How to Create a Google Form

Collecting information from people is easier with an online survey. Here are the instructions to set up a Google Form. Let me know if you have questions or would like the Word document. -Bobbi

Creating a Google Form

NHDB: eBook Presentations

Here are the presentations I created earlier this year that give step-by-step instructions for using eBooks.

A presentation for PC and Nook users.
http://tech.nhlibrary.org/2010/04/using-a-pc-nook-to-enjoy-ebooks/
A presentation for Mac and Nook users.
http://tech.nhlibrary.org/2010/04/using-a-mac-a-nook-to-enjoy-ebooks/
A presentation for PC and Sony Reader users.
http://tech.nhlibrary.org/2010/03/steps-to-enjoying-ebooks-pc-version/
A presentation for Mac and Sony Reader users.
http://tech.nhlibrary.org/2010/03/enjoying-ebooks-on-your-mac-transferring-an-ebook-to-a-sony-reader/

And here is the information for the Bluefire Reader (developed by the Bluefire people). The Bluefire Reader is an iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch app that allows you to read OverDrive EPUB eBooks:

http://www.bluefirereader.com/help/libraryBooks.html

Note: It is possible to email yourself the unlocked EPUB file (.acsm) and open the attachment on your Apple device with the Bluefire app. But sometimes finding the file can be a challenge, depending on the browser and settings used. I've verified that this works, but I needed help finding the .ascm file on my PC. (Thanks to Linda for pointing me to this, and Mat for finding the file on Windows!) See the following instructions from the Library Journal blog:

http://blog.libraryjournal.com/ljinsider/2010/11/12/library-ebooks-on-the-ipadiphone-no-sync-required/

Apple Device Manuals

Do your patrons ask for manuals for their new iPhones, iPads, and iPods? Direct them to Apple's comprehensive online manuals:

http://support.apple.com/manuals

Ancestry Library Edition

As Diana Degen wrote to the NHAIS Listserv on November 3rd:

I am sorry to report that due to budget cutbacks and the current economy the State Library will not be renewing the Ancestry Library Database for 2010. The current subscription will end December 31, 2009. We have renewed the subscription to HeritageQuest so that will still be available to libraries for both in house and remote use.

Because we are providing access to HeritageQuest any library that wishes to subscribe to Ancestry Library on their own will receive a 50% discount on the price from ProQuest. If your library is interested in subscribing to Ancestry Library Edition for your library contact Gary Katz at ProQuest 800-521-0600 extension 4075 or email gary.katz@proquest.com.

Guys Read: Readers' Advisory Site

So, I've been out of the "real" readers' advisory world for a while now, so you all might know about this site already... (However, I was tickled to find it!)

Guys Read: A site to promote, you guessed it, reading to boys.

Enjoy!

Web Elements to Add to Your Site

For some time now Google has been offering a variety of services (maps, calendars, custom search, etc.) that can be embedded into your Website or blog, but now the folks at Google have put many of these services under the heading, "Web Elements." Generally speaking, they've made it a little easier for the average person to add some cool things to a Website. If you are looking to enhance your site, check out the available elements. Send me an email or give me a call if you have any questions on setting up an element in your site. 

Video Demos for iPhone Apps

If you are an iPhone or iPod Touch user (or helping patrons who are) you're probably always on the lookout for fantastic new applications (apps) to add to your device. However, finding and understanding the purpose of an app can be challenging.

The President and Flickr

Even the president uses Flickr to show off photos! Check out the Official White House Photostream. 

Improved LibraryThing Widgets

Have you checked out the new LibraryThing widgets recently? Fab-u-lous! I've always loved the colorful book cover widgets, but hated how clicking on the book cover brought you to Amazon and how clicking on the title brought you to the book's social information on LibraryThing. Now when you click on the title or book cover, the book information pops up and you get to choose to visit Amazon or LibraryThing. Go ahead, click on a title. Nice, huh?

As always, if you want to use LibraryThing for your library, please purchase a non-profit account; it only costs $15/year and you can add up to 5000 titles.

Note: This is my personal LibraryThing account; don't make fun of my reading preferences!

Free YA E-Book: Funny in Farsi

This is nice of Random House Library Services. They are giving away a free YA book, Funny in Farsi, as a PDF ebook.

Nice! Download your copy from the Random House Library Services blog.

The High Cost of Not Turning Off Computers

According to a recent article from Scientific American, the cost of leaving computers running at night is $2.8 billion per year. If that isn't bad enough, this translates into 20 million tons of CO2 polluting the air. Read the full article.

Freeware: Shape Collage

If you are looking for a new way to create collages, check out Shape Collage. This free software was quick and easy to install; simply drag and drop the desired photos from your hard drive, let the software know the shape and size of the collage, and you're done! It couldn't be easier!

Shape Collage

Fun: Try Out the New Harper's Index

I cannot remember ever reading Harper's Magazine, but I sure am enjoying their new online searchable index. What do you do? Start typing in a word (anything: swimming, horse, DNA, whatever!) and see a list of random facts pertaining to that word. The librarian in you will love that each fact lists the source. The Web 2.0 fan in you will love that each fact can be emailed, shared, bookmarked, or Twittered. The reference librarian in you will be giddy with excitement when the next school child comes to you asking for three random facts about Finland.

Enjoy the Harper's Index!

More Fun with Flickr & Picnik

Picnik, the online photo editing software just went from handy and entertaining to darn right addictive! You can now create multi-photo collages from photos that you upload into your Picnik account or any photos you already have in your Flickr (or Facebook, Picassa, etc.) account. Here's what you'll need to do:

I believe you need to register for a free Picnik account.

