Keeping New Years Resolutions made easy with BPL

'Tis the season for New Year's Resolutions! Making resolutions is the easy part, unfortunately keeping those resolutions can get more difficult as time goes on. How many times have you started off the New Year determined to lose weight, learn a new language or skill and forgotten all about it by March? Well not this year! This year Bossier Parish Library is here to help. Each week in January we'll be featuring a way to keep those resolutions, with free resources from Bossier Parish Library.


This week: Learning a New Language


Bossier Parish Library has several resources available for those who want to learn a new language this year.



Books and DVDS

If you are looking for physical books and DVDs that you can hold in your hands, Bossier Library has some available on everything from Russian to Spanish to Creole!  Visit our Catalog to find these and more!

If you'd rather learn on your smartphone or tablet, we also have eBooks and Audio-books available through Overdrive and Hoopla!  If you need help using Hoopla, view our instructional post here



Free Online Courses with Pronunciator

Pronunciator is a free online service that allows you to master a language online. All you need is a Bossier Parish Library card! You can find a link to Pronunciator on our website: www.bossierlibrary.org. If you're looking for in depth instructions and reviews you can view our post about it here




Stay tuned for more information on resources for keeping your New Years Resolutions in the coming month!



Gift Guide - for the home cook

In our last gift guide post for the season, we'll be discussing gadgets for the kitchen. In a past New Tech Tuesday post we have discussed larger high tech appliances, like stoves and sous-vide machines, but this post will be dedicated to the smaller gadgets you never even knew you needed.

Crock-Pot® Smart Slow Cooker with WeMo® from Belkin


This Crock-Pot comes with an app for your smart phone or tablet which allows you to adjust and monitor cooking times and temperature from anywhere. Of course, it can also be controlled manually if you are at home. It has all of the same features as other Crock-Pots, including cool-touch handles. 


Bag Re-sealer

This gadget allows you to re-seal open bags of food, such as chip bags. They can save lots of much on storage bags as you are able to store food in their original packaging. These keeps food fresh longer than clips. There are several versions of the Bag Re-sealer available, including this one from iTouchless


iPad Sleeves

iPads and tablets have become an important part of the kitchen, giving you recipes, cooking videos and even entertainment at your fingertips as you cook. But the kitchen can be a dangerous place for tablets and smart phones, the liquid and dry ingredients can cause damage to the screen and get into the grooves. There are several sleeves available to keep the iPad safe and dry while in the kitchen, like this one from The Orange Chef



What is your favorite hi-tech kitchen gadget? Tell us in the comments! 


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Gift Guide - For Music Lovers

Christmas is only a week away, so hopefully this will provide some gift inspiration. This week we're talking about gadgets for Music Lovers.

Wireless Speakers

Wireless speakers allow you to play music from your phone or device without plugging in. This allows you to control your music from your device while giving the freedom to move around. These come in all shapes, sizes and prices. 


Rocki 

If you love your old-school analog speakers but want to play music wirelessly from your phone, laptop or tablet, this is gadget for you. Rocki connects to your current speakers and allows you to stream music using WiFi. The only downside to this device is that you can only play music that is on your device - no Rhapsody, Pandora, or Spotify.

Picture from Rocki

Wireless Headphones

Wireless headphones are quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to listen to music without the hassle of tangled cords. These headphones are especially popular with runners.There are several different kinds of wireless headphones that come at various prices. The rapper 50 Cent has a line of headphones that are sweat-proof and water resistance, making them perfect for athletes. 

Image Source



USB Turntables

These turntables are perfect for those who want to combine their love of old school vinyl and the convenience of MP3. Just hook these turn tables into your computer and you can convert the music to MP3. This gives you these sound of the vinyl record on any device. 
For more specific information and product reviews, check out ComputerWorld.com's review of  USB Turntables. 
Image Source

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Gift Guide - Tech for Fitness Lovers

This time of year everyone seems to be thinking of the holidays, but January is right around the corner, and with it, New Years Resolutions. This week we're looking at gadgets for athletes and fitness buffs. 

Finis Neptune


Music can be a huge part of any workout, and now thanks to this gadget and others like it, swimmers can have music to pump them up for an extra lap as well. This gadget attaches to your swim goggles and plays music through bone conduction audio. It sounds odd, but this technology is used in everything from lollipops to toothbrushes. Bone conduction audio removes the need for earbuds and cables. It also makes for clearer music when underwater.

