Save Energy by Checking Out a Power Check Meter

Everyone wants to save energy – whether it’s to lower your monthly bills and/or to help save the environment.  East Central Regional Library has partnered with Xcel Energy to help members of the community learn more about their energy use and determine ways they can save money and conserve energy.

All of East Central Regional Library branches now have a Power Check Meter available for check out by library users.  With the meter you can:

·        * Determine the approximate operating costs of various appliances and electronics

·         *Identify high energy-use appliances

·         *Calculate the cost savings for replacing older appliances with more energy-efficient ones

·      *   Discover which appliances use energy even when they are switched off

In the Power Meter case you checkout you will find the power meter, a brochure with information and quick-start instructions, a manufacturer’s instruction booklet and a USB cable.  ECRL branch staff cannot answers questions about the Power Meters, however, if you need help using the Power Meter you can go to xcelenergy.com/PowerCheck for an instructional video.   To place a hold on a “Power Meter” simply go to the ECRL catalog on our homepage at www.ecrlib.org and type in “power meter” under the keyword search  or call your local ECRL branch for more assistance.  

Watch a video on how to use the power check meter:

Vickie Sorn, ECRL Youth & Community Services Librarian

SYNC eAudiobooks for summer are here!

June is Audiobook Month, and SYNC can help you celebrate!

East Central Regional Library is participating in SYNC and you are invited to join us!  63 East Central Regional Library patrons participated in the Big Library Read last month.   Now, see what everyone is listening to by joining SYNC!

SYNC is a program that gives away two complete eAudiobook downloads each week this summer to listeners ages 13+.  The SYNC program pairs a current teen title with a classic or required summer reading title to introduce the listening experience. 

Each SYNC audiobook will be available for download for a period of 7 days, and once downloaded can be listened to at any time (they never expire).

SYNC titles are downloaded at the SYNC website  here: http://www.audiobooksync.com/free-sync-downloads/ and accessed through the same OverDrive MediaConsole you already use to access eAudiobooks from East Central Regional Library’s Digital Library.  If you don’t already have OverDrive Media Console you can download it here:  http://omc.overdrive.com/  The titles are all in MP3 format.

For download help see:  http://www.audiobooksync.com/free-sync-downloads/download-help/

This year’s SYNC program runs 12 weeks, from May 30 – August 21, 2013.

The first week’s teen title is Of Poseidon by Anna Bank and the first week’s classic title is The Tempest by William Shakepseare.  They are available for download through June 5^th. The complete schedule of SYNC 2013 eAudiobooks is here:  http://www.audiobooksync.com/free-sync-downloads/sync-schedule-13/

You can even get text message alerts when the next SYNC eAudiobooks are available by texting syncya to 25827.

The SYNC program is a great way to introduce teens to eAudiobooks and kickstart Audiobook Month!   So SYNC some teen and classic literature into your earpphones this summer!  And don’t forget about the other eAudiobooks ECRL offers year-round via our Digital Library.  

Sarah Biro, Branch Librarian, Chisago Lakes Area Library

* Note: As of June 1st, ECRL's Ditial Library checkout and hold limits increased from 3 to 6 items and digital items can now be borrowed for 3 weeks.