Why Buy When You Can Download eBooks for Free?

1/26/2011 10:00:00 AM Jaketha, I/T Manager 0 comments
Did you get a nice, shiny e-reader for Christmas? How about a new iPod or MP3 player? Through your library’s newest service, Overdrive, you can checkout and download e-books and audiobooks without leaving your couch. (We also have music and videos available!)

All you need is your library card, a computer with an Internet connection, and free software.

How it works:

To start using Overdrive, visit our “Virtual Branch” at http://bossier.lib.overdrive.com/. Our homepage features iPod compatible audiobooks, the newest additions to our collections, and our most popular titles.

We have a variety of collections for you to browse on the left side of the page, including our audiobook (fiction /nonfiction), e-book (fiction / nonfiction), music, and video collections. These collections are broken down into different genres for more specific browsing. For example, our ‘Audiobook Fiction’ collection is broken down into several genres, such as Mystery, Romance, and Historical Fiction. We also have separate collections for children and teens. You can sort each collection by the date the titles were added, popularity, title, and creator.

Check out the public domain e-books from Project Gutenberg, which don’t count against your number of checkouts and are yours to keep forever.

To get started:

Find the “Software Downloads” link on the left side of our Virtual Branch Page. You must download two pieces of software:

  • Adobe Digital Editions: e-book software.
    • ADE will need to be activated with an email address. Follow directions on the installation screen. 
  • Overdrive Media Console: allows you to enjoy audiobooks, music, and videos.
Once you install the software, you will be ready to download some books!
  • Click on a title to download.
  • Click “Add to my Digital Bookbag.”
  • From there, you can “Browse for More Titles”, or “Proceed to Checkout.”


To Checkout:

  • You will be prompted to “Sign In.”
  •  Login with your library card number and PIN.
    • Your PIN is the last 4 digits of your library card number.
  • Select 7 or 14-day checkout.
  • Click “Confirm Checkout.”
  • Download your titles.
    • E-books will open in Adobe Digital Editions.
    • Audiobooks, music, and video will open in Overdrive Media Console
Once your titles are downloaded, you can transfer them to a portable device.

Don’t have a portable device? Not a problem! You can enjoy all of our downloadable materials directly from your computer!

Pros:

  • Free of charge
  • Available 24/7
  • No late fees
  • No wait time for overdue returns
    • Once an item placed on hold returns to the system, you are immediately notified that it’s available to download
Cons:

  • Publisher decides which titles are available and in which format
    • Some books not available at all
    • Some titles only available in one format
      • May be incompatible with Macs
    • However, we select the most versatile options for downloading, as well as the hottest titles as soon as they are available
  • One book, one user
    • We purchase individual electronic copies of a title, just like physical items.
    • If a book is checked out, it’s unavailable to other patrons.
    • However, you may put a hold on a book and will be notified via email when it is available.
  • No renewals
    • Can be checked out again immediately if no holds on item
  • No early returns
    • except for Adobe e-books

Getting started with this service may seem a little daunting, but have no fear! Once you get over the initial hurdles of downloading the software and transferring to a device for the first time, the process will be smooth sailing from there.

Tips:


Kimberly is the Children’s Acquisitions Librarian and has worked at the Bossier Parish Library for 1.5 years. She has been fully immersed in Overdrive since September. Some of the downloadable titles she has recently enjoyed include “Freedom” by Jonathan Franzen, and “The Other Wes Moore” by Wes Moore. You can contact her with Overdrive questions at overdrive@bossierlibrary.org
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Hey! Homework Help is Just a Click Away?!?

1/25/2011 10:00:00 AM Jaketha, I/T Manager 0 comments
Image: buzzle.com
Mom, I need help with my homework!!!  Or….What did my teacher say I need to do to solve this algebra problem???  Or ....Periodic Table of Elements----What is the Periodic Table of Elements????  Do these sound like familiar questions being asked at your house when it’s time to complete homework?  Are you as a parent at your wits end after a long day at work and can barely comprehend two plus two? Or are you a middle school, high school, or college student who needs a little extra help to complete an assignment?  All of you are in LUCK!!!!! 

