Much More Mango

Mango has just added more languages to learn! Granted they are only in the new Basic version where you can : "quickly learn some basic words and phrases for your business trip or short trip overseas for these languages." So, now folks can practice in these additional languages:

Arabic (Levantine) | Chinese (Mandarin) | Dari | Farsi | French | German | Greek | Hebrew | Hindi | Irish | Italian | Japanese | Korean | Pashto | Portuguese (Brazil) | Russian | Spanish (Latin America) | Tagalog | Thai | Turkish | Urdu | Vietnamese |

Also new for ESL students: Learn English using a native language interface, in 14 new languages, from Arabic to Vietnamese. See all ESL languages available.

Where do you get Mango? Find it on the eCollection page. Click the blue tab from the library homepage.

For any patron questions - send them to this page:
http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/Libraries/ref/Databases/MangoLanguages.aspx

Do You See Dead People?

In search of an obituary or death notice from the Washington Post? When you've checked the free archive, and you've searched in Newspapers by ProQuest but come up empty handed...now there's a NEW resource you can try: the Legacy Archive at the Washington Post. We just purchased a "deposit account" here, so we can get the obits which we used to get on microfilm.

Important: We pay for EACH download (or "activation" as they call it) so please exhaust the free sources first. And the Legacy Archive ONLY provides death notices that appeared online between 10/14/2001 and 5/19/2009.

SUPER IMPORTANT: Do not share or send or post anywhere the login details for our Legacy Archive account. This is only for staff to use.

Please see the Finding Obituaries User Tips page on SQ for details. It details not only the new access to the Post Legacy Archive but info about using Newspapers (ProQuest) or other free sites to verify the date an obit appeared and sometimes, even find it online for free. Bookmark this page -- it's good to know how to use it.

Literature Criticism Online

Yup--we got it--LCO. The online version of the lit crit your branch has been waiting for ! Gale actually digitzed the pages their of standard works, and APL got these titles:

• Contemporary Literary Criticism: active authors or who died after 12/31/99
• Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism: major authors of 1900-1999
• Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism: major authors of 1800-1899
• Poetry Criticism: poets of all eras
• Short Story Criticism: major authors of short fiction

Now, using LCO is a bit different than the Literature Resource Center, because these are really an eBook format. See details here. Or, check out these tutorials if you want.
Basic Search – Guided Tour
Browse Authors, Works, and Topics – Guided Tour
Managing Results – Guided Tour

Now you have centuries of critiques on authors and their works, types of literature and regions--in the library, or for patrons and students at home. Licensing Note: Schoolteachers should be aware that it is permissible for a student to log in to LCO at a school computer, using their personal APL card. But it is NOT permissible for the teacher to log in with an APL card, for use by an entire classroom.

So go ahead and flip through a few electronic pages--try it out now

GREENR

We have purchased GREENR, so you can get to it from the Research Portal. It is a "one-stop" research portal focused on the study of sustainability and the environment, pefect for students, researchers, and county staff. Watch a short Guided Tour on how to use it. Try it now!

GREENR (Global Reference on the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources) has categories like energy systems, healthcare, food, climate change, population, international relations and economic development.

Content arrangement includes portals by issue, organization and country.Interactive maps, allowing users to browse by issue, country or region, as well as search local-level content.

GREENR offers:

News-updated daily Videos Unique commentaries

Primary source documents Statistics Contextual multimedia & refereed case studies.

Career Transitions is here!

This brand new resource will be available shortly to library patrons. Take a look now so you will be ready to help folks. Click on the FAQ link on the lower nav bar, and get a feel for what users might ask. Watch for 1-page handout coming to your branch soon. See the details page.

Go ahead and create your own user account (required) so you can explore!

What does it have?

