September is Library Card Sign-Up Month

 

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, and the Ruidoso Public Library has joined with the American Library Association and public libraries nationwide to make sure that our students have the most important school supply of all – a free library card. Library Card Sign-up Month emphasizes the importance and benefits of having a library card for everybody, young and old, or not-so-old, alike.

Getting a library card is as important as buying a new backpack or a box of crayons at the start of the school year because it gives students access to books, DVDs, databases, and much more that can help them with their homework.

Databases at the Ruidoso Public Library that are helpful to young students include: Mango Languages, where you can learn up to 49 languages; Kids Info Bits; New Mexico Newspapers; Grzimek's Animal Encyclopedia; Opposing Viewpoints and AR-Finder.

Your library card will also let you access our e-books, downloadable audio books, graphic novels, and more.

How can I get a Library Card?

Please bring a picture ID and a second item with proof of mailing address (wherever that is) to get a card.  

At the front desk, we will enter your information directly off these items and present your card almost immediately. Children need a parent's or guardian's card/account to be responsible for his or her card, too.  

Como Conseguir Una Tarjeta De Biblioteca

Para registrarse para una tarjeta tiene que vivir, demuestre la verificación de una dirección del correo , y una identificación de foto. Niños necesitan que sus padres tarjeta por ellos para conseguir una tarjeta.

Did you know this blog is mobile?

I didn't. Until I was poking around in the settings.

Voila!  Here's the QR code to scan with your tablet or smart phone, if you'd like to catch up with these fun notes while waiting in line or just killing time.

The first step is to open this blog on your smartphone or tablet: http://ruidosopubliclibrary.blogspot.com/ Or, if you have already bookmarked the library's homepage on your device, select the "Library News" tab.  Your device will automatically know to ask for the mobile version.

What's the point?  I find I do less work on my mobile device, but love to read, especially blogs and Facebook.  Sadly, I am too lazy to type (reply or interact) on my mobile, when I am far more interactive on a laptop or desktop.  I have big hands; maybe I should explore more voice controls?

What does the blog look like on mobile?

mobile version of blog

What is your experience with mobile technology?  Do you see it around you yet?  Are you up to three or more mobile devices?  What could the library do to help you?  (These questions might also show up in the little quiz widget at the bottom of the right-hand column in the desktop view.)
-introductory training sessions?
---ebooks on your smartphone?
---just how to use it at all?
-text message (SMS on cell phone) reminders when books are due?

I cannot guarantee we can host classes on every smartphone, but there are many similarities.  And I am not sure about the text message notifications, since we have so many visitors and different phone systems.  *But* if we hear a lot of interest for it, then I will have a reason to look into it.  If you are interested in a class on how-to use your smart phone or tablet, please tell me (comment below or email) the type of phone you have (Apple, Android) or if you prefer tablet (and which brand).

P.S.: The Children's Department is looking for small plastic lids.  They hope to include home-made car crafts this summer and need tires.  Ideally the sturdy, similarly sized milk jug and juice lids, but not the flimsier, larger lids on butter tubs or mayonnaise jars.

Finally, #9: Magazines and Newspapers

The last element of the library I wish to reintroduce covers the magazines and newspapers.  Ruidoso Public Library offers about two dozen magazines to enjoy at the library (or check out last week's or last month's issues to enjoy at home for three weeks).

Some titles include:
Time,
Newsweek,
Mother Earth News,
Sew News,
Smithsonian,
Glamour,
Cowboys & Indians,
New Mexico Magazine, and
Texas Monthly.

On the newspaper side, The Wall Street Journal and New York Times (Sunday) are available, as are Ruidoso's Free Press and the Ruidoso News.  The Albuquerque Journal, Barron's, USA Today, NM Wildlife, the Lincoln County News, and Enchantment can be read at the library, too.  We receive these through the mail so they may be a little late and the newspapers do not check out.

Online you may access academic journals, not just for research, but also to keep current in your field.  For more recreational reading, the same links provide access to:
Bon Appetit,
Backpacker,
Booklist,
Bike Magazine, and hundreds more such as
Cosmo,
Country Living,
Cricket, or
the Economist.

Online access to the Albuquerque Journal, Roswell Daily Record and Las Cruces Sun-News are also available from the library's homepage (under the e-branch tab: NM Newspapers, enter your library card's barcode number when prompted).  While these online experiences may not be a colorful or browsable as the real thing, they may be more readable or accessible when fonts or print are problems.  The online magazines allow you to download audiofiles of each article for listening; or you may choose to listen to the mp3 while the website highlights each word.  Once you have found the article of interest, the website will translate it into several major languages.

Finally, for the smartphone crowd, these magazines and journal articles (including Chilton's Automotive Manuals) are available on a free app for Android and Apple devices.

Find Ruidoso Public Library on your smart phone

Ruidoso Public Library is in your pocket--well, it can be on your smart phone.

Anyone within ten (10) miles of Ruidoso Public Library will be connected to our databases (Chilton's automotive manuals, homework help, health, business, or legal information).

How?

For Android™			For iPhone®, iPod Touch®, iPad®

Find Access My Library, an app by Gale (or use the QR above).  It is a free download.  You may enter Ruidoso's zip code, 88345, if you are more than 10 miles away, to help your phone find us.  AML has an iPhone version and an Android version.

Please visit Gale's glossy website for a video of what you will find on your phone:

http://www.gale.cengage.com/apps/aml/PublicLibrary/