The Bossier Parish Library offers free online homework help to all students from elementary school to college freshmen and sophomores and even adults seeking a GED through a service called Tutor.com.  This service connects Louisiana K-12 students, adults preparing for the GED and college students to a live tutor online for one on one help with homework. It also offers studying and test preparation in all core academic subjects including math, science, social studies and English. It’s awesome!!!


If you or your student is having trouble with a homework problem or concept, call on the professional tutors from Tutor.com for help. Every tutor is a highly qualified expert who has completed a thorough background check. Tutors are certified teachers, graduate school students, university students, and professionals in their fields.  Upon accessing Tutor.com, you or your student is connected to a tutor anonymously in a secure online classroom where you will use text-chat, an interactive whiteboard and secure web sharing to communicate with the tutor. Once the session is completed, the session can be printed or emailed to yourself for later review. The professional tutoring portion of Tutor.com is available Sunday-Thursday from 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.  Tutoring in Spanish is available as well.


Another great feature of Tutor.com that I have neglected to mention so far is the SkillsCenter.  The SkillsCenter is a facet of Tutor.com that allows students to access online resources such as streaming videos and worksheets to build skills in math, science, English and social studies. These resources are available 24/7!!!

With Tutor.com available at your fingertips, Mom and Dad can relax after work instead of trying to figure out the capital of Vermont, and upper level students can get that little bit nudging when they are stuck on a problem.  There is no reason NOT to take advantage of this great resource!  It’s FREE and available to anyone who needs it.

The Best Way to Access Tutor.com:

Tutor.com, which is also referred to as Homework Louisiana, is the leading online tutoring and homework help service. The Bossier Parish Library, through the State Library of Louisiana, is providing this free service, which can be accessed from within the Bossier Parish Library or from your home computer by visiting www.bossierlibrary.org. Once logged into the site, click on the first link under Research and Homework: Tutor.com/Homework Help. If you are within the borders of Louisiana, you won’t even need your library card!

For more information, contact Connie, Reference and Education Coordinator at 318-746-1693.


Connie has been the Reference and Education Coordinator since August 2010 and has been with the Bossier Parish Library since 2006.  Since becoming the Reference and Education Coordinator, she has been training staff and the general public on how to take advantage of Tutor.com.  There has been a lot of positive feedback from everyone including the local high schools that have introduced the database to their students. 

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Why Teen Brains Fixate on Stuff Like Tacos & Ninjas?

1/24/2011 10:00:00 AM Jaketha, I/T Manager 0 comments

What would you do if your friend was in an abusive relationship?  How do you deal with a friend who is avoiding you?  Find help with these questions and more, including how to lose weight safely and how to get your parents to trust you at Teen Health & Wellness!

You can easily visit the Teen Health & Wellness website by visiting the Bossier Parish Library website at http://www.bossierlibrary.org and clicking on the Teen Health and Wellness link on the menu on the left.  This link will log you in automatically so that you can access all of the features.

Once you’re on the site you can read personal stories written by teens about their experiences with acne, anxiety, dating, driving, food allergies, being adopted, and dealing with the death of a friend or family member.  You can also write and submit your own personal story – if your story is published on the website you’ll receive a letter of commendation and a $25 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble. 

You can submit questions for Dr. Jan, as well as read questions other teens have asked.  The website also offers a glossary of health terms and information about human anatomy and mental health, including this tidbit about the teen brain:
“Every person interprets the world, through his or her body and brain, in his or her own way. Yet, there are certain things that we can say about the way teens, in general, experience life that we can’t say about small children or the elderly. In other words, teens walk a different walk than the rest of the world. They—you—see things differently from the rest of us. You interpret things—facial expressions, sounds, anger, and even time—in a way that is all but foreign to those who aren’t teens. You sleep differently. You make decisions differently. You act differently. You are different, and it is because you are a teenager. It also has a lot to do with your brain.
What do we mean when we ask, “How does the teen brain work?” More accurately, we might ask, “What is the way in which the teen brain interprets the world and then causes the teen body to act upon those interpretations?” In a general sense, the answers to these questions have been called teen brain syndrome. It sounds downright nasty, doesn’t it? But if you think about it (with your brain) for a little while, it may not be as far off the mark as it seems.” (Wilson, 2011)
Check out the site to find out more about why the teen brain works differently!  Other topics that you can learn about on the site include:

  • Body Basics
  • Developmental Disorders
  • Diseases, Infections, & Conditions
  • Diversity
  • Drugs & Alcohol
  • Eating Disorders
  • Family Life
  • Friendship & Dating
  • Green Living
  • Grief & Loss
  • Mind, Mood, & Emotions
  • Nutrition, Fitness, & Appearance
  • Safety
  • Sexuality & Sexual Health
  • Skills for School, Work, & Life

Wilson, Michael. "The Teen Brain." Teen Health and Wellness. Rosen, 2011. Web. 20 Jan. 2011.

