Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Do it yourself - Requests & Renewals

Requesting & Renewing from home or library computers

Your library card enables you to place your own requests & renewals for books, audios & DVDs through library computers or from home. If the library material you would like is checked out or at another location, click on place request and enter your card # and the default password, (which is the last 4 numbers of your telephone #). To renew items you already have checked out on your card, click on patron account, enter your card # and password, click on items out and check the items you want to renew. To learn more, go to our "how do I" page.



Don't have a computer?

Library staff will be happy to assist. Please call or visit the Reference Desk at (813) 749-1181 to request materials or the Circulation Desk at (813) 749-1173 for renewals.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Domino's Pizza Dates

Order from the Oldsmar Domino's Pizza this Saturday, December 19 and the library can receive 20% of the total amount of your purchase. Forms to hand in at the time of purchase are available at the library and on the website.

Future Domino's/Library dates are January 2 & February 7. Proceeds for this event will go the Friends of the Library for projects that benefit the Oldsmar Library.

Library Rummage Sale

The Friends of the Oldsmar Library will have a Rummage Sale on Saturday, January 30 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in the Library's parking lot. January 25 is the deadline for vendor sign-up. Applications are available at the Friends table inside of the library. Proceeds benefit the library.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Chilton's Automotive Database

Oldsmar Library has added a new database - Chilton Library - to the list of free databases available from the Resource tab of the library's website. The Chilton Library can be used from a library computer or remotely from your home computer. You will need your PPLC library card's barcode number when accessing the database from home.

Chilton's is an automotive site that offers diagnostic photographs, wiring diagrams and repair procedures as well as technical service bulletins & recall information for cars & light trucks.

Choosing from the drop down box for year, make and model of the vehicle you are researching, click on the particular subject on the left for more in-depth information. Database highlights are the ability to print your results and a help section for navigating tips and tools.

Please call the Reference Desk @ (813) 749-1181 for questions about this or any other library database.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Renewing items from your home computer

Renew your books, audios & DVDs from your home computer:
  • Login to your patron account from the library catalog link on our homepage
  • Type your library card's barcode # and your password (your default password is the last 4 digits of your phone #)
  • Click on "items out" & check the box next to the items you wish to renew. Click "renew selected items" at the bottom of the screen.

You may also renew materials in person (with or without the material present) at the Circulation Desk or by phone at (813) 749-1173 (please have your library card number available)

Renewal limits: There is a 2 renewal limit on most items, DVDs are limited to 1 renewal. You won't be able to renew materials if someone else is waiting for them or if you have exceeded the maximum number of renewals.

For more information, please see our Circulation Department webpage or call (813)749-1173 with any questions or problems.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Free Small Business Counseling

Pinellas County Chapter 115 of SCORE provides a business counselor twice a month for small business counseling at the Oldsmar Library. The counselor is available on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month for 1 hour one-on-one sessions scheduled between the hours of 10:00 am-3:00 pm (excluding 12-1pm for lunch).

There is no charge for this service but registration is required. Sign up at the Reference Desk or by phone (813) 749-1181

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Friends evening meeting with Philip Tropea

The Friends of the Oldsmar Library will have their next meeting this Thursday, November 19, at 7:00 p.m., in the Library's TECO Hall. Author Philip Tropea will sing and talk about his book Marco. Light refreshments will be available.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

PALS library catalog



PALS Library Catalog - How to login

 




-Double click on the Patron Account tab at the top of the page
-Type your library card's barcode number (the # is on the back of your card)
-Type your password (password is the last 4 digits of your phone # )
-Click login.

Once you have logged in, your name will appear in the upper left hand corner of the screen. Your patron account shows Items checked out and their due dates. It will also show your Requests and the status and hold position of each request. Remember to logout when you are done looking at your account.

Want to learn more about your library card & account?
Check our How do I? FAQ's page or call the Circulation Desk @ 813 749-1173

And don't forget to check back here for the latest library news and events.

Friday, November 6, 2009

What do YOU want to learn about computers?

We'd like to hear your suggested topics for our series of computer classes. Our instructor Mark Opyd is open to new ideas and he'll be checking this blog to see what you're interested in! Help him plan his slate of topics for 2010.

Our computer classes are the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 2pm in TECO Hall, no registration required.

Please note that all comments here are moderated, so it may take a little while for your comment to show up, but you only need to submit it once.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Teen New Moon Party!


