Some recent viewpoints regarding society's business customer service ratings make for some interesting reading in the July 2011 issue of Consumer Reports. The article on the Consumer Reports website contains these comments. CR is part of the CPL adult magazine collection and is also available for patron in-library use located at Adult Reference.

A unique opportunity for native speakers of Arabic, Balochi, Dari, Farsi, Hausa, Hindi, Igbo, Mandarin, Pashto, Punjabi, Somali, Swahili, Turkish or Urdu: Georgetown University's English for Heritage Language Speaker's Program is a scholarship that trains advanced English speakers to be effective communicators and strong candidates for federal jobs. Designed for adults who are fully proficient, fluent, and effective in their chosen profession in their native language (heritage language) and want to apply their professional knowledge and training in a government career. Native speakers of critical languages are in high demand in the US government. Scholarship application deadline is July 18th, 2011.

Join TechTown on June 30 at NextEnergy for BOOM! The Entrepreneur, the latest in a series of programs for would-be entrepreneurs over the age of 50.

This two-hour workshop, sponsored by BOOM! The New Economy, motivates and inspires baby boomers to take the next steps in starting a business.

Randal Charlton, executive director of TechTown and a serial entrepreneur in his own right, will lead the group in a discovery of what it takes to be an entrepreneur. The program also includes one-on-one counseling sessions with TechTown business experts.
Date: Thursday, June 30, 8:30 to 11:00AM
Location: NextEnergy, 461 Burroughs Street, Detroit
This program is free, but you must register to attend.

Celebrate writing, books and area authors at this annual event. We have many great authors lined up to speak about their craft. All authors will be selling their books and signing them for you. How fun! Join us on May 19 at 7:00PM in the Community Room. No registration is needed.

National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6, known as National Nurses Day, through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Thinking about becoming a nurse? The American Nurses Association website is a useful resource. Canton Public Library has study guides for student nurses studying for the NCLEX-RN exam. Graduate nurses may find Resumes for Nursing Careers helpful. Thank a nurse in honor of Nurses week!

There are many approaches to seeking self-actualization; and the library is a great place to find self-help materials about them. If you're interested in realizing your full potential, your method of achieving that goal might include minimalism, and it will likely require time management:

Work

• The Pomodoro Technique [Free eBook]
• Time Management for Creative People [Free eBook]
• 10 Time-Management Tips That Work by Entrepreneur

Getting things done: the art of stress-free productivity by David Allen

The 80/20 individual: how to accomplish more by doing less — the nine essentials of 80/20 success at work by Richard Koch

Job & Career Accelerator integrates everything job seekers need to conduct a successful job search. New features to come on April 4 include an easier-to-use interface, new tutorial on completing job applications, and a more direct access to computer skills tutorial. Wage and salary data published by the U.S. Dept. of Labor as well as more than 25,000 job specific keywords and action words are there for your perusal.

Looking to get out of the rat race? Striving for less? Check out these books for great minimalist tips:

Philosophy of Simplicity

Enough already!: clearing mental clutter to become the best you by Peter Walsh

Simplexity: why simple things become complex (and how complex things can be made simple) by Jeffrey Kluger

National Organ Donor Day is February 14, 2011. Celebrate Valentine's Day by giving the ultimate gift of love by signing up to become an organ and tissue donor. In the time it takes you to order flowers or buy a box of chocolates, you can register and become an organ donor.

Become an organ donor at Donate Life.

Remember Linda Greenlaw, the highly acclaimed sword boat captain of the commercial fishing boat the “Hannah Boden?” She was touted in the book “The Perfect Storm,” by Sebastian Junger as being one of the best captains in the sword fishing industry, surviving the disastrous North Atlantic storm of 1991 that capsized her sister ship the “Andrea Gail”. Did you also know she is the often humorous author of six books? She has penned four non-fiction books highlighting her career as a fishing boat Captain, including her latest book, “Seaworthy,” along with two mystery fiction books, with plots also centered around the sea. Check all her newest book Seaworthy, as well as all her other books here at CPL.

Have you ever considered a career in video games? Maybe writing game scripts is your calling. 26 year old Jeffrey Yohalem talks about being the head writer for Assassin's Creed Brotherhood in this article. When Yohalem approached Jordan Mechner (writer for The Prince of Persia) about what classes to take to pursue a career in game script writing, he suggested screen writing and architecture. Who would have guessed?!

The Dec/2010 issue of U.S. News contains 50 Ways to Improve Your Life in 2011. Articles concerning your health, money, career, mind and the world are included. Please note this will be the last issue of U.S. News & World Report. This magazine will no longer be published as a print or digital replica magazine. The U.S. Media group will continue to publish the usnews.com website.

If you and your family haven't discussed the future consequences of a longer lifespan, the Oct/2010 issue of KRR can offer several informative comments this often-confusing subject can present. The Kiplinger Retirement Report is published monthly and appears in print form on the CPL Adult magazine shelve.

Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit invites you to join the fight for local jobs as we go "Bowling for Jobs" starting at 1:00PM Saturday, September 25, 2010 at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park. Bowling activities will take place from 1:00-3:00PM and will include a silent auction and tin can raffle.

Other ways to support Goodwill on September 25 include donating your e-waste (computer accessories) and gently used clothing or housewares at Thunderbowl from 8:00AM to Noon. The highest quality items collected will be sold at Goodwill's new Metro Detroit flagship retail store, scheduled to open this fall in Canton.

Individual tickets are available for $20 each. To purchase tickets online, please visit Goodwill Detroit Bowling for Jobs. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.

If you are currently unemployed and looking for work or considering a job change, join experienced Human Resources professionals and Career Transition Specialists for the Canton Re-Employment Workshops (CREW). The meetings will take place every Wednesday for eight weeks, beginning Wednesday, September 15th from 7:00-8:30PM. Participation is free but participants must email TeamCantonCrew@comcast.net.

Learn to use DemographicsNow and ReferenceUSA databases to find out more about your local community, your customers, and your competitors! The up-to-date business intelligence will help you better market your business, get customer leads, and more. This one hour session is part of the Summer School for Business series.
Date: August 19, 2010
Time: Noon to 1:00PM
Location: Internet Lab

You hear it all the time, "Internet identity theft on the rise." If you have been searching for a resource on identity theft protection and more, look no further. OnGuard Online is a website from the Federal Government in collaboration with businesses in the technology industry, which provides tips to help you be on guard against internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information. OnGuard Online's Net Cetera provides information on how to keep children safe and secure online. These websites provide information and tutorials on spyware, online shopping, and much more. A Spanish version of this site is also available.

Canton community leaders, including local business professionals, health care professionals, school representatives, judges and attorneys, have united to form Team Canton with the purpose of bringing local resources together in order to help those in need. Team Canton's Community Assistance Resource Guide contains local information on "food pantries, clothing banks, financial assistance, job placement assistance, and education and training programs" and more. You may also want to check out this relevant blog posting on recession resources.

Kids, do you want to be a scientist, game designer, sportscaster, or chef when you grow up? How about an engineer, meteorologist, or inventor? If you have ever thought about any of these careers, check out Math Apprentice to see why math is the basis for so many careers. Play any of these cool games, and let math help you become anything you want to be!