New OverDrive

Are you an eBook reader? If so,  we have some news for you. OverDrive (one of the companies we work with the provide eBooks) is updating their service. We mentioned this a few months ago but, at that time, we didn’t know when we would be getting the update. Well, now we know. We will be getting the update – The week of April 15^th.

What does this mean?

1.Our OverDrive site will look completely different.

To get an idea of what the new site will look like take a look at Chesterfield’s OverDrive site.

2. New Filtered Search

The search experience has been improved. You will have the ability to narrow searches by format, subject, publisher, language and by age.

3. One-step check out

One of the improvements we like is the in the checkout process. Currently, you have to choose the format you want then check out the title. The new system reverses that. You check out the book then select the format.We think this is an improvement that should make things a little easier.

4.New READ format

OverDrive is introducing a new eBook format, called READ, in addition to the current eBook formats they currently offer. It is browser based so you don’t have to download the eBook to a computer or the OverDrive app to read. Not all of the eBooks in our collection will be available in this format but most will be.

More info & a demo

OverDrive has placed the image to the right on our OverDrive site to let people know that things will be changing soon. Clicking on it will take you to a page that explains things.

If you want a quick explanation take a look at the video below.

Find It Virginia

Our library app is moving to the Find It Virginia app in April.

Be sure to switch over before then. We will be discontinuing our app in April in favor of the Find It Virginia app. You can find it in your app store or by visiting va.boopsie.com.

What is the Find It Virginia app?

It’s an app that gives you mobile access to every public library in Virginia!

It was developed by the Library of Virginia and Boopsie, the same company we worked with to develop our app. They have done a great job.  It works on most mobile operating systems so you should be able to install it on just about any smartphone or tablet.

Much like our app, you can:

• Browse the catalog
• Place holds
• See what you have checked out
• Renew material
• View our calendar of events
• Locate the nearest library

Plus you get some new features!

• Complete integration with our OverDrive eBooks and downloadable audiobooks
• Search the catalog by scanning the barcodes of books, DVDs and more
• Access all Public libraries in Virginia

We think it’s a great app and think you will like it. Give it a try!

eBook Clinics and Consultations

Are you planning to buy a tablet, smartphone or eReader for someone this holiday season? Do you think you may be getting a tablet, smartphone or eReader?

Yes? Maybe?

One of the first things you should do with your shiny new gadget is head over to our eBook page and see what you can get FOR FREE from the library. We have thousands of FREE eBooks and downloadable audiobooks you can checkout and read (or listen to) on most of those shiny gadgets!

For anyone new to library eBooks we will be holding a series of eBook Clinics and Consultations during the months of January, February and March.

The eBook Clinics will be informal workshops where our staff will demonstrate how to use the library’s eBook resources on a variety of devices. If you’d like a quick introduction to the library’s eBooks then you may want to attend one of these sessions. No need to register, just bring your gadget and your questions.

The eBook Consultations are one on one sessions with our Emerging Technologies Librarian. He will help answer questions specific to you and your device. Space is limited for these so register as soon as you can.

We want to help you get the most out of your new device. Using the library’s free eBook services are just one way to do that.

OverDrive Changes

If you are an eBook reader or downloadable audiobook listener then we have some news for you. The people at OverDrive have been working hard on upgrading their service and are in the process of rolling it out. We don’t know exactly when we will get the upgrade but wanted you to know that it was coming and what to expect.

They are calling it The Next Generation Digital Library Platform. It will be a significant change.

The first thing you’ll notice is the look of the site. It will look completely different so it may take a while to get used to it. The North Carolina Digital Library was upgraded yesterday. When our site is upgraded it will be similar to theirs.

The other big change is how books can be read. They are introducing a browser based system for reading that should simplify the reading process for many people. They call it OverDrive Read. It works in most internet browsers so it should work on computers, tablets and smartphones very well. All of the current options for reading eBooks from the library will still be available too.

OverDrive has made an introductory video explaining many of the new features. Once our site is upgraded you will be able to use all of these features!

Try it before you buy it!

Looking for gift ideas for the kids in your life or need ideas for books to check out at the library?  The list below has some great ideas.  And, as always, our library staff are a great resource for book suggestions for all ages. For a printable list with even more titles click here.

Picture Books

1-2-3 Peas – Baker, Keith

Baby Bear Sees Blue – Wolff, Ashley

Bear Has a Story to Tell – Stead, Philip Christian

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs – Willems, Mo

Olivia and the Fairy Princess – Falconer, Ian

Sleep Like a Tiger – Logue, Mary

Snow Day for Mouse – Cox, Judy

Underground - Fleming, Denise

Squeak! Rumble! Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! – Marsalis, Wynton

Beginning-Reader

Penny and Her Song – Henkes, Kevin

Let’s Go for a Drive – Willems, Mo

Juvenile Fiction

Liar & Spy – Stead, Rebecca

Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) – Kinney,  Jeff

Spindlers – Oliver, Lauren

Twelve Kinds of Ice – Obed

Who Could That Be At This Hour – Snicket, Lemony

Wonder - Palacio

Juvenile Nonfiction

Beetle Book – Jenkins, Steve

The Lego Book – Lipkowitz, Daniel

We’ve got a new eBook service

We’ve added another eBook service for you! Our friends at the Library of Virginia have provided this service to libraries across the state and we are very happy they did. It’s called Freading and it has added thousands of ePub eBooks for you to check out, download and read. The best part…no holds.