As I'm sure everyone is aware that the highly anticipated Twilight sequel, New Moon will be released into theaters November 20th. How do we celebrate this popular teen vampire and werewolf phenomenon? We throw a party of course!

Join us and other Twilight fans for food, crafts, trivia and other games on Friday, November 13th at 6pm. *Ages 12 and up. Limited spots are available, so sign up quickly by visiting us or calling 813-749-1179!

Friday, October 30, 2009

Don't forget!



Tomorrow is the first of our special voucher days at your Oldsmar Domino's Pizza!

Order from the Oldsmar Domino's Pizza (3800 Tampa Road) on October 31 and 20 % of your total order price will be donated to the Oldsmar Library.

The form to hand in at the time of purchase is available at the library or is available to download and print from the library's website.

You can reach them at 813-855-3030

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Book Sale - Nov. 7

Friends of the Oldsmar Library
* Fall Book Sale *
* Saturday * November 7, 2009 *
* 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. *
TECO Hall meeting room @ the library
Shop for a variety of items at reasonable prices!
* Books * Movies * Books for Children & Young Adults *
* Audiobooks * Puzzles * Magazines *
All proceeds benefit the library.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Florida Electronic Library

Free Online Library Resources & Databases

Who: The Florida Electronic Library
Provided by Florida's Division of Library & Information Services.

What: Free access to online newspapers, magazines, almanacs, encyclopedias,
general & specialized databases covering a variety of subjects:
Education, Business, Technology, Health, Social Studies, Science, Literature, Pop Culture, Careers, History, Florida Information, Current Events, Environment, Home Improvement, Landscape & Gardening & more!

Where: Oldsmar Library Homepage

When: available 24/7

Why: Homework help * Teacher planning * Research * Personal interests

How: Use a library computer or remotely from your home computer - type in www.oldsmarlibrary.org

Click on the Resources tab – scroll down to Florida Electronic Library &
Click on the link.

Log in with your library card's barcode number.

Click on view all resources. Scroll down to view your choices. Enjoy!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Feed your body & your mind


*Feed your body & your mind *
Support your library!

Order from the Oldsmar Domino's Pizza on the following dates:
October 31 * November 25 * December 19
and 20 % of your total order price will be donated to the Oldsmar Library.
The form to hand in at the time of purchase is available at the library or is available to download and print from the library's website.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Friends of the Library

The Friends of the Oldsmar Library is holding its first meeting of the 09-10 season this week on Thursday, September 17th at Noon in our TECO Hall meeting room. Friends meetings are open to the public and anyone interested in who the Friends are or what they do is welcome to attend.

Friends are concerned citizens who share the belief that a strong public library is a valuable, intellectual, cultural, educational and recreational resource in the community. Friends are library supporters who act as community liaisons to elected officials, library administration and trustees.

For more details and for a complete list of upcoming meetings and events, please visit our Friends of the Library Page.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Introducing WorldCat

Our new WorldCat service allows you to request materials not owned by a Pinellas County library. To use it, visit http://www.worldcat.org/ and begin searching. When you find an item that interests you, click "Request" and enter the required information. That's all there is to it!

Delivery takes longer than it does for items that are held in Pinellas County, but we can obtain most items. Currently, the system is for in library use only, so the only way to order without coming in is to give us a call (813-749-1181). There is also no current way for patrons to track their requests, but this system is being constantly updated so hopefully that feature will soon be added.

WorldCat replaces our iBorrow system.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Bye-bye summer, Hello School!

Ack! School! Yes I know, but it is good for you!

Upcoming events for the teens and YA's, Tuesday, September 15th at 6:00 pm, the first OTAB meeting of the new school year!
Come and hang out, help us plan upcoming events, tell us how your first month of school is going, and chill. Oh yeah, and EAT. I will have more than just popcorn!
:)
Hope to see you all there!

Miss Heidi

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Children's Programming update

Susan, Heidi and Holly would like to say thank you to all who participated or helped out with this year’s Summer Reading Program, making it a great success!

Thanks to:
All of the Summer Readers - Parents & Volunteers - PPLC - Friends of the Oldsmar Library - and Domino's Pizza, Taco Bell & the Tampa Bay Skating Academy


We'd also like to remind everyone that we're a week away from resuming our regular storytimes: Toddler Time (for ages 18 months to 3 years) begins Tuesday, August 25th at 10 am, Pre-K Storytime (for ages 3+) begins Thursday, August 27th at 10 am.

