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Chicago -- The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association, has added more recommended Web sites to Great Web Sites for Kids (www.ala.org/greatsites), its online resource containing hundreds of links to commendable Web sites for children.

Great Web Sites for Kids (GWS) features links to Web sites of interest to children 14 years of age and younger, organized into diverse subject headings from astronomy and space to zoos and aquariums, from games and entertainment to geography and maps. There is also a special section with sites of interest to parents, caregivers and teachers.

Members of the ALSC Great Web Sites for Kids Committee review potential sites for inclusion and vote on the sites to be included. They also regularly check the entire site to ensure currency and re-evaluate sites when necessary.

The newly added sites are:

• ABC Fast Phonics – http://www.abcfastphonics.com/
• Build Your Wild Self - http://www.buildyourwildself.com/
• Children's Literature Network – http://www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org/
• Click Magazine for Kids – http://www.clickmagkids.com
  
• EPA Environmental Kids Club – http://www.epa.gov/kids/
• Funology – http://www.funology.com
  
• InsideStory Flashcards – http://insidestoryflashcards.com/
• Meet Me at the Corner - http://www.meetmeatthecorner.org/
• NeoK12: Educational Videos and Lessons for K-12 School Kids - http://www.neok12.com/
• Online Spelling Program - http://www.spellingcity.com/
• Online Sunshine for Kids - http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Kids/
• Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out – http://www.ourwhitehouse.org/
• Read Print – http://www.readprint.com/
• South Carolina Aquarium: Just 4 Kids - http://scaquarium.org/Kids/default.html
• Space Weather Center - http://www.spaceweathercenter.org/
• Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child - http://wrsi.com/pages/3312919.php
• Starchild: A Learning Center for Young Astronomers - http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov
• WayBack: US History for Kids - http://pbskids.org/wayback/summer/index.html
• Welcome to the Wonderful World of Joan Aiken – http://www.joanaiken.com/
• Windows to the Universe - http://www.windows.ucar.edu/windows.html
• Women's History Month (Library of Congress) - http://womenshistorymonth.gov/
  

Members of the 2009 Great Web Sites for Kids Committee are: Meagan Albright, co-chair, Alvin Sherman Library, Research and Information Technology Center, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Sharon Haupt, co-chair, San Luis Coastal Unified School District, San Luis Obispo, Calif.; Kimberly Knight, Arlington (Va.) Public Library; Diana McFarland, Brunswick, Maine; Carla Morris, Provo City (Utah) Library; Jacqueline Partch, Multnomah County Library, Portland, Ore.; Marilyn Sobotincic, Medina County (Ohio) District Library; and Terrell Young, Washington State University, Richland.

The complete listing of great sites with annotations and selection criteria can be found at http://www.ala.org/greatsites.

2009 Summer Reading Club Promotion Is a Hit!

ALA (American Library Association) is running a story about how the Summer Reading Program in Maryland's County Libraries and the partnership with the Baltimore Orioles.

Read the article:
http://www.ilovelibraries.org/news/topstories/orioles.cfm

The Business, Science, and Technology Department of the State Library Resource Center presents a page of information and links entitled Health Care Reform: What You Need to Know.

"As the federal government tries to reform the health care system in the U.S., many concerns have come up as to how it will work and how it will affect everyday people. The following Web pages should help to explain what's really going on."

http://www.prattlibrary.org/locations/bst/index.aspx?id=36822

Wednesday, September 2 - 3:30 to 4:30 PM at the Havre de Grace branch

An informal presentation and discussion about scams, identity theft, the health advocacy unit and other issues facing our communities presented Maryland's Attorney General Douglas Gansler. Bring your questions and concerns.

More details

Healthy Harford - Helping to make Harford County the healthiest community in Maryland

Just a quick heads-up that Healthy Harford Week is coming later next month. Stay tuned for more details!

Healthy Harford will kick off its Way to Wellness campaign with Healthy Harford Week, to be held September 26 - October 3 2009 with fun activities throughout the county. Inquire at your local branch for more details!

Join us on our Way to Wellness!

Darlington still has openings for its Tuesday, Aug. 4 evening program (6:30 pm) The Maryland Science Center Presents: Science to Amaze and Intrigue. Participants will witness a potpourri of chemistry, biology and physics. What does the human heart sound like? What happens to matter at 320 degrees below zero? What is a flaming vortex? This is a favorite show guaranteed to amaze and intrigue for children entering grade 1 and up. The program will be held at the Wilson Community Center. Call Darlington Branch to register and for information on how to get there!