Consumer Resources at Richards Memorial Library

Consumer Reports is available through the database. Just type in your library card number and choose Gale Group, General Reference. Other consumer magazines available in the database include: Canadian Consumer, Commonsense Consumer Column, Consumer Comments, Consumer Guide Magazine, Consumer Multimedia Report, FDA Consumer, Journal of Consumer Affairs, Journal of Consumer Research, Consumers Digest and Consumers' Research Magazine.
Federal Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, CO
Consumer Action Handbook (federal)
National Consumer Law Center
Massachusetts Consumer Guides
Massachusetts Attorney General's Guides: includes new ones on consumer credit, retail rights and Landlord/Tenant Rights
Federal Trade Commission: booklets about credit, automobiles, telemarketing, e-commerce, energy, business opportunities, privacy, young consumers, health & fitness, and more. Downloadable.
Mass. Attorney General's booklet, Consumer Advisory: Medicare Reform, is available on the web and in the library.

Mail and Phone Programs

Do Not Call Program: remember to register your cell phone as well. You can register online.
Tip: To Reduce Unwanted Credit Offers call 1-888-567-8688 or 1-800-353-0809 and ask all three credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion not to provide information about you to companies wanting to send you loan offers.

Credit Information

Car Buying and Repairs

This database includes auto repair information supplied by Point 5 Technologies under license from Nichols Publishing. There is information on most manufacturers of domestic and imported vehicles from 1945 to the present. It includes over 150,000 factory drawings and step-by-step photos, approximately 70,000 technical service bulletins, over 100,000 wiring diagrams and more. You will need a North Attleboro library card to access from home, but can be used by anyone inside the library.

Car Guides
Car Seat Safety and ratings
EPA's Fuel Economy site
Taking the scare out of auto repair booklet

Housing Issues

Relocation Guide
City Profile Information
Bank Loan Calculators
Mortgage Rates
Renting Information
- Landlord/Tenant information
- Massachusetts and Federal Forms
- Boston Guide to Finding an Apartment (includes info on roommates)
- Tenants in Foreclosed Building
Massachusetts Home Smart: information you should know before and after buying a house
Roof Repair

Toxic Substances

Toxic Use Reduction
Recycling
Poison Control Center
Massachusetts Dept. of Agriculture: Information on pests, farm stands, wells, and more
Household Product Database
Hazardous Materials in the workplace
Toxic Substances in the environment
Preparedness Booklet from RI

Toll-Free and Package Delivery Info

Travel Information

Passport and Visa Information: includes Travel Warnings
FareCompare: look for cheapest fares
Backpack Europe on a Budget Backpackers will find helpful information, frequently updated, on packing, hostels, transportation, and links to other sites.
BootsnAll Travel Network A well-organized and easy-to-navigate site for independent travelers, with information on airfares, hotels, hostels, and more. You can book some flights and hotels and search rates across numerous web sites.
The Couch Surfing Project: For those looking for alternative (and free) accommodations, this site, run by a nonprofit seeking to create a better world through cultural exchange, allows you to register to offer your couch to a traveler or search for a couch by destination.
Eurocheapo: Valuable reviews of budget European hotels with rate and contact information and maps. Some city guide information is also available.
Eurotrip: Forum for budget backpacker travel in Europe, with over 17,000 registered users, features rail and flight information as well as hostel reviews. Travelers can also book their trip on this site.
Hostelling International: A global booking site for HI member hostels, including family hostels. Also links to rail travel provider Rail International.
Kayak: Started by the founders of Expedia, Orbit, and Travelocity, this excellent search engine looks for the cheapest airfares as well as the lowest hotel, car rental, and cruise rates across 140 travel sites.
Travel Beyond Vacations: Travel author Reid Bramblett's award-winning trip-planning site, with articles and travel tips organized by destinations and activities. Entries include “12 Steps to Cheaper Airfare” and “Beyond Hotels,” listing and describing a variety of nontraditional accommodations.
Travelfish.org: Well-organized for travel to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore. In addition to maps, weather info, and accommodations (with reviews), there are itineraries. Pricing and value information (i.e., what will $5–$10 get you) is very useful.

Free Things

Freecycle.org: a grassroots movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns
Craig's List (Providence) and Craig's List (Boston) have free items and barter offers and more.

Charities

Better Business Bureau's Check out Charities
Charity Navigator -- search by interest and get ratings

Sites with Information about Global Warming and what we can do

Here are some websites for more information on global warming and how to "lessen your carbon footprint" :

Climatecrisis.net: Official online resource for Inconvenient Truth
Energystar.gov: Department of Energy and EPA's joint site for help with energy efficiency
Thegreenguide.com: Reviews of green products for every room and articles. By National Geographic
Realclimate.org: Background information on global warming
Eere.energy.gov/greenpower: The green Power Network site explains about energy-offset credits
Terrapass.com
Nativeenergy.com
Chasing Green : practical suggestions for individuals and businesses

Back to Useful Internet Resources

Buy Local Resources

One way to help the environment is to buy local food and goods, thereby cutting down the transportation pollution. The Southeastern Massachusetts state has searchable list of local produce farms that you can search by kind of produce and miles from your town. It includes listings of restaurants that use local foods.

Finding lost pensions: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and NE Pension Assistance Project

Death and Dying Resources

Product Safety and Trade Resources

Christmas for Kids

Attleboro Area Council for Children sponsors Christmas for Kids. Participants (after the initial year on the program) have to complete 8 hours of classes. The library offers online classes through the Universal Class that can be used for this purpose. The classes are often 13 lessons long -- which could very well take the full 8 hours. Classes to consider include job hunting classes, parenting, stress management and financial management. Upon completion of the class, participants will get a certificate that lists the number of lessons, quizzes, assignments and log-ins. Take this certificate to the Attleboro Area Council for Children office as proof that you took the class. To sign up for the class you need either a North Attleboro library card (click below) or an Attleboro library card.