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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … Read more
By Digital Learning Specialist Amelia Ever wondered what the buttons do at the top of your browser bar? Let’s find out! Whether you’re on a PC or a Mac, you’ll encounter a similar set of buttons or icons. These buttons … Read more
LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform with video tutorials to learn business, software, technology, and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. Check out LinkedIn Learning FAQs. Meet LinkedIn Learning With LinkedIn Learning you can: How to log in … Read more
By John Gargiulo, Supervising Librarian of Creative Technology In an earlier Tech Tips post, I shared tips and tricks on how to read ebooks and digital magazines on Libby with your smartphone or tablet. But did you know you also can listen to … Read more
By John Gargiulo, Supervising Librarian of Creative Technology Did you know that as an Oak Park Public Library cardholder you can access tens of thousands of ebooks and digital audiobooks, and thousands of digital magazines on your smartphone or tablet? In this series … Read more
By Creative Technology Librarian Amy Hofmockel Do you have a desktop covered in icons you don’t use? Are you interested in decluttering your digital workspace? Let’s go over some basics of file management so you can find the files you want … Read more
By Digital Learning Specialist Amelia You probably have seen them somewhere by now, black and white square or circular barcode images—known as QR codes (short for Quick Response codes)—on contactless menus, advertisements, and even as a form of payment around … Read more
By Amy Hofmockel, Creative Technology Librarian When using apps or programs you may come across an image, article, or link that you want to share with someone else. You could copy or download the media and paste it into or attach … Read more
You might be familiar with the keyboard shortcuts for copy, cut, and paste (and if you’re not, check step-by-step instructions on how to use them on a Windows or Mac computer and on your smartphone). But did you know that … Read more
By Amy Hofmockel, Creative Technology Librarian When using apps and programs it can sometimes be hard to figure out how to access the menu. It can seem like the icons you need to tap to open the menu are constantly changing, … Read more
By Amelia, Digital Learning Specialist Have you ever wondered what the letters “URL” mean or seen the phrase “follow this link for more information”? Maybe you’ve seen a URL or a website link in advertisements or on event flyers, product … 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
Interested in a convenient way to read newspapers on your phone? With access to more than 7,000 publications from around the world in their original language and format, PressReader is a helpful tool. This post will cover some basics that … Read more
It’s so important to create strong passwords—and frequently update them—even though most websites have security measures in place to keep your personal information private. Let’s go over a few of the most basic—but most important—ways to keep your digital data … Read more
Your Oak Park Public Library card gives you access to thousands of digital newspapers and magazines. Different streaming apps like PressReader, Flipster, and Libby all provide access to digital newspapers and magazines. So what is the best way to start … Read more
