Thoughts from the Sunnyvale Public Library
To celebrate Women’s History Month I decided to make a short little video that shows my favorite women in Sunnyvale Library. These women are strong and they have used their voices to stand up for people in need. These women are true artists and warriors. These women are intellegent and show kindness with their work.
The theme for Women’s History Month is Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. It seems particularly appropriate for Silicon Valley where so many men and women work in the STEM fields. As I looked through the list of honorees and nominees chosen by the Women’s History Month Project, I was surprised to see a name I recognized. Mildred Dresselhaus is an Institute Professor and Professor of Physics and Electrical Engineering (Emeritus) at MIT. She has received many awards over her long career, including the National Medal of Science in 1990 in recognition of her work on electronic properties of materials as well as expanding the opportunities of women in science and engineering. I would probably have not known about her except that I happened to meet her daughter at a musical event last year. She had just come back from Norway where she watched her mother receive the 2012 Kavli Prize in Nanoscience. What interested me is that her mother is now in her eighties. She had become a scientist when very few women were encouraged to enter the STEM fields, much less have a career at all. An article in the New York Times includes a very interesting interview with Mildred. She entered MIT in 1960 when only 4% of the students were female. Today, about 40% of the students are women. Thanks to the work of Mildred Dresselhaus and others, women are becoming more accepted in scientific fields but there is still progress to be made. Here are a few titles to inspire you:
Unlocking your brilliance: Smart strategies for women to thrive in science, technology, engineering and math by Karen D. Purcell
Breaking into the lab: Engineering progress for women in science by Sue V. Rosser
She’s such a geek!: Women write about science, technology & other nerdy stuff edited by Annalee Newitz & Charlie Anders
Things are certainly different now from when I went to college…back then, it was mostly your SAT scores and maybe a bit of financial aid if you had lofty goals like a master’s degree or an Ivy League college. Now the recession has made it harder and more expensive for teens to attend college, and parents are trying to find the best options for their teens that they can afford. The Sunnyvale Library can help!
We have two College Preparation programs coming up in the New Year:
Sunday, January 8 from 1 to 5 pm: SAT Practice Test
Teens in grades 10-12 are welcome to come and take a practice test of the SAT- just like the real thing except that nobody gets the grades but the teen who takes it. This will give your teen an idea of what to expect at the real SAT test in March, and more confidence in taking it. On Tuesday, January 17 at 6:30 pm, the scores will be handed out and parents and teens can ask questions about the process.
Sign up at the Children’s Information Desk starting December 1.
Saturday, February 11 from 1 to 3 pm: Writing a College Essay
The essay is one of the most important parts of the college entrance application. Find out how to write one, what the colleges are looking for, and how to make yours stand out among the thousands the colleges will receive. This program is for teens and their parents.
Sign up at the Children’s Information Desk starting December 1.
There also will be a program to help parents and students in applying to colleges in late February or early March; stay tuned, we are still scheduling that one.
And there are some great books in the Teen section to help with college applications:
How to say it to get into the college of your choice
by Linda Metcalf
Admission Matters
by Sally P. Springer
Test Success: Test taking and study strategies for all students
by Blythe Grossberg
For more information on upcoming teen programs, join our teen mailing list!
As the Business librarian for our library, I am constantly on the lookout for quality print and web-based personal finance and entrepreneurial resources for our patrons. Being a Baby Boomer, I love to read one of the library’s best newsletters, “Kiplinger’s Retirement Report”. In the October 2011 issue, a particular online resource recently caught my attention that I would like to share with you. It is Bizstarters.com.
This site is geared towards entrepreneurs that are 50 and older. The site also offers a free “Boomer Biz Starter Kit” that includes a guide on how to use life and work experiences. From this, you can find not only good business ideas, but also how to evaluate their financial prospects.
BizStarters.com has been chosen by the popular “Kiplinger’s Personal Finance” magazine (also available at our library!) as “the best guide for entrepreneurs over 50″. Along with the great print and online resources that we have available for you to use at the Sunnyvale Public Library, add this website to your arsenal of entrepreneurial tools!
The Game of Life: Mapping Out Your Future
Saturday, February 13, 2010
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Library Program Room
Where will life take you? A walk-through series of interactive booths presented by Homestead High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) guides you along the the major milestones of career planning. Choose your own path from high school to retirement and every stop on the way. Drop in any time between 1:00 and 3:00!
