Tips & Tricks for ACLA Databases and Downloadables

Good news, everyone! New databases for all!

Recently, staff evaluated two new Ebsco resources that aim to fill gaps in our electronic job and career resources: BlueCareer for career information about the trades, and FinancialFit for personal finance and financial literacy. These topics continue to be popular with patrons, and the new learning tools will enhance and support our work. 

We plan to have these resources up and running in early November, so it’s a good idea to get a sneak peek ahead of time. Let Hilary or Mary know if you have any questions. Both databases will be available to all Allegheny County library card holders. Check them out!

Blue Career  

This new workforce development platform from EBSCOlearning is the one-stop shop for members of your community to explore the skilled trades industry, start their careers, connect with employers and more. 

You can click here to view the experience of a job seeker or employer through short demo videos. 

FinancialFit  

FinancialFit includes a curated collection of personal finance lessons, videos and interactive tools that empower all members of our community — no matter their current financial situation — to make good financial decisions and achieve their financial goals. 

If you would like a more in-depth walk-through of both these resources, you can click here to view the recorded video presentation that Ebsco provided for the evaluation team. 

It’s our hope that these news tools will offer robust coverage for subject areas that weren’t previously addressed in our eResources. Let me know what you think!

-Mary, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Continue ReadingGood news, everyone! New databases for all!

“Overdrive for desktop” app is officially done…

Overdrive is removing the MP3 audiobook format from the OverDrive website on November 13, 2024. At that time, they will also end support for OverDrive’s legacy desktop app for Windows and Mac.

What does this mean for our users? For most, almost nothing! 90% of users are probably already using either the Libby app or Libby website. (If however any library website has links that still visit the old Overdrive website, we greatly encourage you to change to the Libby website instead at libbyapp.com).

But for those few users who still used the legacy website to download MP3 audiobooks to a mobile device (yes, I still have my old iPod shuffle for this purpose!) – they will no longer be able to access this service.

However, this is probably for the best, since the availability of the MP3 download button without access to the legacy Overdrive app meant a TON of confusion on the part of patrons. So, sorry to the few who like me still used the download service, but we had to know it was on its way out anyway!

Overdrive will be adding a message to the classic OverDrive website letting patrons know that this change is happening. After this change, users can listen to audiobooks using the following options:
– Stream on a computer using the “Listen now in browser” format on the OverDrive website
– Stream on a computer using libbyapp.com
– Download for offline listening using Libby on a supported Android, iOS, or Amazon Fire device

For more detailed information, check out this OverDrive Help article.

– Heather Auman, Western Allegheny Community Library

Continue Reading“Overdrive for desktop” app is officially done…

Free Movies = Best Movies

It’s that time of year – everybody wants the same ten movies, they’re all checked out, your horror movie collection has been gutted worse than the characters in the movies…and the requests just won’t stop coming.

We of course have a variety of tools at our disposal to handle situations like this, but I wanted to give you another one: Tubi.com. Tubi is a totally free and legal streaming service – just make an account and get started.

Now, the trick to Tubi is that you’re not going to find the newest Marvel movie on there. Often, Tubi picks up movies by independent filmmakers, or older movies whose rights are less exclusive/tricky to navigate. I wouldn’t send a patron to Tubi if they’re looking for a very specific title, but the fun here is in browsing and seeing what’s available – especially for horror fans. Tubi is chockful of low budget independent horror, things you won’t really find anywhere else. It’s a great way to discover new voices and approaches to the genre, for people who maybe are a little bit over your usual jumpscare and generous stabbings, or just want to put on something spooky in the background with friends.

(My recommendations to get people started out? Try Sleepaway Camp if they like slashers, and Night of the Creeps for aliens, zombies, and pure camp)

Some other non-horror films you can find on Tubi:

12 Angry Men

The Shawshank Redemption

To Kill a Mockingbird

The Mask (okay, non-horror but it’ll still haunt your dreams)

I hope your patrons find something new and fresh this spooky season!

-Jaime, Penn Hills Library

Continue ReadingFree Movies = Best Movies

Tutor.com, but make it webinars

Tutor.com, with its fancy new interface that dropped back in August, offers all the good stuff we’re used to: live homework help, quizzes and mini-courses, job and career help, test prep, and more!  

But did you know that they also offer webinars to enhance a variety of other skills that can help build a successful learning journey?  

It’s a big challenge for students to focus their attention these days; there are a lot of technological distractions designed to grab a click or invite them to scroll or lead them down a Wikipedia rabbit hole (I’m looking at you, Hyperborea!). While a little clicking and scrolling isn’t bad for you, it can quickly get in the way of healthy study and concentration habits. How can we support learners in managing these seemingly irresistible internet temptations, and help form long-lasting study and work habits that can inform their education and beyond? 

We’ve all heard the phrase “time management,” and it’s still an important skill. But today, our world is built around distractions, notifications, and updates that can break an attention span and lead to a loss in productivity and quality of work. Yes, I’m talking about “attention management.”  

Tutor.com is here to help! They’re offering Student Success: Time and Attention Management, a quick webinar as part of their Student Success series. You, your learners, or your learners’ caregivers can register here for the October 22 session. It starts at 4pm and is free! It’s part of a three-session series they’re providing from October – December. You can check out the line up here. If you can’t make the dates, you can still register and receive the recorded webinars in your inbox.  

In fact, there is a whole world of Princeton Review-Tutor.com based webinars for learners and educators! Look around and tell me if you find something you like! 

-Mary Phillips, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh 

Continue ReadingTutor.com, but make it webinars