Coming soon! The Twelve Days of Cookies!

Ok! We know that Thanksgiving just happened, Halloween is near, and that special day of remembrance is quickly approaching. At Annapolis Valley Regional Library we observe all of those special days, but we are also preparing for the fifth year of The Twelve Days of Cookies to start off the yuletide season. That's right folks, time to start looking for great cookie recipes to share.

This annual event is entering its fifth year as a way to spread good cheer, let folks know about our great cookbook collection, and to show off your cooking skills. We won the 2014 APLA Library Advocacy Award for this project, and the cookie posts are some of our most viewed blogs each year.  
By popular request, this year we are including our magazine collection as a recipe source as well. So dust off your baking hat and start perusing those recipes in print, eBooks or online. Beginning December 5, here on our blog, we will post a new cookie recipe each weekday (not on the weekend) and the branch location where you can sample cookies baked by our very own staff (if you get there in time).

We'll also have our contest again. You bake cookies with a recipe from a library-owned source and you could win a 'Cookie Gift Bag'!

It is going to be sweet, SO STAY TUNED!

What does your library have to offer?

Have you recently visited your local branch of the Annapolis Valley Regional Library? If not, you might be surprised by the content and services provided by a library near you. We have eleven branches located throughout the Valley, hence free and exciting reading as well as viewing and listening opportunities are always close to home.
We know that you enjoy stories not only from the pages of books, but also from your electronic devices including smart phones, e-readers and tablets, mp3 players, and even TV and game consoles.
With nothing but your library card you can have access to our ever expanding collection of audio books, available in both CD and mp3 formats.  These make a fantastic companion on long drives or quiet afternoons at home.
For those reading on the go we now carry an expansive collection of eBooks and e-magazines that can be borrowed for your e-reader much like a normal book. Simply search for what you're looking for and download it to your device.  The book will automatically be removed after the expiry date, no late fees!  Your library card even gives you access to popular movies and video-games. Save money on expensive rentals and borrow ours instead.
Your local library also has free programming and events for toddlers, school-aged children, teens and adults.  We have something for everyone in your family.  Have your children signed up for the summer reading club in past years?  At the end of the school year, sign up.  You can win prizes and at the completion of the reading assignments receive a free fast-pass to Upper Clements Park.
Accessibility is also important to us. If you have difficulty reading regular print, chances are we have a large print copy available. If you need help accessing content on computer, phone or tablet we can certainly assist with that too.
Your local libraries strive to remain vital members of your communities. We're constantly searching for ways of providing the best service to our patrons and ensuring that everyone has access to a diverse selection of educational content and entertainment. So please come visit soon and let us know what we can check out for you.

Post by Twila Thibodeau,  clerk at the Rosa M. Harvey Middleton and Area Library.

"How does this thing work?"

   If you got a tablet or eReader over the holidays and want to know how to load it up with free eBooks from the library, let us show you how!   You can use one of our help sheets found here.

Or send us an email providing the type of device, your library card number and how you can be reached to this address: overdrive@valleylibrary.ca   

   Better yet, call one of our branches to book your personal 1-on-1 help session with one of our tutors. These are free and available until mid-February. Call soon, as these fill-up quickly!

If you already know how to use OverDrive, which is where you will find our eBook and audiobook collection, have a look. We've added lots of new titles to fill your eReader, tablet, or phone. Just visit this link and download titles right away! And don't forget about the Gutenberg Collection, full of classics that are always available and do not count against your checkout limit. 

Did the kids get a new tablet this year?  Or did you get one that you will let them use? Our Youth Services Librarian has some apps to recommend, and lots of resources for finding free and low-cost educational apps. Just visit this link to find all sorts of suggestions.

 We will be offering Tablet Time family workshops in the coming months, so keep an eye out for those. You'll learn how to use apps to help your child develop early literacy skills and get ready for school, plus enjoy books and literacy activities. Coming soon to a library near you!