Tonya Oswalt has worked with the Bossier Parish Library since April of 2007, including 2 ½ years in teen services.  She strives to make the library a more interesting and entertaining place for teenagers by providing them with new books and regular teen programming, including a monthly get together on the first Saturday of each month, a teen summer reading program, and four lock-ins a year.  For more information about any of the Bossier Parish Library’s teen programs, contact Tonya at 746-1693 or toswalt@state.lib.la.us.
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Are You Planning (or Reestablishing) Your Career?

1/21/2011 10:00:00 AM Jaketha, I/T Manager 0 comments
Image Source: nataliedee.com
Times are tough!!! Did you know that it was recently reported that the unemployment rate was 9.4 percent which means that approximately 14.5 million people were out of work (Bureau of Labor Statistics)?  However, there is some good news.  Also according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 3.2 to 3.3 million jobs available for the taking.  Those statistics tell me that jobs are available for about 4.5 percent of those 14.5 million people, and this is where the Bossier Parish Library can help!!!!  

The Bossier Parish Library is now offering a free online job resource tool called Career Cruising. Career Cruising uses a comprehensive approach in planning a successful career.  This leading online career exploration and portfolio development system provides detailed occupation profiles, comprehensive post-secondary education information, and industry-leading assessments. With these tools, you are able to determine your interests, job related strengths, and educational requirements for your desired occupation.  After exploring various career choices, you are then in a better position to decide on which career best suits you.  Career Cruising also assists with interviewing skills and resume writing.  How great is that?!

Image Source: careerealism.com
Career Cruising allows access to hundreds of detailed occupation profiles. The Career Matchmaker component is based on an internationally acclaimed interest assessment that is used and respected around the world, while the My Skills component matches patrons’ skills to careers. Personalized Feedback will help you understand how careers relate to your skills and interests. You can input and store career and education related documents and your professional looking resumes on the site by simply creating a Portfolio.

As you can see, Career Cruising can help everyone from the recent high school graduate trying to figure out what he or she wants to do after graduation to those who are changing careers mid-life either by choice or necessity.  With all of the wonderful features in Career Cruising, anyone can easily determine which careers interest them, what is required in order to obtain that career, and even how to make a good impression at the interview!

How to Access Career Cruising:

The Bossier Parish Library is providing this free service which can be accessed from within the Bossier Parish Library or from your home computer by visiting www.bossierlibrary.org.  From the library’s homepage, click on Career Cruising under Research and Homework on the left side of the page.  All that is required is a Bossier Parish library card. It’s truly that simple and the database is extremely user-friendly. 

For more information, contact Connie, Reference and Education Coordinator at 318-746-1693.


Connie has been the Reference and Education Coordinator since August 2010 and has been with the Bossier Parish Library since 2006.  Since becoming the Reference and Education Coordinator, she has been training staff and the general public on how to take advantage of Career Cruising.  There has been a lot of positive feedback from everyone including the local high schools that have introduced the database to their students. 
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Want to Learn a New Language Fast?!?

1/20/2011 10:00:00 AM Jaketha, I/T Manager 0 comments
Image Source: http://blog.coverofthemonth.com
Have you ever wanted to expand your horizons and learn a new language? Maybe you have tried buying or checking out books from the library. Maybe you have thought about getting Rosetta Stone but was turned off by the hefty price tag. Well, look no further because Bossier Parish Library now offers an online foreign language learning service that’s FREE for active library cardholders.

Through our website, you can gain access to Mango Languages, which is the easiest and fastest way to learn a new language. If you will be visiting a foreign country soon or just want to take a quick lesson or two, then try out the Basic version of over 30+ languages. Or if you want a more in-depth teaching at a slower pace, try the Complete 1.0 or 2.0 version of most languages.

