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What's New at the Library!

New OverDriveTrail Blazer Consortium eMedia Library!

All of the same wonderful OverDrive eBooks and Audio eBooks you are used to but now shared with 8 other member libraries of the Trail Blazer Consortium. Nothing has changed except that we now welcome the following Trail Blazer member library patrons to access a shared pool of eBooks and other media. The member libraries are:

Concordia Parish Library
East Carroll Parish Library
Franklin Parish Library
Jackson Prish Library
Madison Parish Libray
Morehouse Parish Library
Ouachita Parish Library
Richland Parish Library
Union Parish Library

If you are a member in good standing at any of these libraries you can download and enjoy any of the items on the new website. Click the logo above to connect. Active on Tuesday, Feb. 14th!

OverDrive eBooks for Kindle

OverDrive has just announced download eBook campatablity with Kindle ebook readers. All browsing, searching, and checkout will remain the same at the library's Virtual Branch website. When a user checks out a Kindle book, a "Get for Kindle" link will be presented that opens a new window or tab at Amazon, prompting the user to login to their Amazon account. Fulfillment will occur at Amazon's website so you will need an Amazon account to access the library ebook in Kindle format. NO PUURCHASE OR CREDIT CARD IS REQUIRED! All you need to set up an account is an email addres and name.

Look at these links for more information:

• Amazon info link.
• OverDrive info link

Get a library card and start downloading eBooks and eAudiobooks now!

New Library Catalog Features.

Map It!

Ever look at the catalog and wonder where the branch that has an item is located? Now all you have to do is click the button Map It. Map It connects to Google Maps and gives you all of the locations that own the item AND shows you if that item is available and how many copies. You can zoom into the map too!

Just do a search on any item you are interested in and click the Map It button.

Have you looked at the library catalog lately? It is full of new features. Among them is the ability to share your finds with friends on your social network site using AddThis. Just look under the picture of the bookjacket and you will see the AddThis orange symbol. Click and choose the site of your choice.

Searching the catalog and need to remember the Dewey number so you can find it on the shelves? Click on the Availability button and you will see an icon of a cell phone. Click on the phone and a pop-up will appear. If you are logged into your account and have your cell and carrier in your registration it will auto-fill. If not just put in the phone number, choose the carrier and click the Send button. The info will be sent to you in a txt.

Text Message and Email Notices!

On the go and don't want to wait for printed library notices? Then sign up for either Text or Email notices. Call any branch of the library and give them your library barcode then tell them your email address if you want email notices or cell number and carrier if you want text notices. Carry the library wherever you go! More eServices for modern library use!

MobilePAC!

Don't have an iPhone? Then use MobilePAC. Just like the functions in the iPhone and iPad, MobilePAC lets you have the catalog optimized on any smartphone*. Just bring up your browser and go to http://catalog.oplib.org/mobile and start using the catalog. You can search, see book jackets, look for item locations. You can place a hold and have it sent to the branch of your choice.. If you log into your account you can see your fines, renew items, cancel holds, see your reading history (if you have this function turned on). You can see the open hours of all of our branches. There are many more functions. Visit MobilePAC from any mobile phone including iPhones and enjoy the experience of having the library with you at all times!

*Some Blackberry phones do not work with MobilePAC but a fix is in the works.

• This is a separate collection of eBooks from our OverDrive collection.
• The collection contains more than 15,000 public domain titles.
• You do NOT need to sign in to download public domain titles. 
• When you hover over a title you will see more information about it.
• Checkouts from the collection do NOT count against your checkout limit.
• Titles are always available, offering unlimited simultaneous access.
• Public domain titles do not expire.
• The collection uses Adobe Digital Editions software that you currently use for OverDrive eBooks.
• The ‘tips’ link at the top of the collection provides instructions on how to download public domain titles.

Click icon to go to Project Gutenberg

Downloadable eBooks!

The Ouachita Parish Public Library is happy to bring the world of books right to you without ever leaving your home! Our new downloadable eBook service from OverDrive makes that possible. Dozens of eBooks now with more titles added every month. Best of all, this exciting and convenient new service is FREE from your library with a library card. Just Connect, Click and Read!  Click on the icon above for more information and instructions on how to use our new service.

OverDrive now has free apps for your iPhones and iPad. Download directly to your device!

OPPL - There's an App for That!

Out and about? Want to know if the library has a book, DVD, CD, etc.? Want to check if your holds are ready to pick up? Want to know what you already have out? We have a FREE iPhone app for that! Ouachita Parish Public Library will be the first Polaris based library in the U.S. to feature a fully integrated iPhone app! It will also work on an iPod Touch running iOS3 and connected via wireless.Search the App Store for OPPL iLibrary. A Blackberry app will follow soon.

OPPL - iPad App!

Like the iPhone App? Then you will love the FREE iPad App. Just like the the functions in the iPhone the iPad will be fully integrated with the Ouachita Public Library online catalog. Search the App Store for OPPL iLibrary

Wireless Printing

We now have wireless printing available for patrons using their laptops. You can print from any branch, any place in the parish, or any place in the world to our wireless printers at Main Branch or Ouachita Valley Branch.

It is as simple as 1, 2, 3.

For Main Branch:

1. Go to www.printeron.net/ricoh/200764 and upload your file. Make your payment.
2. A release code will be emailed back to you.
3. Enter the release code using the keypad at the printer and your documents will print.

It's that easy!

For Ouachita Valley Branch:

1. Go to www.printeron.net/ricoh/200752 and proceed with steps 2 and 3 above.

Or you can visit www.printeron.net/system/hotspot_search.jsp, choose United States, then Louisiana, then either Monroe or West Monroe depending on which branch you would like to pick up your prints.

