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In the last week we’ve answered our first two reference questions via Twitter. While it might not be the fastest or most private way to contact us with a question, we’re happy to answer the questions we see via Twitter or Facebook or our other social media accounts.
Which brings us to the answer to one of those two reference questions, which is more complex than Twitter’s 140 characters allow… One of our followers, in response to a post announcing our excitement that we now offer e-book and iPod compatible audiobook downloads through the OverDrive Digital Download Center, requested that a sidebar search category be created for Mac users to find compatible downloads.
Madison Public Library is part of a statewide consortium that runs the OverDrive Digital Download Center, a collection of nearly 5,000 downloadable audiobooks, video, music and now e-books. We can’t update the sidebar options to say “Plays on Mac” but if you look at the sidebar, you can choose either “iPod-compatible Audiobooks” or “View all MP3 Audiobooks” to find titles you can use. iPod-compatible audiobooks can be transferred to an iPod or iPhone through iTunes on either a Mac or a PC. MP3 audiobooks can be played on a Mac OR transferred to iPod or iPhone. Also, if you do a title or author search, there are icons for each title showing what formats the title come in. Screenshots of menus and download steps for getting OverDrive Media Console are on our Flickr photostream.
Background info: Audiobooks comprise the largest part of the Digital Download Center collection. Most are - for various digital rights management reasons - available only as WMA (windows media audio) files for playing on a PC or WMA-compatible devices. Recently, one fourth of the WMA titles became iPod compatible when users access the files using the most recent version of the OverDrive Media Console (software required to use OverDrive). As of today, there are 4065 WMA audiobooks, 218 MP3 audiobooks, 1000 iPod compatible WMA audiobooks, 318 videos, 178 music albums, and 232 eBooks in the collection.
November 17th, 2009
Tana
It’s been an exciting week for us at the library with all the focus on the Central Library. But there are wonderful things going on in our branch libraries, too, particularly the South Madison Branch Library, currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2010. You can help us share the excitement during three special events this Saturday, November 14.
First, join the Foundation and the Friends of the South Madison Branch Library at 10:30 a.m. to celebrate the 2009 publication of the book, Challenging the Professionalization of Adult Education: John Ohliger and Contradictions in Modern Practice. Enjoy a light brunch and listen to South Madison Librarian, Chris Wagner (John Ohliger’s wife), read from and talk about the book. John Ohliger was a Madison educator, peace activist, public intellectual and co-founder of WORT Radio. He was a lover of libraries, especially the South Madison Branch Library.
Copies of the book will be available for purchase with proceeds benefiting the new South Madison Branch Library. RSVP IS REQUIRED BY November 12. RSVP to (608) 250-5758 or email cwagnerz@yahoo.com
Next, learn about the progress of the South Madison Branch Library capital campaign and how you can turn your ordinary purchases into donations for the South Madison Branch by participating in the Foundation’s SCRIP program. On-line demonstrations and registration on the SIMPLIFIED SCRIP website will be offered throughout the day. Prizes will also be available.
Finally, enjoy The Mystery of the Rabbit and the Hot Chocolate and Other Adventures at 1:30 p.m. at the UW Space Place (meet at the library and walk over). Families will enjoy learning songs and singing games in two languages with bilingual storyteller and singer Clare Norelle. There will be face painting with Nuria and light refreshments.
Find out more about the South Madison Branch Expansion on the library’s web site or sign up for periodic email updates.
November 11th, 2009
Tana
The Madison Common Council adjourned for the night near 12:30 a.m. - watch the continued discussion live on Madison City Channel on your TV or online beginning 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 11.
During Tuesday evening’s Council discussions, an amendment was approved to explore the possibility of a community garden on the roof of the Central Library and another amendment was approved to ensure that construction would not begin until the tax credits were available.
Read more at City council agrees on Central Library plan (Wisconsin State Journal online, 11/11/09) or Laptop City Hall: Annual City Budget Live Blog, Day 1 (Capital Times online, 11/11/09) or follow the project on the library’s web site.
November 11th, 2009
Tana
The Madison Common Council begins discussing the 2010 Capital and Operating Budgets today at 5:30 in Room 201 of the City-County Building at 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Not able to attend? Watch the meeting live on Madison City Channel on your TV or online or view the Mayor’s most recent blog comments.
Do you have questions about the public library project? View background information about the project on our web site. It’s not too late to contact your alderperson to show your support or ask your questions, or to sign up for updates on the project.
November 10th, 2009
Tana
Stop in and visit the library at Kids Expo next weekend!
