¿Comprende Ingles?

Learning a new language can be frightening, but Basic ESL is a service that makes it easier to learn English as a Second Language. The Fresno County Public Library has Basic ESL for FREE on its website.

The method is simple, starting with the English language's sounds, then going on to vocabulary and its sentence structure. You can start with primary languages from many parts of the world: French, Korean, Spanish, Arabic, and more. Lessons are spoken in English, with their words and sentences printed in the primary language.

Vocabulary lessons teach words and put them in context, and dialogue lessons show how to use those words in talking to people.

Entering through the Research It link on the FCPL home page, Basic ESL asks new users to register, so their progress can be tracked. The home language, name, email address, and a selected password are used to set up an account. Passwords are six letters and numbers, and can be as simple as “abc123” or “mynam3.”

Once registered, it’s time to learn! Speakers or headphones are needed to hear the audio portion, which is triggered by the clicking the speaker icons

on the page. Listen and repeat the words, and listen again, if you wish.

It’s a simple program, and it’s FREE through the Fresno County Public Library.

Driving Tests: Pass Them the Easy Way!

Is it time to renew your California Driver's License, or is someone taking the written test for the first time?

DON'T PANIC!

One of the links on the Fresno County Public Library’s Research It webpage is Driving Tests. Click on it and you will have instant access to twelve California automobile driving tests, eight motorcycle tests, four CDL (Commercial Driving License) tests, and three online driving manuals for studying. There are also tests and manuals in Spanish.

Here is a sample question:

If you litter on the roadside, you are subjected to a fine of:

A.     $1000

B.     $500

C.     $1,500

D.     $600

 

 

What was your guess? The first time I saw this question, I chose $1,500. I was wrong. The fine for littering is $1,000. If you were right, congratulations, but it still wouldn’t hurt to take some of these practice tests to brush up on all the facts you’ll need at the DMV. This isn’t one of the library’s subscription databases, but it is reliable…and it’s FREE!

So, toss out those old, yellowed, out-of-date written tests your family has been saving, and get ready to pass, get your license, and hit the road! WoW!

 FCPL databases provide cardholders with a vast amount of accurate, free online information. This blog post is a part of a weekly series highlighting FCPL databases and is tagged with the blog tag “Resource of the Week.”

 

WoW! JobNow!

Job-hunting can be difficult, time-consuming and downright stressful. If you haven’t created a resume in a while, or if it’s been years since you were interviewed, the prospect of going through the job application process may inspire serious anxiety. So where can you go for resume templates and interview advice? JobNow, an online resource provided by the Fresno County Public Library, is a great place to start. Simply go to the Library’s Job and Career page, click Job Now and log in with your library card number. (Never had a library card? Had one a while back but have no clue where it is? Visit any local library branch with your ID to get one.)

What’s so great about JobNow? JobNow gives you access to resume templates, resume advice and (perhaps most impressively) a resume lab where you can submit your resume and get feedback from an expert.

Worried about that job interview? JobNow also gives you access to online interview coaches, who will help you refine your answers and make you more comfortable with the process.

Now, JobNow is one of several Job and Career resources the Library offers. Visit the Library’s Jobs and Job Hunting page or call us at (559) 600-9699 to discover others.  

Have You Met Lynda Yet?

As we blogged previously, Lynda.com (a database you can access for free from the Library's website) gives you access to a wealth of online tutorials in the fields of technology, business and marketing. This is a superb tool you can use from home to improve all manners of tech and professional skills, regardless of your starting skill level. Want more info? Here are a few specific examples of what Lynda.com offers:

Programming and Software Development
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, software development jobs are forecast to jump 22 percent by 2022; jobs in computer programming are growing at twice the national average. Do you or your young ones want to jump into coding? Try Lynda.com's coding tutorials. Take classes in:

• Programming fundamentals
• C++
• Javascript
• XML
• App Development for IOS and Android

And one awesome thing about these classes: many offer a "practice environment" in which you get hands-on experience completing coding exercises. Sweet!

