AI stands for “artificial intelligence,” but what exactly does that mean? In science fiction, AI can think, reason, learn, make judgments, and possess cognitive abilities. In reality, however, the narrow AI products we have are trained to do specific tasks. In … Read more
Few things are more frustrating than seeing a “Storage Full” notification. But what does it actually mean? For most people, the biggest reason is that their email account shares storage with other services. For example, Microsoft Outlook accounts include 5 GB … Read more
Finding websites for businesses, restaurants, and community organizations is normally an easy task with the help of search engines. But using a smartphone or other mobile device to find information on these websites can feel overwhelming when each site might … Read more
There are a lot of steps to securing your accounts and personal information these days, and it can seem like you have to jump through hoops just to read your email. However, it’s important to prioritize your account security to … Read more
Join us 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 31. Once again, we’re bringing back Beanstack, a cool … Read more
Think of your computer keyboard as a modern version of the classic typewriter, only smarter. It’s your primary tool for typing text, entering commands, and interacting with your computer. Whether you’re writing an email, browsing the web, or playing a … Read more
By John Gargiulo, Supervising Librarian of Creative Technology Do you have a Gmail account? If you have a Gmail account, Google provides you with access to additional Google apps like Docs, Drive, and Slides. In this post, we’ll cover a few basics of … Read more
In today’s media landscape, it can be challenging to sort through the constant flow of information and evaluate the accuracy of news articles and social media posts. The fast pace, sensational headlines, and frequent layout changes of social media can … Read more
Traducir al español | Przetłumacz na polskiBy John Gargiulo, Supervising Librarian of Creative Technology (translated by Oak Park Public Library staff) Have you ever tried to translate a webpage from one language to another? While some webpages provide a button to switch between … Read more
Last year, artist Antonia Ruppert traveled to Alabama to visit family. Before she returned to Chicago, her cousin gave her some family memorabilia to take home, including a photograph of her grandfather, Prince James. Ruppert had never met her grandfather, … Read more
Whether you are new to crafting or a seasoned master crafter, there is something for everyone on Creativebug. An inspirational resource for DIY, crafters, and makers, Creativebug features more than 1,000 award-winning art and craft video classes taught by recognized … Read more
One evening when Danielle Désiré was small, about 3 or 4 years old, she was running around in the backyard. It was time to settle down for the night and get ready for bed, but Danielle was too busy watching … Read more
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 … 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 … 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 … 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. … 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 webpages open so you can … 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 … 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 … 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 … Read more
