E-Content of the Month, October 2012

Whatever your goal, LearningExpress Library's resources will help you succeed.

 The Learning Express Library is an online collection of practice tests, exercises, skill-building courses, and ebook.

Just some of the many practice tests available include:
ACT, AP, ASVAB, CDL, Civil Service Cosmetology, EMS Firefighter,  GED, GMAT,  GRE,  Law Enforcement, LSAT, MTEL, Nursing and Allied Health,  Praxis/PPST,  Real Estate,  SAT,  TOEIC,  TOEFL,  U.S. Citizenship.

The Learning Express Library also includes basic reading, writing, and math skills improvement for school children and adults. A "skills improvement" section is also included with Spanish language instruction.

To access Learning Express Library: (A valid Worcester Public Library card is required.)
1. Go to the library's homepage www.worcpublib.org
2. Click on Online Databases in the left column
3. Choose Test Preparation and Online Tutorials under By Subject

Note: 
All users must create an account to use the Learning Express Library.

If you are already a registered user, you do not need to register again. Click here to login.

If you are using this resource for the first time, please click "New User." Create a username and a password of your choice. Both your username and password must be a minimum of six characters and should not include spaces. Enter your email so Learning Express Library can send you a new password if you forget yours.

If you need help with your account, call Learning Express Library at 1-800-295-9556, ext. 2; or e-mail them at libraries@learningexpressllc.com.

If you have questions regarding using Learning Express Library, ask a librarian at 508-799-1655 x3 or email Ping at pchen@worcpublib.org

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Banned Books Week - Celebrating the Freedom to Read September 30th - October 6th
Frequently Challenged Books

Election Information - Thursday, November, 2012 (Polls open 7 am - 8 pm)
Click here to find Where do I vote? 

Makeouseof.com: 7 Websites for Science Questions & Answers 

Indeed.com - job and resume search and posting
Indeed allows job seekers to apply directly to jobs on the site and offers resume posting and storage

Main Library to be open Sundays and Mondays!

Main Library to be open Sundays!
Beginning October 19, the main library is open:
Sundays, 1:30 to 5:30 pm  (October 21, 2012 - April 26, 2013)

Q&A: using the new online catalog

Librarians answer your questions about Evergreen, the library new system

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Q: What is my password to login my library account or the library's computer?
A: Your default password should be your last name in all caps. If your password does not work, ask a librarian to reset for you if you are in the library.  Or you can request a password to be sent to your email by clicking on Forget your password? link below your password box. See https://bark.cwmars.org/eg/opac/login

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Q: I know my password but I still cannot log into my library account. What should I do?
A: If your library card number starts with "D", make sure to type uppercase "D" instead of lowercase "d".

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Q: I used to be able to search the library catalog at home. Now when I click on the catalog link, it gives me an error message. Is there something wrong with my computer?
A. No. On the contrary, your computer is so smart that it remembers the old link and tries to access that link.  Try one of the following.
1. If you see the "... cannot display the page" error message, click Back arrow of your Internet browser.

2. Go to http://www.cwmars.org/ . Click C/WMARS Online One Catalog. Then go to the library website www.worcpublib.org and click on the catalog.

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Q: In the old system, everytime you checked out a book, it was added automatically to a "book history" in my account.  Does "book history" function exist in the new system?
A: Yes. "Book History" in the new system is called "Checked out items/holds history", which you have to set up in your account under Search Preferences. Log into your library account at https://bark.cwmars.org/eg/opac/login. Under Account Preferences, click on Search Preferences. Choose "Keep history of Checked out items" and/or "Keep history of holds". As soon as you set it up, everything you check out/request will show up under the "Check out history" section of "Items Checked Out" or the "Holds History" section of "Holds". The staff at the library does NOT have access to your check out history or holds history.

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Q: What is "My Lists"?
A: "My Lists" enables you to create temporary and permanent book lists, create and edit notes for items in lists, place holds on items in lists, and share lists via email or RSS feeds.
To create a list:
Log into your account https://bark.cwmars.org/eg/opac/login under My Lists, name your first list, click Submit. Then search for titles and choose a title to add to your list by clicking Add to My List. Click View My List on top of the Search Results. Select those titles and then Click Actions for These Items. Move selected titles into an existing list.
Have more questions or want to share your tips? Email Ping at pchen@worcpublib.org
If you have a question and need an answer soon? You may Ask a Librarian via phone, email,  text, Facebook, Twitter and G+.