Marketing
Whether you're a PR professional or a small business owner, a nonprofit director or a community organizer, knowing how to market your organization and services is essential to your success. Log into Lynda.com and take classes in:

• Marketing Fundamentals
• Social Media Marketing with Facebook and Twitter
• Branding Fundamentals
• Google Analytics Tips
• Email Marketing Basics

Many classes also include downloadable exercises, worksheets or templates you can use on the job.

Software

How many software programs are covered on Lynda.com? More than 800. (That wasn't a typo: more than 800. Check out a list of offerings here.) With a huge variety of content like this, Lynda's tutorials run the gamut from common things like Microsoft Excel and Adobe to more specialized programs like AutoCAD and Hadoop. So whether you're looking to get acquainted with common software programs or sharpen the tools in your professional toolkit, Lynda.com probably has a class you can use. 

If you have questions about accessing Lynda.com (or any other FCPL resource), Library staff wants to help! Call us at (559) 600-9699 or email us. 

FCPL databases provide cardholders with a vast amount of accurate, free online information. This blog post is a part of a weekly series highlighting FCPL databases and is tagged with the blog tag “Resource of the Week.”

Wander Lonely as a Cloud No More (with Literary Reference Center)

April is National Poetry Month and here at FCPL we’re celebrating with our 16th Annual Poetry Contest. Submit your poem online and enter to win a Target gift card. All entrants may choose to read their poem at the Awards Ceremony at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Saturday, May 30th from 2-4 p.m.

Want to read a few poems for inspiration before you get writing? The Literary Reference Center, yet another database available from the Library’s website, can give you access to a few. Browse nearly 160 full-text poems available online. There’s one for every mood: creepy classics like Robert Browning’s My Last Duchess; Shakespeare’s sonnets for the amorous; or metaphysical dreamscapes like Kubla Khan for the meditative.

The database also includes literary criticism-- great for students working on critical essays or anyone wanting to read up on a work’s meaning. Get information on more modern literature as well, including works like Toni Morrison’s Beloved, Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God and our Big Read pick The Maltese Falcon.

As always, FCPL staff is here if you need us! Call, email or send us a text if you have questions.

FCPL databases provide cardholders with a vast amount of accurate, free online information. This blog post is a part of a weekly series highlighting FCPL databases and is tagged with the blog tag “Resource of the Week.”

Stories…and Beyond!

One of the most important steps in learning to read is making that connection between letters on a page and words that mean something. On the Fresno County Public Library website, one of the best tools for doing that is a FREE service called BookFlix. All you need is a library card number to unlock dozens of hours of reading and learning!

It features animated videos of picture books for children. Each one is read aloud, with the words highlighted as the story goes along. Since schools are moving into non-fiction-based learning, each fictional story is paired with a book that gives facts about a subject connected to the story.

The non-fiction book can be read aloud for you, or it can be read without audio help. Words that might be new to the reader are highlighted, and their meanings are revealed with a click of the mouse.

 

The book-pairs are fun and interesting. Bark, George, about a puppy with a strange problem, is teamed up with Pets at the Vet, which tells how veterinarians take care of animals and help them get well.

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat shows a worn-out coat that becomes a jacket, a vest, a scarf, and other things as the remaining pieces are remade into useful items.  That book is featured with Recycle That, about new uses for old trash.
  

BookFlix is a great way to make reading a habit, building a bridge between the printed page and a world of imagination and information. WoW!

P.S.--The FCPL also offers "Dial-A-Story," a call-in recording where a book is read by library staff. It's a great bedtime-helper, with the story changed every few weeks. Call 559-600-8253 (600-TALE) and give it a listen!

Shaking the Family Tree

Do you have any famous ancestors, like:

Henry VIII?     

Marian Anderson

Alexander Graham Bell











Billy the Kid

     

            

If you don’t know, and you want to find out, the Fresno County Public Library offers Ancestry Library Edition, a FREE version of Ancestry.com.

Let the Search Begin!

Start with the basic facts you know about an ancestor or relative:

• Name
• Birthdate (you can even find a lot of information with just a year or decade of birth)
• Where they lived (born, died, or any place an important event in their life happened)
• Other family members (parents, children, spouses, brothers/sisters)
• Something important about that person (military service, profession)

With just a few bits of information, you’re on your way to discovering your past!

