free language apps

Learning a foreign language can be tricky.  We have a subscription to PowerSpeak Languages, but it may also be helpful to take a look at PCMag's recent list of Best Free Language Learning Apps, which includes: BBC Languages, Byki, Busuu, Keewords, LingQ, and Duolingo (author's fav).

ebook freebie alerts

A patron shared with me a few sites where she learns about free ebooks.  She signed up for the newsletter, which e-mails freebie alerts daily.

Pixel of Ink is a blog that posts free or nearly free ebook deals.  While many are forgotten classics, there is a substantial number of new/popular titles that just happen to be the "deal of the day".

 Book Gorilla is another freebie alert site that offers classics to contemporary books.  They allow you to search/sort by genre and by price (for those that are not free).

nclive workshops

RPL will be hosting two upcoming NCLIVE workshops. NCLIVE/EBSCO Workshop will be held on Thursday, January 31st from 9:30-11:30 am.  This session will cover enhancements to the EBSCOhost interface, an overview of EBSCO databases available, and some tips and tricks for using these resources with patrons.  

The second workshop will be an NCLIVE Basics Workshop held at HQ on Friday, February 15th from 10:00-4:00.  Please e-mail/call Suzanne (x7732) to RSVP for these events.

free income tax assistance

"Do you have tax forms" seems to be the million-dollar question, and it's only going to get better as we enter tax season.  If you run across patrons who may need assistance filing taxes, you can always refer them to the local LGFCU, which offers free assistance to those who have an annual household income of $51,000 or less (no membership required).

citation help

As the Spring 2013 semester kicks off, we will likely have a surge of students coming in to use our resources for papers and projects.  Occasionally, we get questions about citations.  In addition to our citation manuals we keep on the shelf, there are numerous websites and apps that can help.  This comprehensive guide has it all, from helpful apps to tutorials.  Additionally, two of my favorite citation guide websites are:

• Research and Documentation Online, 5th Edition (Diana Hacker)
• Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)

For the more obscure (yet soon to be more common) question of how to cite a tweet, check out what MLA has to say.  I wonder what new formats our students will be citing 20 years from now...

interlibrary loan status

Patrons often call or stop by to check on the status of their material request.  If it was an interlibrary loan (ILL), it will appear in the patron record.  Simply look up the patron, click on his/her name, and select "Edit Information" from the sidebar.  Click on the "Borrower Fields" tab.  The title and date the request was submitted will appear in the ILL/Request field.