e-books, Kindles and more

We have recently purchased more Kindles, Sony e-readers and Nooks. Each of the 4 Kindles have over 60 books already loaded on them; each of the 3 Sony e-readers have 24 titles on them, and each of the 3 Nooks have 15 titles on them. As people check them out we load new titles on for them so the lists of titles just keep getting longer.
Many people have asked about loading e-book titles onto their own devices. We are in the process of making this happen with a company called Overdrive. Hopefully this will be available in the new year. However, because of licensing agreements, or lack thereof, (don't you just love legalese) the e-books will only download to a Sony or a Nook or similar device, not to the Kindle or iPad. Look for announcements of this program soon.

Freegal and more

Have you tried Freegal yet? Download music from the Sony catalog onto your device. We already download audio books so why not music. And coming soon are downloadable ebooks for the Sony Reader and the Nook. Sorry they do not work on the Kindle, but we will let the publishers and the companies fight that one out. We are ready when they are. We are buying more ereader devices so put your name on the list and you will be able to check one out soon.

CardStar App

The New Canaan Library can now read your barcode from your smart phone if you are using CardStar or a similar app. You do not have to carry around your Library Card nor all those loyalty cards from supermarkets and stores with this app. It works at the self-checkout station too.

Secure passwords

Consumer Reports this month is featuring several articles on Internet safety, including the safe use of Facebook, and using secure passwords. On reading the articles found a link to a password checking site. Put in a password and see how secure it is; that is, how easy is it to crack. Try it!
Results may surprise you!

Choose Privacy Week

Watch this video to understand why we need a Choose Privacy Week May 2 - 8, 2010.
Where do you stand on this issue?
Do you try to kept yourself safe on the Internet and elsewhere?

Computer and smart phone security news: 51% of malware is not detected!

Not that is shocking to read. Symantec says only 51% of the malware on computers and smart phones is detected? So how can you protect your devices? Check out this article from the "Librarian in Black" on tools to use to protect your computer and smart phone.

Devices, gadgets, widgets and more

Jeff and Laurie sent 3 days last week at Computers in Libraries in Arlington, VA. Dazzled and overwhelmed by the devices, software, gadgets, widgets, etc and creative ways libraries and librarians are using them. Laurie was not back a half hour before she added information lines on our checkout receipts for our Twitter and Facebook accounts. Then she started adding QR codes to our posters so people can scan them with their smart phones and add the event to their personal calendar. Meanwhile Jeff went off to another workshop on using widgets on the website.
Other staff went to the Connecticut Library Association Meeting at Mohegan Sun (now that was an experience!) this week and learned about more creative ways, and talked to vendors selling subscriptions for audio books, ebooks, and downloadable music. One vendor has this fabulous scanner which is a snap to use--all touch screen. Unfortunately the price puts it on a wish list.
So look for new ways to use your smart phones and other devices to interact with the library website and library materials.

Storm aftermath

Technology is wonderful, but not 100% reliable as we all learned again this weekend with the storm. When the power goes the sump pumps stop running and the basement floods, the phone which needs a charge stops, the computer battery dies, the electric stove will not work nor will the microwave. Darkness descends on the house, and the street.
The New Canaan Library was very pleased to be able to offer a place of refuge. We had lights and heat and electric plugs for your phone and computer. People crawled all over the building and found plugs we had forgotten. People shared their plugs and the time on the Library computers. There was a sense of community and a good spirit.
We kept people up to date by posting notices from the town in the Library, sending messages on our Twitter account and sending out e-flyers for those who could read electronic messages. And now we have posted pictures and videos on our Facebook page and on Youtube.

e-readers

e-readers of all sorts are the rage. Library has 2 Kindles and a Sony e-reader for loan, but please be patient. The hold lists can be long! When its ready for you, we will load a title of your choice (subject to availability) onto it for you to read.
Here is an article on making your netbook into an e-reader:

Things to do in 2010

8 Things Every Geek needs to do in 2010--and even those of us who do not consider ourselves geeks! This article reminds us to change our passwords, check our privacy settings, back up our data, etc. Good advice for the new year!

e-readers

We now have a Sony e-reader! We will load a book onto it for you to read. Then you check it out for 3 weeks and read it like a book. See what this new technology is all about. See if you like reading on a device before you buy.
Also have 2 Kindles which are going out like crazy. Have over 40 books loaded onto the Kindles.

More Audio & other news

In addition to the NetLibrary audio downloads, now also for the iPod, we have downloadable audio from iConn. Both are featured on the homepage, and easy to use. Try them.

New databases for the year include JobNow an online service for people writing resumes and going to interviews. You can have a professional look over your resume or offer you interview tips and tricks. You need to create your own login if you use these services beyond the Library card authorization.

Have a late fee for items you returned past the due date? You can now pay online from home using a credit card.

