Tag Archives: NC LIVE

New NC LIVE Resources for 2015!

NC LIVE, your source for free online databases through your library, is undergoing some major changes in the new year!

Every three years, NC LIVE reviews its resources and selects new digital content for the consortium.  While we usually experience a few minor changes, 2015 will bring some BIG changes to the resource lineup.  Most of these relate to the decision to replace NC LIVE’s large group of EBSCO databases with a group of ProQuest databases.

Some of the exciting new resources include Pronunciator for language learning (see our blog post), Films on Demand video collection, Reference USA (coming soon), and ebrary eBooks.  You can view the complete list of content changes that will take effect on January 1, 2015.

In addition to the new resources, NC LIVE introduced its new Metasearch functionality today, which allows you to find articles, eBooks, videos, journals, databases, and more — all with one search!  Just look for the search box on the left side of the main page.

Questions?  Contact the Reference Desk at Chatham Community Library: 919-545-8086.

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Resource of the Month: Home Grown eBooks

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NC LIVE is experimenting with a new eBook project that gives North Carolina library patrons unlimited access to more than 1,200 eBook titles from North Carolina-based publishers. This collection offers a wide range of content, including novels by popular North Carolina authors, poetry, short stories, and non-fiction and features titles like Guests on Earth by Lee Smith and North Carolina and Old Salem Cookery by Beth Tartan, among many others.

NC LIVE partnered with eight local publishing houses to purchase the eBooks, including Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, Crossroad Press, Gryphon House, Ingalls Publishing Group, John F. Blair Publishing, McFarland, Press 53, and UNC Press.

The Home Grown eBook collection is available at http://nclive.org/ebooks.  (You will be prompted to log in with your library card.) Unlike traditional library eBooks, this collection features always available, unlimited simultaneous user access during the life of the pilot, meaning patrons will not have to place a hold or wait for an eBook to become available. Users may view the eBooks in a web browser or download them to their tablet devices via the BiblioBoard Library app.

Resource of the Month: Audiobook recommendations

NoveListJust in time for summer roadtrips and yardwork with headphones, your library card entitles you to audiobook recommendations whenever and wherever you want.

Here’s how to find them:

Go to nclive.org. Under the heading “Browse”, click “Books & Literature”, then click the link for NoveList Plus. At that point you’ll be prompted to choose your library and enter your 14-digit library card number.

See a previous blog post about this readers’ advisory service and what you’ll discover there, or simply dive into audiobook heaven. Browse to your heart’s content or head for lists at the far right. There are “must-listens” for teens, children, and adults; award-winning audiobooks; and genre titles.

Click on a book icon or title to get the full record with an array of nice features… Note that you can set limits in your searches such as “read by author” and “witty” within Audio Characteristics. Titles shown have links for “listen-alikes” and “author read-alikes”, reviews from Goodreads and AudioFile, and some include audio samples.

When you identify books you want to listen to, be sure to check our library catalog for availability. Audiobooks are available from the library on CD and in digital format through One-Click Digital and the e-inc library. We can arrange to borrow audiobooks on CD from other libraries across the country through ILL.

Finally, you may also access free audiobooks through the following resources:

Happy listening!

Resource of the Month: Legal Information Reference Center

Legal Info Ref CtrIf you’re looking for expert guidance on a wide variety of legal issues, the Legal Information Reference Center is a great place to start.  Available through NC LIVE, this resource offers information on just about any legal topic you can imagine.  You can browse one of several categories, including information relating to:

  • business and corporations
  • family affairs and divorce
  • immigration and travel
  • money and financial planning
  • patents, copyrights, and trademarks
  • property and real estate
  • rights and disputes
  • wills and estate planning

You can search for specific legal forms for issues like bankruptcy, patents, accident claims, home buying and selling, green cards, adoption, wills, and more. You can narrow your search to forms by state, too – for example, only North Carolina forms. And finally, you can read online copies of several useful legal guides, including Nolo books on bankruptcy, neighbor guides, becoming a U.S. citizen, retirement plans, and several others.

After you’ve found some helpful information, you can save it to your online folder to peruse at your leisure.

So the next time you need legal information or forms, visit www.nclive.org, look under the Government & Law category, and check out the Legal Information Reference Center!

Resource of the Month: OneClickdigital (e-audiobooks)

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!

Resource of the Month: HeritageQuest

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.

Resource of the Month: NoveList Plus

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!

Resource of the Month: Business Link North Carolina

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!

Resource of the Month: Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports provides readers with information to make safe and smart purchases – independent ratings and reviews of products and services, and identification of key product features.  Household crises frequently bring patrons to the library in search of the magazine, and it’s a pleasure to share that they can access it online, free of cost, from home or even while standing in the appliance section of Lowe’s!

Through NC LIVE, library patrons can access full-text articles from the Buying Guide from 1999 – present, from the magazine itself from 1991 – present, and from the Travel Letter from 1997 – 2002.  From the NC LIVE home page, click on the link at the far left of the page, just below “Search by Title”, where it says Click here to find a journal, magazine, or newspaper by title.  When prompted, you will need to select your library system (Chatham County Public Library) from the pull-down menu and enter your entire library card number, without spaces between the numbers.  At the next screen, type Consumer Reports in the search box, and click the radio button for “Journals Only.”  On the results page, simply click on the link for MasterFILE Complete below the title for the Consumer Reports publication of your choice.

You can browse through entire issues by clicking on the year of your choice at the far right of the page, then selecting the month.  When you find an article title of interest, click on the title for more information, or select PDF Full Text in order to see the article exactly as it appears in the magazine – complete with charts and photos.  You may download the article or choose from other options at the far right of the page in a column labeled “Tools”:  Print, Email, Add to a folder, and Save, among others.

You may also search within Consumer Reports to discover all articles on a subject.  Click “Search within this publication” at the far right of the page, just above the column of available years.  The search bar next to the EBSCOhost button will be formatted to restrict your search to Consumer Reports.  Your next move should be to add “and” followed by whatever your given subject of interest is.  For instance, in order to search all available issues of the magazine for information about printers, the search bar should look like this:  JN “Consumer Reports” and printers.

Once you’ve performed a search, note that you can set limits on the left side of the page – you can make changes so you only see results published between the years of your choice, and you may find it helpful to click on “Subject” to make your search more specific.