Use it or lose it: electronic resources

Just like individual households, libraries must prioritize when it comes to budgets. When something is not used enough to justify its cost, adjustments must be made.

The library's subscription to HeritageQuest, an electronic resource for genealogy research, expires today and will not be renewed. For those interested in genealogy research who do not have a personal subscription to a genealogy resource, the Baker Block Museum, home to the North Okaloosa Historical Association, is a great place to start. You may call them at 537-5714.

Speaking of electronic resources, many of those found on our library electronic resources page are supplied to us through the Florida Electronic Library. However, the Crestview Public Library specifically purchases others. Please check them out and remember — use it or lose it! (Your 14-digit Crestview Public Library card number is required for access.)

•ChiltonLibrary provides access to repair, maintenance and service information on the most popular cars, trucks, vans and SUVs on the road today, as well as many new vehicles. This continuously updated resource provides step-by-step repair procedures, troubleshooting guides, diagnostic trouble codes, photos, illustrations, diagrams, and multimedia (videos and animations) to simplify even the most complicated tasks.

•LegalForms lets you take the law into your own hands and create accurate, reliable legal documents with no hassle. It offers Florida-specific "attorney forms" – officially approved forms actually used by law firms. Many of the forms and documents are available in Word and Adobe format so you just need to simply fill in the blanks on them.

•The Testing & Education Reference Center (TERC) helps users embark on new education and career paths with in-depth information on colleges/universities, graduate/professional programs, distance learning, corporate training, available scholarships/awards, and more. Practice tests include entrance exams, certifications, and licensing tests. With the Career Assessment tool, students can map a career path using a multiple-choice exam that matches their answers to the most suitable job categories, industries, and occupations. The Resume Builder and Virtual Careers Library tools help students build essential career skills like how to build a resume, cover letter, and interviewing tips. GED and ASVAB books, as well as practice tests, are also available.

•Opposing Viewpoints in Context is the premier online resource covering today's hottest social issues, from capital punishment and immigration to marijuana and affordable housing. This cross-curricular research tool supports science, social studies, current events, and language arts classes. The tool presents informed, differing views on each side of an issue and helps students develop information literacy, critical thinking skills, and the confidence to draw their own conclusions.

•Science in Context is an engaging online resource providing contextual information on hundreds of today's most significant science topics. By integrating authoritative, curriculum-aligned reference content with headlines and videos, Science in Context draws researchers into the subject matter, showing how scientific disciplines relate to real-world issues, from weather patterns to obesity.

•Price It! Antiques & Collectibles is an electronic database antique/collectibles pricing tool, containing data from a variety of sources, including online auctions (eBay), online antique dealers and land-based auction houses. The database currently has over 23 million prices realized for art, antiques and collectibles in more than 100 categories and subcategories with over 10 million images.

Here are upcoming Crestview Public Library-related events. The library's address is 1445 Commerce Drive.

AGES 0-2 LIBRARY CLASS: 10:15 a.m. Thursdays and 9:15 a.m. Fridays, Crestview library. Limited to 30 children per class. Topics are: March 2-3 and 9-10, Chicks and Ducklings; March 16-17, Growing and Gardening; March 23-24 and 30-31, Animal Sounds; April 6-7 and 13, Spring and Easter; April 20-21 and 27, Wildlife; and May 4-5 and 11-12, Praiseworthy Parents.

AGES 3-5 LIBRARY CLASS: 10:15 a.m. Tuesdays, Crestview library. Topics are: March 7, Farm to Table; March 14, In Our Garden; March 28, Flying High; April 4 and 11, Easter; April 25, Environmental Center Field Trip; and May 2 and 9, Praiseworthy Parents.

ACTIVE SHOOTER SAFETY PROGRAM: 10:30 a.m. March 7, Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview. Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Specialist Ashley Bailey's topic is “Active Shooter–Anytime, Anyplace: Do You Know What to Do?” Free. Refreshments served. 682-4432.

COFFEE & CRAFT: 10 a.m. second Saturdays, Crestview library. Call 682-4432 to reserve your spot. The March 11 craft is a polymer clay bookworm bookmark.

MUSIC AT THE LIBRARY: 6-7:30 p.m. March 13 and April 10, Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive. Guitarist Jose Diaz will perform. Call 682-4432 to schedule a performance date.

FAMILY LIBRARY TIME: Events for ages 4 and up at the Crestview library include:

●6:30-7:15 p.m. March 21: Beekeeping with Bundrick Honey Farms.

●6:30-7:15 p.m. April 18: Nonie's Ark visit. Registration limited to first 30 children; ages 4 and up only

FRIENDS OF THE CRESTVIEW LIBRARY BOOK SALE: 5-8 p.m. March 31 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 1, Warriors Hall, 201 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview. The March 31 early bird sale costs $2 for non-Friends members. Donations of like-new books and movies accepted until March 15 at the library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

FREE TAX PREPARATION AND FILING: by appointment 2-6 p.m. Mondays through April 18, and first come, first served 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through April 18.

READ TO DOZER: First Saturdays, 10-11 a.m.; for children ages 4 and up.

UPCOMING

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Use it or lose it: electronic resources