All our public use computers have Office 2007 loaded on them. Did you know that you can still save your documents in older versions so you can read them or email them to others who do not have 2007? Click the Office button in the left hand corner (there is no "file" anymore) and click on Save As. Choose Word 97-2003 and give your file a name. Or ask a Reference Librarian to show you how.

Downloadables now for the iPod

At last!
Our Netlibrary subscription now includes books that can be downloaded to any iPod, iPhone, iTouch. My colleague Laurie has an iPhone and she has downloaded several books. But here is the tip: be very patient. Follow the directions, plug in your iPod device, and walk away. Stay away for a while, up to an hour. It takes a while because it loads it onto iTunes first, then your device. When you come back it will be all done.
Jeff will have 2 public sessions on the Downloadables, on Saturday May 30 or Saturday June 27. Both are at 9:30 a.m. in the Plaut Conference Room. Click here to register.

Office 2007 loaded

Jeff has been busy loading Office 2007 onto all the computers in the Technology Center at the New Canaan Library. The look and feel of Office 2007 is quite different: there are ribbons instead of toolbars. The commands are all under tabs and actually are better organized once you get used to it. The Reference Staff will be offering classes in Word 2007, Excel 2007, and PowerPoint 2007 during March, April and May. Go to the computer class list on the website to see dates and times. Register online. Or give us a call at 203-594-5003. The staff is always available to help when you are using the Office suite and have a question or a problem.

New e-screen and software!

New at the Library is our e-screen.
Now when you enter the Library through the West Plaza Entrance (otherwise known as the sliding glass doors) be sure to look up at our new e-screen which shows all the programs happening at the Library, today and upcoming.
The e-screen is connected to a PowerPoint program running on a computer. PowerPoint programs can be edited and added to quickly and easily, and they can be set to run in a loop, continuously with set time intervals for viewing.

Also new are 2 software programs on the public computers: Photoshop Elements and PDF Creator. Adobe Photoshop Elements is a photo editing program which allows the user to maximize color, remove red eye, crop and edit photos. PDF Creator allows the user to take any Internet file or word document and turn it into a PDF file. The file can then be printed or emailed with ease.

Going Green with Print Management on October 27-28

In an effort to join the Green movement the Library will be changing its print system to Envisionware Print Management. We hope to reduce the amount of wasted and abandoned printouts and thereby reduce the amount of paper and toner used. Print management is a system that many libraries in the area use to management the printing of pages from the Internet and other computer programs. When you want to print you put in a password and send the print job to one of the brand new Kyocera printers. There is a black and white printer as well as a new color printer. Both printers are Ecosys printers which mean they to are going green, using less toner and fewer plastics. The cost of the prints will remain the same, 10 cents for black and white, 50 cents for color prints. Look for the installation on Monday and Tuesday October 27 and 28. Unfortunately we will have to close off all the public pcs on those two days for the installation.

Online Blunders

Consumer Reports recently featured an article about common mistakes that computer users make that can invite identity theft. They mention things like using the same password for multiple accounts or webpages, clicking on that ad that says your computer is not secure, downloading free screensavers and other software, and bragging that your mac computer doesn't get viruses.
Click here to read all 7 of the mistakes users make.

Self-checkout

You do it at the Grocery Store, you do it at the Home Depot, now you will be able to do it at the Library. Self-checkout! Coming in August is a fancy new workstation. Swipe your Library Card, and the items you want to check out. Take your printed receipt and go! Please come and check it out.

Screen savers and Going Green

Don Willmott on his Livewire blog for June 11, 2008 decries the continued use of screen savers! Screen savers were useful on the older monitors, but they are not on the new LCD monitors as there is no "burn-in," a permanent shadow branded onto the screen when static images were left on the screen for long periods of time.
Willmott says that if you are not sitting in front of your computer turn the monitor off. Or put the computer to sleep. And you will save money and energy.
Read Willmotts blog here.

Assistive Technology

We now have 2 Assistive Technology workstations, one in the Technology Center and one in the Children's Room. There are touch screen monitors, big key keyboards, trackballs and an ergonomic mouse. Noise reducing headphones are available as well as a scanner with document feed. The workstation can be adjusted up or down to allow wheelchair access, or for more comfort with the ergonomic chair.
Software available includes games--Teen Tunes, Switch games, and Sammy's Science House.
Word Q is an amazing software program which can prompt a person as words are typed on the screen, and can read aloud what has been written. It can also be used to read sections of the Internet or other documents on the screen.
BrainPop has curriculum based movies and quizzes to aid in understanding and learning lessons. I watched a movie on ants and then answered the questions.
This new equipment and software is part of our Webster's Bridge initiative: materials, programs, and services for special needs students, parents, siblings, friends, and educators. Webster's Bridge is a gift to the community from the Domino Family and a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Connecticut State Library.