Image via Finis


Sportiiiis

This product is great for cyclists and runners. It gives you statistics, like heart rate and speed, without having to take your eyes off the road. This gadget is mounted to your sunglasses and displays information when prompted by the users voice. 

Image from 4iiii

One of the biggest part of keeping fit is watching what you eat, but for most of us that's easier said than done. For those really committed to portion control, the HAPIfork is here to help. The HAPIfork has built in sensors that can tell you how fast you are eating and how many bits you've taken. The fork will even vibrate to alert you if you're going over your preset limits. 

Image via HAPI

Misfit Shine

This is an activity tracker that can be worn as a bracelet or necklace or kept in your pocket. You can set goals on your mobile phone and the Misfit Shine will help you track your progress. 

Image via Misfit

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Gift Guide - Tech to Make Chores Easier!

'Tis the season for giving, so this month we'll be giving you some tech gift ideas for people in your life. This week we're talking about gifts for the person who likes to work around the house (or better yet, these will make things easier for those who hate working around the house). .

Black and Decker AutoSense Drill

This drill and many others like it, take the guesswork out of drilling. This drill can sense when the screw is fully seated in the material and will stop drilling. This keeps it from 'stripping' a screw so that it's difficult to remove and from drilling so tightly that it splinters the material you are working with. It also has built in lamp so you can always see where and what you're drilling.

Image via Gizmodo


RoboReel

This is a motorized, automated garden hose. Now, we know what you're thinking: Who could possibly need a garden hose that fancy? After reading about online, we do! This hose is housed in a hard shell on wheels that allows you to pull it around your yard without worrying about kinks or tangles. It also has a remote that allows you to turn it on and off. There's even a timer that allows you to regularly water your lawn for up to a month. When you've finished watering a battery powered motor carefully winds the hose back into the housing, keeping it out of the way.



Image via RoboReel

Roomba and Scooba

iRobot has several devices to help you around the house. You've probably heard of the Robot Vacuum cleaner Roomba by now, but did you know they have a machine that will scrub your floors? They also have a mopping robot and even ones for outdoor chores like cleaning your pool or gutters. 

Image from iRobot

ECOVACS Window Cleaners

Just about the only thing iRobot's devices don't do is clean your windows. That's alright, ECOVACS has a robot that can do that for you. 


Image from the-gadgeteer



These amazing new gadgets could help with chores in almost every room, but unfortunately for us the price tag on most of these items makes this more of a wish list than a likely purchase list. We'll just have to hold out for the ultimate in housework technology. 

Image from Boomerang


Protecting yourself from fraud on Cyber Monday

It's Thanksgiving week and once the turkey induced naps are over many people's thoughts turn to just one thing:  Shopping! But Black Friday isn't the only day to get great deals, in the past few years a new shopping day has become popular - Cyber Monday. This is the new trend of online retailers offering big sales the Monday after Thanksgiving. Many people choose to wait to buy big ticket electronic items on Cyber Monday instead of fighting the crowds in stores on Black Friday. Just like any other time you make an online purchase, it's important to follow a few simple rules to stay safe. 

Image source

Use Credit or PayPal

Most online retailers require a credit card or a credit card endorsed debit card (like a Visa CheckCard) in order to make a purchase. However, some sites will allow you to pay with your checking account. It's best to run transactions as credit. As we covered last week, credit card companies offer more protection against fraud than many banks. 

Use only reputable sites

When buying anything online, it is important to make sure you're buying it from a well known and well respected seller. That means either from the website of a store, preferably one with a location near you in case something goes wrong, or from sites like Amazon and eBay. On any website there should be information on how to contact customer service, and it should be more than just an email address. 
Special Note: When purchasing items on eBay or Amazon, be sure to notice where it is being shipped from if you want to get it in time for Christmas. Some places ship from Hong Kong or Japan and it can take up to 2 months for your item to come in. 


Use Secure Sites

If you're making a purchase online, you should be on a secure site. How can you tell it's a secure site? There are two ways to know if the site you're on is secure. The address will start with https:// with the "s" signifying secure. There will also be a small padlock on the bar. These indicators may only show up when you start to checkout, but if they are not on the page it's best to avoid entering any personal information. 

Image source


Use Common Sense

As we said last week, like most things in life, common sense can be your best defense. 