E-Content of the Month, September 2012

Want to improve your grades, skills, find a job or start a business?

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Credo Reference - Research starts here
Have to write a research paper and need to find resources of all types, such as reference works, books, journal articles, and images? Or can't find any relevant materials on the topic you are working on anywhere? Credo Reference is a great reference database to get you started. A valid WPL library card is required to use the database.   

Khan Academy - Free video courses for any subjects
Provides over 3,000 free videos for students and the general public to learn K-12 math, science, economics, computer science, history and various other subjects. Students can learn at their own pace by watching the short videos on their own computer. 

Crowdfunding - Raise money for startups
This WSJ article includes some popular Crowdfunding websites that will help you raise cash.

JobQuest Resources  - Local Job Postings and Help
The JobQuest Guide explains how to use the resources available through JobQuest, the Massachusetts Division of Career Services One-Stop Career Center site listing a wide range of job opportunities available statewide.

JobQuest connects job seekers to all the employment opportunities listed with more than 30 Massachusetts One-Stop Career Centers statewide.

Local Job Listings provides a more local resource, connecting only to those JobQuest employment opportunities located in the Central Massachusetts area, including Worcester, Milford, Southbridge and the 35 surrounding towns.

Job Training Programs provides information on training programs available through JobQuest, including Individual Training Account (ITA), Training Opportunities Program (Section 30) and Trade.

Credo Reference - Research Starts Here

Have to write a research paper and need to find resources of all types, such as reference works, books, journal articles, and images? Or can't find any relevant materials on the topic you are working on anywhere? Credo Reference is a great reference database to get you started. A valid WPL library card is required to use the database.

Credo Reference provides full-text online versions of nearly 1200 published reference works from more than 70 publishers in every major subject,  including general and subject dictionaries and encyclopedias.

To access Credo Reference:
Go to www.worcpublib.org
Click Online Databases in the left column
Choose Credo Reference


Please email Ping at pchen@worcpublib.org with any questions.

Celebrating Exceptional Authors

The Worcester Public Library Foundation’s Seventh Annual A Celebration of Authors Thursday, October 11, 2012 at the Main Library 

Three authors appearing this year include Chris Bohjalian, author of fifteen books, including his critically acclaimed and newly published The Sandcastle Girls, a mesmerizing historical love story steeped in his Armenian heritage. Joining him is Leah Hager Cohen, a prolific fiction and nonfiction writer, whose most recent novel, The Grief of Others, is a perceptive, absorbing drama about the complex bonds of the modern American family. The delightful “diva of dialogue,” Elinor Lipman, rounds out the trio of acclaimed authors. Her latest humor-laden book, Tweet Land of Liberty: Irreverent Rhymes from the Political Circus, chronicles the 2012 election season with a poem a day—all 140 characters or less.

The evening’s program begins at 7 p.m. and includes a dessert reception and book-signing by the authors. Tickets: $35, $30/Friends of Worcester Public Library, and $100/sponsors. Sponsors may join the authors for a pre-program reception at 6 p.m. Proceeds benefit the library’s Foundation and its ongoing efforts to enhance library services. For tickets and more information, please call 508-799-1656.

Friends Film Series

Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saxe Room

— On Film, On Campus —
Sept. 1: Labor Day weekend, no film
Sept. 8: The Paper Chase  
A Harvard law student struggles with balancing his coursework and his relationship with the daughter
(Lindsay Wagner) of a stern professor, 1973. (PG)

Sept. 15: Good News
An enthusiastic, good-hearted romp through 1920s college life. Stars Peter Lawford and June Allyson, 1947.
Sept. 22: The Sure Thing
Two mismatched college students (John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga) find themselves trapped together during a cross-country road trip to get home for the holidays, 1985. (PG-13) 

