THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The following events are planned for adults, children, young adults, and their families in November 2019 at George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library, 8125 Ashlane Way, The Woodlands, Texas. All events take place at the George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library:

Featured Event

Monday, November 18th from 10:00-11:15 am - Play-Learn-Grow: A Family Place Library Parent/Child Workshop The workshop involves children from ages 1 to 3 and their caregivers. Spend time together, play in a playgroup atmosphere, make friends, and talk one-on-one with a specialist on child development. Heather Webster, Speech-Language Pathologist, of Webster Therapy Center will be our special guest discussing and answering questions on speech, hearing, and language development.

Computer Classes

Friday, November 1st and November 15th from 9:30-11:30am Open LabHave a question about your computer, phone, or tablet? Need help using a Microsoft Office program, Windows, or other software? Come visit the Computer Lab during Open Lab and our computer analyst, Brian, can help you find answers to your technology questions.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, November 5th, November 12th, November 19th, and November 26th at 9:30am Microsoft Word 2016 (Parts 1-4)Microsoft Word is the most often used application for creating documents such as resumes and letters. Join us as we learn Word in depth from start to finish.

Thursday, November 7th at 9:30am Introduction to SmartphonesWhat is an app? How do I download my pictures from my phone to my computer? These questions and more will be answered in this smartphones basics class. Bring a USB cable and your phone with you to class for assistance with your particular device. This class will focus on Android smartphones, but many of the principles discussed apply to iPhones as well.

Thursday, November 14th at 9:30am Email BasicsThis class will cover creating an email account, sending and receiving email, and organizing your mail. Join us for this introductory class.

Thursday, November 21st at 9:30am Learn a Language OnlineAre you interested in learning a new language such as Spanish, Japanese, French, or over 100 others, or in improving your English? Join us for an introductory class on your librarys free language learning software, Transparent Language. Learn how to understand, read, speak, and write another language using a device you already own. *Bring your library card for full access during class.

Monthly or Bi-Monthly Events at the Library- First and Third Friday, November 1st and 15th at 9:30am Needlecrafts: Knit & StitchCrocheters, knitters, embroiderers, quilters, and all textile artists welcome. Bring your own work-in-progress and supplies! Drop by Conference Room 222 on the second floor for inspiration and to meet fellow crafters.

Monday, November 4th from 5:30-7:00pm Girls Who Code Teen Girls Ages 12-17Join the Girls Who Code movement. Learn to code with girls like you and professional women from ExxonMobil. Space in the Computer Lab is limited and registration is required.

Tuesday, November 5th from 5:30-8:00 pm De-Stress Sesh Teens 13-17 Teens have an opportunity to decompress by coloring, journaling, listening to music, playing games, aromatherapy, and snacking. Registration requested.

First Thursday, November 7th at 2:00pm Adult Fiction Book ClubJoin us for a discussion of The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. One of our favorite author is back with a story of two siblings with special ties to the amazing house of their childhood. After being forced out of this idyllic place, they struggle all their lives to recover. Dont we all wish to revisit the magical place of our childhood where things were as they should be?

Saturday, November 9th from 9:00am-1:00pm Teen Practice Exams Teens 13-17Take a free practice ACT exam through our partnership with Woodlands Test Prep. Test scores will be returned to participants along with suggestions on how to improve scores for when it counts. Space is limited. Register online through the link at http://www.countylirbary.org/calendar.htm.

Second and Third Tuesday, November 12th and November 19th at 1:00pm Adult Writers GroupIf you have a writing project you would like to start or a project you want to finish, Mitchell Writers Group might be a source of inspiration for you. Participants discuss each others work and offer supportive critique. Come join the fun!

Second Tuesday, November 12th at 1:30pm CrafternoonsJoin us in Community Room 102 for Crafternoons, an adult-focused craft program for adults and families to express their creativity! Each month will feature free crafts to create and take home, while supplies last. No advanced skills needed; just show up ready to have fun, meet other community members, and create something amazing! All ages welcome, but be aware that crafts are intended for adults. All supplies and instructions provided; no registration needed. Join us for our 2019 Retrospective and make a craft you missed or make your favorite craft from the past year again. Happy crafting!

Tuesday, November 12th from 5:30-8:00 pm Gaming Night Teens 13-17Teens gather to play games of all kinds, from classic board games to the newest video games. Snacks provided. Registration requested.

Saturday, November 16th from 10:00am-3:00pm Craft Fun Children 12 and youngerCome to the library for creative, self-directed craft activities for children. This event is a come-and-go activity and a child must be supervised by an adult.Tuesday, November 19th from 5:30-8:00 pm Scrabble Competition Teens 13-17Teens will compete playing the classic game Scrabble. Snacks provided and prizes awarded for 1st and 2nd place finishers. Registration required.

