At the beginning of the summer, we received a press release from the Boston Public Library (BPL) full of great information. With lots of new residents joining the BostonZest readers each September, we decided to save this list of resources until now. We're turning the keyboard over to our friends at the BPL for today's Friday Link.
(These photos are from the BPL App-see #5 below.)
"Boston Public Library’s collections can be easily accessed from home, a local coffee shop, or even the beach. Anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Massachusetts can have a Boston Public Library card. Many residents of the Commonwealth start with an e-card, available online at www.bpl.org/ecard, which grants immediate access to the BPL’s digital resources.
Here are seven ways to sync with the Boston Public Library’s collections and services – all while on the go:
1. Download e-books. Search for e-books – including Kindle titles – and audiobooks in the Boston Public Library’s catalog alongside printed books. Watch a brief tutorial about how to download the books to your e-reader, computer, or mobile device via www.bpl.org/collections/downloadable.htm.
2. Stream music, movies, television shows, and audiobooks. Use your library card to borrow videos, music, and audiobooks for your tablet, smartphone, or laptop. Get started via www.bpl.org/collections/hoopla.htm.
3. Read digital magazines. Enjoy more than 170 popular consumer magazines in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Portuguese via www.bpl.org/collections/zinio.htm. Find titles like Cosmopolitan, Us Weekly, Rolling Stone, and Newsweek.
4. Learn a new language. Boston Public Library offers free access to online language-learning tools such as Powerspeak and Mango, which includes a language-learning tool for children called Little Pim. Learn more via www.bpl.org/electronic/language.asp.
5. Use the BPL app. Renew books, place hold requests (and have them delivered to any BPL location), browse new items, view hours, and more. Download the app via www.bpl.org/mobile.
6. Discover electronic databases. Find newspapers, journal articles, classical music scores, and more. Electronic resources include everything from the archive of the Sunday Times (London) to National Geographic’s virtual library. Go to www.bpl.org/electronic/.
7. Get social. Follow the BPL via social media channels like Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, and Facebook for information on the latest library happenings and to view digitized images of the library’s collection. Boston Public Library’s Twitter and Instagram handle is @BPLBoston."
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Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino and the BPL staff.
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino with screenshots from the BPL app.