Webfinder: Green Living

Posted on April 20, 2018 by southplainfieldlibrary

10 FREE Ways to Go Green provides practical green tips that can easily be introduced into your daily routine (Earth 911; site includes advertisements).

Ask Umbra provides answers to common questions such as: paper or plastic? cloth or disposable diapers? handwash dishes or use the dishwasher? buy organic food from far away, or non-organic food grown locally? and other common green dilemmas. (Grist Magazine)

EPA’s Household Carbon Footprint Calculator helps you estimate your household’s greenhouse gas emissions, then suggests actions you can take to lower your emissions while reducing your energy and waste disposal costs. You’ll find links to related resources at Greener Living page. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

EWG’s Healthy Living Tips are aimed at helping you create a cleaner and greener home that is good for your family and the planet. Printable PDFs cover topics such as personal care products & household cleaners, pesticides, tap water, and more. (Environmental Working Group)

Green American Magazine shows you more ways to live better, save more, invest wisely, and make a difference (Green America).

Green Home Guide offers lots of practical advice on greening your home and yard. (U.S. Green Building Council)

Living Green [UPDATED LINK!] offers practical advice to help you prevent pollution, build healthier communities, and live a more sustainable life (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; some information & resource links are specific to Minnesota).

Metro: Tools for Living includes good advice on green cleaning, waste reduction, natural gardening, pest control, and more (Metro Regional Government, Portland, OR; some information & resource links are specific to the Portland region).

Living Green isn’t out of Renters’ Reach suggests low-cost ways for apartment dwellers to be eco-friendly. (2010, Los Angeles Times / Washington Post; site includes advertisements).

Sustainable Living Handbook [NEW!] introduces the concept of sustainable living, identifying three key barriers to living sustainably in the United States: the time crunch, consumerism, and a disconnect from the spiritual and natural world. Presents activities to help you identify personal values and incorporate sustainable behaviors into everyday decision-making. A downloadable handbook in PDF (University of Florida Extension).

And be sure to check out our other Green Living Webfinders!

Links updated April 2018.

DISCLAIMER

Webfinder : Green Lawn & Garden

Posted on April 19, 2018 by southplainfieldlibrary

Click here to find LIBRARY MATERIALS on Organic Gardening & Lawn Care

Bug Review offers descriptions of some common home & garden insect pests, with photographs, habits, potential damage, and non-chemical control recommendations (University of Illinois). Pest Management in Homes, Gardens, Landscapes, and Turf includes guidelines for monitoring pests, and non-pesticide alternatives for managing pests – including birds, mammals, reptiles, deer, gophers, raccoons, etc. (University of California; some information is specific to California).

Composting for Kids [Link opens a PDF] has good basic instruction in the whys and hows of composting, for kids or adult beginners (Texas Agricultural Extension Service). See also Composting for the Homeowner (University of Illinois Extension) and Grasscycling and Composting Yard Waste (California Integrated Waste Management Board). The Middlesex County Division of Solid Waste Management sells compost bins to Middlesex County residents at a reduced price.

Cornell Home Gardening [NEW!] offers basic guides to growing vegetables or flowers, and flower garden design (Cornell University). Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Gardening How-Tos is a collection of helpful articles on Sustainable Gardening, Composting, and related topics.

Garden for Wildlife shows how you can landscape your yard to attract birds, butterflies, and other wildlife (National Wildlife Federation). The Coevolution Institute offers free eco-regional Pollinator Planting Guides [UPDATED LINK!] to help you make your yard more friendly to birds, bees, butterflies, bats, beetles and other pollinators (non-profit organization). The Butterfly Site has helpful tips and links specifically for attracting butterflies to your garden (site includes advertisements).