— Mrs. Month —
Oct. 6: Mrs. Miniver
Greer Garson commands this film in the title role as a middle-class British housewife whose strength holds her family together when World War II literally hits their home, 1942.
Oct. 13: Mrs. Brown
Charming film about Queen Victoria (Dame Judi Dench) and commoner John Brown who becomes her closest friend and confidant, 1997. (PG)
Oct. 20: Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont
All but abandoned by her family in a London retirement hotel, an elderly woman strikes up a curious friendship with a young writer, 2005.
Oct. 27: Mrs. Dalloway
Vanessa Redgrave shines as the heroine of this superb adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s novel, 1998. (PG-13) 

— A Month in the Trenches (Trench coats!) —
Nov. 3: Laura
This silky smooth film noir
features a gruff police detec- tive (Dana Andrews)
investigating the murder of a beautiful advertising executive
(Gene Tierney), 1944. 

Nov. 10: The Pink Panther
A bumbling French police inspector (Peter Sellers) tries to catch a daring jewel thief whose identity and features are unknown in this comedy, 1963.
Nov. 17: Columbo
Peter Falk stars as Columbo, the clas- sic cigar-chomping, rumpled trench coat-wearing police lieutenant, 1971.
Nov. 24: Casablanca
Set in Africa during World War II, an American expatriate (Humphrey Bogart) meets a former lover (Ingrid Bergman), with unforeseen complications, 1942.

Sign up for OneClickdigital audiobook webinar

Recorded Books will be hosting training webinars for library patrons to review the features of your OneClickdigital downloadable audiobook service. Topics covered in this 45 minute program will include:

- A complete demo tour of the service
-  How to create an account
- How to install the OneClickdigital Media Manager on your computer
- Easy ways to search for content
- How to download and transfer audiobooks to your device
- Managing your downloadable audiobook checkouts


This webinar is open to all patrons at your library. Click on the link  to register for this upcoming webinar.

Tue, Aug 28, 2012 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM EDT
Tue, Sep 25, 2012 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT

We’ll continue to provide training webinars throughout the year. As new webinars are scheduled, the dates and times will be available at www.recordedbooks.com/webinar.

Celebrate the Chinese Moon Festival at the library

Save the Date: The Chinese Moon Festival Celebration

Featuring the Mulan Performing Arts Association
Saturday, September 29th,  2:00 p.m-4:00pm.

The Moon Festival, the second largest holiday in Asia after the lunar new year, will be celebrated at the Worcester Public Library! Also called the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is an annual Chinese celebration of the moon, based on the story of the Moon Lady, a popular Chinese folk tale. 

Enjoy an afternoon family program of culture and fun with the Mulan Performing Group's dance and music, and taste delicious moon cakes!

 
Free and open to the public, all ages welcome.

Saxe Room Main Library, 3 Salem Square, Worcester MA 01608

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 What is the Chinese Moon Festival?

The Chinese Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn or Moon cake Festival, is the second biggest holiday for Chinese after the Chinese New Year, similar to Thanksgiving in the West.

It is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth moon in the Chinese lunar calendar, when the moon is at its maximum brightness for the entire year.  The festival is a day celebrated throughout the Far East and all Chinese communities in the world. In 2012, it is on September 30th. 

The Moon Festival is full of legendary stories. Children are told the story of the moon lady living in a crystal palace, who comes out to dance on the moon's shadowed surface.

The legend surrounding the moon lady dates back to ancient times, to a day when ten suns appeared at once in the sky. The Emperor ordered a famous archer, Yi,  to shoot down the nine extra suns. Once the task was accomplished, Goddess of Western Heaven rewarded the archer with a pill that would make him immortal. However, his wife, Chang Er found the pill, took it, and was banished to the moon as a result. Legend says that her beauty is greatest on the day of the Moon festival.

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 How to celebrate the Chinese Moon Festival

Chinese people celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival eat moon cakes, drink jasmine tea and watch a program of Chinese dances and music.

There are varieties of moon cakes, which in their roundness are symbolic of family unity. Some are made of lotus seed paste, some of red bean paste, some with mixed nuts, and many have a salty duck egg yolk (representing the full moon) in the center. In some regions, the moon cakes are crusty, while in others they are flaky.

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Free Access Consumer Reports Online through the library

Did you know you can access  Consumer Reports online for free through the library's website with your Worcester Public Library card?

