resource of the week: book recommendation engines

If you're looking for a new book to read, you may want to try a few of these book recommendation engines (similar to Amazon's, "People who bought this item also liked this").  The list below was compiled by the Bookshelves of Doom blog, which notes that "while these various recommendation resources are certainly entertaining...none of these engines can really hold their own against a one-on-one with a reader's advisory expert."

• Your Next Read
• What Should I Read Next? 
• Bookish 
• BookLamp 
• Hunch 
• TasteKid 
• Bookseer 
• Gnooks 
• Which Book 
• GoodReads 
• Shelfari 
• LibraryThing

effects of apple ios 7 on overdrive

From Edward:

Apple released iOS 7 yesterday and many of our patrons may have upgraded their device(s) or will be upgrading in the near future.

When an existing OverDrive Media Console (OMC) user upgrades to iOS 7, the app will fail when trying to open a DRM-protected eBook. New or first time users of OMC are unaffected by this issue.

Overdrive is resolving the issue but in the meantime, here are immediate remedies for users:

1) Re-authenticate the app with their existing or a new Adobe ID. Refer to the iOS section of this Help article for assistance. (Recommended)  

2) Uninstall and re-install OMC which will also require the user to re-authorize with Adobe. IMPORTANT NOTE: A re-install will clear a user's bookshelf, history, and app settings.

Audiobook users won't notice that anything is different unless they attempt to download parts of audiobooks they already downloaded to OMC before upgrading to iOS 7. A user will receive an error message informing them to download the title again.

resource of the week: basic computer tutorial

This week's resource is a tutorial designed to help people who have never used a computer before.  It concentrates on using the mouse and other basic skills.  Thanks to Marian for pointing out this great resource created by TLN Technology Committee: http://tech.tln.lib.mi.us/tutor/

 

resource of the week: help for homeless vets

From American Libraries Direct 07/24/13 --
One call to the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3828) connects veterans who are homeless to a wide range of services, including health care, housing, employment, and education. The hotline is part of VA’s nationwide initiative to end Veteran homelessness by the end of 2015.

When library staffers encounter an individual who is homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless, VA advises them to ask if he or she served in the military—and if so, encourage him or her to call 877-4AID-VET or chat online at va.gov/homeless to be connected with the support services VA offers. The hotline and online chat are free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Trained responders, many of them veterans themselves, can connect veterans with the services they’ve earned.

Also available to libraries are materials such as brochures, posters, and wallet cards to help promote the hotline and other VA services for veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Visit va.gov/homeless/resource_center.asp to download and print materials.

resource of the week: code academy

Whether it's the patron who's trying to learn coding for a class their taking or the tech savvy staff member trying to enrich a webpage, Code Academy is the easiest way to learn how to code.  Learn how to build websites, apps, games, and more.  It's interactive, fun, and best of all...FREE!

ebscohost folder access

Earlier this week, Edward was helping an RCCC student with an assignment to access the MyEbscohost account she created at school. For some reason it would not let her log in and gave her the error "This account is not valid at Rowan Public Library". 

Ebscohost responded to Edward with this work-around:
If a community college student comes into the library, they can use the login page (nclive.org/loginpage or under Web Tools on the "For Library Staff" section of ncliveorg). Even if they are IP-recognized in your library, if they select their college from the dropdown and login as if they are at home, EBSCO will see them as part of the community college and let them access their folder.

resource of the week: free ibook on ipads

The free iBook like The Student Guide to iPads & iOS 6 written by Jac de Haan, covers all of the basics that students and teachers (and librarians!) need to know about the iPad.  The chapter on "everything Internet" is particularly good because not only does it cover how to use Safari, it introduces readers to other web browsers, including Rover which supports flash media (a semi-frequent troubleshooting issue we run across).