Today is the official first day of spring, which for many people means it's time start thinking about this year's garden. That is, for those of us who haven't been planning all winter. Today we're going to talk about what may be a surprising source of gardening help - your smartphone! There are several apps available today that can help you plant your garden, whether you're an amateur or an old pro.

Garden Time Planner by Burpee

Garden Squared

Garden Compass

If you have a plant, pest or disease you need identified...look no further. The Garden Compass Plant and Disease Identifier app allows you to take a photo and submit it to our team of expert horticultural garden advisers who will identify it for you, as well as provide you with specific product recommendations to resolve any problems you may have. As your photo passes up the queue you will be kept informed as to its progress.

Garden Manager

Fall is almost upon us and that means football season will soon be kicking off. (See what we did there?) College football season started on Wednesday August 27 and the NFL will have their first game on September 4th. These days being a sports fan is so much more than watching the game on television or arguing about your teams' clear superiority at work the next day. The rise of technology means that fans can connect to their favorite teams and get information about stats and scores in brand new ways.

For this week's blog focus we will be recommending Apps for Sports Fans. Football may be on everyone's mind but it's definitely not the only sport that inspires devotion, so we'll be discussing some apps that cover multiple sports.

ESPN SportsCenter App

Yahoo! Sports

August is in full swing and almost all area schools are back in session. Two weeks ago we posted several online resources that make a student's life easier. The downside of going online to use those tools is how distracting the internet can be. It can be easy to think "I'll just check Facebook quickly" and look up to find that an hour has passed. And don't even get us started on Pinterest!

There are several tools available to help keep students (and anyone else working on computers) on task.

One of the most important tools to have when trying to stay focused is by using what's called a URL blocker. The URL is just another name for the web address. For example, the URL for this site is http://bpl-it.blogspot.com A URL blocker can keep you from visiting certain sites during a set period of time. This can be helpful if you just can't help checking Facebook or Twitter on your computer when you should be writing a paper or looking up information. It can help for those working from home as well.

Stayfocusd

Our favorite URL blocker is a free add-on called Stayfocusd. It works only on the Google Chrome browser. (If you use Firefox, don't worry - we'll discuss it next!)
Stayfocusd increases productivity by temporarily blocking time-wasting websites. There are several different options in blocking websites - including blocking all websites and or allowing only one or two websites. (We might suggest leaving the library site unblocked, of course.) Stayfocusd allows you set a time limit and even includes a countdown clock to let you know how long these will be blocked.

LeechBlock

Smartphones and tablets have become an integral part of our everyday life; something most of us can't bear to leave the house without, like our keys or wallet. While any smartphone with internet access is useful, it's the apps on the phone that make it both indispensable and fun. Every so often, this blog will feature apps for people who love books, music, sports, art and more. We will also feature apps to help increase productivity and make your life a little easier.

This week we are going to showcase some apps designed for people who love books and reading. Most of these apps are available on several different devices, but a few aren't so we'll be sure to specify.

Overdrive Media Console

It's pretty much required that we start with Overdrive because we're a library, but honestly we'd put it at the top of the list anyway. Overdrive is an app that allows you to read eBooks and listen to audio-books on your phone or tablet. It's part of your library account, so there's never any charge. The books return automatically so you can't even be charged late fees. New books are added to the collection every day. For some of these books, you'll need an Adobe ID. This is a free ID that you create using your email one time only. If you're not comfortable with creating an Adobe ID, don't worry! There are plenty of books you can still access.
Overdrive is available for: Apple (via iTunes) Android (via Google Play), Windows Phone.
Download for other devices including Kindle, Nook and your PC can be found on the Overdrive Website.

Purchase eBooks

Kindle

The Kindle App allows you to download books from Amazon to your device. You don't have to be using a Kindle in order to use the Kindle App, but you do have to register on Amazon before you can purchase any books or audiobooks. 

The Kindle app is available on: iTunes, Google Play, and Windows Phone. You can also download it on your PC and other apps at www.amazon.com

Nook

The Nook app allows you download books from Barnes and Noble to your device. Like the Kindle App, it is not necessary to be on a Nook to use the Nook app, but you must register at BarnesandNoble.com in order to download books. 
The Nook app is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Windows Phone

iBooks & Google Play Books

These apps comes installed on your device and allow you to purchase books from iTunes, or Google Play. . It is important to remember that any purchases you make in iBooks can only be read on an Apple product like an iPhone or iPad.  For example, if you buy books in Apple iBooks and then switch to a Samsung Galaxy, you will not be able to transfer those books to your new Samsung. Other apps like Kindle or Nook work on any device so your purchases can be transferred. 

Keep Track of the Books You Read

There are several apps that allow you to keep track of the books that you've read and get recommendations for books to read in the future. We're just going to cover two of these apps

GoodReads
GoodReads is a website and mobile app that allows you to list any books that you've read or want to read in the future. You can also rate the books and receive recommendations for books to read based on those ratings. There are discussion groups and online book clubs as well. Because authors have GoodReads pages as well, you can get updates on upcoming books and works. GoodReads is free but you will have to register with an email address.
This app is available on iTunes and Google Play.


BookCrawler
BookCrawler is similar to GoodReads in that it allows you to keep track of books you've read. BookCrawler lets you scan the barcode of the book itself to add it to your list, letting you skip typing all the book titles manually if you'd like. Of course, you can still search for books by title or author as well. There is a free version that allows you to input up to 25 books, but for more than that you'll have to pay for the full version. Luckily for those who are serious about cataloging their personal library, the full version is usually around $2. Unfortunately BookCrawler is available only on iTunes. Hopefully an Android version will be released soon!

Reading Can Mean More Than Just Books

Reading means more than just eBooks or audiobooks.

Comixology
Comixology allows you to purchase and read comics on your phone or tablet. You can purchase the same day the comics are released in stores. You can find sales, discounts and even free comics! Comixology app is free, though you'll have to purchase the comics.
This app is available on iTunes and Google Play.


Poetry from the Poetry Foundation
This app allows you to read a new poem daily or search for your favorite poets. Feeling romantic? Need something to cheer you up? There are collections based on every mood and occasion. You can even search by memorable lines! This app is free and available on iTunes and Google Play.





What are your favorite reading related apps? Have ideas on topics you'd like us to cover? Leave a comment here or on our Facebook or Twitter.