Category Archives: Resource of the Month

Resource of the Month: Zinio

Posted on September 5, 2013 | Leave a comment

zinioZINIO provides magazines in digital form, free from your library, to read on smartphones, tablets, and computers!  E-zines offer full-color, page-for-page copies of popular magazines, with easy to use navigation, keyword searching, and even some interactive audio and video.

To start using Zinio, visit the library’s website, www.chathamlibraries.org, and click on the Zinio link.  This will take you to the catalog of available magazines:

  • American Craft
  • Cloth Paper Scissors
  • Dwell
  • Kiplinger’s Personal Finance
  • Martha Stewart Living
  • Mental Floss
  • National Geographic Traveler
  • Newsweek
  • OWL
  • PC Magazine Digital Edition
  • Pets
  • Popular Mechanics
  • Scholastic Parent & Child
  • TV y Novelas USA
  • Utne Reader
  • Vanidades USA
  • Yoga Journal

Choose a magazine, and click on the cover.  For your first magazine only, you will need your library card number to create two accounts:  one for RB Digital, specific to Chatham County Public library’s service, plus one for reading in Zinio.  Please be sure to use the same email address for both accounts.

Once you have an account, you will be able to read e-zines in your computer’s browser.  To read on a mobile device, download the Zinio app.  Zinio apps are available for your computer, iPhone, iPad, Android device, Kindle Fire, and Blackberry.  Once a magazine is downloaded to your device, it’s yours to keep!

Click here to go directly to Chatham County Public Library’s Zinio Collection.

Need help getting started with Zinio?  Come to the library’s reference desk for help, or call 919-545-8086 to make an appointment.

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Resource of the Month: NC LIVE Video Collection

Posted on August 5, 2013 | Leave a comment

nclivevideoDo you have an episode of NOVA or Ken Burns’ Baseball perpetually at number two on your Netflix queue because there is always a movie the kids need to see first?  NC LIVE Video Collection to the rescue!

The NC LIVE Video Collection offers hundreds of documentaries and educational videos produced by the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), augmented with material provided by the Save our Wilkes History Committee and the North Carolina Office of Archives and History.  You can watch award-winning shows such as:

  • American Masters
  • Art 21
  • Frontline
  • Ken Burns’ Series
  • Masterpiece Theater
  • Nova
  • Scientific American

…and many others at the NC LIVE Video Collection for absolutely free.  Many of these videos are not available to stream elsewhere, and you can watch them right on your computer or mobile device with an internet connection.

The NC LIVE Video Collection home page presents its collection by series, by subject, by category, and by title, with the option to browse only titles offered with closed captioning.

Here’s how to access any of these brilliant programs:

  • Go to www.nclive.org
  • On NC LIVE’s home page, click the “Videos” button
  • Choose a series or category of video (you’ll be prompted to sign in using your library card number)
  • Click the “Play Video” button

For help with issues specific to the NC LIVE Video Collection, click the “FAQ” link at the top of the page.  For other common questions about using NC LIVE, use the “Help” link, also at the top of the page.

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Resource of the Month: OneClickdigital (e-audiobooks)

Posted on July 16, 2013 | Leave a comment

oneclickdigitalDesperately seeking listening material for your commute or workout?  With your Chatham County Public Library card, you have access to more than 1,500 free downloadable audiobooks through OneClickdigital, yet another resource offered to North Carolina library patrons through NC LIVE (www.nclive.org).

These unabridged titles include fiction and nonfiction, classics and popular literature, and books for both adults and younger readers.  You’ll find history and language-learning resources, self-improvement, as well as sheer entertainment.

Files will work with most iPods and WMA-compatible MP3 players, or you can listen through your computer.  Depending upon restrictions set by publishers, some titles can be burned to CD after download.

The very best part?  There are no damaged discs, none to misplace, and no overdue fees!  Items check out for up to one week, can be renewed, and simply become inaccessible at the end of their checkout period.

To access this resource, start at the NC LIVE homepage.  Look for the “Browse” heading near the middle of the page, and select the “Audio” icon.  You will need to create an account the first time you visit, at the top right of the OneClickdigital homepage.  (Look for the “Create New Account” link.)

Help resources are available from the tab on the homepage.  Here you’ll find FAQs, links to tutorial videos, compatible devices, and helpdesk info.  All the programs you’ll need for downloading and managing your audiobooks are readily accessible here, and you’ll also find directions for specific devices.

Happy listening!

