Author: backstage

This author has written 38 articles

Get the Word Out about Gale LegalForms

Finding reliable, relevant, and state-specific legal forms is super easy with Gale LegalForms. While we are able to recommend it to patrons when they ask for help, how can we get the word out when they don’t ask?!

Thankfully, Gale’s done the work for us! They have a selection of Marketing Materials to highlight this very useful resource.

Gale Support offers marketing materials to create bookmarks, blog posts, flyers, social media posts & more.

Screen shot of list of GaleLegalForms marketing materials.
This is just a sampling of what’s available!

Many of the products are customizable for your location where you can add your library’s logo, website, etc.

Screenshot of Gale LegalForm marketing poster with red arrows pointing to areas that are customizable.
Customize documents specific to your library!

You can print flyers or shelf talkers to display near your collection of legal titles or to post in high-traffic areas or near computer centers.

Find them all on Gale’s Marketing Materials site: https://support.gale.com/doc/gale-legalforms-one-sheet

Don’t let users think they have to pay for legal forms online. Make sure they know they can get reliable free resources from your library!

-Richelle, Sewickley Public Library

Continue ReadingGet the Word Out about Gale LegalForms

Free (and ad-free!) craft classes through Creativebug.

We’ve all been there. We want to learn a new craft, go right to YouTube, wait through THREE advertisements forced on us before we can hit skip, and then the video that follows is poorly edited with loud obnoxious music and a monotone presenter who seems to have even less of an idea of how origami works than we do. The solution? CREATIVEBUG.

Creativebug’s videos are vetted for content, professionally edited and filmed, and presented by experts who are actually experts. Plus, they are AD-FREE. Read that again, and relax your grip on the mute button you hover over so don’t have to listen to that cringy Aflac duck for the 500th time.

I know, I know – who needs another website to check, right? YOU DO. Plus, it’s easy to get to and the only access required is a library card number. The navigation is simpler (certainly less cluttered than YouTube) and you can easily save your progress and classes you are interested in for later. Whether a casual dabbler or a hardcore crafter, there is content for everyone, clearly rated from basic to advanced. Plus, many videos include free access to supply lists, step-by-step directions, and printable patterns (usually held behind payment walls on other sources).

So skip the ads and take advantage of this hidden gem among your library’s resources. Then share the word, and spread the joy of ad-free, stress-free, subscription-free crafting!

Allegheny County Public Libraries | Creativebug

– Heather Auman, Western Allegheny Community Library

Continue ReadingFree (and ad-free!) craft classes through Creativebug.

Transparent Language

We all know how great (and popular) Mango Languages is – and for good reason! It’s a great resource.

However, there is another language learning resource that we and our patrons can utilize and that’s Transparent Language available through Power Library.

There are many languages to choose from.

Many even offer lessons geared to people who speak another language other than English.

You can sign in as a guest or set up an account which is helpful as it will keep track of your progress.

Be sure to take some time to poke around the site and see if there is a language you would like to learn!

Tracy – Monroeville Public Library

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Magazines on the Go

Do you have patrons who love magazines but want the convenience of reading on the go? Don’t forget that Libby and Hoopla both offer access to a wide selection of popular magazine titles anytime, anywhere!

Libby:
The most recent issue appears first for easy access. Looking for older editions? Simply tap All Issues to browse and select the volume you want. Patrons can also click Subscribe to automatically add new issues to their magazine rack. Libby will even send a notification when the latest issue arrives, no waiting required!

Hoopla:
Hoopla offers magazines through a BingePass. With a single checkout, patrons gain access to over 100 popular magazines, including back issues, for an entire week.

It’s a convenient, flexible way for patrons to enjoy their favorite magazines, whether at home or on the go!

Erin, Bridgeville Public Library

Continue ReadingMagazines on the Go