Thursday, December 15, 2011

Small Business Counseling with SCORE


Complementary one-on-one business counseling sessions are available on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month at the library. Sessions are 1 hour and are scheduled between 10:00am-Noon & 1:00-3:00 pm. This service is provided by volunteer consultants from the Pinellas Chapter 115 of SCORE. Register at the Library Reference desk or call (813) 749-1181.

Find more information on business from the library's Business Links page.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

NetLibrary Transition Complete

One Click Digital is finally ready for you to use! Please take a look at it here. This new service provides access to downloadable .mp3 and .wma files of Recorded Books audiobooks. All are iPod compatible and also work on a variety of other devices.

A few notes:
  • You must first create an account on the system to use this service
  • For former NetLibrary users: your old NetLibrary login will not work, you will need to create a new account
  • You may do this in the library or from home with an access code
  • Please call the Oldsmar Library for the access code at 813-749-1181
  • Please have your Pinellas County PPLC library card ready when you call! This service is available to PPLC card holders only. More info on obtaining a library card can be found on our website.
  • You should download the OneClickDigital Media Manager to manage your eAudiobooks. This is available here.
  • iTunes or Windows Mediaplayer will be used to transfer the eAudiobooks but they will not be stored in your iTunes or Windows Mediaplayer libraries.
  • Items check out for 21 days, and may be renewed once for another 21 days
  • All items in the collection are available all the time, no waiting, no holds queue!

There is extensive help available on the OneClickDigital site here, including tutorial videos and an FAQ. You can also call us with questions or email Recorded Books directly by clicking on the "support" tab on the Help screen.

Thank you again for your patience and interest in this product!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Upcoming author programs: Tim Dorsey & Adele Woodyard

We would like to highlight two upcoming author programs:

Special Friends of the Library Program
Tim Dorsey
Thursday, December 1
6:30 pm
TECO Hall
Local author Tim Dorsey will join us to promote his newest Serge Storms book When Elves Attack
No registration required - Books will be available for purchase & signing




Libraries Linking Lifetimes: Classic Florida
Thursday, December 8
4:00 - 5:00 pm
TECO Hall
Adele Woodyard, author of several books & articles on Florida travel, will present A Walk Through Florida's Past, a fun photo tour of historically important Florida locations that make for great daytrips.
 No registration required - Program with brief Q & A and signings of the author's new travel book to follow.

Libraries Linking Lifetimes is a year-long, county-wide intergenerational program designed to bring children, teens and adults together focusing on a single literary theme.

Call the Library at 813-749-1181 for information on these or any other of our great programs!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Netlibrary Transition Update 2

Finally, we have some good news!

We will be launching One Click Digital, our NetLibrary replacement, the week of November 28th. We'll post on our library home page as well as on our Facebook & Twitter pages when it's available.

As we had previously mentioned, there will be a way to create an account remotely. As long as you have a Pinellas (PPLC) library card, you will be able to use this without coming into the library. This is especially helpful as all previous users of NetLibrary will need to create new accounts!

Here is a sneak peek of what it will look like, courtesy of the Vail (CO)Library. They also link to some YouTube tutorials that will help you get up & running quickly once we launch.

Thank you again for your patience and interest in this product!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Canceled- Read FUR Fun (Nov 18)

The November 18th Read FUR Fun program has been canceled.
Next program is scheduled for December 16.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale - Saturday Nov. 19

Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale!

Saturday, November 19
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
TECO Hall

Find used books, puzzles, movies & other materials at great prices!

Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Library and help provide programs, services and library materials.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

St. Petersburg Drive Road Improvements

If you've been by the Library in the past few weeks, you've noticed that work on the St. Pete Drive improvements has begun in earnest! Here is some info about the project:

From now until 4/30/12, on St. Pete Drive between State Street & Dartmouth Avenue, there are local detours for northbound traffic. There will remain a single lane open for southbound traffic on St. Pete Drive. We will be open during improvement work, and both entrances are still accessible.

This map should help you plan an alternate route if needed when you leave the library.

You can read more about the road improvement project here.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Community Garden Informational/ Organizational Meeting Saturday, November 5


Are you interested in community gardening/urban agriculture?

The library is hosting a meeting for anyone who wants to help organize or participate in a community garden here in Oldsmar!

Come join us:
Saturday, November 5th
9:30 am
TECO Hall

No registration required, but you can call us at 813-749-1181 with any questions.

