Free trial: Credo Reference

Credo Reference, award winning e-reference service, offers us a free trial for two months. You are invited to try this high quality and easy to use reference database. The database includes over 500 reference sources.

Please email Pingsheng Chen at pchen@worcpublib.org your feedback on this potential WPL database.

To access:
Go to www.credoreference.com/login.do
Enter the following username and password:
Username: user@worcpublib.org
Password: trial
Or
Go to http://www.worcpublib.org/resources/databases.htm
Choose Credo Reference remote access

Kindle versus Nook Color

..............................Amazon Kindle Wi-Fi .................. B & N Nook Color Price:.....................$139 .....................................................$249
Size: .....................7.5 x 4.8 x 0.3 ......................................8.1 x 5.0 x 0.5
Weight: ................8.5 ounces ...........................................15.8 ounces
Screen type: .......E-Ink .....................................................Touch-screen LCD
Screen size: ........6 inches .................................................7 inches
Keyboard Page- Turn controls:
..............................Physical/Physical ...............................On-Screen/On-Screen
Storage: ..............4GB (up to 3500 books) .......................8GB (up to 6000 books)
Expanded storage: ..None ..............................................MicroSD, up to 32GB
Battery Life: .......Up to 1 month ......................................Up to 8 hours
Number of titles in store:
..............................More than 725,000 ........................More than 2 million
Periodicals: ........Newspapers, magazines .....Newspapers, magazines
Browse the Internet:
.............................Yes ..............................................Yes
Color: ..................No .................................................Yes
Lend, borrow, or share books:
.............................No ................................................Yes
Highlight and make notes:
............................Yes ...............................................Yes
Online Dictionary:
............................Yes ...............................................Yes
Download Overdrive books from library: ..
.............................No ................................................Yes
Compatible with MP3 audio format:
................... .......Yes.................................................Yes
Video playback:No .....................................................Yes
Free E-books in pdf format:
...........................Yes .................................................Yes
Searchability on words or phrases
...........................Yes .................................................Yes
Multiple font sizes:
..........................Yes ..................................................Yes
Listen to the book:
..........................Yes ..................................................Yes

Hope Phones.org on Call

http://hopephones.org/

The phrase "doctor on call" has been given a new meaning.
A group of students from Stanford University are revolutionizing health care in rural Africa using old cell phones.
Recycled cell phones are given to community health workers to connect long distant patients to a medical clinic.

The students are part of a health initiative that collects the usable cell phones throughout the United States, and distribute them to third world countries.

As an example, in just six months at a hospital in rural Malawi....150 patients received emergency care. Community health workers saved 1,000 hours of travel time which they used to visit more patients. The number of people being treated for tuberculosis doubled, and the hospital saved $3,500 worth of fuel.

How will my phone make an impact?
Every cell phone given to a community health worker connects distant patients to a medical clinic. A $10.00 phone will give 50 families access to emergency medical care, health information, transport services, and clinic resources.
To read further and get involved, visit the above website.
This is another way of going green for a very good cause.

Sign up for Wowbrary: alerts for the newest books and movies

If you’d like to be among the first to know about the newest books, DVDs, and CDs acquired by the library, you should consider signing up for Wowbrary.

Wowbrary is a free library service that sends you a weekly email alert on Wednesdays to showcase Worcester Public Library’s most recent acquisitions.

The weekly newsletter features books, movies, music CDs, audio books, and more that the library purchases each week. Clicking on the Borrow link will take you to the library's catalog where you can request a book or movie to be picked up when the item is ready.

To sign up for the free weekly alerts, simply go to http://www.wowbrary.org/signup.aspx
Take a look at this week's newsletter at http://www.wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?p=3339--GEN&more

Feel free to email Pingsheng Chen if you have any questions.

Q: Can Kindle users borrow ebooks from the library or download free ebooks online?

A: At this point, Amazon's Kindle won’t let you read library's ebooks. Let’s hope things will change in the future. However, you can download many free ebooks from the following websites to your Kindle according to Amazon.com. Internet Archive - Over 2.5 million free titles Internet Archive is a non-profit dedicated to offering permanent access to historical collections that exist in digital format. Provides over 2.5 million free ebooks to read, download, and enjoy. 1. Visit archive.org. 2. Search for a title or browse one of the sub-collections like American Libraries. 3. When viewing a title, click the link on the left labeled "Kindle (beta)" to download the file to your computer. 4. Attach your Kindle to your computer using your USB cable and drag the file to the "Documents" folder on your Kindle. You can also e-mail the file to your Kindle using Whispernet for wireless delivery (charges may apply). 5. Open the ebook from your Kindle's home screen and enjoy.

