Listen Up!

There's nothing like a good book. Nothing like feeling it in your hands, turning the pages, delighting in the written words inside. Children share that same attraction, and some days would love it if you would just sit with them and read all day long! When that happens, and you’re short on time, never fear ~ audiobooks to the rescue!

In the past, there were audio cassettes, and then CDs. These days the library offers several other audio formats to match your busy lifestyle. While audio cassettes have gone the way of the dinosaurs, CD books are still alive and well on the shelves, and today there are several digital audio formats from which to choose, so there's bound to be one that suits your lifestyle and time constraints. eAudiobooks are plentiful, and listed in our catalog along with their print counterparts. Playaways are pre-loaded MP3 audio books, featured in both the adult and children's collections. Our Tumblebook Library for young readers also gives you loads of choices of fiction and nonfiction titles that are suitable for children of all ages.

Hoopla, a benefit accessible through the library’s web site, features eBooks, music, movies, comics, and more. Items are always available and ready to be downloaded quickly and easily onto your computer, tablet, or phone, or streamed through your device so you can take them with you when you’re on the move. During the month of March, the regular limit of ten free downloadable items from Hoopla has been doubled to twenty! The kids' version of Hoopla offers children's stories, movies and more for young listeners' pleasure.

So give a book a listen. Don’t be surprised if you and your children discover some narrators you really like, and find yourself seeking out anything they’ve done. You're not cheating by listening instead of reading; you're just being smart, taking advantage of all of the wonderful resources available to you!

Guest post by Bridget W. 

Hip, Hip...Hoopla!

Hoopla, the library’s latest addition to its eCollection, just rolled out this month. Because all of Hoopla’s items are always available to you (no waiting for holds!), it’s a great way to check out movies, television shows, music, and audiobooks. Click here to learn more about Hoopla and get started creating your account, and click here to browse some of the titles offered through Hoopla.

Besides great options for adults, Hoopla has a wide selection of items geared towards children. Here are 3 series of learning videos for kids that are available:

Baby’s First Impressions: These 30-minute, award-winning videos are geared toward kids ranging in age from 1 to 5. They include videos on a variety of topics, such as animals, colors, letters, and seasons. All of the videos are also offered in Spanish.

Bilingual Baby: All of these 45-minute videos feature everyday objects in familiar settings, while a native-language narrator introduces more than 60 words. There are 12 languages in the series, including Spanish, French, Japanese, and German.

Brainy Baby: These 45-minute, award-winning videos are divided into 4 learning categories—infant/early learning and brain development, academic subjects (ABCs, 123s, etc.), enrichments (art, music, etc.), and languages (Spanish, sign language, etc.).

In addition to these, Hoopla also has a selection of read-along eVideos (similar to those found in TumbleBook Library) in which children can read along as a story is being read to them. They’re great for times when you’re not available to read to your little one. And, since the words are highlighted as they are read, they’re perfect for beginning readers, too.

Have I convinced you to cheer along with me yet? Ready? Hip, hip…Hoopla!

Top Ten Reasons Why I'm Thankful for My Library

10. Where else can you go where everything you get is FREE?! We’ve got free books, free movies, free video games, free magazines, free music, free eBooks, free Wi-Fi, and much, much more!

9. Did I mention free music? Have you heard of Freegal? With your library card, you can download five songs every week from Freegal, which has millions of great songs from which to choose. And the best part? They’re yours forever!

8. Great programs! From baby storytimes to adult computer classes, the library has programs for every member of your family. Check out our calendar of events to find one that’s perfectly suited for you.

7. We’ve got TONS of information. With thousands of books (and access to millions more), a wide selection of research databases, and reference librarians here to assist you, the library is THE place to come to start your research.

6. With so many online resources, you can enjoy lots of the benefits of the library from the comfort of your own home. Checking out eBooks, downloading music, using TumbleBook Library, and renewing the items you’ve checked out, are just a few of the things you can do online, without having to leave the house!

5. Bonus services! Did you know that our library has passport services and notaries on hand? We’re like a one-stop shop!

4. If you’re having a hectic day and need to regain your sanity, you can stop in, find a comfy chair, and drown out your troubles with a great book. Ahhh...

3. Our booklists! If you’ve run out of books by your favorite author, finished the last book in a series, or just plain don’t know what to read next, we have booklists for kids, teens, and adults to help. Check them out for some great reading recommendations!

2. Need computer access or a place to print, copy, or fax? We’ve got you covered!

1. The librarians! You didn’t think I’d write a whole post about the library being awesome without giving myself a little shout-out, did you? J Seriously, though, as librarians our most important job is to help you. Whether it’s suggesting a great book to read, locating books you can’t find, or assisting you with just about anything else (we’ve heard it all!), we’re happiest when you’re happy.

eBooks for eKids!

If you’re looking to enhance your book collection without having to pay a thing or even leave home, you’ll love our eBooks for kids!

For all the Disney lovers out there, Disney Digital Books has over 600 online books available! That should keep your little one busy for a little while, right? J It’s really easy to use, too, since it’s all read online (no downloading). Plus, because check-in is automatic after the 2-week loan period, you don’t need to worry about racking up those pesky overdue fines.

TumbleBooks is another collection of eBooks for kids. These books allow children the option of being read to, so they’re great for your little ones who aren’t yet reading on their own or are still in the process of learning. There are tons of books from which to choose, including non-fiction ones, a new feature to the collection. And, like the Disney Digital Books, these books don’t require downloading.

So, sit back, relax, and enjoy these great services from the comfort of your home. Just try not to love them TOO much; we still want to see your smiling faces here at the library!