Interested? Here’s what you need to know.

• If you have been using OverDrive there is nothing new to download or install.
  • Freading uses the same Adobe system to deliver eBooks.
• Checkouts work via a ‘Token’ system.
  • At the beginning of each week (Monday morning) you will receive five tokens (virtual currency) which you can exchange for eBooks at a cost of 1, 2 or 4 tokens per eBook.
  • Loans are two weeks and they can be renewed for two more weeks.
    • Most renewals do not cost any of your weekly tokens but some do.
• Freading works with many popular devices like:
  • Apple iPhones and iPads via the Freading or OverDrive apps.
  • Android phones and tablets via Freading or OverDrive apps.
  • ePub eReaders (Nooks, Sony, and more) using Adobe Digital Editions on your computer.

Want more information? Take a look at our Freading page. We’ve got a lot of information there.

To get started go to http://henricolibrary.freading.com.

New Library Services Plan

We recently released our Library Services Plan which includes new mission, vision, and goals for the future of the library!  The planning process (launched December 2010) engaged a wide range of stakeholders in developing a plan for the future.  Over 7,000 members of the community shared what they liked about their public library and areas that needed improvement through online and print surveys, in-person listening sessions, and individual interviews.  More than 1,500 of the survey participants shared stories about the library’s impact on their lives.  Story excerpts can be viewed at www.henricolibrary.org.

This process identified goals in four main areas:

Goal 1 – Collections (materials, eBooks, DVDs and books) – Our customers will be offered a responsive and relevant collection that is available in a timely manner.

Goal 2 – Community Outreach (Multicultural, Public Relations, Outreach, Bookmobile, ESL, Seniors) – We will offer services and programs that reach out to Henrico County’s changing population in ways that respond to their unique and diverse needs.

Goal 3 – Services (Customer Service, Classes, Programs, Processes) – We will provide our customers with positive experiences that meet their needs and expectations and that enrich community life.

Goal 4 – Spaces (Buildings, Hours, Rooms, Cafes) – All libraries will be welcoming and engaging places that provide maximum accessibility and an array of spaces to meet our community’s growing needs.

For more details about the Library Plan visit www.henricolibrary.org/mission.

Have questions or comments? Feel free to send us a message.

Great Tips for Touring Colleges with Your Teen

For many high school juniors and seniors, spring break means roadtrips to look at colleges. Jenna Johnson of The Washington Post recently wrote up some great tips; read the whole article, here, or give this summary a look:

• use categories (“no massive universities” or “only a big university”) to narrow your search
• look at virtual tours
• don’t go to campus on their break – you want to see it full of people
• follow school newspapers and other sites online
• make a plan with your folks to break free from them for a while: think about what feels best for you

More on this topic, here.

Useful book:

Originally posted at HCPL Teen Scene

New Family Email Newsletter

We’ve got a new way for parents, caregivers and educators to keep up with new family focused library news! Our new family email newsletter will keep you in the know about:

• library events
• new books
• parenting resources
• much more

The newsletter will be mailed quarterly and the first one is THIS week! If you are interested in receiving this email newsletter, sign up now.

Libraries, Publishers, eBooks & You

We wanted to let you know about a (very) recent development regarding our digital collection. As of today (2/10), Penguin (publisher of popular authors like Nora Roberts, Ken Follett, Charlaine Harris and many others) will no longer offer copies of their eBooks and audiobooks to be purchased by libraries via OverDrive.

What does this mean?

Basically, it means that we will not be able to buy any more eBooks from Penguin. They have joined other ‘Big 6’ publishers Simon & Schuster and Macmillian in not letting libraries lend the eBooks they publish. We would love to be able to lend their eBooks, unfortunately we can’t.

What about the books the library has already purchased?

They will continue to be available. One BIG difference, however, is how Kindle editions are handled. According to an email from OverDrive, eBooks published by Penguin will no longer be available for over-the-air delivery via Wi-Fi. People with Kindles who want to read eBooks published by Penguin will have to download the title and transfer it to their Kindle via a USB cord. We’re not sure how this will work yet. We will be learning along with you.

The eBook segment of the publishing world is in the very early stages of development. It will continue to change as publishers, book sellers, and libraries experiment with new ways to provide eBooks to you. We will continue do our best to provide the books you want in the format you prefer.