Harvard University and MIT will offer online classes for free to anyone with internet access. EdX  will develop an open-source technology platform to deliver the online courses using MIT and Harvard content. Find out how this opportunity might work for you.

Are  you afraid you missed out by not purchasing Facebook stock during its Initial Public Offering? Are you wondering what impact the departure of veteran officials and restructuring at Best Buy will have on its stock? Use Value Line to rate these and other stocks and to view stock price and financial forecasts. Value Line rates and reviews over 1700 stocks and 90 industries. Learn more about this essential investment tool here.

 Minnesota's signature arts festival for children and families-and one of the only of its kind in the nation-features artists hailing from all around the globe, telling stories about different cultures through the uniting power of the performing arts.

Throughout this year, the Minnesota Historical Society is introducing a wide range of initiatives to encourage discussion and reflection about the U.S. - Dakota War of 1862. Check out this website for historical background, a timeline of events, 2012 public programs, books, links to photos, documents & artifacts relating to the war, and resources for researching family history.  

Formerly GPO Access, FDsys provides free online access to authenticated publications from all three branches of the Federal Government. Browse the collection to see what dates are available in digitized format for each publication.

Find Business News in the Corporate Affiliations database. You'll also find business profiles for major public and private companies world wide.

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Webby and People's Choice winners of best websites announced May 21!

Those who have experienced a bullying supervisor may be interested in reading the City Pages article “What to do About Your Bad Boss”, concerning events that led to a whistleblower’s termination, and the litigation that followed. Featured in the article is Stanford University’s Bob Sutton, author of Good Boss, Bad Boss.

Explore five gardens with plants native to Minnesota on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website.

Two upcoming programs feature noted conductor Mischa Santora discussing the vibrant Parisian Music scene of the 1780s at the Plymouth Library,  Tuesday June 26, 7 p.m. at the Plymouth Library, and the friendship of George Gershwin and Arnold Schoenberg on Monday, July 16, 7 p.m, at the Ridgedale Library.  Please check here for more information and how to register. 

Hennepin County Library is now an official FamilySearch affiliate library! FamilySearch has billions of birth, marriage, death, census, land and court records from over 130 countries. HCL patrons now have access to all of these historic microfilm collections.
 
To order microfilm, visit the FamilySearch website . The site charges $7.50 per reel. Microfilms requested are sent to the Interlibrary Loan office at Central. When they arrive at Central, ILL staff will contact the patron and ask which library they would like the film sent to—Bd, Rd, Sd, or Central—where microfilm readers are located. Like other microfilm that is received through ILL, these microfilms are for in-library use only.
 
For further information, contact JoEllen, Minneapolis Central, 4^th floor  612-543-8186.

On June 5, 2012, the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics will provide public talks and safe viewing of the planet Venus crossing the path of the sun. Not to be missed! The next time this will occur will be in 2117.

The Metropolitan Council recently released a demographic profile of what the seven-county Mpls-St. Paul area might look like by 2040. Population is projected to grow by 893,000 with the arrival of 463,000 international immigrants. 

On Wednesday, June 13th, at 10:30am, meet on the 4th floor of Minneapolis Central Library downtown for a detailed introduction to the Foundation Center Cooperating Collection's print and electronic resources for nonprofit funding research.  Advance sign-up is not required.  The session lasts about 90 minutes.

Interested in funding for individuals?  Ask at Minneapolis Central Library about our Foundation Grants to Individuals print directory and online database.

Do you want to learn about various sides of controversial issues?  CQ Researcher compiles weekly reports on current topics, such as recent ones about distracted driving, internet regulation, and immigration conflict, among many others.  Opposing Viewpoints in Context provides facts as well as arguments for and against a wide range of topics. 

Try the online practices tests from LearningExpressLibrary which is available 24/7 on the Library's website.

The Wednesday, May 9th introduction to the Foundation Center Cooperating Collection has been canceled. Please look for future introduction to the collection sessions.

Search local, national, and international newspapers, journals, newswires, newsletters, television and radio transcripts, and other sources simultaneously in the Access World News database. Searches can be limited geographically and chronologically. The database provides access to over 90 sources in Minnesota, and over 6300 sources worldwide.
 

Hennepin County Library offers free technology classes for adults.   Learn skills ranging from mouse and keyboard basics to online services such as email and social networking, basic and intermediate skills in Microsoft Office, and more. All classes require advance registration.

Tune in to radio stations from around the world.  Radio Locator has links to over 13,000 radio stations' web pages and over 7000 stations' audio streams from radio stations in the U.S. and around the world.
 

Prepare for fishing season by visiting the MN DNR, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Library, where MN fishing maps and materials on all aspects of fishing are available.

Research your Asian ancestry with Cyndi's List & AsiaGenWeb or attend one of the library's Spice & Slice of Asia programs to learn more about Asian culture & history!

Look at the variety of links in Autoshop 101.  Click on the category you want to explore and be informed.

Let CardRatings.com help you choose the best credit card for you.

A celebration of countries and cultures, the Festival of Nations is a great way to meet people and hear languages from around the world. This year, the festival celebrates its 80th anniversary - come join the fun! 

With baseball fever in the air, catch the latest scores on this award winning website.  In addition to a wide variety of sports, check out the latest news on health care, immigration reform, and global warming.  Regardless of your interest, this site will have something for everyone.

Minnesota Business First Stop and the federal government's BusinessUSA are new one stop websites developed to provide easier access to the services and information businesses need, whether they are a new startup or an established firm.  These government sites cover everything from starting a business or exporting a product, to information about a program to compensate fisherman for fishing gear lost to oil and gas activities.

Visit the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library to find state documents and historical information including House and Senate seating charts, vote totals going back a century,  flow charts showing the legislative process, and much more. You can even take a virtual tour of the Capitol. 