To access:
Go to the library's website at www.worcpublib.org
Click on "Online Databases" on the left column
Select "Consumer" under "By Subjects"
Click on the little house icon to access if you are home or in your office
(Worcester Public Library card is required for access.)

Now you can research your next purchase or find information and advice on many topics from the comfort of your own home or office.  In August 2012 issue, you will find recommendations for e-readers, laptops, tablet and an article on Hospital Safety.

• Laptop Ratings and Reliability
• Tablet Ratings 
• E-Book Readers
• Cell Phones and Services
• How safe is your hospital?

Consumer Reports is just one of many online databases and resources made available though the library.  Contact us with any questions or comments.

Need Summer Reading Ideas? Download library ebooks

Follow instructions below to download an ebook to your Kindle, Nook or other ereaders.

For Kindle, Nook, Sony, Kobo or other e-reader users:

1. Go to the library's website at http://www.worcpublib.org./

2. Click Digital Downloads in the left column http://www.worcpublib.org/resources/audiobooks.htm

3. Choose Overdrive

4. Sign in with your library's card number

5. Click Advanced Search

6. Under Format: choose Kindle if you have a Kindle, choose EPUB if you have Nook or other e-reader.

7. Check Only Show titles with copies available

8. Then click Search

9. After you choose a book, click Proceed to check out

10. After the item is checked out,
 For Kindle users: 
- you will be prompted to Get for Kindle button.
- Click the button, then you need to log in your Amazon account.
- Choose which device you want Amazon to deliver the library ebook to under Get Library book.
 - Your library book should show up on your Kindle. If not, press Menu button on your Kindle, then choose Sync.
For Nook, Sony, Kobo or other e-reader users:
-before you click on Download button, you need to following the link above Download button to download the needed software (adobe digital edition) to your computer.
- Follow the instructions on the page to activate your computer and your device.
- After that, click Download, your book will be downloaded into Adobe Digital Edition on your computer.
 - Then connect your Nook or other device to your computer. Your device will show in the left column of the digital edition panel.
- Then drag your book into the device. Unplug your device, sync your device, your ebook should appear on your device.

For Kindle Fire users:

Follow the instructions for Kindle above on your Fire. You don't need to use a computer to download a library ebook.

For iPad, iphone or any other tablet or smartphone users:
All you need to do is to download free Overdrive app on your device. Choose an ebook in EPUB format (see instructions above) and then download it through your device.
__________________________________________________________________________

Let us know if you have any questions.

Need summer reading ideas? Check out Playaways!

What’s a Playaway?
Small - a matchbox-sized  audiobook player, preloaded  with titles for children, teens, and adults

Convenient - No computer, charger or Internet connection are needed. One pair of earbuds and one AAA battery are all you need. A universal headphone jack allows you to use any headphones, speakers or car adapters for listening.

Easy to use - You can navigate back and forth through chapters, bookmark where you stopped listening, and control the reader’s speed.

Portable - Go anywhere you go

How do I check them out?

Adult Playaway titles for are located in the DVD area on a red book truck. Playaways for teens or children are located in YA area or Children Room.  All Playaways can be checked out for three weeks with two renews.

How do I find a Playaway in the library's catalog?

• Go to the library's catalog at https://bark.cwmars.org/eg/opac/home?loc=142
• Search for "playaway" as "keyword" in Worcester
• You will see over 400 Playaways titles

Ask a librarian at 508-799-1655 x 3 if you have any questions 

WPL chosen to be a trial site for Playaway View's New Titles

Exciting news: the Worcester Public Library is chosen to be a trial site by Playaway as one of a small number of innovative and progressive libraries across the country. Playaway give us 30 units with movies preloaded for our patrons to try for 60 days. At the end of 60 days, the library can keep all the units if we wish . Patrons who check those out are encouraged to take a quick online survey at www.playaway.com/viewsurvey about the product and could win $100 Visa Gift Card!



What’s Playaway View
Simple - Just press play! Seven-button design is simple to use regardless of age or ability.
Portable - Goes wherever you do. Equipped with a built-in speaker, and an optional headphone jack, so you can watch anywhere.
Convenient - No DVDs, downloads, or additional players are needed. Pre-loaded content is ready to watch whenever you are.
Chargeable-Can be charged anywhere with the included standard AC Adaptor.