Want to learn more about community gardens? Take a look at the American Community Gardening Associations' website, this article from the UF/IFAS Extension Service or some of the library's books on the subject!

Friday, October 14, 2011

Drawing for free tickets to family music show!

Win free tickets to see the November 12th performance of Alex & the Kaleidoscope Band at Ruth Eckerd Hall! The Oldsmar Library will have a drawing for 4 tickets to see the 11:00am performance.

Alex & the Kaleidoscope Band has won numerous national awards for excellence in children's entertainment!

The drawing will take place on November 4th & all entries must be received by November 3rd. Entry slips are available at the Children's help desk. One entry per family.

For more information, visit the Ruth Eckerd Hall website or call us at 813-749-1179.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Cooking Demo & Book signing

The Friends of the Oldsmar Library will have a general meeting & author program on Thursday, October 20 in TECO Hall at the library - meeting starts at 1:00 pm & the program with Author Warren W. Caterson @ 1:30 pm.

The author will share recipes & hints from his cookbook Table for Two: The Cookbook for Couples, with a short cooking demonstration & book signing to follow.

The program is hosted by the Friends of the Oldsmar Library and is part of a series of free author programs scheduled at the library. Future dates are December 1st & January 19th.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

St. Petersburg Drive Closure Oct. 10

St. Petersburg Drive will be closed from Dartmouth Avenue to State Street on Monday, October 10th from approximately 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Traffic will be routed through Arlington Avenue, and the library will still be accessible via Dartmouth Avenue during this time. This map should help you plan an alternate route if needed, as only the block directly in front of the library will be closed.

This is the first step towards the beautification of St Petersburg Drive which the City has planned. You can read more about the project here.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Kindle compatible books now on PPLC OverDrive

We know many of you have been waiting for this, so we're pleased to announce that Kindle books are now available on OverDrive!

All you need to begin is your Kindle and library card number from any PPLC (Pinellas Public Library Cooperative) library. Go to our OverDrive site and click the Kindle icon (seen on the left here) to see what is available.

A general introduction from Amazon.com is available as well as an FAQ, and further help can be found in the Kindle section of the OverDrive FAQ.

We hope you enjoy this new service!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Online training for Reference USA

One of the databases to which we subscribe is offering free online training that you can do from home, and we wanted to spread the word!

ReferenceUSA contains detailed information on more than 14 million U.S. businesses and employers and 89 million U.S. residents. It also allows you to customize your search so you can narrow down the information you need.

The following webinars are designed to help patrons learn to search Reference USA more effectively to meet their specific needs as beginners, job seekers or business researchers. All you need to participate from your home or office are internet and phone connections. The classes are all one hour and are being offered multiple weeks

Click the links after the descriptions to register, and please note all times given are in central time.

Topic: ReferenceUSA Search Essentials
Day/Date: Fridays (starts Oct 7 and runs through December 23)
Time: 11:00 AM Central (1 hour)

Description: Designed for the patron new to using our database, this hour-long session will cover all the basics of getting started with ReferenceUSA. Attendees will need an internet connection and a phone line to participate. The training will cover the Four Essentials anyone, particularly anyone new to ReferenceUSA, would want to know in order to be successful in using the resource. Lots of time will be reserved at the end of the session for questions.

To register for any of the session dates, click here: ReferenceUSA Search Essentials


Topic: Uncovering the Hidden Job Market: Career Search Strategies using ReferenceUSA
Day/Date: Wednesdays (starts Oct 5 and runs through December 28)
Time: 2:30 PM Central (1 Hour)

Description: Attendees will learn how to use ReferenceUSA as part of their Career Searching Strategy. Included will be information on the importance of having accurate information for applications and resumes, creating engaging cover letters, assembling a network of references and referrers, finding key persons at a business to act as mentors, building datasets of potential employers based on skill set, work history and preferences as well as how to prepare for interviews and interactions through thorough research.

To register for any of the session dates, click here: Uncover the Hidden Job Market


Topic: Start, Manage, Grow! How Businesses can use ReferenceUSA
Day/Date: Mondays (starts Oct 3 and runs through December 19)
Time: 2:30 PM Central (1 hour)

Description: Entrepreneurs and business owners will learn how to use ReferenceUSA to find the mission critical information necessary to start, manage and grow a business. Topics include:
• research prospects and prospective clients
• locate hard to find vendors, both locally and nationally
• network with other businesses in your area or in your industry
• develop relationships with related business for co-branding opportunities
• understand community demographics
• survey locations for expansion
• conduct competitive analysis
• locate subject manager experts and professional services
• source new employees
• find investors, venture capitalists and angels
• plan delivery routes and service areas

To register for any of the session dates, click here: Start, Manage & Grow your Business

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Netlibrary Transition Update

We have been receiving some inquiries lately regarding just when the new & improved NetLibrary product, One Click Audio, will be available.