Greenscaping [Link opens a PDF] explains how you can save time & money and protect the environment by changing your landscape to a GreenScape (2006, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). Less Lawn also provides information and inspiration to help you create a more beautiful, low-maintenance, organic, and wildlife-friendly landscape (by author Evelyn J. Hadden). Landscape For Life “shows you how to work with nature in your garden, no matter where you live, whether you garden on a city or suburban lot, a 20–acre farm, or the common area of your condominium” (United States Botanic Garden Conservatory). See also Lawn Pesticide Fact Sheets & Safer Lawn Care (Beyond Pesticides coalition), Rain Gardens (Rutgers), and NJ Fertilizer Law: Answers for Homeowners (Rutgers)

Invasive Plants offers photos, videos, and information to help you identify invasive species in your lawn or garden, with links to additional resources. Also offers similar information on invasive animal and insect pests (USDA).

Tree Planting [Link opens a PDF] – Explains the basics of choosing, planting, and maintaining trees on your property (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service). The SelecTree database will search for specific tree species to match the type of site and desired tree characteristics you specify (Cal Poly State University). And don’t forget to Call Before You Dig!

Water Conservation for Lawn & Landscape – Extensive information on water-conserving landscape design, suitable plant materials, mulch, irrigation, and related topics. (eXtension.org, a partnership of 74 universities in the U.S.)

Links updated April 2018.

DISCLAIMER

Webfinder: Green Shopping

Posted on April 17, 2018 by southplainfieldlibrary

EPA’s Sustainable Marketplace aims at helping you choose safer, more environmentally-friendly, and often less costly products & services. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

EWG’s Skin Deep is an online safety guide for cosmetics and personal care products, launched in 2004 to help people find safer products, with fewer ingredients that are hazardous or that haven’t been thoroughly tested. EWG also has similar guides for Household Cleaners, Food, and other products (Environmental Working Group)

Good Stuff is a ‘Behind-the-Scenes Guide to the Things We Buy’ with tips and facts you can use to start making more informed purchases that benefit your health and the environment. NOTE: Published in 2004, so some material may be outdated. (Worldwatch Institute, an independent research organization)

Green America’s Responsible Shopper [UPDATED LINK!] helps you ‘go green’ when buying a wide range of products & services. Green America also offers the Green Pages, a searchable directory of Green Products & Services [NEW!]. (Non-profit membership organization)

Mind the Store [NEW!] rates 30 major U.S. retailers on what they’re doing about toxic chemicals in everyday products.

NJ Recycled Products Resources [UPDATED LINK!] provides information about buying products made with recycled content (N.J. Department of Environmental Protection). See also Recycling NJ: Buy Recycled.

Sins of Greenwashing [UPDATED LINK!] teaches you how to spot false or misleading environmental claims on product labels and in advertisements (TerraChoice Group Inc., part of the Underwriters Laboratories). The Federal Trade Commission explains standards for Green Advertising Claims which are enforced by the FTC, and has additional useful information on Green Products.

ELECTRONICS: EPEAT® is a searchable database of greener electronics. “EPEAT®-registered products meet strict environmental criteria that address the full product lifecycle, from energy conservation and toxic materials to product longevity and end-of-life management. EPEAT-registered products offer a reduced environmental impact across their lifecycles.” (Green Electronics Council). See our E-Cycling links for information on recycling electronics.

FOOD: To find Places where you can buy or eat locally-grown food, use the Eat Well Guide website. To find farmers’ markets, see the National Farmers Market Directory. Click on the Eat Local map to find out what’s in season in your state at different times of the year (Natural Resources Defense Council). How to Read Meat and Dairy Labels defines common label terms such as Certified Organic; Free-Range, Pasture-Raised or Grass-Fed; Certified Humane; Hormone-Free, rBGH-Free, rBST-Free, or No Hormones Added; Dolphin-Safe; Natural; Grain-Fed; and similar terms (Humane Society of the United States). See also What is Organic? and Organic Labeling (USDA). To find information about sustainable fish & seafood, see Seafood Watch (Monterey Bay Aquarium) or EDF Seafood Selector (Environmental Defense Fund). For in-depth information on food labels, see Consumer Reports’ Greener Choices [NEW!].

