The library has a special collection of books, books with cassettes, videos, DVDs and CD-ROMs in the Literacy Collection located on the second floor of the library to your right when you get off the elevator. These materials will help you learn English. Many of the books have answers in the front or back of the book. You can't write in these books but you can use other paper to write out your answers. Then check your work by looking at the answer key. Many people don't have time to go to classes so these books will help you learn on your own at home. Learning a new language takes a lot of time. Save some time each day to study with these special materials.

 

Some new books for you to use are business books located in the letter J area of the Literacy Collection.  Many men and women need help with English in the business world.  You may want to check them out and see if they will help you.  You will be able to do the work in the books and find the answers in the back.   

 

ABE J 428 POHL, A  Test Your Professional English, Medical

This is one in a series of ten useful books to test your professional English vocabulary. This is for intermediate to advanced level students of English.

 

ABE J 428 POHL, A  Test Your Professional English , Hotel and Catering

This in another in the same series to help with English for Hotel and Catering.  This is for pre-intermediate to advanced level students of English.

 

ABE J 428 MASCULL, B  Business Vocabulary in Use

This is suitable for intermediate and upper intermediate level learners of business English and designed for self-study .

 

ABE J 808.066 BARTELL, K  American Business English

This book is designed for students as well as executives, secretaries, or anyone involved with business communications. 

 

Presidents Day will be celebrated on Monday, February 19th.  Most schools will be closed as well and banks and government offices.  No mail will be delivered that day.  We will honor President George Washington, our first President whose birthday is February 22nd and President Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is February 12th. 

 

February 14th is Valentine Day.  This is a special day to show your love and affection for husbands, boyfriends and girlfriends, children and parents.  Hearts and flowers are a special part of Valentine day.  Many people will buy chocolate to give as a gift of love. Don't forget the speical people in your life.  

 

Chinese New Year will be celebrated on Sunday, February 18th.  It will be the year of the pig. People born in the year of the pig will have a patient and cheerful disposition.  They are honest and expect others to be just as sincere as they are.  You may want to celebrate by preparing some Chinese food.  You can always find good Chinese cookbooks at the library.

 

Remember to move your clocks ahead on Sunday, March 11th.  This is the start of Daylight Saving Time.  Daylight Saving Time began in the United States in 1917 when Congress passed the Daylight Saving Act.  Many Countries around the world don't follow Daylight Saving Time.  Some of them are Japan, North Korea and China.  China has only one time zone for the entire country.  In the United States, Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time.    On August 8, 2005 President George W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act.  In 2007 we have earlier starting and later ending dates for Daylight Saving Time. Daylight Saving Time will end on November 4th.  The Secretary of Energy will report on how much energy was saved.  Congress will decide to continue the earlier and later dates for the time change if it is shown that energy was saved.  Go to the Internet and learn more about wh y we change the clock in the spring and fall.

 

You can save energy in many ways by turning lights off when not needed, purchasing energy efficient appliances and keeping your home a little cooler in the winter and a little warmer in the summer by adjusting the temperature of the furnace and air conditioner. 

 

Don't forget to wear a little green on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th.  Even if you're not Irish, you can still wear green, eat Irish soda bread or try some corn beef and cabbage.  Many immigrants from Ireland settled in the Chicago area.  The large Irish populations loves to celebrate with food, parades and dying the Chicago river green.

 

Each month we have something to celebrate.  Join in and enjoy yourself.

 

Happy Spring!

Pat Barch, Literacy Coordinator