• The History of Tablet Computers
• Tablets vs. Laptops: Are They the Same?
• Why is iPad So Popular?
• What Makes a Tablet Computer Work? - an look at the current "operating systems" available.
• Who Needs a Tablet? - the benefits of having a tablet computer.
• Buying a Tablet Computer - which brands are available, features, and pricing.
• How Can I Get Internet on My Tablet? - what are my options for Internet service?
• Can I Get a Tablet Instead of a PC? - or Will a Tablet Replace My PC?

• Tech Tuesday Podcast #1 - Learn more
• Windows 7 vs. Vista vs. XP: Computer Speeds by Charlie - Read now
• New Windows PC + Old Printer = Will They Work? by Jaketha - Read now
• One or Two Easy Ways to Save on Printer Ink by Jaketha - Read now

This month, Bossier Parish Library is only offering 4 computer classes for the public. Why only 4?!? The reason is the I.T. Staff is hard at work preparing for our annual Spring Festival on April 30th at the Louisiana Boardwalk. Therefore, the classes are as follows and are in no certain order:

• Internet Fundamentals - Using Internet Explorer 7 and through hands-on exercises, you will learn the basics of navigating the World Wide Web (WWW) using the most popular search engine, Google. (1.5 hrs) We ask that patrons know how to use the mouse and keyboard for this class.
  
  
• Email Fundamentals - Setup a free email account using Yahoo! Learn basic navigation and become acquainted with account features, such as, Inbox, Drafts, Trash and Sign Out. Create and reply to your first email and learn basic email etiquette. (1.5 hrs) We ask that patrons know how to use the mouse and keyboard for this class. We also ask that patron be familiar with the Internet.
  
  
• Computer Fundamentals - Got a brand new computer at home collecting dust? If so, come and learn the basic components of your personal computer and printer, along with basic terminology. Learn how to turn on a computer on/off. Lecture only class! (2 hrs)
  
  
• Word Fundamentals - Using Microsoft Word 2007, learn the basic features,   how to create, edit, open and save a document as well as use templates for quickly creating a resume, letter or calendar. (2 hrs) We ask that patrons know how to use the mouse and keyboard for this class.

If you recently set up a new Windows PC at home, plugged in the USB cable for the printer, then saw that little yellow box in the lower right-hand corner pop up saying "Your printer has been installed!" You probably got all excited and thought, "Great! That's one less thing for me to worry about!"  But then, when it came time to print.... The motor geared up or maybe it didn't do anything but one you do know that is this stupid thing isn't printing. Ugh!

The bad side is that you are likely too frustrated to read the rest of this blog posting to see that there is a good side which does not involve going out and buying a new printer. So today we will focus on how to install an old printer on a new Windows Vista or Windows 7 PC, which is somewhat easy. Please note these instructions are intended for those who do not have an actual printer software installation CD. If you still have the installation CD for your printer, then use it instead.

How to Download Printer Drivers:

[1] Avoid plugging in the USB cable that connects the printer to the computer or turning on the printer until told to do so. If you have already done so, then unplug and turn off the printer. The reason is because the printer software installation will tell you when to turn on the printer as well as when to plug in the USB cable.

[2] Now, look at the printer and get its brand name and model number. For example: My office printer is a color laser printer made by Samsung with a model number of CLP-300.

[3] Once you have the brand name and model number, now its time to find the manufacturer's website, where you need to supply the make and model of your printer. 

Below, I have provided the links for each manufacturer's drivers/downloads section:

• Brother: http://www.brother-usa.com/downloads/Default.aspx <- Based on your model group based on the type of printer you have, you would select from the drop-down either Printers (HL Series) or Multi-Function Center (MFC and DCP series).

• Canon: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support <- Under Product Type, click on Consumer & Home Office. Next, under Product Family, select Printers & Multifunction.

• Epson: http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/SupportIndex.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes <- Click on the Printers & All-in-Ones and select your product type - inkjet, laser, etc.

• HP: http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support_task.html <- Click the radio button for Download drivers... and then enter the model number in the box, then click Enter or press the arrow button.

• Lexmark:http://support.lexmark.com/index?channel=supportAndDownloads&page=home&locale=en&userlocale=EN_US <- Click on the Select Your Product arrow

• Samsung: http://www.samsung.com/us/support/ <- Click on Printers under the Office section. 

[4] Lastly, we will download the 'printer driver" to your desktop (or Downloads folder) and then we double click on that file to begin the installation. Printer installation could be quick or slow depending on your printer type.

Thanks for reading this posting. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post a comment below.

Image Source: PowerPCNet.com

Recently bought a computer or thinking about buying one? Or maybe you received a new computer for Christmas and you're not quite sure what to do with it. Well, for the entire month of March, we'll focus on helping brand new Windows 7 computer owners.

