Technology Tip #11: Web Address URL

There is a large difference between www.irs.com and www.irs.gov. One is the legitimate Internal Revenue Serivces website, and the other is a imitation. Who is responsible for the website? The American Library Association has some recommendations:

Many URLs (Uniform Resource Locator or web site address) include the name and type of organization sponsoring the webpage. The 3-letter domain codes and 2-letter country codes provide hints on the type of organization. Common domain codes are:

Domain	Sample Address
.edu = educational institution	http://docsouth.unc.edu
.gov = US government site	http://memory.loc.gov
.org = organization or association	http://www.theaha.org
.com = commercial site	http://www.historychannel.com
.museum = museum	http://nc.history.museum
.net = personal or other site

Take Our 2011 Fall Survey!

Come down to the Mukwonago Community Library and let us know how we are doing! You can do that by grabbing a copy of the 2011 Fall Survey and filling it out here at the library. It is less than 15 questions and really helps us understand the needs of our community.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Did you know that you would pay $210.00 in out of pocket expenses if you purchased 3 books, 3 movies, 2 audio books and 5 magaines? Save money and use the Mukwonago Community Library!

Technology Tip #10: Use Your Kindle to Check out E-Books

For the last several years Nooks and other e-readers have had the ability to borrow e-books from public libraries. This borrowing has grown in popularity as the price of books go up and the price of e-readers go down. Kindle owners have been excluded from these library services because Amazon did not allow the use or "sharing" of e-books. Today brings exciting news for Kindle owners, starting today you can borrow e-books from public libraries!

Here is a brief explanation of how to borrow e-books for your Kindle from the Mukwonago Community Library. If you don't have a Kindle and you still want to see how this process works please remember the library has a Kindle available for checkout. Or if you just need more detailed instructions come see us at the reference desk.

Step 1: Go to the library website: http://www.blogger.com/www.mukcom.lib.wi.us

Step 2: Click on the Subscription Database box, and then scroll down to "Overdrive". Click once on Overdrive.

Step 3: Log in to Overdrive with your library card number.

Step 4: There is currently a shortcut on the left hand side of the Overdrive catalog that says "Now Available" and has a picture of the Kindle. Left click there once.

Step 5: Now you have a list of all available titles, add the titles to your cart that you are interested in.

Step 6: When you are ready to check out the "Get for Kindle" button will take you to the Amazon website.

Step 7: Once at the Amazon website you will have to download the appropriate software to your computer.

Step 8: Then the book should appear on your Kindle.

For visual instructions from the Seattle Public Library please try this link.

Good luck and have fun reading!

Step 4:

Want to See the New Library Before It Opens?

If you want a chance to take a sneak peak at the new Mukwonago Community Library on 511 Division Street before it opens, you should come to our Foundation Signing Event.
The new library building is looking great and closing in on completion. It wouldn’t have been possible without terrific support from our community, so stop in to the library construction site on Saturday, Oct. 8 between 10 a.m. and noon and sign the library’s foundation. We want to get as many signatures as we can before we cover the cement foundation with flooring and carpeting. This is a chance for everyone in our community to “leave their mark” on the new library and see it before it officially opens!

Technology Tip #9: Mint.com

Mint.com is a free website and cell phone app that allows you to keep track of your finances in one place. I have been using it for over 6 months now and find it awesome and with over 6 million users it will be around for awhile. It offers a ton of nifty features like bill reminders to your phone, investment tracking, notification of overdraft, helpful graphs, spending tracking, and more. I have starting using it to track my retirement investments and my little nest egg.

With any website that helps you track financial information be prepared to share your personal information. So if you are still a little new, or do not feel completely comfortable with how good your security and identify theft protection is I would not utilize this website yet. (But they do have exceptional security for a free service.) I highly suggest this if you are a parent trying to teach a young 20 something how to better deal with their finances, it links in the fun of technology with the education of better fiscal responsibility. For a better idea of what they provide check out their promotional video!

Epic Fantasy: 20 Core Titles from Library Journal

Attention Fantasy and Science Fiction readers, this is an exciting blog for you. Library Journal (August 2011, pg 23) magazine suggested some core titles that every library should have in their collection. They suggest 10 classic authors and 10 contemporary authors. My hope is that you find something you have never read. Enjoy your journey! If you suggest any titles please share them in the comments below!

CLASSICS

Brooks, Terry - The Shannara Trilogy

The Sword of Shannara (1977)

Elfstones of Shannara (1982)

Wishsong of Shannara (1985)

Donaldson, Stephen R. - The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever

Lord Foul's Bane (1977)

The Illearth War (1977)

The Power that Preserves (1977)

Eddings, David - The Belgariad

Pawn of Prophecy (1982)

Queen of Sorcery (1982)

Magician's Gambit (1983)

Castle of Wizardy (1984)

Enchanters' End Game (1984)

Feist, Raymond - The Riftwar Saga

Magician: Apprentice (1982)

Magician: Master (1982)

Silverthorn (1985)

A Darkness of Sethanon (1986)

Jordan, Robert - The Wheel of Time

The Eye of the World (1990)

Kay, Guy Gavriel - The Fionavar Tapestry

The Summer Tree (1984)

