Online Services at your local library (And they're free!)

6/27/2014 04:26:00 PM Amanda, End User Support Technician
This week we'd like to spotlight some of the free services offered by Bossier Parish Library. The best part? All of them are available online from your home computer! You don't even need to leave the house! Last week we covered Mango Languages, which allows you to learn a new language for free. This week we're going to cover a few of the lesser known online services.

Auto Repair Reference Center (ARRC)
The ARRC is a free database with information on the repair and maintenance of cars and trucks. It gives basic information on various model cars all the way back to 1953. It provides step by step instructions, complete with diagrams. It even has estimates on time and cost of repair, for those of us who would rather leave the repair up to professionals. Now you can arm yourself with knowledge before taking your car to the mechanic.



Cypress Resume
Writing a resume can be tricky - it's fine line between too much and too little information and between being memorable while still remaining professional. Many programs like Microsoft Word have templates available, but those can lack personality. Cypress Resume is a free service available through Bossier Library that makes writing a memorable resume quick and easy! You choose phrases that describe you and your work experience and Cypress Resume assembles them into a professional resume. You can even create an account, which allows you to save your resume and come back any time to add experience without starting all over. 


Legal Forms Library
The Legal Forms Library is just as described - it's a database of legal forms available to the public. Though neither the site or the library can offer legal advice, we can offer free legal forms. There are forms available for everything from Last Will and Testament to Name Changes. These can be completed and printed from any computer with internet access. 



These are just a few of the online services available from your local library. Access to these and many more is available through the Bossier Parish Library website: www.bossierlibrary.org

Comment and let us know what you think! If you'd like more information on these or any other library services, you can call your local library branch or contact us on Facebook or Twitter. 


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Learning a New Language with Technology

6/18/2014 01:04:00 PM Amanda, End User Support Technician
Have you ever wanted to learn a new language? I personally love the idea of knowing at least enough to get around in several languages, but I don’t always the extra money to spend on classes or on services like Rosetta Stone. I also love to travel and think it’s important to at least make an effort to speak the local language instead of just walking around and hoping someone in the vicinity speaks English. For that I want something practical that I can use in conversation. The last time I tried this I was going to France and wanted to learn the basics. Instead, the CD I bought wanted to teach me to count. I just needed to know where the train station was, not show off my ability to count to ten!  That’s why I was really excited to learn about Mango Languages. Mango is a fast and effective way to learn to hold practical conversations in a new language. It’s got both audio and visual elements which helps me follow along. And the best part? It’s free with my library account!

Mango Languages has lessons available in 63 different languages, including languages you’d expect to find like Spanish, French or Italian. But Mango doesn’t stop at the expected languages. They have also have languages like Arabic, Yiddish or even Hawaiian. There are special languages as well like Biblical Hebrew, Latin, or Ancient Greek. You can even take a course on speaking Pirate! (I have to admit: I've added that one to my own personal list.)

Mango also has English lessons available for anyone who speaks English as a second language and wants to learn more. There are English lessons available in 17 different languages! 

To access Mango for free, go to our website at www.bossierlibrary.org and find the Mango Languages link on the right hand side. There are links to access from within the library or from home, so you don’t even have to be sitting at a library computer to use Mango.
Once you’re on the site, it will ask you to enter your library card number and PIN. Your library PIN is the last four numbers on your card. Once you've entered that, Mango will ask you to create an account with an email. This lets you keep track of your lessons so that you can pick up where you left off.

Mango even has apps available for iPhone/iPad and for Android devices. You can learn on the go or on your lunch break. You can even use it to entertain yourself and your family on those long boring car rides.





We want to know what you think! Will you be trying Mango? Do you have an idea for a topic or a question you'd like us to address? Leave us a comment here or tell us on Facebook or Twitter. Links to those accounts can be found on the right hand side of this page. 
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