Posts filed under 'Collection Grants'
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
A picture is worth a thousand words, and what wonderful stories those pictures tell! On Sunday, November 8 at 2:00 p.m., join Ginny Moore Kruse, Director Emeritus of the Cooperative Children’s Book Center of UW-Madison (CCBC) in the James Watrous Gallery of the Overture Center for the Arts for a discussion of The Fine Art of Children’s Book Illustration, on display now through December 6th. The exhibit features the works of several of Wisconsin’s most accomplished illustrators of children’s books, including Lois Ehlert, Kevin Henkes, and Ellen Raskin. Bring the family and pick out your favorite art, then stop in the Central Library to check out some picture books (we’re open 1 - 5 p.m. on Sundays). Also on the 8th, stop by the Madison Children’s Museum for a diorama workshop from 1 - 3 p.m. Registration is required; contact McKenzie Glynn at mglynn@madisonchildrensmuseum.org or call 256-6445 ext. 18.
Save the date for an evening with Kathleen Horning, Director of the CCBC. On Thursday, November 19, 7 p.m. at the Sequoya Library, join us for a presentation about picture book illustration with slides of art from recently published picture books. Horning is the author of From Cover to Cover: Evaluating and Reviewing Children’s Books, a look at some of the best in children’s literature and a guide to selecting and suggesting books for young children. School Library Journal deems her “one of the most influential librarians you’ll ever meet - and one of the kindest.” She has served on the Newbery Award Committee, the Coretta Scott King Award Committee, and many more, and worked at the Madison Public Library as a children’s librarian for a number of years. Horning recently wrote an article on Wisconsin picture book illustrators for the Fall 2009 issue of Wisconsin People & Ideas Magazine.
Although Horning’s presentation is intended for adults, interested children ages 10 and up are welcome to join us. Register online or call 266-6385. This event is made possible thanks to a generous grant from the Madison Community Foundation to the Sequoya Library to develop the Art of the Picture Book Collection.
November 4th, 2009
Alicia
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
“Sustainability is the ability to meet our needs without compromising the needs of future generations.” Join the City of Madison in an important effort in developing the City’s Sustainability Plan. Please come and learn about what the city is doing to make Madison’s community, economy and environment sustainable and voice your priorities to shape upcoming efforts that will improve and sustain our quality of life now and for generations to come.
October 8th, 2009
Alicia
If you have the need or desire to collect demographic data, you must try DemographicsNow Now! So easy to use–you can customize results by geography, choosing the area best suited to your needs. Established businesses, prospective entrepreneurs, business students, and anyone who needs to identify cultural patterns or sociological trends will benefit from this ultra flexible marketing tool. Listen to a 3 minute introductory webcast or be guided through more detailed search tips. Access to DemographicsNow is made possible through a Madison Community Foundation collection grant to the Central Library for small business and entrepreneurship. The database was chosen with the input of several area business and entrepreneur groups.
And there’s more! If you’d like to search both Madison Newspapers or the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, whether it’s for an article, an obituary, or just to browse a day’s events, you’ll find NewsBank to be just the ticket. NewsBank is an easy-to-use newspaper archive containing full text articles from the Wisconsin State Journal (1989- present), Capital Times (1989- present), and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (1990-present). Updated daily, entries exclude advertisements, employment ads and classifieds. You’ll find detailed searching information here. Due to licensing restrictions, both DemographicsNow and NewsBank are only available to customers who visit a Madison Public Library and remotely to Madison residents with valid library cards. We are in the process of arranging access through the library’s wireless networks for those who want to use the database in the library but on their own machines.
These are the newest additions to the library’s extensive list of databases. Searching from home has never been easier.
October 7th, 2009
terrymc
During October and November, visit the Sequoya Library Children’s Area for an exhibit of works by local picturebook illustrator Michael Kress-Russick. Illustrations are from the recently released picturebook “Moon over the Mountain” by Keith Polette.
This exhibit is made possible thanks to a generous grant from the Madison Community Foundation to the Sequoya Library supporting the Art of the Picture Book collection.
October 2nd, 2009
Alicia
As the weather turns cooler, join us at the Pinney Library for a Sustainable Living Film series. On the first Friday of the month, October through December, we’ll be screening feature films and documentaries focusing on various aspects of sustainability and the environment.
