You may have seen the electronic signs recently posted around the city announcing that the Nashua Police Department is looking for a few good men and women. If you're interested but not sure how to get started studying for the entrance exam on November 12th, the library can help. We have a database called Learning Express Library that has police officer practice exams. While officer exams may vary by state, there are basic components that are the same and that's what you'll find here.

To connect directly to Learning Express Library, click here. Be prepared to enter the the last 5 digits of your library card barcode number at the next screen. Then follow the directions below:

1. Click on 'new user' and create a username and password for yourself (that way you don't have to complete the practice exam in one sitting).
2. Select Civil Service exams from the menu on the right.
3. Scroll down the page a little and you'll see state specific police exams followed by the general study guides.

If you don't have Internet access at home stop by the Reference Desk at the library and we'll get you set up on one of our computers.

Still confused? Give us a call at 589-4611. GOOD LUCK!

Tuesday, October 3, was my first day at the Nashua Public Library, and so far, so good!
I am very excited about my new job as a Reference Librarian and look forward to working with you. I will staff the reference desk, teach computer classes, and order books for the 600 section of the nonfiction collection, which includes cooking, gardening, health, pets, engineering, carpentry, and manufacturing, among other topics. If you would like the library to order books on those subjects, or if you just have an interest, let me know. You can contact me at alison.zaya@nashualibrary.org.

I previously worked in the medical library at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. When patients and their families visited, I often referred them to my favorite consumer health website, MedlinePlus.gov. This website offers information from numerous reliable sources such as the Mayo Clinic and National Institutes of Health. People without medical backgrounds, such as myself, can understand the publications.

Two additional great resources that the Nashua Public Library makes available are Consumer Health Complete and Health Source Consumer Edition. Both are accessible through our EBSCO database. Consumer Health Complete includes information from encyclopedias, reference sources, pamphlets, and reports. It also includes resources in Spanish. If you are looking more specifically for magazine articles, take a look at Health Source Consumer Edition. This will give you access to articles on numerous health topics.

To reach either Consumer Health Complete or Health Source Consumer Edition, click here or visit the library's databases page and click on the link for EBSCO. After entering the last 5 digits of your library card number, choose "health resources" on the top of the screen for Health Source, or Consumer Health Complete at the bottom of the screen.

Are you aware that the Nashua Public Library is a Federal Depository Library? The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) was established by Congress to ensure that the American public has access to its government's information. Since 1813, depository libraries have collected, organized, maintained and preserved information from the Federal Government, and have assisted users with that information. The FDLP provides Government information at no cost to designated depository libraries throughout the country and territories. These depository libraries, in turn, provide local, no-fee access to the information. There are currently nearly 1,250 depository libraries.

The collections consist of information on careers, business opportunities, consumer information, health and nutrition, homeland security, legal and regulatory information, demographics, census and numerous other subjects. Some recent additions to our government document collection are:

American Military History – The United States Army and the Forging of a Nation, 1775-1917
FDA Consumer, Medical Use and Older Adults (v. 40 no.4 Jul-Aug, 2006)

Innovative Workplaces: Benefits and Best Practices

Public papers of the Presidents of the United States, George W. Bush : 2001-
(We have these books of presidential papers for all presidents beginning with Harry Truman)

Wondering what your car is worth? You can find out at Kelly Blue Book online (www.kbb.com). More than a generic estimate based just on car model and year, Kelly Blue Book online allows you to fill in your location and the car's options, mileage, and condition, so you can get a customized estimate of your car's value.

Based on the information you provide, KBB gives three kinds of values:

1. Trade-in: what a dealer might pay when you trade the car in.
2. Private party sale: what you might expect to ask when selling the car privately (to someone other than a dealer).
3. Retail: what a dealer would ask for the car. This tends to be higher than trade-in value because dealers commonly detail and repair cars before offering them for sale.

Prefer something a little more basic? Try the NADA guides. These books are produced by the National Automobile Dealers Association, and they provide a quick lookup for your car based on year, make, and model. They provide trade-in value, MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price), loan and retail values. In addition to used cars, NADA guides also cover antique cars, motorcycles, vans, boats, RVs, and more. Stop in at the reference desk for a look at these guides.

