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AskaLibrarian

Ask a Librarian

Last Updated: 12/18/2009

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City: TAMPA
State: Florida
Country: US

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December 18, 2009 - Friday

Hey high school filmmakers in FL! THE DIRECTOR'S CHAIR wants you! Ask a Librarian

Calling all Florida HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!

What is The Director's Chair?

The Director’s Chair is a video contest for Florida high school students. Create a 30-second video promoting Ask a Librarian for a chance to win some great prizes.

So…what exactly IS Ask a Librarian?

It’s a free online service that allows you to chat with a Florida librarian for instant help with homework, papers and general questions. (Want to learn more? Click here.)

Now that you know what Ask a Librarian is, go out and make a creative and entertaining 30-second video that tells the world just how wonderful Ask a Librarian is. Just submit it here between Oct. 1, 2009, and Jan. 24, 2010 (11:59 p.m.), and the grand prize could be yours.

Be funny! Be serious! Do a spoof! Do a dramedy! Do whatever you want! Just be creative and have fun. Visit http://www.askalibrarian.org/thedirectorschair/ now!

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November 14, 2009 - Saturday

Question of the Week: How much $ does a vet tech make?
Current mood:

accomplished

Well, hold on a minute. Don't you wanna know what a veterinary technician does first?

- Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals
- Prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases.
- Prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and execute laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts.
- Clean and sterilize instruments and materials and maintain equipment and machines.

Wow - that's pretty neat! Let's check out a few vet tech fun facts from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook to explore this career a little further:

- Animal lovers get satisfaction from this occupation, but aspects of the work can be unpleasant, physically and emotionally demanding, and sometimes dangerous.

- Entrants generally complete a 2-year or 4-year veterinary technology program and must pass a State examination.

- Employment is expected to grow much faster than average.

- Overall job opportunities should be excellent; however, keen competition is expected for jobs in zoos and aquariums.

If that sounds good to you, your next step might be to look at the veterinary technician training programs available in Florida. What - still want us to show you the money, eh? Well. Alright.

Median hourly earnings of veterinary technologists and technicians were $12.88 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $10.44 and $15.77. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $8.79, and the top 10 percent earned more than $18.68.

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October 14, 2009 - Wednesday

Question of the Week: Dude, where's my Carbon?
Current mood:reading

Q: What are the group and position numbers of the element Carbon in the periodic table?

A: Carbon is located in Group 14, Position 2, Block P in the Periodic Table of Elements.

What are Group numbers? Position numbers? Blocks? It all has to do with the arrangement of elements in the Periodic Table. Elements having certain similiar qualities are grouped closer together in varying patterns... but it's all relative.

For more general information, check out two really nifty interactive periodic tables here and here, or read the Wikipedia page here.

A diamond is forever, unless you heat it too much
and it burns up into carbon dioxide gas.

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June 30, 2009 - Tuesday

Question of the Week: Coconut Migration

Q: What is the windspeed velocity of an African swallow?

A: The windspeed velocity of an African swallow is from Monty Python's holy grail.

Q: Yes, but i still need to find an answer for my class.

A: How long do you have for your quest?

For more information on unladen swallow air speeds, read the article here (http://www.style.org/unladenswallow/) which states the airspeed velocity of an unladen European Swallow is 10 meters per second.

For more information on Monty Python, see the following video clip:

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June 15, 2009 - Monday

Question of the Week: Author Unknown...

Q: Who wrote the poinsettia, a Mexican parable?

A: It looks like it is a folktale, which means it doesn't have a single author.

There are retellings of it in book form,
one of which is "Miracle of the Poinsettia/
Milagro de la Flor de Nochebuena"
by Brian Cavanaugh.

Click the link here to find it at a library near you:
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/45806115

It is also known as 'Flame Leaf' or 'Flower of
the Holy Night'. The legend related to this
favorite Christmas flower is Mexican too.

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February 10, 2009 - Tuesday

And the Winners are...
Current mood:

accomplished
Category: Blogging

Thank you for voting!

Click here to view the winning videos:

winners

Congratulations to this year's contest winners!

"Even the president" by Director Joshua from Weinbaum Yashiva High School in Boca Raton

"What is a vegetarian? Ask a Librarian" by Casandra, Seminole Ridge High School in Loxahatchee

"Research Paper Problems? Ask a Librarian" by Elyse, Park Vista High School in Lake Worth

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest!

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February 6, 2009 - Friday

TWO DAYS LEFT TO VOTE!
Category: Blogging

Ask a Librarian’s The Director’s Chair video contest is in its final stages, and the finalists need YOUR vote!

Visit www.askalibrarian.org/thedirectorschair and click on “vote” to see the top five videos and to vote for the one you think deserves to win.

**Polls will close on Feb. 7 at 11:59 p.m., so hurry!**

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January 26, 2009 - Monday

Voting is now open for the Director's Chair contest!
Category: Blogging

All the entries have been submitted.

Our judges have narrowed it down to the top five.

And now it's up to YOU to decide the WINNER!

Click here to see the finalists and to cast your vote:

Polls will be open Jan. 26 to Feb. 7 (11:59 p.m. EST).

Tell your friends!

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January 19, 2009 - Monday

Question of the Week: Inauguration online?
Current mood:

stoked
Category: News and Politics

Q: How can I watch the inauguration online?