GIFTS: So Kind Alternative Gift Registry makes it easier to give and receive non-material, homemade, second-hand, and environmentally-friendly gifts. The More Fun Less Stuff Gift Catalog [NEW!] [NOTE: You must provide a name & email address to download the catalog] offers hundreds of fun, low-cost, and non-material gift ideas. (Center for a New American Dream)

LIGHTING: Shopping for Light Bulbs explains the different types of light bulbs now available, and how you can choose the most efficient bulbs that meet your lighting needs.

Links updated April 2018.

DISCLAIMER

Webfinder : Recycling

Posted on April 17, 2018 by southplainfieldlibrary

- - Click here to find LIBRARY MATERIALS on recycling

Recycling in South Plainfield provides information for local residents on drop-off and curbside pickup, including yard waste, textiles, motor oil, paint, tires, electronics and more. See also Middlesex County Recycling. The South Plainfield Public Library accepts empty ink and toner cartridges from computer printers or copiers. Our Where to Donate Goods page offers information on local, regional, and national organizations that can make good use of your used goods!

Recycling NJ and Earth 911 and Recycle Nation have lots of useful information on WHAT can & cannot be recycled (including The Great Pizza Box Recycling Mystery!), and on WHERE to recycle what. See also 21 Things You Didn’t Know You Can Recycle [UPDATED LINK!] (Green America). The Recycling Materials Index is an alphabetical list of product recycling information (N.J. Department of Environmental Protection). Close the loop by buying products with recycled content! See NJ Recycled Products Resources [UPDATED LINK!] and Recycling NJ: Buy Recycled. For basic advice to help you figure out whether a product or package is recyclable, see The Language of Recycling.

Reduce, Reuse, Prevent offers tips on reducing all kinds of waste: ‘When you avoid making garbage in the first place, you don’t have to worry about disposing of waste or recycling it later.’ Some info is specific to Minnesota (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency). Source Reduction provides advice and links on reducing yard waste, junk mail, disposables, holiday waste, and more (N.J. Department of Environmental Protection).

E-Cycling Central & related links gives you additional info about where and how to recycle electronic products.

LampRecycle.org tells you where you can recycle Compact Flourescent Light bulbs (CFLs). See also Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs), which includes info on how to handle broken bulbs safely (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).

Proper Disposal of Medicines links explain where and how to get rid of old medications safely.

Links updated April 2018.

DISCLAIMER

Webfinder: Spring Cleaning

Posted on March 16, 2018 by southplainfieldlibrary

Click here to find RELATED LIBRARY MATERIALS

STEP 1: Clear out the clutter! – The University of Illinois Extension Service offers practical advice on sorting, organizing, storing, and getting rid of stuff. You’ll find more clutter-busting tips at Live Simple: Rule Your Stuff and Surprising Strategies for Finally Organizing Your Space.

STEP 2: Where to Donate Goods – If you’re doing spring cleaning, you may find things to get rid of that are too good for the trash. What to do with them? Our ‘Where to Donate Goods’ page can help! Includes recycling info, too.

STEP 3: Resell that stuff! – Thinking about having a yard sale to get rid of some of that extra stuff? Download the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Reseller’s Guide to screen for hazardous products that should go in the trash instead!

STEP 4: Safeguard your Personal Data – Getting rid of old financial/legal documents, as well as old electronics that may contain sensitive information, can be an important STEP of de-cluttering. But it can also pose a risk to your personal data. The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse offers practical advice on how to do it safely! See also Disposing of Old Computers links. A Pack Rat’s Guide to Shredding includes a printable graphic you can keep near your shredder as a handy guide (2015, Federal Trade Commission).

STEP 5: Recycle! – After you’ve removed all your personal data from unwanted electronic items, what are you going to do with them? If they’re too old or aren’t working, you can e-cycle them! The South Plainfield Recycling Drop-off Program accepts televisions, computers, monitors and other electronics items; see South Plainfield Recycling Program website for details. Click here for more recycling links.