Title: Terrorism Scorecard
Authors: Editors
Source: Middle East; Oct2006 Issue 371, p6-10, 5p
Database: EBSCO

Abstract: The article reports that although key terrorists have been captured or killed after September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001, a new generation has taken their place to run the Islamic terror networks. Abu Mussab Al Zarqawi, the head of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Shamil Besayev, leader of Chechen rebels, and Mustafa Setmariam Nasar, an important strategist in the hierarchy were the prominent figures who were killed. However, a new generation of mid-level field commanders and organizers has taken their place.

About the Publication: This monthly UK publication about business matters and current affairs in the Middle East is available in our EBSCO General Magazines database. Coverage includes the full text of all issues back through July 1996.

The latest issue of the ValueLine Investment Survey arrived today. For those of you who are not familiar with ValueLine, it is one of the largest independent research staffs of investment analysts and statisticians in the world. They collect data and analyze performance of approximately 8,000 stocks, 13,000 mutual funds, 80,000 options and other securities.

Their best known product is The Value Line Investment Survey. The Value Line Investment Survey is a comprehensive source of information and advice on approximately 1,700 stocks, more than 90 industries, the stock market, and the economy.

It has three parts. The Ratings & Reports section contains one-page reports about approximately 1,700 companies and more than 90 industries. The Summary & Index contains an index of all stocks in the publication as well as many up-to-date statistics to keep investors informed about the latest company results. Lastly, the Selection & Opinion section contains Value Line's latest economic and stock market forecasts, one-page write-ups about interesting and attractive stocks, model portfolios, and financial and stock market statistics.

For those who would prefer browsing the electronic editions of these publications, the library has online access to the these publications for one customer at a time. Unfortunately, you have to be at the library to login. To access the online edition here at the library, just speak with a librarian at the reference desk.

Finally, to learn more about ValueLine, visit their website at http://www.valueline.com.

If you love reading fiction, Novelist is for you. Novelist is one of the databases available on the library's website. When people are introduced to Novelist and the things which can be done with it, comments range from "This is GREAT ! I wish I'd known about it sooner!" to "Oh I like this! This is FUN!" Novelist is Reader's Advisory in a database. If you have a series of books and want to read them in order, Novelist can organize them. If you have a plot or a character and don't know the author or the title of the book, Novelist can find it through the plot description. If you have read every book by a certain author, and are waiting for his next one, Novelist can suggest "read-alikes" to keep

Be sure to explore the database tabs. They link you to search possibilities, lists of books to read in various categories and read-alike suggestions. Book discussion guides are available for adults and young adults as well as book-talks for adult, young adult and children's books. In the future, I'll talk more in depth about some of these features, as well as introducing Novelist K-8 for kids.

Did you know that library customers can use some of the library's computers to take an online test or exam? Depending on the time of day you'd like to take your test, reference librarians may be able to arrange for you to get extended time on a computer sufficient to complete your test. If you would like to do this, be sure to contact a librarian at the reference desk well in advance. Also, be sure to test out our computers ahead of time to see if you'll need us to install any additional software. Give us a call if you have any questions, 603-589-4611.

Title: The Dems' Agenda
Authors: Danielle Knight
Source: U.S. News & World Report; 10/30/2006, Vol. 141 Issue 16, p32-34
Database: EBSCO

Abstract: The article reports on the Democratic agenda for possible takeover of the United States House of Representatives in the November 2006 elections. This Democratic agenda could mean investigations into President George W. Bush's administration's conduct regarding the War in Iraq and Hurricane Katrina. Republicans are warning that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who would become speaker of the House, is too liberal. Political candidates are discussed.

Connecting to this article: If you have already logged in to EBSCO by entering the last 5 digits of your library card number, click here to go straight to the article. If not, enter the last 5 digits of your library card number after clicking on this link to get to the EBSCO database. Then click on "General Magazine Resources" and do a search for "Dems' Agenda" in which you enter "U.S. News & World Report" in the "Publication" field.

Recommeded Library Books:
• The courage of our convictions : a manifesto for Democrats by Gary Hart.
• Take It Back : Our Party, Our Country, Our Future by James Carville and Paul Begala