Kids Expo is happening at the Alliant Energy Center November 14 and 15, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The FREE event is a one-stop-shop for the community to learn about family-friendly events, businesses, nonprofit organizations, tourist destinations, programs, products and services. Two entertainment areas will feature performances by local dance, martial arts, gymnastics, and other groups. Kids Expo features exhibits, interactive spaces, demonstrations and hands-on activities for the entire family to enjoy.
Stop by our booth for library informational materials, a craft for kids of all ages, a prize drawing and more!
November 5th, 2009
Tana
The Alicia Ashman Branch of Madison Public Library was the backdrop of an October 27, 2009, press conference announcing grants totalling $1 million to Madison and Milwaukee for advancing their solar energy development programs . Mayor Cieslewicz, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Governor Doyle, and Tehri Parker of Midwest Renewable Energy Association were in attendance. The Alicia Ashman Branch Library hosts one of the city’s solar power installations as part of the MadiSUN Solar Energy Program. Read more about the grant at Letter From Here’s Talking about sunny money on a rainy day, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Milwaukee, Madison awarded $1 million for solar expansion or WKOW-TV’s Federal dollars to develop Wis. solar energy, or learn more about the MadiSUN solar energy project. Photo by Peter Patau.
October 27th, 2009
Tana
It was a “bloody” good time at two Twilight-themed costume parties celebrating the upcoming November release of the “New Moon” movie. Teens joined other vampire fans for movie clips, trivia, food, and more. Winner sof “Best Costume” took home 4 tickets for the upcoming release of “New Moon,” and the “Twilight Trivia Stars” received a full set of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight books!
Funding for Twilight costume parties was provided by the Friends of the Meadowridge Branch Library and the Friends of the Pinney Branch Library.
Tonight, Friday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m., young writers are invited to bring their poetry to the Alicia Ashman Library for an evening of reading, writing, and fun at a “Bad Poetry Nite.” Register online or call 824-1780 to reserve a spot onstage.
Teen Read Week is a national literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association. Teen Read Week will be celebrated at thousands of public and school libraries, classrooms, and bookstores across the country. Although teens realize the importance of reading, they have a huge menu of activities to choose from when deciding how to spend their free time, and reading often gets lost in the shuffle. Teen Read Week serves as a weeklong reminder to teens that reading for pleasure is fun, free, and can be done anywhere.
October 23rd, 2009
Tana
Join Mayor Cieslewicz and other city officials at noon on Sunday, September 27, at the official re-opening of the Monroe Street Branch Library. The library will be open special Sunday hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for an open house and a book sale as part of the Monroe Street Festival.
The remodel includes a fresh look for the popular neighborhood library, including new carpet and paint, a new ceiling, energy-efficient lighting, and new locally-purchased furniture and shelving. A revised floor plan features “open holds” shelving and a reconfigured and relocated service desk. The newly remodeled library also offers two additional computers for public use.
The book sale, hosted by the Monroe Street Library League, features hundreds of books for adults and children at bargain prices. The Monroe Street Festival is an annual fall celebration showcasing the businesses on Monroe Street, including bargains from many merchants and activities for the whole family. The Monroe Street Festival is held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and pictures, see the Monroe Street Branch page or the Monroe Street Festival site.
September 22nd, 2009
Tana
Anyone who’s worked on a construction project knows that even with the best planning, delays sometimes happen. We are grateful to the patience of the Monroe Street area residents who continue to wait to use their newly-remodeled neighborhood library.
As of today, we are waiting for our new desk to be finished and installed. You can see pictures of the progress last week on our Flickr account. If you would like to be notified when the library reopens, please sign up, or follow the library on Facebook or Twitter.
Plans of the new Monroe Street library (though some modifications have been made since these were printed).
September 16th, 2009
Tana
Each year our librarians spend hours preparing for, conducting, and evaluating our Summer Library Program. Why do we do it? Research shows us that summer is a time of learning loss for many students who don’t have access to summer learning opportunities. By providing Madison students with a no-cost, self-paced program based on reading incentives, we’re encouraging students to continue learning and practicing their reading skills throughout the summer. This is central to our mission as a library.
Special thanks to this year’s sponsors for their financial or in-kind support: Madison Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Madison Public Library, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Overture Center for the Arts, Rocky Rococo’s Pizza, Noodles & Company, Madison Mallards Baseball, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA), EdVest, KnowHow2GoWisconsin, and the South Central Library System. Thanks also the 6,064 participants for their enthusiasm, to parents, teachers and caregivers for their encouragement, and to our many community partners.
For more about this year’s Summer Library Program in Madison, read Samara Kalk Derby’s Capital Times recent article For love of books: Reading program aids kids.
Photo by Peter Patau.
September 15th, 2009
Tana
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