A: Several websites will be broadcasting the inauguration live Tuesday, January 20, 2009. You might need to keep a few on stand-by in case the one you're watching crashes.

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, which is in charge of all the inaugural activities at the Capitol, will stream the entire event at its Web site, complete with closed captioning.

CBS News

MSNBC

Fox News via Hulu.com

C-SPAN: Visitors will be able to choose from one of four live feeds featuring events like the swearing in at the Capitol, the parade, and a number of inaugural balls.

The New York Times

Online NewsHour

Current TV and Twitter have partnered to add real-time tweets to Current’s broadcast and Webcast of the swearing in, which starts at 11:30 a.m. EDT and will be replayed throughout the day. In other words: tweet at your heart’s content (if the site is still up…).

Latino-minded site Terra will stream in English and in Spanish.

From cnet article: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10144072-38.html
and from zdnet.com article: http://blogs.zdnet.com/gadgetreviews/?p=812

Watch The Obama Inauguration From Your iPhone With Ustream

The application will let users watch any Ustream channel, live, directly from their iPhone. And not only that, users will also see and be able to participate in the live chat around the video as well.

The timing on the application is near perfect with the Obama inauguration coming up on January 20. If you have the application installed you’ll be able to watch it live from anywhere, even if you aren’t in front of your TV or computer.

Another interesting only-on-the-web way to watch is through P2P app Livestation, where you can switch between a variety of international perspectives on the inauguration, including Al Jazeera English, the BBC World News, C-SPAN, euronews, and France 24. http://www.livestation.com/inauguration

Also the several networks will be broadcasting the inauguration. Check TVGuide.com for local listings.

Photo from http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/new_official_portrait_released/

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January 9, 2009 - Friday

The Director’s Chair Deadline Looming
Current mood:

adventurous
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

Just a brief reminder. The deadline for The Director’s Chair entries is January 17th. Please remind your teens.

For information about the contest, please visit www.askalibrarian.org/thedirectorschair.

For logos & flyers for your library go to: http://info.askalibrarian.org/ and click on marketing.

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January 9, 2009 - Friday

Question of the Week: Princess Zelda vs. Princess Peach Toadstool: GO!
Current mood:

hyper
Category: Games

Q: Who is Masahiro Sakurai?

A: He is the creator of the Kirby and Super Smash Bros. series.

For more information see below:

MasahiroSakurai.com

http://www.masahirosakurai.com/

A web-site dedicated to the work of Masahiro Sakurai

Smashbros.com

http://www.smashbros.com/

Web page ran by Masahiro Sakurai that offers straight-from-the-creator reports on Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Image Source

http://brawlupdates.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/super_smash_bros_003.jpg

Currently watching:
30 Rock - Season 1
Release date: 2007-09-04

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December 12, 2008 - Friday

Plans for the holidays?
Current mood:

geeky
Category: Quiz/Survey

How about make a 30-second video promoting Ask a Librarian for a chance to win some great prizes?!? This year the prizes are better than ever!

You just have to be a high school age student in Florida to enter; click the link below to see all the contest rules.

Be funny! Be serious! Do a spoof! Do a dramedy! Do whatever you want! Just be creative and have fun.

Click here for more info.

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November 30, 2008 - Sunday

Question of the Week: George Orwell: Relive the Magic
Current mood:

sweaty
Category: Blogging

Q: Is there a copy of the 1984 Olympic opening ceremony on file?

A: Here you go! You can also see official footage from the Olympic Games website here:

http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=1984

Click to Relive the Opening Ceremony.

Currently watching:
Dodgeball - A True Underdog Story (Widescreen Edition)
Release date: 2004-12-07

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November 24, 2008 - Monday

Question of the Week: Storm Tracker Resources
Current mood:

strong
Category: Life

Q: Where would I find weather history for Antigo, Wisconsin, from July 31, 2007 to Sept. 30, 2007?

A: Interesting question. I would suggest Weather Underground.

http://www.wunderground.com/US/WI/Antigo.htmlHistory

About halfway down the page should be a "History & Almanac" section, where you can put in a date you're looking for.

You can also try http://www.wxusa.com/wx1/Antigo-WI.htm

Sources

Weather Underground (Image Source)

http://www.wunderground.com/

Weather Underground is committed to delivering the most reliable, accurate weather information possible. Our state-of-the-art technology monitors conditions and forecasts for locations across the world, so you'll always find the weather information that you need.

WxUSA

http://www.wxusa.com/

Weather Reports For Over 50,000 U.S. Locations

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November 15, 2008 - Saturday

Question of the Week: Anime doesn’t translate well into Real Life
Current mood:

vital
Category: Dreams and the Supernatural

Q: Am I able to carry a Bokken (wooden sword) around in public for self defense?

A: Hmmm, let's see what we can find...

Florida Statute 790.10 Improper exhibition of dangerous weapons or firearms. --If any person having or carrying any dirk, sword, sword cane, firearm, electric weapon or device, or other weapon shall, in the presence of one or more persons, exhibit the same in a rude, careless, angry, or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense, the person so offending shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree….

I'm not interpreting the law; this is just what the law says.

Sources:

Florida Legal Statutes

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?StatuteYear=2008&AppMode=Display_Results&Mode=Search%2520Statutes&Submenu=2&Tab=statutes&Search_String=sword

Image Source:

http://www.bytomic.com/images/products/weapons-bokken-with-scabbar.jpg

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