Once you delve inside of Mango, you will notice that with each chapter lesson, you will be introduced to a new word, phrase, or sentence, that you can see and hear, then it’s your turn to practice saying it aloud. Similar to Rosetta Stone, Mango Languages now has a Voice Comparison tool, that enables you to record your pronunciation and compare it against the "native speaker" via the software. Now needing computer speakers and/or headphones, you would also need a computer microphone to utilize the Voice Comparison tool. To be honest, for the nontechnical user who might not be use to record sounds via their computer, this part might be a bit cumbersome. But even without it, you still have fun trying out a new language. The following video takes you behind the scenes of  Mango and gives you a brief tutorial of a lesson.


How You Get Started:

To sign up for Mango Languages, go to http://www.bossierlibrary.org/ and in the right-hand column, look for the Mango icon (as shown).  Click on the icon and you will be redirected to a login page. Here you will enter your BPL library card number and four-digit PIN (usually the last four digits of your library card).  Upon providing the correct login information, another page will appear where you will click on the Mango Languages link (or its icon as shown) and you will be forwarded to the actual Mango Languages website where you can begin. Before you go any further, feel free to bookmark that page for future reference.

Before you can access a lesson, you must decide how you wish to use this service. As shown in the video above, you can use it as a guest by clicking on the "Start Learning" button or you can create a profile so you can keep track of your progress for the remainder of the year. To create a profile, all you will need is your email address and a password and then click the "Signup" button.

Selecting a Foreign Language:

To browse or select a course, click on the Course tab across the top of the page, and then browse the 30+ courses listed under “Foreign Languages for English Speakers”. (If you are an ESL student, you would click on the “English Courses” link instead).  

Once you have selected the language that you would like to study, click it and you will be redirected to a web page where you will see the options for Basic, Complete 1.0, Complete 2.0, etc. Select which route you would like to take, but before you can begin the actual course, Mango will perform a system check of your computer to ensure that two features are either enabled and/or installed.

First, it will check to ensure that Javascript is enabled. If not, it will tell and may even provide on-screen instructions for how to correct this. Click here to learn how to turn on Javascript.  The second system check is to verify your current version of Adobe Flash Player. If its outdated or not installed, then just like Java, it might provide on-screen instructions, but if not download it here. Once the system check is complete, your lesson will open in a new window. Now, you too can have fun with Mango!

Since late-2007, Jaketha has worked as the Information Technology Specialist for Bossier Parish Libraries. For the past 14 years, she has worked in the technology industry for several public library systems in Louisiana and in Mississippi. She is currently using Mango Languages to learn French and Haitian Creole.


MORE REVIEWS  THIS WEEK:
  1. DEAR READER - Did You Know You Could Sample Book via Email!?! (1/18/2011)
  2. TUMBLEBOOKS - Have You Ever Seen a Book Tumble?!? (1/19/2011)
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Have Your Heard about TumbleBooks?!?!

1/19/2011 10:00:00 AM Charlie, I/T Customer Support 0 comments
TumbleBooks!? Isn’t that what happens when books fall off the shelf? Not in this article. Just like adult books have leaped into the digital age, so too have children books. Therefore, TumbleBooks are talking books and games designed specifically for kids and is offered online for FREE by Bossier Parish Libraries.

TumbleBooks takes a unique approach in presenting books to children. The books literally come alive right on the computer screen. Each book is full of animation, talking characters, music and sounds. We all know that in today’s world, children basically grow up with a computer mouse in their hand. Why not let them “play” on the computer and learn at the same time? So now let's take a quick peak to see what all the fuss is about.

TumbleBooks is loaded with great features, such as Storybooks, Read-Alongs and Nonfiction books (as shown to the right). One feature I find pretty cool is the ability to download Ebooks and Audio Books to the computer. In no time, your child could download their favorite Ebooks & Audio Books and read/listen to them right from your home computer for 90 days! Now isn't that cool?!? You don't even need to worry about installing any special software once you've downloaded them. That's because TumblePad 2.0 is an application that comes preloaded with the first download of an animated book, eBook, TumbleGame or audio book. In other words, each time you download an eBook or audio book, the TumblePad application comes right along with it. Oh yeah! The TumblePad app is also available for download via an hyperlink located at the bottom of the TumbleBooks website.

