The Oncoming Storm: 50th Anniversary of “Doctor Who”

One cannot surf the internet, watch television, or visit a mall without stumbling upon a glimpse at the world of “Doctor Who”.  This show is now in its 50th year, nearly unprecedented in the world of television.  As a self-professed “Whovian”, I am delighted to let you in on a little secret: you need not pay a dime to experience the fascinating world of The Doctor.  It’s all right here at your public library!

First off, nearly the entire series featuring Doctors 1-8 (from its pilot episode in 1963 starring William Hartnell as “The First Doctor”) is available on DVD format through the MVLC.  From cavemen of the earliest days of humans on Earth, to the dreaded Daleks, you can enjoy almost 50 years of aired (and UNAIRED!) episodes.  Check out some of the original series here.

“Doctor Who” accelerated into popularity again in 2005 with the introduction of the Ninth Doctor, played by Christopher Eccleston.  New special effects, companions, and monsters came along, and the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant, brought the show to new heights.  The Eleventh Doctor, played by relative newcomer Matt Smith, is now in his third season, and the show currently airs here in the States on BBC America.  You can see all seven of these new seasons through us by clicking this link.

TV on DVD is not all the “Doctor Who” your library has to offer!  There are many new adventures available through novelizations and graphic novels. The novels come in a great compact hardcover, easy to bring along on your own travels! Find some new favorites in our catalog.

“You want spinoffs? I’ll show you spinoffs!” There are two wonderful series that come right from the adventures of “Doctor Who”, following the travels of Captain Jack Harkness (sometimes companion to the  Ninth and Tenth Doctor) and Sarah Jane Smith, a former companion from earlier days of the show. These series are available through us as well! Find Sarah Jane and Captain Jack in “The Sarah Jane Adventures” and “Torchwood”.

Taking a long car ride? Take in the sights of the Universe as a Doctor’s Companion with an audiobook! Many of these titles are read by actors from the series, and a few by The Doctors themselves. Click here to begin searching for new favorites.

Phew! Now that you’ve brought yourself to “Whovian” status yourself, you can pop to the mall for your favorite T-shirt! And all because of your local public library. Enjoy! And keep an eye out for the TARDIS.

~written by Laura Sanscartier

Location, location, location

It use to be that the only address we needed to give people was our physical location at 28 Arlington Street in Dracut, Massachusetts. That was before the digital age and the need to have a 24/7 presence. Let’s face it, we don’t live on a 9-5 time table anymore. We want to reserve DVD’s at ten o’clock at night. Or register for a library program long after the librarians have gone home. We want (and sometimes need) to access these services with mobile devices. I’m no exception. I’m never without my smartphone and want the places I frequent to be where ever I am.

That’s why I’m happy to announce that you’ll be seeing a lot more of us. Not only do we have our website but we are becoming more visible on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. We plan on using these formats to not only keep you informed about library programs, but to provide you with suggested reading lists, as well as entertainment. Another upgrade you’ll be seeing is our use of QR codes for mobile devices. These special barcodes are made for use with your smart phone. They will bring you to reading lists (did you ever want to know what the second book in a series was?), our event calendar (so you can register right from your phone), as well as our social media outlets. Don’t be afraid to use your smart phone in the library – surprises may await you! And when you’re not in the library, book mark us on your phone. In your pocket or your purse – we are your mobile librarians.

Geek the Library

geek /gēk/verb

1. To love, to enjoy, to celebrate, to have an intense passion for.
2. To possess a large amount of knowledge in.
3.To promote.

I recently attended a workshop on a national campaign called “Geek the Library.”  This public relations campaign is sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and is intended to let libraries know our residents better.

The concept evolved from a theory that a community‐centered public awareness campaign—one that uses similar strategies to many ‘super’ brands—could be an effective approach for libraries to make an impact locally. Like other brands, public libraries are also challenged to create an effective message, identify the appropriate audience, and change perceptions in a way that will impact current and future behavior.

The campaign is simple one.  It asks residents one simple question; “what do you geek?” Everyone has something that they are passionate about—something they geek. Maybe you geek football or hip hop. Maybe you geek organic gardening or volunteering. Or maybe you just geek the weather. Whatever you geek, fun or serious, the library supports you.

We intend to kick off our “Geek the Library” campaign this coming June.  Look for posters, book marks, banners, buttons, t-shirts and more!  Join in on the conversation.  By learning what you “geek” we start a conversation about the ways the library can support everyone, no matter what their passion.  It will also help  us focus our programming and resources on the things that matter to you.

I would love to hear from you.  You can contact me at any time at nhill@mvlc.org, or at 978-445-5474, extension 301.

eBooks & beyond

We know what you’re looking for and we’re here to help! Did you get a Kindle, Nook or iPad? Maybe you just want to download some eAudiobooks for your iPod. Here are a couple of sites we recommend. First start here! Yes here at the library.