STEP 6: Safe Disposal of Old Medicine – Did you find unneeded and/or expired medicines in your medicine cabinet? It’s NOT a good idea to put them in the trash or flush them down the toilet! Instead, see Unused Medicines: Safe Disposal to find out how to get rid of them safely! NOTE: April 28, 2018 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day!

STEP 7: Appraise Old Paintings, Antiques, & Collectibles [UPDATED LINK!] – Did you find any old paintings, antique objects, or possible collectibles while you were clearing out the attic? Want to find out more about them? The Smithsonian American Art Museum offer some tips and resources to help you. See also PBS’s Antiques Road Show.

STEP 8: Clear Out the Fridge – Kitchen shelves full of old cans? Old food in your fridge/freezer? How do you know what to keep and what to toss? FoodSafety.gov has advice for you. See FoodSafety.gov. & related links for more info, and handy charts you can print out & save.

STEP 9: *THE REALLY ICKY STUFF* [UPDATED LINK!] – The U.S. EPA provides extensive help on dealing with Mold, Moisture, and Your Home. More icky stuff? Here’s some information on Bedbugs and Other pests.

STEP 10: Let the (Green) Cleaning Begin – Once the clutter’s finally gone (well… reduced?) it’s time to start cleaning! Oregon Metro offers these tips for eco-friendly non-toxic cleaning. See also: Rodale’s 8 Must-Haves for a Nontoxic Cleaning Kit and Rodale’s Spring Clean your Kitchen. For information on cleaning products, see Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning and EPA Safer Choice.

STEP 11: Stain Solutions – For tougher cleaning problems, the University of Illinois Extension has lots of good advice! The FabricLink Fabric Care Center offers stain removal guides, laundry tips, information about fabric labels & laundry products, and related resources.

STEP 12: Caring for your Treasures – Heritage Preservation has a wealth of information on caring for family heirlooms, keepsakes, and other heritage objects. See also: CCI Caring for Objects and ICON Caring for your Collection.

STEP 13: Don’t Forget those Electronics! – This 2013 piece from Lifehacker has tips on how to clean up and speed up your computer or smartphone.

Revised March 2018

DISCLAIMER

Webfinder: People with Disabilities

Posted on February 12, 2018 by southplainfieldlibrary

Disability.gov is no longer available. Many of these resources, covering benefits, civil rights, community life, education, and employment, are now linked at the U.S. Department of Labor. See also Federal ADA and Disability Resources, Disability Assistance, and Disability Benefits Q&A. The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Home Page includes an introduction to the ADA, plus design standards, business requirements, links to other Federal Agencies with ADA responsibilities, and more (U.S. Department of Justice). The N.J. Division of Disability Services primarily serves people who have become disabled as adults, whether through illness or injury, but also has a toll free hotline (1-888-285-3036) providing information and referral assistance for people with any type of disability.

Call 2-1-1 when you need to find state or local resources to address urgent needs or everyday concerns, including health & mental health services, food banks, shelter, rental or utility assistance, adult day care, Meals on Wheels, transportation, childcare, crisis intervention services, job training, education, and more. 2-1-1 is free, confidential, multi-lingual, confidential, TTY accessible, and available 24/7. Specialists will guide callers to the most helpful available resources. Visit the website for more information. NOTE : 2-1-1 calls are generally toll-free; however, if you are calling 2-1-1 from your cell phone, please check with your cell phone service provider first to find out whether you will be charged for the call. You can also reach 2-1-1 by dialing 877-652-1148. (United Way, in partnership with the State of New Jersey)

AbleData – A comprehensive database for information on “products, solutions and resources to improve productivity and ease life’s tasks.” Includes New Jersey Resources & Organizations (Maintained for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Dept. of Education by New Editions Consulting). Disability Information & Resources [EXPECT SOME BROKEN LINKS] is an extensive directory of websites offering information on topics ranging from all kinds of disability-related products & services (assistive devices, medical supplies, clothing, etc.) to health, political, and legal issues (by Jim Lubin; site includes advertisements). See also UCP Disability Resources (United Cerebral Palsy).