  • Don't use sites that do not have a good reputation
  • When making purchases, sites should never ask for social security numbers. 
  • Check your bank account before and after you shop and monitor it closely for a few days after.





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Cooking Apps just in time for Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is only two weeks away and that means that everyone's mind has turned to one thing - food. And yes, thankfulness. But mostly food. Today we're going to discuss a few cooking related apps that could help your busy Thanksgiving go a little more smoothly.

Paprika 

The Paprika app is one of the most popular recipe apps available, and for good reason. This app allows you to enter your own recipes or use it's built-in browser to save recipes from anywhere on the Internet. It also allows you to make meal plans, and create grocery lists. There is a one time fee for purchasing the app. You can also sync your information on all your devices. That means you can see your recipes and grocery lists on your smartphone, tablet and desktop all at the same time. 

Available on: Apple and Android - including Kindle and Nook
Cost: $5 for the mobile app, $20 for the desktop version. 


            




BigOven - www.bigoven.com

This app is similar to Paprika, in that allows you to input your own recipes or save recipes you find on the Internet. It allows you to plan meals and make grocery lists as well. BigOven also has a feature that allows you to enter up to three foods that you already have around the house and it will give you recipe suggestions using those ingredients. Need an emergency side dish for that office potluck you forgot all about? Big Oven can help you find a recipe for ingredients you already have around the house. 

Available on: Apple , Windows Phone, and Android - including Kindle and Nook. It's also available in a desktop app or via their website. 
Cost: FREE,  allows in-app purchases





Food Network In the Kitchen 

This app is more specific than the others as it focuses on recipes from Food Network stars. If you love Food Network and want to try recipes you've seen, this is the app for you. It allows you to find recipes by Food Network Star, Show or by ingredient. You can also browse recipe categories, like Healthy, Quick & Easy, or for a specific holiday or event. This app, unlike BigOven and Paprika does not allow for meal planning or creating grocery lists. 


Available on: Apple and Android - including Kindle.
Cost: FREE 


                      







Dinner Spinner from AllRecipes


AllRecipes.com is a very popular recipe website and now they have a mobile app available! This app allows users to search for specific recipes from thousands of recipes or use the fun "spin" option to get inspiration in the form of a random recipe. This app, unlike BigOven and Paprika does not allow for meal planning or creating grocery lists. 
Available on: Apple  Windows Phone and Android - including Kindle.
Cost: FREE

 




Find more ideas for great Cooking related apps here on Digital Trends.

What's your favorite cooking app? If you have an idea for blog posts or questions/comments, you can contact us on Facebook or Twitter

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New Tech Tuesday: Hoopla - a new service for borrowing movies, tv shows, audio books and music.

Have you heard about Hoopla? It's the new service from Bossier Parish Library that allows you to check out movies, television shows, audio books and full albums of music on your computer or smartphone. In this edition of New Tech Tuesday, we'll be going over how to borrow materials from Hoopla on your PC, tablet or smart phone.

Step One: Getting to Hoopla

The first step to checking out items on Hoopla is, of course, getting to the Hoopla site. On your computer this means going to http://www.hoopladigital.com. On your tablet or smart phone, you'd download the Hoopla Digital app. 

Step Two: Signing up 

The first time you visit to Hoopla site or app, you'll be asked to sign up for an account. This is free and only takes a few minutes to complete. We'll walk through each step below. The first screen shows you an Overview of the Hoopla service and lets you know what is required to use it. You'll need your library card number and PIN, and a valid email address. 


After the Overview, you'll be taken to a screen that will allow you to choose your library. Most of the time, this will automatically show you all of the libraries in your area that use Hoopla. Choose Bossier Parish Library and click Next. 



After choosing Bossier Parish Library, you'll be asked for your library card number and PIN. Bossier Parish Library does require a PIN, so make sure not to leave this blank. 
(Hint: The PIN is the last 4 digits of your library card number)



The final step in creating an account is entering your email address and creating a Hoopla password. This password is for Hoopla only so Bossier Parish Library staff won't be able to access or reset this password for you. If you do happen to forget this password, you can reset it through the Hoopla website. 


That was the final step! You should now see a Welcome to Hoopla page that gives you basic information on your Hoopla account, including the number of titles you can borrow every month. 