See you there!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Book Page magazine


We have been offering Book Page monthly magazine in our library for a few years now. It's a great FREE resource that introduces many new and upcoming books in all genres and categories. If you haven't already, please stop by and pick up a copy and take a look at their website for more features.

Did you know they also offer free bi-weekly e-mail newsletters with even more book reviews and articles? To sign up, please visit Book Page Xtra.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Computer Classes

Here is a list of our upcoming internet classes covering a variety of topics. All classes are lecture/discussion followed by Q&A and begin at 2 PM in TECO Hall on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Registration not required.

Jul 14 Basic website creation - This session will give you a behind-the-scenes look at how the internet works as you learn to create a simple webpage.

Aug 11 Beginning HTML - Ready to make your own website and send your ideas out into the world? Beginning HTML will help you get started.

Sep 8 Selling on Ebay: The Basics - What and how to sell on Ebay and how to find the HOT items.

Oct 13 Exploring Ebay: Buying - Explore the phenomenon that has captured the hearts of many.

Nov 10 What is Blogging? - "Blog" is short for web log, and is like an online journal. It is easy and free for most people to set up a blog and communicate their thoughts and opinions to others.

Dec 8 Blogs and RSS Feeds - Learn more about blogs and Really Simple Syndication (RSS). RSS is most commonly used to gather news and information from different websites and put it into a streamlined form.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Summer Reading Ongoing

As we move into July, we still have a full slate of fun daily programs for kids, and several programs and creative projects for teens! Full schedules are available online, or stop by the library for a printed schedule or to register. Call the Children's Department at 813/749-1179 for more information.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Small Business Program Presented by SCORE

SCORE is once again providing a free small business workshop here at Oldsmar Library. Advertising: How to Make it Work for You will be presented Thursday, July 9 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm in TECO Hall. You must pre-register either by phone (813/749-1181) or in person at the Library's information desk.

This program is sponsored by Florida Bank Tampa Road/East Lake Branch and the Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

SCORE is also still providing One on One Business Counseling, which you can read more about in this blog post.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Downloadable Audiobooks for iPods

NetLibrary has recently introduced downloadable audiobooks that will play on iPods. This is a frequent request, so we are pleased to now offer this service! Over 700 titles are available, remember to look for books marked MP3.

They have also made a program called Media Center available which makes downloading their audiobooks and transferring them to your portable listening device (MP3 player) easier and faster. You will see a banner for Media Center once you log in to your NetLibrary account which will take you to information on downloading and installing the software.

For a list of compatible devices click here. You can also view an FAQ and demonstration.

In order to use our NetLibrary audiobooks (or ebooks), you must first come in to Oldsmar Library and sign up for a NetLibrary account. With this account you can access these titles from anywhere, download them and play them on your computer or sync them to your MP3 player. This service is free and open to all Pinellas library patrons, but you must come to our library to sign up for the NetLibrary account. Call or e-mail us for more information.

We also now offer iPod compatible downloadable audiobooks through our OverDrive service.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Job search and career page

There is a new page on our website to help direct our patrons to useful sites for job searching, filing unemployment and exploring careers.

Please visit: http://www.oldsmarlibrary.org/employment.htm and let us know what you think!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Libros en EspaƱol - Spanish collection

We've recently added many more items to our collection of Spanish language books for adults! We now have over 100 fiction, non-fiction and biography titles to choose from.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Hurricane Preparedness



We are once again hosting a series of programs to help you better prepare for Hurricane Season. These popular programs are provided by the Pinellas County Communications Department and sponsored by the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative.

All programs begin at 11:00 am in the library's TECO Hall meeting room on the following Saturdays, no registration required:

Saturday, May 9: Becoming Storm Savvy
Saturday, May 16: Busting Hurricane Myths
Saturday, May 23: Does it take a Category 5?
Saturday, May 30: Preparing your Pets

More information and full program descriptions

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Photo in American Libraries



Word has gotten around that our library was featured in American Libraries magazine, a publication of the American Library Association. Click the picture above for a closer look. We were very happy to see our beautiful building included in their survey of new library design!

(This document may be reprinted and distributed for non-commercial and educational purposes only, and not for resale. No resale use may be made of material on this web site at any time. All other rights reserved. American Library Association)

How do I?



Do you have questions about library policies, our catalog, or how to use our website?

Please take a look at our new FAQ page. There's even a place to search our website if you don't find the answer there.

If you have a question you'd like answered, feel free to post it here, give us a call, e-mail us or stop by!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

SUMMER READING PROGRAMS ARE COMING!

