From Shakelaw.com

Mobile technology changed the way we communicate, share information,  shop, and entertain ourselves. So it comes as no surprise that someone would invent a tool to simplify legal transactions using your smartphone.

The folks over at Shake designed an app to record agreements for everyday transactions–from a personal loan to a friend, to a contract for freelance work and more. The app, which is available for iPhone, walks users through a series of questions to create legal documents that can be signed and/or sent to another person, even to your lawyer.  Documents can be signed on any mobile device and are stored securely in the cloud for reference later on.

For budding entrepreneurs who can’t afford to hire a lawyer, this a great way to create simple and plain-language legal agreements.  You can save the big bucks for complex legal agreements.

Shake is in no way a replacement for a lawyer, but a tool to help you create enforceable legal documents.  If you feel you need counsel, by all means seek it out. Shake’s founders emphasize that point in this article from Forbes and on their FAQ page.

You can download the app for iPhone from the App Store.

If you have tried Shake’s app let us know in the comments below.

Cheers!

TechCrunch reports  that Oyster, a new ebook subscription service, is rolling out invitations for the iPhone on a first come, first-served basis.

The startup plans to offer its members unlimited access to over 100,000 ebook titles for $9.95 a month. And Oyster plans to add more titles going forward.

Taking its name from the Shakespearean line, “the world’s mine oyster,” the service focuses heavily on reader experience– literally putting a library in your pocket. The nine man team developed a mobile app optimized for reading and sharing with your friends with one-tap access to each ebook.

You can sign up for an invitation on their homepage.

If you subscribe to the service, let us know what you think in the comments below.

But if you don’t feel like doling out the cash each month, we have ebooks as well as downloadable audio books for free via overdrive. We also have a new magazine subscription service called Zinio, which allows you to check out current issues of popular magazines in English or Spanish to read on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.  Both are accessible with a BPL eCard or a regular library card and your PIN.

Cheers!

You may have noticed some changes around Kirstein in recent months.  Each month, we plan to make displays of books you can take home based on a theme.  Last month it was Marketing your Business.  This month we are focusing on home buying.

There are some free online resources too:

CNN Money 101: Buying a Home
Tips and tricks assembled by the CNN Money team on buying a home, financing a purchase, picking an agent and many other topics.

Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System
NMLS Consumer Access is a free service for consumers to confirm that the financial-services company or professional with whom they wish to conduct business is authorized to conduct business in their state.

MA HUD Portal
Find homeownership links to homebuyer classes, housing consumer education programs, mortgage advice, and other programs from around Massachusetts.

Boston Home Center
The Boston Home Center (BHC) provides homebuyers with educational courses and financial assistance, and markets homes developed for income-eligible, first-time homebuyers. This is a good place to start if you’re planning to place roots in Boston.

Also, if you want to learn more about the housing market in Greater Boston you should check out this post too.

And, as always, you can approach the reference desk and ask a librarian to help you.

Cheers!

Did you know that there are now 71,523 employees working in clean energy throughout the Commonwealth?  Or that in 2012, Massachusetts was home to the most Small Business and Innovation Research (SBIR) grants per capita at 15 and the most Water Innovation Patents per capita in the country at nearly 120?

Find these stats and more via the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

• Download their 2012 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report
• Watch an animation of the growth of clean energy generation in Massachusetts
• Read the Patrick Administration announcement on three grant awards for water innovation

Real Estate Rewind 2013

• Summarizes residential real estate market activity in the 54 cities and towns
• Detailed data from the detached single-family home and condominium markets, including units sold, median price, average days on market, pending sales, and inventory levels
• For the most recent quarter and the same three-month period one year ago

Local Market Update Reports

• Follow key indicators of housing market performance, documenting data for each month on the calendar
• Data on closed sales, median selling price, percent of original list price to selling price, housing affordability, the inventory of unsold homes/condos, pending sales, and average time on the market for sold property

2013 Monthly Housing Market Reports

• Performance and longer-term trends within the residential (detached single-family home and condominium markets) and multifamily housing markets (2-4 family properties)
• Monthly data reports for the residential market are available for the past five years
• Multifamily housing market report back to 2012

ReServe is an innovative nonprofit that matches continuing professionals age 55+ (ReServists) with organizations that need their expertise.

Do you want to give back to your community?

Are you looking for an opportunity to re-enter the workforce part-time?

Well, then you should check out ReServe.  ReServe  is a nonprofit that puts adults age 55 and up to work in schools, government offices, and community organizations.  It has been featured in the Boston Globe.

As a potential ReServist, you can be matched with an organization that needs your expertise. Most positions are between 10 and 20 hours a week and last for at least three months.  ReServists get paid a $10 per hour stipend for their efforts.

