Digital Summer Reading (June 9 – 23, 2015)

June marks the official beginning of summer, which means long hours spent soaking up sun beside the pool, cutting the grass on warm evenings, and going on road trips to wondrous destinations. Why not spend these nostalgic summer activities enjoying a great read from the Digital Library?  

Big Library Read is back from June 9-23, 2015 with a suspense novel by Kate White,  Eyes on You. Big Library Read connects readers around the world who read the same eBook and eAudiobook at the same time. During the last Big Library Read in March, 54 East Central Regional Library users checked out the eBook How Shakespeare Saved My Life in a two-week span! 

From June 9-23, 2015, Eyes on You is available for checkout through ECRL's Digital Library. It’s available in eBook and eAudiobook (don't forget that June is Audiobook Month which celebrates a love of listening!), free, and there’s never a waiting list during the program. All you need is your library card and password.

Eyes on You by Kate White

A breathless psychological thriller that will leave you guessing until the very end

After a painful divorce and losing her on-air job two years ago, Robin Trainer has fought hard to regain her career. Now, as the popular cohost of a nightly entertainment show and the author of a hot new bestseller, she’s being dubbed a media double threat. In a business full of rivals eager to see you fail, making a comeback was tough, and Robin isn’t about to do anything that could jeopardize her newfound success.

But suddenly things begin going wrong. A few small but nasty incidents shake her confidence: a vicious note tucked into her purse at her book signing; the photo on her book jacket slashed in her office… Soon the meanness turns threatening. Someone has eyes on Robin, an adversary with a dark agenda who wants to hurt her and see her fall, and the clues point to someone she works with every day.

As she frantically tries to put the pieces together and unmask an enemy hiding in the shadows all too close to her, it becomes terrifyingly clear that the person responsible isn’t going to stop until Robin loses everything that matters to her . . . including her life.

Read the eBook

Listen to the Audiobook

Meet Kate White

Kate White, the former editor in chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, is the New York Times bestselling author of the stand-alone novels Hush, The Sixes, and Eyes on You, as well as the Bailey Weggins mystery series. She is editor of The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook. She is also the author of popular career books for women, including I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This: How to Ask for the Money, Snag the Promotion, and Create the Career You Deserve. You can contact her or learn more about her at katewhite.com.

 

USA Today says, “Kate White keeps up the pace by adding a little more suspense and a little more danger from beginning to end.” What do you think?  Come back after you've read and share your thoughts or join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #BigLibraryRead.

Sarah Hawkins, Resource Librarian

Announcing a new listening option for eAudiobooks: OverDrive Listen

A new format for listening to eAudiobooks went live today (May 19th) on ECRL's Digital Library.  Similar to OverDrive Read for eBooks, OverDrive Listen offers the same streaming experience. There are no downloads or software required; all you need is a compatible web browser and internet connection. 

OverDrive Listen Highlights

• OverDrive Listen eAudiobooks play right in your web browser. No software or downloads are required.
• OverDrive Listen has features like notes, bookmarks, and variable playback speed that let you customize your listening experience.
• Your listening progress, notes, and bookmarks are stored in the cloud, so you can always pick up where you left off no matter what device you're using.
• You can return OverDrive Listen eAudiobooks early (before the end of the lending period) right from your library Bookshelf, as long as you haven't also downloaded the MP3 version of the eAudiobook.
• Learn more about getting started with OverDrive Listen, including what devices and browsers work best with it.
  

Happy listening!

Sarah Hawkins, Resource Librarian

SYNC: Young Adult Lit For Your Earbuds

SYNC eAudiobooks are back in 2015! The new season starts today, May 7th. 

SYNC is a program that gives away two complete eAudiobook downloads— a current Young Adult title paired thematically with a Classic or "Required Summer Reading" title — for FREE each week to listeners ages 13+ throughout the summer.

The SYNC program is designed to encourage literacy and listening to young people across the country, demonstrating that Required Reading can be completed via audiobooks.  But SYNC is not just for teens!  People of all ages enjoy listening to young adult and classic literature!

