Resources @ Your Library

If you’ve ever wanted to get some current articles on Environmental Studies and Policy, then I have some great news! You don’t have to go very far to get these articles. You can access them from your own home! The Rancho Cucamonga Public Libraries offer a wide range of databases to all of our patrons. To access our databases, go to http://www.rcpl.lib.ca.us/online.htm. Our databases are divided into different categories. If you’d like to access the database “Environmental Studies and Policy Collection,” it is located under the category “Science and Technology.” You will find many articles on climate change and recycling within this database. To access this database from home, you will need a password. To have the passwords e-mailed to you, send an e-mail to: reference@cityofrc.us. In the e-mail, be sure to include your library barcode number and mention that you’d like a copy of the database passwords.

Celebrate Earth Day!!

Spring is Here!!

What do people usually associate with spring? Flowers, April Showers, fresh strawberries, watermelon, cantaoulope, cherries, apricots, gardening, spring cleaning, and being outdoors. Spring cleaning can be a lot of work, but it's defintely worth it! Just think about all those dust bunnies that are hiding underneath the couch. It's time to open up the windows and let the fresh air in! There are many benefits to spring cleaning and it can be a lot of fun. Here are just three reasons why you should get started on spring cleaning today:

• Burn some calories! Instead of spending the day at the gym, use the time to work your muscles by doing some deep cleaning. Scrubbing, sweeping, and mopping are all great ways to get your exercise in. You may find that after you have cleaned the house you have some extra room for that yoga mat!
• Having a clean house will help save you time. How many mornings have you spent at least 10 minutes trying to find those car keys? Putting everything in its place will not only save you time, but it will also keep you from having to stress about being late to work. Besides, who wants to come home to a house with laundry all over the place?
• Cleaning out your fridge may help you on your way to eating healthier. Who wants to cook a healthy meal if they have to dig through expired cheese and moldy tomatoes? Cleaning out that fridge will make cooking at home more appealing and will help your house smell a lot better.

If you're looking for an inexpensive green cleaner that you can use just about everywhere, try http://www.vinegartips.com/.

Don't throw away all of those unwanted items, try http://www.freecycle.org/ or http://www.craigslist.com/. Another fun idea is to have a CD, book, or DVD swap with your friends and family. Invite them over for a fun-filled evening of snacks and shopping. Ask your guests to bring their unwanted books, CD's or DVD's with them. Lay them all out on a table and guests can have a fun time trading their items.

Happy Spring Cleaning!!

Brain Power

Keeping your brain active is an important part of aging and preventing Alzheimer's. We've all heard people talk about how they just can't seem to remember things like they used to. As a child, we might have been able to memorize an entire story, poem, multiplication tables, and a seemingly endless amount of phone numbers. There are days when I have a hard time remembering where I've parked my car. For some of us, not being able to remember something can be quite frightening. The thought of developing Alzheimer's might have jumped into our mind and now we're on a mission to try to prevent it. Statistics from ARPF (Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation) say:

• More than 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease today.
  
  
• One out of every eight people 65 and older has the disease. And for those over the age of 85, this number jumps to almost one out of every two.
  
  
• When baby boomers reach 65 in 2011, these numbers will skyrocket and an epidemic will be upon us.

Research done by ARPF has shown that memory loss can be prevented and reversed by the choices we make and including brain fitness activities. Learning a new language can turn out to be an extremely beneficial hobby in more ways than one. The Rancho Cucamonga Public Libraries offers several books to stimulate your mind, so pick up a few to get you on the road to a healthier you!

Sudoku Puzzles
Logic Games and Puzzles
Language Instruction