Step Three: Borrowing Materials

Now that you're signed up with an account you're ready to start borrowing titles! You can browse by type or search for a specific title or artist. When browsing you can switch between types at the top. There are several categories including New titles, Top titles and genres. Click on the cover picture to find more info or to borrow the item. 



When you've decided what you'd like to borrow, click on the cover picture. This will take you to a screen that will show you more details, including how long you'll be able to borrow the item. Click the borrow button to add the item to your account. 


Once you've borrowed the item, it can be found under the My Titles. This page also shows you how many more titles you can borrow in the month. 



Using Hoopla on your mobile device or tablet

Using Hoopla on a mobile device is exactly the same as the steps laid out above, though the appearance of the screens may be slightly different. 


Are you excited to start using Hoopla? We are. We're even listening to the album pictured above while typing this! 

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Question of the Week Answers

We have had a few requests that we post the answers to the Question of the Week contest. Below you can find the questions and answers in the order in which they were posted. 
Thank you to everyone who participated! The winner will be announced on Friday, November 7th. 



Bossier Parish Library has many databases that cover several different subjects and services – from resumes to literary articles. Name any three of the databases available at Bossier Parish Library.
Answer: Auto Repair Reference Center, Cypress Resume, GALE, LearningExpress, LegalForms, Literature Criticism Online

Bossier Parish Library has been a big part of the community for several decades, but how many exactly? What year was the Bossier Parish Library first proposed?
Answer: 1940

Meeting rooms are available for public use at all but two of our library branches. Which two branches do not currently have meeting rooms available? 
Answer: Koran and Haughton

The online catalog at BPL gives much more detailed information than card catalogs of the past. You’ll need those details to answer this week’s question. What is the total running time of The Lego Movie (2014)?
Answer: 101 minutes

BPL Reference librarians are available by text. What is the keyword  that you should include in your text?
Answer: bossparlib

What is the name of the service that allows Bossier Parish Library Patrons to download free music?
Answer: Freegal

BPL’s DVD collection includes several TV series – both new and classic. How many discs are included in the Castle Season 1 DVD?
Answer: 3

BPL patrons have access to several genealogy websites and databases. Name two of these. 
Answer: Ancestry.com, Collections Database, Footnote/Fold3, HeritageQuest, Names & Place Index

Bossier Parish Library has several free online services available for our patrons! What is the name of the service that can help you learn a foreign language?
Answer: Mango

The Historical Center houses artifacts and records relating to the history of Bossier Parish. It is an important part of our library and our community. What year was the Historical Center added on to Bossier Central branch? (We’ll give you a hint. This week’s answer can be found under the ABOUT tab on the library homepage.)
Answer: 1999

According to the BPL catalog, what is the page count the large print edition of David Baldacci’s King and Maxwell  (2013)?
Answer: 422

Bossier Parish Library now has a brand new way to learn a new language online! What is the name of that service?
Answer: Pronunciator

BPL patrons have access to eBooks and audio books online using their computer, eReader, tablet or Smartphone. What is the name of the service that provides access to these books?
Answer: Overdrive. Will also accept GreenGold

Bossier Parish Library offers library cards to people of all ages. How old do you have to be to get an adult library card?
Answer: 18

Bossier Parish Library offers many exciting and helpful books, DVDs, programs, and resources at no cost to our patrons. Where does the library get its funding?
Answer: a millage tax

Staying Safe Online - for Parents

The Internet can be a scary place, especially when you're a parent thinking of your kids being online. Between social media, games and, yes, even researching school work, most kids these days spend a great deal of time online. So how can you help keep them safe?

The biggest safety tip for parents is to be aware of what your kids are doing online. Do you know the sites the visit? Or the people they talk to? Do you know the things they post? Just like with real life, it is important to know where your kids are hanging out and who they're spending time with online. According to the McAfee Digital Deceptions study in 2013
Seventy-four percent of parents admit to not knowing about their children’s online behavior, but 46% of youth say that they would change their online behavior if their parents were paying attention.

Read the full report here, on the McAfee website
So how can you keep up with what your kids are up to? Here are some tips: 

Create an open and honest environment for discussing online behaviors and security risks with kids.
Start conversations regularly about practicing online safety and focus on offering guidance instead of trying to control children’s online behavior.
Emphasize the concept of credibility and encourage children to proceed with caution: not everything they see on the Internet is true and people on the Internet may not be who they appear to be. Talk with children, and especially teens, about the importance of creating and maintaining a positive online identity.
Watch for changes in behavior—if you child suddenly avoids the computer—it may be a sign they are being bullied online.
Review security settings and privacy policies for the websites your child uses.
Some sources also suggest putting the computer in a central location, keeping things in plain sight. 

