Tips for searching the eLibrary

We have just added the 27,000th title to the eLibrary which means that it's collection is now as large as those of our medium-sized branches such as Belgrave, Boronia and Ferntree Gully. It is sometimes a bit hard to find what you want to read when presented with such a large number of items to choose from so I thought it would be useful to give you a couple of strategies that may help.

1. If you want to see what has been recently added to the collection you can click on Advanced Search select the period you want to view from the drop down menu next to 'Added to site' and then click the blue 'Search' box.

2. If you are looking for books by a particular author or title you will get more accurate results by putting your search term in quotation marks.

3. If you find that you enjoy books on a certain topic or genre it is sometimes easier to find similar books by searching the eLibrary for books released by a particular publisher. Again you do this by going to  Advanced Search and then choosing the publisher from the drop down menu in the 'All publishers' box.

For instance if you are looking for Gay and Lesbian romances the publisher called Dreamspinner Press specialises in this genre.

For history books try a search on the publishers The History Press or Pen and Sword.

Happy eReading, Paul.

Catalogue upgrade Tuesday 14th January & alert for IE8 users

The library catalogue will be unavailable from 2am Tuesday 14th January for approximately 2-4 hours while a catalogue upgrade is undertaken.

Internet Explorer 8 users - There are issues searching this upgraded version of the catalogue with IE8, a system error appears. SirsiDynix are working on a fix but in the meantime I would recommend upgrading your browser via Windows Update or at Microsoft.

Chrome, Firefox and more recent versions of Internet Explorer do not give this system error.


Cheers, webgurl

New 'Kid Zone' website provides a kid-friendly eLibrary experience

We have just added a new version of the eLibrary to our webpage which is directed just at kids. The main eLibrary collection, http://erl.lib.overdrive.com, now has a separate site that will provide a safe and easy browsing experience for kids. You can access the new site at the following address, http://erl.lib.overdrive.com/Kids or by clicking on the main site and then clicking on the 'for Kids eReading Room' button.

Just as the kid's section of the physical library is separate from the adult collection, the same experience is now available in the eLibrary collection. There are over 2,000 age-appropriate eBooks and eAudiobooks available in the 'Kid Zone'. Browsing can be done by subject, reading level or interest level. 

The 'Kid Zone' site filters the overall eLibrary collection to just show content for children which means that they get to the titles that they want faster. As ever this service if free to any member with a current library card. eLibrary titles are available anytime, anywhere and expire automatically after three weeks so there is no need to worry about late fees.

Happy eReading!

 

New Carpet - coming to you at Rowville Library

Just letting everyone know that the Rowville Library will be closed for re-carpeting from:

Monday 6 January til Monday 13 January.

The after hours book chute will still be available for returns.

In the meantime, if you need to get in contact with us with any help or questions about your account feel free to contact us on phone 1300 737 277 or you can contact us via our Facebook Page.

Competition - Fashionista's Guide to Shopping in Melbourne

It's end of year competition time!

Be in the running to win one of our limited copies of the Fashionista's Guide to Shopping in Melbourne 2013. 

This popular handbook features over 250 fashion boutiques, catering to all styles, ages and price ranges. Filled with beautiful photos, fashion ideas and packed with shop details, this guide is a must-have for finding the best fashion hubs in Melbourne.


How to Enter

It's easy! Simply email a photo of yourself with an article of clothing you could not live without or your favourite, never to throw away accessory.

Be creative, be humorous - you can display whatever you like (A few of us here are quite attached to their moccasins and fluffy dressing gowns, if that helps!)

We can't wait to see what people can't live without.

All entries to be emailed to facebook@erl.vic.gov.au
Entries close Monday December 31st
 
Winners will be notified via email and announced in early January on our Facebook Page.

Food for Fines Amnesty - One Week Only

Eastern Regional Libraries is once again running the popular Food for Fines Amnesty to help local charities and library members during the up and coming holiday period.