28 titles will be given away over 14 weeks starting today!  The season kicks off with a great pair: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Rebecca by Daphne Du Marier.  Download them now!

Each SYNC eAudiobook will be available for download for a period of 7 days (only).  Once downloaded, the SYNC eAudiobook files are yours to keep!

Titles are delivered through the OverDrive app, the same app you may already use to access ECRL's Digital Library eBooks & eAudiobooks. If not, you can get started with the program by downloading the software to whichever device you anticipate listening on. Downloads are in MP3 format, hosted by OverDrive, and are Mac and Windows compatible.

Don't miss out!  Sign up for email or text alerts to be reminded each week when new titles are available for download at www.audiobooksync.com.  Got hooked on listening?  Don't forget to check out more eAudiobooks offered by ECRL in our Digital Library as well!

Sarah Hawkins, Resource Librarian

June is going digital! OverDrive Challenge, Big Library Read, and Audiobook Month

A recent Pew Research study showed that about 28% of Americans read an eBook last year. Of those 28%, only half know they can check out an eBook from their local library. We want to change that, and we need your help! 

OverDrive Challenge
For the month of June, OverDrive, East Central Regional Library's Digital Library vendor, is launching a promotional challenge to help raise awareness of library eBook lending across the world.  Our mission from June 1st-June 30th is to beat our previous record for monthly eBook and eAudiobook checkouts.

ECRL's best month on record?  The number to beat?  Our current monthly record is 5,031 digital library checkouts (March 2014).

Your Goal: checkout as many eBooks and eAudiobooks in June as you can!

Our Goal:

• Increase checkouts by 25% from March 2014 (6,289 checkouts) to earn $1,500 credit to purchase new digital library titles

• Increase checkouts by 50% from March 2014 (7,547 checkouts)  to earn $2,500 credit to purchase new digital library titles
• Be the participating library with the highest percentage increase to receive a grand prize Gadget Jackpot!

For the month of June, every eBook and eAudiobook you check out counts toward our goal!  Get started now!

Big Library Read

You've joined us in 3 previous Big Library Reads.   Now, it's time to join us for the 4th Big Library Read with Laurien Berenson’s murder-mystery A Pedigree to Die For.  

Big Library Read creates a "global book club" connecting readers around the world who read the same eBook at the same time.  From June 3-18, 2014, thousands of libraries are able to lend A Pedigree to Die For eBook to millions of users simultaneously for free.    

To borrow A Pedigree to Die For, simply log in to ECRL’s Digital Library. You’ll see the title on the home page ready to checkout.  For the two weeks of the program, there's never a waiting list!

Get involved even more! 

• Join the Big Library Read discussion forum to share your thoughts.
• Like Laurien Berenson on Facebook.
• Follow @ecrlib and @OverDriveLibs on Twitter and use the hashtag #BigLibraryRead.
• Check out Laurien's Good Reads Fan Page and her personal website.

Audiobook Month
Still need some inspiration to get started with ECRL's Digital Library?  June is Audiobook Month, a month dedicated to celebrating the joys of audiobook listening and promoting the value of audiobooks as a beneficial learning tool supporting literacy and education.  Get started listening by taking a look at our newest eAudiobooks.

Help us---help you!  Let’s work together to get the word out about East Central Regional Library's digital collection in our communities.

Sarah Hawkins, Resource Librarian

SYNC eAudiobooks are back!

East Central Regional Library is participating in SYNC and you are invited to join us!  In April 2014, 751 eAudiobooks were checked out from East Central Regional Library's Digital Library.  Now, see what everyone is listening to and get the young adults in your life listening to eAudiobooks by joining SYNC!

SYNC is a program that gives away two complete eAudiobook downloads–a current Young Adult title paired thematically with a Classic title–each week to listeners ages 13+ each summer.  In 2014, 26 titles will be given away over 13 weeks from May 15^th- August 20^th. 