Organizations who have gaps in their staff can register with ReServe to get the talent they need, through the Give Back, Fill the Gap program.  Or through the Impact Initiatives program ReServists can tackle issues with the community and work one on one with clients who need your skills.

The Boston chapter, launched earlier this year, is operated by JVS Boston in collaboration with Discovering What’s Next.

JVS Boston specializes helping individuals find jobs and get the skills they need to become successful in the workplace and their communities.  Discovering What’s Next provides individuals over 50 with resources and programming and promotes community engagement.

Upcoming Classes and Programs

Neighbors Helping Neighbors meets every Wednesday at 7pm in the Kirstein Business Library.  FYI:  On April 3rd NHN will move up one hour to a 6pm start time.

Stop by the training lab on Tuesday, March 12 at 2:30 to learn about Job Searching Online.

Or you can swing by the training lab on Tuesday, March 26 at 2:30 to learn how to Create a Resume Online.

Cheers!

Are you getting ready to hunker down for Winter Storm Q this afternoon? While the storm is predicted to be less severe than Nemo, it’s always good to be prepared.

The SBA  has assembled worksheets and resources to help you prepare your business for the next disaster.  Along with clean up, recovery, and disaster planning, the SBA has disaster specific information too, including:

• Hurricanes
• Winter Weather
• Earthquakes
• Tornadoes
• Wildfires
• Floods
• Cyber Security
• Workplace Hazards & First Aid

It never hurts to prepare your home for a disaster, as well.  Ready.gov has guides to help prepare you and your family for emergencies.

The site also showcases a unique map of historical storms and disasters. When you click on each state you can see what was happening the day before an incident as compared to the aftermath. If you have been putting off distaster planning for your home or business, this map might make you think twice.

Cheers and stay safe!

We’re glad to hear the passengers aboard the Carnival Triumph are back on land.  Cruising is big business.  Did you know that the cruise line industry generated more than $40 billion in total economic activity to the US economy in 2011, creating 350,000 jobs, and that 20 million global passengers went on a cruise in 2011?  Check out market research, issues, and statistical reports  from the Cruise Lines International Association.

For additional information on the cruise industry, the BPL has a number of resources to help you learn even more:

• Deep Sea Passenger Transportion industry overview from Business Insights: Essentials
• Search by cruise company name for financials and competitor data using Mergent
• Search for industry trade publication news with General Business File ASAP (Gale Group)
• Print titles from our catalog
• eBooks
• e-Journal titles

Renters:  Concerned your rent might increase for your next rental period?

Check the assessment for your apartment, building, or property. Each year an assessor calculates the value of a property.  That value, along with the tax rate, determines the amount of taxes owed. Renters, your landlord may raise the rent if the property’s assessment value has increased significantly.

Are you concerned that your property may be overvalued relative to your neighbors? If  you think your property was valued too high, you may file for an abatement.  Learn how to do it here.

To view the assessment for your Boston property click here and follow these instructions:

• Enter at least a street name in the search form. Hit Enter.
• Find your building or unit in the search results
• Click view details

The valuation history will be on the right hand side of the page.

• At the bottom of the page click View Quarterly Tax Bill and Payment Information for this parcel for FY2012 and FY2013.

This will show you the total amount you or your landlord owes.

NOTE: If you rent, your apartment may have its own assessment.  For example, if you live in a multifamily home your apartment could be classified as a condo instead.  Likewise a multi-unit building  building may be assessed as one property rather than as multiple units.

Many cities and towns have their assessment information online.  Here are other tax assessor databases from towns in the area:

• Brookline
• Cambridge
• Chelsea
• Quincy
• Somerville
• Watertown

Looking to network with other female entrepreneurs?  Look no further than Project Eve.

The Project Eve community prides itself on promoting female entrepreneurship through mentoring and communication rather than swinging around “sharp elbows.” The goal is to provide a a nurturing atmosphere, where ladies can get practical advice and access to resources for starting their own businesses.  The 1,000 members who call themselves Eves and have access to:

• Mentors
• Forums
• Directories
• Job listings
• Events
• Tailored groups
• Guest bloggers

Other nifty stuff

Project Eve has a local Boston group too which has 20 members. With the number of women who come into Kirstein it should be so much higher! Check it out Ladies.

Remember Ladies, and Gentlemen too, if you need help with your business we host SCORE mentors every Friday from 10-1.  Call 617-859-2142 to make an appointment or ask one of the library staff.

We have a variety of other business programs too.  Our popular Getting Started in Business Program is coming up on Jan 29.

Cheers Dears!