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Open Library - Over 1 million free titles Open Library's goal is to provide a page on the web for every book ever published. 1. Visit openlibrary.org. 2. Search for a title and make sure to check the 'Only show eBooks' checkbox. 3. When viewing a title, click the 'Send to Kindle' link next to the edition in which you're interested. 4. You will be directed to Amazon.com to choose a device for wireless delivery using the Kindle Personal Document Service (charges apply). 5. Open the ebook from your Kindle's home screen and enjoy.

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Project Gutenberg - Over 30,000 free titles Project Gutenberg, one of the original sources of free ebooks, is dedicated to the creation and distribution of eBooks. 1. Visit gutenberg.org. 2. Search for a title or browse the book shelves by topic. 3. When viewing a title, scroll down to the 'Download this ebook for free' section and click the download link for 'Mobipocket' or 'Mobipocket with images' format. 4. Attach your Kindle to your computer using your USB cable and drag the file to the "Documents" folder on your Kindle. You can also e-mail the file to your Kindle using Whispernet for wireless delivery (charges may apply). 5. Open the ebook from your Kindle's home screen and enjoy.

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ManyBooks.net - Over 26,000 free titles ManyBooks.net provides free ebooks as a service to the Internet community at large. 1. Visit manybooks.net. 2. Search for a title or browse by genre. 3. When viewing a title, choose the "Kindle (.azw)" option on the right hand side and click the 'Download' button. 4. Attach your Kindle to your computer using your USB cable and drag the file to the "Documents" folder on your Kindle. You can also e-mail the file to your Kindle using Whispernet for wireless delivery (charges may apply). 5. Open the ebook from your Kindle's home screen and enjoy. *If you have any questions, feel free to email Ping Electronic Resources librarian.

POTUS

http://www.potus.com/

What is POTUS?

The term stands for The President of the United States.

The above website covers background information, election results, cabinet members, presidency highlights, and some odd facts on each of the presidents.

The links include historical documents, audio and video files, and various presidential sites.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/

Yet another site devoted to the presidents is part of The American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

This site contains a searchable database of tens of thousands of documents from 1789 to the present. It also features data on topics such as popularity and the number of public appearances, election results back to 1828, and an archive of audio and video clips.

Whether you are doing a school product, a serious research project, or just can't get enough trivia, these sites will answer all your questions....perhaps all but who will be the next POTUS?

TAX INFORMATION AND HELP

Availability of Paper Tax Forms

Federal tax forms were released for distribution on January 6, 2011. The Worcester Public Library has paper copies of form 1040 (no instructions), 1040A (no instructions) and 1040EZ (with instructions). Publication 17 is available. There are other forms and schedules available but not all. The government expects all forms to be available at libraries, post offices and IRS offices at the end of January.

Massachusetts tax forms for full time residents and part time residents are available. However, the Massachusetts tax booklets do not come with instructions. As of now the instructions are only available online.

Online Tax Forms and Publications

Click here to find online federal and state tax forms and publications.

Places to call:

Massachusetts Department of Revenue Worcester Office
State Tax Forms
67 Millbrook Street
Worcester, Ma 01609
Tel: 508-792-7300
For Massachusetts taxpayer assistance call: 1-800-392-6089

Massachusetts Department of the Internal Revenue
Federal Tax Forms
120 Front Street
6th Floor
Worcester, MA
508-793-0260

Phone numbers for federal tax forms and help
Tax Forms 1-800-829-3676
Recorded Refund/Tax Info 1-800-829-4477
Federal Tax Info 1-800-829-1040
Problem Resolution Office 1-800-829-1040

Free Tax Assistance

• The Worcester Public Library will be offering free tax assistance on Saturday mornings beginning in February. Tax assistance is by appointment only. Please call 508-799-1655 to find out when the library will begin making appointments.