Titles are delivered through OverDrive Media Console, the same software/app you already use to access eBooks and eAudiobooks from ECRL’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, are Windows and Mac compatible, and are supported on most listening devices.

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

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

The first week’s young adult title is WARP: THE RELUCTANT ASSASSIN by Eoin Colfer and the first week’s classic title is THE TIME MACHINE by H.G. Wells.  They are available for download now through May 21st. Check out the complete SYNC 2014 Summer lineup here: http://www.audiobooksync.com/sync-schedule/

Afraid you’ll miss a week? You can get text message alerts when the next SYNC eAudiobooks are available by texting syncya to 25827. You can also receive reminders by signing up for the email newsletter or by following the SYNC blog here: http://www.audiobooksync.com/about/what-is-sync/

The SYNC program is a great way to introduce young adults to eAudiobooks!  SYNC is dedicated encouraging literacy and introducing the listening experienc to young adults, a goal shared with East Central Regional Library.  So SYNC some young adult and classic literature into your earphones this summer!  And don’t forget about the other eAudiobooks ECRL offers year-round via our Digital Library.  

Sarah Hawkins, Resource Librarian

*SYNC is sponsored by AudioFile Magazine and titles are delivered through OverDrive Media Console.

2013 BOOK AWARDS - Booker, Nobel, Pulitzer !

The votes are in, and the winners have been announced!  Here are the authors and books that received major literary awards in 2013:

 

 

THE NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE – Alice Munro

 

Cited as a “master of the contemporary short story”, Munro is the first Canadian to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.  She is also a three-time winner of Canada’s Governor General’s Award for Fiction.  Her works include:

Dance of the Happy Shades (1968)             

The Progress of Love (1986)

The Love of a Good Woman (1998)

Dear Life (2012)

 

THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION - Adam Johnson

 

Johnson is a South Dakota native and Associate Professor in Creative Writing at Stanford University.  He received the Pulitzer for The Orphan Master’s Son.  His works include:

Emporium (2002)

Parasites Like Us (2003)

The Orphan Master’s Son (2012)

 

THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION – James McBride

McBride is a writer and musician whose 1996 memoir, The Color of Water, was a huge bestseller.  He received the National Book Award for The Good Lord Bird.  His works include:

 The Color of Water (1996)

 Miracle at St. Anna (2002)

 Song Yet Sung (2008)

 The Good Lord Bird (2012)

 

 THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE – Eleanor Catton

 

A native of New Zealand, Catton attended the Iowa Writers’ Workshop in 2008.  She received the Booker Prize for The Luminaries and is the youngest recipient (at age 28) of that award.  Her works include:

 The Rehearsal (2008)

 The Luminaries (2013)

 

Many of these titles and various other award-winners are in the East Central Regional Library collection.  Check Evergreen (our online catalog) or contact your nearest ECRL branch library for assistance!

Bob Gray, Reference and Interlibrary Loan Librarian

 

 

 

NOW AVAILABLE: Renew your eBooks & eAudiobooks in Overdrive!

The much anticipated feature of renewing eBooks & eAudiobooks on ECRL's Digital Library is now available!

Here's how it works:

The option to renew a title becomes available three days before the title is set to expire, appearing next to the title on your Bookshelf under your library Account on the Digital Library website. (Note:  NOT THE APP)

There is a limit of 1 renewal per checkout.

1. Log into your library's digital collection website and navigate to your Account.
2. On your library Bookshelf, select the Renew icon next to the title you'd like to renew.
   Note: This option does not appear until three days before the title is supposed to expire.
   If there isn't a waiting list for a title, the Renew icon will be green.  In this case, you can then borrow the title again immediately once your first checkout expires.
   
   If there is a waiting list for a title, the Renew icon will be grayed out. In this case, you can still use the renew feature to put yourself back on the waiting list.
   
3. Enter and confirm your email address, then click the Renew button.
   

Once a title has successfully been renewed, its Renew icon on your library Bookshelf will have a green checkmark next to it.

You can also track which titles you've renewed from your Holds page.

