Need help With Your E-Reader and Using Overdrive?

Did you recently get a Nook, Kindle, iPad or other e-reader? Did you know that the library has a subscription to Overdrive which has downloadable e-books and audiobooks that you can use with your library card for free?  Check out Overdrive here.

For more help check out the SELCO webpage. Click on "Training and Promotional Materials".

Still have questions? Another good souce of information is on the Rochester Public Library website.

If you have further questions and need some one-on-one help, you can make appointments with one of our student workers. Bring in your laptop and your e-reader and they can help get you started! Call the reference desk to set up an appointment at 645-6606.

We are also helping cosponsor a workshop at the Northfield Senior Center on Feb. 10, 9:30-11:30 a.m. There will be a presentation on Overdrive and e-readers and then a time for hands-on help. If you have questions, call us at 645-6606. This workshop is free and no registration is required.

Thinking of returning to school? The Northfield Public Library can help with your preparations

Are you thinking of going back to school to enhance your job qualifications or follow a new career path?  Has it been awhile since you were in school?  Returning to school has been one of the strategies for many people who have found themselves reconsidering their career options.

According to the Council of Graduate Schools, the U.S. the number of graduate students in the 30 – 39 age range have increased by 30 percent to 700,000, while the number of students over 40 has doubled to around 540,000.

If you are contemplating a return to school and challenging a G.R.E.(Graduate Record Examination), LSAT (Law School Admission Test) or other admissions test, here are some things you need know.

1.     Preparing for one of these tests requires preparation since GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) scores show a decline with age.  The average score for people 26-27 is 572; while the average score for people 40-49 is 501 and for those 50 and older it is 486.

2.     Graduate schools will not make allowances for age when evaluating applications and accompanying test scores.

3.     Some of the tests are long and most are computerized.  For example, each subject for a GRE test is estimated to take three hours and thirty minutes, the GMAT is estimated to take four hours.

Other good points to keep in mind are that:

1.     Money usually plays a role in how most people decide to prepare for tests and the cost varies widely depending upon the method chosen.  CONSULT THE RESOURCES AT THE NORTHFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY FIRST AS THEY ARE GENERALLY THE MOST AFFORDABLE OF THE OPTIONS which include taking refresher courses, browsing the Web for tutorial posted material, and buying or borrowing prep books, CDs or DVDs.

2.      You cannot cram for admissions exams, so give yourself enough time to prepare.

3.     Practice is important.  Taking practice tests is the best way to become reacquainted with the subjects that will be covered and the type of questions that will be asked.  When taking the practice tests have a pacing strategy, try to mimic the test conditions, and time yourself.  Practice tests are a good indication if you are improving and what subjects require further work. 

4.     Have a goal score.  Schools you may be considering applying to should be willing to provide you with the score range of recently admitted students.  Having this score will help you establish a realistic goal for admittance.

 

5.     Give yourself time to challenge the exam a second time but remember that some tests like the G.R.E and GMAT can be taken only once a month.  By taking practice tests repeatedly, you won’t have to retake the real thing.

6.     The math isn’t new.  Most people were exposed to the math on the tests - it’s more an issue of remembering what you were taught.  Do a bit every day to build up your confidence.

7.     The verbal component of most tests will focus on the vocabulary.

The Northfield Public Library has many tools to help you prepare for your return to school and they are free!  In addition to print copies of many test preparation books, the library subscribes to a FANTASTIC database called LearningExpressLibrary.  Free to people with a valid library card and available 24 hours per day this database includes a large number of practice tests for the GED, GRE, LSAT, and GMAT tests, as well as many more.

Tutorial information is also available by clicking on the “Skill Building for Adults” tab.  There you will find the equivalent of electronic books on subjects such as Writing and Grammar Skills Improvement, Math and Reasoning Skills Improvement, and Statistics Skills Improvement.

There are tutorial units and a GED test preparation module in Spanish.

This rich database has much more information that is useful to students of all ages.  Check it out!

 

TO LOCATE THE LearningExpressLibrary DATABASE

1.     Clicking on the homepage of the Northfield Public Library (www.ci.northfield.mn.us/library)

2.     Clicking on Electronic Resources (http://tomcat.selco.info/o_resources/?profile=nor)

3.     Scroll down and click on Learning Express (http://www.learnatest.com/LEL/index.cfm/?HR=http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/library)

 If you would like more information about the LearningExpressLibrary database or other resources to prepare for returning to school please contact the Northfield Public Library at 507-645-1802.

How to Choose an eBook Reader*

1—Know what eBook readers are  An eBook reader is a device for browsing electronic files representing books. Not all eBook readers can handle the same formats. In addition to certain seller-specific proprietary formats, many readers support HTML, plain text, and JPG but not all support the open standard ePub.^[4]This is an important distinction if you want to check out ebooks from your library, or to read the vast library of copyright-free (in the United States at least) ebooks at Project Gutenberg with nicer formatting than plain text files can provide.^[5]

2—Know what to look for in an eBook reader

     Memory: How many eBooks or other documents does the eBook reader have the capacity for?