Accessible Housing Resources – A listing of information sources relating to Accessible Homes and Universal Design, including web resources, products, and manufacturers & distributors. Part of AbleData.

Assistance Animals for the Disabled – See Service Animal Basics and related links.

Deafness Information – Information & resources related to deaf and hard of hearing children from birth through age 21. Covers topics such as ASL, assistive technology, deaf culture, deaf education, early intervention, interpreting, literacy, multicultural considerations, transition beyond secondary education, and more. (Gallaudet University)

Disability etiquette – See Friends with Disabilities and related links.

Disability Rights New Jersey – Provides free services to eligible New Jersey citizens with disabilities. Services include information & referral, technical assistance & training, legal & non-legal advocacy, and outreach & education. (Non-profit organization)

Disaster Preparation for Individuals with Disabilities – People with disabilities often need additional time and assistance to prepare for a disaster. This page offers a printable brochure (in English and Spanish) with some basic practical advice, and a link to NJ Register Ready, a free and confidential program which allows residents with special needs to register with emergency response agencies, so emergency responders can better serve them in an emergency (New Jersey Office of Emergency Management). The Red Cross offers a free booklet you can download and print, Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs (American Red Cross, Department of Homeland Security and FEMA). See also Ready.gov. For more general resources on dealing with disasters, see our Disasters Webfinder.

Driving: Wheelchair Symbol Plates and Persons with a Disability Placards [UPDATED LINK!] – Information on how to obtain special parking privileges in New Jersey if you are temporarily or permanently disabled. (N.J. Motor Vehicle Commission)

Employment Info – See U.S. Department of Labor Disability Resources. For additional resources, see South Plainfield Public Library’s DIVERSITY EMPLOYMENT links and EMPLOYMENT LAW, HEALTH, & SAFETY links [UPDATED LINK!].

Library Services for People with Disabilities – See BOOKS & READING links for people with special needs. Locally, the South Plainfield Public Library offers audio books, large print books, free audiobook & ebook downloads and homebound delivery. Call us at (908) 754-7885 for more information.

National Center on Workforce and Disability – Fact sheets on many Specific Disabilities, with links to related resources.

National Council on Independent Living – Selected links to organizations, agencies, and other resources for the disabled and their families.

National Federation of the Blind – A directory of resources for living, working, learning, and recreation, plus information about vision loss, state & local organizations, publications, and products & technology.

Parent Center Hub: Disabilities Fact Sheets – Information about the full spectrum of disabilities in children, including developmental delays and rare disorders (Center for Parent Information and Resources, formerly National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities). See PARENTING: Special Needs Children for more links to selected resources for parents of children with disabilities. (South Plainfield Public Library)

Physical Activity and Disability – General fitness advice for those with disabilities or chronic illness – use the menu on the right to navigate. Click on Articles for more resources on sports, exercise, nutrition, fun & leisure, and more, including advice for specific disabilities (University of Illinois). Disabled Sports USA offers nationwide sports rehabilitation programs to anyone with a permanent disability, plus regional chapters, online magazine, info on dozens of specific Adaptive Sports from Archery to Yoga, and more. See also Paralympic Games and Special Olympics.

Rehabilitation Information – Links to agencies, organizations, and online resources for treatment, benefits, and services; organized by subject. (National Rehabilitation Information Center)

Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center – Links to a wide range of information covering health, assistive technology, employment, legal issues & services, relationships, and more. Also offers links to state and local resources. (National Spinal Cord Injury Association; site includes advertisements)

Starting a Business for People with Disabilities [UPDATED LINK!] [Link opens a PDF] – Links to entrepreneurship resources that help and support people with disabilities (U.S. Small Business Administration). For general resources on starting a business, see Useful Websites: BUSINESS.

