Helping Little People Learn Computers

Recently a friend introduced me to a wonderful resource for kids and I want to share it with you. It's called ZAC Browser.

ZAC (the letters stands for Zone for Autistic Children) "is the first web browser developed specifically for children with autism, and autism spectrum disorders."

ZAC is a browser that allows children to interact directly (and safely!) with games (a LOT of games) and activities (focused on MANY interests). The links cater specifically to kids with impairments in social interaction, impairments in communication, restricted interests and repetitive behavior. The icons are big and colorful, thus kids can navigate the site easily.

While ZAC is geared towards children with autism, it is also a wonderful tool for toddlers and children with delayed speech issues. (My 2-year-old son LOVES it!)

Want to learn more about ZAC browser? Blast Magazine wrote a great article about the history of this browser.

ZAC brower is free, so check it out!

COMING SOON! (On Order Now!)

Fragile Lives by Jane A. Adams

Summary
Rina Martin returns in the second book in this new series from the author of the "Naomi Blake mysteries". When a body is washed up on a beach a short distance from Frantham, the first assumption is that it must be Edward Parker who had fallen from Marlborough Head just a couple of weeks before. When the badly battered body is examined, however, it is discovered to be the body of Pat Duggan, son of local nightclub owner Jimmy Duggan. It seems Pat had been abducted. Twice. And, to complicate matters, the missing Edward Parker had worked for Jimmy Duggan and disappeared at the same time as Duggan's son. Coincidence? Mac and Rina don't think so...Mac, following procedure as a serving police officer, and Rina, an interested outsider, soon discover that others are now at risk of meeting Pat Duggan's fate and this time they are only eight years old. Mac and Rina are both dragged into a race against time to solve the case.

Review
"Adams proves her versatility with the new series, a solid village procedural with a clever plot and skilfully drawn characters. Fans of M.C. Beaton and Clare Curzon will find Adams right up their alley"

Booklist on A Reason to Kill: Rina's kick-off emphasizes people and place, letting the reader in on secrets early and relying on psychological conflict to drive the appealing plot.

Kirkus Reviews on A Reason to Kill: The intriguing premise, combined with solid plotting, make this unusual series well worth a look.

Booklist on Legacy of Lies: The plot soon heats up, engaging the reader with its clever twists, intriguing characters and shock ending.

Do Something Wonderful

Are you looking for a "dare to be great" situation? Why not volunteer at the Volunteer Center of RI. The mission of the VCRI is to connect people and opportunities for effective community service. They do this by promoting volunteerism statewide, connecting volunteers to opportunities, building the capacity for effective volunteerism through training and consultation and by collaborating with community stakeholders where volunteers are involved.

The site allows users to search for volunteer opportunities by Member Agencies, Board Opportunities, Internships, Family Friendly, Teen Opportunities, Court Mandated Service, and Disaster/Crisis Response. Users can also search by city, state and keywords. The site features great synopsises of agencies looking for volunteers so you can get to know a group before joining up.

So check out the VCRI! Tell 'em Chris sent you!

Tax Time Help

Are you over 50 and need help preparing your taxes? The AARP can bail you out (sorry, but I couldn't resist). The AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50 and over improve the quality of their lives.

From February 2nd until April 15th the AARP will hold tax-aide programs right here at MPL. These programs run 3 times a week.

Mondays: 12:00-3:00pm
Wednesdays: 4:00-7:00pm
Saturdays: 9:30am-1:00pm

These seminars offer free one-on-one counseling, as well as assistance to help individuals prepare basic tax forms, including the 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ and other standard schedules. For more information about these on-site programs please call (401) 846-1573.

What if you can't make it to MPL? Don't worry! The AARP offers assistance over the telephone and on Internet as well. For more information on this please go to: https://locator.aarp.org/vmis/sites/tax_aide_locator.jsp

Hail to the Chief!

Today we watched power pass from one president to another, and in the process we witnessed the first African American man assume the nation's highest office. In honor of this occasion here are some wonderful websites that will help you get to know a little more about our government.

Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States: George Washington to Barack H. Obama

Find U.S. presidents' inaugural addresses, brief historical synopses of each inauguration, pictures of the presidents, and the text of the oath of office. Includes information about the five presidents who assumed office without inauguration. Searchable and browsable. From Bartleby.com.

The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden

This site from the Smithsonian presents background information on the presidency, the campaigns to achieve it, and the men who have been president. Find brief biographical sketches, lists of achievements, images of items in the Smithsonian's collection, and classroom aids. The "Resources" section includes a list of all the presidential candidates, a list of military service of the presidents, a bibliography, and annotated links to other presidential websites.

Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States

This site makes available material compiled and published by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration, employing the same database used in producing the hardcover printed volumes. Contains the public papers from the current administration and previous administrations starting in 1991. The volumes are searchable as well as browsable by table of contents, photographic portfolio, presidential documents published in the Federal Register, subject, name of person mentioned, and document category.

Our First Ladies

This site from the White House presents brief biographies of the current and past first ladies. Some profiles include images.

Romance Romance!

So many of our MPL patrons love romance novels. And with Valentine's Day coming up soon (that's February 14th for all my guy readers) I thought this website was perfect for the romantics readers out there in cyberspace!

All Romance Writers is a site dedicated to...you guessed it! Romance novels. The site divided into communities such as Chick Lit, Historical Fiction, Paranormal Romance, and more! It also includes a blog, message board and newsletter for users to get in contact with other romance aficionados. And you can search the site not only by author and title, but also hero/heroine, character type and series (very cool indeed)!

One draw back: it's got lots of ads. Essentially they want you to buy the book through them. However just write down the title and author and let us get it for you...FOR FREE!

So if you are looking for the perfect love story, snuggle up to this site. You'll be glad you did!

COMING SOON! (March 09)

Murder in the Latin Quarter by Cara Black

Summary: A Haitian woman arrives at the office of Leduc Detective and announces that she is Aimée’s sister, her father’s illegitimate daughter. Aimée is thrilled. A virtual orphan since her mother’s disappearance and her father’s death, she has always wanted a sister. Her partner, René, is wary of this stranger, but Aimée embraces her and soon finds herself involved in murky Haitian politics leading to murder. The setting is the Latin Quarter on the Left Bank of the Seine, in the old university district of Paris.

This book is part of the Aimée Leduc series.