My Family Story

I’ve always been fond of the stories about my great-grandfather, Alexander Baird. Using Ancestry Library Edition and his name, where he was born and the year (Scotland, 1830 or 1832), I found:

• His parents (Robert Baird and Agnes Bell)
• His wives (married 4 times: one divorced him, one died)
• His children (22 of them)
• His military service (3 tours in the U. S. Navy; he was with Commodore Perry’s expedition to open Japan to Western trade)
• His theatre company
• The name of the ship he took to bring his family to America (The Cynosure)
• A story about the hand-me-down gun he took on his trip West across the Great Plains (one shot could bring down 20 birds)
• 3 obituaries
• His prison record

(Some sources say he was the man on the far left. I think he was the bearded one on the right.)

You may not locate as much information as I did about Alexander when you search for your relatives, but—whatever you find—it will make you go “Wow!”

The Library at Your Fingertips

Are you one of the 29 percent of adult Americans who can’t imagine life without a cell phone? Or are you a recent adopter, navigating your way through a world of apps, texts and notifications for the first time? Regardless of your comfort level, you should know the Fresno County Public Library is accessible on your mobile device, on-the-go, wherever you have online access.

The FCPL Mobile App

It’s 11 at night and you want to know if the library owns the Oscar-winning movie Birdman (we do!). Or maybe you just realized the 23 picture books you checked out for your 3-year-old were due that day. Download our mobile app to your smartphone or tablet, and you can do your library business without leaving the comfort of your nice soft bed. Search our catalog, request items to be sent to your local branch, renew what you have checked out, or ask a real librarian a question via text message, phone, or email. The App works for Apple and Android devices—simply go to your app store and search for “Fresno Library.” Too easy!

Prevent Waiting Room Boredom-- Magazines and eBooks on Your Device

Have you had a doctor's appointment recently? Had to take your car in for maintenance? Did your tax guy's previous appointment run long, leaving you listless in the lobby? You might've had trouble keeping occupied as the minutes slogged by. Of course you can't get that precious time back, but you can be better prepared next time by having the Library's Zinio and Overdrive apps installed on your phone or tablet. Download and keep (yes, we said KEEP) current and back issues of titles like Cosmopolitan, Rolling Stone, and Car and Driver. Or get the Overdrive app and check out eBooks, audiobooks, and streaming media. Read, watch and listen, right from the app!

As always, these services are free and available to any Fresno County resident with a valid library card. If you're having trouble getting started, call or email us today.

Resources for Nonprofits

If you work for a nonprofit, using your time and money efficiently is no doubt a necessity. Are you looking for grant opportunities? Do your staff need training on desktop software? Do you need to find partners or vendors to accomplish your goals? Fresno County Public Library offers a wide range of free services that may help you.

Grants and Nonprofit Center

Take advantage of the Library’s Grants and Nonprofit Center at the Central Library in downtown Fresno. Get access to free grantmaker directories, books on fundraising and nonprofit management, as well as the Foundation Center’s electronic resources. Use these databases to find detailed profiles of all active U.S. foundations, an extensive file of recent grants awarded by the nation's top funders and interactive mapping tools. In-depth training on any of the Center’s resources is available free of charge from the Library. Call (559) 600 - 6201 to make an appointment with a Librarian.

Nolo Guides for Nonprofits via the Legal Information Reference Center

With a valid library card, you get free access to a number of Nolo legal guides designed for nonprofits such as How to Form a Nonprofit Organization, Every Nonprofit’s Tax Guides and Nonprofit Meetings, Minutes, and Records. Download and print a wide selection of legal forms. 

College Prep is in the Air: Resources for College Applicants

Spring is approaching quickly-- and while for some the season brings to mind leisure and longer days, if you're applying to college soon, you might be thinking more about entrance exams than flowers and butterflies. Whether you're an educator, a parent or a college applicant yourself, you should know the Fresno County Public Library has online tools to help you prepare for the SAT, the ACT and Advanced Placement (AP) exams. As long as you have a library card, you can use them from home, school or wherever you have internet access.