Traveling with Disabilities – ‘Preparing for your trip in advance will help to ensure that your travel is accessible, safe, and enjoyable. Each country has its own standards of accessibility for travelers with disabilities, and many countries do not require accommodations similar to what you might find in the United States.’ This page provides guidance to help you review your needs and conduct necessary research before you travel (U.S. State Department). Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions provides information on security regulations which apply to traveling with medications and medical equipment (U.S. Transportation Security Administration). Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality has an assortment of resources and articles on travel for people with disabilities. Use the menu on the left to navigate the site. Includes links to access information for major airlines [EXPECT SOME BROKEN LINKS]. Emerging Horizons and Barrier Free Travels [UPDATED LINK!] (formerly Have Disabilities, Will Travel) provide information & news on accessible travel for wheelchair users, slow walkers, and boomers. By Candy Harrington, author of Barrier Free Travel. America the Beautiful Access Passes [NEW!] are available free for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. They provide free entry to National Parks and other federal recreation sites; see the linked page for details.

Links updated February 2018.

DISCLAIMER

Webfinder: Kids’ Sports & Coaching

Posted on February 12, 2018 by southplainfieldlibrary

Coaching Boys Into Men – Aimed at helping coaches to reduce disrespectful or dangerous attitudes and behaviors toward women, this site offers coaching tips, advice and useful anecdotes from great coaches and players. NOTE: The coaches’ kit and related materials are free to download, but you must go through a checkout process and provide your name, address, & email to get them. (Family Violence Prevention Fund; non-profit organization)

Competitive Sports: Helping Kids Play it Cool – Sometimes the pressure to succeed on the field or in the court can be overwhelming. Learn what you can do to help your child keep things in perspective. There are related pages for Kids and Teens. (Nemours Foundation)

Concussions in Sports – Information for coaches, athletes, and parents on how to prevent and recognize concussions. See also Heads Up – Learn About Concussions [UPDATED LINK!]. (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Eating for Sports – Basic sports nutrition advice for kids & teens (Nemours Foundation). See also Tips for Coaches: Eating Disorders in Athletes and Compulsive Exercise [NEW!] (National Eating Disorders Association).

Injury Prevention for Parents: Sports & Recreation – Parents can help prevent serious sports- and recreation-related injuries by supervising their children at play, learning proper coaching techniques and making sure kids always wear proper safety equipment. These safety tips can help you keep your kids safe both on the playing field and off (Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC). See also Kids’ Sports Safety (MUSC Children’s Hospital).

Little League Baseball & Softball – The official site for Little League Baseball & Softball offers tips and resources for parents, coaches, players, and others involved in the sport. Includes a Challenger Division for boys and girls with physical and mental challenges. See also Pop Warner Youth Football & Cheerleading, and U.S. Youth Soccer. Locally, the South Plainfield Recreation Department offers T-Ball, Teener Ball, Ponytail Softball, and more; see also South Plainfield Junior Baseball Club. [NEW!]

MomsTeam™ – Practical advice on youth sports parenting from a team of experts, professionals and sponsors. ‘Dedicated to making sure that youth sports is safe, affordable, stress free and more fun!’ (Formerly Youth Sports Parents; site includes advertisements)

Sports and disabilities – See People with Disabilities Webfinder: Physical Activity and Disability.

Play Positive™ / Responsible Sports – Videos offering helpful advice and information for parents & coaches, designed to encourage good sportsmanship and build character. (Liberty Mutual Insurance and partners; hosted on YouTube)

Sport Psychology – Short articles and links on applied sport psychology, with separate sections for athletes, parents, coaches, & psychologists, plus sections on health & fitness and injury & rehabilitation. (Association for Applied Sport Psychology)

Sports Medicine Center for Parents – Tips on everything from finding the best sport for your kids to preventing and handling injuries. (Nemours Foundation)

Steroid Abuse – Resources and publications about the dangers of steroid use. See also Drug Facts for Teens: Anabolic Steroids. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Streetplay [Archived page; some media features may not work.] – Organized team sports not what you had in mind? This website is dedicated to informal street games such as handball, stickball, stoopball, hopscotch, jumprope, marbles, and others. Includes how-tos and more. See also International Kids’ Games. (These sites include advertisements)

Links updated February 2018.

