This is a handout from PaLA on links for small businesses. When I was looking through some of the links, I found that the Center for Workforce Information and Analysis had some great information and links for job-seekers.

Teach Parents Tech

The adult kids at Google just launched a new website:  Teach Parents Tech.  The site features 50 videos that you can email to parents or others who need tech support!   It covers topics in five basic categories:  the basics, world wide web, communication, media, and finding information.  (I love that last one--there are videos that teach very useful things like finding driving directions, tracking a flight, and finding restaurants.)

Read all about it in this blog post from Google. 

Finding UD Middle Schools Homework Online

Yesterday, after Kathy and Terri both couldn't find this for a student, they asked a 7th grader in my gaming club to find it for him.

Some teachers provide information about classwork and homework on the school district's website.  To find it:

1.  On the UDSD homepage, select the school from the drop-down menu at the top.
2.  Once on the school homepage, click "Staff Directory" on the left sidebar.
3.  Click on the alphabet letter that begins the teacher's last name.
4.  Locate the name of the teacher and click on it.
5.  Click on the link labeled "Teacher Page."    (Here is an example of someone who uses the teacher page.)

No wonder we couldn't figure it out!!!

Crime Statistics: The Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System

This is a great source for state crime information and statistics. You'll find charts as well as statistical maps. You can also set up your own queries. http://ucr.psp.state.pa.us/UCR/ComMain.asp

Future Jobs-O-Matic

The Future Jobs-O-Matic is a new college and career planning tool built by American Public Media's radio show Marketplace.  Using current economic information and projections for next 10 years, over 250 careers are analyzed. Users can find out which fields are growing and shrinking, and which pay the most. It is a slick-looking gadget that is backed up by real data. 

(I was happy to see that, despite people's love of Google and Wikipedia, that the Future Jobs-O-Matic says the field of librarianship will see a small amount of growth in the next 10 years. We're not obsolete!!!)

Consumer Complaints

The Swiss Army Librarian is a blog by a reference librarian in Maine. He regularly posts difficult or interesting reference questions that he handle along with commentary and explanations. This post on consumer complaints reads like a pathfinder on consumer education.

Additionally -

• The list of licensed contractors in Upper Darby is available online at the township's website.
• All 3 libraries have subscriptions to Delaware Valley Consumers Checkbook, which is a kind of regional Consumer Reports. I'm not sure how helpful this would be after a problem but it could help abvert a problem.

Election Link

Didn't find this til yesterday afternoon, by which time we didn't need it. But we will need it again in the fall. November's election should be a big one - senator and governor and who knows what else.

This link will help people find their voting place -

https://www.pavoterservices.state.pa.us/Pages/PollingPlaceInfo.aspx

This is maintained by the PA Department of State, which among other things is responsible for running the elections. They also post the unofficial and eventually the official election results.

League of Women Voters have their own website that provides info on candidates, etc.

Pennsylvania Cable Network also provided a LOT of coverage via web, TV, TV on the web, Twitter and Facebook.