To help you out, we'll bringing back a SPECIAL EDITION of Tech Tuesdays as well as focus on how to select a new home printer or how to take your old printer and save money on ink and other techniques for printer efficiency.

Our anticipated postings are as follows:

• Windows 7 vs. older Windows operating systems, such as Windows Vista or XP
• What Should I Buy First - Laptop, Netbook, or Desktop?
• MACs  vs. PCs
• Home Printers 101
• Learn about the different Types: desktop, inkjet, photo, laser, multi-function/all-in-ones...
• Ways to Save Your Printer Ink...
• The Importance of Using the Right Printer Paper...
• What to Do When You Have a New Computer & an Old Printer...

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DID YOU MISS LAST MONTH'S DISCUSSION ON eREADERS?

Throughout the month of February, we covered eReaders from the most popular devices to the eReader benefits, apps and much more. In case you missed it, check out these links!

• Kindle vs. Sony vs. Nook: Part II (Feb. 28th) - Read now
• eReader Apps (Feb. 24th) - Read now
• Benefits of an eReader (Feb. 23rd) - Read now
• Kindle vs. Sony vs. Nook: Part I (Feb. 18th) - Read now
• How to Get Started with Overdrive (Feb. 14th) - Read now
• eReader Terms You Should Know (Feb. 11th) - Read now
• Introduction to eReaders (Feb. 11th) - Read now

Sony Reader

The second most popular eReader is made by Sony. Sony offers three different models for their eReaders as shown from left to right: Pocket Edition, Touch Edition, and Daily Edition. 

The only differences between the models is size and features. But the main reason many people like this eReader, is you can either buy your books or you can use with downloadable eBook services, such as Overdrive or NetLibrary, if offered by your local library!

Now, all of these models utilize eInk or ePrint technology (what is eInk?). However, unlike the Amazon Kindle, all Sony eReaders come with 12 dictionaries, have touchscreen capabilities, which is a plus for many users, and has bookmarking features so you never lost your place.

The Pocket Edition allows for 1,200 books and has a two-week battery life according to their website. The only complaints, we could find from Internet reviews, was that it requires being connected to a computer for Internet access and for charging. Oh yeah! And it only comes in two colors: hot pink or gray.

According to their website, the Touch Edition allows for 50,000 books via 2GB of on-board memory and has a two-week battery life. Unlike the Pocket Edition, this one offers MP3 capabiilty, where you can put your favorite songs on it and listen as you read. Unlike the Kindle, you must utilize headphones.  Also unlike the Kindle, it comes with a note-taking app (what is an app?) for say a To-Do list. Furthermore, it has an expandable memory slot in case you run out of space for all those books. The Touch Edition comes in two colors: gray or red.

Just like the Touch Edition, the Daily Edition also allows for up to 50,000 books with an expandable memory slot and 22 days of battery life. The advantages to the Daily Edition is that it comes with WiFi and 3G combined. Just like the Touch Edition, you can add your favorite songs, but you must use headphone to listen. The Daily Edition also allows you the ability to subscribe to newspaper and magazines too. Unlike previous Daily Edition models, the most recent model only comes in black only.

The only disadvantages that I am aware of regarding Sony eReaders pertains to the battery life.  Although they claim a 14- or 22-day span, I would like to point out that this eReader only goes into sleep mode after it has experienced one hour of inactivity unlike the Amazon Kindle, which goes to sleep within 10-15 minutes of inactivity. The second disadvantage is the cumbersomeness of learning which software to use for managing your collection along with problems downloading eBooks from the vendor's website, then moving the eBooks to the software - say the Adobe Digital Editions - and finally from the software over to the eReader. Therefore, if you purchase a Sony eReader, find someone who can help you beforehand, so you can get through its learning curve rather quickly and start fully enjoying your books right away.

Like Amazon, Sony has its own eBookstore, where you can purchase titles. Unlike Kindle which requires you to only buy books from Amazon.com, with a Sony eReader, you can purchase titles from any vendor that provides eBooks in ePub format. So, if you haven't already, go out and get your new Sony eReader from the Sony Store online, from Best Buy®, etc., by clicking here to visit the Sony Store today!

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Barnes and Noble Nook

The third most popular eReader is made by Barnes and Noble. The Nook now comes in two models: Nook and Nook Color. Just like the Sony eReaders, the Nook (see image furtherest to the right) and Nook Color (see image on the left) allows you to use downloadable services, such as Overdrive, offered by your local library.

First, there is their Nook, which uses eInk or ePrint technology and can hold up to 1,500 books. It comes in either 3G or WiFi models with an expandable card of up to 16GB. It does not support other common formats, such as Word or PDF files, like the Kindle and Sony and it doesn't support radio features or listen to audio version of eBooks. Lastly, the battery life is upwards of 10 days with the wireless is turned off - not good!