DISCLAIMER

Webfinder: Investment

Posted on January 26, 2018 by southplainfieldlibrary

- Click here to find RELATED LIBRARY MATERIALS

Business Opportunity Scams – ‘Looking for a job or to earn extra income? Buying into a business opportunity that makes big claims about what you can earn might sound like the answer…. Learn about your rights and the seller’s responsibilities under the FTC’s Business Opportunity Rule, and questions to ask that can help you avoid a rip-off. ‘ (Federal Trade Commission)

Financial Markets : FAQs – Explains the different types of financial products available through U.S. financial markets, such as equities, derivatives, money markets, foreign exchange, and savings bonds, along with information on interest rates and regulation. Includes links to related sites. (U.S. Treasury Department)

Insured or Not Insured? – Explains what types of investments are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and which are NOT insured – even when they are offered by a bank. (2013, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)

Investor Education – A variety of online investor education resources for investors of all ages (North American Securities Administrators Association). Learn About Investing offers printable Investor Education booklets, videos, and related resources (Investor Protection Trust; non-profit organization).

Investor.gov – Online resources to help you invest wisely and avoid fraud. Topics covered include Introduction to Investing, Researching Investments, and Protecting Your Investments. Also offers calculators, glossary, and other useful tools, plus specialized resources for Youth, Seniors, Military and other groups. See also Investor FAQ and Investor Alerts & Bulletins. (U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission)

Investor Knowledge Quiz (PDF) [UPDATED LINK!] – How much do you really know about investing? Take this short quiz and test your knowledge. Avoiding Investment Scams (PDF) [UPDATED LINK!] warns investors about classic types of investment fraud and helps investors spot and avoid the types of persuasion tactics fraudsters use. (FINRA, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; non-profit organization)

Investors: Protect Your Money – Advice and alerts on a wide range of investment products (529 plans, annuities, bonds, mutual funds, private offerings, retirement accounts, securities and more) along with other information to help you avoid problems in today’s complex world of investing. See also SaveandInvest.org. (FINRA, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; non-profit organization)

SmartCheck.gov [NEW!] – Free tools to check the background of financial professionals and stay informed on the latest fraud schemes. It only takes a few minutes! (U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission [CFTC])

Social Funds: Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment – ‘Comprehensive information, contacts & resources on socially responsible investing.’

U.S. Treasury Products – Explains the difference between different types of bonds, how Treasury auctions work and how to participate, and how Treasury products fit into your savings strategy, plus detailed information on how to buy, redeem, reinvest or convert selected U.S. Treasury securities such as savings bonds, treasury bills, and treasury notes. (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

The following websites are some popular sources for market quotes, plus financial news & information: [NOTE: Online quotes may be delayed, except where indicated]: Bloomberg Markets, Google Finance, MarketWatch, Morningstar, Motley Fool Investment, MSN Investing, Value Line, Wall Street Journal, Yahoo! Finance.

DISCLAIMER

Links updated 1/18

Webfinder: Personal Finance 101

Posted on January 25, 2018 by southplainfieldlibrary

Ask the Money Doctor – A volunteer panel of qualified CPAs answer questions from consumers regarding their financial planning issues. You can read past Q & As or submit your own question. Part of the 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy website, which has a variety of free tools & info designed “to help Americans understand their personal finances through every stage of life” (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants). Consumer.gov [NEW!] provides easy-to-read instructions on the basics of making a budget, opening a bank account, understanding your paycheck, avoiding scams, using debit, prepaid, & phone cards, managing credit & debt, and more (Federal Trade Commission). Smart About Money offers ‘practical articles, worksheets, tips and valuable resources from across the Web to help you understand and manage your money’ (National Endowment for Financial Education; non-profit foundation). See also Money Management Library (2009 – 2014, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco).

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – Advice and FAQ about credit cards, mortgages, loans (including student loans), debt collection, and more, plus information about credit discrimination, foreclosure help, and an online complaint form.

Consumer Reports: Money News – Blog posts offering helpful information and tips on personal finance, investment, banking & credit, retirement, and more. See the New England Federal Credit Union‘s Financial Resource Center for more helpful tips & info.