Here is the latest as we know it: The company who is creating this new product is still working on getting some bugs worked out before release. They are also unfortunately located in an area which has received weather-related damage in the past few weeks, so this has delayed the release of One Click Audio.

For those who have asked if they'll need to come into the Oldsmar Library again to create an account, the answer is no. Once we're up & running, there will be an easy way to create accounts remotely!

We will let you know when One Click Audio is up & running, watch our website, Twitter and Facebook for updates. Thanks for your interest in this product, as we love it too & can't wait to make it available for you once again.

Friday, September 2, 2011

100 Facebook Fans!




We'd like to thank everyone who's "liked" us in the past year!

Tell your friends to visit us on Facebook, and let us know in comments what you'd like to see from us in the future.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Checking your Patron Account

Wondering what the status is of the book or movie you have requested? Access the PALS library catalog from your home computer, mobile phone or library computer.

  • Just click on Patron Account - enter your library barcode number and password (default password is the last 4 digits of your phone number), click on Requests and you'll be able to see where you are on the hold list.
  • To update your Contact Information & Preferences, click on My Record & and you will be able to update your phone, email, and text info. You can also choose to maintain a reading list of the items you have checked out, and change your login password.
  • Some other things you can do from your Patron Account: renew items you have checked out, request books, DVDs & audios, create & save reading lists and save a search for future reference.
  • The Help button on the catalog will provide details on using PALS. To contact library staff from the PALS library catalog - click on the Library Info tab & then "Ask Us"

Monday, July 25, 2011

Netlibrary Transition

Over the next few weeks, Recorded Books is transitioning their downloadable audiobook service from NetLibrary to One Click Digital. The old NetLibrary site is no longer functioning.

We will post updates here and on the website within the next few weeks regarding the new service and how to create an account.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

July 16 Family Storytime canceled

The all-ages storytime scheduled for Saturday, July 16th has been canceled.

We'll see you at our other great SRP programs!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Hire Me! Teen Secrets for Getting the Job

Join us this SATURDAY, July 9th at 12 noon for our TEEN job skills program. This is a great program, it's very fun, it's very informative and there will be food and prizes!
You will learn things to help you in the real job world. Things like team building, how to present yourself to prospective employers, how to get through an interview and resume' building.

Did I mention there will be FOOD and cool PRIZES?
Yes! Again, this is a TEEN program, ages 13 - 18 only. No adults will be allowed into the program.

Sign up is required, as there are only 25 seats available.
Call to reserve your spot today - 813-749-1179
Don't miss this opportunity!

See you on Saturday!

Miss Heidi

This program is presented by the PPLC, Bank of America and Junior Achievement

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Reading Fur Fun dog & handler in the news

We've been fortunate to host volunteer Susan Woodman and her therapy dog Shirley at our Reading Fur Fun sessions for almost a year now. Recently, dog and handler were featured in the latest edition of Destinations magazine! You can view the article about their work with local schools here.

Shirley is a certified and insured therapy dog and is here the 3rd Tuesday of every month from 4:00 - 5:00 pm. Children ages 5 and older read stories aloud to her so they gain confidence in reading. They also have fun doing it, as Shirley is a very patient and supportive audience!

***

Reading sessions are scheduled on a first come first served basis. This program is not recommended for children who are afraid of dogs or for anyone who is allergic to dogs. Feel free to call our Children's Department at 813-749-1179 with any questions.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Sign-up begins for July 16 All-ages storytime


Today is the first day to sign-up for the special Family Storytime which will be from 1 to 2 pm on Saturday, July 16. Call 813-749-1179 or stop by the Childrens' Department to register.

This will be a fun program for the whole family with games, stories and activities covering each of the themes of One World, Many Stories.

Please call 813-749-1179 or stop by to register!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Tuesday, June 21st Catch the Wave with Marcey Walsh rescheduled!

Don't forget tomorrow - Tuesday the 21st...


Marcey Walsh will be here Tuesday, June 21st at 2:00 pm, in the TECO Hall.

