Tips & Tricks for ACLA Databases and Downloadables

New Databases Are Live  

FinancialFit and BlueCareer are up and running on the eLibrary site. 

Financial Fit 

FinancialFit offers patrons short, easy-to-understand lessons, videos, and interactive tools to help develop and support basic financial literacy. Print material that provides similar information is consistently popular with our users, and we’re excited to be able to offer this digital resource as well!  

A note about FinancialFit sign in/registration. Patrons need to create an account to access the lessons, videos, and to keep track of their progress. To create an account, they first need to validate as a library patron by inputting their library card number (image 2). Once they input their library card, they will pass through to the registration screen and can create their account (image 3).  After they have an account, patrons will be able to access their accounts by signing in. They will not have to input their library card each time they access the resource. This account creation process is similar to hoopla and Creativebug, so patrons will likely be familiar with this process.

Blue Career  

BlueCareer provides information on more than 100 skilled trades, connects patrons with hundreds of trade schools across the United States and Canada, and provides training resources for those seeking to build their trade knowledge and experience.  

This is an important addition to our career resources that also connects job seekers to employers in a simple, mobile-friendly environment. Patrons can explore 100+ trades in more than a dozen industries. 

BlueCareer does not require an account to view the content, but if a patron wants to keep track of their progress, they will want to create an account.  

Patrons will need a separate BlueRecruit profile if they are using BlueCareer to look for and apply for jobs. BlueRecruit Job Seeker Demo is a short, two-minute video that goes through the steps of setting up a BlueRecruit profile.  

Please contact Hilary Lewis or Mary Phillips if you have questions about FinancialFit or BlueCareer. 

Hilary Lewis, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Continue ReadingNew Databases Are Live  

AllMusic Can Help You on Your Holiday Hunt

Do you have a music lover on your holiday list? Are they a music buff that you just cannot keep up with? Never fear AllMusic is here! You can search for artist here to learn more, look at their staff picks, or even look through specifics genres to see more artist your music buff may like – the musical learning is endless.

You can even search through their database of musical information to find that specific holiday song you just cannot remember the title of if it is just eluding you. Find more musical information with AllMusic!

-Adrianne, Northland Library

Continue ReadingAllMusic Can Help You on Your Holiday Hunt

Seven Reasons Creavitebug is amazing

Are you ready to immerse yourself in the world of crafting and unleash your creative potential? Whether you’re an experienced artisan or just starting out, Creativebug is the ideal platform for discovering new projects, acquiring new skills, and bringing your artistic visions to fruition.

What is Creativebug?

Creativebug is an online resource that provides access to over 1,000 premium crafting classes. With a broad selection of courses covering everything from knitting and quilting to painting, calligraphy, jewelry-making, and beyond, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re eager to pick up a new hobby or sharpen your crafting skills, Creativebug is here to help.

Features That Simplify and Enhance Your Crafting Experience

  1. Easy Navigation with Chapter Divisions
    • Creativebug organizes its classes into manageable chapters, allowing you to progress through each course at your own pace. Whether you’re watching an entire tutorial or honing in on a specific skill, the chapter divisions help maintain organization and make following along effortless.
  2. Convenient Note-Taking Tools
    • Keeping track of your ideas and techniques is simple with Creativebug’s note-taking feature. Write down your thoughts, tips, or reminders as you navigate through classes, ensuring you can easily refer back to them whenever necessary.
  3. 20-Second Rewind for Focused Learning
    • Mastering a new skill often requires repetition. Creativebug’s 20-second rewind option lets you easily go back and replay sections of a video. This is especially useful when you want to take a closer look at a specific technique or step.
  4. Save Your Favorite Classes
    • Have you found a class that resonates with you? Save it to your profile for easy access later. This feature allows you to keep track of all your beloved crafting projects and revisit them whenever you’re ready to unleash your creativity.
  5. Tailored Recommendations
    • Beyond just a vast library of classes, Creativebug offers personalized suggestions based on your interests and previous activities. The more you engage with crafting, the more refined the recommendations become, helping you discover additional classes you’ll enjoy.
  6. Downloadable Patterns, Templates, and Recipes
    • Many of Creativebug’s courses come with downloadable resources like patterns, templates, and recipes, making it simple to follow the instructions and recreate the projects at your convenience.
  7. Library-Funded Access
    • The best part? Creativebug is library-funded, meaning you can access these fantastic classes for free through your local library’s digital offerings. With a library card, you can enjoy unlimited access to the entire collection of online courses—no subscription needed.

Why Creativebug is Ideal for You

Whether you’re a seasoned crafter aiming to broaden your skill set or a complete beginner exploring something new, Creativebug provides a diverse array of classes and resources that make crafting enjoyable, accessible, and fulfilling. The platform caters to all skill levels, offering tools and features that empower you to learn and create at your own pace.

So why delay? Sign up for Creativebug today through your local library and start crafting your way to new creative heights! Whether your goal is to create gifts, embellish your home, or simply dive into a new hobby, Creativebug is the perfect starting point.

Gabi – Robinson Library

Continue ReadingSeven Reasons Creavitebug is amazing

Go Out and Find A Grave

Graveyards can be eerie places, don’t get me wrong. Especially this time of year when the leaves are off the trees and the weather is a seasonally appropriate 80 degrees Fahrenheit. But there are plenty of reasons why you would want to stroll among the headstones. Perhaps you’re visiting a loved one, searching for the grave of a newly discovered ancestor, or paying your respects to a dear cultural icon.

There’s also a livestream if you want to see Andy Warhol’s grave but you’re not so invested that you would drive to the South Hills.

How would I go about locating a grave? You just access the publicly available, totally free to use Find A Grave. You can search for people by name, location, D.O.B., D.O.D, names of relatives, plot numbers, and more! You can also browse specific cemeteries or browse for cemeteries by location. A neat feature for the morbidly (read: academically) curious is the famous grave search, where you can find the resting places of famous people!

And if you’re looking for some spooky fun grave facts for tonight’s Halloween party, you can rattle on about the famous graves of Pennsylvania!

One of the coolest features of the site is that members can contribute information, like memorial data and photos. This is helpful for creating a more comprehensive resource for genealogy researchers and folks who are searching for the lost graves of relatives.

So, if you go out to the graveyard today, you may want to bring your smartphone so you can better navigate your way through history with Find A Grave.

Derek – South Park Township Library

Continue ReadingGo Out and Find A Grave