Can I exchange this certificate for gold?

“While cleaning out my mother’s house, I found a twenty-dollar bill that says “twenty dollars in gold coin payable to the bearer on demand.” It’s bigger than a regular twenty-dollar bill and it has George Washington on it. Can I really exchange it for gold?”

Our patron brought in a picture of their find and we were able to identify it as a 1922 series twenty-dollar gold certificate. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve History websites answered our patron’s question. While it can be redeemed for a regular twenty-dollar bill through any financial institution, it can no longer be exchanged for gold. In fact, for thirty years it was illegal to have a gold certificate.

Gold certificates circulated until December 28, 1933, until the Gold Reserve Act of 1934 withdrew all gold certificates, gold coin, and gold bullion from circulation. President Roosevelt gave the order that all privately-owned gold certificated be turned over to the Treasurer of the United States by midnight on January 17, 1934. It was then illegal to hold them until the restrictions were removed in 1964.

However, there is good news! According to the thirty-fourth edition of the Standard Catalog of United States Paper Money, a 1922 series twenty-dollar gold certificate in fine condition can be worth about two hundred dollars.

When are the tax forms coming in?

With tax season upon us, many patrons have come to the library looking to pick up their federal tax forms as they have in the past. We had always received a large selection of forms and publications from the IRS through the Tax Forms Outlet Program. The program provides tax forms to participating locations, primarily post offices and libraries, which then distribute them to the public.

Last fall, the library requested a variety of forms and publications from the IRS, as we’ve done in previous years. They usually arrive by the end of the year for us to put out in January. However, they did not arrive, and in January we received an email explaining the situation. Having lost $300 million in funding with the passing of the 2015 Omnibus Appropriations bill, the IRS is unable to provide many forms through the Tax Forms Outlet Program this year. According to their email, they’ll be sending us copies of the 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ, Publication 4604, and one reference copy of Publication 17. We aren’t sure when these will arrive.

Filing taxes online is always an option. For those who would prefer to file on paper, there are a few ways to get the forms. It’s possible to order tax products directly from the IRS to be delivered by mail. Orders can be placed either online at http://www.irs.gov/Forms-&-Pubs/Order-Products or over the phone by calling 1-800-829-3676. Forms and publications can also be printed from http://www.irs.gov/Forms-&-Pubs. The library staff is happy to print any forms that our patrons need. (Regrettably, we aren’t able to offer the forms for free, and the printing charge will be the same as for any other black and white copies: ten cents per page, with no charge for the first five pages.) Because we aren’t legally allowed to give tax advice, we do ask that patrons know which forms they need. For those who would like more help, we can provide a list of AARP Tax-Aide locations staffed by qualified volunteers.

All links mentioned here are also linked from our website at http://www.newtonfalls.org/index.php/tax-information. We also have links to the AARP Tax-Aide locator, the City of Newton Falls taxforms and information, Ohio tax forms and where to file them online, and the Ohio Benefit Bank, where those below a certain income can file their taxes online for free. 

Where Can I Exchange Foreign Money?

“Is there anywhere local that I can exchange foreign money for American money?”

If you’ve been out of the country and ended up with foreign currency that you want to convert back to money you can use every day, there are a few different ways to go about it. Sometimes it’s possible as soon as you get off the plane. Most international airports, such as Cleveland-Hopkins, house a company that will sell foreign currency to travelers and buy it back again after they return. However, they often charge steep fees for this convenience.

Many banks, including Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank, and TD Bank provide a similar service. However, it’s always best to call ahead and see what, if any, fees they charge and if they deal in the currency you have. Iraqi dinar are particularly difficult to exchange; Wells Fargo and Bank of America both make it clear on their websites that they don’t work with dinar.

For more advice on traveling, Lonely Planet’s Best Ever Travel Tips is available through CLEVNET.

How Do I Find Out Tolls Beforehand?