How to check them out
Playaway View titles are located in the DVD area on a red book truck.  If they are all checked out,  you may place a hold on any title of your interest through the library's catalog https://bark.cwmars.org/eg/opac/home?loc=142. When you search, look for Digital View for call number. For example, here is Lucy Show record in the catalog.

What's on Playaway View

Classic Movies
A Farewell to Arms
Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes
Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much
John Wayne: Blue Steel
Sherlock Holmes: Murder at Baskervilles

Classic Television
Bonanza
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Lone Ranger
The Lucy Arnez Show

DIY
Simple Solutions: DIY Tips for Around the House
Simple Solutions: DIY Tips for Around the Yard
Simple Solutions: DIY Tips for Home Maintenance

Documentaries
American Masters: Ernest Hemingway
The End of the Road: The Final Tour '95 (Grateful Dead)
Greenpeace: The Story
The Louvre
Nelson Mandela: One Man

Financial Advice/Instructional
Suze Orman's Money Class

Professional Development
21st Century Leadership
Doubling Your Productivity
Essence of Success
Remarkable Communication Skills

Television/Film
Ernest Goes to Camp
Masterpiece Contemporary: Page Eight

Travel
Treks in a Wild World: Diving, Biking, Climbing, Canoeing and Hiking, the best of the West and East
Treks in a Wild World: Ice Climbing, Kayaking, and Hiking in the Pacific Northwest
Treks in a Wild World: Trekking Coastlines of the World

If you have any questions, please email us.

Why Can't You Find That e-book You Want from the Library?

Although demand for eBooks is growing, the biggest book publishers are limiting library access to their eBooks.

Some publishers cite security concerns while others point out that eBooks, unlike print books, will never need replacing in a library's collection. They fear that library eBook lending cuts into income for both publishers and authors. As library users, it means limited access to some of the current, popular titles we want to read on our new e-readers.
Different publishers set limits in different ways.

• MacMillan Publishing has never allowed e-books to be distributed to libraries via OverDrive.
• Simon & Schuster has never allowed e-books to be distributed to libraries via OverDrive.
• Hachette no longer offers e-book titles to libraries via OverDrive.
• HaperCollins limits each eBook to 26 checkouts, then requires libraries to buy another copy.
• Ramdom House recently raised its prices for libraries, as much as 300% more. For Eisenhower in War and Peace by Jean Edward Smith the ebook price went from $40 to $120.  For Blessings by Anna Quindlen the ebook price went from $15 to $45 
• Penguin Group no longer offers e-book titles to libraries via OverDrive. Previously purchased Penguin Kindle titles in our OverDrive catalog will no longer be delivered through a WiFi connection from Amazon. These titles will need to be downloaded to your computer first and then transferred using a USB cord

As we continue to expand our eBook collection, we hope you understand some of the limitations that are placed on us. The eBook industry continues to evolve and we're optimistic that a workable solution between publishers and libraries will come about.

Please email us with any suggestions and questions.

This article is adapted from and used courtesy of the Daniel Boone Regional Library serving Boone and Callaway Counties and Columbia, Missouri.  

What you need to know about the new catalog system?

On May 29th, the library new catalog, Evergreen system will replace the current catalog. Below are a few things you should be aware of:

• You will have the option to create a username to sign into the catalog. The default login will be your LAST NAME in ALL UPPER CASE.

• You will be required to create a new password when you login for the first time.

• Reading History and Current Wish Lists in the current catalog will not be transferred to the new system. But you can export your lists or print from a computer this week. See Nicole's tip on exporting your reading history at http://nicolecommawoo.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/library-export-your-reading-list-before-may-25/
• If you would like to have a preview of the new catalog, here is the link https://bark.cwmars.org/eg/opac/home?loc=142

The library Facebook has reached 1,000 Fans!

Thanks to all our library Facebook fans for clicking on 'Like' us. In the month of April 2012, the library Facebook page has reached a 1,000 fan milestone.  This number makes our Facebook page one of the most fan Facebook pages among Massachusetts public libraries and among the city departments.

If you love the library and enjoy what you read on the library Facebook page, please share this Facebook page with your friends and family members. Help us to reach more people in the community so they, too, can get to know about a wide range of library services and resources.

