Yearly Archives: 2019

In need of a legal form? Find one fast through Gale’s Pennsylvania Legal Forms Library!

All forms are available for free. Users can browse by category, see most popular searches, or search for a specific form. There are forms for almost every imaginable situation – from real estate to auto sales to adoption.

Forms can be downloaded as Microsoft Word documents to make editing simple. Users just types their information into the blanks.

All forms are reviewed by attorneys and, unlike the print counterparts in our collections, these forms are always up-to-date.

There is also a helpful Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section in the database with questions & answers regarding common legal issues.

The next time your patrons need legal forms, check Gale Legal Forms!

Richelle
Sewickley Public Library

Did you know October is Family History month? Get ready for family history month with several great genealogical resources and several tips about Ancestry.com.

Ancestry.com is one of the most popular databases the library offers.  For many patrons, genealogical research can be overwhelming, Ancestry has a number of forms available to make keeping track of searches and results easier. At the top of the page, you can find forms:

• Ancestral Chart: Basic chart to help users get started in constructing a family tree.
• Research Calendar: Keep track of where users have searched and the search terms they’ve used.
• Correspondence Record: A great way for users to keep track of their research outside of Ancestry. This is helpful for people contacting local historical societies, cemeteries, etc.

FamilySearch.org is a free genealogical resource operated by the Church of Latter-day Saints.  Users can create an account, get started on a family tree and connect their family tree with other users on the site if they would like.

The FamilySearch Research Wiki has a lot of information about how users can get started with genealogical questions and contains links to individual state and country resources as well.

Find A Grave allows users to browse and find graves of ancestors.  It is a free resource that may be helpful to users who are unable to get to cemeteries to look up information.

Pittsburgh and Allegheny County have many great historical societies, archives and museums! Be sure to check them out as well for local genealogical information!

• Pam Calfo, Baldwin

Does anyone remember how hard it used to be stock lawn mower repair manuals? And small engine repair manuals? And motorcycle repair manuals? Now we don’t have to. We have the Small Engine Repair Reference Center. It looks just like the ChiltonLibrary for car repair, but it includes repair information for ATVs, lawnmowers, jet skis, snowmobiles, tractors, generators and other small engines, boat motors, and motorcycles. It provides routine maintenance (tune-ups, brake service) as well as extensive repairs (engine and transmission disassembly) and allows users to search by product type, brand, model/engine type, specific area of model/engine type and model numbers. PDF full text is available for all documents. Check it out. Your patrons will thank you! –Mary Lee Hart, Northland

School is starting along with assignments and papers.  The library has some impressive databases that can help students with their projects, especially when they come in right before closing and say they need help with a paper due tomorrow morning.  Databases can provide full-text, reliable information along with citation help.

Following is just a sample of the databases we can recommend.  Information is easily discoverable as most of the databases are searchable by topic, subject and/or publication.

• Academic One-File:  This database offers full-text, peer-reviewed articles from the world’s leading journals in the areas of the physical and social sciences, technology, medicine, engineering, the arts, technology, literature, and more.
• Biography in Context:   In this database, students will find contextual information on the world’s most influential people.  They will get the life stories of thousands of famous people and full-text biographical articles from many popular magazines.
• GreenR:  Gale In Context: Environmental Studies – This database offers news, background information, video, commentaries, primary source documents, and statistics in areas such as energy systems, healthcare, food, climate change, population, and economic development.
• LitFinder:  Students can explore world literature and writers throughout history.  This database offers a wealth of literary works, including poems, short stories, speeches, and plays — with plot summaries, what the writing means, pictures, and stories about the authors.
• Opposing Viewpoints in Context:   Students can explore current issues from various viewpoints.  Topics include Business & Economics, Energy and Environment, Health & Medicine, Law & Politics and many more.   There are also educator resources and curriculum standards.
• Science Reference Center:  Students can research from hundreds of full-text science encyclopedias, reference books, periodicals, and other reliable sources.  They can view more than 280,000 high-quality science images from sources such as UPI, Getty, NASA, National Geographic and the Nature Picture Library.

These are just a few of the databases available.  Take a few moments to browse through them and the rest of the collection.  By recommending databases, we can offer help to students when they need it – usually right now!

Lisa DeLucia, Upper St. Clair Township Library