Amazon's new wireless reading device: Kindle
From Amazon.com's website:
Thanks to staffers Martha and Kathy for this posting!
Thanks to staffers Martha and Kathy for this posting!
Loudlit free downloadable books!
From LibrarianActivist:"LoudLit.org offers free MP3 audio books of classic works that you can download or read along with onscreen. (via MetaFilter)"
Works are organized by work, author, and performer and can be read and listened to or downloaded. Once you've begun to read and listen, you'll be given a scroll-down menu that allows you to see the book chapter by chapter. The performer's voice reads while you follow along on the page. The read and listen is web-based and the download option is an mp3 file.
How is this legal? Through a Creative Commons license. As long as the product is not altered in any way, it can be copied, distributed, and transmitted. It may not be used for commercial use, and it must be attributed to the author who wrote it.
LoudLit.org is a part of Project Gutenberg, which "is the oldest producer of free ebooks on the Internet" (projectGutenberg.org). Its collection was produced strictly by volunteers. Project Gutenberg has a larger variety of material, but Loudlit is on its way. Try both out and compare. Odds are that you'll find something that will suit you. Enjoy!
LibriVox, podcasting, and you!
Want to listen to mp3s that are in the public domain? Look no further than LibriVox, where you can download them to your computer or storage device, or upload a podcast to listen to at your convenience.
If you’re into reading, volunteer to read some audiobooks for the service:
“Would you like to record chapters of books in the public domain? It's easy to volunteer. All you need is a computer, some free recording software, and your own voice.”
Check out these other fabulous sites for free mp3s:
Americana Phonic
LoudLit.org
Podiobooks.com
Or hey, try something new and make your own podcast.
Author Spotlight: Clyde Edgerton
I didn’t grow up in the South, but Clyde Edgerton’s stories are some of my favorites to cure homesickness.
Clyde Edgerton’s ear for dialogue captures the thoughts and conversations of older and younger generations in small North Carolina towns. The culture of the local Baptist church is interwoven with some Southern nostalgia, but his quirky characterizations are the most memorable thing about his quiet uplifting stories.
If you’ve never read Edgerton, start with Walking Across Egypt, the story of a spunky old lady, a stray dog, a hungry teenaged orphan, and the best home-cooking in Hansen County, N. C. Wishing for grandchildren of her own, Mattie Rigsbee befriends a young delinquent named Wesley and takes him in, even though she feels she is “slowing down” at age 78. The sequel, Killer Diller, finds Wesley still at work redeeming himself in the eyes of the Lord and of his foster grandma. Walking Across Egypt and Killer Diller have also been made as movies.
eAudiobooks for Beginners
Explore our library’s newest way to deliver audiobooks. Learn hands-on how to checkout, download and play eAudiobooks on your computer or portable media player. When: Monday, May 15, 2006
Time: 1:00pm-2:30pm
Where: SBC Computer Training Center
Cost: Free!
Registration is required.
For information and to register, please call 785-580-4606 or email us here.
What's Happening 24/7 @ www.tscpl.org? Always Online. Always Available.
Access these online resources from your home computer with the barcode number on your library card.
Books, Movies and More: TSCPL Library Catalog
Search the library catalog for books, audiobooks, VHS and DVDs. Request items to be picked up at the library or mailed to you.
Digital Audio Books: eAudiobooks
Checkout and download digital audio books and digital music, then listen to them on your personal computer or portable media player. Try eAudiobooks from NetLibrary or Overdrive.
Music: Classical Music Library
Listen to thousands of different musical tracks including opera, chamber, instrumental, orchestral, sacred and vocal selections, delivered to your personal computer using streaming audio.
Test Preparation: Learning Express Library
Interactive practice tests and tutorials for GED, ASVAB, ACT, SAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, Civil Service, and career success skills.
Genealogy: HeritageQuest Online
Begin researching your family tree with online census records from 1790-1930, plus search historical books and articles for genealogists. Also try Digital Sanborn Maps1867-1970, which provides digital access to historic maps of most Kansas towns.
