Technology Adventure, Unit Four

Unit four: Databases
3/21-4/3

Explore databases: We have a ton of databases, with something for everyone. Start exploring on our Study page, and then branch off to the adult tools. Find your house in Sanborn maps, find some new-to-you artists in American Song, learn about your co-workers' auras in Universal Class, find out why NSYNC is listed in the Culinary Arts database, etc.

Media On Demand: We all need to have more practice with this when patrons ask. Please download Overdrive Media Console to your computer and/or eReader. Kindles are not supported, unfortunately, but iPhones, Androids, Blackberries, Nooks and Sonys are, among others.

Starting Monday, March 28, I will have the Sony Reader, Nook, iPad, Nano and a laptop from the Tech Toolkit down here for us to practice loading downloadables. (Use the laptop to transfer audiobooks to the Nano, as well as to use Adobe Digital Editions to read eBooks.) You can set up a time to go over some of the steps with me, if you like. ATS is also hosting an Overdrive training on March 24 and 25 – even if you attend one of those, please take extra time to play and familiarize yourself with the devices, steps and potential pit-falls.

On your Mobile device, search for the Overdrive app and download. For desktops, follow the directions in Quick Start Guide, from the top left sidebar. Once you have it downloaded, browse the titles and check out an audiobook or eBook.

Post on the blog about what you’ve learned – share a database that will be useful on the desk, another that was just fun, tell us about your experiences with Overdrive, etc. Don’t forget to tag/label it “unit four.”