Librarian Secret #7

Do you need a copy of a birth certificate, death certificate, marriage license, or certificate of divorce and you don't know how to find it or who to contact? Visit the Center for Disease Control's Where to Write for Vital Records page to find out. Simply click on the state or territory where the event occurred and follow the directions for obtaining the records you need.

The next time you need a vital record, I hope you will remember this tip! (FL)

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope all of you moms out there have a great day!

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving

Review: Hello, Cupcake

Title: Hello, Cupcake
Authors: Karen Tack & Alan Richardson
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co
ISBN-10: 0618829253

I enjoy cupcakes! They are so compact, easy to eat, and generally delicious. What could be better than a cupcake? A really cute cupcake.

Hello, Cupcake is a fabulous book on everything you need to know to make delicious, adorable cupcakes for any occasion. You will find basic "cupcaking techniques" like how to spread frosting, designing with frosting, building with other edibles, and drawing and gluing designs for your cupcakes. The best part is, you don't have to be a professional pastry chef or own a lot of fancy utensils to make these delightful treats. Hello, Cupcake even includes directions for making a cupcake wedding cake, topped with an edible bride and groom. If a cupcake wedding cake doesn't appeal to you, how about werewolves, penguins, clowns, or sharks? These are only a few of the imaginative, delectable delights you will be able to construct with the guidance of this terrific book.

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys baking.

If you are interested, the authors have a Web site with more cupcake tips: http://www.hellocupcakebook.com

Thank You, Bev and Missy

A big Thank You to Bev at Merry Weather and Missy at Missy's Book Nook for so graciously nominating me for the "You Don't Say" award. The award is given to those who take time to leave comments on other blogger's sites. It is easy to leave a comment when you find a site you enjoy and that appeals to you...like Merry Weather and Missy's Book Nook do to me!

I hope you will take time to check out their wonderful book blogs.

While I am not passing the award along, I would like to say thanks to Book Calendar, Barney's Book Club, and Genteel Arsenal for being faithful commentors on my blog. Please visit their wonderful sites.

Swine Flu Information

Librarians constantly keep up with current events. We need to know the latest news in order to be prepared for questions patrons may have regarding something they have seen on television or read about in a newspaper or magazine. Usually they want to know where they can find additional information on the subject or where they can find a copy of the article.

With the growing concern of Swine Flu, and its coverage via television, the Internet, and print sources I am certain people will be inquiring where they can locate up-to-date information on the virus. In my opinion, the best sources are the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and the WHO (World Health Organization). The CDC is tracking the number of cases as well as where they are occurring, and posting the existent numbers on their Web site. They also give information on the Swine Flu such as symptoms and things you can do to stay healthy. The WHO is tracking international cases of the flu.

I hope you find this information helpful and that you all stay healthy! (FL)

Librarian Secret #6

People often stop by the Reference Deck to ask what day a particular holiday will occur on. Of course, I can always just check the calendar but sometimes they want more specific information - like what is the holiday about, when did it begin, etc. When asked for this type of information, I usually turn to Infoplease's Holidays in America Web page. The site has fun, historical and traditional facts about the holidays Americans have come to love and celebrate.

Did you know that Mother's Day was made a national holiday in 1914 or that Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day? Check out this site to learn even more fun trivia about your favorite holiday! (FL)

Review: The Complete Illustrated Book Of Herbs

Title: The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Readers Digest
ISBN-10:0762107960

I love beautiful book covers. It is often the cover of a book that piques my curiosity about what is inside and makes me want to investigate the actual pages of the publication. Sometimes the content doesn't live up to the expectaion of the image on the jacket and I'm left disappointed. In the case of this book, The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs, I was delighted both by its beauty and its subject matter.

The book contains informative, interesting, and useful information on over 100 different herbs. It begins with an A-Z directory of herbs which includes how to "cultivate, use, and store" them. Other chapters include: Gardening, Herbal Medicine, Natural Beauty, Around the Home, Craft, and Cooking. Each chapter contains lovely, colorful illustrations and instructions on how to use herbs in practical ways...from treating colds to making your own facial scrubs and laundry detergent to creating a table centerpiece and preparing soup with herb dumplings and much, much more! This book is packed full of everything you to need to know about herbs and how to use them.

Recommended for anyone with an interest in herbs, cooking, crafts, and natural beauty and cleaning products. (FL)