Book Recommendations: Novelist
Find a good book using your favorite authors or titles or browse to get great recommendations for mysteries, romance, fantasy, horror or whatever fiction you love to read! Also try What Do I Read Next? and Fiction Connection.
Medical Topics: Health and Wellness Resource Center
Search trusted medical reference materials including medical journals, reference books, pamphlets and articles to locate information on medications and health topics. Also try Health Reference Center and Health Source.
Research for Assignments : MasterFILE Premier
Search for full text articles in magazines and journals on multi-disciplinary topics from the arts to zoology. Also try Academic Search Premier and Expanded Academic ASAP.
For assistance using these online databases, call the Reference Desk at 785-580-4555 during library hours.
Thanks to staff member Lissa for this submission!
eAudiobooks for Beginners
Explore our library’s newest way to deliver audiobooks. Learn hands-on how to checkout, download and play eAudiobooks on your computer or portable media player. When: Monday, May 15, 2006
Time: 1:00pm-2:30pm
Where: SBC Computer Training Center
Cost: Free!
Registration is required.
For information and to register, please call 785-580-4606 or email us here.
Overdrive is officially launched at TSCPL - here are some Flickr highlights!
Here are some great pictures from the Overdrive launch that happened today at TSCPL. Please enjoy them!
The Library is set to OverDrive!
State Library of Kansas Launches Online Audio BooksTOPEKA, KS -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 05/01/2006 -- In the heart of rural Kansas, where tractors share the road with cars, library patrons will be able to download audio books directly to their MP3 players and PCs using the Internet. In May 2006, the State Library of Kansas and contributing libraries will launch a new online service called Audio Books, Music and More (http://kansas.lib.overdrive.com) for the people of Kansas enabling browsing and check out of popular audio books from libraries, homes, offices or schools.
More than 50 libraries are sharing their resources to provide Audio Books, Music and More. OverDrive, Inc. (www.overdrive.com), a leading vendor of online audio books and music for libraries, is supplying the technology for the new service.
The iPod craze continues
If you've ever been to Apple's website, you're already aware of the plethora of iPod choices. The newest iPod Nano has just come out and has the ability to store 240 of your favorite songs.
Maybe you've already purchased an iPod and are just figuring out how to use it, or are a seasoned veteran just wanting to brush up on iPod or ITunes (Apple's software specific to iPod) use. We have a variety of resources here to help you learn.
iPod and iTunes for Dummies by Tony Bove
iPod Fan Book by Yasukuni Notomi
iPod and iTunes: the Missing Manual by J.D. Biersdorfer
Or, try your own title search for iPod.
Also related to iPods is podcasting (definition taken from urbandictionary.com). Check out the latest library books on the topic:
Podcasting for dummies by Tee Morris
Podcasting hacks :[tips and tools for blogging out loud] by Jack D. Herrington
We put the EAU in eAudiobooks!
Do you know what that means? Neither do I, so take your pick and let's move on.
Check out the newest releases for the Library's successful new downloadable audio service, eAudiobooks. Each month the Library will be adding new titles so be sure to check back to see what you could be listening to right now!
Some titles of interest this month include:
Panic by Jeff Abbott (Suspense)
The Hunt Ball by Rita Mae Brown (Mystery)
The Case for Peace by Alan Dershowitz (Non-fiction)
Texas Vendetta by Elmer Kelton (Western)
Hot Fudge Sundae Blues by Bev Marshall (Fiction)
American Front by Harry Turtledove (Science Fiction)
New to eAudiobooks? Click here to get started.
Already an eAudiobook user and want to get your copy of these new titles or want to search for something else? Click here.
Want a good, old fashion print version or maybe an audio copy on CD or cassette? Check the catalog here.
