Recommendations -- They're to Get and to Give

I love it when I've just finished a book and can get a great recommendation for what I might want to read next. Sometimes it's from a friend, sometimes a student, but there are times when I want to hear what others think should be next on my list. That's where The Book Seer comes in. After putting in the author and title of your favorite reads, the site trolls through Amazon, BookArmy, and LibraryThing for suggestions by others based on the tags they've given to your book. BookArmy isn't a reliable suggestor, but besides that, it works really well!

On the other side of the coin, the CHMS Library catalog now allows students and others to recommend books that they've read to others. How do you do it?

• Look up a book you want to recommend to others.

• Click on the title of the book when it comes up on the screen, which will bring you to this screen:

• Click on the green link to rate and comment on this title. Here's the screen that will come up:

• Type in your first and last name (only your first name will show up on the catalog), your comments, and rate the book. Click SEND and you're done!

This is a great way to share your thoughts on what you've been reading, and also to get some great recommendations from other CHMS readers.

DCF Blog

Have you ever finished a book and felt that you just had to respond to it right away? Now you can share these thoughts with others who love good literature through the DCF Blog. There you will find all 30 titles on this year's DCF List, along with a quick summary of the books and comments that others have made about them. If you couldn't believe how Stolen came to an end, if you wish you had a beetle like Marvin in your apartment, of if you can't get the images of swollen, frostbitten fingers out of your head, try to exorcise these thoughts through the DCF blog. All comments are moderated by a live Vermont librarian!

From the Posting Guidelines

• In order to protect your privacy, we ask that you use just your initials to sign your posts, or choose the “Anonymous” button.
• And of course, keep all comments appropriate. This blog is moderated and your comments will not appear until they have been approved.
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• You’ll have to wait until your comment is approved for it to appear on the site – don’t fret, as soon as we check our email, it’ll show up!

Olympic Choices -- Summer 2016

Today, the International Olympic Committee chooses the city that will host the Summer Olympics in 2016. Four cities are finalists. Your assignment is to find out what you can about these four cities and make a decision.

Once you've studied the answers to the questions below, comment on this blog and say which city you believe should host the 2016 Summer Olympics.

1. What are the names of the cities that are finalists for the 2016 Summer Olympics? Encyclopedia Britannica Online -- look at the article entitled "Winning city to be named" (or logos below)
   
2. In what countries and on what continents are these cities? Encyclopedia Britannica Online or atlas
   
3. Using a satellite map, can you find any sports arenas in these cities? National Geographic Map Machine
   
4. When has each of the countries last hosted the Olympics (summer or winter)? World Almanac for Kids
5. Which city would you choose to host the Summer Olympics for 2016? Why?