Sunday 28 February 2016

Sunday February 28th, 2016 Virtually Amazing!

Your Library added an exciting new collection in January -- Zinio for Libraries.  Zinio offers full-colour digital magazines for immediate checkout and reading online on desktop and mobile devices, or download through apps. We selected twenty titles to start this collection, and welcome your suggestions for other magazine you would like to read online.  Please send your suggestions to Joanna at jaegard@tbpl.ca    The five most popular titles in Zinio, so far, are OK! Magazine, Hello! Magazine, Canadian Living, Martha Stewart Living and Glamour.  New issues are added to Zinio as soon as, or before, the print edition is released.  You can sign up for weekly email reminders about your favourite magazines.  There are no limits to how many people can access each magazine at once, so you never have to place a hold and wait for an issue.  There are also no limits on how many magazines you can check out.  You can keep them in your account for as long as you wish.  Apps are available for Apple, Android and Kindle Fire devices.  Zinio’s help pages are truly helpful, and include detailed instructions for using it on various types of devices.  Online help is also available through the site.  To get started with Zinio go to www.tbpl.ca/zinio

Another exciting recent addition to your Library is the online language learning platform Transparent Language.  This platform includes over 95 different languages, with 1,500 to 2,000 words and phrases for every language.  It also includes English learning (ESL) for speakers of 25+ languages, including intermediate-level immersion courses.  The most popular languages in Thunder Bay so far are Spanish, French, Afrikaans, Danish and German.  Of note Finnish, Italian, Oji-Cree, Cree, three dialects of Ojibwe and six dialects of Arabic are included.  Transparent Language makes learning fun with a flexible learning structure including dozens of learning activities designed to engage your brain for rapid learning and maximum retention.  You can access the full site on any PC, Mac or tablet, or via the Transparent Language app for iPhone and Android devices.  Cultural and social connections provide a full learning experience.  Go to www.tbpl.ca/learnalanguage to access Tranparent Language.  This is an excellent resource for travellers, French Immersion parents and those working with refugees. We welcome your stories of how learning through Transparent Language has enriched your travel, helped with your studies or assisted with cross-cultural understanding.  Share them with us on Facebook, Twitter (@TBayPL) or email comments@tbpl.ca

Zinio and Transparent Language are the newest additions to our extensive and diverse Virtual Collection. Go to www.tbpl.ca/virtualcollection and log in to My Giant Search to explore what’s available.  You’ll find databases of articles from magazines, newspapers and journals, Encyclopedia Britannica, auto-repair and small engine repair information, literary criticism and more.  Teen Health and Wellness can help adolescents and their parents manage the teen years.  NoveList is a wonderful resource for avid and reluctant readers of all ages.  Speciality databases for children include KidsInfoBits, Tumblebooks, Searchasuarus and PebbleGo.  Curious children can spend time learning online in fun, safe, picture-based environments. Information in our Virtual Collection is reliable, trustworthy and can not be found through Google.  Students can use this information for school projects, and often proper citations are provided by the database. 

In addition to meeting your information needs, the Virtual Collection includes eBooks, movies, eAudiobooks, TV shows, music and comics to meet your leisure needs.  Check out OverDrive, hoopla and Naxos Music Library -- all of which have apps for use on the go.

Your Library card is the key to this treasure trove of reliable information, great reads, interesting movies and wonderful music.  You can use it all from anywhere in the world you have a computer or portable device and internet access.

Joanna Aegard

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