HomeSpot allows homeowners to set up maintenance schedules, plan home improvement projects, and keep a history of their home.

You don't have to be a Master Gardener to plant your own bit of earth. Join us at Nokomis Library on Tuesday, April 24, 6 p.m. 
to learn about fertilizers, common pests, and diseases.

Urban Expedition: LIBERIA!
Musser Cortile; 1 to 3 pm; FREE
Travel the world without leaving St. Paul!  This program will feature the music, dance, food and crafts of Liberia. Featuring main stage performances by Universal Dance Destiny. For more information call 651-292-3267 

Hennepin County provides low-cost child and adult immunizations (shots) to people who don't have adequate health insurance.

Practice your elevator speech, two big job fairs are about to take place!
Downtown Minneapolis Job Fair
May 9, 10 to 3
Minneapolis Convention Center, Room 200
South Metro Job Fair
June 13, 10 to 3
Mall of America, in the Rotunda
Up to 40 employers will be seeking workers for a wide range of job opportunities. Social service organizations that assist job seekers will also be in attendance.

According to an infographic from Mother Nature Network, the number of Americans growing food and the size of food gardens has increased.  The National Gardening Association's report, The Impact of Home and Community Gardening in America, also indicates that food gardening is on the rise.  

If this inspires you to join the ranks, take a look at this chart from The Cheap Vegetable Gardener to help determine the Most Profitable Plants in Your Vegetable Garden.

Don't forget that we have online tutorials for using a mouse (in several languages), and links for help with Microsoft Office and Open Office.

On April 21, celebrate Earth Day learning about edible landscapes at Northeast Library.

The Wildlife Rehab Center of Minnesota has a tip sheet and FAQ list on what to do when you find young wildlife, such as an orphaned  bunny or a baby bird that has fallen out of a nest. You can also find a link to the center on the Animal subtopic page of the Science Subject Guide.

Check out the government website fraud.org for assistance and filing a report.

Watch the video Light Up The Night which celebrates HCMC's role as our state's first and most influential teaching hospital.

Parent Hacks has collected some tips for Summer Fun. Explore categories like summer activities, learning, organization and quick clean up tips, meals/snacks/treats, health, and low-effort summer "fashion."

Looking for Summer Camps? Want to plan a vacation using our Countries & Travel subject guide? It's not too early to start. Hope you have a great summer!

April 14-15 marks the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster. Read an excerpt from the U. S. Senate's final report on the investigation into the sinking of the ship. Visit the Minneapolis Central Library to read the print version of the full transcripts of the hearings issued on May 28, 1912 by the 62nd Congress. A report from the British Government is also available in the U. S. Senate document collection. Visit the second floor iDesk for more information.

The annual rite of spring is underway: college tours by prospective freshmen. Each one is searching for the school that provides right fit for his or her individual requirements.  But what if "fit" is not something to be found, but something that develops over time, something that involves work and change rather than comfort and predictability? The Chronicle of Higher Education hosts this challenge to the concept. Read it here or find it in our Academic Search Premier database. 

If you are a senior or a caregiver, the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging can connect you with community services including financial assistance, in-home help, transportation, health insurance counseling, and more.

Volunteers and organizations coordinate with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board for neighborhood clean-up. No pre-registration is required. 9:30 a.m.-Noon. A volunteer coordinator is available at each site to assist volunteers and answer questions. 

A visual dictionary is excellent for reinforcing language learning, and is also a great tool for the traveler.  Check out these and other visual/picture dictionaries at your local library!

If you are thinking of attending the 2012 London Olympics now is the time to purchase your tickets and make travel arrangements! The Library has plenty of guidebooks on London, too.

If you're interested in doing business with government agencies plan to attend the SADBOC Government Procurement Fair on April 25 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center.  Combining education with marketing strategies, this event provides small businesses an opportunity to meet with representatives from Federal, State and local departments, commercial/prime contractors, and nonprofit organizations;  access available technical assistance;  and learn about upcoming contracts.  
Sponsored by the Federal Executive Board's Small and Disadvantaged Business Opportunity Council, in cooperation with PTAC and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

1040 Central has all the information you need to file your federal income tax on time, April 17. Don't forget to see if you qualify for the Earned Income Credit.  Minnesota income tax is due the same day.  If you are curious as to why the deadline is extended, the IRS explains that since April 15 is a Sunday and April 16 is Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia, the deadline for filing is Tuesday April 17.

Bankrate.com is a good starting point for any debt management plan. Enter all of the credit cards and outstanding installment loans balances. Find out how much is owed and how long it will take to pay it off.

Lavender notes the start of the 14^th year of the “Untold Stories: Labor History Series”, presented by the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library. Occurring at various venues around the Twin Cities, the series includes lectures, performances, and discussions, and runs from April 12 through May 21.

In a recent report the Federal Trade Commission called for greater regulation of the personal data companies compile on millions of consumers. The FTC also asked for a provision that would allow people access to the information collected on them.

Looking for the cheapest gasoline price close to home?  Try fueleconomy.gov linked to MN cities.

Want to explore some of the areas history? Look into the Minneapolis Landmarks and Historic District page to find some exploring ideas.

Learn about local and regional food systems, who participates in them, and their role in economic and community development. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides an interactive map showing supported food projects across the country.

School will be out soon. Do you know where your children will be? Minnesota Monthly has a review of summer camps tailored to meet a variety of interests: music, math, art, theater, outdoor adventures and more. 

Training and employment opportunities are available in renewable energy, building systems, manufacturing and construction in the metropolitan area for those who meet the income guidelines of the RENEW program. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act this program is administered by local governments and implemented by many agencies and educational organizations to promote employment in "green" industries.