Sunday October 24th, 2010 Aged to Perfection

Those of us in the 50 plus category are often referred to as internet immigrants because we came to the internet and computers in general, as an adult. My children would call me internet illiterate, but I beg to differ. My father, who is 84, is often known to stay up late into the night, playing online bridge with fellow gamers. And, my mother is often scouring the library website for her next good read. The library has many digital items that would be of interest to the older crowd.

The library has many virtual learning opportunities. There are internet classes available that are 1.5 hour long hands on sessions held in the Waverley Training Lab. Topics include Introduction to the Internet and Searching Tips and Tricks. Perhaps you would like the inside scoop on using your Library Card online. In our programme, Online Explorers, you learn how to renew your books, place holds, save your favourite searches, get notified when a new book by your favourite author arrives, keep a reading history and more! Want to get on Facebook to keep in touch with your kids or grandkids? Book a private one-hour session with our Facebook Coach. More information or registration for any of these programmes is available by calling 684-6815.

If research about your family tree is of interest, check out new updates to our Web site at www.tbpl.ca for information on genealogy and local history. You will also find helpful tips and strategies for doing effective research. Ancestry.com is available at all Library locations.

If items of a non-digital nature are more your style, the Library has plenty in that respect as well. Both fiction and non-fiction books, large print titles, and magazines. Here are a few suggestions:

FIRMING AFTER 50 [dvd]: A Complete Upper and Lower Body Workout by Joel Harper. From firming and shaping the entire body to building cardio strength to advanced relaxation techniques, this series shows how to use yoga to help tone and firm your whole body and achieve total fitness. Useful for both beginners and advanced users.

UNBELIEVABLY GOOD DEALS AND GREAT ADVENTURES THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN’T GET UNLESS YOU’RE OVER 50, 2009-2010 by Joan Rattner Heilman. The over-50 set’s bible for bargains, from golf to globe- trotting. Inside this proven bestseller you will find even more information about trips, discounts, clubs, programs, and special perks--only good if you are over 50! Includes amazing bargains on airfares, hotels, car rentals, public transportation, vacations designed for you and your grandkids, tennis camps, golf vacations, ski clubs and more. A great book for the over-50-but-not-over-the-hill-crowd.

EAT WHAT YOU LOVE: MORE THAN 300 INCREDIBLE RECIPES LOW IN SUGAR, FAT AND CALORIES by Marlene Koch. Enjoy all the delicious foods you love--guilt free as you effortlessly cut the sugar, slash the fat and calories, and curb the excess carbs. EAT WHAT YOU LOVE is the perfect family cookbook with healthy recipes that never sacrifice taste.

The Thunder Bay Public LIbrary also has an extensive audiovisual collection of materials in non-book formats. We carry audiobooks, which are books on compact disc (CD), MP3CD, and Playaway formats in both abridged (shortened) and unabridged versions. Playaways are the easiest way to listen to audiobooks – simply press play and go! The complete audiobook is pre-loaded on to its own player. The entire unit is about the size of half a deck of cards and fits nicely into a pocket. Great for listening while on the go. You will need to supply your own headphones and one AAA battery (both can be purchased at the Library). You can browse our collection of Playaways in our Online catalogue.

Helen Cimone, Public Services Assistant