“I’m planning a trip. Is there a way to find out beforehand how much the tolls will cost?”

If you’re planning a trip in this last stretch of summer and you want to plan ahead and find out how much cash you’ll need to pay the tolls, you’re in luck. Every state we've checked has a website with a fare calculator. Ohio’s, for example, is at http://www.ohioturnpike.org/travelers/fare-calculator/. While the sites are all set up a little differently, they all give you the option to choose your vehicle class as well as the points that you’ll be getting on and getting off the toll road. If applicable, the sites also provide the fares for toll bridges.

We have another patron who’s planning to walk around the entirety of Lake Erie next spring. He wanted to know if he could walk across the bridges in Detroit and Niagara Falls that cross from the United States into Canada. Again, we were able to go to the websites of the bridges in question and find the tolls listed there. While the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls lists a fifty-cent charge for pedestrians and bicyclists, the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit only gives charges for motorcycles and automobiles. However, when our patron looked at the street-level pictures of the bridge available on Google Maps, he noticed a sidewalk. It would probably be best to be prepared to arrange a ride across, just in case.

For avid travelers, we have an assortment of travel guides available for borrowing, including The Rough Guide to the USA, Lonely Planet USA, Lonely Planet Canada, and Off the Beaten Path: Ohio. Though it’s in our reference collection and not available for checkout, we also have the most recent Rand McNally Road Atlas here for anyone to page through.

Can Businesses Refuse To Accept Cash?

"Can businesses refuse to accept cash?" While none of us here at the Newton Falls Public Library are lawyers, we have several resources at hand that we could use to help answer our patron's question.

We weren't able to find the answer in either Nolo's Encyclopedia of Everyday Law or the American Bar Association's Complete Personal Legal Guide, so we took our search to the Internet. Putting "can businesses refuse to accept cash" into an online search engine brought up the Federal Reserve website. The site has a list of frequently asked questions, such as "Why does the United States periodically design its currency?" (to keep ahead of counterfeiters) and "How long is the life span of paper money?" (estimated anywhere from three to fifteen years, depending on the denomination).

As it turns out, U.S. coins and currency are considered legal payment "for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues." However, private businesses, organizations, and individuals, aren't required to accept cash as payment for goods or services, unless there's a state law saying that they must. To help clear up the distinction between what constitutes a debt and what constitutes a good or service, or for advice on what to do if a creditor is not accepting cash, it would be best to consult someone with a legal degree, since we're not qualified to provide legal advice here at the library. However, we do have a collection of legal guides available to check out, including Nolo's Every Tenant's Legal Guide and Neighbor Law.

Who Are the Executive Officers of h.h.gregg?

"Who are the executive officers of h.h.gregg?  I also need the phone number and address in order to contact them."  The Newton Falls Public Library staff often gets questions for the contact information for companies from people who wish to express concerns, give positive feedback, or for investment purposes.

We were able to find the list of officers our patron needed at h.h.gregg's investor relations' website.  The address and phone number were located by our staff at www.hoovers.com.

Patrons seeking information about companies or investing are encouraged to examine our online research databases.  Go to our library's homepage, select Library Databases, then Clevnet Databases.  In the Business and Consumer Information section, patrons seeking information of this type will find several useful sources of information including Morningstar Investments. "Morningstar Investment Research Center provides independent, in-depth research and recommendations on 11,000 stocks, 24,000 mutual funds, and 950 exchange traded funds."  There are also a variety of books on investing that can be borrowed from the library, including  Worth It-- Not Worth It? Simple & Profitable Answers to Life's Tough Financial Questions by  Jack Otter and What Would Ben Graham Do Now? A New Value Investing Playbook for A Global Age by Jeffrey Alan Towson. Library patrons may also borrow Forbes, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, and Money magazines.

Can You Find Me the Phone Number for Grey Duck Garlic?