Here's what's different.  Your expiration date won't change on your Bookshelf after you renew an item until your first checkout period expires. If the title is available for you to borrow again, you will receive an email notification. Click the link in that email or go to your Holds list to check out the title again.

YOU HAVE TO DOWNLOAD THE TITLE AGAIN.  Then your expiration date will change to reflect your renewal.

(Info taken from Overdrive's Help page: How to renew digital titles).

Sarah Hawkins, Branch Librarian, Chisago Lakes Area Library

2nd Big Library Read

East Central Regional Library is participating in the second Big Library Read and you are invited to join us!  Join the global movement of passionate readers and library patrons who support the access of eBooks and eAudiobooks through your local library. 

With the success of the first Big Library Read, OverDrive, HarperCollins Publishers, and author Jane O’Connor, have partnered up to present the next Big Library Read, this time with a juvenile title.  More than 6,500 libraries worldwide are participating!   Kids and fans who grew up with Jane O’Connor’s Fancy Nancy picture books will be especially thrilled.  They can spend some more quality time with their BFF: Nancy Clancy is now starring in her own chapter books!

The Big Library Read title, Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth, is the first in the Fancy Nancy: Nancy Clancy juvenile chapter book series and is available in both eBook and eAudiobook!

"Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth brings us back to the glamorous world of our favorite fancy girl. Nancy may be a bit older and more sophisticated, but she hasn’t lost her love for fancy words, outrageous fashion and dramatic flair. She and her best friend Bree have everything they need to solve a mystery, from their totally professional trench coats to their top-secret code. But when crime strikes in their classroom, will these super sleuths be able to crack the case?"

Jane O’Connor’s Nancy Clancy titles are great for young readers who are learning how to read and developing a love of literature.  Her use of advanced vocabulary, while explaining what the words mean, helps children grow as readers.  Checking out the eBook and eAudiobook together will enable children and parents to listen to the title as they follow along with the text.

Remember, the especially unique aspect about Big Library Read is that, for the duration of the program, September 16th-September 30th, 2013, the eBook and eAudiobook will not follow the traditional one copy/one user model but will simultaneously be available to all ECRL eBook & eAudio users to borrow via our Digital Library.  No wait lists!  The eBook is available in the OverDrive Read, Kindle, and Adobe EPUB formats.  The eAudiobook is available in MP3 and WMA formats.  Being available in all major formats also guarantees Nancy Clancy: Super Sleuth will be accessible for every Digital Library user on all major devices.

Big Library Read creates a "global book club" which allows parents and children to read together and join thousands of other users in reading the same book at the same time!  To borrow Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth, simply log in to ECRL’s Digital Library. You’ll see the title on the home page ready to checkout.

In addition to creating a global “library book club,” Big Library Read demonstrates the positive exposure and sales influence library eBooks provide to authors and publishers.   The proof is in the numbers!  For less than 3 weeks in May 2013, during the first Big Library Read, 63 East Central Regional Library patrons checked out and downloaded The Four Corners of the Sky by Michael Malone via our Digital Library.  Globally, users checked out Four Corners of the Sky more than 44,000 times during that same time.  Additionally, Malone’s other titles experienced a sales increase, and checkout rate growth of more than 100%. 

If you’d like to be an even more active Big Library Read participant, join a Facebook chat with Jane O’Connor on Tuesday, Sept 24th at 8 pm (CT).  You’ll be able to ask Jane anything burning questions about her writing process, Nancy Clancy, or what she has in store next.  You can also join the conversation on Twitter during this event by following @ecrlib and/or using the hashtag  #BigLibraryRead.

Sarah Hawkins, Branch Librarian, Chisago Lakes Area Library

FALL and WINTER FILMS -- READ THE BOOKS FIRST!

Famous actors, renowned directors, best-selling authors, and popular books...

Studios and production companies are gearing up for their big fall releases.  Grab the books before seeing the movies!  Look for these films in your local movie theatres and ask for the books at your local branch library!


THE FAMILY
(Based on The Family by Tonino Benacquista)
Starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer
A "dark comedy" about the Manzoni clan and the mob -- 
a powerhouse cast in this one!

