Article Review: Real Life: Managing Uncertainty

Since the recession, big banks had to merge; countless American’s have lost their job and the unemployment rate is at its highest rate since The Great Depression. Many people around the United States are currently unemployed and looking for work. The constant uncertainty of “what will happen tomorrow” continues to baffle many families in this unstable economy. When I read “Real Life: Managing Uncertainty” by: Paul Keegan, I was completely overwhelmed as his article expressed how a family had to make a transition from a lifestyle of not worrying about bills, to wondering how their next mortgage was going to be paid. Carl found himself clueless as to how he was going to further help his family after he received an unbearable phone call from his firm, saying he was being laid off. However 2 months later, Carl was offered a 10 month contracted job by Astra-Zeneca (a giant pharmaceutical firm). According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Since last year, the number of unemployed people who have accepted short-term assignments were up 73%”. This just goes to show how the economy has have been taking an immense toll on Americans. People often wonder when their ideal lifestyle may return to normal, or will they have to look for another job in the months ahead.

This article can be found in the issue Money 100 (May 2009)

By: Paul Keegan
Reviewed By: Michael Adebiyi

What Now?

Since the recession began, people had to deal with even more financial problems. Some companies went under while others were bailed out . Because of this recession many people have lost their jobs which lead them to spend less money. This has placed the economy in something called a money paralysis. Companies have been going under and waiting for the government to save them. When Merrill lynch went under Jeffrey Goldberg was one of the few people to make it out with a bit of hope. After losing everything he had worked all his life for, he never gave up he still looked around for jobs. He stopped investing in mutual funds because he didn’t know who owned them. Just like everyone else he wanted to retire and live the good life but things don’t always happen that way, and knowing that made it easier for him to spend money. Just like everyone else losing his job and money tore his life apart but he started thinking for himself and were able to come up and he is definitely a light that should be followed.

Reviewed By: Damion Bouton
This article"What Now" by Jeffrey Goldberg can be found in the May 2009 The Atlantic

The Gift Card Economy

“Since the recession began, people have been afraid to spend money”, as stated in a survey from WSL (Women Survey League). More than half of the women that did this survey stated that they refuse to shop at stores that will cause them to over spend. The behavioral economist suggested that businesses should have events for a short period of time which would help luring more customers to their businesses. Businesses also need to provide “a justification and a deadline” for these promotions. For example for every $500 that they spend, they are given a $50 gift card which would last for 2 weeks from which the gift card was issued. This will make the customer want to spend that extra $50.They can also give the customers different cards for other departments inside the store to expand their growth. Some local restaurants issue out $10 for every $100 their customers spend on meals. This will make the customers feel like they have earned the gift card and keep them coming back.

Reviewed By: Damion Bouton
The article " The Gift Card Economy" by Verginia Postel can be found in the May 2009 The Atlantic

Article Review: 13 Ways to Save

I believe this article can guide consumers while shopping and help them save. I remember many years ago accompanying my mother to the supermarket, and each and every month she would leave the store with a $400 shopping receipt. In today’s economic hardships, it is imperative to reduce spending habits and focus on necessities. The “May 2009” issue of Consumer Reports reported “13 ways to save”. By the way, I once worked as an employee for PathMark; getting the consumer to spend was the company’s main goal. Here are additional ways to save big.

1. Always utilize coupons
2. Leave your children at home, they often create pressure to buy something that is not needed
3. Take all the time needed at “HOME” to construct a list, do not shop willingly
4. Always use your supermarket savings card, you may be eligible for future promotions and extra savings
5. Customers always find them self missing out on huge sales; if an item is no longer in stock, always get a
rain-check (if prohibited by the supermarket)

Article by Consumer Reports
Reviewed by Michael Adebiyi

* The Blog title entry leads to the full article

Facebook Use and GPA - Results from a Study

The article is from The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 16, 2009

National Library Workers Day - April 14th

Locally, THe New York Public Library system has seen a dramatic increase in library users effected by the economic downturn. At libraries nationally, usage is up as libraries supply access to email and word processing, job information resources and free entertainment resources in the form of CDs and DVDs. Library workers have inadvertently become first responders to the crisis and bear witness to homeless or newly homeless people who need a warm place to sit with access to a water faucet, bathroom, computer and a place to read, write and be around people without being obvious.

This year is one in particular to take note of challenges library workers face - especially those that work in public library settings.

- Monecia Samuel

Why Executives Love Social Media

Social Media - Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or YouTube, etc. is either embraced or rejected by company executives. Read the article posted on BNET United Kingdom, (April 2, 2009), explaining why managers support social media for marketing purposes.

CW Library Users Perform Over 4,000 Database Searches in March 2009

4, 066 searches were executed by 492 Library users in March 2009. CW Library users can access the Library's databases onsite and remotely with their usernames and passwords. See the right sidebar on the Blog to enter the databases directly from this page.


The statistics above are based on usage of EBSCO databases specifically and do not include database searches from other vendors.