Library News

Boston GreenFest 2009

If you’re looking for something fun (and free!) to do this weekend, go check out Boston GreenFest 2009 at City Hall Plaza, right outside the Government Center T stop. This event runs from 10 AM to 10 PM August 21st and 22nd with a kickoff concert tonight from 5 to 10. Over the next two days there will be screenings of the films “The Greening of Southie”, “Fresh”, “Out of Balance: ExxonMobil’s Impact on Climate Change”, and “Flow: The Film”. There will be speakers and workshops covering everything from green cars to eco-games to the Charles River. You can also walk around and check out the art gallery, exhibits and listen to some live music. This looks like a really fun event with something for everyone. I’m planning to attend on Saturday so maybe I’ll see you there.

Genealogy

Genealogy–do you really want to uncover your ancestry?

You are perhaps thinking about doing genealogy research because you do not have much information on your family. Would you like to find out how far back you can trace and what was going on during certain time periods when your relatives were born?

You may learn about health problems in your family which can give you a better understanding of your medical history: “Tracing the illnesses suffered by your parents, grandparents, and other blood relatives can help your doctor predict the disorders to which you may be at risk and take action to keep you and your family healthy.” Surgeon General’s Family Health History Initiative (http://www.hhs.gov/familyhistory)  While tracing your family do you really want to find that you may have what you consider an undesirable person in your family tree? Think first before undertaking genealogy research! Are you ready for what you may find or what you may not find?

Bike racks!

Have I been walking into the library with my eyes shut, or are there many new bike racks all around the library? I feel certain I didn’t see them yesterday. I know many people who bike to campus, and I’m sure the additional racks for locking up are a welcome addition. It’s exciting to see these changes, and I do hope they will be well-used!

Old Meets New: 200-Year-Old Tweets?

Very interesting article on Boston.com today about John Quincy Adams’s very short diary entries and how closely they resemble “tweets,” the 140-character posts on Twitter. Now the Massachusetts Historical Society will be posting his line-a-day entries as tweets exactly 200 years later, starting tomorrow with the first entry of his trip to Russia that began August 5, 1809. You can follow John Quincy Adams on Twitter — his handle is JQAdams_MHS. What a great way to bring history alive!

Re-use

We all know we should recycle, but what about products that can’t be placed in the recycling bin? Are there ways to re-use some of these products? AltUse attempts to help you do just that, with its user-submitted suggestions for re-using everyday products. A quick look at fabric softener sheets tells me that there are 8 ways to use them that have been submitted. The interface is clunky, but the idea is good. And you can rate the use idea for the product. It’s worth a look, and can perhaps help you save money and the environment.