Webfinder: Genealogy Resources

• Click here to find RELATED LIBRARY MATERIALS

African-American Research – Information about Pre-Civil War, Military Records, and Post-Civil War Records at the National Archives, plus links to other helpful resources for African-Americans trying to trace their family history (National Archives and Records Administration). See the Afro-American Genealogical Research Guide for a list of useful print resources (Library of Congress). See also Slave Trade Voyages and its sister site, African Origins (Emory University et al.)

American Indian Ancestry [UPDATED LINK!] – A guide to acquiring the genealogical documentation needed to establish descent from an Indian tribe for membership and enrollment purposes (2013, U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs). See also Native American Records, which includes information about records at the National Archives, and links to many other useful resources (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration).

Cemeteries – A scanned booklet, A list of cemeteries in Middlesex, Somerset Counties and Princeton, NJ, along the Raritan and Millstone Rivers, two miles each side of the river. (2005, Raritan-Millstone Heritage Alliance)

Civil War Ancestors – Advice on researching ancestors who fought in the Civil War. The

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Webfinder: Disasters

Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. Are you ready? If not, check out these resources!

• Ready NJ (New Jersey Office of Emergency Management)
• NJ 2019 Hurricane Survival Guide [NEW!] [Link opens a PDF]
• Ready.gov (U.S.)
• FEMA mobile app
• FEMA text messages
• Red Cross Mobile apps
• More disaster app links from the CDC
• Sign up for local alerts from Nixle (text or email)
• Click here to find RELATED LIBRARY MATERIALS

Disaster Supplies Kit [Link opens a PDF] – A handy printable checklist of essential items you should have in your home in case of any emergency, plus key websites to help you stay informed about current or potential emergencies (State of New Jersey Office of Emergency Management). The Family Communication Plan [Link opens a PDF] is a printable form you can fill out so your family will know how to get in touch with each other in the event of an emergency. Fill in this information and keep a copy in a safe place, such as your purse or briefcase, your car, your office, and your disaster kit. For additional forms & checklists, see Make a Plan (Ready.gov). See also First Aid links.

Disasters: Prepare Your Home & Family – General advice on how to prepare for natural disasters or other emergencies, including tips for taking care of children, people with disabilities, seniors, and pets. Disaster Preparedness Library focuses on specific types

Staycation Guide 2019

• Click here to find related library materials: NJ GUIDEBOOKS
• Click here to find related library materials: NJ DESCRIPTION & TRAVEL
• Click here to find related library materials: FAMILY RECREATION in NJ [UPDATED LINKS!]

Thinking about keeping your vacation local this summer, or maybe just planning to do some exploring right here where we live? Maybe you’re new to the area, or just haven’t had a chance to get to know what’s in your own backyard? We have information that can help you find fun & family-friendly things to do in South Plainfield and the surrounding area!

The South Plainfield Recreation Department offers summer sports camps, swimming lessons, and a Community Pool. Did you know that South Plainfield’s Spring Lake Park has tennis courts, basketball court, playground, bikeways/walkways, fishing, and free concerts? For other parks and nature preserves in the Central Jersey area, see Middlesex County Parks & Recreation, Union County Parks & Recreation, Somerset County Parks, and Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. In Hillsborough (Somerset County), Duke Farms offers hiking & biking trails, nature & horticulture programs, family activities, and more. The Nature Conservancy in N.J. offers information on nature

Webfinder: Green Living

• Click here to find LIBRARY MATERIALS on Sustainable Living
• Click here to find LIBRARY MATERIALS on Organic Living
• Click here to find LIBRARY MATERIALS on Green Products

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

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 &

Webfinder: Green Shopping

• Click here to find LIBRARY MATERIALS on green products
• Click here to find LIBRARY MATERIALS on natural products
• Click here to find LIBRARY MATERIALS on organic living

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

Webfinder : Green Lawn & Garden

• 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). For information about ticks and how to deal with them, see Preventing Ticks in the Yard [NEW!] (U.S. CDC), Ticks and Tick-borne Disease [NEW!] (Rutgers Cooperative Extension) and Tick Bites (Medline). 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). Invasive Species [UPDATED LINK!] offers photos, videos, and information to help you identify invasive species (plants, insects, animals, and pathogens & diseases) in your lawn or garden, with links to additional resources (USDA).

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 [UPDATED LINK!] (University of Illinois

Webfinder : Recycling

• • • 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. PLEASE NOTE: Middlesex County is now strictly enforcing local recycing rules [NEW!]. 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

Webfinder: Spring Cleaning

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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 [NEW!]– 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. These pages offers practical tips on safeguarding your data. See also Enable security features on smartphones and tablets [NEW!] (2019, Indiana University),

Webfinder: Kids’ Sports & Coaching

• Click here to find LIBRARY MATERIALS on Baseball for Children
• Click here to find LIBRARY MATERIALS on Soccer for Children
• Click here to find LIBRARY MATERIALS on Basketball & Hockey for Children
• Click here to find LIBRARY MATERIALS on all Sports for Children
• Click here to find LIBRARY MATERIALS on Sports injuries in children

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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 Youth Sports [UPDATED LINK!] – Information for coaches, athletes, and parents on how to prevent and recognize concussions. See also

Webfinder: People with Disabilities

• Click here to find RELATED LIBRARY MATERIALS
• Click here for Learning Disabilities resources
• Click here for local Community & Social Services
• Click here for HOMEBOUND DELIVERY SERVICE from the library

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, and Disability Assistance (select ‘Disability Assistance’ from the ‘Filter by Subcategory’ menu). 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). See also Community & Social Services page.

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).