• Resume builder, job application wizard and a personal profile that stores a user's references, action plan and more
• Assessment engine that identifies career interests and transferable skills
• Career explorer, industry explorer and geography explorer
• Ability to target specific careers, industries and locations to see projected growth
• Interviewing tips & Networking help
• Will locate low-cost Adult education distance learning classes to enhance employment prospects
• Links to unemployment services and other social services
• Comprehensive job search that incorporates a user's career, industry and location targets.
• Apply for listed job vacancies within Career Transitions
  

How Is It Arranged? Choose one of these 5 main sections to begin:
1) Discover My Interests
2) Explore Careers
3) Prepare Resume
4) Improve My Chances
5) Find Jobs

How Do You Use It?
Career Transitions users must create a personal profile and login each time. Use your profile and the to build and save resumes, cover letters, and references. Return to your profile or resuman anytime-- in the library--or remotely--to track and update your progress in job searching, career exploration, and education planning.

Didn't finish? Remember to "Save as You Go"
Be sure to click Save option when creating a resume or taking an assessment! For privacy, Career Transitions. sessions will time out and unsaved work will be lost.

Tthe last values you entered in each step of Prepare Resume will be identified with your personal account and saved. You can continue where you left off the next time you use Career Transitions. If your resume is complete you can the same resume the next time you need it, or make edits and save the new version.

You can also copy and paste your resume into a website. In the Preview step within Prepare Resume, just save your resume in text format; then, copy the text and paste it into the website.

Any questions? Call or email Sally or Gwen.

Historical New York Times with Index Overview - Introduction

TA DA! We now get online access to the complete New York Times Index (1851–1993) in search results for the Historical NYT. Take a look at this overview/demo
Historical New York Times with Index -- Demo & Introduction
and get an idea of what's just been added to our Historical NYT access.

Tips:
You may search the specific fields of the index by searching the following fields on the advanced search (the ones that are asterisked): subject*, company/org*, creative work*, person*, location*. Most of these fields are available in the drop down menu next to each search row and in the “more search options” area at the bottom. You may search these fields in either area or in any combination.



Try this search: enter Amelia Earhart in the person field (either by selecting person* from the drop down menu next to the search row or using the person* field in the “more search options”). On the corresponding results page, select the abstract or citation for one of the results and you’ll see the search term highlighted in the person field of the indexing.

Did you notice? the Index dates of coverage are slightly different than the paper itself? It's not an evil plot, it's just that the printed idex was not produced past the early 90's.

Coverage for the Historical complete New York Times Index is 1851–1993
Coverage for the Historical NYT NEWSPAPER is currently: Sept 18,1851-Dec 31, 2005.

The end date is a rolling date, usually with one added every 12 months. AND, just to keep you on your toes...the Historical NYT, the WP and the WSJ all have different coverage dates--it's all up the to publisher.

S0 what's the fastest way to check historical coverage? Look at "Database Selected" at upper left, of the ProQuest screen. In fact, this is also true for "non-historical" newspapers we get from ProQuest.

let me know the most intesting thing YOU found, using the online index!

OverDrive & iPods

Surprise! With the latest software updates, our 1100+ OverDrive
WMA eAudiobooks become "instantly comptatible" for iPod and iPhone
users with a Windows PC. (Sophistcated Mac owners can also install & partition Windows Media Player to manage the iPod downloads.)

MUST HAVE:

OverDrive Media Console version 3.2

iTunes v7.6.2.9 and QuickTime v7.4.5

Be SURE to update the OverDrive and iTunes software FIRST before you download a title to transfer to an Apple device! Otherwise you may be able to download the title, but the transfer probably won't work.