How does it work?
Patrons with overdue charges on their cards (no matter how big) donate non-perishable, non-expired food items and in return all overdue charges on their cards will be cleared.

All food donations will go to local charities to help them supply food packages for families in need. Charities will accept food no earlier than six months prior to the use-by date.

Food for Fines - Hooray! Everyone wins!

So, if yourself or someone you know has a fine that has been sitting there for ages, bring down some goodies and we will take care of the rest. The amnesty is for one week only so all donations can get to the charities and out to needy families in time for Christmas.

A special thank you to our blog, Facebook  and Twitter followers who suggested we re-run this program - Christmas is always a tough time of year financially and these amnesty drives are always very bountiful (to say the least! The generosity is just incredible - talk about spreading the love).

We look forward to  receiving people's donations, clearing up those fines and some all round Christmas cheer.

When:  Saturday December 14 to Saturday 21 December
Where: All branches will be participating in the Food for Fines Amnesty (except the community reading rooms at Monbulk, Mt Evelyn and Yarra Glen)
Accepted items: Non-perishable items no older than 6 months before expiration dates.

**Please note the amnesty only applies to Overdue Charges, all other charges will not be cleared.

Cheers, The Virtual Team

Download eBooks from the eLibrary with a Kindle Fire HD

Amazon have released their own tablet computer called the Kindle Fire HD which is now available at a number of Australian retailers including Dick Smith and Big W. Since the Fire HD is basically an Android powered tablet it is compatible with the Overdrive Media Console App which powers our eLibrary and allows you to download eBooks and eAudiobooks. You can find information on how to set up your Kindle Fire HD at the following set of videos available on the Overdrive Help site - Kindle Fire HD. I also found this Help page very useful when setting up the Kindle Fire HD - How To Install Overdrive's Mobile App on a Kindle Fire HD.

Please remember that the Kindle Fire HD is the only Kindle device that is compatible with Overdrive in Australia.

Happy eReading, Paul.

Ringwood Library relocation details

Ringwood Library - temporary location from 14th October

Ringwood Library is relocating to a temporary location in October. The library will close at 5pm on Friday 4th October and will re-open at 9am Monday 14th October at the new temporary location, 28 Warrandyte Rd, Ringwood.

Not sure where that is? Check the following map.

Ringwood Library relocation (click on the map to enlarge)

Getting there

Walk: An estimated 10 minute walk from Ringwood Railway station (walk right along Maroondah Hwy, then turn left down Warrandyte Rd)
Bus: There are bus stops on Warrandyte Rd, near Aird St and Woodside Ave.

364 - Warrandyte - Ringwood via Ringwood North (Departs Ringwood Station - Aird St or Woodside Ave)

271 - Box Hill - Ringwood via Park Orchards (Departs Ringwood Station - Woodside Ave)

366 - Ringwood - Croydon via Croydon Hills (Departs Ringwood Station - Aird St or Woodside Ave)

906 - City - Warrandyte Bridge (SMARTBUS Service) (Departs Ringwood Station - Woodside Ave)
Car: There are approximately 50 carpark spaces (mostly at the rear of the building). There are 2 accessible car park spaces at the front of the building.

If travelling from Maroondah Highway it is recommended that visitors enter via Pratt Street at the rear of the building and park in the rear carpark. (Officeworks is on the corner of Pratt St and Maroondah Highway).

Croydon Library

Croydon Library and its after hours book chute will remain open during the Ringwood Library relocation (5 - 13 October) and is located at Civic Square, Croydon (near Arndale Shopping Centre on Mt Dandenong Rd).

New library

A new, state-of-the-art centre is being built at the corner of Maroondah Hwy and Warrandyte Rd. It will integrate a library, a learning centre, an art gallery and Council service centre.  Find out more about the new Ringwood Library Learning and Cultural Centre at http://www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/RLLCC.aspx.

Cheers, webgurl