A couple of other features your child might like is the collection of learning Puzzles and Games that accompanies each book they read. These Puzzles and Games reinforce concepts from the book, allowing for a fun and educational experience. So what if you find a book or a game your child really enjoys and they want to save it? Well, TumbleBooks has taken care of that. From the navigational menu bar (as shown below), items can be saved and stored under the My Favorites. Kids can even save and store their favorite songs into their TumbleBooks playlist. From the navigational menu bar, the My PlayList option works just like an online music player allowing them to save and playback their favorite songs either collectively or selectively.


So now that I’ve told you all about TumbleBooks. Here's how to access it along with a few recommendations for your home computer or laptop that ensures that it works properly. Two easy steps to gain access to TumbleBooks:

  1. Open your favorite web browser and visit http://www.bossierlibrary.org/.
  2. In the right-hand column, look for the TumbleBooks logo (as shown to the right) and click it you will be take to the Tumblebooks website. Feel free to bookmark this page in your favorite for easy access later.

Now before you venture into the world of TB, it is recommended that you use a broadband internet connection like DSL or "high speed". You will also need to make sure that your home computer has Adobe Flash Player (unless you are using Google Chrome). You can easily tell if your computer have Adobe Flash installed because as soon as you visit the Tumblebook web site, if you don't see the big blue Tumblebook character surrounded by the six menu options (see large picture above), then you don't have Flash installed on your home computer. In this case, you can either follow the on-screen instructions or you can download Flash right here (it’s free!).  Once you have both of these features, your child can begin exploring books, educational games and more in the wonderful world of Tumblebooks.

Charlie Ashby is the I.T. Customer Support Liaison for the Bossier Parish Library System. He has held this position since August 2009 and has worked for BPL since mid-2006. Charlie is not a parent, but he does have a six-year-old sister-in-law who has used TumbleBooks and she absolutely loves it.
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Have You Checked Out "Dear Reader" Yet?!?

1/18/2011 10:00:00 AM Jaketha, I/T Manager 0 comments
Have you ever wanted to join a book club, but just can’t find the time? I can’t attend book clubs during the day because I work. I can’t attend book clubs during the evening after work because of responsibilities at home!

Have you read every book by your favorite author, and want to find other books that interest you, but have no idea what other author writes books you might want to read? Do you hate checking out a book from the library and, after reading a few pages, you realize you just can’t get into the book?

Through the Bossier Parish Library website, I found solutions to these problems – a FREE online book club called Dear Reader! You can choose from several different genres of books, including: fiction, nonfiction, teen, business, romance, science fiction, mystery, thriller, audio, and classics. Dear Reader offers something for everyone! It is a great way to discover new authors that write books you want to read. There is even a Book Club Forum you can participate in so you can discuss books just like you might at an “in-person” book club meeting. You can also sign up for the AuthorBuzz newsletter. It introduces about 5 new books per week, and usually at least one (but usually more) of the authors has posted a prize giveaway you can enter! I recently won a signed and personalized copy of a book! One of my co-workers won the grand prize which consisted of a gift basket of specialty items from the author’s home state in New England!

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:

Every day, Monday through Friday, I receive in my email a five-minute selection from a chapter of a book. Since it is in my email inbox, I can read the selection whenever I have a few minutes to spare, whether early in the morning or late in the evening when I’m at home in my PJ’s! By the end of the week, I will have read 2-3 chapters of a book – usually just enough for me to decide whether or not I would be interested in reading the rest of the book. If I’m interested in finishing the book, I just search for it using the Bossier Parish Library online catalog, and usually the book is available for check-out from the library. If the library does not own a copy of the book, then it can easily by found it at another library. All you need to do is submit an interlibrary loan request to have a copy from another library system.

HOW TO SIGN UP:

To sign up for the Dear Reader online book club, go to http://www.bossierlibrary.org/, in the right-hand column and scroll down into you see the "Online Book Clubs" icon (as shown). Click the icon, then just enter your email address and check the boxes beside the genres of any selections you want to receive. You can choose as many as you like. New books are started each Monday. But the best thing of all - you don't need a Bossier Parish Library library card to enjoy this email book club service. It is open to any and all! Happy Reading!

Leslie is an Administrative Assistant for Bossier Parish Library. She has worked for the library (and has been a subscriber to Dear Reader Online Book Club) for a year and half!
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