• Worcester Community Action Council, 484 Main Street 508-754-1176 x234


• Worcester State University, 486 chandler Street 508-929-8424


• Main South CDC, 875 Main Street 508-752-6181


• Plumley Village, 16 Laurel Street 508-770-0508
  
• Worcester Senior Center, 128 Providence Street 508-799-1232, offers AARP income tax preparation for individuals age 60 and over who have moderate to low income. The service is by appointment only. To make an appointment, call 508-799-1232 between 1-3 pm and ask for Janet Bresnahan.

WPL extends its Chat hours in the new year!

Beginning in 2011, the Worcester Public Library extends its "Chat with a Librarian" service from limited hours (3:00pm - 5:30pm) to all hours when the library is open.

This chat service lets patrons and library staff ask questions and get answers online from WPL reference librarians.

Mobile users of iPhone, Android and Palm can also download an app directly onto their phone.

If your library has WPL chat box embeded or chat information on your library website. please update the service hours on your library's website. Feel free to use the wording on WPL Ask a Librarian page.

Email pchen@worcpublib.org if you have any questions.

Ping

WPL launches its own Text a Librarian Service in the new year!

On the go and need an answer?Text your question to 508.335.2396 and get an answer delivered to your cell phone. This service, staffed by professional librarians, is available during library hours.

(This number is for text messaging only. Standard text messaging charges may apply. Please use 508-799-1655 x3 to speak with a reference librarian.) Read more...
If you have any questions, feel free to email pchen@worcpublib.org.

Learning Express Library

Worcester Public Library staff see a high demand for study guides and practice tests. Half of the patrons are students that attend the local high schools and colleges. The other half comprise central Mass residents that are seeking a career change or a way to better their positions. We make every attempt to purchase examination guides in as many subject areas as we possibly can. We sometimes have a waiting list for GED, ASVAB and MTEL guides.


However, patrons are not aware that we also subscribe to a database called Learning Express Library. This database contains literally hundreds of practice tests in eleven broad areas of study: workplace skills, computer skills, GED Prep, occupation practice tests, U.S. Citizenship, as well as math and literacy skills for all school ages.

Some of the more popular tests include:

• Civil Service
• Math Skills Improvement
• Military
• Nursing
• Teaching
• TOEFL
• Real Estate

A new feature offered by Learning Express Library is the ability to download an electronic book to your home computer. If, for instance, you were preparing for the entrance exam to nursing school you have the option of taking at least a hundred practice tests (over and over again) or you can download a nursing study guide.

To use this database all you need is a valid Worcester Public Library card.

Test-Driving Google eBooks

Linda Holmes of NPR writes: “Google launched its online bookstore, Google eBooks, on December 6—a long-awaited and much-discussed entrant into electronic bookselling. Google is advertising the store as compatible with computers, iPads and iPhones, Android devices, standalone e-readers including Sony and Nook devices, as well as others that run Adobe Digital Editions. (But not your Kindle, there, buddy.) Read more ...

PANDORA Internet Radio

http://www.pandora.com/

The Music Genome Project

In January of 2000 a group of musicians and music-loving technologists came together with the idea of creating the most comprehensive analysis of music ever.

Together they set out to capture the essence of music at the most fundamental level. What resulted was an assembly of hundreds of musical attributes or "genes" into a very large Music Genome. Taken together these genes capture the unique and magical musical identity of a song - everything from melody, harmony and rhythm,to instrumentation, orchestration, arrangement, lyrics, and of course the rich world of singing and vocal harmony.

Since 2000, this group carefully listened to songs of tens of thousands of different artists - ranging from popular to obscure - and analyzed the musical qualities of each song one attribute at a time. This work continues each and every day to include all the new releases.

Pandora Mobile

You can enjoy all the stations you've created on the web, and create new ones from your mobile phone.Pandora on your phone is fully integrated with Pandora on the web, so everything you create, rate or bookmark on the phone also appears the next time you are back on the web.

Your own personalized radio station.... now that's sometime to sing about.

TAX FORMS AND THE END OF AN ERA

Those familiar tax booklets that normally went out after Christmas and arrived in your mailbox in early January are a thing of the past. The IRS plans to save about $10 million dollars by ending this practice.

So what are your options?

1. You can go to IRS.gov, choose your forms, download, and print.
2. You can go to IRS.gov and request that the forms you need be mailed to you. Be careful, some forms may not be delivered in a timely manner due to late tax legislation.
3. There is an IRS tax office at 120 Front Street in Worcester, 6th floor. However, they are only open Monday through Friday and only during the day.
3. Correct me if I am wrong, but there is a toll free number (1-800-829-3676) that can be used to order forms that will then be mailed to you. Quantities are very limited.
4. The Worcester Public Library will make every attempt to stock both federal and Massachusetts tax forms and instruction booklets. The library also has Internet access for those who need to download unique forms and IRS publications.