“Can you find me the phone number for Grey Duck Garlic?” This was a question the Newton Falls Public Library librarians received earlier this year. “I want to sell the garlic I grew this summer and I’m not sure how much to charge for it.  Can you tell me how much organic garlic is selling for?” The staff, seeing how well the Library Sprouts’ garden was growing, could understand how the questioner was finding that he had enough to sell.

GreyDuck Garlic is certified organic and sells thirteen varieties of garlic. We were able to obtain their phone number and online order form for our patron.

Searching online for “mahoning valley garlic farm” we were able to answer the second question.  Miller’s Garlic Farm, a locally owned farm, has a small retail store at The Coin Shop located at 5160 Youngstown Poland Road. Their garlic may be ordered online.  The medium sells for $15 a pound, the large and extra large for $17 per pound. Our patron was happy to have the information he needed in order to price his product.

If you are looking for ideas for using your garden produce, check out the library’s Harvest display.  There is also a large selection of cookbooks which may be borrowed.

How Long Should I Keep Paperwork?

“I need information on organizing paperwork.” The Newton Falls Public Library staff questioned our patron for more details, wondering if she just needed information on the organization and filing of documents. She actually needed details on the important question of “How long should I keep paperwork?” 

The library has books on home and office organization such as RealSimple: The Organized Home by Kendell Cronstrom, but we needed to actually find a list of papers and documents and how long to retain them.  A Better Business Bureau website has a simple listing of important items and guidelines of how long to keep them. Some suggestions are: “Bank reconciliations - 2 yrs., Bank statements - 3 yrs. . . . Insurance policies (expired) - 3 yrs., Insurance records, current accident reports, claims, policies, etc - Permanently . . . Withholding tax statements - 7 yrs.” Our patron printed a copy of this list for personal reference.

Bankrate.com has a smart spending section entitled How long to keep financial records. It includes a chart listing records for taxes, IRA contributions, retirement/savings plans, bank and brokerage records, bills, credit card receipts and statements, paycheck stubs, and records for your home.  

I Need a Current List of My Credit Cards

“I want to cancel some of my credit cards, but I need to find a current list of all of them, especially ones I don’t use any longer. Is there a way I can find out that information? And then how do I tell the companies I want to cancel the card?”  The Newton Falls Public Library staff understands the need to do a financial inventory and possibly downsize.

The Federal Trade Commission allows an individual to get a free credit report once each 12 month period. Our patron needs to go online to www.annualcreditreport.com.  Following the instructions, he will receive a report which will include all the credit cards in his name.

There are many interesting websites dealing with this topic. In the online article at consumerist.com, How To CancelA Credit Card Without Hurting Your Credit Score by Meg Marco Craig Watts, public affairs manager for FICO (Fair Isaac Corp., the company who invented the FICO score) advises readers "To close card accounts without impacting one's credit score, you need to only have zero balances on your credit report for all of your active credit cards. That's because if you have zero balances your credit utilization rate is therefore zero, and you can't raise it — and potentially hurt your score — by closing one or more of the active card accounts.” www.creditcards.com has several articles with advice on canceling cards, as well as a worksheet which includes guidelines to and a sample letter for closing accounts.

We also showed our patron some of the financial materials we have in the library. Two resources they considered were Master your Debt: Slash your Monthly Payments and Become Debt Free by Jordan Elliot Goodman and Survival Guide to Debt: How to Overcome Tough Times & Restore YourFinancial Health by Mitchell Allen.

To assist patrons in making wise financial and purchasing decisions, the Newton Falls Public Library subscribes to the following magazines: Consumer Reports, Forbes, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Money, and ShopSmart.

Where Can Families Without Health Insurance Get Eyeglasses?

“Do you know any group that assists families without health insurance in getting eyeglasses, especially for my daughter?” The Newton Falls Public Library staff is very aware of the importance of being able to see clearly in order to read.

