Library Recommended Apps

Are you wondering what kinds of apps would be beneficial to download onto your tablet, with either Android or Apple operating systems?  We have some suggestions for you of FREE apps.  Remember, FREE apps may have some advertising included.  Some of these may already be on your device.  They can all be found either at the Google Play Store or through iTunes.

OverDrive Media Console

Read eBooks or listen to audiobooks from us for up to three weeks, FREE with this app. No late fees, titles will automatically be returned.  Place holds and create a wish list.  We have over 7,500 titles to choose from.

Tutor.com To Go

Tutor.com To Go™ is the mobile companion for Tutor.com, and the only education app that connects you to an expert tutor for real-time help. Sign up for a free account with your library card.

TuneIn Radio

TuneIn is real radio. Discover, follow and listen to what’s most important to you from the world’s largest collection of sports, news, music and talk stations. TuneIn has over 100,000 real radio stations and more than four million podcasts from all over the world, all for free.  There is a feature that searches for local stations where ever you are.

Facebook

The app is really easy to use.  It allows you to quickly post pictures and share with others.  It also gives you alerts when there is a message for you.  It does take up a lot of space though, so consider that before loading.

Flipboard

This is your personal magazine.  Catch up on the news, read stories from around the world and browse videos, photos and articles that friends are sharing.  Add blogs and publications like The New York Times, PEOPLE magazine and many more.

Google Docs

Create, edit and collaborate with others on documents from your phone or tablet.  You can open, edit and save Microsoft Word documents.  Never worry about losing your work, everything is automatically saved as you type.

Microsoft Office Mobile 

This is the official Office companion optimized for your mobile device. You can access, view and edit your Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint documents.

Pinterest

If you use this amazing tool of visual bookmarks, you will love the app.  It makes pinning and sharing so much easier.  By creating an account with Pinterest, you will discover ideas for all of your DYI projects and interests.  Find amazing recipes, exercise workouts, knitting patterns, DYI projects of all kinds and much more.  

                                                            Songza

If you like music, you’ll love this.  You can browse thousands of playlists by activity, genre, decade and mood.  Free, with no listening limits.  Some examples under playlists for activities are Breaking Up, Sitting on the Back Porch, Skateboarding, Pool Party and many more.

Weather Network

Have all of your weather information and forecast details at your fingertips whenever you want it.  There is a setting that automatically detects the forecast for your location wherever in North America you might be.  This app includes weather alert banners that can be clicked on for detailed information.

YouTube

Quick and easy access to YouTube videos that are personalized “what to watch” recommendations based on your preferences.  Play a never-ending mix of your favourite music videos.

Chrome

Browse the Internet fast on your phone or tablet with the Google Chrome browser you love on your desktop. Pick up where you left off on your other devices with tab sync, and search by voice.

Charlotte Janes

Head of Systems and Administration

Tablet Time Wrap-up

Last year we received a grant from the Family Learning Initiative Endowment Fund. These funds are made possible by a partnership from the Halifax Youth Foundation, the Department of Human Resources & Social Development Canada, and the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education. The intent is to foster learning within the family –not just for children, but also for their adults. Goals include engaging families through positive literacy interactions, enhance a parent’s ability to support their child’s learning, and to promote collaboration. 

The basic structure of our Tablet Time was to offer 4 sessions of personal, hands-on time with our set of 6 iPads loaded with Early Literacy apps, couched in a traditional storytime setting with a take-home literacy craft. We shared books and crafts, had a snack, and then explored an app. Each session paired a book with an app, which the child and parent explored together. Once they tried the featured app, they had time to explore the other learning apps on the iPads.

We had 25 families attend the program in 5 of our library branches. (Each session was limited to 6 families.) The children that attended were between the ages of 2-7. Nearly all of the families that attended own a home computer; 15 own a tablet and 11 own a Smartphone. 16 of the families currently use apps with their children; many reported wanting to find out more about educational and fun apps and less “Angry Birds” type apps. 

From our “exit” surveys (14 returned) we learned that 12 of the families now feel more comfortable with using tablets with their children, and 7 of the families have downloaded some of the apps we used in the program. Several parents reported that their child’s alphabet knowledge increased, and most reported that their children really enjoyed the program. 

This was a pilot project for us, and we did learn some things. When we advertised the program simply as “Tablet Time”, we had fewer attendees. When we changed the name to “Milk and Cookies Tablet Time”, attendance increased. This change also coincided with an improvement in the weather, so we are not absolutely positive that the cookies made a difference! Nearly every family that attended remarked that they would like more time with the iPads, and as a result, we are holding drop-in “APPy Hour” programs in some of our branches this summer.

We will continue to look for quality apps to share with parents and children, and we keep lists of apps that we install on our iPads on our Pinterest boards—for kids, and for older kids. Check your local library’s calendar of events and see if there’s an APPy Hour close to you! 

-Angela J. Reynolds, Head of Youth Services

"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!