Thank you all for a great Science Resources learning event!

Recap of Today's Activities:

At the CPL Science Department, librarian Marc Conrad gave us an
interesting broad overview of science and tech info resources:

We saw and handled:
--patent and trademark drawings and indexes,
--picture book science biographies (including Chicago physicians from 1803),
--catalogs of old flying machine and fighting ships (from The Maine to hydrogen dirigibles),
--engineering standards,
--picture guides about how gadgets work,
--science project suggestion books,
--schematics for radios and building standards for construction
--the Palmer House Cookbook, among others
--medical drawings
--and much more.

In the general reading area is a large careers resource area and a reference desk containing dozens of books on how to pursue making and patenting your invention.

We saw the "Databases A-Z" section of the library's web site:
http://www.chipublib.org/cplbooksmovies/research/database_atoz.php
and learned that you can search the entire free text of the Chicago Tribune and also search science journal back issues (beyond 5 years ago) through J-Store. You can use most of this data by plugging in your CPL library card number. We also saw ProQuest and Science Online Database.

On the first floor in the Popular Library, which we hit on our way out, there are scads of videos, DVDs and audiotapes on science, medicine, the environment, etc.

If you are feeling some sharp edges upside of your ears it may be because you were one of those SQUARES who was not THERE.

Still . . . we can stay friends . . .
The handout given to attendees has been pirated by evil educational forces and is at
http://www.explain.com/bestsciencesites.htm

We gave our speaker Marc Conrad a science, toy as a thank-you present, the Sundancer solar engine. It is a great little novelty as well as a suitable gift for nearly anyone:
http://www.gaiam.com/product/eco-home-outdoor/green+living/eco-gadgets+-+toys/sundancer.do?search=basic&keyword=sundancer&sortby=bestSellers&page=1

I have bought nearly a dozen in my day.

For those who enjoy interactive online exhibits, you may want to have a look at Chicago Museums Interactive:
http://www.explain.com/museums.htm

At coffee following our event, we had the suggestion of a science movies (or DVDs) event. How marvelous! Anyone care to host it? Let us know. There are a ton of great science documentaries, etc, that are better enjoyed when debriefed upon and shared among friends.

Bye for now!

Robb Murray