Tips & Tricks for ACLA Databases and Downloadables

Merck Manuals

Merck Manuals, along with MedlinePlus and the Mayo Clinic, is one of my favorite places for accurate health information from a respected organization. Luckily we have one-click access to the Merck Manuals through our eLibrary home.

The landing page for Merck provides access to three different manuals – professional, consumer, and veterinary. While the professional manual might not be as easy to read for the average person, it is a nice option to have for a person who might be looking for a more in-depth explanation of their health conditions.

Once in the consumer version, you are presented with a few different options. At the top you will find a search box along with tabs for the most popular items that patients would want to explore – health topics, symptoms, emergencies, drug info, and more. There are also quick links along the side.

If you are looking for a reliable and easy to navigate site for health information for your patrons you should definitely become familiar with Merck Manuals.

Tracy — Monroeville Public Library

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Learn a new language with Mango Languages!

Learn anything from Cantonese to Ukrainian to Shakespearean English with this digital resource. Mango Languages offers multi-level courses for children and adults with visual and auditory elements. Some languages feature specialty units such as Spanish for Business or Japanese Mimetic Words.

list of languages
list of specialty units

Mango also offers a free app so that you can learn on the go! The program will keep track of your progress so that you can pick up right where you left off.  

Happy learning! 

-Erin Weaver, Bridgeville Public Library 

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SYNC Returning for Summer 2022

Free Summer Audiobook Program for Teens 13+

Returning Spring 2022, SYNC gives participants two thematically paired audiobooks each week. Titles are all available worldwide and change every Thursday at midnight Eastern Time during the season.

If you have teens who visit your library, feel free to share the information about the SYNC program with them. The Digital Resources Committee is not actively promoting SYNC. We are sharing this information in case you would like to share it directly with your customers.

**Even though the SYNC program runs on the Sora app, it is not connected to a teen’s school account so consequently it is not connected to the public library’s OverDrive collection.

Access Details

  • Titles are accessible in Sora, the student reading app from OverDrive.
    • Sora is available in your browser at soraapp.com, or as an app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
    • Each SYNC audiobook will be featured in Sora for a window of 7 days.
    • Titles are yours indefinitely once you “borrow” them during their 7-day availability window in Sora.

The SYNC program will only work with Sora, the student reading app from OverDrive. You don’t need to be affiliated with a school to use Sora with the SYNC program.

First register for SYNC.

Then set up Sora.

How do I set up Sora? 

  1. Download Sora from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or go to soraapp.com in your browser.
    1. In Sora, tap I have a setup code (at the bottom of the screen).
    1. Enter this setup code: audiobooksync and tap Get Started!
    1. Enter the email address you used to sign up for SYNC.
    1. Tap Explore (at the bottom of the screen) to see the week’s featured titles [SYNC 2022 starts April 28]

I already use Sora for school. How do I add SYNC titles? If you already use Sora, you’ll need to add the SYNC program’s library. Here are the steps:

  1. In Sora, open the menu (in the top-right corner).
    1. Select Add library.
    1. Search for audiobooksync and select the library from the results.
    1. Enter the email address you used to sign up for SYNC.

For more details about the SYNC program, visit AudioFile’s SYNC FAQ Page

Staff can also attend the AudioFile & OverDrive Present: SYNC Audiobooks for Teens training on April 26, 2022. You can register for the training here.

~ Hilary Lewis, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

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RAD Pass

One of my favorite service programs we offer our patrons is the RAD Pass program.

What is RAD Pass?

The RAD Pass is a program that lets Allegheny County residents ages 18+ access to free or discounted passes to cultural attractions in Pittsburgh with a library card from any Allegheny County library. Pass to: Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, New Hazlett Theater, Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Opera, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Patrons can access the RAD pass site through radpass.org and select the cultural attraction they would like to visit. Peruse the available dates and make the reservation! The pass is available to print or download to a mobile device. The reserving patron must be present at the venue.

This is a wonderful program to help remove barriers and allow more people to experience the cultural attractions our great city has to offer.

Gabi – Robinson Library

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