Learning Express Database

Access tutorials, practice tests and eBooks to help prepare for:

• SAT Math, Critical Reading and Writing tests
  
• Advanced Placement tests for English Lit and Composition, Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Government, U.S. and European History  
• PSAT/ NMSQT Tests
• College admissions essay writing

eBooks from Overdrive

Having trouble getting your hands on a test-prep book? If you have an eReader, smartphone or PC, you can download test preparation books to your devices. Take a look at the study aids and workbooks available through Overdrive. Ebooks check out for up to three weeks and can be renewed as long as no one is waiting for the title.

As always, Library staff are here to help if you have questions.

FCPL databases provide cardholders with a vast amount of accurate, free online information. This blog post is a part of a weekly series highlighting FCPL databases and is tagged with the blog tag “Resource of the Week.”

Resources for Car Lovers

Do you love cars, trucks, bikes and all things automotive? Do you call your garage your “second home?” Believe it or not, the Fresno County Library has a few free tools that may fuel your obsession. FCPL offers auto magazines you can download and keep as well as repair databases like Chiltons. A few things that may pique your interest:

• Magazines like Hot Rod, Lowrider, 4 Wheel and Off-Road, and Cycle World you can download and keep through Zinio;
• Repair info, bulletins, and wiring diagrams available through databases like Auto Repair Reference Center and Chiltons;
• Test prep materials for the ASE Certification exam, accessible through the Chiltons database.

Want more information? Call or email us today. WoW! staff are even available to drop by your next car club meeting or auto expo.

FCPL databases provide cardholders with a vast amount of accurate, free online information. This blog post is a part of a weekly series highlighting FCPL databases and is tagged with the blog tag “Resource of the Week.”

Library Databases for Parents

Parents worry.

• Are my children healthy?
• Are they learning what they need to know?
• How do I keep them busy and happy?

The Fresno County Public Library has databases that will help you take care of your children and meet their needs…for FREE.

Keep Them Healthy 

• Medline Plus is a website that has easy-to-understand articles and features on health issues from information on common childhood illnesses to health quizzes.

• Consumer Health Complete has information that is generally on a medical-journal level, but it is available in 17 languages.

Keep Them Learning

• Student Research Center is for middle-school and high school students, with encyclopedias, magazines, maps, and flags.

• These Reference Center databases focus on important school subjects and issues, and the people who made a difference.
• Science Reference Center
• Point of View Reference Center
• History Reference Center
• Biography Reference Center

• Kids Search is designed for elementary-school students
• Funk & Wagnall’s New Encyclopedia is a go-to resource for all members of the family.

Keep Them Happy

• Hobbies & Crafts Resource Center has articles and videos that cover everything from camping safety to making pop-up greeting cards.
• Bookflix teams video picture books with read-along non-fiction books that cover similar subjects for preschoolers and grade-school students.

All of these resources to help your family are FREE. Explore the Fresno County Public Library. You’ll be surprised at what you will find.

Home Improvement--Fresno Edition

Is your toilet running when nobody’s there?

Do you need to replace a light switch?

Would a gazebo make your back yard a happier place?

The Fresno County Public Library has a database that has the answer for you—the Home Improvement Resource Center, as close as the library website, and it’s FREE!

What You’ll Find

·         Explanations of how things work

·         Lists of materials

·         The causes of everyday problems

Easy-to-understand articles on:

·         Outdoor projects

·         Plumbing

·         Decorating

·         Feng shui

·         Woodworking

·         Wiring

There’s a glossary of terms you might not know. It’s like a giant encyclopedia of how to fix what is wrong and add those improvements you always wanted to make.

Seeing is learning

Sometimes it's easier to learn by seeing how something is done instead of reading about it. Home Improvement Resource Center includes pictures, videos, and animations that demonstrate basic home projects and repairs.

You can even print out a Homeowner’s Journal, which can be used to record:

·         What work is done on your home

·         When it was done

·         Who did the work

·         How much it cost

It’s a way to keep a record of your maintenance and remind yourself of what needs to be done.

It Works! It Helps!

One of the Home Improvement Resource Center articles helped me figure out what was wrong with my toilet. Even if you aren’t a do-it-yourself handyman, the Home Improvement Resource Center will help you to know what needs to be done, save money, and understand what the professionals you hire are doing.