Remember, it's not just computers that offer access to the Internet; kids can also access from their smart phone or tablet. Be aware of the apps that are on your kids' devices and what they're used for. Common Sense Media has a list of apps that parents should be aware of that can be found here. It's important to know what these apps are capable of and why your kids might want to use them. 


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Staying Safe Online --- with Social Media

Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram are great ways of keeping in touch with family, reconnecting with old friends, and making new ones. However, it is important to make sure that when using these sites, you're sharing information with only the people you want to and not strangers on the internet. Some unsavory people on the internet can and will use information that you post against you.

For example, posting on Facebook that you're on vacation can be a fun way to share the experience with your friends, but it can also let potential thieves know that you are out of town, leaving your home vulnerable. Many sites also allow users to 'check in' which also tells people you are away from home.

So how can you prevent strangers from seeing your personal information on Facebook? Adjust your security settings! Facebook has made it easier than every to see exactly who can see what you post on Facebook.

After you have logged into your Facebook page, you should see a security button in the top right hand corner. It looks like a padlock.



If you click on this button you will see several options.


The first option - Privacy Checkup - will walk you through choosing the privacy settings that are right for you. You can also see options to decide who can see what you post, who can send you messages and how to stop someone who is harassing you. More options are available under "See More Settings."

Guarding your information isn't' just limited to Facebook! It is very important to take the time to decide who can see your information on any website. It's a simple way to stay safe on one of the most popular social websites out there!


What social media sites do you like to use? Let us know in the comments!
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Staying Safe Online ... While Using Email

October is National Cyber Security Awareness month, so every week in October we will be focussing on a different aspect of staying safe online.

This week we are going to talk about staying safe while using email. Last week, we talked about passwords. Obviously, this is a huge part of staying safe on email and social media accounts. Without a strong password, hackers can access your account and send messages or posts from your account to your friends and family. If a hacker accesses your email, they can then send emails to anyone you have exchanged email with, even if it has been years since you spoke with them. You can read our last post for more information on creating strong passwords.

An important part of keeping your information and your computer safe when using email is to only open emails and especially attachments in emails, from people you know. Often times, people will send viruses or spyware through links in an email. Sometimes, they will masquerade as legitimate companies. That is why it is also important to look at the address of the sender. If an email claims to be from the FBI, IRS, or any other government agency and the sending email address does not end in .gov, it is not a true email. Also, no company will ask you for your personal information over email. They will not ask for your account number, bank account, social security number or any other private information.

Some fake emails are pretty easy to spot, like this email that claims to be from Coca-Cola. It seems pretty plain for an email from a Fortune 500 company, doesn't it? The "From" address also does not include the name Coca-Cola. Would a huge company not have their own website? These are things to notice before opening an attachment or clicking on a link.




Then there are others that go through great lengths to appear as though they are from the company, like this email from The Bank of Montreal. It certainly looks official, but it is asking for personal information. It is also trying to frighten you into sharing your information. Hackers know that if they can scare a person enough, that person will not hesitate to share their information.


It's not just companies being impersonated that you have to look out for when using email; individuals will often also try to swindle email users out of their money. One of the most commonly known ways they try to do this is the "Nigerian Prince" scam. If you have been online for a while, you have probably seen this for yourself. In this scam, someone claiming to be a Nigerian prince (or some other title that implies they have money) tells the story of how he is exiled from his country and but has money available. He just needs to borrow a little money from you to get to his vast fortune. You give him the money and of course he'll pay you right back. Sounds legitimate, right? Of course not. But when these scams first started appearing many people saw an opportunity to make some quick money. This brings us to something that's very important when using email or any other internet service: Don't believe everything you read. If something seems to good to be true, it probably is. Just like in the real world, people in the online world are not going to give you free money just for clicking a link or exchanging personal information. 


It can be confusing and even frightening to deal with all of these possible security risks, just remember: When in doubt, don't click! Call the company to verify if possible. It's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to protecting your information.

We hope this post has shared some new information with you. Stay tuned next time for tips on staying safe while using Social Media.

We will also have an post about a new service coming to the library! Don't miss out on this exciting news!