There is NO sign-up required for this fun, entertaining and educational program, so come on by Tuesday at 2:00 to Catch the Wave!

Hope to see you there!

Miss Heidi

Adult Summer Reading begins June 20

Enter to win a weekly prize drawing & a chance to win the Grand Prize - including Dinner for 2 at Chipotle & an autographed item from the Tampa Bay Lightning!

Let us know a little about the books you're reading this summer - Read a book, fill out a brief form giving the book a rating and each form returned will enter you into a prize drawing. Novel Destinations is for adults age 18 and older, begins June 20 and runs through July 29.

June 21 - Business Counseling with SCORE

1 hour appointments with the SCORE business counselor are still available. Business counseling is available at the Oldsmar Library on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month. If unable to attend on June 21 - schedule for an upcoming date. Call (813) 749-1181 or stop by the Library's Reference Desk to register.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Teen Summer Reading is here!

Hello! Summer is here, and we are ready to dive into summer reading!

Are you a TEEN? Do you read throughout the summer? Well, you can win prizes for that. Simply come in to the Library, fill out a Teen summer reading slip and drop it into the box at the Youth Services desk. You may be a winner in our weekly prize drawings. We draw out two names per week. First prize is a gift card for local businesses, and second prize is a book!

Also, we have special programs for the teens, grades 6-12. Those will be on Thursdays at 3:00pm. They start next Thursday, June 23rd, with our "Soul Writing" Creative writing workshop.
Check the calendar on our website for the rest of the Teen Special Programs, or come by the desk for a schedule flyer. There is limited space, so call to register : 813-749-1179

Hope to see you reading this summer!

Drop by to say Hi!

Miss Heidi
:-)

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

June 14 Computer Class canceled

Our computer class of June 14th has been canceled. Material on Linux will be incorporated into a future class.

We'll see you at our next class on Tuesday, July 12 in TECO Hall at 2pm!

Friday, June 3, 2011

New look, same blog


As you can see, we've updated our blog a bit!

Please let us know what you think of the new look.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Free downloadable music!


Check out our newest online resource - Freegal!

With Freegal, you can download (and permanently keep) up to 3 songs per week. Once downloaded, the tracks can be transferred to any MP3 player or other mobile device.

From the PPLC site:
Visit Freegal for thousands of recordings by your favorite artists. Log in to Freegal Music with your library card number and PIN and begin downloading! Current limits are set at three downloads per week. Your counter will set back to zero each week Monday morning. Then you can download three more tunes during the new week.


If you have any questions/problems, please write us at information@oldsmarlibrary.org or give us a call. Remember, the default PIN # for your library account is the last 4 digits of the phone # that we have on record for your library account.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Summer Kick-off program-registration

Registration to attend the (June 14) Summer Reading Kick-off program begins June 1st and will continue until spaces are filled. Call (813) 749-1179 or stop by the Children's desk to register.

Friday, May 27, 2011

2011 Summer Library Program News

Summer Reading Programs for all ages!

Children * One World, Many Stories * (813) 749-1179
June 1: Registration begins for the Summer Kick-off program (All ages)
June 13: Registration begins for the Summer Reading Program (Through Grade 5)
June 14: Summer Kick-off program with Marcey Walsh "Catch the Wave" (All ages) 2:00 pm, TECO Hall, registration required.

Teens* You are Here! * (813) 749-1179
June 11: Registration begins for a variety of teen programs (Grades 6-12)

Adults * Novel Destinations * (813) 749-1181
June 20: Reading Program for Adults (Ages 18 and up) begins -
no registration required.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

May 18-Drop-in Computer Help

If you would like to learn more about using computers - the library has a new Drop-in Computer Help program. Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 18, our teen volunteers will be available between 3:00 and 5:00 pm for one-on-one help using the computer.

The program is free and is on the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month. It's first come, first served and no registration necessary.

If you have any questions please contact the library by phone (813-749-1181), email information@oldsmarlibrary.org in person or by asking here on the library's blog.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Coming Soon! Summer Reading Programs for All Ages

2011 Summer Reading Programs begin in June!

Children's Program (Elementary ages) One World, Many Stories
Teen Program (Ages 11-18) You Are Here!
Adult Program (Ages 18 and up) Novel Destinations

Check back for more information.

