Morgan County Public Library Databases

Did you know that if you have a Morgan County Public Library card you could access the databases the library has?  We have databases to can help you find people, work on your car, look up your ancestors, find legal documents, and more!  To find the databases we have go to our homepage and look at the left hand side of the screen. Click where it says: Electronic Resources & Databases and from here you will see a list of databases.  

 

Here is a list of some of our databases along with YouTube videos that explain how to use them.

The first is the A to Z Database.  Using this database you can look up a friend or relative, look for a job, create a mailing list or find a business.  You will need to have a library card to access this database.  Here is a video tutorial that shows you how to use the database:

The next database you see is ChiltonLibrary.com.  Again, you will need a library card to get into this database.  From there a search box comes up and you can search by year, by make, or by model.  This site offers step by step instruction, with pictures, on repair and maintenance for your vehicle.  You can also print out instructions if you need them. Here is the video tutorial which explains how to use the database.

Cypress Resume will help you create a resume for free, for real, no credit card required!  You will need a library card to use this database.  After you log in, Cypress Resume will walk you step by step through the resume process.  If you have struggled to put a resume together this database is the answer you’ve been seeking.  It is free with no credit card information required, unlike the supposedly "free" resume websites you may have tried in the past. 

Heritage Quest will help you find your ancestors and all you need to access it for free is your library card.  With Heritage Quest you can access US Census information from 1790-1930, the Periodical Source Index, and the US Serial Set, along with other genealogy resources.  There are several YouTube videos on how to use Heritage Quest.

INSPIRE is free to all Indiana residents and is the virtual library for many of your research needs.  You can access academic and newspaper databases from INSPIRE.  INSPIRE has “Kids Search” for younger students, “Student Research Center” for older students, TeachingBooks.net, Indiana Memory, Indiana History, the Indiana State Library,  and the GALE Testing & Education Reference Center to name just a few of the resources this database has.  Muncie Library has created a great tutorial on INSPIRE:  

Gale Legal Forms requires a library card to access.  The Gale Legal Forms database has Indiana legal forms such as:   divorce, power of attorney, bankruptcy, name change, wills and estates, and much more.  Click here for more information about what Gale Legal Forms has and to get started.

The Mango database has 63 languages to choose from and all you need to get started is your library card!  Here is a YouTube video to tell you how Mango works.  Mango is a great website for learning  a language because you will practice by hearing, reading, and speaking the language. 

These are just some of the databases we have for your use at the Morgan County Public Library.  Stop by the reference desk and ask for Lorie if you need further information on how to access and use these databases.  I will be happy to help!

Brooklyn Branch Library

     Welcome to the Brooklyn Branch Library! We are one of the 3 Minibranches that serve the outlying areas of the county. Brooklyn Branch is open four days a week. We have over 10,000 items available:  books, DVDs, and audio CDs for all ages. There is a free community magazine exchange as well as special book collections each week for both children and adults.
     One of our favorite times is Thursday evenings, when the Yarn Group meets at 6 PM. Needleworkers of all types are welcome. If you want to learn to knit, crochet, or tat, there is usually someone here who can teach you. There are four public computers, and test proctoring is also available. Our staff is fun and friendly and always willing to help you. We are open Tuesday and Thursday from 12-7, Friday and Saturday from 9-4:30. Stop in and see what we have to offer at the Brooklyn Branch.

What did you read this summer?

I'm still having a hard time not putting on a Summer Reading Program t-shirt before coming to work. While I'm still adjusting to life after the SRP, I've been looking over the book reviews that were entered at the Waverly Branch by teams Curie and Einstein. The branch had 41 adults sign up for the SRP, and they entered 214 reviews. Each form asked the reviewer to assign a rating of 1 to 4 stars for each item. The breakdown was: 106 four-star (Loved it!) ratings, 80 three-star (Liked it) ratings, 25 two-star (Just OK) ratings, 2 one-star (BOO!) ratings, and one entry with no stars chosen.

The four-star reviews covered a wide range of materials, ranging from both adult and children's classics to the library's Facebook page, blog, and Freegal music download service. Multiple books by Gillian Flynn and John Green (and the movie of The Fault in Our Stars) made the list, as did one by local author (and branch patron) Nancy Paul. I thought it might be interesting to post a few random examples of the top reviewed items.

Frantic/by Mike Dellosso-Quite the page turner! This is the first of this author I've read. I plan to now read others. I will never look at a dropped note the same!!

Smoke/by Ellen Hopkins-Sequel to Hopkins' book Burned. It follows 2 girls struggle with dealing with abusive relationships. this story is written in poetry but also a narrative.

The Fault in Our Stars/by John Green (one of six reviews)-So well written. Joyful and tragic. Story of 2 teens dying of cancer. Revolves around the story told in a favorite book of the character, Hazel Grace. (Another review)-Finished in one day because there is no way not to fall in love with the characters. Green is able to weave comedy & tragedy as if they are complementary instead of opposites.

Nubby/by Nancy Paul- Good storyline but at times I got a little lost in the transitions. Suspense with a good ending. Christian fiction with Indy author.

Gone Girl/by Gillian Flynn- Love her style. A twist with every chapter. Excited for the movie to come out. Only disappointed in the last few pages - can't all end the way you want.

Dad is Fat/by Jim Gaffigan (audio)- When I read this book the first time, I remember thinking this could only be better if it was an audiobook. This year I found it as an audiobook and I was not disappointed.

Just One Thing/by Holly Jacobs- Loved this book! About just one thing that leads to many great things. Love these feel good books.

Facebook page- I just found out through the FB page that our team "Einstein" is down by 19 reviews. I just handed in two more. Hope it helps!

These are just a few of the reviews, but I hope they give a little of the flavor of the larger community of shared ideas and opinions that they represent. I've even had one patron ask if we could have a square on next years record sheet for books that received four-stars in previous years.

Keep reading,

Chuck

Summer Reading by the Numbers, Part II

Now that we have officially wrapped up Summer Reading, it is time to share some stats. After counting each and every adult entry, Team Einstein came out on top!  The team read 1,377 books! Isn't that amazing!?  Team Curie wasn't too far behind with 1202 books.  Congratulations Team Einstein!

We had 389 adult participants and when you add the total number of entries from each team you get 2,579.  If you divide the number of entries by the number of participants, you'll find that the average adult summer reading participant read 6.62982 books. (Don't ask me exactly how you read 6.62982 books...) I am impressed! 

I'm sure that the numbers were equally impressive for the children and teen programs,  as the library was bustling with activities, programs and lots of participation from people of all ages!  I'm sure that some of our other bloggers will  tell you all about it in upcoming posts!

The summer didn't come to a close without some lucky winners!  Kimberly B. was the grand prize winner, and Marie Y., Anne R., Judy S., Honesty B., Donna Jo C., and Michelle B. won Starbucks gift cards and travel mugs.

We hope you'll join us for more summer fun again next year!  In the meantime, we hope you'll stop in for a program or to check out books, DVDs, video games, or whatever your heart desires!

Happy reading,

Jennifer