One-Click digital is a newly purchased resource for Dracut library card holders. It is an eAudiobook service that allows you to check out eAudiobooks from anywhere! We’ll be purchasing new material from Recorded Books on a regular basis, so the selections are always changing. What is so great about this service? It allows multiple users to listen to a book at the same time. Most people don’t realize that with other services like Overdrive, only one user at a time can use the material – which can translate to longer wait times.  We like One-Click and hope you will too!

Overdrive, available to all MVLC libraries, offers both eAudiobooks and ePublications. The plus side is that it offers ePublications not just eAudiobooks.  The downside is that you may have to go on the waiting list in order to get it. Overdrive only has a set number of copies available for use (yes, MVLC has to buy these copies!), so in the case of a wildly popular best seller, you may have a better chance of getting the actual hardcover book faster than the eAudio or ePub. If you’re not the impatient sort, then this won’t be a problem.  However, if you are technologically challenged, you may have trouble just getting started with Overdrive. If that’s the case, please call us – we don’t want you having a frustrating library experience!

It’s no surprise that publishers don’t like the idea of libraries buying an eBook and leading it to countless people free of charge. After all, publishers are in the business of selling books not giving them away. Project Gutenberg, founded in 1971 by Michael Hart,  is the oldest digital library in the world. It’s goal is to digitalized cultural works and make them available for distribution as eBooks. This is an amazing resource for everyone! From the Holy Bible to Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. It’s a wonderful resource and, with the help of volunteers digitizing works, is an ever-growing collection.

Know of any great eBook & eAudio sites we should know about? Please let us know – we’re always looking for resources to share!

Shopping Reviews for eReaders

Our Reference staff would like to share some eBook reader reviews for those who may be planning on buying an eReader this holiday season.  Check out the following links: eReader Comparison or eBook Reader 2012 for on line reviews. Or come in and check out the December 2011 issue of Consumer Reports (the Reference Desk has an issue you can view if the others are already checked out) or the January 2011 issue of PC World which feature reviews and articles on eReaders. Looking for information on how to download free books from Overdrive? Check out our December 8, 2012 blog post here.

Overdrive!

Get your summer reading into Overdrive! Did you know, that with your library card, you are able to download ebooks, via Overdrive (MVLC Digital Downloads) at home for free? Compatible with eReaders as well as iPads, iPhone, iPods as well as your home PC – you can obtain a variety of titles anytime or anywhere! New to Overdrive? Click here for a step by step walk through to get you started!

Nursing Exam Practice

Are you studying to be an RN or PN? Are you getting ready to take your NCLEX? The Dracut Library can help you prepare! With your Dracut Library card you are able to access from home, the databases of the Testing & Education Reference Center. Simply visit the Dracut Library Homepage. Click on the link for the Testing & Education Reference Center (it may also be found under e-resources). You will be asked to sign in using your library password (that’s your Dracut Library card number!) Once signed in, proceed to the career tools and the NCLEX test prep! Good Luck and thanks for your career choice!

American Ancestors

Are you interested in researching your family tree? The Dracut Library has free in-library access to the databases of the New England Historical Genealogical Society.  Take advantage of their online seminars, articles and databases. Obtain access to early newspapers and diaries; Massachusetts vital records; Records of Massachusetts soldiers of the Colonial Wars; Middlesex County Probate Records from 1648-1909 and too much more to list! The access is available only on an in-house basis (which means you need to be in the library to use this resource), but we think you’ll find that it’s well worth the visit!

Home Zoo

Looking for something to do on a rainy day? How about checking out the animals at the National Zoo in Washington, DC with their animal cams! Observe how the pandas, gorillas, sloth bears, cheetahs, tigers and a whole host of other animals are spending their day. Find facts about the animals and even ‘adopt’ one! When you are ready for a real zoo experience, reserve passes from the library for the Stone & Franklin Park Zoos. The passes are free and available to Dracut residents with a valid library card (card must be presented when passes are picked up). To reserve a pass click HERE. Remember, vacation weeks and weekends are busy times for our passes. Please book ahead!

Free eBooks & Audiobooks!

Are you thinking about joining the eBook craze but don’t know what devices are compatible with Overdrive (the Library’s free eBook/Audiobook resource)? Before you purchase your device, check out this handy Overdrive Resource Guide Find out what devices are compatible with OverDrive, how to test your device for compatibility, even price out the cost of purchasing the device in a Google price search. Once you have your device, go to the getting started with Overdrive guide and begin to enjoy the benefits of your 24/7 online library! Let the down loading begin!