Once installed, users with Windows PCs can transfer most WMA format titles to their iPod® and other Apple® devices including the iPhone. (A few publishers have not joined this effort)

iPod Shuffle Caveat! Only the "3rd Generation" are compatible with the WMA titles. See iPod Shuffle devices

See our eCollection portal for details of OverDrive WMA downloads: http://visual.acornweb.org/databases/eCollection.asp

Navigate to eBooks > PC > OverDrive and click on Details

More cool new features: Star Ratings and Flexible Loan Periods!

eCollection

Ta Da! Our "Extreme Makeover" of the eBooks and eAudiobooks pages are complete. From several links around the Library website, when they click on eBooks or eAudiobooks, you will now see (or be directed to) the new eCollection portal: http://visual.acornweb.org/databases/eCollection.asp

What's an eCollection Portal?
It's a single landing page for the Library's growing collection of non-print and downloadable resources. It's divided into "slots" by format: eAudiobooks, eBooks, Web Apps and Web Casts. Under each slot, the available options are presented in tabs.

Fast Clicks
If you know which "thingy" you want by name—jump on the left menu for direct access.

Not so sure? Skim the descriptions of each vendor and option, presented here by FORMAT. Each format "bubble" offers an image linked to direct access, plus a separate link for Details and for Questions.

Help me!
Also new is a Help page (From the left menu) with all the Frequently Asked Questions such as "What's an eBook." "Why can't I download a NetLibrary eBook."

PowerSearch 2.0 interface

Available NOW - new interface for our Gale "articles" databases like General OneFile, Expanded Academic and more!

Besides a new look and feel, it has a dashboard, a featured publication , and some recent news articles.

PLUS it offers personal user accounts to save items get RSS, and even Share options like Twitter and Delicious, Digg, etc.,

Here's a short tutorial you can watch. Red Alert!!! You must click on the red cursor/arrow to advance in the tutorial.

Want to know more? Sign up for a FREE webinar! See the calendar here and choose PowerSearch 2.0 from the Category dropdown menu.

Be sure to send Moira the email confirmation you get, to apply webinars to your traning requirements.

Chilton Library

Comparable to the print series Chilton's Total Car Care, Chilton Library provides online information on car, truck, van, and SUV make and model combinations, both U.S and foreign. Includes step-by-step service instructions, close-up photographs and illustrations, vacuum and wiring diagrams to help explain system operation, troubleshooting, and diagnostics. Key information is highlighted in the maintenance and specification tables. Coverage includes most vintage makes starting as far back as 1954. The procedures are written specifically for a car buff or do-it-yourselfer, but are comprehensive enough for professional technicians. Unfortunately, we already know this is NOT appropriate for academic support of any automotive classes at the Arlington Career Center.

Sample searches will give you a feel for how to use this database. And while I wouldn't recommend taking your laptop with you when you pop the hood, you could print out the troubleshooting pages just for "your ride" BEFORE you grab a wrench!

Not convinced? Watch this audio/video webcast for a quick tutorial.

Encyclopedia of Associations

I might as well just say it--the Encyclopedia of Associations "My Favorite Reference Book"... and NOW it's on a computer near you. With unlimited library and remote access, 24/7 !

Stop by the Research Portal and try it out. You'll find it under "E" although when you first click the link all you see is the "Gale Directory Library." Not to worry, that's just the name of the interface, much like eBooks and the Gale Virtual Reference Library interface. Or search in ACORN for Encyclodpedia of Associations.

Frankly, it's not perfect, but expect more improvements to the search mechanism in the next few months. (We spoke and Gale is listening.) So try it out on your next reference questions. I promise you'll be surprised at what you find.

Or just search for ...dachshund or...elvis...and see turns up. Me--I feel better just knowing there is a Chatty Cathy Collectors Club which meets annually. :)

Literature electronic resources

Folks,
Did you know we have a couple different online resources? Click on the Subject button for Books & Literature. Besides the Literature Resource Center, you can also search a collection of eBooks.

Lit Resource Center is our biggest and best resource and the search interface was completely redone last year. Here are links to some short video refreshers.

Basic Search | Advanced Search | Person & Works

You must search eBooks separately from Lit RC, but the searchable collection of Lit eBooks includes:

* Contemporary Novelists
* Contemporary Poets
* Nonfiction Classics for Students: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Nonfiction Works , 5v, 2003

If I haven't geeked you out and you have any questions, just let me know!