How do I get connected with Worcester Public Library on Facebook?

If you have already had your own Facebook account, after you log in, search for Worcester Public Library page. Then click on "Like" us.

If you don't have a Facebook account, go to Facebook.com and sign up one. Then search for Worcester Public Library Facebook page. Click on "Like" when you find us.

Here is the link for the library Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/worcesterpubliclibrary. Please forward it to your friends. 

Feel free to email us  for any suggestions and questions.

Freading: a new library ebook service

Freading, a new eBook library service is offered by Worcester Public Library. Over 20,000 titles are available from a variety of small and independent publishers. New books are added weekly.

Unlike OverDrive, Freading allows for unlimited number of simultaneous users. Each library user is allotted 4 tokens each week that can be used to download the books. Books range in token value from 4 to 1 token, with most newer titles being 4 tokens. All titles are compatible with most popular ereaders except regular Kindles. Ebooks can be checked out 14 days and be renewed once. To get started: - You will need a valid Worcester Public Library card. - Go to Digital Downloads webpage on the library's website at http://www.worcpublib.org/resources/audiobooks.htm - Under eBooks, you will see Freading link. Please read through Freading FAQ before using it.

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

ALA's Best Lists, 2012

• Notable Books List for Adults, 2012


• ALA Reading List: Best Genre Adult Fiction, 2012


• Best Fiction for Young Adults, 2012


• Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults, 2012


• Great Graphic Novels for Teens


• Notable Children's Books, 2012


• Notable Children's Recordings, 2012


• Notable Children's Videos, 2012

Resources for Librarians and Teachers

• 50 Open Access Resources for Librarians – Part 1 http://oedb.org/blogs/ilibrarian/2011/50-open-access-resources-for-librarians-part-1/
• 50 Open Access Resources for Librarians – Part 2 http://www.blogger.com/50%20Open%20Access%20Resources%20for%20Librarians%20%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%93%20Part%201
• Are you a 21st century librarian http://21stcenturylibrary.com/2011/11/28/are-you-a-21st-century-librarian/
• iLibrarian http://oedb.org/blogs/ilibrarian/
• 10 New Google Analytics features http://mashable.com/2011/11/30/google-analytics-new-features/
• Free technology for teachers http://www.freetech4teachers.com/
• Cambridge U. Press Would Like to Rent You an Article http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/cambridge-u-press-would-like-to-rent-you-an-article/34500
• Community Reference: Making Libraries Indispensable in a New Way
  http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/features/06132012/community-reference-making-libraries-indispensable-new-way

LAD: Library Administrator's Digest, a publication reviewing current library news and innovations from newsletters and the press, focusing on public libraries, call 410-887-6196, jpeeling@bcpl.net
Library Hotline: braking news for library and information decision makers, published by the staff of Library Journal & School Library Journal

Games

• 30 Best iPad games http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2363487,00.asp
• How to buy a game console http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2335363,00.asp

Tips for Using US Census Records, 1790-1930

Video Tutorials by National Archives http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl54NX_H1ko

Digital Media

• Is a digital media lab right for you? http://tametheweb.com/2011/12/31/is-a-digital-media-lab-right-for-you/

• Library Kit: Flip Filmmakers http://www.libraryasincubatorproject.org/?p=2131
• Hidden Tools Find What You Want on YouTube http://allthingsd.com/20111004/hidden-tools-find-what-you-want-on-youtube/

Apps

• Puts PWPL in your pocket: https://www.quixey.com/app/2400207509/pwpl-mobile
• 5 Great Apps to Help You Write http://family.lifegoesstrong.com/article/5-great-apps-help-you-write
• The Year’s Top 10 Apps for Android Phones http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/29/technology/personaltech/in-2011-app-developers-turned-attention-to-android.html?_r=1
• 10 Useful Chrome Web Apps and Extensions for Teachers and Students http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/01/10-useful-chrome-web-apps-and.html
• Searching for apps is finally getting easier
  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/15/technology/personaltech/searching-for-apps-is-finally-getting-easier.html
• One million apps and counting http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/technology/one-million-apps-and-counting.html
• Finding good apps for children with autism http://www.blogger.com/finding-good-apps-for-children-with-autism