 

GREAT EXPECTATIONS 
(Based on Great Expectations by Charles Dickens)
Starring Helen Bonham Carter and Ralph Fiennes
Bonham Carter, known for her eccentric characters, plays
Miss Havisham


HORNS
(Based on Horns by Joe Hill )
Starring Daniel Radcliffe
Young Radcliffe (Harry Potter) grows a pair - of horns!  Hill is the son of Stephen King


CARRIE
(Based on Carrie by Stephen King )
Starring Chloe Moretz and Julianne Moore
A faithful adaptation of King's novel -- and Moore will be a
chilling Margaret White

AS I LAY DYING
(Based on As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner)
Starring James Franco
Franco, last seen in "Oz the Great and Powerful", also
directs this adaptation of Faulkner's classic


PHILOMENA
(Based on The Lost Child of Philomena Lee)
Starring Judi Dench
The true story of an Irish woman's 50-year quest to find the
son she put up for adoption - Dench was made for this role


ENDER'S GAME
(Based on Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card)
Starring Asa Butterfield and Harrison Ford
A huge sci-fi release that has come under scrutiny because of
Card's personal views on gays and same-sex marriage


BIG SUR
(Based on Big Sur by Jack Kerouac)
Starring Kate Bosworth and Josh Lucas
This adaptation of Kerouac's 1962 novel received
excellent reviews at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival



THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
(Based on The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort)
Starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Matthew McConaughey
Di Caprio, riding high after "The Great Gatsby", teams with director Martin Scorsese yet again


THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
(Based on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins)
Starring Jennifer Lawrence
Could be the biggest film of 2013 -- and Lawrence recently won the
Academy Award for "Silver Linings Playbook"



PARKLAND
(Based on Four Days in November by Vincent Bugliosi)
Starring Zac Efron and Paul Giamatti
Parkland Hospital in Dallas on November 22, 1963 -
enough said


THERESE
(Based on Therese Raquin by Emile Zola) 
Starring Elizabeth Olsen and Jessica Lange
Lange, one of our greatest living actresses, excels
in roles like this


THE HOBBIT: DESOLATION OF SMAUG
(Based on The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien)
Starring Martin Freeman and Ian McKellan
The second installment of Tolkien's classic -- sure to be an enormous
box office success


12 YEARS A SLAVE
(Based on Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup)
Starring Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender
Producers are expecting this film to grab every major award; it's being released
just in time for 2013 nominations


Bob Gray
Reference and Interlibrary Loan Librarian

New version of Overdrive Media Console app (3.0)

OverDrive Media Console v3.0 has been released for Android and iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch) users.  This update has some of the “most requested” features by patrons using the Overdrive Media Console app across the world! 

OMC v3.0 has been completely redesigned with a focus on the user experience.  The app has an all-new look, with easier navigation using taps and swipes.  Watch a video preview of OMC v3.0 here now!

When you first open OMC v3.0, you will see a new start screen prompting you to add a library, add books to your bookshelf, and create an Adobe ID, complete with visuals to point you in the right direction!  Once this is done, more tutorial screens will walk you through the new interface, showing up when you go to your bookshelf or open an eBook. Each tutorial screen shows up once, but is available again using the option in Settings to show tutorials next time the app is started.

New Features of Next Generation Overdrive Media Console:

-History-a list of titles that have been deleted or returned  This allows you to keep track of the titles you have read – options range from the last 10 deleted titles to the last 100 deleted titles.

-Home Menu-your 1-stop for navigating the app. From there, you can access My Libraries, Bookshelf, Settings, History, OverDrive One and more. To access, swipe from the left of your screen while in the app.

-In-app help- access app help from the new Home Menu.

-Book menu-Allows for simpler navigation within the book, providing access to the table of contents, book details, and editable bookmarks.  To access, swipe from the right of your screen while in the app.

