Westlaw Next

We’re pleased to announce an upgrade of our legal database Westlaw from the classic version to WestlawNext, which offers an enhanced user experience. WestlawNext is a great resource for current, accurate, authoritative content for both primary law and exclusive secondary law titles.

To access this resource, simply visit our Digital Library and click on WestlawNext in the A-Z List or under the Legal subject heading. On the WestlawNext homepage, clicking on “State Materials” will get you to Louisiana-specific resources. With the improved search engine, you no longer have to know specific legal terms to find information – typing something as simple as “a dog bit me” will get you to related cases and statutes. Why not give it a try today? Remember, it’s free with your library card!

 

ReferenceUSA Training Seminars

Sign up for these free webinars that will help you get the most out of our powerful ReferenceUSA database. Attendees will need an internet connection and a phone line to participate. Below are the rest of the dates through December in the Autumn 2014 series.

Search Essentials: The Basics of ReferenceUSA

Day/Date: Fridays (October 10 – tomorrow – and 17; November 7 and 21; December 5 and 18)

Time: 11:00 am (1 hour)

Designed for the patron new to using our database, this hour-long session will cover all the basics of getting started with ReferenceUSA. The training will cover the Four Essentials anyone, particularly anyone new to ReferenceUSA, would want to know in order to be successful using the resource. This is also a great opportunity for current users to learn some new tips, tricks, and techniques. Lots of time will be reserved at the end for questions. Click here to register for any of the session dates.

Uncovering the Hidden Job Market: Career Search Strategies Using ReferenceUSA

Day/Date: Wednesdays (October 15; November 5; December 3, 17)

Time: 2:00 pm (1 hour)

Attendees will learn how to use ReferenceUSA as part of their Career Searching Strategy. Included will be information on the importance of having accurate information for applications and resumes, creating engaging cover letters, assembling a network of references and referrers, finding key persons at a business to act as mentors, building datasets of potential employers based on skill set, work history, and preferences as well as how to prepare for interviews and interactions through thorough research. We will also explore the New! Jobs & Internship module which adds a new dimension to job searching. Click here to register.

Start, Manage, and Grow Your Business Using ReferenceUSA

Day/Date: Mondays (October 13 and 27; November 3 and 24; December 1 and 15)

Time: 2:00 pm (1 hour)

Entrepreneurs and business owners will learn how to use ReferenceUSA to find the mission critical information necessary to start, manage and grow a business. Topics include: • name search for business • locate hard to find vendors, both locally and nationally • locate subject manager experts and professional services • find investors, venture capitalists and angels • network with other businesses in your area or in your industry • develop relationships with related business for co-branding opportunities • understand community demographics • survey locations for expansion • conduct competitive analysis • plan delivery routes and service areas • source new employees

Click here to register.

ReferenceUSA Consumer & Lifestyle Data

Day/Date: Tuesdays (October 14, November 4, December 2)

Time: 12:00 noon (1 hour)

Ever wonder how marketers and advertisers ‘target’ specific messages to you? Find out how you access the same type of data for your neighborhood or city. Anyone who is interested in understanding the purchase preferences of a community will find this data both interesting and informative. Learn how to navigate this section of ReferenceUSA and then apply the data to your needs. Click here to register.

ReferenceUSA Big Data & Mapping

Day/Date: Tuesdays (October 14, November 4, December 2)

Time: 2:00 pm (1 hour)

Data Visualization is the next BIG thing in data. Going beyond static lists of information, ReferenceUSA can help you ‘visualize’ data elements on a map. Great for understanding how locations relate to each other or seeing densities within a specific area, the ReferenceUSA mapping tools give you a new and powerful way to better understand the landscape. Learn how to build a map to display results and how to manipulate the mapping tools to your advantage. Click here to register.

ReferenceUSA Historical Business Data

Day/Date: Wednesdays (October 15, November 5, December 3)

Time: 11:00 am (1 hour)

One of the essential requirements for planning for the future is to understand the past. ReferenceUSA has been compiling Business and Consumer data for many years and this data has been available in file format for advanced research projects. In response to the increased interest in accessing historical business information, ReferenceUSA has developed an innovative online tool for librarians, research professionals and library patrons to connect to
powerful information that presents a vivid picture of what the business landscape looked like in a given area at a given point in time. Click here to register.

What the REF! [NEW]

Day/Date: select Thursdays (October 16, November 6, December 4)

Time: 2:00 pm (1 hour)

Think you rock at using ReferenceUSA? Well this will be your opportunity to strut your stuff! We’ll give you access to a fully-loaded account and then present you with a series of challenging searches – then we’ll race to the results. The first to post the correct answer will be awarded the points for that round and at the end of the game, we’ll tally the points and crown the victor! And to the victor, go the spoils! You will need to be able to have the ability to manage two windows/tabs on your machine, one to view the webex site – where the questions will be posted, answers demonstrated and scores kept – as well as a tab or window where you can be logged into ReferenceUSA. While not required, it’s recommended you use the Computer Speakers (versus the phone dial in) for the audio …
Seriously considering adding a Trabek style ‘stache for the proceedings! Click here to register.

Women’s Week

The Women’s Council of Greater Baton Rouge (WCGBR) is celebrating its 20th anniversary with Women’s Week, an annual celebration that kicks off tomorrow (Friday, September 19th) and runs through September 28th. This empowering event includes over 150 activities, workshops, and classes around the city. Check the schedule below to find out what events are being offered at Library branches! For more information, including complete activity listings and locations, click here or call (225) 302‑8018. Reach out on social media using #BRWW14 for Women’s Week and #WCGBR for the Women’s Council and of course #ebrpl.

