Resources @ Your Library

If you’ve ever wanted to get some current articles on Environmental Studies and Policy, then I have some great news! You don’t have to go very far to get these articles. You can access them from your own home! The Rancho Cucamonga Public Libraries offer a wide range of databases to all of our patrons. To access our databases, go to http://www.rcpl.lib.ca.us/online.htm. Our databases are divided into different categories. If you’d like to access the database “Environmental Studies and Policy Collection,” it is located under the category “Science and Technology.” You will find many articles on climate change and recycling within this database. To access this database from home, you will need a password. To have the passwords e-mailed to you, send an e-mail to: reference@cityofrc.us. In the e-mail, be sure to include your library barcode number and mention that you’d like a copy of the database passwords.

Celebrate Earth Day!!

Spring is Here!!

What do people usually associate with spring? Flowers, April Showers, fresh strawberries, watermelon, cantaoulope, cherries, apricots, gardening, spring cleaning, and being outdoors. Spring cleaning can be a lot of work, but it's defintely worth it! Just think about all those dust bunnies that are hiding underneath the couch. It's time to open up the windows and let the fresh air in! There are many benefits to spring cleaning and it can be a lot of fun. Here are just three reasons why you should get started on spring cleaning today:

• Burn some calories! Instead of spending the day at the gym, use the time to work your muscles by doing some deep cleaning. Scrubbing, sweeping, and mopping are all great ways to get your exercise in. You may find that after you have cleaned the house you have some extra room for that yoga mat!
• Having a clean house will help save you time. How many mornings have you spent at least 10 minutes trying to find those car keys? Putting everything in its place will not only save you time, but it will also keep you from having to stress about being late to work. Besides, who wants to come home to a house with laundry all over the place?
• Cleaning out your fridge may help you on your way to eating healthier. Who wants to cook a healthy meal if they have to dig through expired cheese and moldy tomatoes? Cleaning out that fridge will make cooking at home more appealing and will help your house smell a lot better.

If you're looking for an inexpensive green cleaner that you can use just about everywhere, try http://www.vinegartips.com/.

Don't throw away all of those unwanted items, try http://www.freecycle.org/ or http://www.craigslist.com/. Another fun idea is to have a CD, book, or DVD swap with your friends and family. Invite them over for a fun-filled evening of snacks and shopping. Ask your guests to bring their unwanted books, CD's or DVD's with them. Lay them all out on a table and guests can have a fun time trading their items.

Happy Spring Cleaning!!

Brain Power

Keeping your brain active is an important part of aging and preventing Alzheimer's. We've all heard people talk about how they just can't seem to remember things like they used to. As a child, we might have been able to memorize an entire story, poem, multiplication tables, and a seemingly endless amount of phone numbers. There are days when I have a hard time remembering where I've parked my car. For some of us, not being able to remember something can be quite frightening. The thought of developing Alzheimer's might have jumped into our mind and now we're on a mission to try to prevent it. Statistics from ARPF (Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation) say:

• More than 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease today.
  
  
• One out of every eight people 65 and older has the disease. And for those over the age of 85, this number jumps to almost one out of every two.
  
  
• When baby boomers reach 65 in 2011, these numbers will skyrocket and an epidemic will be upon us.

Research done by ARPF has shown that memory loss can be prevented and reversed by the choices we make and including brain fitness activities. Learning a new language can turn out to be an extremely beneficial hobby in more ways than one. The Rancho Cucamonga Public Libraries offers several books to stimulate your mind, so pick up a few to get you on the road to a healthier you!

Sudoku Puzzles
Logic Games and Puzzles
Language Instruction

Green Cleaning

If you are like most people, then there's no doubt that you use cleaning products everyday. We use it to clean our bodies, homes, offices, dishes, countertops, clothes, furniture, cars, windows, Many of the cleaners sold out there have harsh chemicals that can affect our health and environment. Here are a few ways that you can go green with the cleaning:

• Mix vinegar, water, and baking soda as an all-purpose cleaner



• Open windows to allow fresh air in and keep the toxins from building up in your home



• It's not necessary to use antibacterial soap, this may one day breed a new strand of bacteria



• Use baking soda to keep your fridge from smelling strange



• Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet before vacuuming to keep it smelling fresh



• Instead of using air-fresheners, boil some cinammon, cloves, or other herbs to freshen the air inside your home



• Choose your dry cleaner carefully. Be aware of the chemicals they use by asking if they use Perchloroethylne, a chemical that is toxic to humans and creates smog.

Here is a book that you can check-out at the library about cleaning the green way:

Green goes with everything : simple steps to a healthier life and a cleaner planet / by Sloan Barnett.

June Gardening

You might not have had enough to get your garden started this spring and have given up on the idea of a garden, but it's not too late!!! June is a great month to start or add plants, flowers and trees to your garden. If you enjoy homegrown fruit, try planting sub-tropical or tropical fruits such as: avocados, bananas, citrus, guava, or papaya. These plants do well once the soil has warmed up a bit. Check out all of our books on gardening to help you get started!

Counting Sheep

In today's busy world, it's often difficult to stop our mind from racing at night. We are often preoccupied with thoughts of the days events, the future, work, school, relationships, our family, and more than likely financial hardships. Making sure we get enough sleep will help keep us from being crabby, feeling tired throughout the day, and overeating.

It would be nice to have control over all aspects of our lives and be able to fall asleep with the snap of a finger, but since we can't, the best thing to do is to work on our habits. Here are a few tips to help us get the sleep we need:

• Be consistent. Going to bed and waking up at the same time everyday, will ensure that your body has a consistent cycle and will make it easier for you to fall asleep.
• Avoid food and drink before bedtime. Eating fatty or spicy foods can cause heartburn and make you restless. Drinking before bed might make you wake up several times during the night for trips to the bathroom.
• Avoid stimulants. Stimulants like caffeine should be avoided for 8 hours before you go to bed, as it takes your body several hours to get rid itself of the stimulant.
• Get some exercise. Getting in the routine of regular physical activity can help with falling alseep faster and making your sleep more restful. If you like to exercise in the evening, try to do it three hours before your planned bedtime.
• Keep your sleeping room comfortable. It should be cool, quiet, and dark. Extra blankets should be brought in during the winter to keep you warm. If you are using a heater in the house, make sure that you also bring in a humidifier to avoid dryness. Earplugs can help block out distractions such as barking dogs. Use thick curtains that keep the light out.
• Avoid distractions. Avoid having a TV, a computer, or other items which can distract you from sleep in your bedroom.
• Avoid long naps. If you need to take a nap throughout the day, limit yourself to only a half-hour nap. Make sure you take your nap in the early afternoon. If you take your nap too late and for too long, you will disrupt your body's internal clock.
• If you have trouble waking up after a night of restful sleep, leave your window coverings open so that the sunlight can help adjust your body's internal clock.
• Pick-up a nightly routine to help you relax. Reading, listening to music, bathing or showering are all great activities to help put you in the mood for sleep.

What are some nightly routines that help you fall asleep?