Third Wednesday, November 20th at 6:30pm Adult Evening Book ClubNot sure what to read next? Let us pick the book for you! The evening book club reads a mix of fiction and non-fiction selections and meets in Community Room 102 for a lively discussion of the current book. Octobers book of choice is Whiskey & Charlie by Annabel Smith, a captivating debut novel of brothers who have drifted apart and the accident that will determine their future.

Third Thursday, November 21st at 1:00pm Adult Nonfiction Book ClubPlease join us in Community Room 102 to attend and enjoy refreshments and the camaraderie of like-minded readers. Novembers selection is Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by award-winning author Patrick Keefe, a stunning, intricate narrative about a notorious killing in Northern Ireland and its devastating repercussions.

Tuesday and Wednesday, November 26th and November 27th from 10:00am-3:00pm Craft Fun Children 12 and youngerCome to the library for creative, self-directed craft activities for children. This event is a come-and-go activity and a child must be supervised by an adult.

Tuesday, November 26th at 5:30pm Movie Night Teens 13-17Pizza, popcorn, and movie candy will be served. Registration is required.

Weekly Events at the Library Mondays from 10:00am-12:00pm - Tiny Tots Library Play Time Ages 3 and youngerJoin us for a come-and-go Family Place Library weekly event that encourages play with educational toys and board books. Spend time together, play in a playgroup atmosphere, make friends, and visit with other parents. *There will not be Tiny Tots Library Play Time the week of November 25th.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00am, 10:30am, and 11:00am - Family Storytime Ages 3 and youngerThis story program is for children and a caregiver with an emphasis on stories and activities for toddlers. This program emphasizes early literacy skills and is a great way to meet other families with young children. *There will not be Family Storytime the week of November 25th.

Tuesdays at 1:30 pm - School Age Storytime Ages 4 and upChildren are introduced to new authors and illustrators and develop listening, thinking, participation, literacy, and social skills. * Children may attend story club by themselves, but a parent or guardian must remain in the library during the program. **There will not be School Age Storytime the week of November 25th.

Library Holiday ClosingNovember 11th - Veterans Day all MCMLS branches closedNovember 25th Thanksgivingall MCMLS branches close at 5pmNovember 27th-30th - Thanksgiving Early Closing all MCMLS branches closed

All current library events may be viewed at the MCMLS website - http://www.countylibrary.org**All events are free and open to the public****All events are subject to change without prior notice. Please check with the library to confirm the day and

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George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library, The Woodlands Texas, Announces Events For November 2019 - Woodlands Online

ThursdayOct3,2019at4:49PM

Oct 2 To the Editor:

This November, residents of Kittery have the opportunity to preserve the historic Rice Library by voting to approve a $5 million bond for renovation and expansion. By adding approximately 10,000 sq. ft., the project will more than double the existing space in the Rice building and make it accessible to those with disabilities. A new programming area will house in- and after-hours activities, ensuring that the library continues to be the heart of the community and an architectural anchor in the Foreside.

Currently staff and patrons move between two buildings, neither of which adequately serve the number of people wanting to participate in the librarys many offerings. Already the library hosts discussion groups of books and films, lectures on local history, movie nights, computer literacy workshops, andincredible as it soundsmore than 300 activities for children each year. The addition of an elevator and other elements to enhance accessibility in conjunction with space that can be reconfigured to house different sized audiences will result in increased patronage and expanded programming.

Your approval of the bond goes far beyond preserving the beloved Rice building. It reflects the values of a community dedicated to education and inclusiveness and will stand, as Mark Twain said of public libraries, the most enduring of memorials of Kitterys commitment to the future.

Susan Goodman

Kittery Point, Maine

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Preserve and improve Kittery's historic Rice Library by supporting bond - Seacoastonline.com

October is the month when attention turns to Halloween and spooky stories of ghosts and eerie happenings. Let me open the season with some tales of supernatural occurrences at the old Long Beach Main library, and I will leave it up to you to find out if the spirits have followed their beloved literary tomes to the new Billie Jean King Main library. They did before when the 1909 Carnegie library in Lincoln Park was torn down after a fire and its replacement built on the same site in 1977. But the BJK Main library is in a different location in the park. Will that make a difference?

Who are these literary spirits? Many were revealed by my fellow workers when I was gathering tales for my Haunted Long Beach books.

There was the lady in white dressed in a Victorian style dress, who hung around on the upper level of the library. Several people told me of seeing her in the area by Pacific Avenue and Ocean Boulevard.

One new employee sheepishly told me they were clearing books in the genealogy section of the library when she saw someone standing next to her. She considered it strange that the person was in the library before opening hours, but she thought it might be someone on the staff whom she hadnt yet met. She was about to say something, turned and saw that the person standing next to her was a young, transparent girl dressed in Victorian attire. The apparition, who appeared with a friendly smile, had her blond hair done up in curls. In the blink of an eye she was gone.