• Career Inspiration: Online Job Hunting

If you are between 18 and 60 years old, you are likely spending around 2,000 hours per year at work. That’s a lot of hours if you don’t do something you enjoy. Come get inspired to learn about different career exploration techniques from noon‑1:30 p.m. on Monday, September 22, at the Main Library at Goodwood.

• Stuff Buster: De‑Clutter to De‑Stress

Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the stuff you’ve accumulated over the years? Your Library has the perfect program to get you started and on your way to simplifying your space! Local professional organizer Teresa Taylor will give you tips, techniques and products at 6 p.m. on Monday, September 22, at the Scotlandville Branch. Registration is required.

• Social Media for the Job Search

Want to learn more about how social media can assist you in a job search? Then you should meet us noon‑1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24, in the Main Library at Goodwood’s second floor Tech Lab to learn how LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter can help you find your next job.

• Let Food Be Thy Medicine

This special nutrition, health and inspiration workshop will be presented by Janel Chatman 9-10:30 a.m. Monday, September 22, in the Main Library’s Large Conference Room 102. For information, call (225) 252-6688.

PolicyMap

The Library has a wonderful new resource available called PolicyMap, a powerful mapping platform that displays a wide variety of data brought together from a number of agencies. You can choose statistics for a given area that will be displayed on a map. Multiple data points can be layered over each other to identify patterns as well. There are pre-created reports that can be quickly accessed and printed for patrons. This is a bit different from our usual resources as it can only accessed by staff, but patrons can request information from PolicyMap from the Reference Department of their local branch. Staff can research a request and print information from PolicyMap for any patron for free. Some of the data you’ll find in PolicyMap includes: • Demographics • Incomes & Spending • Housing • Lending • Quality of Life • Jobs • Education • Health • Federal Guidelines

ReferenceUSA Training Seminars

Sign up for these free webinars that will help you get the most out of our powerful ReferenceUSA database. Attendees will need an internet connection and a phone line to participate. Below are the rest of the dates through September in the “Summertime and the Searchin’ Is Easy” series.

Search Essentials: The Basics of ReferenceUSA

Day/Date: Fridays (July 11 (today), 18; August 8, 15; September 5, 12, 19)

Time: 11:00 am (1 hour)

Designed for the patron new to using our database, this hour-long session will cover all the basics of getting started with ReferenceUSA. The training will cover the Four Essentials anyone, particularly anyone new to ReferenceUSA, would want to know in order to be successful using the resource. This is also a great opportunity for current users to learn some new tips, tricks, and techniques. Click here to register for any of the session dates.

Start, Manage, and Grow Your Business Using ReferenceUSA

Day/Date: Mondays (July 14, 28; August 11, 25; September 8, 15, 29)

Time: 2:00 pm (1 Hour)

Entrepreneurs and business owners will learn how to use ReferenceUSA to find the mission critical information necessary to start, manage and grow a business. Topics include: • name search for business • locate hard to find vendors, both locally and nationally • locate subject manager experts and professional services • find investors, venture capitalists and angels • network with other businesses in your area or in your industry • develop relationships with related business for co-branding opportunities • understand community demographics • survey locations for expansion • conduct competitive analysis • plan delivery routes and service areas • source new employees

Click here to register.

Uncovering the Hidden Job Market: Career Search Strategies Using ReferenceUSA

Day/Date: Wednesdays (July 30; August 13, 27; September 10, 17)

Time: 2:00 pm (1 Hour)

Attendees will learn how to use ReferenceUSA as part of their Career Searching Strategy. Included will be information on the importance of having accurate information for applications and resumes, creating engaging cover letters, assembling a network of references and referrers, finding key persons at a business to act as mentors, building datasets of potential employers based on skill set, work history, and preferences as well as how to prepare for interviews and interactions through thorough research. We will also explore the New! Jobs & Internship module which adds a new dimension to job searching. Click here to register.

ReferenceUSA Consumer & Lifestyle Data

Day/Date: Select Tuesdays (August 26, September 9)

Time: 2:00 pm (1 hour)

Ever wonder how marketers and advertisers ‘target’ specific messages to you? Find out how you access the same type of data for your neighborhood or city. Anyone who is interested in understanding the purchase preferences of a community will find this data both interesting and informative. Learn how to navigate this section of ReferenceUSA and then apply the data to your needs. Click here to register.

ReferenceUSA Big Data & Mapping

Day/Date: Alternating Tuesdays (July 29, August 26, September 30)

Time: 2:00pm (1 hour)

Data Visualization is the next BIG thing in data. Going beyond static lists of information, ReferenceUSA can help you ‘visualize’ data elements on a map. Great for understanding how locations relate to each other or seeing densities within a specific area, the ReferenceUSA mapping tools give you a new and powerful way to better understand the landscape. Learn how to build a map to display results and how to manipulate the mapping tools to your advantage. Click here to register.

ReferenceUSA Historical Business Data

Day/Date: Alternating Tuesdays (July 15, August 12, September 16)

Time: 2:00pm (1 hour)

One of the essential requirements for planning for the future is to understand the past. ReferenceUSA has been compiling Business and Consumer data for many years and this data has been available in file format for advanced research projects. In response to the increased interest in accessing historical business information, ReferenceUSA has developed an innovative online tool for librarians, research professionals and library patrons to connect to
powerful information that presents a vivid picture of what the business landscape looked like in a given area at a given point in time. Click here to register.