nkyCONNECTION : learn something today.

The library as your workout buddy? including 7 e-books for your healthy resolutions

Ann — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:54:38 +0000

How are your resolutions going? Hopefully you have the support you need to learn new skills and make the changes you want to this year. Your support could be friends, family, community and even a favorite website. Have you thought of the library as part of your support system? I’ve found reading books and articles that support the changes I’m trying to make helps keep me on course and reminds me of my goals. Discover a book, audio, e-book, CD, DVD, or digital resource every few weeks related to your resolution and you’ll have another tool for success by your side or at your fingertips.

You can find many books and DVDs in our catalog but we also have many e-books available that you can borrow by downloading to your Kindle, Nook, iPad, smartphone, or your computer. They range from fiction bestsellers to healthy cookbooks to children’s books. If you need help getting started, sign-up for one of our classes at the branches or online.

Because e-books are so popular, you’ll most likely need to a place a hold to check-out a popular title. Don’t let this stop you. Placing a hold will trigger additional copies to be purchased and most of the time, not many people are waiting. Keep an eye out for these icons when you search:

Check this to see titles you can check out today.

Click to see a preview before you check it out.

Below you’ll find 7 titles for your healthy resolutions. You can also search for more titles for these popular topics:

Art Business Careers Cooking & Food Crafts Family & Relationships Finance Foreign Language Study [Mango too] Gardening Health & Fitness Home Design & Decor Religion & Spirituality Self-Improvement Study Aids & Workbooks

Place a hold

The no pressure book group

Ann — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:22:35 +0000

Join Southbank Reads: an online book club

This discussion group is the best of all worlds. If you are busy or worried about winter driving, read a book and discuss it online. You can participate as little or as much as you want. Each month we’ll select a fresh and interesting title that members vote on. Discussion begins the last week of the month so you have plenty of time to read. It’s a no pressure way to try a book club for the first time. Ask me, it’s my first book club and I’m one of the hosts. -Ann

In January 2012, we will read & discuss the book, “The Postmortal” by Drew Magary.

To participate:
-Join GoodReads.com
-Join the “Southbank Reads” book group
-Read the book
-Start discussing! [January 22]

Request the book from Kenton County Public Library

Place a hold for the e-book

More about “The Postmortal“: Imagine a near future where a cure for aging is discovered and-after much political and moral debate-made available to people worldwide. Immortality, however, comes with its own unique problems-including evil green people, government euthanasia programs, a disturbing new religious cult, and other horrors. Witty, eerie, and full of humanity, “The Postmortal” is an unforgettable thriller that envisions a pre-apocalyptic world so real that it is completely terrifying.

Email your questions to: business [at] kentonlibrary [dot] org

Kenton County Curiosity

Ann — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:31:34 +0000

I’m happy to report that I’ve been selected for the Mars Science Laboratory aka Curiosity NASA Tweetup. I’ll be sharing my experiences during the launch and will have a great opportunity to learn from scientists at Kennedy Space Center. To learn more about the mission, watch the video below and go to the NASA or JPL website. You can follow my tweets @nkyconnect in the next few days.

Because I’m a librarian, I started researching as soon as I found out I was part of this event. I summarized some of the resources we have to satisfy your curiosity about space and the universe. They all require you to log in with you Kenton County Public Library card. Why? Because it’s special content that you can’t experience on the open web. If you use a library computer, they’ll open automatically. To those of you who live elsewhere, most likely you’ll be able to get access through your local library. As always, if you need help please let me know. There’s so much more, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. -Ann

Borrow ebooks. Yes, that means Kindle too.

Space related e-books and e-audiobooks

Online magazines and more

These magazines and articles are available in our Ebsco MasterFILE Premier resource. Access full-text articles and search for your favorite space topics.[Login with your library card first to get access to this premium content]

Magazines:

Sky & Telescope

Popular Science

Astronomy

Scientific American

Discover

Nature

New Scientist

Articles:

Abbasi, Jennifer. “The Search Is On.” Popular Science 279.4 (2011): 37. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 23 Nov. 2011.

Beatty, J. Kelly. “MARS Under The Microscope. (Cover Story).” Sky & Telescope 120.3 (2010): 20. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 23 Nov. 2011.

Cukavac, Tyrus. “Life On Mars.“ Science World 67.10 (2011): 6. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 23 Nov. 2011.

McDowell, Jonathan. “Mars Science Laboratory: Landing Sites.” Sky & Telescope 117.1 (2009): 17. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 23 Nov. 2011.

Sample Search: Mars Exploration

(DE “MARS (Planet) — Exploration”)

Online Science Encyclopedia

AccessScience is the place to go to learn about science. Look for pictures, articles fabuous bibliographies, studies guides and more… I found a great overview article to take with me about Mars.

Science Fiction

Our Novelist resources helps you pick your next novel. These searches will bring back some great space reads for you and your kids.

Mars (DE “Mars (Planet) — Exploration”)

Space Exploration (DE “Space exploration”)

Space for Kids (DE “Space”) [Limit Age 0-8]

Current Events

Opposing Viewpoints in Contexts helps put any issue in perspective by providing opinions from all sides of the spectrum. They’ve created a special topic called Space Exploration. You can also search for recent news, podcasts, videos, radio interviews related to Mars and images like the ones below.

