This Week at JMRL:

500 Years of Black History

Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s new book chronicles the most important figures and events, both famous and overlooked, in African-American history.

The JMRL Black History Month website contains many online resources. The Roland E. Beauford Sr African American Collection (at Gordon Avenue Library) includes a selection of the best books by or about African Americans. Books on the African American experience and history are at all branch libraries.

Try Genealogy in the New Year

In Ancestry Library Edition you explore centuries of resources and thousands of searchable collections of records from around the world. Includes historical records, photos, stories, family trees and more.

HeritageQuest is a collection of research materials for tracing family history and American culture that contains over 25,000 family records and local histories.

Charlottesville 250th Anniversary

It's the 250th anniversary of Charlottesville's founding back in 1762, and 2012 promises to bring a special year of birthday hoopla and historical remembrance. www.celebrate250.com

Database Spotlight

Value Line is a complete, multidimensional investment management solution that enables both new and experienced investors to make timely, better-informed decisions. It provides a wealth of in-depth financial information, intelligently presented both in print and online.

more info | Database Spotlight Archives

BookLetters

BookLetters is a fantastic email newsletter and readers advisory service which contains information on millions of books. There are even lists of new titles on different subjects.

Find out how you can sign up and have new biographies, mysteries, book sizzlers and more emailed to you monthly.