Ledger-Dispatch

By Scott Thomas Anderson (sanderson@ledger-dispatch.c= om)=20

The Amador County Library has seen a = steady=20 increase in the use of its online databases. This month, a grant = from the=20 California State Library allowed it to add four new resources for = home=20 improvement, vehicle repair, environmental research and literary=20 inquires.

Photo by: Scott Thomas=20 Anderson
Local do-it-yourself minded = people will=20 find the Amador County Library is placing a world of new resources at = the tip of=20 their fingers.

From home improvement to car repair to tips on=20 alternative energy, a grant from the California State Library has = brought almost=20 unlimited access to fields of breaking technical information and book = content -=20 allowing anyone to transform themselves into a would-be handyman, = mechanic,=20 literary connoisseur and expert on the environment.

Three of the = library's new resources are dedicated to solving practical problems, as = well as=20 tracking up-to-date information that was once difficult to follow = through slow,=20 yearly publications that were expensive for the library to purchase. =

One=20 of the most sought-after new databases is the Home Improvement Reference = Center.=20 This virtual world of home and garden know-how assists users with doing = their=20 own projects, providing crucial tips on maintenance, remodeling, = electrical=20 work, plumbing, wood projects, outdoor improvements, interior = decorating, garden=20 work and more.

For people experiencing nagging issues with their = vehicle=20 or simply wanting to learn about fixing or restoring various types of = motorized=20 equipment, the Small Engine Repair Database is a powerful new supplement = to the=20 library's trusty Chilton manuals. The Small Engine Center has prints and = specifications not only on car motors, but also ATVs, commercial mowers, = farm=20 tractors, generators, motorcycles, boats and other outdoor power = equipment.=20

With energy prices soaring, perhaps the most relevant new = addition to=20 the library's resources is its Green File. This database has volumes of=20 well-researched information regarding energy conservation, making your = home more=20 green, as well as minimizing other blotches of human impact on the = environment.=20 The Green File can point users to scholarly research, government = resources and=20 countless books on keeping the planet healthy.

"We have a great = demand=20 for information about making improvements to homes, yards and vehicles," = said=20 Amador County Librarian, Laura Einstadter. "These databases allow us to = provide=20 a lot resources on those topics that we otherwise could not afford to = purchase=20 and print. Plus, unlike waiting for new additions of books, they = automatically=20 update with the latest information."

Such databases are not new = to=20 Amador's library. Before receiving the new grant several months ago, the = library=20 was already giving the public extended online access to a wide variety = of=20 resources through its InfoTrac Custom database, as well as resources = such the=20 Testing and Education Reference Center, the Health and Wellness Resource = Center,=20 Student Resource Center Gold and other databases. "All of these programs = really=20 augment the book resources the library has," Einstadter explained. = "Plus, they=20 can be accessed both at the library and at home on your personal=20 computer."

The library's fourth new database is geared more = toward the=20 literary tradition: NovelistPlus contains 600 hand-crafted recommended = reading=20 lists for adults, teens and children. Book-lovers who are trying to = choose the=20 next story to lose themselves in can find reviews on all genres of = storytelling,=20 covering both fiction and non-fiction. NovelistPlus also contains 500 = book=20 discussion guides, transforming one person's book journey into a = connective=20 experience with other users through questions, answers and suggestions = for=20 future reading.

The library's summer reading program, designed to = make=20 sure that resources like NovelistPlus have plenty of users in future=20 generations, kicks off June 15. This resource for children includes a = full=20 schedule of crafts, activities and special performers coming to the = library to=20 read out loud for kids. Sponsored by Friends of the Amador County = Library and=20 First 5 Amador, the summer reading program will feature such events as = "Ladybug=20 Listens - preschool storytime," "Miss Cleo's Creepy, Crawly Crafts" and = "Python=20 Ron's Reptile Kingdom."

"The summer reading program is a valuable = tool to=20 promote literacy with children," Einstadter said. "Parents who are = interested in=20 bringing their kids to it should contact the library to get our entire = calendar=20 of events for June and July."

For more information about the = Amador=20 County Library's new database resources or its summer reading program, = call=20 223-6402 or visit www.co.amador.ca.us/depts/library.

Scott Thomas = Anderson