New eBook Feature

We are now entering our third year of offering eBooks and downloadable audiobooks.  Over these few years the collection has grown to over 3,700 unique eBook titles and over 1,300 downloadable audiobook titles.  When the level of demand for a particular title is high, another copy is purchased.  Currently there are over 5,900 copies in the collection.

We subscribe to this service from OverDrive, which can be accessed directly here .  Some recent changes to the site included the addition of a new service called OverDrive READ (this works best in Google Chrome).

Just over 3,000 of the 3,700 eBook titles are in this new format.  After you borrow the title you are able to click on the Read button next to the cover, the book then opens in your browser.  The title will function in your browser similarly to an eReader.  Bookmark where you stop reading then you can pick up where you left off, on any device you choose.  To do this go into your account and click on the Read button from whatever device you wish to continue reading on.  There is also an option to read off-line.

Oh, I shouldn’t forget to mention “samples”.  Now you can click on most covers of our books to get a sample of the audiobook or eBook.

Charlotte Janes,
Head of Systems and Administration

The Well Travelled Book Lover

If you're like me, you always have to have something to read. This can become problematic while on vacation. You might need a book to read on the plane as well as a back-up in case you don't like the book you brought. With carry-on restrictions and the attempt to "travel light", it's sometimes a challenge for bibliophiles to keep up with their reading while on holiday.

eBooks to the rescue!  I took four books with me on holiday last summer to the U.K. and they all fit in my purse. My eReader can stay charged for up to three weeks and I'm good to go. Finding books for my eReader is quick and easy using the library's Overdrive software.  Just search the catalogue, download, and transfer to a device. If what you are looking for isn't available, you can place it on hold just like a regular book. When it's available you get an email telling you so.  Best of all, it's free so I can save my money while dreaming of other places to travel to.

Not into eBooks?  Try downloading an audiobook through Overdrive for your iPod or MP3 player and relax while listening to a book. There's nothing better to make a long flight go faster than a good book no matter what the format.

Frances Newman, Regional Librarian

Are you thinking of buying an eReader?

A few points to ponder...There are basically two types -- E-ink and LCD.

E-Ink 
In terms of reading, E-Ink screens are more like physical books printed on paper. They are not backlit, thus they need a light source to be read, just like a book. Their benefits are that they produce less strain on the eyes and are a more natural reading experience. Also, you won’t experience glare in bright lights and direct sunlight. E-Ink also holds its charge for a very long time.

The drawbacks of E-Ink are that they cannot display moving images, such as video or cursors, nor can they display color.  E-Ink can only be displayed in shades of grey.

LCD
An LCD screen on an eReader is the same as the screen on your laptop computer or smartphone. The screen is backlit, thus requiring more battery power. Also, the glass screen creates a glare. LCD screens are also difficult to read in direct sunlight. Viewing an LCD screen over long periods of time is also less enjoyable than reading a book on an E-Ink screen.

The pros of an LCD screen is that it can display full color and video. In fact, many smartphones and tablets double as eReaders.

Which is best for you?
When deciding which type of eReader screen is best for you, there are two things you should consider: your usage and your needs. If you plan on reading outdoors or in brightly lit areas, on the deck, on the beach or for long periods of time, an E-Ink eReader makes sense because of its lack of a glare and its long battery life.  E-ink readers last for days while LCD readers only last for hours.  But if you’d like to read in the dark, such as in bed—an LCD screen may be better. eReaders with LCD screens can offer other options, such as video, gaming or web browsing.

Bottom-line:  for those of you who intend to use your eReader strictly for books and in well-lit areas, the E-Ink models are likely the best for you. If you are looking for an eReader that can do a bit more than simply read books, an LCD tablet or reader could give you more bang for your buck.  You should go to a store and actually handle the different models available to see which feel comfortable for you.

Not all eReaders are compatible with the library software.  Click on this link  to see a list of  compatible eReaders.