Are you an avid reader looking for something new to read? Then check out the online version of Bookpage.  Here you can explore new books by genre, read author interviews and discover ideas for gift giving.

This site also provides weekly and daily newsletters that you can subscribe to and provides links to connect to other readers through Facebook and Twitter.

And, you can “discover your next great book” with the Bookpage app on your Iphone, Ipad or iPod. The app allows you to keep track of what you’ve already read and what you want to read next.

Mango Languages App

There is a Mango Languages app available for the iPhone, iPod, or iTouch. People with one of these devices and a Framingham Public Library card can use Mango Languages from anywhere! The app is available for free from the iTunes store.

Details about the app are available here...
http://www.mangolanguages.com/libraries/products-overview/mango-mobile/

Access to Mango Languages is available from http://www.framinghamlibrary.org.

Native American Heritage Month

North American Natives have long been known as Indians because of the belief prevalent at the time of Columbus that the Americas were the outer reaches of the Indies (i.e., the East Indies). Most scholars agree that Native Americans came into the Western Hemisphere from Asia via the Bering Strait or along the North Pacific coast in a series of migrations. From Alaska they spread east and south. Some scholars accept evidence of Native American existence in the Americas back more than 25,000 years, while many others believe that people arrived later than that, perhaps as recently as 12,000 years ago. In pre-Columbian times (prior to 1492) the Native American population of the area North of Mexico is conservatively estimated to have been about 1.8 million, with some authorities believing the population to have been as large as 10 million or more.

By the time of early European colonization attempts, there were over 30,000 Native Americans in Massachusetts living amongst a variety of tribes belonging to the Algonquin language group. Some of the most well known tribes were the Wampanoag, Pennacook, Mahican, Pocumtuck, Nipmuck, and the Massachusett (for whom the state was named). Unfortunately, the Europeans would bring with them diseases for which the Native Americans had no immunity against, resulting in large, deadly epidemics. The first such epidemic hit the coastal region of Massachusetts between 1616 and 1617. The Native population continued to suffer from disease and warfare throughout the remainder of the 17th century. Nearly ninety percent of the Native population was killed during this period.

What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose.

In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting in Lawrence, Kans., formally approved a plan concerning American Indian Day. It directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to observe such a day. Coolidge issued a proclamation on Sept. 28, 1915, which declared the second Saturday of each May as an American Indian Day and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.

In 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 "National American Indian Heritage Month." Similar proclamations have been issued each year since 1994.

For additional information on Native American history and culture visit our online databases at: http://www.framinghamlibrary.org or come in and browse our collection of Native American materials located at call numbers 970.004 – 970.1.

Health and Wellness Resource Center Database

To access the Health and Wellness Resource Center, visit http://www.framinghamlibrary.org/, click on “Databases and Articles” on the left and enter your library card number. The databases are listed alphabetically. This database offers information from trusted medical reference books, journals and dictionaries. There are several tabs on the homepage to direct you to the type of information that you require:

• “Diseases & Conditions” has in-depth articles from the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine including descriptions, symptoms and prevention information.
• “Drugs” can be searched by a specific medicine’s name. There are links to articles for the consumer about descriptions of use, warnings, drug interactions and allergies.
• “Directories” can be used to search for addresses, phone numbers and website information from the Medical and Health Information Directory.
• “Dictionary” supplies definitions to medical terms from the Mosby's Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Dictionary.
• “Trusted Sites” is an invaluable list of reviewed websites, grouped by subject including asthma, cancer, pediatrics and senior health.
• “Health Assessment” provides calculators from various sources for determining if you are at risk.

This database is recommended for additional information only and not to replace consultation with a doctor.

MEMA and Chain Saw Safety

CHAIN SAW SAFETY TIPS

As homeowners begin the clean-up and recovery from the October 29-30 Nor’easter, it is important to understand what you are doing if you are going to safely use a chainsaw. Operating a chain saw is inherently hazardous. As downed trees and debris are being removed, potential injuries can be minimized by using proper personal protective equipment and safe operating procedures.

Before Starting a Chain Saw

· Read the instruction manual that came with your saw. Your manual describes how to mount the guide and chain, how to mix the fuel and lubricate the saw, and how to start it. 

· Check controls, chain tension, and all bolts and handles to ensure that they are functioning properly and that they are adjusted according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

· Make sure that the chain is always sharp and the lubrication reservoir is full.

· Start the saw on the ground or on another firm support. Drop starting is never allowed. 

· Start the saw at least 10 feet from the fueling area, with the chain’s brake engaged. 

Fueling a Chain Saw

· Use approved containers for transporting fuel to the saw.

· Dispense fuel at least 10 feet away from any sources of ignition when performing construction activities. No smoking during fueling.

· Use a funnel or a flexible hose when pouring fuel into the saw.
· Never attempt to fuel a running or HOT saw.

Chain Saw Safety

· Clear away dirt, debris, small tree limbs and rocks from the saw’s chain path. Look for nails, spikes or other metal in the tree before cutting.

· Shut off the saw or engage its chain brake when carrying the saw on rough or uneven terrain.

· Keep your hands on the saw’s handles, and maintain secure footing while operating the saw.

· Proper personal protective equipment must be worn when operating the saw, which includes hand, foot, leg, eye, face, hearing and head protection.

· Do not wear loose-fitting clothing.

· Be careful that the trunk or tree limbs will not bind against the saw.

· Watch for branches under tension, they may spring out when cut.

· Gasoline-powered chain saws must be equipped with a protective device that minimizes chain saw kickback.

· Be cautious of saw kick-back. To avoid kick-back, do not saw with the tip. If equipped, keep tip guard in place.

 What is MEMA?

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA and Flooding Issues, go to www.mass.gov/mema. Also, follow MEMA updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Home Energy Assessment

Is your home energy efficient?  Now’s the time to find out. 

Contact MassSave at 866-527-SAVE (7283) to schedule your free Home Energy Assessment and start saving money while staying warm this winter.

The audit takes about 1.5 – 2 hours and the result will help you develop an energy plan and explain any applicable incentives.  Adding insulation and changing light bulbs are some ways that you can immediately save money; replacing windows and hot water heaters could reap some tax deductions.

There are also income based programs that could qualify you for fuel assistance or reduced utility rates.
The MassSave website offers a variety of tips to help you save money while staying warm in winter and cool in summer.