“Delta II Rocket,” in Mars Exploration Rover Launches Press Kit, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, June 2003, http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/merlaunch.pdf (accessed January 31, 2006) Illustration showing Mars Exploration rover spacecraft released by Delta II rocket.

“Mars Exploration Rover,” in Mars Exploration Rover Landings Press Kit, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, January 2004, http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/merlandings.pdf (accessed January 31, 2006) Illustration showing design of Mars Exploration Rover.

“Entry, Descent and Landing,” in Mars Exploration Rover Landings Press Kit, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, January 2004, http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/merlandings.pdf (accessed January 31, 2006) Diagram showing the Mars Exploration Rover’s entry, descent, and landing on Mars.

New Read Poster

Ann — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:06:56 +0000

I made this modern read poster. I hope to make a series. Please send ideas or make your own and send me the link.

Don’t forget you can borrow ebooks for all types of devices [including Kindles and Kindle apps on your computer or iPad, iPhone, or iTouch] through Overdrive.

Download 3 songs per week with Freegal [free and legal]

Ann — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:35:52 +0000

Kenton County Public Library subscribes to an online music service called Freegal. With your library card, you can download 3 songs per week from the Freegal website which includes almost half a million songs from the Sony Music catalog. The songs are free to you and are licensed through the library so that your downloads respect the copyright of artists and the publisher. Watch this video to see how it works.

More info:
Freegal music is an online service that you access through the library’s own website. It is FREE, LEGAL downloadable music provided to library
patrons, brought to you by your local library. For the very first time, major label music is available for FREE download for library users with their Library card number.

What music is available?
We’re offering the Sony Music Entertainment’s digital music catalog which includes over 500,000 songs.

How many can I download?
You can download 3 songs per week. When downloading please select “Save As” to save to your computer. (If you select “open with” you will not permanently save your song)

Can I keep it?
Yes! The songs are yours to keep. There is no due date.

What is a database and why should I use it?

Ann — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 14:53:56 +0000

One way to think of a database is as a curated information experience. Think of a museum or gallery where a curator has created an exhibit around a theme, labeled it and arranged it with care. The curator ensures that the artwork is from respected artists and sculptors who have something important to say.

Premium subscription databases, like the ones that the library subscribes to, have the same qualities. A trained, intelligent person, not a computer alogrithm and probably more than one, carefully reads and/or reviews any document or information source before it is made available. Documents and multimedia objects are collected together and added to the database based on their accuracy, relevance, objectivity, and the credibility of their author and publisher.

Curated information also has search, browse, and other valuable features that help the user both find content and find connections between content. In this way, you’ll see databases compiled around difference subjects or users which creates focus and allows you to explore a concept in-depth.

It’s very different than using a search engine and another way to find information to make decisions, learn something, and be entertained.

Why should you use a database?

You will have access to paid content that is not always available in search engine results.

You can enjoy a commercial free exploration of information. In other words, your attention won’t be poked and prodded. You’ll be driving your search by browsing subject headings and typing keywords.

You can create dynamic data and take self paced courses. For example: create a custom mailing list with ReferenceUSA, learn Spanish or Japanese with Mango, or study for the SAT with LearningExpress

You can feel confident citing your sources when you’ve used a database for research and work presentations.

Explore Kenton County Public Library databases

Online classes now available at Kenton County Public Library

Ann — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:46:26 +0000

Don’t feel like driving? Trying to save money on gas or save the environment? Try taking an online class and relax in the comfort of your home or the convenience of your office. This summer we are hosting three online classes to help you access quality information and use our online databases. Login to the databases with your library card and attend class using any computer with audio and an Internet connection.

Guide To Online Grantseeker Resources :Thursday, July 29 at noon
This online class is a guided tour of all the free resources available on the Foundation Center’s web site. During the class you will explore many tools and resources to help you become a better grantseeker. Length: 1 hour Register

Business Source Premier & Reference USA: Thursday, August 5 at noon
Learn how to search two valuable resources for your business: Business Source Premier and ReferenceUSA. These databases allow you to access thousands of trade publications and create custom competitor or customer lists. Register

EBSCO’s Business Source Premier has thousands of publications specifically for entrepreneurs and researchers. The publications available include: trade magazines, market reports, book reviews, biographies, how-to articles, and more. Read more about Business Source Premier

ReferenceUSA is a national directory of U.S. businesses and residences. This database enables you to do simple and custom searches based on criteria such as geography, estimated sales, business type, and more. You can also download and save your results. Read more about ReferenceUSA

Help your Job Search with Career Accelerator: Friday, September 3 at 10am
LearningExpress Job & Career Accelerator integrates the tools you need to conduct a job search, in one easy-to-use online application. Interactive wizards guide you through each step of the process, from exploring suitable occupations and finding available jobs to preparing targeted resumes and improving critical job search skills. Register

Please note: Online classes require an Internet and audio connection from a home, office, or library computer.

Learn a language online with Mango

Ann — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:07:20 +0000

Kenton County Public Library now offers Mango Languages for free, easy and fun foreign language learning.