     Format type: Can the eBook reader handle a variety of file types or only one type (see previous step)? Is this ability (or lack of it) reflected in the price?

    Connectivity: Does the eBook reader have 3G and WiFi connectivity?

    Screen friendliness: Here you need to be concerned about viewability, color, size, and reflectiveness (glare).

     Additonal concerns = Weight and comfort / Battery life / Ease of downloading/  Shareability / Extra features (can you add notes, etc.)

3—Read online product reviews—ask friends who may have one

4—Be careful about the ability to find eBooks and download them to your eBook reader—does it use wi-fi or USB? Can you download from the library?

5—Check the eBook provider's breadth of published content access

6—Visit the store to try the eBook reader—try BEST BUY they have many eReaders all in one place that makes it easy to compare

7– Check the warranty

*This information was provided by wikiHow, a wiki building the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. http://www.wikihow.com/.  Content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons License.

The information supplied here is meant to educate library patrons who may be considering purchasing an eBook reader and is not intended to endorse any particular product.

  The Northfield Public Library subscribes to Overdrive—an ebook supplier. Free ebooks are available through the library website with a library card. Overdrive has a list of devices that you can use to download free ebooks. If you plan to use the library to check out ebooks we recommend you follow this link  -
http://selco.lib.overdrive.com/2681F00B-52C9-4BA3-9BB1-5241B4C4A48F/10/698/en/Default.htm

CHECK OUT THESE ONLINE RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION:

http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/nook-touch.html

http://www.epubbooks.com/ebook-readers

http://www.wired.com/reviews/2011/06/nook

http://willapse.hubpages.com/hub/purchase-ebook-reader

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/collection/1985/top_e-readers.html

Kindle vs Nook
http://www.pcworld.com/article/244282/kindle_fire_vs_nook_tablet_which_should_you_buy.html

Read Consumer Reports discussion list:

http://forums.consumerreports.org/n/pfx/forum.aspx?webtag=cr-computer08

Also, check the Dec. 2011 issue of Consumer Reports. There is a good review of 21 e-book readers.
See the printed issue in the library or read it online by going to www.northfieldmn.info and clicking on "Electronic Resources" - choose EBSCO and search for Consumer Reports under "Publications" (questions? call the library at 645-6606)

Go to the web site of the reader you are researching and read the consumer reviews posted there. Read the good AND the bad reviews.

   

Educated and unemployed or underemployed

One of the reasons that the unemployment rate is stuck above 9% is that some of America’s best-educated workers are unemployed.  The weak economy is the biggest contributing factor to high unemployment levels (consumer demand for goods and services is down and therefore fewer workers are required), but there are many workers with specialized skills who are out of work because their skills do not match the skills that employers are looking for.

It is estimated that the unemployment rate is about 4.3% for people with a college degree and over 25 years of age.  This is up from 2.2 % that was the rate when the recession began in December 2007.  About 1/3 of the increase is due to a skills mismatch. 

Workers without a high school diploma are experiencing a much higher rate of unemployment of 14.3% which is up from 7.7% when the recession began.

In general,  there are a shortage of jobs overall for less-educated workers, but for those with higher education there is also a job gap between people with some specialized skills and those with other specialized skills.  For example, in September 2011, nationwide there were 1,874 jobs postings on the Internet for civil engineers and 157,384 job postings for computer-software engineers.  This reflects the reality that some employers are having difficulty finding workers to fill some high-paying positions.

So what about unemployed people with a skills mismatch?  They face the choice of taking a lower-skilled job or returning to school to learn additional skills.  Unfortunately both of these choices do not to take full advantage of some of the most productive workers in the country. 

Theoretically, realignment should take place over time with more people gravitating toward training for careers with a shortage of workers.  The demand for specialized skills will continue to change however as the employment structure in the United States changes in response to consumer demand, improvements in technology and a host of other factors. 

The Northfield Public Library has a great Reference book in the Business and Employment collection titled the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2010-2011 edition).  Published by the U.S. Department of Labor, this book is a treasure trove of information that provides detailed employment projections in all sectors of the economy.  It is a must consult resource for anyone considering embarking upon a new career.  In addition to detailed job descriptions, it discusses training, current employment information, earnings, and sources of where to obtain additional information are also provided.

 Sources:  Wall Street Journal (online version), October 3, 2011 and the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-2011. Washington, D.C.:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, c2010.

For more information call the library at 507-645-6606.