Friday, May 6, 2011

May 10 Computer Class-Internet Basics

The library's next computer class with Mark Opyd will be this Tuesday, May 10 @ 2:00 pm in TECO Hall. Students will get a brief introduction to the Internet with particular attention to the World Wide Web. Class is lecture format with an opportunity to ask questions afterward. Free! No registration necessary.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Cell Phones for Soldiers

Have an old cell phone and don't know what to do with it? We are now an official drop off point for Cell Phones for Soldiers!

Cell Phones for Soldiers collects used cell phones and sells them to ReCellular to be recycled. The money is used to purchase calling cards for soldiers stationed overseas.

Please visit their web site for more about this great program and for suggestions on how to erase your info from your phone before donating.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Need help with your computer?

Drop-In Computer Help, our new program, starts up this Wednesday, May 4th, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. This first come - first served program will be the first and third Wednesdays of every month; and if needed, we will make it every Wednesday. 
Our Teen volunteers will be on hand to help you with any problems you may have. Bring your laptop, or use one of our computers!
This is help with your e-mail, word processing, spread sheets, facebook etc. NOT computer repair!

Come check it out! See you Wednesday at 3!

May 3: Free 1 hour Small Business Counseling

There are still apointments available with the SCORE Business Counselor. Stop by the Reference desk or call (813) 749-1181 to schedule a (1 hour) appointment between 10am & 3 pm (excluding Noon to 1pm lunch hour). The next available date will be May 17.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Oldsmar Book Club-April 28

Group discussion about The Abduction written by Mark Gimenez. Thursday, April 28 @ Noon in the RotaryLiteracy/Conference Room. No registration needed & new members are always welcome. Next discussion will be May 26: The Secret Scripture written by Sebastian Barry. Request books online or call the library.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Computer Class 4/12 @ 2pm

The library provides free access to a wide variety of databases that can be used in the library or from home computers. This class will give an overview of what is available and tips on how to use them. TECO Hall, Free class, no registration necessary.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Follow us on Twitter!

Follow OldsmarLibrary on Twitter

In addition to our blog and Facebook page, you can now follow us on Twitter!

Check us out & let us know if there is content you'd like to see.

Thanks for all of your support!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Books & Brews April 5th

The Glass Castle written by Jeannette Wells will be the topic for the April 5th Books & Brews get together at 6 pm @ the Oldsmar Tap House (located at 300 State Street East, #107). Ages 21 and up are welcome to attend.

Plan ahead....reserve your copies for future book discussions on(May 3) Last Night @ the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan and (June 7) book & movie discussion of Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.

Monday, March 28, 2011

April 5 & 19 Small Business Counseling

Learn how to start or improve your own business! Free (one-on-one) appointments are available with an experienced business counselor from SCORE . Sessions last (1 hour) and are scheduled between 10 am & 3 pm (exluding the 12-1 pm lunch hour). Call the Reference Desk @ (813) 749-1181 for more information or to register.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Author Robert N. Macomber here on March 20

Award winning author Robert N. Macomber will be promoting Honor Bound, his newest maritime themed book from the Honor series in the Library's TECO Hall on Sunday, March 20, 2011, from 2:00-4:00 pm.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Oldsmar Library, this free program will include Mr. Macomber’s presentation of his new book followed by a book signing. Signed novels will be available for purchase, and refreshments will be served.

Robert N. Macomber is an internationally recognized award-winning maritime writer, lecturer, television commentator, and defense consultant. He is also a maritime commentator for Florida PBS documentaries, a magazine writer, and a naval history lecturer for the American History Forum and the Civil War Education Association.

Tax Help still available

As a reminder, volunteers from AARP are available 2 days a week to provide free tax help for filling out your 2010 Federal Income Tax return. This service is free and is offered on a first come-first served basis.

Assistance is available Tuesdays from 3-7 pm and Wednesdays from 9am-1pm through April 13th.

For more details, please visit our Tax Help FAQ page.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Library Programs * March 15 -19


  • March 15 -Toddler Time: (Ages 18 months to 3 years) Tues. @ 10:00am

  • March 15 - (1 hour) Business Counseling with SCORE: Tues., (call to schedule an appointment between the hours of 10-12pm & 1-3pm), Registration required.

  • March 15 - Computer Class: My Computer is Misbehaving : Tue., 2:00pm, No registration required.

  • March 15 - AARP Tax Assistance: Tues., 3:00-7:00pm, First come, first served.

  • March 15 - Reading Fur Fun - Dog Tales! (Ages 5+) Tues. 4:00-5:00pm, (This program not recommended for children afraid of dogs or anyone allergic to dogs.)