Kenton County Public Library has added Mango Languages to its growing list of patron resources. Mango is free of charge to all cardholders and is an easy and effective way to learn to speak a foreign language. Learn Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and more. Mango also includes courses for people studying English as a Second Language [ESL]. Mango is available in two versions:

Mango Basic:

Perfect for a foreign language beginner, Mango Basic teaches everyday greetings, gratitudes, goodbyes and helpful phrases in a short period of time. The courses, which require only two to five hours of time to complete, are currently available in 22 foreign languages and 14 English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.

Mango Complete:

Mango Complete offers a 100-lesson course that digs much deeper and is designed to provide a more complete understanding of the entire language and culture. It is available in nine foreign language and three ESL courses. Foreign language courses include Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. ESL courses include Polish, Spanish and Portuguese.

Get started with Mango today: Go to http://www.kentonlibrary.org/language/

Download a PDF guide to using Mango: How to use Mango

Find it: with Worldcat

Ann — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:17:08 +0000

WorldCat is a global network of libraries that unite their collections into one master catalog. Hamilton, Kenton, Boone, Campbell, UC, NKU libraries. etc. all participate in WorldCat–the world library catalog–that allows you to find items in the library most convenient for you, and in the collections of more than 10,000 other libraries. Through WorldCat.org, you can find books, videos, games, CDs, full-text articles and more–and then locate a library near you that owns the item. If Kenton County Public Library has it, our name will appear and you’ll be able to click right through to check availability, place a hold, etc. If we don’t have it, you can borrow from another system near by through our SWON cooperation or you may be able to request it from a library that does using our Interlibrary Loan service. Lean how to use Worldcat at the Erlanger Branch at 6:30pm, March 25th.

Tools to make your mark

Here are a few tools to make it even easier to find library materials:

Use WorldCat app on Facebook to search for library materials from within Facebook
Use the CiteMe app on Facebook to get an automatic citation for a book
Add a WorldCat widget to your own Web site or blog (there are 3 to choose from!)
Link into WorldCat rather than a commercial bookseller to describe the latest book you’re reading. The permalink makes it simple and easy to do.
Install the Firefox search extension to add WorldCat searching to your Web browser

Get social with your favorite stuff

Once you create a free user account at WorldCat.org, you can immediately do some social networking activities with stuff you like–like building lists. Your lists can be public–which lets you share them with friends and colleagues–or private so only you can see them. You can build as many lists as you like on any subject, add personal notes about specific items, and move or copy items between lists. Plus you can investigate other people’s lists, too. Read, rate, review and tag your favorite books, and then share on Twitter, Facebook, FriendFeed, Digg, Delicious, Slashdot or a range of other sites. If you’re a student, you’ll appreciate the ability to get automatic bibliographic citations in one of five common styles, and either cut and paste or export to RefWorks or EndNote.

WorldCat results appear in Google, Yahoo! and Bing.

Simply include the phrase “Find in a Library” (including quote marks), or alternately “site:worldcat.org” (leaving out the quotes) with your search terms. Your search results should include one or more links with the prefix “WorldCat” and the name of a library-owned item that matches your terms.It’s easy to find what you’re looking for Once you’re at WorldCat.org, you can find library materials using simple keywords and then refine with suggestions on the left. Or the advanced search option can help you immediately limit results to specific authors, subjects, formats, and dates. You can even save complex searches to re-run them again, later.

Learn more about your favorite writer

Want to know more about a writer or character? WorldCat Identities gives you more information through interactive timelines, tag clouds, cover art and other features to let you explore connections between the people who write, create or act in books, movies and music you like.

Why the “One Minute Critic” loves Worldcat:

25 more reasons to use Worldcat

Search for grants, make custom lists, and text-a-library today

Ann — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:56:40 +0000

The Foundation Center publishes a searchable database of over 90,000 foundations that give to nonprofit organizations. Three library systems in our area, The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Kenton County Public Library [KCPL], and Northern Kentucky University Library, are Cooperating Collections of the Foundation Center. At KCPL you can access Foundation Directory Online at any of our three branches on our public computers by starting on our database page and scrolling down to Foundation Directory Online Professional. Remote access, which is possible for most databases, is not available for FDO.

An introduction to FDO’s power search feature [PDF]

Two databases that you can access remotely with your library card are ReferenceUSA and DemographicsNOW. ReferenceUSA features over 14 million businesses that can be searched by geography, sales volume, business type, etc. Use it to make custom mailing lists, research competitors, perform radius searching, and more. DemographicsNOW, as the name implies, allows you to download custom demographic reports based on geography: Census block level, zip code, metro area, or city. You can then compare multiple cities, view drive time maps, and analyze market segments, income level, population projections, consumer expenditures, and more.

How to login to ReferenceUSA and DemographicsNow [PDF]

If you are on the go or just need a quick answer, libraries now offer text reference service. A national consortium called My Info Quest is staffed by professional librarians across the country. It’s easy, accurate, and you’ll get an answer in minutes. Add 309-222-7740 to your phone contacts.

How to “Text-a-Library” [PDF]