• Click on the "Library" tab.
• Click on the "Start" link -- located to the left of the page.
• Click on "Make a Collage" or "Make a Fancy Collage."

The first time you access the collage features you get a short tutorial from Picnik.
Have fun -- lots and lots of fun!

Biblios: A Free Web-based Cataloging Tool

There is a very interesting new service (tool, Website?) being offered by LibLime, the folks who offer the commercial hosting of the open source ILS, Koha. The service allows anyone to create an online account and to immediately have access to the database of MARC records. MARC records can be edited online and exported in MARC21 format to your own catalog. There is no charge for accessing the records or downloading them.

Additionally, each record can be edited and saved back to the Biblios.net database for others to use or continue to edit. I'm not sure if we can call this the Wikipedia of MARC records, but I don't think the general concept is too far off base -- but correct me if I am wrong!

I encourage everyone to read the two following blog posts about the service. These two posts do such a better job explaining the significance of Biblios.net better than I ever could!

Calling all Catalogers

Biblios.net and the Future of Cataloging

If you are interested in trying out Biblios.net on your own, here are some simple instructions:

1. Visit biblios.net.
2. Click on the link, "Start Cataloging."
3. The first time you load the application, you'll need to install Google Gears. (Google Gears is a browser extention that lets you work offline but uploads your changes when you go back online.) Loading Google Gears was very straight-forward.)
4. Once Google Gears has been installed and you confirm that you'd like a connection with Biblios.net, the application will load.
5. Enter a search term.
6. See the results load at the bottom of the screen.
7. Select the checkbox next to the desired title to see the MARC fields.
8. Click on the "Edit" button to make any changes to the fields.
9. Click in any field to make any changes.
10. Click on Tools >> Export >> MARC 21 to download the record to your computer.
11. 
12. Save the record to your computer in order to upload the record to your ILS.
13. 
14. It appears that the edited record can also be sent to Biblios.net.

(Forgive the extra bullets! Blogger doesn't do well with multiple graphics and bullets...)

iTunes abandons DRM? Yes and No

At the recent MacWorld event, Apple announced that they would be offering DRM-free music through iTunes. Although the music does not contain DRM, the DRM-free tracks contain the original owner's account information (in the form of their iTunes-associated email address) embedded into the file. If the file ends up on a file sharing site, the song can be easily tracked back to the original owner.

Read more from CNet.

A Guide to the Federal Legal System

Check out the recent blog post, "Update: A Guide to the U.S. Federal Legal System," by Mary Searles, the law librarian of the NH Law Library. The post references a Website, GlobaLex, a clearing house of Web-based resources for the federal legal system.

Don't forget to subscribe to or bookmark the NH Law Library blog!

Internet Explorer Concerns

PC World online posted an article today about the security flaw with Microsoft's Internet Explorer. To summarize the article, if you use Internet Explorer and visit an infected Webpage you can infect your computer with a trojan program. Unlike most viruses, you do not need to download or open a single thing; simply visiting the page is enough. Until Microsoft fixes this problem with a patch, this is PC World's solution:

The easiest way to keep your computer safe is to stop using Internet Explorer.

Consider Firefox as an alternative browser for your staff and patron computers -- at least until the problem is resolved.

According to a cited article, more than two million computers, primarily in China, have already been infected.

Update: According to Computer World, a patch has been released by Microsoft.

Magazines Added to Google Book Search

Google has added print magazines to its Book Search. Like the newspaper archive, there does not appear to be a comprehensive listing of the included titles, but here are a few I've managed to find:

• • Atlanta (2003-2008)
  • American Cowboy (1994-2008)
    
  • Baseball Digest (1945-2007)
  • Better Nutrition (1999-2004)
    
• Bicycling (2006-2008)
• Black World (1961-1976)
• The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (1946-1998)
  
• Cincinnati Magazine (1971-2008)
• CIO (1988-2008)
  
• Cruise Travel (1979-2007)
  
• Ebony (1973-2008)
• Ebony Jr. (1973-1985)
  
• Indianapolis Monthly (1995-2008)
  
• Jet (1951-2008)
• Log Home Living (1983-2004)
  
• Mac Life (2007-2008)
• Maximum PC (2000-2008)
• Men's Health (2006-2008)
• Mother Jones (1976-2000)
  
• Mountain Bike (2006-2008)
• New York Magazine (1968-1997)
• Organic Gardening (2006-2008)
• Popular Mechanics (1905-2005)
  
• Popular Science (1872-2008) No, this is not a typo!
  
• Prevention (2008-2008)
• Runner's World (2006-2008)
• Running Times (2006-2008)
• Vegetarian Times (1981-2004)
  
• Women's Health (2006-2008)

Hints:

• From the Advanced Book Search, it is possible to limit your results to magazines.
• When you are browsing through a magazine, press the "J" key on your keyboard to jump down to the next page and the "K" key to move to the previous page.
  
  

Ebsco Titles & MARC Records

Did you know that you can obtain MARC records for the titles listed in the Ebsco databases? This might be a good way to remind library staff and patrons alike that the journal titles are available through the database. You can obtain the MARC records from EbscoAdmin. Here are the steps to take:

1. Log into EbscoAdmin.
2. Click on the "Database Title Lists" tab located at the top of the page.
   
3. Choose the MARC 21 tab.
   
4. Choose to get the records for only the Full Text titles.
   
5. Download the desired files to your computer and upload into your catalog.
   
6. Note: There will be some overlap in records if you choose to upload records from (for instance) Academic Search Premier and MasterFile Premier.
   
7. Note: Academic Search Premier holds 3700 full text titles!

If you need your EbscoAdmin password resent, contact Bobbi at NHSL.