All prints are color and cost $1 per page with your credit or debt card.

Text A Librarian

Have a burning question? Can't wait to get the answer? Not near a computer or a library branch? Then Text A Librarian is for you. Just text us at 66746 and use the keyword oplib before your question. We will answer you quickly with reliable answers! Follow the link on the phone icon for more information.

Facebook!

Ouachita Parish Public Library is now on Facebook! Become a Friend or Fan and follow what's happening!

OPPL YA Book blog. Book reviews, book trailers, and more.

RSS Feeds for new titles.

Did you know that both AquaBrowser and the Polaris OPAC have RSS Feeds?

In AquaBrowser you can get feeds of subject and author new adds. IE 7 has a built in aggregator so if you are running that you don’t have to load a separate reader. If you sign up for title or author RSS feeds you will know instantly when new books by that author or all new titles are added to our catalog.

In the Polaris OPAC there are RSS Feeds on the Library Info tab AND on all of the search tabs. The feeds in Polaris are for new books, videos, recordings, and Large Print.

Try our new RSS Feeds and get notification of our new titles and authors instantly ! Just follow the links to Enhanced Catalog for AquaBrowser or Catalog for the Classic Polaris OPAC and sign up for RSS Feeds.

NextReads

Get great book suggestions by email!
Subscribe to NextReads today!

NextReads will deliver reading listsright to your Inbox.
Click the icon above to sign up.

Click here (opens as a Word document) to read more about it!

MyLibraryBookstore

Want to read a new book with dozens of requests and don't want to wait? Want to buy the new best seller? Want to get that newly released CD, DVD or Video game for yourself or someone else? Well now you can do it directly from the Library catalog! Search any title or author and when your search comes back you will see a new button that says BUY NOW. That button takes you to the fully interactive MyLibraryBookstore. You can either get the exact item you searched or browse around and find anything you want to read, listen to, or watch.

Just follow this link or any MyLibraryBookstore link from the home page or the catalog. You can shop at a discount similar to Amazon.com and get your items shipped directly to your home or anywhere else you designate. AND the library will get a portion of the profits so you will help us sustain our collections and programming - convenient for you and a help to us. This new service is brought to you in conjuction with Baker & Taylor and SirsiDynix. Keep checking for more items and more features!

New Wireless Internet Access at all Branches. Free!

Want to use your own laptop to access the Internet while you are in the library? Now you can at all branches. Just connect to our network using your library barcode and PIN or sign in as a guest. Follow this link for more information.

Playaway Digital Books:

Want digital ebooks but don't own a computer or MP3 player? The answer is Playaway Digital Books. Every Playaway comes already loaded with your favorite book from novels to biographies, languages to history lessons.

Listening no longer has to be complicated. Just open the package, insert the battery, plug in the earphones and turn it on. Don't have head phones? The library will even sell you earbuds for a dollar.

Enjoy digital sound from a lightweight player with eight simple buttons. Wear it around your neck or stick it in your pocket. From novels to biographies, languages to business best sellers, Playaway comes already loaded with your favorite content .

Nothing to do - but listen.

TumbleTalkingBooks for Adults:

Ouachita Parish Public Library's newest service is TumbleTalkingBooks for adults. The TumbleTalkingBooks online catalogue contains a growing collection of streamable audio books. Many contain 3 minute samples to listen to before you begin the entire book. You can visit the TumbleTalkingBooks catalog at any time.

These books are never on hold or checked out and many people can listen to the same book at a time. You can listen to any book whenever you want for as long as you want, and then bookmark your place and return and listen again at your convenience.

TumbleTalkingBooks are ideal for readers of all ages and abilities, even those learning English as a second language.

Click here for more information on TumbleTalkingBooks for Adults.

TumbleReadables:

TumbleReadables are a collection of large print electronic books with allows you to read books online by simply clicking a button. No special font software.

The TumblePad Reader, with its innovative font size slider, enables the viewer to raise the font size to up to 34 point, bringing the joy of reading to young, old, and vision impaired. We can now provide readers of every ability and interest with unlimited remote access to a collection of titles licensed from North American book publishers.

People who have difficulties reading small print, who are partially sighted, visually challenged, or just enjoy reading on line and want to enlarge the print can enjoy classic novels, best sellers and more. The collection includes classics like War and Peace, David Copperfield, Robinson Crusoe, Fiction like the Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, Sophie's Choice by William Styron, and Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. We also have Non Fiction like Winston Churchill's, Their Finest Hour, children's chapter book, YA novels, High Interest/Low Level books, and classic tales.

Click here for TumbleReadables.

TumbleBooks:

TumbleBooks is an online collection of animated, talking picture books, reading comprehension quizzes, educational games, and teacher resources for children and teachers. Listen to a book or read along with the sound off. Play learning games and do puzzles right on your home computer. You can also download interactive reading software. And TumbleBooks now has downloadable eBooks for children.

Click here for TumbleBooks.

The best kept secret in the Library - Ouachita Digital Archive!

For several years now Ouachita Parish Public Library has had an impressive collection of original photos and documents digitized for patron access 24x7 in the Polaris Fusion system.

Access can be gained by simply clicking the Catalog button from the home page. Once in the Polaris catalog you can search in any way. if you only want to access the digital collection choose it in the Limit by from the drop down menu.

We have hundreds of vintage photos of Monroe, West Monroe, Ouachita Parish, and more. You very well might find a vintage photo of friends or relatives. See the oldest photos in our collection of the 1867 Monroe fire. See turn of the 20th century photos of people and places around Ouachita Parish. In short if you are doing research on the history of our area this is the place you should be.

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