Literary Map of Maine

Maine boasts a rich literary heritage. Authors from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to James L. Nelson call us home and Maine's literature is as diverse as the state itself. Rain and mosquitoes may drive you indoors but the magnificence of this area is still something Curtis Library can offer you. Maine's authors live here among their books. Stop in to visit with them.

The Literary Map of Maine is a partnership between the Maine Sunday Telegram and several library and humanities groups in Maine.

Some New-ish Job Search Sites

A few new and noteworthy job sites have come to our attention....

Green Jobs:

• GreenCollarBlog.org is a list of job boards "that focus on social or environmental responsibility." The listings (some with annotations) cover general green jobs and jobs in specific industries such as solar energy and green building.

• Green Careers Guide provides job seekers a go-to resource for green careers within the wind, solar, and geothermal industries. They're linked by the Department of Energy.

Unemployment:

• Pine Tree Legal Assistance provides links to social services, fuel assistance and other sites that might be helpful for the unemployed and low income families.
  
  
• JoblessJoe.com approaches being unemployed from the visceral street level. It provides a positive and supportive community for people out of work. Highly recommended.
  
  
• Another highly useful site is HelpIWasLaidOff.com. It is packed with useful tips and strategies for your job search or interview.
  
  
• CareerOneStop.org has Maine (or any other state) employment resources that touch on unemployment benefits, job search, training, health insurance and foreclosures.

Curtis Library: In One Day

Brunswick filmmakers Rip Swan and Jasper Lowe have created a short video of a day at Curtis Memorial Library. They tell a long story in 4 minutes!

The Homeless and The Law

In the eyes of the law, all Americans are equal.  In theory this is true.  Access to the law for homeless Americans is, however, not as egalitarian.  

The Homeless Law Blog is a project of Linda Tashbrook, a lawyer and librarian.  It  is a "research guide for homeless people trying to learn about their legal rights and liabilities."  Ms Tashbrook addresses questions that range from keeping pets to bathing in public facilities, from employment to privacy.

Maine Answers Tough Times

The Maine State Library has assembled the following resources to help Mainers weather the severe economic climate in which we find ourselves:

Whether it is called a recession or a depression, all of us are now facing an economic downturn that can be simply described as tough times. How we respond and what we need to make it through these tough times will differ from person to person; family to family.

More information on any or all of these topics can be found at your local public library.

Web Resources

The following links by category are designed to help you find the information or contacts needed to help. These links are primarily designed to lead you to official support services in Maine. Descriptions of the web sites are primarily from the organization's own words.

• Business:
  For small business start-up
• Community Outreach:
  For organizations which provide a variety of services
• Credit Counseling:
  For assistance on financial planning and debt management
• Crisis Counseling:
  For crisis hotlines
• Education and Job Training:
  For higher education providers and financial aid
• Employment:
  For job search information
• Food Assistance:
  For food pantries and supplemental food assistance
• Health Care and Insurance:
  For providers of health care or health insurance
• Home Heating/Utilities:
  For aid on home heating assistance
• Housing:
  For help on home ownership and repair
• Legal Assistance:
  For help on legal matters
• Personal Safety:
  For help on personal and family safety issues

Downloading Audio Books on Dial-up?

Downloading audio books using dial-up internet is like watching paint dry. We at Curtis can shorten some of the time needed to acquire the Overdrive Media Console that controls the whole process. Some of our Full Service PCs have the Media Console file on the desktop that our users may transfer to a flash drive (a.ka thumb drive, USB drive, memory stick) and take home.

Listen to Martin Luther King's speech at Bowdoin College

In May, 1964 Martin Luther King came to Bowdoin College to speak about the civil rights movement and ending discrimination in America. The King Center is allowing Bowdoin College to make this speech available online during the month of February as part of the observance of Black History Month.

To read about Martin Luther King's visit to Bowdoin, the history of the speech and to find the link to Dr. King's speech, visit:
http://www.bowdoin.edu/news/archives/1bowdoincampus/001804.shtml