Reader's Advisory/Organic Food

A frequent question at the Reference Desk is "Can you suggest a good book?" Of course, we're always happy to make suggestions, but if your library is closed or you just want to see what other people "out there" are reading, why not try an online reader advisory. Goodreads is the "largest social network for readers in the world." They boast over five million members who have over 160 millions books on their bookshelves. After you create a free account on Goodreads, you can: add books to your shelves; invite friends to join - through Facebook, Twitter, or email accounts; and take the "book compatibility test" to see if your tastes are similar to your friends. Search for titles by author, title or ISBN and add the books you're reading, or have read, to your shelves. You can rate the books, write reviews, read other members' reviews, etc. You'll find many lists of "best books" and trivia games. Join one of the over 900 book clubs, or one of the many groups - struggling writers, friends of Amish fiction, literary exploration, mystery, science fiction, etc. Sign up to receive monthly updates on new releases from authors on your shelves and in your favorite genre. Of course, Goodreads has both an iPhone and an Android app. You can search their catalog, manage your bookshelves, find book recommendations from friends and other readers and more right on your phone!

FictionDB calls itself a "reference website" and has databases, or book lists, for over 50,000 authors, 25,000 unique titles and over 15,000 continuing series, in order of publication, by author, such as Lee Child's Jack Reacher series. You can also find lists of publisher numbered series, (Harlequin romances). They aim to "provide complete, accurate and reliable information for readers of genre fiction. After you create your free account, you can search from any page by author, title, series name or ISBN. From the Toolbar you can view the books you've read or added to "My Books." You can also see a list of upcoming "New Fiction" releases by year and month, view lists of "Series" - single author, publisher or multi-author series (Star Wars, American Girl, Adventures of Kate and Ashley, etc.). Of course, you can read reviews, rate books, find recommendations for similar books from LibraryThing and much more. This is a commercial site and there are plenty of advertisements and links to sites where you can purchase books.

Organic Food

Do you worry about the safety of the food you buy? Should you eat organic? Are you interested in organic gardening? Check out some websites for the facts and advice. The Organic Center is a good place to start. Their "unique mission is to conduct credible, evidence-based science on the health and environmental benefits of organic food and farming and communicate them to the public." Organic 101 answers frequently asked questions. State of Science provides links to research and articles on topics such as reports and studies on topics such as antioxidants, pesticides, nutritional quality, environments, and food safety. Organic Resources provides links for consumers.

Organic Trade Association is a "leader in advocating and protecting organic standards so that consumers can have confidence in certified organic production." Click on the link to "Organic Facts" for the definition of organic, facts on the environment, nutrition, antibiotics, genetic engineering and organic standards. Under "Resources" you'll find how to go organic and organic facts.

If you're looking for a medical perspective, The Mayo Clinic - Organic foods has many articles on the nutritional value of organic food.

If you're already an organic gardener, you are probably familiar with the magazine, Organic Gardening. They also have a website, Organic Gardening, full of features and articles for the gardener. They also have a blog and regular podcasts. Articles cover topics from planting tomatoes to composting, shade gardening, edible landscaping ideas, etc. Click on the tabs at the top of the page for categories: Learn & Grow (compost & soil, pest & disease, organic solutions); Living (health, travel, news & experts); Cook (preservation, food & drink, recipe finder).You can also sign up for three monthly newsletters.

Organic Authority is a "resource for all things… delicious and organic!" You'll find articles on garden herbs for skincare, how to make your own mouthwash, lots of recipes, etc.

Have You Seen These Sites?

Foursquare is a "location-based mobile platform that makes cities easier to use and more interesting to explore." After you download the app (if you don't have a smartphone, you can text) and register for an account, you can link your Twitter and Facebook accounts to find your friends and share your current locations. Users leave tips about locations which you can use after you check in. Read about badges and becoming "mayor" of a place on the website.

The 2012 Olympics are a year away, but it's not too soon to plan your trip to London for the games. London 2012 is the official site and the place to go for information on everything about the games from the torch relay to mascots, ceremonies, venues and competition schedules. You can buy tickets, view transportation options for getting to the games, select accommodations, etc. Under Games, select a sport and read all the key facts, such as venue, dates and time, medal events and basic facts, history and "jargon" of the sport.

Yale University has a new "Open Access" policy that provides free access to "online images of millions of objects housed in Yale's museums, archives and libraries." The materials range from a Mozart sonata in the composer's own hand (Beinecke Rare Book Library) to a 15th-century Javanese gold kris handle from the Indo-Pacific collection (Yale University Art Gallery) or a stela with hieroglyphic inscription (Peabody Museum of Natural History). Search Discover Yale Digital Commons for images from the Yale Peabody Museum, Yale Center for British Art, Yale University Library Map Collection, Yale University Art Gallery, etc.