Building Computer Skills @ the Northfield Public Library

Whether you need to strengthen your computer skills for work or just want to learn how to take advantage of all your computer has to offer, you'll find the tools you need at the Northfield Public Library on Learning Express. Learn at your own pace with interactive tutorial courses on today's most popular software and operating systems including Microsoft Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Word, Adobe Photoshoop, Illustrator, Publisher and more.  Each course offers detailed, easy-to-follow instructions with audio and captions for the program and skill levels of your choice.  All you need to do is go to www.northfieldmn.info and click on "Electronic Resources".  Scroll down to Learning Express.  Some of the benefits include:

*Online access 24/7 from any computer

*Instructor-led videos from your "own" personal software coach

*Step-by-step lessons with full voice and animation

*Interactive practice labs to test-drive new skills

This resource is brought to you by the Northfield Public Library and is free with your library card.  For more information call the library at 645-6606.

Social Media

The Northfield Public Library has a great collection of instructional materials related to social media programs on the Internet.

 

We also offer over 8 Internet accessible computers available for public use.

 
A Concise Timeline of Social Media (so far)

Source:  Entrepreneur Magazine, May 2011

1.     June 1999 -      Napster is launched by Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker.  This free music file-sharing program is named        after Fanning’s haircut.  Napster shuts down due to a lawsuit for copyright infringement brought by the Recording Institute of America.

2.   January 2000 –  Savage Beast Technologies, a music genome project, is launched by Tim Westergren.  It becomes Pandora Radio in 2005.

3.   March 2002 –   Friendster, a social networking site is founded by Jonathan Abrams.  Abrams is a friend of Sean Parker.

4.   April 2003 –   Apple opens iTunes music stores. 

5.   August  2003 -   Myspace is launched by Chris deWolfe and Tom Anderson.  It gains popularity as unknown musical artists use the site as a free promotional tool.

         6.   February 2004 - Facebook is started by Mark Zuckerberg.

7.   July 2006 – Twitter is launched by Jack Dorsey

8. October 2010 - A new version of MySpace is launched.  The focus of the site is entertainment.

Books in the Northfield Library Catalog on Web 2.0 Social Media

     Content Rules:  How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, eBooks, Webinars, and More That Engage Your Customers and Ignite Your Business by Ann Handley and C.C. Chapman.  Hoboken, NJ:  Wiley, c2011. Northfield Employment and Business 658.872 HA

     Facebook Advertising for Dummies by Paul Dunay, Richard Krueger, and Joel Elad.  Hoboken, NJ:  Wiley, c2011 Interlibrary loan

     Facebook for Grown-Ups by Michael Miller. Indianapolis, Ind. : Que Pub., c2011 Interlibrary loan 

         Facebook:  The Missing Manual by E.A. Vander Veer. Sebastopol, Calif: O'Reilly Media, c2008. Northfield 004.69 VE

          Guerilla Marketing for Job Hunters 3.0:  How to Stand Out from the Crowd and Tap Into the Hidden Job Market Using Social Media and 999 Other Tactics Today by Jay Conrad Levinson and David E. Perry.  Hoboken, NJ:  Wiley, 2011. Interlibrary loan

          How to Find a Job on Linkedin, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and Other Social Networks by Brad and Debra Schepp.  New-York: McGraw-Hill, c2010 Northfield Employment and Business 338.707 SC

             New Rules for Today’s Workplace by Sheryl Lindsell-Roberts.  Boston,   MA:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, c2011 Northfield Employment and Business 650.0285 LI

      Sams Teach Yourself Facebook in Ten Minutes by Sherry Kinkoph Gunter.  Indianapolis, IN:  Sams Pub, c2011 Interlibrary loan

     Social Networking for Genealogists by Drew Smith.  Baltimore:  Genealogical Pub. Co., c2009 Northfield 929.1 SM 

     Twitter for Dummies  by Laura Fitton, Michael E. Gruen, and Leslie Poston ; foreword by Jack Dorsey.  Hoboken, NJ : Wiley Publishing, c2009. Northfield 006.754 FI

      Youtube for Dummies by Doug Sahlin and Chris Botello.  Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Pub., Inc., c2007. Northfield 004.6 SA

     Likeable Social Media: How to Delight Your Customers, Create an Irresistible Brand, and be Generally Amazing on Facebook (& Other Social Networks) by Dave Kerpen.New York:McGraw-Hill, c2011 Northfield Employment and Business 6589.8 KE

Public Libraries are Popular Places!

If you didn't see the segment last night on Kare 11 TV (Sept. 6,2011) check out this link about the popularity of public libraries. (The Roseville Library is highlighted.) Libraries offer so many services that the public sometimes isn't aware of - in addition to books there are videos, music cds, programs, job clubs, ebooks, internet computers, online resources that can be used 24/7, homework help and so much more.


http://www.kare11.com/news/money/article/936531/329/Save-money-by-using-your-local-library