prevention Week was designed to inform the public about the prevalence of accidental poisonings in the home and elsewhere, and to shed light on ways to prevent such events from happening.

The Poison Prevention Week Council, which was established by Congress in 1961, provides a handy list of materials that discuss the dangers of various poisons – whether they be plants, medicines, lead or pesticides. Many of these materials are downloadable and most are free.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) also provides a list of publications discussing poison prevention. All of these can be downloaded. Check out the Center for Disease Control’s website for additional publications. They provide access to governmental reports on poison prevention. The website also includes a link to the CDC’s Podcast on poisonings. Finally, as summer draws near, adults, children and animals all have easier access to pesticides. Visit the EPA’s website on pesticide safety for more information.

Local Unemployment Data Available Through STATS
Are you looking for the latest employment data for your county or metro area? The Indiana Department of Workforce Development and STATS Indiana provide Local Area Unemployment Statistics through the updated Hoosiers by the Numbers website, a state-based portal to workforce information. Especially interesting are the line graphs produced automatically which detail the changes in the workforce from last year to this year, for your selected area. You can receive your results in Word, Excel, or by email. Where does your county rank along with other Indiana counties? Select the Publications tab and choose Ranking of Indiana Counties by Unemployment Rate for January 2009.

Amber Alerts Available through Wireless Devices
Every second that a child goes missing makes it more unlikely that a child will be found. The first three hours after a child’s abduction are the most critical to recovery efforts. The National Wireless AMBER alerts initiative is a partnership between the wireless industry, the United States Department of Justice, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to distribute Amber Alerts to wireless subscribers who opt to receive the messages on their wireless devices.

The Amber alerts program began in 1997 using radio as its primary means of dissemination. Today, Amber Alerts have gone high-tech, to include television, websites, and electronic highway signs. You can sign up for free Amber alerts on your cell phone; it’s quick and may help save a child’s life.

by Katharine Springer, Elisabeth O’Donnell, & Kim Brown-Harden
Events, Friday Facts, Resources
State Offers Online Service to Track Stimulus Projects
March 6th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

In response to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Governor Daniels has created a website, INvest Indiana, for Indiana citizens to track spending and projects for programs throughout the State. The various projects outlined in this website are designed create jobs and improve quality of life for citizens of Indiana. The federal government’s stimulus website claims to give Americans a sense of ownership and transparency for their tax dollars. Indiana’s version seeks to obtain the same goal – transparency in government spending.

In these times, it is critical that citizens receive timely information in order to be well prepared and educated, not only on our local economy, but the national economy as well. INvest Indiana will to connect Hoosiers to programs and resources, and provide information about funding of projects as it becomes available.

Women’s History Month Goes Green in March
Since 1987, March has been designated as Women’s History Month. This year’s theme is “Women taking the lead to save our planet” to honor women who have taken initiative in environmental or “green” programs throughout history. Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring, serves as the model for the theme. However, there are countless other women who have worked to further both environmentalism and other causes. This month is meant to honor all of them. For a list of honorees, see America.gov’s women’s history page.

The official website of Women’s History Month features images, audio and video presentations, profiles of well-known and important women, and Teachers’ Guides. There are also links to exhibits and collections at the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and several national museums. In addition, there is information about national events commemorating the month.

There are also events going on in the State of Indiana. These can be found on the Indiana Commission on Women’s (ICW) website. Two featured events are the Women’s History Month luncheon and lecture at Franklin College and the Stepping Stones of Women in Leadership luncheon at IUPUI. Of course, there are also events going on in the rest of the state – one such is the Women’s History luncheon in Bloomington, at the Bloomington-Monroe County Convention Center. The ICW is also a good resource for women around the state. Here they can find information on financial information and legal assistance.

Additional statistical information on women in general can be found on the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features. For example, it is projected that 928,000 women will earn bachelor’s degrees in the 2008-2009 school year. This is 58% of all bachelor’s degrees being awarded.

National Nutrition Month Kicks Off “Eat Right!” Campaign
Get back to the basics and help celebrate American Dietetic Association’s National Nutrition Month. The theme for this year is “Eat Right!” For help encouraging community members and families to be kind to their bodies, search the Nutrition Fact Sheets covering many different topics such as 25 Healthy Snacks for Kids, Get Smart about Salt, and Healthy Eating on the Run.

Visit Nutrition.gov, a service of the National Agriculture Library (USDA), for the trusted food pyramid, an updated resource list for Weight Management and Obesity, and much more. For general information, check out Medline Plus webpage on Nutrition and the Centers for Disease Control website on Nutrition for Everyone.

Spring Ahead for Daylight Saving Time
Don’t forget to set your clocks! This Sunday, March 8, at 2:00 a.m, Indiana and the rest of the United States will be on Daylight Saving Time. Currently, the majority of Indiana counties lie in the Eastern Time Zone except for 12 counties in the northwest and southwest corners of the state that are in the Central Time Zone.

Time Zones are regulated and determined by theSecretary of Transportation. For more information, please visit these websites:
U.S. Department of Transportation
Indiana Time Zones

USA.gov Offers Resources for Specific Audiences
USA.gov, the federal government’s portal to information and services, provides a list of federal gateways for specific audiences organized by topic. Enter via the Reference Center for Librarians and Researchers or point your patrons to gateways for Consumer Publications, Kids and Youth, and Spanish Speakers, to name a few. In addition, if your patrons are looking for a way to visualize government-related vocabulary, one place to look is the USA.gov Word Cloud. In a glance, you can see words that feature most prominently on the USA.gov website.

by: Katharine Springer, Elisabeth O’Donnell, & Kim Brown-Harden

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Friday Facts

Events, Friday Facts, Resources

April is Autism Awareness Month

Friday Facts, Resources

National Archives Offers Daily History Tidbits

Events, Friday Facts, Resources

March is Red Cross Month

Friday Facts, Grants, Resources

Congress in the Classroom Program Seeks Applicants

Events, Friday Facts, Resources

State Offers Online Service to Track Stimulus Projects