Hi Everyone! Summer Reading Program (SRP) for 2009 will soon be here, and Miss Susan, Miss Holly and I are working feverishly to come up with cool and fun stuff to do over the eight weeks of the Oldsmar Library's SRP!
This year's themes are "Be Creative @ your Library" for the younger kids;
and "Express Yourself @ your Library" for the Teens-ages 11 and up.

I must say, I am muy excited about this summer! We have come up with some really neat ideas, and are going to be doing some cool stuff!
For example, the Teens will be having their own Teen Coffee House, where they can Be Creative in a variety of ways, like story telling and poetry readings on "open mike" night; Or, book and movie reviews and discussions. All whilst imbibing delectable brewed beverages! (Like coffees, or teas!)

They will be creating stories in collage, making mosaics and digital photography. Plus, they will be acting in, and videotaping, their own book "commercials" and an actual "Mystery Play" that Miss Holly and I have written!

The results of all this creativity will be displayed for all to see on Saturday, August 15th, at the "End of Summer Reading Art Exhibit"!

Now doesn't that sound like fun?!? I think so!
Oh, and of course we will be reading books too, with weekly prize drawings!

Watch our website for more program information, and for the registration dates and times coming up in June! BTW, our new website address is now www.oldsmarlibrary.org

Happy reading!

Miss Heidi :)

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

New web address, take two



Our new web site is up and running at www.oldsmarlibrary.org. The site navigation has been completely redesigned, and as a bonus you can see the latest headlines from this blog right on the front page!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

New web address

We are in the process of moving our website to a new address. The site will be fully functional by next week, so change your bookmarks to www.oldsmarlibrary.org

Friday, March 20, 2009

Planning for your Business workshop

SCORE is once again providing a free small business workshop here at Oldsmar Library. Planning for Your Business will be presented Thursday, April 16 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm in TECO Hall. You must pre-register either by phone (813/749-1181) or in person at the Library's information desk.

This program is sponsored by Florida Bank Tampa Road/East Lake Branch and the Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

SCORE is also still providing One on One Business Counseling, which you can read more about in this blog post.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Two exciting Children's programs coming up!

On Saturday, March 28th from 2-3 pm, we are featuring a free performance by the Broadway Training Institute. An original play about a fairy tale will be presented in this all ages program.

On Friday, April 3rd at 1pm, we are happy to be hosting The Eckerd Theater Company's production of The Great Alphabet Adventure. This program is for pre-school age and up.

For more information or to register for either of these programs, please call our Children's Department at 813/749-1179.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Tax Help

For those who don't already know, we once again have volunteers from AARP helping people with their 2008 tax returns. You can find the dates, times and more information on our Events Page.

We also have most of the major forms & instruction booklets available in the library entryway, but you can also download virtually anything the IRS publishes from their website. All you need to read & print the documents is the free Adobe reader program which you probably already have on your computer. Most convenient of all, you can also type on most of these forms, save your information and print the completed form.

You can also have IRS documents mailed to you by calling the IRS directly at 1-800-829-3676.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

New look!

The look of our website has been freshened up a bit! We hope it's easier to read and use for all of our patrons.

Please take a look around and let us know what you think by leaving a comment here on the blog or via e-mail: fvuweb@tblc.org

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Catalog Features

One service available in our new catalog PALS which few of our patrons use is the ability to put DVDs on hold.

You can now add yourself to the waiting list for a DVD just as you can for books and other materials. All you need is your library card #! You receive a call when your item is available for you to pick up.

Don't be discouraged if you seem to be far back in line, due to the number of copies held throughout the county, the wait may be shorter than you think!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Friends of the Library Rummage Sale

We have a very special event coming up later this month...our first Rummage Sale to benefit the Friends of the Oldsmar Library!

Anyone can participate by renting a space to sell their own items for $15. You can bring your own table/chairs/canopy or rent a table for an additional $5. The Friends and our Teen Board will also both be selling donated items to benefit library projects.

More information and applications are available at the Library, but you can call 813/749-1181 with any questions.

Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Financial Planning Seminar

Worried about your investments?  Join us for a free seminar on Financial Planning in a Volatile Market, which will put current financial markets in historical perspective and discuss long term investment strategies.

The program is this Thursday, January 15th at 6:30, and will consist of a 30 minute presentation with Q & A to follow.

No registration is required. Please give our Reference Desk at call at 813-749-1181 with any questions.