The first step taken was to contact the county’s Job and Family Services [JFS]. They informed us that the individual should fill out a state of Ohio Request for Cash, Food, and Medical Assistance application. The application may be accessed online at http://jfs.ohio.gov or by visiting their county’s JFS office.  Even if the parents do not meet the income requirements, the child may be eligible to receive the aid needed.

JFS also recommended that our patron phone 211. 211 Ohio can be reached by simply dialing 211. In Trumbull County the caller will reach Trumbull 211, Community Solutions; in Mahoning County, Help Hotline Crisis Center; and in Portage County, United Way 211Portage. The appropriate local information and referral agency will give the caller contact information as to groups and government agencies which may be able to assist her in getting the necessary eye exam and glasses for her daughter.

Do You Have Tax Forms?

“Do you have tax forms?” The Newton Falls Public Library staff has already begun hearing this question. As many people are aware, the federal government is not mailing individual forms to homes this year.

The library will try to meet the tax form needs of people. As we receive the forms, they will be available in our lobby. Patrons will also be able to print federal forms from http://www.irs.gov/. Ohio forms are available at www.tax.ohio.gov/online_services/thefinder.stm. At both sites, taxpayers may file online. Newton Falls’ residents can print the city income tax form at www.ci.newtonfalls.oh.us/PDFs/Tax_Forms/NewtonFRWebPDF.pdf.

The Benefit Bank Self-Serve [https://selfserve.thebenefitbank.com/] is a useful resource. “The Benefit Bank Self Serve is the ‘ready when you are’ version of the The Benefit Bank® (TBB™), a FREE web-based service that simplifies and centralizes the process of applying for benefits and filing income tax returns. . .”

The library also has books such as Taxes . . . for Dummies and The Complete Guide to Working for Yourself: everything the self-employed need to know about taxes, recordkeeping, and other laws by Beth Williams & Jean Murray to assist individuals in planning their financial strategies.

What Was the Website Mentioned on Dr. Oz?

“I was watching Dr. Oz the other day, and he was talking about saving money at the grocery store with a website named Shop Smart. I can’t seem to locate it online; can you help me?” This was a question we enjoyed researching as the Newton Falls Public Library staff members also look for ways to save money.

We began with an online search for the words “Dr. Oz smart shop.” The first item listed was “Dr Oz was joined by Lisa Lee, editor in chief of ShopSmart magazine.” We then looked for their website and found http://www.shopsmartmag.org./ ShopSmart;) is a new Consumer Reports magazine to which a subscription may be purchased. The website does have interesting articles which may be viewed online such as Hidden Discounts, Save on Groceries, How to Buy Clothes That Fit and Flatter and Get More for Less. There is also news, advice, smart ideas and a newsletter. This was the information our patron needed.

Searching websites with the words “shop smart” also brought up an interesting list of other sites for our patron to consider. One that intrigued us the most was http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/ which will deliver healthy recipes and coupons directly to your email address.

The library also has numerous resources to assist those trying to watch their spending. On Saturday, October 16 from 11 a.m.to noon attend the Coupon Clipper – How to Save $ presented by Michelle McMahon. Michelle was recently featured in the article Clipping Costs: Residents share coupon secrets by Larry Ringler (Tribune Chronicle, September 12, 2010). Discover ways to save money and to have more in your pockets for the holidays. Register today and bring your extra coupons to the event.

Unable to attend our program? The library has a multitude of materials which can help you save. The Frugal Shopper Checklist Book: what you need to know to win in the marketplace, The Frugal Senior: hundreds of creative ways to stretch a dollar! by Rich Gray and Master Your Debt: slash your monthly payments and become debt free by Jordan E. Goodman with Bill Westrom are a small selection of what can be borrowed to help save.


Careful planning for meals at home can be a great money saver. The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook: 200 recipes for quick, delicious, and nourishing meals that are easy on the budget and a snap to prepare by Erin Chase, Good Housekeeping Dinner for a Dollar: 50 family friendly recipes under $, and Chef on a Shoestring: more than 120 delicious, easy-on-the-budget recipes from America's best chefs have recipes sure to tempt.