Value Line goes ONLINE!

The official launch to the public: We haven't really publicized this, but as of March 1, branches no longer receive any print editions. So when you have a patron who JUST wants to see what they used to read in print:

So, how do I use Value Line now? I just want what I saw in print:
Go to the Research Portal and click Business & Investments / Value Line.
Then go to the Quick Index on the left menu, and choose either Standard or Plus Edition / Survey Issues.

There you will see a rolling 13 weeks of the Investment Survery. Choose Ratings & Reports, then click the PDF link for the full report. Click the HTML link for the same data, viewed as a webpage. Tip: Choose the Plus edition, which combines the Standard and Small & Mid-cap Editions, a total of about 3,500 stocks.

Have you noticed yet that Value Line online offers much more than the print edition!

The VLRC provides access to 6 individual reports, plus additional content not included in print editions. See the User Guide online. (Click the tiny box at lower right corner to view fullscreen)

Get it here first! The online content is updated early, on Friday noon. Print eds. don't come out until the following Monday. Plus, online access has UNLIMITED library & remote users 24/7.

For all the nitty gritty about what's available, see the details page:
http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/Libraries/ref/Databases/ValueLine.aspx

Two important things:
1. Value Line requires cookies, so the first time you connect, you may see a screen giving two choices:

• To continue and log in, click here. CHOOSE THIS ONE!


• If you're a new subscriber, please change your password here. Do not choose this, passwords are not used so cannot be reset.
  

2. Which bring us to 2nd important thing to know: While a tab called "Personalize My Value Line" appears plus references to "My Account," are all over the site, it is NOT possible for patrons to create an account. Patrons will need to keep track of their interests or portfolio on their own.

There will be staff training sessions in future. In the meantime, for any questions or problems about connecting, connect Sally.

For questions about using Value Line online, check with Merle or Carolyn.

LearningExpress Library - new version

Just in time to help our patrons with job hunting and other career needs, the LearningExpress Library has just come out with a smooth looking new release. (Any patron's scores or info from the old version should be moved over to this one.) It's easy to navigate--by age or topic or special interest

I'd say that a real useful section is
Job and Career Success
which lists not just practice tests, but
actual online courses on hot topics like

Job Search and Networking Skills
Creating Great Resumes & Cover Letters
Interviewing
Success on the Job


This used to be called "Learnatest" but it has grown into a full-fledged resource for building skills as well as taking a practice test.

Give it a look. You still need an account to login, so create your own or use the one on SQ.

Got iPod?

or iTouch or iPhone...? Then OverDrive is going to be your new BFF---we've just added new downloadable MP3 eAudiobooks!

What's the scoop?

• MP3 format (DRM-free) downloadable to many digital players including (but not limited to!) iPod, iPhone, iTouch, but sorry, NOT the iPhone.


• Find adult and YA classics, and popular backlist titles. One tiny bad thing:
  
  • MP3 files are larger and take a bit longer to download.
    


• Same OverDrive limits: Single borrower, 3-week check-out; place "eholds" from Overdrive account.

You can download to a Mac OR a PC...then transfer to your *compatible* MP3 player...yes folks ... :) there ARE MP3 players besides the iPod, and there are Mac formatted vs. Windows formatted iPods.

Tip: once transferred to your iPod, you will likely have to manually navigate to your settings--and it usually ends up under Music.

Note: the setting 'Manually manage music' must be enabled in iTunes before you can complete the transfer.

Each branch will be getting their very own Creative MuVo T200 player, so you can practice with this new format. The MuVo is very cool--no cables, just a USB connector. Be sure to charge it for a few hours before trying to download any titles. Like most players, the eAudiobooks show up under "Music" but are easy to find and start playing.

What else--oh yes--Enjoy! I'm currently listening to The Man Who Would be King and Other Stories, by Kipling. (If only they had gotten Sean Connery to read it!)