The Library has a new product that may work just as well for you. Transparent Language is an Interactive self-study guide on a USB drive. It’s an immersion program that enables learners to take basic vocabulary and quickly progress to more advanced comprehension and use. Grammar, vocabulary, reading, listening and pronunciation skills are emphasized through the use of native-language videos, texts and stories that immerse the user in the language. Each language edition includes:
Record, playback and compare
Conversation practice
Interactive games
Over 15,000 words of vocabulary
Full-motion video
Testing and scoring
and much more
Just download the program on to your computer, and as long as you have any of the USB drives in your computer, your work will be saved and available to you.
Languages available are Arabic, Chinese, English for Spanish Speakers, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Look for Transparent Language in LINKcat.
Find resources at the library about African American history as well as featured programs and activities on our African American History Month page. You will also find local historical resources on the internet, tips on researching African American topics and local information pertaining to Madison and Dane County.
The League of Women Voters of Dane County, a non-partisan, community-based organization committed to “reconnecting citizens with government, enhancing voter participation, including all voices in civic life, and strengthening the democratic process through reform” has just released their 2010 Spring Election Candidates’ Answers. The League of Women Voters of Dane County is not printing Candidates’ Answers for the Primary Spring 2010 election. Read up on the primary election (February 16) candidates at the LWVDC web site.
Is one of your intentions this year to work on a healthier you? SELF Magazine places Madison at #8 out of 100 in its November article, The Healthiest Places for Women. Madison was noted for having one of the lowest average body mass indexes, and cancer and disease mortality rates are about 15 percent lower than the national average. In addition, Madison women reported spending more time getting fit than any other city in the country.
Start 2010 off right and get fit by taking advantage of the City of Madison’s many beautiful cross country ski trails. Thirty kilometers of groomed trails await skiers in 6 Madison park locations. Trail difficulties range from easy to advanced. Don’t have your own skis? Rental skis are available at Elver Park and Odana Golf Course on the weekends.
A ski pass is required to use the facilities at Elver and Odana Golf Course. Fees are $6 for a daily pass and $24 for an annual pass. These passes are also good on Dane County Park trails. No pass is required at Owen Conservation Park, Turville Conservation Park, Monona Golf Course and South Cherokee Conservation Park, so you can ski for free at these locations.
Complete listings of ice skating, skiiing and sledding information are available online. Find more information about Madison winter fun in the latest issues of Madison Parks News and Madison Parks Magazine, and view a winter activities photography slideshow on flickr.
All Madison Public Library locations will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 18. You can still use the library when we’re closed: place holds in LINKcat, return items to our bookdrops, or use our 24/7 online reference service, AskAway. See our web site for more information on area celebrations or on Martin Luther King, Jr. or discover our recommended resources for African American History Month in February.
Join others in celebration of the life of Dr. King at the 25th Annual Madison-Dane County King Holiday Observance at the Overture Center Capital Theater at 6 p.m. on Monday, January 18. Former SCLC Education Director, Dorothy Cotton, who served under Dr. King’s direct supervision, will bring her message of hope on her first visit to Madison. Sponsored by the King Coalition and the Urban League of Greater Madison; see more information on Cotton and other ULGM sponsored events.
You asked for it–you got it. Many of you have asked about the Summary Section from the print version of Morningstar Mutual Funds. You can now gain access to the most-current Summary Section via the “Fund Summary” link on the Morningstar Investment Research Center home page. Here is a little background on what value this addition brings to the database.
Commentary
The first several pages of the Summary Section contain the Commentary, written by our editors and analysts. Using in-house research, we delve into sometimes-controversial topics such as the importance of asset allocation to diversification, fund-company ethics, and investors’ rights. The commentaries contain some of the most innovative thinking in the mutual fund industry.
Leaders and Laggards
This section reveals at a glance whose returns are hot and whose are not. This section shows the top and bottom performers, based solely on total returns, for five time periods: year to date, one year, three years, five years, and 10 years. We also provide the fund’s Morningstar category, Morningstar Rating, Morningstar Style Box placement, and sales charges.
Quick Reference
The Quick Reference page contains keys to symbols we use throughout the publication, details of the Morningstar Style Boxes, our publication schedule, and a list of the Morningstar categories and their abbreviations.
Mutual Fund News, Views, and Research
In this section, we report on notable events in the fund industry and keep you up to date on the activities of fund companies. Whether it’s a manager change, the anticipated launch of a new fund, or a fund company merger, these are the events that shape the investment world.
Of course, if you are looking for the most current information on such things as fund prices, Analyst Reports, and performance, make sure to use Morningstar Investment Research Center’s fund data pages. These are updated on a daily basis and will be your best resource for the most up-to-date fund information.
Learn How to Rebalance Your Portfolio for 2010
In today’s economy, who couldn’t use a bit of re-balancing? Join Morningstar’s Director of Personal Finance, Christine Benz, as she guides you through the process Wednesday, December 16 at 3pm Central Time. Log on from home or anywhere you have access to a phone and internet connection. To register, send an e-mail to librarytraining@morningstar.com. And, when you do, please mention Madison Public Library.
Don’t let the stress of holiday shopping wear you down! Make gifts out of everyday things, and save the earth at the same time.
The library owns many books that feature craft ideas utilizing recycled materials for all levels of crafting ability and experience. Make fantastic gifts without breaking the bank, and spend quality time with your kids creating amazing things from materials that you have around the house.
Keep informed about winter parking, snow plowing updates, and when sidewalks need to be cleared in the City of Madison. You can also find tips on winter safety, Metro Transit travel, and bicycling in the winter at the City Winter Portal.
But winter is not all shoveling and slippery roads - come out and play in Madison Parks! As the temperature drops, the fun just gets started! Check out the new Play Madison Parks Winter web site and keep updated on the ski trail and outdoor ice skating conditions.
Madison Public Library has acquired an online subscription to the Value Line Investment Survey. Formerly available in paper at six of our nine libraries, the new online service is available at all nine Madison public libraries, as well as to city of Madison residents with valid library cards.
Value Line is best known for the Investment Survey, one of the most widely read investment services in the world. Value Line online offers the same one-sheet summary as the Investment Summary, but also includes more up to date information on the stocks covered, as well as stock screening, custom reports, industry information, historical data, and email alerts. Madison Public Library’s subscription also includes the Value Line Special Situations Service.
Madison Public Library chose to switch from paper to online access to Value Line after much public input from individual investors and local investment clubs. Paper access will continue for at least six months at most locations that currently subscribe, and you can call the Central Reference Desk to schedule a demo of the new service for yourself or your investment group.
Want to learn more? Visit our online tutorial web site, watch our YouTube video tutorial below, or just log on and get started! (Online help and investment advice is always available in the Education Section tab.
Our Holiday Baking book list features ten new titles available from the library that will get you started on sweet treats, from gingerbread to Hanukkah rugelach.
The Library has a new product that may work just as well for you. Transparent Language is an Interactive self-study guide on a USB drive. It’s an immersion program that enables learners to take basic vocabulary and quickly progress to more advanced comprehension and use. Grammar, vocabulary, reading, listening and pronunciation skills are emphasized through the use of native-language videos, texts and stories that immerse the user in the language. Each language edition includes:
The 
You asked for it–you got it. Many of you have asked about the Summary Section from the print version of Morningstar Mutual Funds. You can now gain access to the most-current Summary Section via the “Fund Summary” link on the 