-OverDrive One- an opt-in registration service that gives users the ability to sync bookmarks and reading progress across multiple devices.  Stop reading a book on your iPad, pick up your Android smart phone, and start reading exactly where you left off!

-Variable eAudiobook speed playback for iOS users. Slow your listening down to ½ speed or speed it up to 2x’s as fast!  (Not available for Android users)

Other Changes:  Bookshelf- Titles you have downloaded in your app now display differently.  You will see tiled covers of the books, as well as easier expiration date visibility.  To return a title from your bookshelf, you tap and hold on the jacket cover.  This will bring up the options to return, delete, or share the title.  As before, to remove a title from your library account, you must return not delete.

OMC v3.0 requires: Android OS v4.0 (or newer) for Android devices and iOS 6 (or newer) for iOS users. Older versions of OMC will remain available for download for users who have older operating systems.  (To find your operating system: On an iOS device tap Settings > General > About.  On an Android phone tap System Settings > About phone.  On an Android tablet tap System Settings > About tablet.)

Users will be prompted to install the new version.  These changes will not take place until users update their app. Overdrive will continue to support older versions of OMC.  If you wish not to update your app, it will continue to work as it always has.

For more info and to help you navigate the changes, the help articles and videos from Overdrive have been updated. 

Sarah Hawkins, Branch Librarian, Chisago Lakes Area Library

MnLINK - Your Gateway to Interlibrary Loan !

The MnLINK Gateway (www.mnlinkgateway.org) is your portal to a rich collection of resources.  With a valid library card, you can request materials from participating libraries in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.  Thousands of people now enjoy the benefits of interlibrary loan, but many may not understand how this service works.  Let's address some of the questions that have been submitted to ECRL staff:

"I can't log in.  Is something wrong with MnLINK?"

The database may be down for maintenance or experiencing a temporary technical problem.  Try again later or ask library staff for assistance.   Your library card must be current and valid.  Library staff can help you resolve card or registration problems.

"Can I request materials that are owned here?"

We do not interlibrary loan materials that are in the ECRL collection.  Instead, you should check Evergreen (the ECRL catalog) and place holds on materials there.  There is a link to Evergreen on our homepage (www.ecrlib.org). 

"Why wasn't my MnLINK request filled?"

Most popular materials (bestsellers, DVDs) are in constant demand with long waiting lists.  Other items may be lost, damaged, or non-circulating.  If an item is unavailable, for whatever reason, your request will not be filled.  It's best to wait a week or so before placing another one (libraries are not required to fill requests for their materials).  ECRL staff are happy to accept suggestions -- if we don't own an item that you're interested in, we may purchase it for the ECRL collection!

"How many items can I request through MnLINK?"

You can have 20 active (pending or received) requests at any one time. 

"I tried to request an item through MnLINK and received a strange message.  Why didn't my request go through?"

You may be at your 20-item limit, there may be a problem with your library card, or your fines may exceed $5.00.  Please contact library staff for assistance.

"Can I request materials from libraries in other states?"

Yes!  Materials in many North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin libraries can be requested through MnLINK.  You must login and change the "Current Profile" field to "ELM - Worldcat (shared)" for access to these library collections.   Some libraries, archives, and historical societies do not participate in MnLINK.  Contact ECRL staff for access to collections at the state historical societies in North and South Dakota, for example.

"What happens if I damage or lose an interlibrary loan item?"

Accidents happen, of course, but you are responsible for returning materials by the due date and in the condition in which they were sent.  If an item is lost or damaged, the lending library will send us a bill;  that amount (no more, no less) is then placed on your ECRL library card.  The amount can be significant, depending on the item and the lending library's policies. 

"What materials are available through interlibrary loan?

Books, DVDs, music CDs, videos, audiobooks, microfilm, photocopies, magazine articles, maps, and (limited) reference material.  At present, eBook and eAudio materials cannot be requested through interlibrary loan.   ECRL has a growing collection of eBook and eAudio titles; you'll find links on our homepage (www.ecrlib.org).  And we welcome your suggestions!


Bob Gray
Reference and Interlibrary Loan Librarian