The Nook Color is only one of the three most popular eReader brands that offers an eReader in full color. It is 100% touchscreen, can hold up to 8,000 books, allows for newspaper and magazine subscriptions, allows you to share your eBooks with friends through LendMe technology and it comes with preloaded games and Pandora Internet Radio. Just the Kindle, this model allows you to share updates on Twitter and Facebook! However, there are a few disadvantages, such as it only comes in WiFi and the battery life - with the wireless turned off, its up to 8 hours, which cancels out the fact that the memory can be expanded to 32GB.

Besides B&N, the Nook or Nook Color is available at Best Buy, Books-A-Million and other stores. Click here to purchase your Nook or Nook Color or to learn more.

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TO GET STARTED: 

To start using Overdrive, visit our “Virtual Branch” at http://bossier.lib.overdrive.com/.

Genealogy is a very popular topic, as evidenced by the popularity of TV shows like Who Do You Think You Are? and Faces of America.  If you’re interested in tracing your family tree, we have two free quality resources – Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest.  You can access Ancestry from the Bossier Parish Library homepage on a library computer at any branch.  HeritageQuest is accessible from your home computer; you just need to enter your library card number.


Great Way #1: About Ancestry


Ancestry Library Edition is a fantastic tool for anyone who is researching family history.  With Ancestry, you will be able to search US federal censuses, the social security death index, military records, state censuses, immigration records with ship manifests, passport applications, birth and marriage records, and heaps of international sources, which come in handy once you are able to trace your ancestors back to a country of emigration.  You can also view and print images of the original records.  If you’re lucky, you might locate a forgotten picture – I was surprised to see a high school yearbook photo of my grandfather!

1910 census image from Ancestry, showing Amelia Earhart as a young girl in Iowa.

It’s very easy to start searching with Ancestry.  You simply type in any known information about the person you are trying to find.  If you don’t know the exact birth date or birthplace of an ancestor, take a guess.  If you heard family stories that Great Grandpa was born around the turn of the century, add 1900 to your search box.  Ancestry will use this information and give results that closely match your search items.  At the History Center, we recommend that beginners start by researching family members that they know personally.  Backtracking is easier to do; you simply follow the records, linking the people you do know to the mystery branches on your family tree.


One of the best sources of information on Ancestry is the US Census Collection.  US Federal Census records range from 1790 – 1930.  The 1940 census will be made public in 2012.  The information from each census varies slightly, depending on which questions were asked.  You will almost always find name, age, gender, race, marital status, nationality, and relationship to head of household.  You may also find occupation, real estate value, age at first marriage, birth month and year, education level, year of immigration, citizenship status, naturalization dates, and place of parents’ birth.


Great Way #2: About HeritageQuest


HeritageQuest (HQ) is another genealogy resource that provides census records and allows users to view, print, and download original images.  If you can’t get to the library to use Ancestry and want to do some genealogy detective work at home, HQ is your best bet.  It provides a collection of material for both genealogical and historical researchers, with coverage dating back to the late 1700s.


In the Books section of HQ, you can search through genealogy and local history books with digitized pages.  Use it to find published works on families, as well as historical books that focus on specific regions.  Learning about the time and place where your ancestors lived can give you a good sense of their daily life.  The Periodical Source Index (PERSI) on HQ is a comprehensive index to genealogy and local history periodicals.  For example, you can search through issues of The Genie, the journal of the Ark-la-Tex Genealogical Association.


There isn’t enough space to fully explain all of the resources you will find on both Ancestry and HeritageQuest, but it’s easy and fun to browse through their databases as you begin your genealogy journey.  I encourage you to take a peek into your family’s past if you haven’t started to already.  If you’d like some assistance, the staff at the History Center is always ready to help!

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Marisa has been the Curator of Collections and Exhibits at the Historical Center since February 2009.  She creates exhibits that focus on Bossier Parish history and also cares for the archival collections.  She enjoys assisting patrons with their genealogical research and continues to search for her own family history.  You can contact her with your history or genealogy questions at mdiedric@state.lib.la.us    

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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 Learning Express Library. There has been a lot of positive feedback from everyone including the local schools that have introduced the database to their students.

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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:

• Guided Video Tour: http://www.overdrive.com/Solutions/Libraries/tour/MenuWelcome.html.
• We also recommend going over the “Getting Started” guide located on the left hand side of our Virtual Branch page. This will help you get familiar with the service. 
• Mobile Device and E-book Reader How-To Guide:
• http://www.overdrive.com/files/eBookHowToGuide.pdf
• E-book Devices Cheat Sheet: 
• http://overdrive.com/files/ebook-cheat-sheet.pdf
• Please note that the Amazon Kindle is not compatible with Overdrive. For a list of compatible devices, see: http://www.overdrive.com/resources/drc/

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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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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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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.

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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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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:

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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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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.

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)

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.
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.

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.

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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 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?

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS: