New Arrivals - Audiobooks for the week of June 10
June 11 , 2013 by Allison T.Check out the audiobooks recently added to the library's collection.
New Arrivals - Music on CD for the week of June 10
June 11 , 2013 by Allison T.Check out the music on CD recently added to the library's collection.
New Arrivals - Nonfiction on DVD for the week of June 10
June 11 , 2013 by Allison T.Check out the nonfiction films on DVD recently added to the library's collection.
New Arrivals - Feature Films on DVD for the week of June 10
June 11 , 2013 by Allison T.Check out the feature films recently added to the library's collection.
Work-Life Balance and the Job Search
June 11 , 2013 by Lori CookStriking a balance between your work priorities and personal life is a challenge on any given day; but, when you add the stress of searching for a job into the mix, it seems downright impossible. When I started a new job, my manager gave me a small stuffed elephant as a reminder of that famous quote, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” Achieving balance is not an act or even a series of actions; it is a mindset. To make those bites of elephant a little more palatable, consider these suggestions:Breathe! Don’t forget the importance of stopping to take a deep breath. To feel like you’re on solid ground, you have to be willing get off the merry-go-round once in a while. The calm, professional atmosphere of the Business and Job Center can be your oasis from what feels like the job search desert!Delegate! Is there anything you are overwhelming yourself with that maybe someone else could do? Don’t be afraid to ask for help and allow someone to do for you! If you are in an active job hunt and money is tight, consider bartering for services. The Business and Job Center can assist by taking away the stress of creating effective, targeted marketing materials for your job search. Resume assistance is always free of charge!Take Care of Yourself! Sorry, folks, but part of living in balance involves staying physically active and eating healthy. It just does. Even if you are unemployed, underemployed, or misemployed, healthy living matters. Listen, I’ve looked, and there is no balance, happiness, or answers at the bottom of that Hagen Das. Put down the spoon, put on the sneakers! Even a little dab will do you! Richland Library is loaded with DVDs, downloadables, magazines, and books to inform and encourage your fitness regimen.Done is Better than Perfect! This is one of my favorite mantras. We run ourselves ragged trying to be the next Martha Stewart or we don’t ever start a project because our expectations are too high. Be realistic; sometimes, having something done is better than waiting for it to be perfect!Steer Your Own Ship! The responsibility for managing what matters to you despite competing demands falls on you; it is not anyone else’s job to tell you when to learn that new computer skill, finish that project, hit the gym, visit the dentist, or take your partner out on a date. With that said, we hope you will steer your ship into the Business and Job Center where we can help you devise a job action plan and find the resources you need to be successful.Reflect! We are inundated with information and opportunities on a daily basis. Remember to take the time to contemplate. What do you want, where are you heading, and are your current actions and activities contributing to your forward movement or just spinning your wheels? Again, the Business and Job Center Career Coaches can provide assessments, career advice, and time for reflection!Make Budgeting Your Hobby
June 10 , 2013 by Sheila DorseyI’ve recently had three experiences that reminded me about the importance of simple budgeting and having a basic knowledge of money. The first occurred here in the library, at the Business and Job Center reference desk. A woman who planned to teach a budgeting class at her church asked for a basic sample home budget to hand out. A short time after that, at a dinner I attended, I spoke to a young man who bemoaned the fact that no class he’d had, either in high school or college, ever taught anything about personal finance. Now that he was on his own, working and paying bills, he was getting an unpleasant crash course. My last experience occurred on my way home from work one evening as I enjoyed listening to my radio financial hero, Dave Ramsey. The guest caller wanted Dave’s advice about whether it would be wiser to have his son live at home and commute the twenty minutes to their local college, or, as his wife preferred, take out a $10,000 loan and allow his son to live in the dorm so that he could participate in the college experience. While Dave was polite, if you’ve ever listened to his show, you can imagine his answer. I believe he was laughing on the inside.
And the Teachers Said, “That’s Great!”
June 11 , 2013 by Amber CLast summer I had the pleasure of sharing with a very bright group at the SC Midlands Summit, an intensive 2-day technology conference for teachers. I talked with the teachers about the online resources available to them through Richland Library, and the comments I kept hearing fell along the lines of, “Oh, I didn’t know that! That's great!”
Gun Laws and Persons with Mental Illness
June 10 , 2013 by Michelle DuPreNever has this topic been in the news so much. On Friday, June 7th, John Zawahri, 23, went on a shooting rampage killing five starting with two members of his own family and three more near or on the campus of Santa Monica College. Zawahri's life was taken in the end by police. It was reported that he may have suffered mental health issues and was even hospitalized. This is only the most recent of many similar tragic events. So this raises the question, should those with mental illness who have been involuntarily committed to a mental institution have their names reported to the National Instant Background Check System for the sole purpose of buying a gun? It's a hot topic and Governor Haley has recently signed a law that does just this as have the majority of other states.
5 Books to Inspire Creative Crafting with Your Kids
June 10 , 2013 by Sarah GrahamSummertime is the perfect opportunity for unstructured arts and crafts! Not only is it fun to dive into a pile of art supplies or recycled materials, but expressive art can help children develop literacy and narrative skills. Here are some excellent guides to get you started.
Boredom Busters: 5 Hobbies to Try This Summer
June 10 , 2013 by AlexisNot so long ago, I had a conversation with my older sister about her daughter and all the stuff she's been up to. I was so excited to hear that she's in a program to learn the basics of basketball. (I can't wait to take her to see the Gamecocks play!) She's also taking gymnastics and learning lots of new, exciting stuff in preschool.