Lunch at the Piccadilly by Clyde Edgerton
Carl Turnage is a sweet middle age man caring for his last living relative, Aunt Lil, who is staying at the Rosehaven Convalescent Center after a fall. Carl checks on her frequently, just as he did for his mother and his Aunt Sarah. His patience, compassion and concern come naturally, although his own life is unremarkable. His work, which involves supervising awning installation, is rarely mentioned, and collecting bluegrass music is his only hobby. Each time he visits Aunt Lil, he has two goals: to convince Aunt Lil that she needs to give up her driver’s license, and to ask the nursing home social worker out on a date.
Despite Rosehaven being a place for restorative therapy and recovery, the nursing home is anything but quiet after L. Ray Flowers arrives. A retired Pentecostal preacher with a knee injury, L. Ray stirs things up with impromptu sermons and also teaches Carl how to play the bass guitar. Together they write songs inspired by the other residents, and perform them on the porch.
After reflecting on how America treats old people, the preacher comes up with a radical idea – to combine churches and nursing homes. He figures that churches are empty buildings during the week anyway, with members who are always looking for ways to help people, and older folks could use more visitors and personal attention. The churches may not feel threatened by a preacher with a wheelchair and his small band of disciples using walkers and canes, but the owner of the nursing home is furious about the ruckus.
As always, Clyde Edgerton’s ear for dialogue perfectly captures the thoughts and conversations of older and younger generations in a small North Carolina town. The culture of the southern Baptist churches are interwoven with some nostalgia, and the quirky characterizations of Aunt Lil’s new friends at Rosehaven are right on target. This quiet uplifting story focuses on the quality of life of nursing home residents in a humane and humorous character-driven story. As a special treat for audiobook listeners, a few folksy bluegrass songs from the book are performed by the author and his band at the end of the recording. Also check out Clyde Edgerton’s previous novels Walking Across Egypt or Raney for thoroughly enjoyable light reading or listening!
Reviewed by Lissa Staley
This review refers to the eAudio version from NetLibrary. Get your account today!
One Copy of Night, No Waiting
Having trouble getting a copy of Oprah's newest book club selection, Night by Elie Wiesel? On hold for a Library copy but want it now?
Well if you like audio books you are in luck because through the Library's newest service, eAudiobooks, you can download an audio copy of Night directly to your computer. You can then either listen to the book using your computer or transfer the book to your portable MP3 player and enjoy it anywhere! (Unfortunately eAudio does not currently work with Macs or Ipods.)
Click here to get the basics on how to register for the service or call the reference desk at 580-4555.
Already registered for the eAudiobooks service? Click here to
download Night.
Oh and if you're having trouble pronouncing the author's name, here is a link that might help. Click on this icon, 
, in the website to hear it pronounced.
"Listen Up" y'all!
Publisher's Weekly has announced their "Listen Up" awards for the best audiobooks published in 2005. (Thanks to staffer Deb for the tip!)
From the Publisher's Weekly site:
Looking back on the year in audiobooks finds outstanding productions in every category. There was such a wealth of enjoyable and informative audios in 2005 that we found it impossible to limit some of our category winners to the usual five or two titles. Even with this indulgence, we've had to cut lots of favorites, including Tilly Bagshawe's Adored (Time Warner Audio), Maureen Dowd's Are Men Necessary? (Penguin Audio), Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin (BTC Audio Books) and the Bruce Springsteen–inspired anthology Meeting Across the River (Blackstone).
Continue reading the article here.
Check out our catalog for your favorite audio titles (use the AUDIO BOOK keyword search box) or sign up for our eAudio service through Netlibrary.
New Ebook Service Offered
Welcome to NetLibrary and Recorded Books, the newest service offered to you as a patron. Play around with it, learn how to navigate, and enjoy!
Now you can add a new dimension to your online collections--eAudiobooks. NetLibrary, the leading provider of eBooks, has partnered with Recorded Books, the world's largest independent publisher and distributor of unabridged audiobooks, to launch a new subscription program that will bring the latest best-sellers, book club favorites, award-winning authors, and more to your library.
You will need: a TSCPL library card, a personal computer with an internet connection, and/or a music player that supports Windows MediaPlayer 9 or higher. This technology is NOT compatible with iPods.
Click the eAudiobooks link to the right to get started!