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Resource of the Month: HeritageQuest

Posted on June 3, 2013 | Leave a comment

heritagequestIf you’re interested in researching your family history, HeritageQuest is a great place to start.  Provided through NC LIVE, HeritageQuest delivers an essential collection of genealogical and historical sources that include:

  • Census records:  Find ancestors in the complete set of U.S. Federal Census images from 1790 – 194, including name indexes for many years.
  • Books: Find information on people and places described in over 28,000 digitized family and local histories.
  • PERSI (Periodical Source Index):  Find information about people and places from this index of over 2.3 million genealogy and local history articles.
  • Revolutionary War records:  Search selected records from the Revolutionary War Era Pension & Bounty-Land Warrant Application files.
  • Freedman’s Bank records:  Search for individuals in Freedman’s Bank (1865-1874), which was founded to serve African Americans.
  • U.S. Serial Set:  Search the Memorials, Petitions, and Private Relief Actions of the U.S. Congress in the LexisNexis U.S. Serial Set.

To access HeritageQuest, visit the library’s website or go to www.nclive.org and look for the “Genealogy & Historical Maps” category.  Click on the link for HeritageQuest below the heading.  (You will be prompted to log in with your library card number.)

Need help getting started with your family history?  Genealogy volunteers are available by appointment every Thursday from 9:00 am to noon, and from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.  Call 919-545-8086 to make an appointment.

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Resource of the Month: The New York Times

Posted on May 6, 2013 | Leave a comment

The New York Times is one of the nation’s premier sources of information on current events, arts, sports, business, and more.  Now this valuable resource is available online – all you need is a computer and your library card!

Complete text of the newspaper is available back to 1980 and is provided in plain-text format.   Users also have access to The New York Times Book Review and The New York Times Magazine (with coverage back to 1977) in PDF format.

To access The New York Times:

  • Go to nclive.org and click on the Articles icon in the middle of the page.
  • Click on the link for  The New York Times.  This will bring you to the main page where you can search within the publication.

If you want to access just the most recent edition:

  • On the  main page, click on Publications in the menu at the top.
  • On the resulting page, click on New York Times, Late Edition.
  • Click on the View most recent issue link (to the right of the title).
  • The resulting page will list all of the articles in the latest edition beginning with page A1.  Click the Full text link to read an article.
  • The same procedure can be followed to access the most recent NYT Book Review or NYT Magazine; articles from these publications will also be available in PDF format.

For help navigating this database, contact the reference desk at 919-545-8086, or chat with us at www.chathamlibraries.org.

Please note: This resource is not currently included in searches in the nclive.org search boxes, or when searching in EBSCO search boxes. Users must use the resource link to search directly within The New York Times database. 

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Resource of the Month: Health & Wellness Information Center

Posted on April 8, 2013 | Leave a comment

HealthWellnessLooking online for health information can be frustrating.  It’s hard to tell if you can trust the advice you find, and some websites obscure their information with pop-up ads and other distractions.  Though we all want to stay healthy, few among us have the time or budget to subscribe to multiple medical journals.

The Health & Wellness Information Center, available through NC LIVE, offers videos, eBooks, journal articles, and links to reliable local health and wellness resources. Through this portal, patrons can:

  • find a local doctor or research health issues unique to North Carolinians via NC Health Info, a UNC Health Sciences Library Service,
  • access in-depth, peer-reviewed scholarly articles via EBSCO Host,
  • stream videos from NOVA, Frontline, and others via NC LIVE’s video collection,
  • browse health and wellness subjects on Healthfinder.gov, a federal government website managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
  • and more!

To access the Health & Wellness Information Center, go to www.chathamlibraries.org and click on the “Online Resources” link.  Scroll down, and click the big blue “Health & Wellness Information Center” button.  (You can also go directly to www.nclive.org and click on the “Health & Wellness” heading.)  Many of these resources are provided by NC LIVE, so you will be asked to sign in using your library card number.  Once you are signed in, you can browse to your heart’s content, or research medical terms for the contents of your heart!

Note:  The prominently displayed “Search NC LIVE Health and Wellness Resources” field searches the EBSCO databases only.  To see all the resources the portal offers at a glance, click the italicized link on the homepage that says “See all Health & Wellness Resources”.

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Resource of the Month: NoveList Plus

Posted on March 7, 2013 | 1 comment

NoveListHave you read everything by your favorite author and want to discover similar writers?  Can’t remember the title of that amazing book you read a decade ago but want to recommend to someone else?  Want to be the star of your next bookgroup meeting?

