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.

Haiku Contest

National Poetry Month is a month-long, national celebration of poetry established by the Academy of American Poets. The concept is to widen the attention of individuals and the media—to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our complex poetic heritage, and to poetry books and journals of wide aesthetic range and concern.We hope to increase the visibility and availability of poetry in popular culture while acknowledging and celebrating poetry’s ability to sustain itself in the many places where it is practiced and appreciated.

Help us celebrate National Poetry Month at Twin Hickory Library.

Write a Haiku for us at Twin Hickory Library and enter it into our contest!

Three age groups can participate.

• 5-9
• 10-13
• 14-and beyond!

We will use a rough guide of 17 syllables, in the order of 5,7,5 per line!

In the spirit, not exacting!

HAVE FUN!

Prizes will be awarded for the best Haiku in each age group!!!

(post by Tyger @ Twin Hickory)

Digital Scrapbooking Workshop

Interested in digital scrapbooking? The Tuckahoe library is hosting a digital scrapbooking workshop!

Using Adobe Photoshop Elements, capture your memories creating custom scrapbook pages. Create one page or an album. Preserve special occasions, family events, vacations and everyday life. Capture these moments using your computer, software and printer. It’s fun!

Bonnie Cuddihy, our presenter, loves working with photos–both new and vintage–and using them to document everyday life and her heritage alike.

The workshop is this Saturday, April 6th from 10am to noon. For more information follow this link.

(post by Winfree @ Tuckahoe)

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!

Diaper Drive

During the month of March we are collecting disposable diapers for the Capital Diaper Bank. Take a look at this article from Richmond Family Magazine for more information about the CDB.

Bring your donation to any of our libraries and help keep our babies happy and healthy!

What do more than half a million Virginians have in common?

These Virginians all had a Virginia Museum of Fine Arts art experience in their own community.

The VMFA Art and Education Division provides educational exhibitions and programs to museums, arts centers, libraries, galleries, schools, colleges and universities, and retirement facilities throughout the Commonwealth.

Join us at the Twin Hickory Library on Wednesday, March 6 at 6:30 pm as speaker Trent Nicholas, Film and Media Resources Coordinator from the VMFA speaks and visually explains:

Postmodernism!

Scouting the Postmodern Film Frontier

Our current era of art and society, which is now commonly referred to as the “Postmodern,” has been foreshadowed in avant-garde films and videos since the 1920s. This talk will explain and define Postmodernism and show short film examples to illustrate, such as works by Man Ray, Joseph Cornell, and Andy Warhol.

(post by Tyger @ Twin Hickory)

An Evening with Victoria Christopher Murray and Reshonda Tate Billingsley

Sinners and Saints and Friends & Foes are the latest books by ReShonda Tate Billingsley & Victoria Christopher Murray. Just as they joined together to write these two novels, they will be together at the Fairfield Area Library to meet their many fans!

One lucky fan will win the BIG giveaway which includes NINE BOOKS by the two authors.

ReShonda is from Texas, a journalist turned author who writes adult and teen novels. Regina King & Queen Latifah have teamed together to bring her second novel, Let the Church Say Amen, to the big screen. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Reshonda is excited about coming to Henrico!

Victoria relocated from New York to attend Hampton University where she majored in Communication Disorders. After graduation, she worked in the corporate world, but her dream was to write. She started as a self-published author, now her books are printed by a major publisher. Congratulations to Victoria, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority celebrating their Centennial Anniversary.

Come out and meet Victoria Christopher Murray & ReShonda Tate Billingsley to hear the continuing drama about Rachel & Jasmine the “famous frenemies” on:

Wednesday, March 6 at 7pm at Fairfield Area Library, 1001 N. Laburnum Avenue. Call 804-290-9330 for details.

Buy your favorite book and one for a friend from the Virginia Union University Bookstore on site. Friends of the Fairfield Area Library will have snacks for your enjoyment. Make it a girls’ night out with your favorite authors!

(post by Sharon @ Fairfield)