Social Media

• How Facebook Can Help Market Your Library http://tblc.org/marketing/how-facebook-can-help-market-your-library
• 10 Ways To Keep Your Facebook Fans Following You http://www.allfacebook.com/facebook-fans-following-2012-01
• Twitter, Facebook, Google+: What's With All the Change? http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2397468,00.asp
• How to set up a google+ page http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2397264,00.asp

E-Readers and E-Books

• Publishers can now set ebook due dates: http://www.impelsys.com/ its iPublishCentral softwar now enables publishers to set expiration terms for patron downloads of their titles, institution by institution. It will also enable patrons to access ebooks from iPads, laptops, and desktop computers offline, regardless of the form of online atron authentication that is established by their library. Library Hotline June 25, 2012
• Lawsuit: E-readers needed for the blind, not just seniors philly.com, May 8, 2012

• Buying an ereader: a checklist http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/buying-an-ereader-a-checklist-by-piotr-kowalczyk/
• Linux Journal: Nookcolor http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/10968

• Amazon.com: Kindle Family http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051QVESA/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=14076367555&ref=pd_sl_4fwpfwq2jg_b

• A Comparison Between Kindle Fire Vs Nook Color: http://www.tabletmoz.com/tablets/kindle-fire/a-comparison-between-kindle-fire-vs-nook-color.html

• Kindle Fire Vs. Nook Tablet: Guess Who Wins? http://www.businessinsider.com/kindle-fire-vs-nook-tablet-2011-12#
• Kindle vs. Nook vs. iPad: Which e-book reader should you buy? http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20009738-1/kindle-vs-nook-vs-ipad-which-e-book-reader-should-you-buy/
• The No Shelf Required Guide to E-Book Purchasing
http://www.alatechsource.org/taxonomy/term/106/the-no-shelf-required-guide-to-e-book-purchasing

• So you want to start a Kindle lending program
http://code4lib.org/node/426

• Beg, Borrow, But Please Don’t Steal: How to Share E-Books at School
http://www.edukindle.com/2011/02/beg-borrow-but-please-don%E2%80%99t-steal-how-to-share-e-books-at-school/

• Goodbye textbooks hello ipad http://www.pcworld.com/article/245901/goodbye_textbooks_hello_ipad.html
• 11 places to find free ebooks http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/12/11-places-to-find-free-ebooks-for-you.html
• Amy Tan says writing eboks is liberating http://www.mediabistro.com/ebooknewser/amy-tam-says-writing-ebooks-is-liberating_b18626
• Search eBooks http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/12/search-ebooks-ebook-search-engine.html
• eBooknewser http://www.mediabistro.com/ebooknewser/
• Teleread http://www.teleread.com/
• Broward county library makes ebooks available at airport http://overdriveblogs.com/library/2011/11/28/broward-county-library-makes-ebooks-available-at-airport/
• Textbook Textbooks Finally Take a Big Leap to Digital http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/24/world/americas/schoolwork-gets-swept-up-in-rush-to-go-digital.html


 

E-Reader Petting Zoo and Q&A

This training session is designed
-for those who are thinking about purchasing an e-reader but not sure which one to buy,
-for those who have an e-reader but not sure how to use it or want to know how to download an e-book from the library,
-for those who would just like to know more about new technology.

Please join us in the main library's computer lab on the third floor, every Friday from 1:00 pm-2:00 pm. Our e-book librarians will answer all your questions and show you how to download a library's e-book. You will have an opportunity to try out Kindle, Nookcolor, Kindle Fire and I-pad.

For people who can't make Friday's 1-2 session, please come to our one-on-one eBook Help every Wednesday evening from 5:30pm-7:00pm, or drop by anytime to ask to speak to one of our ebook librarians.

(Note: If you have questions regarding your devices, please bring your device or laptop so we can walk you through the process. )

Ask a librarian if you have any questions, please visit the main library at 3 Salem Sq. Worcester MA or call us at 508-799-1655 x3.

Note:

T&G.com: Worcester Public Library staff offer e-reader workshops on Fridays

http://www.telegram.com/article/20111230/TOWNNEWS/111229516

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 ...