December Featured Resource: Job Accelerator

Job Accelerator is  comprehensive and easy-to-use job search application that integrates everything needed to conduct a successful job search.

Reading Makes a 'Joyful Night'

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and First Lady Joanne Jaeger Tomblin read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore

Joyful Night Celebration

West Virginia's Holiday Season was illuminated December 2nd with the Joyful Night celebrations at the State Capitol Complex. The trees were lit and topped, the marching bands played and the children's choirs sang. One of the highlights of the evening was a "fireside" reading of Clement Clarke Moore's classic Twas the Night Before Christmas by the Governor and First Lady.

Two New Learning Express Library Practice Tests Available

Access through http://www.wvinfodepot.org/ and log in with your personal account:

LearningExpress’ Pro Assessment Practice Exams ETS's Parapro Assessment, part of the Praxis Series™*, is used to measure practicing and prospective paraprofessionals' competencies in reading, writing, and basic math.
Achieving a passing score on Parapro Assessment is often a requirement for certification as a teacher's aide or assistant in many states. West Virginia does require all Title 1 Instructional Paraprofessionals to be certified. LearningExpress now offers practice exam 1 and 2 online that duplicate the format, content, timing, and scoring of the official ParaPro Assessment, part of the Praxis Series™.

LearningExpress’ Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Practice Exams According to the American Medical Technologists (AMT)*, having the RMA credential "translates to an advantage in the work place." Medical Assistants who earn their certification by graduating from an accredited program and passing the AMT's Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Certification Exam enjoy increased job opportunities and security, and are recognized as being at the top of their fields and for their knowledge and competence.
The LearningExpress Registered Medical Assistant Practice Exams 1 and 2 offer Medical Assistant certification candidates the essential, authentic practice they need to perform their best on this crucial professional exam.

Quick Fact-- According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly.

• Medical assistants held about 483,000 jobs in 2008.
• The average annual income in 2008 was $28,300.
• The number of jobs in medical assisting is expected to grow 34% by 2018.

Cooking Up Holiday Spirit

This week's cookbook is Damon Lee Fowler's New Southern Baking: Classic Flavors for Today's Cooks

Spicy Cheese Straws

This venerable Southern classic is a standard for any hostess worth her iced tea, and, happily, the food processor makes short work of it. The best cheese for straws is a very old, super-sharp cheddar-- the kind that is so sharp that it'll practically take the roof off your mouth. If you cannot get such wonders, mixing in a bit of grated real Parmesan gives it just the right kick. Orange cheddar lends the most traditional color to these spicy little tidbits, and it the only kind that a traditional Southern cook would use, but white cheddar will, of course, work just as well, if you have this snob thing against the coloring.

Makes about 10 dozen straws

3/4 pound (12 ounces) well-aged extra-sharp cheddar
1/4 pound (4 ounces) Parmesan, preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano
4 ounces (1/2 cup or 1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 generous teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, or more, to taste
1/2 teaspoon salt
10 ounces (about 2 cups) Southern soft-wheat or unbleached all-purpose flour

1. Grate the cheese with a rotary cheese grater, through the fine holes of a box grater, or with the fine shredding disk in the food processor. In a food processor fitted with a steel blade or with a mixer, cream the cheddar, Parmesan, and butter until fluffy and smooth.

2. Add the cayenne, salt, and flour and process or work it into the dough until smooth. Gather it into a ball, wrap well in plastic wrap or wax paper, and chill it for at least half an hour or up to an hour, but don't let it chill hard. If you make the dough ahead to bake later, let it soften at room temperature so that it is still cool but pliable.

3. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degree F. Put the dough in a cookie press fitted with the star die (or a pastry bag fitted with a star tip) and press it out onto an ungreased baking sheet into narrow 2 1/2 inch straws, leaving about 1/2 inch clear between. You may also roll the dough out: lightly flour a work surface and roll the dough out 1/4 inch thick. Cut it with a sharp knife or a zigzag pastry wheel into strips 1/2 inch by 2 1/2 inches, laying them on a buttered baking sheet as you go. Or for a more decorative straw with the cookie press, roll them out a little thicker than 1/8 inch, cut them as directed above, and gently twist each straw into a spiral. Bake for about 18 to 20 minutes, being careful not to let them brown on top. The bottoms should be golden but the tops and sides should not color. Cool on the pan before transferring them to an airtight storage container.

Looking for Unique Holiday Craft & Gift Ideas? Try Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center

Search Hobbies & Crafts

Full Text

Contains full-text articles and other content for popular hobbies, crafts and recreation activities. Including full text articles for magazines and books, as well as access to videos and hobby profiles, this database offers detailed "how-to" instructions and creative ideas to meet the interests of virtually every hobby enthusiast.
Users accessing this resource will need to log-in using their Reference Library library card.

Traveling Exhibits Available

The ALA Public Programs Office is pleased to announce three new traveling exhibits focusing on Jewish artists who have contributed to the culture of America and the world through their lives and work. Public, academic and special libraries, including museum libraries and Jewish community centers are invited to apply by January 24, by visiting www.ala.org/jewishartists.    

Continuting Education Update

Nancy Pearl Presents: Books That Make Great Gifts
Webinar, December 13, 2010
Noon – 1PM
"Join PLA and Nancy Pearl for an hour-long webinar filled with recommendations for every book lover on your list. You'll leave with ideas for yourself as well as a printable list to share at your library." There is a charge for this webinar; $28 for PLA Members $35 for non-members.

DuPage Teleconference. If you missed Redesigning Today’s Public Services: Focus on Reference teleconference you can watch the archived streaming video here.

LE@D Course of the Month. Reaching Reluctant Readers. The term reluctant reader refers to young people who can read with some independence, but choose not to. Reluctant readers do not select books from the library easily. They may start many books, but rarely, if ever, finish one. They are not engaged with reading, they do not choose it as a leisure time activity, and they try to avoid it when it is expected of them in school or at home. There are a variety of reasons these students have a negative attitude towards reading, and with some form of motivation it is possible to get the student to re-engage with the process of reading. This course is prepaid and pre-approved for WVLC continuing education credit. Click here for instructions on how to register.