Given that e-resources are being heavily used right now, Hoopla’s latest announcement is all the more exciting. Hoopla has introduced “Bonus Borrows.” These checkouts do not count toward the monthly limit and is totally FREE for libraries!
Each section of Hoopla (Audiobooks, e-books, Comics, Music, Television, Movies) includes categories labeled “Bonus Borrows.”
There is a category for “All Bonus Borrows,” but each section includes more specific Bonus Borrows categories as well, including categories for children.
I think a great category to highlight is in the Television section. With gyms closed, people are forced to change their workout routines. Check out “Bonus Borrows: At-Home Fitness
Another great category to highlight is “Bonus Borrows: Movies for Kids.” These are not traditional movies, but mostly visual companions to some great picture books.
This would be a great resource for parents trying to mix in education with their kids’ screen times!
Browsing through these sections, it’s plain see many of these Bonus Borrows are ones patrons will be excited to check out.
Normally, Ancestry.com is only available for in-library use only; however, access to this resource has been temporarily expanded to library cardholders working remotely, courtesy of ProQuest and its partner Ancestry. This will be available until April 30th.
Users will need to type in their library card number and pin number. If you don’t have a PIN (or forgot it), get a new PIN number through the online catalog by clicking Log In or Register. Then click, I Forgot or want to change my PIN.
The library edition of Ancestry has full access. The only thing users won’t be able to do is edit Public Member Trees. (Users can still take a look at trees, but not able to add information!)
If you need help getting started with this great resource, there are great tools on Ancestry’s website.
Genealogical research can be overwhelming, but a few tips to keep in mind:
Start your search at home. Any exact date of births on birth certificates may help you get started!
Keep track of what you searched for… and keep track of your successful searches!
Try multiple spellings of names (both first and last).
Search by women’s maiden AND married names. They could be listed in different ways depending of the record.
Borders of countries have changed over time, so don’t just search by specific countries!
Military records, specifically enlistment records, are fascinating (maybe it’s just a personal favorite), but they can contain physical descriptions of individuals, beneficiaries and more!
In the upper right-hand corner, click Log In or Register
On the next screen, click I need a library card.
Fill out the next screen. Note: This only is available for any user 11 years and older.
If it was successful, users will be emailed their card number. They can use this card number to access eResources available at: eLibrary.einetwork.net.
With schools closed, there are now a lot of hours in the day to fill. While library doors also need to be shut right now, there are many online resources that are always available!
Library Resources
Hoopla
Start a family book club with Hoopla. There are plenty of e-book and audiobooks for children & families–all ALWAYS available! Check out the “Road Trip! Audiobooks for the Family” genre. You can sit as a family and listen to classics like “Anne of Green Gables” or more modern-day fare like “The Graveyard Book.” If you prefer the e-book experience, Hoopla has robust Juvenile Fiction & Nonfiction collections as well.
Hoopla, of course, also offers a great selection of movies & music, each with children’s titles!
Little Pim
Take this opportunity to begin (or continue) language learning. Little Pim is product from Mango Languages and is designed especially for children. You can use Little Pim as a guest or create an account to track your progress.
Kids Info Bits
A product from trusted-database resource Gale, Kids Info Bits is highly graphical and easy to browse. This is perfect for elementary-aged children who want to know absolutely everything about a certain topic. And, without access to the children’s stacks at your local library, is a great way to set them up with screen time for a purpose.
OverDrive for Kids
The OverDrive Kids Reading Room will have a ton to choose from, including curated lists to aid in selection.
Non-Library Resources
Audible Stories
Audible has a selection of children & teens available for free from their Audible Stories site. There are also many classics narrated by celebrity readers (Scarlett Johansen reads “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” Thandie Newton reads “Jane Eyre” and more).
Junior Library Guild Digital
Junior Library Guild has offered access to their online platform for free. They have elementary, middle, and high school sections that include both e-books and audiobooks. JLG is a great resource that many libraries use in developing a strong, diverse youth collection. JLG Digital is also available as an app from the iOs store.
Draw Every Day with JJK
Author & illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Lunch Lady, Jedi Academy, Hey Kiddo) has created a great YouTube series called “Draw Every Day” where he walks kids (or anyone!) through the process of creating great illustrations. These videos average to be about 20 minutes a piece. This would be a great way to get the A in STEAM in a fun and engaging way.
TED-Ed
TED Talks are famously much-shared among adults, but TED-Ed has many instructional videos available for a younger audience. Videos are divided by subject and average about 5 minutes each.
These are just a sampling of the resources available, but will hopefully provide some much needed learning & entertainment during these difficult times.