  • March 16 - AARP Tax Assistance: Wed., 9:00am-1:00pm, First come, first served.

  • March 16 - Homework Help: (Elementary ages) Thur., 3:00-5:00pm

  • March 17 - Preschool Storytime: (Ages 3 +) Thur., 10:00am

  • March 17 - Teen Coffee House: Thur., 6:00pm

  • March 19 - Oldsmar Historical Society: Sat.,10am (meeting moved from March 12 due to Armadillo Race)

  • March 20 - Author Robert N. Macomber: Sunday afternoon, 2:00-4:00pm, Speaker program with book signing afterward, free, sponsored by Friends of the Oldsmar Library

All programs free - for more information contact the library by posting to this blog, email the library or call (813) 749-1178

Monday, February 28, 2011

March 1 * Books & Brews

1st Tuesday @ 6:00 pm in the Oldsmar Tap House, 300 State Street East, #107. March 1: House Rules by Jodi Picoult, no registration necessary - casual book discussion for ages 21 and up.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

New Catalog Features Part 3 - Mobile Catalog

This is the 3rd of 3 blog posts covering new features in our catalog. You can read Part 1 covering Patron Account changes here and Part 2 covering Searching here.



We are happy to announce that our catalog is now available from your mobile phone and has the same features as our regular online catalog! To the left is a screen shot of the main catalog menu. You can preview it here, and you will see that it has full functionality but with a clean interface that works well on mobile devices.

 



The easiest way to get to our mobile catalog is through our mobile website, shown to the left. When you visit our homepage on a mobile device, you are automatically redirected to the mobile website. Right now it only gives access to the mobile catalog and basic library information. If there are other pages you think we should add, please let us know!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

New Catalog Features Part 2 - Searching

This is the 2nd of 3 blog posts covering new features in our catalog. You can read Part 1 covering Patron Account changes here.

Searching changes
  • The catalog now makes automatic suggestions as you type in your search, similar to Google. To use one of the suggested searches, just scroll down to it & click.

  • The advanced search screen has been streamlined and simplified.

  • When books in your search results are part of a series, it will show in your search results screen. Previously, you had to bring up more details about an item before it showed this information.

  • The author's name in your search results is now a clickable link that will take you to the author browse list. Click the name there, and it will take you to a list of everything in the system by that author.

  • You can now text call number information to your cellphone from the catalog. Simply click the cellphone graphic that appears when you check the item's availability. Enter the information in the box that pops up (if you are logged in and have this information in your account already, this will be filled in for you) and click send. You can do this from home and have a list of items to pick up right on your cellphone when you get to the library!

Part 3, covering the mobile catalog, is coming soon!

New Catalog Features Part 1 - Patron Accounts

This is the first of three posts on new features in our catalog. We like to keep these blog posts short!

Thanks to our latest update, our catalog now has a few new features that give you more control over your account. As before, to log in to your account just select "Patron Account" in PALS and enter your card # and password. The default password is the last 4 digits of your phone #.

Patron Account changes
  • The first time you request an item, you will be asked to select your pickup location. You may make this permanent if you wish.

  • Updates to phone numbers and email are now instant, though address changes will still be forwarded to staff for verification.

  • You can now choose to receive notification via text message for things like holds and overdues. Simply enter your cell phone number and cell provider on your account screen and select text messaging as your preferred method of contact.


Part 2 will cover changes in searching, Part 3 will address the new mobile catalog.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Free Business Counseling @ the Library

1st & 3rd Tuesdays - Business Counselor from SCORE is available for 1 hour one-on-one sessions between the hours of 10am - 3pm (excluding 12-1pm lunch hour). Register @ the Reference Desk or by phone (813) 749-1181.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Evening Presentation - Dolls 17th & 18th Century

Thursday, January 20, 6:30 pm, TECO Hall, Guest Speaker: Donarita Vocca will talk about Dolls from the 17th & 18th century and their modern day counterparts. Doll collection will be on display. Program is sponsored by the Friends of the Oldsmar Library - free and open to the public. Light refreshments served.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Programs this week

Books & Brews is tonight at 6:00 pm at the Oldsmar Tap House, 300 State Street East #107. Tonight's discussion is on The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. No need to register, come join us for a casual book discussion in a fun setting!

Tomorrow we have teen volunteers available to provide drop-in homework help to elementary school children from 3pm to 6pm. No need to pre-register, but you can call 813-749-1179 with any questions. This is also the number to call if you're a teen interested in volunteering for this program.