Click here to print Federal and State online tax forms and instructions

TED: Technology, Entertainment, Design

I first encountered ted.com when I was sent an e-mail regarding the hyperbolic coral reef project http://crochetcoralreef.org/
It was a fascinating glimpse of an idea that combines science, women's art and ecology.

This small nonprofit is devoted to ideas worth spreading. Its inception was in 1984 as a conference that brought together people from three worlds: technology, entertainment, and design.Their mission is to spread ideas. As stated on their homepage they feel passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world.

They are building a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world's most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other. This website, launched April 2007, is an ever-evolving work in progress. They encourage participation.

Today, TED is best thought of as a global community.
"It's a community welcoming people from every discipline and culture who have just two things in common:they seek a deeper understanding of the world, and they hope to turn that understanding into a better future for us all."

Enjoy one more example:
Steve Jobs: How to live before you die
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html

Consult with a Librarian Service

For those who might wonder what Consult with a Librarian is about, here is a synopsis of what has occurred on that 2nd floor Wednesday night 5:30-7:00 time slot at the Health Computer location. First, you usually don't know what to expect and that can add to the excitement of wondering what the patron might need. Some examples of what I've "consulted" or taught or demonstrated follow:

• setting up email accounts
• writing and sending emails
• copy and pasting and adding attachments in email
• uploading resumes
• creating resumes
• job searching
• legal research to solve a specific problem
• remote library access

The people I have "consulted" with are an interesting mix:

• a man from Mexico
• a woman from Albania
• a man from Nigeria
• a young mother and college graduate
• a woman living in public housing

Library resources I have used:

• Job & Career Accelerator
• Mass Legal Services
• Yahoo email
• Books on resumes and cover letters

This is a beginning and we hope to expand into other areas such as finding books and magazine articles, accessing different online databases, finding resources on topics, and any other things a patron might want to learn to do. The patron "calls the shots" in this service. It is an interesting interaction and a nice way to get to know people on a professional level...whether it's One on One, Won on Won, or Win and Win...it seems to be working!

Read what people say about the library's chat reference service

"Tremendous service. i was having difficulty because i was accruing fines on a publication already returned. the librarian online went and checked the shelves & found the book! the time it took her to do this was quite a bit, and i would not have been able to stay on the phone (as I pay per minute) that long. LOVE the ONLINE service!"

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"loved it, loved it! the librarian was very helpful. It'll saved me some time... all i have to do is walk in the library, I know where to look. Great service."

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"This is a great service for anyone to use. I am able to get info that I need on subjects and areas that I'm not sure where to go to research them."

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"I am a librarian myself, and needed something for one of our patrons. The librarian was very helpful. Thanks"

Embracing eBooks - Embracing our Future

I am a WIRED geek. If I read nothing else, I always read WIRED Magazine cover-to-cover every month. This month I read a short article which struck a nerve: Abandon Ownership! Join the Rentership Society! by Chris Suellentrop (Wired November 2010). Suellentrop talks about a paradigm shift between an Ownership Society, as in home ownership, and a Rentership Society. He praised the idea of renting (houses, cars, DVDs), as a smarter choice that gives users more flexibility in our lives and allows more fluidity when we are reacting to change. The library has this down. We are all about renting books, renting DVDs, renting computers and renting rooms. Appropriately, the killer sentence in this article, for me, was: "The winner of the ebook sweepstakes will be the bookseller who becomes a book renter." He goes on to say, " I don’t want to own hundreds of books on a Kindle at $10 a pop. I want to Netflix them — pay for access to every book ever published. I’d rather be a renter in Borges’ library than the owner of my own." Why can't we win the ebook sweepstakes? We have the system set up already. It is time to focus our efforts to purchase ebooks that can be read on ebook readers: Kindle, Nook, and the iPad. We don't have to cover every technology that is out there, we just need to bet on the horse that is already winning. If we are going to reinvent ourselves to stay alive and stay current, this is how to do it. We can make this happen. After all, we have been rocking the "Rentership Society" for thousands of years.