NoveList Plus is an online resource free to library patrons and can give you answers to all of these questions and more.  It’s an easy-to-use database which offers:

  • Read-alikes for books and authors
  • Series information (description, book order)
  • Plot summaries
  • Fiction and non-fiction recommendations
  • Award-winning books
  • Theme-based booklists
  • Book discussion guides
  • Author information
  • Curriculum connections
  • Book reviews
  • Lexile levels for student recommendations
  • First chapter excerpts

This treasure trove for bibliophiles of all ages, teachers, and parents of reluctant readers is accessible through the library’s website, or through www.nclive.org.  (You will be prompted to log in with your library card number.)  NoveList Plus can guide you to your next book quickly, but be warned that you might find yourself falling down the rabbit’s hole, just like Alice in Wonderland! Contact the library by phone or chat if you need assistance, and be sure to let us know what you find in your NoveList adventures!

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Resource of the Month: Auto Repair Reference Center

Posted on February 4, 2013 | Leave a comment

ARRCDo you have a DIY spirit when it comes to cars?  Do you just want to learn more about your vehicle before taking it to a mechanic?

Auto Repair Reference Center (ARRC) provides repair and maintenance information for more than 37,000 vehicles, foreign and domestic.  The information from ARRC comes from Nichols Publishing, the former publisher of the popular Chilton repair manuals, and the database is updated with new material on a regular basis.

To access this resource, go to www.nclive.org, click on the Hobbies & Interests category, then select Auto Repair Reference Center from the list.  You will be prompted to select your library and log in with your library card number.

From the ARRC site:  Select the year, make, and model of your vehicle.  The page will then display all available submodels for that vehicle.  Select the engine specification that best describes your vehicle.  For most vehicles, users will have access to:

  • Repair Information (including step-by-step photos)
  • Technical Bulletins & Recalls
  • Diagrams (electrical wiring)
  • Maintenance Intervals
  • Specifications
  • Labor Times
  • Diagnostic Information (based on symptoms and ODBII codes)

Please note:  Repair information is sometimes not available for newer vehicles (five years old or less).

Users can also access these additional modules through links at the top of each page of the site:

  • AutoIQ – short videos about the different parts and systems of a vehicle
  • Care & Repair Tips – general tips for caring for or repairing your vehicle
  • Troubleshooting – general resource for diagnosing problems with your vehicle

Need help navigating this resource?  Contact the reference desk at 919-545-8086, or chat with us at www.chathamlibraries.org.

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Resource of the Month: LearningExpress Library

Posted on January 14, 2013 | Leave a comment

learningexpress-libraryLearn Microsoft Word and Excel, Adobe Photoshop, and other computer skills using interactive video tutorials from LearningExpress Library!

Do you need to strengthen your computer skills for work?  Or would you just like to learn how to use today’s most popular computer programs and operating systems?  Learn at your own pace using interactive tutorial courses.  Each course offers detailed, easy-to-follow instructions with audio and captions, for beginner to advanced skill levels.

LearningExpress Library offers courses for students and adult learners in many subjects.  Computer tutorials include:

  • Adobe:  Dreamweaver, Flash, Illustrator, Photoshop
  • Corel WordPerfect
  • Microsoft:  Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Project, Publisher, SharePoint, Visio, Word
  • Windows and Mac Operating Systems

To access the computer skills courses, go to www.nclive.org, then click on the Homework Help category.  From the alphabetical list, choose LearningExpress Library.

At the bottom center of the LearningExpress main page, create a new account by clicking the Register button.  Once you have logged in, click on the Popular Software Tutorials link in the left-hand menu and choose a topic.  You’ll soon be on your way to mastering a new computer skill!

(Please note that this resource requires Adobe Flash Player 8.0 or higher.)

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Resource of the Month: Business Link North Carolina

Posted on December 8, 2012 | Leave a comment

BusinessLinkGraphicAre you thinking about starting a new business, but are unsure how to begin?  Are you working on developing your existing business?  Do you need some tips on writing a business plan?  Are you curious about what financial resources are available to you?  If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then Business Link North Carolina may be a great resource to check out.

Business Link North Carolina is a website sponsored by the state of North Carolina specifically to help new and potential business owners navigate the twists and turns of doing business in NC.  It has answers to many common questions, such as “How do I get a business license?”, “How do I get a tax number?”, “Who can help me with a business plan?”, and the all-important “What kinds of funding are available for my business?”  In addition to a comprehensive web-based body of information, Business Link North Carolina also offers NC residents free business counseling by phone M-F from 8:00 to 5:00.

Business Link North Carolina also offers quick links to business forms, licenses and permits, state-sponsored loan programs, resources for rural businesses, and more.  For those who already have a business but are looking to expand or maintain it, there are resources to help with marketing and sales, workforce development, minority resources, and more.

Whether you are just getting started with your business idea or you are looking for help to make your existing business stronger, Business Link North Carolina has something to offer!

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