Besides finance information, cookbooks, repair manuals, “do-it-yourself” and “make your own” books, the library has purchased two databases to help make engine repairs less expensive. The Small Engine Repair Reference Center can be accessed from any Internet computer and has manuals for all terrain vehicles, generators and other small engines, marine/boat motors, motorcycles, outdoor power equipment, personal water craft, snow machines/snow mobiles, and tractors. For those individuals working on their cars, the library has AllData, the world's most comprehensive resource for automotive diagnostic and repair information, including Technical Service Bulletins, items of Customer Interest, and wiring diagrams. Vehicles from 1982 to present may be searched, and the information is specific down to engine size. This database can be accessed only at the library.


Remember that the library is filled with great resources for those who are frugal.

How Can I Save Money Using Coupons and Cards?

“I’m trying to be more frugal this year, and I saw on the news that there are ways to save money shopping by using coupons, and AAA and AARP cards. Can you help me find out where I can use the cards?” The Newton Falls Public Library staff also likes to save money, so this question inspired a great deal of curiosity.

We first checked the websites for each of these cards and found long lists of places which give discounts either online or in the stores. Among the offerings at www.AARP.com, cardholders can get discounts on some paperback and AARP books at Borders. Walgreens has online savings. There are companies offering savings in the categories of Retail, Fitness, Health, Home & Technology, Travel, and Apparel & More. AARP has a Grocery Coupon Center that cardholders may access. Senior citizens can also take advantage of discounts using their Golden Buckeye Card. “All Ohioans age 60 or better, as well as adults age 18-59 who have disabilities as defined by Social Security, are eligible for a free Golden Buckeye Card [http://aging.ohio.gov/goldenbuckeye].” The Golden Buckeye Card’s website allows you to input the name of a town and see which merchants there offer discounts. If you didn’t receive your card upon turning 60 years old, one may be requested at the Newton Falls Public Library.www.AAA.com lists Retail & Services, Dining, Automotive, Attractions & Entertainment, Travel & Transportation, and Hotels & Lodging offering discounts. The staff was surprised to find that in our area, participating New York & Company, Payless Shoes, Napa, and Aurora Farms Outlets stores offer discounts when you show your AAA card. There are also online stores, such as Target.com, which let shoppers save with their cards.

Coupons are another way to save money. There are numerous sites available online, including www.coupons.com, www.fatwallet.com, www.thecouponclippers.com, and www.valpak.com which is specific to your community. Card holders may access these and other sites using the library’s public access computers.

For those looking for more money saving ideas consider borrowing The Frugal Senior: hundreds of creative ways to stretch a dollar! by Rich Gray, Real Simple, Consumer Reports, Heloise from A to Z by Heloise, Best Buys for Your Home, The Frugal Shopper Checklist Book: what you need to know to win in the marketplace, and Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings by Jennifer Thorne Amann et al. Besides borrowing books about saving money, using the Newton Falls Public Library is a very frugal step to take. We offer free access to the Internet, books, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, programs, and more.

Questions, Questions, Questions

“I would like the phone number of a cab service. I need to have a ride out of town, so I can send a Western Union money order.” “How do you spell participation?” “Adam Smith is an 18th century economist. What did he die of?” The staff of the Newton Falls Public Library finds the diversity of questions fascinating, and considers no question less important than another.

Before looking for a local taxi service, we offered to see if there was anywhere locally which supplied Western Union money orders. Going to www.WesternUnion.com and searching for locations in the 44444 zip code we found two locations within walking distance for the patron. As a result, we never did look for the phone number originally requested.

As we were standing, speaking with the next patron, the second question requiring a correct spelling was easily satisfied by using the Oxford American Dictionary, which sits on the shelving in the reference area.

