As school projects are assigned throughout the year, know that your library is here to help! In addition to books, your Oak Park library card gives you access to a number of subscription-based resources that you can use to help you with your research, such as American Indian History. American Indian History This library research site … Read more
As mentioned in my first post in this series, Google is a great resource of information and can be a useful first source when researching for school projects. But did you know that there are many subscription-based library resources that can be accessed online with your Oak Park library card? Not only that, but you … Read more
We are living in a time with a never-ending stream of information and media that seeks our time and attention. How can you know what is true, what is false, and what is simply taken out of context? It is up to you to fact-check the information you consume, which means taking time to go … Read more
Searching for information using search engines like Google can feel overwhelming at times. The results can seem cluttered, making it difficult to sort through. Search results may appear alongside a variety of ads, knowledge panels, featured snippets, and AI-generated overviews. This post will help identify some of the ways Google presents various information on a … Read more
Have you ever placed a sticky note on a book page to find information quickly later? Tabbed browsing in a web browser works in a similar way. It is a handy way to keep multiple web pages open so you can easily switch between them. Most web browsers—Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari—provide … Read more
By Digital Learning Specialist Amelia Get ready for an awesome adventure at your public library this summer! We’re thrilled to kick off our summer reading program (for kids and adults), which runs all summer long—June 1-August 19. Once again, we’re bringing back Beanstack, a cool digital tracker, to help you keep track of your summer … Read more
Do you need an easier way to move text or images around without having to rewrite a whole paragraph or insert a new photo? The copy, cut, and paste tools are useful skills to know—whether you’re using Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Safari, Google Chrome, or many other browsers and applications. The instructions below will help … Read more
Using a mouse seems simple, but did you know there are shortcuts built into many computer mice? In this post, you’ll discover the different parts of the mouse, how to use the mouse, and what the mouse can do. How to hold the mouse Just like with any other tool, a better grip will help … Read more
Your Oak Park library card is your key to accessing thousands of movies, documentaries, TV shows, and more. Below, find three ways you can use your card to watch films: 1. Stream on Kanopy Part of your digital library, Kanopy is a collection of more than 30,000 feature films, documentaries, educational videos, and TV shows. … Read more
Have VHS tapes, cassette tapes, or film negatives you’d like to digitize and preserve? The library’s Media Stations have equipment to help you do just that. Located on the third floor of the Main Library in the Creative Studio, the stations provide VCRs, high-quality scanners, and other equipment for you to turn your analog media … Read more
By Amy Hofmockel, Creative Technology Librarian In today’s technology landscape, there are hundreds of icons in use. Icons are meant to help people navigate technology by serving as clear, recognizable symbols that represent a function, tool, or file. However, there is currently no standard for use for most of them. Still, across various technologies, some icons … Read more
Did you know? You can scan documents for free at any Oak Park library location. Scan equipment is available on the Main Library’s third floor and at the Maze and Dole branches. Using the scanner, you can send your scan to copy (print), fax, email, save to a USB, or scan to the cloud storage. … Read more
Are you thinking about buying a new car, appliance, gadget, or literally anything else, but feeling overwhelmed or not sure where to start? Consumer Reports is designed to help you navigate all of the options and narrow down products based on consumer tests and reviews. Their goal is to create a fair and just marketplace … Read more
If you have a school project and need to find a variety of sources for your research, your library is here to the rescue! On the Homework Help for Kids page, you can access many subscription-based resources with your Oak Park library card and PIN. National Geographic Kids One valuable resource available to cardholders is … Read more
Have you heard people refer to backing up digital files to “the cloud”? Or the term “cloud backup” or “cloud-based storage”? All of these phrases are ways of describing how files are saved to an offsite location that can be accessed remotely. Companies like Apple, Dropbox, Google, and Microsoft store these files for you at … Read more
Nothing lasts forever, and that includes your old VHS tapes. Even if you still have a VCR to play them, the tape quality can degrade as the years go by. The solution? Digitize those tapes. And you can do it for free in the Main Library Creative Studio! That’s why library patron Alex Yu has … Read more
Today, it’s easier than ever to get information from the internet using smart devices like phones and tablets. When you use smartphones and tablets, you’ll commonly run into the terms downloading and uploading. These words describe activities you have probably already learned how to do. For example, when you open an email on your phone, … Read more
By Creative Technology Librarian Amy Hofmockel Getting to know your phone’s home screen can help you find the apps and tools you need to get your tasks done—whether that’s making a phone call, checking email, or using a favorite app. You can even organize your home screen so only your most used apps show there. Let’s … Read more
Did you know that there is an app you can use to search for library materials, place holds, and manage your checkouts all in one place? The SWAN Libraries + app makes finding and requesting items easy. Let’s review a few basics of how to use the SWAN Libraries + app Install the app Download … Read more
We’re celebrating the first anniversary of the Creative Studio! Since the digital makerspace officially opened last April on the Main Library’s third floor, it’s been a fantastic year of learning, expanding offerings, and, of course, lots of creativity. “The Creative Studio provides access to technology and tools that help patrons realize their personal, professional, and … Read more