Friday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m.: Medicine Man
Sean Connery plays Dr. Robert Campbell, a brilliant but unorthodox scientist racing against time in his bold research for a cure for cancer. Set deep in the forbidding Amazon rain forest, this action-packed hit follows Campbell hot on the trail of an amazing discovery — but the eccentric recluse soon finds himself caught in the midst of an explosive adventure. (105 minutes, PG-13)
Friday, November 6 at 7:00 p.m.: Arctic Tale
Follow Nanu the polar bear cub and Seela the walrus pup through exciting and often dangerous struggles for survival, with only their natural instincts and mothers’ guidance to help them face the challenges of a world that is melting around them. (86 minutes, G)
Friday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m.: Too Hot Not to Handle
Over the past 100 years, the mass consumption of fossil fuel has contributed to a dangerous global warming that is now beginning to adversely impact our lives and promises to do far greater damage if we continue to ignore its warning signs. This cautionary documentary offers a guide to the impacts of global warming on the U.S. and gives measures that can be taken to reverse this trend. (54 minutes, Not Rated)
Learn more about Green Partnerships at the Madison Public Library. Interested in more resources and programming about sustainable living? Visit the Sustainable Living collection at the Pinney Branch, sponsored by a generous grant from the Madison Community Foundation. Check out resources for “Greening Our World”, supported by Madison Gas & Electric.
September 30th, 2009
Alicia
Board game enthusiasts: challenge your family to a battle of wits and strategy while playing some exciting classic and new board games at Sequoya Library Family Game Nights! On the last Tuesday of the month, September through November, engage in the fun of family play while learning to play some new board games which focus on analytical thinking, storytelling, cooperative and competitive play among other skills. Open to children aged 5 and up, everyone is invited to join in the fun - bring mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, uncles and neighbors! Games and instruction provided by local game enthusiasts. Games include Ticket to Ride, Quandry, FITS, Bohnanza and more. Space is limited, so please register for sessions in advance online or by calling 266-6385.
Interested in learning more about board games based on strategy and creative thinking? Read this short introduction from GatePlay (links to a commercial site).
September 24th, 2009
Alicia
Thanks to a project from Madison Public Library, the South Central Library System, and Madison Area Technical College, job seekers now have the opportunity to attend a workshop, geared towards displaced workers, on developing skills for job searching. On Tuesday, September 15, 5:30 - 8 p.m. at South Madison Library, join MATC librarians for help writing cover letters and resumes that will get you noticed, as they give advice, tips and templates for making easy and effective introductory materials. You will need to have basic computer skills to attend this workshop. A ninety-minute training session, beginning at 5:30, will be followed by an hour of “open office” consultation for those seeking personalized assistance working through changes in their careers. Register online or call 266-6395.
The Central Library is also offering drop-in job assistance workshops on Monday afternoons, beginning on September 14, from 1 - 4 p.m. Co-sponsored by Madison Public Library, the Madison Senior Center, and the UW-Writing Center, these weekly workshops are offered to help help interested individuals
- write resumes and cover letters
- use credible job search web sites
- apply for jobs online
- establish free, web-based email accounts for job search contacts.
Interested job seekers may register for half-hour training sessions by calling 266-6350. Drop-ins are welcome and will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. More information about classes at Madison Public Library
September 12th, 2009
Alicia
It’s attainable! Be sustainable in September with a series of sustainable living programs at the Sequoya Branch.
On Wednesday, September 23 at 7 p.m., join Livia Kivirist and John Ivanko for a talk on their book, ECOpreneuring: Putting Purpose and the Planet Before Profits. Part small business manifesto, part personal finance primer, ECOpreneuring is essential reading for small business owners, prospective entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs starting non-profit organizations and anyone who dreams of a livelihood based on independence, creativity, passion, and a commitment to green practices and sustainability. Join the authors as they talk about their book and their fresh and dynamic approach to entrepreneurial thinking, blending passion for the planet with small business pragmatics and smashing the stereotype the “doing good” and “running a business” can’t go hand in hand.
Learn more about Green Partnerships at the Madison Public Library. Interested in more resources and programming about sustainable living? Visit the Sustainable Living collection at the Pinney Branch, sponsored by a generous grant from the Madison Community Foundation. Check out resources for “Greening Our World”, supported by Madison Gas & Electric.
September 12th, 2009
Alicia
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