The final question was a bit more difficult. The patron had looked in the library’s reference materials, including Chambers Biographical Dictionary and Dictionary of World Biography. Both had information about Adam Smith, including the date of his death but nothing about the cause of his death. We looked online in the library’s database Biography Plus Illustrated. This resource and the reference books revealed that Adam Smith was not only a famous late 1700s Scottish economist, he was also an author. We then searched Gale Literature Resource Center database [http://go.galegroup.com/]. In the biographical information, we located several articles which looked to be helpful. British Philosophers, 1500-1799 by Kurt Norlin (Claremont Graduate University) states that “Smith began to suffer from a real and increasingly severe ailment of the stomach or intestines . . . he died on the night of 17 July 1790.” While it did not list a specific disease, the answer was sufficient for our patron’s needs.

Quit Smoking, Save Money

“I need to quit smoking; the new tax is costing me too much money. Do you have anything to help me?” The Newton Falls Public Library staff understands the difficulty in dealing with this addiction. An article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer [3/31/2009] states that with the new tax cigarettes in Cuyahoga County will cost around $6.20 a pack. The American Cancer Society’s website, www.cancer.org, has a smoking cost calculator. Being conservative, if our patron pays $6 a pack, only smokes half a pack a day, and could quit today; the savings would be $1095 in a year. That would seem to be a good incentive to check out some of the materials available.

The library has a new book which our patron might want to consider, The Enlightened Smoker's Guide to Quitting by Bear Jack Gebhardt. Often a method which works for one individual doesn’t work for another, so books may be borrowed from other libraries in our shared TiPL [Trumbull Independent Public Libraries] catalog. Some of the titles available are American Lung Association 7 Steps to a Smoke-free Life by Edwin B. Fisher, Jr. with Toni L. Goldfarb, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Quitting Smoking by Lowell Kleinman and Deborah Messina-Kleinman, and How to Quit Smoking Without Gaining Weight by Bess H. Marcus, Jeffrey S. Hampl, and Edwin B. Fisher.

The American Cancer Society’s website has a great deal of information to assist the smoker and those around them get through the transition to nonsmoker. Nicotine Anonymous [www.nicotine-anonymous.org] has a twelve step program offered at meetings in Trumbull and Mahoning Counties. They also offer telephone and Internet meetings. The Ohio Tobacco QUIT LINE 1-800-QUIT-NOW (or 1-800-784-8669) is a free telephone cessation service. Individualized tobacco-quitting guidance is supplied and eligible callers can be offered nicotine replacement therapy.

Options to help you while going through withdrawal are meditation and exercise. For meditation you might want to consider Yoga Journal's Yoga Practice for Meditation [videorecording], Quantum Wellness: a practical and spiritual guide to health and happiness by Kathy Freston, Meditation for Dummies by Stephan Bodian, or Breath Sweeps Mind: a first guide to meditation practice. The library also has numerous books and videos on various forms of exercise, dance, and sports to divert the mind and help to keep weight off while giving up cigarettes.

I Need Help

“I really could use some help . . . I need to write a resume. The company I’m applying to wants me to do the application online. I need help finding financial assistance.” The Newton Falls Public Library staff recognizes the difficult situations many individuals and families are facing at this time and the variety of questions being asked because of the area’s economic condition.

The library has a wide assortment of books such as Vault Guide to Resumes, Cover Letters & Interviews by Howard Leifman, Marcy Lerner and the staff of Vault, The Damn Good Resume Guide: a crash course in resume writing by Yana Parker, and Over-40 Job Search Guide: ten strategies for making your age an advantage in your career by Gail Geary to aid people in all aspects of job searching. Once you examine the information and hints in these materials to understand what would be the best approach, you can use the library’s public access computers to type your resumes and cover letters. The word processing program loaded on the computers also has resumes which can be used as guidelines. All that is needed is a library card from one of the six libraries in Trumbull County (Bristol Public Library, Girard Free Library, Hubbard Public Library, Kinsman Free Library, McKinley Memorial Library, and Newton Falls Public Library) who have joined together as the Trumbull Independent Public Libraries [TiPL] Consortium. You can get a card by bringing in a driver’s license or photo ID with your current address. If it does not have your current address, bringing along a piece of mail or other official paper with your name and address will suffice.