Debt Collection Rights & Responsibilities – The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect from you. This page has some questions and answers about your rights under the Act. See also Dealing with Debt for related information. (2015 – 2016, Federal Trade Commission)

Electronic, Mobile, and Online Banking – Explains how to do your banking electronically. Includes information about mobile wallets, direct depost, and related topics. Part of Federal Reserve Consumer Help [UPDATED LINK!] which offers additional advice on bank accounts & services, consumer credit, mortgages, foreclosure, debt, fraud, and more. (Federal Reserve Board)

Financial Records: How Long to Keep Tax Records and Other Documents – Explains what financial, tax, and other documents you should keep, and how long you should them (2016, Consumer Reports). See also Recordkeeping [NEW!] (2018, Internal Revenue Service) .

Financial Calculators – Should I refinance my mortgage? Rent or buy? How much do I need to save for my child’s college education? How much for retirement? These interactive financial calculators and other tools will help you with some of the day-to-day financial questions and concerns that may arise in your life or business (Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco). See also Practical Money Skills Calculators (Visa, Inc.).

Government Benefits – A free, confidential, and easy-to-use online screening tool to help you find out whether you qualify for U.S. or state government benefits. (U.S. Government website)

Pinch Pennies in the Right Places – Explains how to save more money by looking at discounts in total dollars saved, not at the percentage of the discount (2016, New York Times). For more practical tips on thrifty living, see Affluenza (PBS).

Retirement Plans – Information to help you choose and set up a retirement plan. Describes different types of retirement plans, including IRAs and IRA-Based Plans, 401(k) & 403(b) Plans, and many others. Includes links to relevant tax forms, publications, and related resources (Internal Revenue Service). The Social Security Retirement Planner provides detailed information about your Social Security retirement benefits under current law, and points out things you may want to consider as you prepare for the future. Includes calculators to test out different retirement ages or different future earnings amounts (Social Security Administration).

Student Debt Repayment – Advice on what options you have if you are falling behind on your student loan payments, plus other financial help for students. (CFPB, U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)

DISCLAIMER

Links updated January 2018.

Webfinder : Baseball

Posted on January 21, 2018 by southplainfieldlibrary

Ballparks of Baseball – A site devoted to everything about baseball parks, past, present and future. (Site includes advertisements)

Baseball America – Biweekly magazine covering baseball at every level, with player stats, team info, and an emphasis on finding the best players in high school, college and the minors and tracking their progress. (Some content is available only to paid subscribers)

Baseball for Beginners – Do you have a friend or family member who needs a few lessons in the basics? This page offers a brief overview of the game, explains key player statistics, and defines common terms. (From Ken Burns’ Baseball, PBS)

Baseball Hall of Fame – In addition to honoring baseball’s greatest, the website includes special online exhibitions on America’s Pastime, such as a colorful history of the baseball uniform, the sacrifices and contributions of baseball during World War II, a gallery of original World Series programs, the Latin American love affair with baseball, and more!

Major League Baseball – Official site with news, schedules, standings, player stats, links to teams, and more (site includes advertisements). See also Minor League Baseball. The World Baseball Softball Confederation website will tell you what’s happening in baseball and softball around the world.

Negro Leagues History – A brief history of the ‘Negro Leagues’, plus Team Histories and Player Profiles (Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Kansas City, MO). Black Baseball ‘is dedicated to the generation of ballplayers who were denied the opportunity to play in the major leagues because of factors other than their ability to play the game of baseball.’ Click on ‘Basic History’ in the menu for team list and videos about players & teams (by James A. Riley, author of The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues; site includes advertisements). See also Baseball and the Negro Leagues: A Symbol of America (by Mike Mencarini, Marquette University undergraduate student) and Crossing the Color Barrier: Jackie Robinson and the Men Who Integrated Major League Baseball (LA84 Foundation).

Sports Medicine – See Sports Medicine links and TeenZone Fitness links.

Sports Science – See Sports & Science links.