Wednesday, September 30, 2009

New System / New Look

If you have been to the library catalog this week, you might have noticed a new look and some features we hope will prove to make the system easier to use.

Below is a screen shot of a search in the new catalog.(Click image to enlarge.) A search for the popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians series yields 16 separate items in the library system, some with multiple copies. Notice that on the upper right corner of each item now is a picture that lets you know what type of material you are looking at, whether it be a book or a book on cd. There are also icons for films and software for other titles.



At the top of the screen you can choose the familiar options of searching by title, author, series, subject and more. The choice to set limits, however, is a little more user-friendly than it used to be, and comes with a little help button (question mark) in the upper right corner that explains all about how set limits can help your searching.



Putting items on hold now should also be just as easy as before. On the left side of each item there is an image that looks like a stick pin. (Click image to enlarge.) Click the box and press the stick pin and you get a window that gives you a chance to put in your card number and four digit pin. You have now been added to the queue for that item. Don't forget to request which branch you want the item sent to. The option should be very useful for our patrons who like to pick up items at work on their way home.



We hope you like the new look and the new features this upgrade brings to the catalog. If you have any questions about it, or about any other library features, please stop in at your local library and ask. We're happy to help.

Friday, September 18, 2009

How would you tell the Twilight story?


If you have been a fan of the Twilight series, you probably had your own ideas of what might happen next for the Cullen family and their friends and foes.

Now is your chance to put your creative skills to the test and try for a chance at free movie tickets and a copy of the soundtrack for the New Moon movie.

The contest details can be found at the JCPL website.

For those adults who may wonder what this contest will do for their kids or students, we encourage you to check out the page for Teachers/Librarians. Not only will this contest tap into some creative writing juices, but it will give writers the opportunity to learn some research skills, as well as explore geography, mythology and art.

This project could be incorporated in a wide variety of subjects and lessons—what better way to get students enthused than to base a lesson around their favorite books?!