Online applications, job as well as unemployment, require the applicant to have to an email address. The library staff cannot assist in filling out applications; however, we can direct you to a selection of email providers who offer free accounts. While online, checking your email, take time to examine the Trumbull Mahoning Columbiana Counties One Stop [http://www.onestopohio.org] and Ohio Career and Information Center [http://ocis.ode.state.oh.us/Default.aspx]. Both these sites are filled with valuable information, providing online job searches, ideas of where to look for a job, and information about cover letters, resumes, interviewing, and more.

Ohio.gov [http://ohio.gov] has numerous valuable resources for those needing assistance. There are links for Ohio Means Jobs, Home Energy Assistance Program, applying for unemployment, and the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. The latter includes information about unemployment compensation, health care, food and cash assistance, child care and support, and employment training. In Trumbull County, Community Solutions Association has Trumbull 2-1-1 [http://trumbull211.org]. There you can get connected to sources of food, clothing, shelter, and utility assistance and other services. They can be reached online or by phoning 2-1-1.

Should I Turn My Heat Off or Lower the Thermostat?

“To conserve energy and save money, should I turn my heat off or just lower the thermostat when I leave for work?” Like everyone today, the Newton Falls Public Library staff can understand the economic need of conserving energy.

The appropriately named book, This Cold House: the simple science of energy efficiency by Colin Smith was the first place we looked. Smith suggests setting your thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature in the winter. “Heating costs are reduced by about 2% for every 1% F reduction in settings [p. 189].” Information about different heating systems, insulation, and basic equations to assist homeowners in determining possible savings are included. The use of ceiling fans to blow and circulate warmer air can make people feel more comfortable.

The library has two new books about home energy savings, Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings by Jennifer Thorne Amann, Alex Wilson and Katie Ackerly and Save Energy Save Money: 201 do-it-yourself projects, tips, and ideas by Family Handyman. The Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings includes practical information about ways to reduce costs and offers additional ideas at their website www.consumerreports.org/energy. The site has numerous calculators for things such as determining the most economical insulation level for your home and how much money a programmable thermostat will save. The Family Handyman book addresses the misconception that lowering the thermostat requires more energy to reheat the house; when in fact the fuel saved by the dropping temperature is about equal to the amount used restoring it, so the time spent at the lower temperature is reducing your energy use. “Studies show you can cut cost by as much as 20 percent by lowering your thermostat 5 degrees F at night and 10 degrees during the day when no one is home [p.66].”

You can also conserve your energy and save money by visiting the library. With one stop, you can borrow books, audiobooks, movies, CDs, CD-Roms for your computer, magazines, newspapers, and access the Internet from the Wi-Fi computers. There are programs such as story times, craft programs, movie events, and book discussions. Travel back in time when you visit the Local History Room. Visiting the library is a great opportunity to share and learn more about your family, where they came from, and where they have lived. While a little dated, Oral History for the Local Historical Society by Willa K. Baum has excellent ideas on how to create an oral history, learning from older family members about their lives. Discovering the History of Your House and Your Neighborhood by Betsy J. Green is another interesting resource. In conjunction with Ms. Green’s book, the Haines directories and Sanborne Fire Insurance Maps (found in Ohio Web Library’s Genealogy section) will assist you in researching where your family has lived. If your family moved to Newton Falls during the growth of the steel mills, you might find it interesting to view the tools belonging to contractor Nicholas Risko. Mr. Risko built many of the homes for families who came during this era. A relative of the Longenberger family, Grandma Caroline Gamber [1836-1928], would be blushing to know that there is a display of her clothing, including undergarments, in the library’s Local History Room.