The Wandering Fire (1986)

The Darkest Road (1986)

Kurtz, Katherine - The Chornicles of the Deryni

Deryni Rising (1970)

Deryni Checkmate (1972)

High Deryni (1973)

Le Guin, Ursula K. - The Earthsea Saga

A Wizard of Earthsea (1968)

The Tombs of Atuan (1971)

The Farthest Shore (1972)

Tehanu (1990)

Tales from Earthsea (2001)

The Other Wind (2001)

McKillip, Patricia A. - The Riddle of Stars Trilogy

The Riddle-Master of Hed (1976)

Heir of Sea and Fire (1977)

Harpist in the Wind (1979)

Tolkien, J.R.R. - The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)

The Two Towers (1954)

The Return of the King (1955)

CONTEMPORARY

Abercrombie, Joe - The First Law Trilogy

The Blade Itself (2007)

Before They Are Hanged (2008)

Last Argument of Kings (2008)

Abraham, Daniel - The Long Prince Quartet

A Shadow in the Summer (2006)

A Betrayal in Winter (2007)

An Autumn War (2008)

The Price of Spring (2009)

Bujold, Lois McMaster - Chalion Series

The Curse of Chalion (2001)

Paladin of Souls (2003)

The Hallowed Hunt (2005)

Carey, Jacqueline - Kushiel's Legacy

The Phedre Trilogy: Kushiels Dart (2001)

Kushiel's Chosen (2002)

Kushiel's Avatar (2003)

Jemisin, N.K. - The Inheritance Trilogy

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (2010)

The Broken Kingdoms (2010)

The Kingdom of Gods (Oct. 2011)

Martin, George R.R. - A Song of Ice and Fire

Game of Thrones (1996)

Clash of Kings (1999)

A Storm of Swords (2000)

A Feast for Crows (2005)

A Dance with Dragons (2011)

Newton, Mark Charon - Legends of the Red Sun

Nights of Villjamur (2010)

City of Ruin (2011)

The Book of Transformations (2012)

Parker, K.J. - The Engineer Trilogy

Devices and Desires (2005)

Evil for Evil (2006)

The Escapement (2007)

Rothfuss, Patrick - The Kingkiller Chronicles

The Name of the Wind (2007)

The Wise Man's Fear (2011)

Sanderson, Brandon - The Mistborn Trilogy

The Final Empire (2006)

The Well of Ascension (2007)

The Hero of Ages (2008)

Pathfinder: 9/11 Resources

With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 the entire nation will be given the opportunity to commemorate and reflect upon their memories. There are many different ways to reflect including attending community memorial events, asking friends and family if they recall what they were doing when they found out, or watching special coverage that will be on the news this weekend.

If you feel like you want to delve into the reflection a little more I suggest a few of the resources we have here at the Mukwonago Community Library.

Downloadable Internet Books:

Messages: Signs, Visits, and Premonitions from Loved Ones Lost on 9/11 by Bonnie McEneaney (2010)

The Ground Truth: The Untold Story of America Under Attack on 9/11 by John Farmer (2009)

The Commission: The Uncensored History of the 9/11 Investigation by Philip Shenon (2008)

Books:

The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation

by Sid Jacobson (2006)

Watching the World Change: The Stories Behind the Images of 9/11

by David Friend (2006)

Aftermath: Unseen 9/11 Photos by a New York City Cop

by John Botte (2006)

Without Precedent: The Inside Story of the 9/11 Commission

by Thomas Kean (2006)

The 9/11 Commission Report: A Final Report of The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States by Nat Comm on Terrorist Attacks Upon the US

A Nation Challenged: A Visual History of 9/11 and Its Aftermath

(200)

DVDS:

The 9/11 hijackers: inside the Hamburg Cell (2007)

New York Firefighters: The Brotherhood of 9/11 (2002)

In Memoriam: New York City 9/11/01 (2002)

Websites:

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

Library of Congress, Web Archive from 2001 of 9/11

Technology Tip #8: Online Subscriptions

If you order a magazine or have a cable provider, more and more often vendors are offering complimentary online subscriptions. This may not seem like a big deal until you consider the possibility of legally sharing access to those shows with friends and family.

My parents have a cable subscription with the "works" including HBO. Dish Network as a extra service provides them with the ability to access a website that has all of the latest shows, movies, and other viewing material available with their subscription. Since they don't use the online version they provided me access to their online subscription, and voila I can watch HBO on my computer.

I subscribe to a cooking magazine that my friend who lives across the state always wants to borrow when she comes to my house. The other day I realized I could give her access to my free online subscription and I would be able to keep my magazines for a change!

If you consider offering or sharing these online subscriptions with friends or family, imagine the amount of money it could save for people to pool resources. It also does not have legal issues and implications that resource piracy has. So double check your magazine, cable and other media subscriptions to see if you have online access.

Hiring for Circulation Assistant Position

The Mukwonago Community Library is hiring a part-time Circulation Assistant. Seeking a dependable, friendly, detail-orientated person to staff a busy check out desk. It is a weekly schedule with four hour shifts on Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Please apply in person at Mukwonago Community Library, 1012 Main St., Mukwonago, WI by September 12th.