Do you remember Y2K, when everything related to computers was supposed to go haywire when we switched from 1999 to 2000? Well, in anticipation of any problems the Long Beach Civic Center was staffed for extra precaution on New Years Eve. A security guard was alone in the library around 3:30am on Jan. 1, 2000. He was on the upper level by the Central Reference area and chanced to look towards Pacific and Ocean. There he saw the outline of a young woman dressed in an old fashioned white dress. She was transparent, had her hands through the table, looking down as if she was reading something. The guard noticed she cast no shadow and he was certain her image was not caused by lights or passing cars. As he approached the stairs she disappeared. He claims he saw her several times and sensed a feeling of sadness about her. He also told me he would swear in a court of law about the validity of his sightings.

There was also an apparition which a library security guard and I saw one evening after closing. It wasnt the woman in white, who seemed to hang out on the upper level, but a male from an undetermined time period.

I was in charge that night, and had given all the other staff the A-OK to leave, when I heard our security guard yell at someone on the lower level. As I rushed to the stairs I saw the guard by the administration offices and a dark shape running across the floor towards the Miller Room, on the opposite side of the library. We both thought it was a homeless person looking for a safe, warm place to spend the night. As she patrolled the lower level I stationed myself at the top of the stairs to see if the person reappeared, trying to hide from her. Suddenly the elevator, which was on the lower level began rise. When the door opened on the upper level I expected to find our mysterious visitor, but when the door opened there was no one there. Roxanne, the guard that night, and I were both stunned, but she continued to search the entire downstairs level while I played lookout up above. No one was found.

Other ghostly happenings occurred at the old Main library. Elevators ran by themselves, opening doors to reveal nothing there except a cold presence. One staff member working in her office experienced strange rustling sounds coming from the back of the desk area when no one else was there. Once, library employees returned after a weekend of leisure to find the desk unit in the corner office completely collapsed and tossed about the floor.

Another eerie happening was recounted by an employee who was working after the library had closed at 5:30pm. Sometime between 6:30pm and 7pm, the public address system came on. She went and stood directly under one of the speakers to check that she was hearing correctly. There was some sort of faint noise. She hurried to the area of the library where the public address microphone was kept, but there was no one there. A minute later she received a phone call from the security guard asking if she had been using the public address system. He too had heard the same eerie voice over the intercom. Later, another security guard mentioned that the same thing occurred several times late at night when he was on duty and supposedly alone in the building. Later the librarys PA system was tested and no mechanical issues were detected. Eventually it was tied into City Halls public address system. After that whenever anything strange came over the intercom everyone dismissed it as another missive from City Hall.

Since 1909 a library has stood on the corner of Ocean Boulevard and Pacific Avenue in downtown Long Beachs Lincoln Park. Though it appeared to many that some of the original staff and patrons from the old Carnegie library continued to browse through the stacks in search of good reading material even after death, will they continue to do so at the new Billie Jean King Main library as they had at old Main? What of the ghosts old Main acquired library lovers who thought heaven was spending forever in the library they once loved? Will they relocate? There are a few factors that indicate that they may.

For one, those knowledgeable in ghost detection say that water is a good conductor of energy for spirits to make themselves known. The new BJK Main library is built over the citys first water source, which is why city founder William Willmore donated land for a public park around it. It wasnt much, just a boggy watering hole sufficient to supply a few sheep. Later James Rowland Cook, who built the first house in the city in 1882 (at 327 Pine), drilled for water and found a brackish, but drinkable source. Willmore promised buyers in his new city he would bring in a good supply of pure water. He kept his promise but went bankrupt in the process, relinquishing his claim to the city that would be renamed Long Beach.

Another factor that stirs up ghostly energy is change especially demolition and construction. When the old Main library is torn down, will paranormal phenomena become more observable on the site as construction crews take the building apart? Will the spirits decide to move to a more conducive atmosphere the nearby BJK Main library?

Perhaps, the spirits of old Main have already moved with the books they loved books that became like friends. They may want to be near books that helped them get a job, delivered lessons on how to overcome difficult times, gave instructions on how to raise their children or just provided entertainment. If you do run across a ghost at the new BJK Main library, let me know. It will make me happy to know that they have found a new home.

If youd like to learn more about library ghosts and other hauntings youll find more in my book Haunted Long Beach 2.

Also Ill be talking about the folks who inhabit our local cemeteries (from my book Died in Long Beach: Cemetery Tales) on Wednesday Oct. 9 at the Belmont Heights United Methodist Church (317 Termino) around 7:20pm. The Belmont Heights Community Association is hosting the program, and my presentation will follow their general meeting which starts at 7pm.

On Oct. 15, Ill be at the Los Altos Neighborhood Library (5614 E Britton Dr.) to give a 5:30pm presentation on my book Haunted Long Beach 2. Both programs are open to all and books will be available for sale (cash or check only) with proceeds going to support newspaper digitization.

If you cant make these two programs (they are quite different from each other) please consider taking the Historical Societys annual cemetery tour on Oct. 26. Enjoy October!

Visit link:
Bygone Days: The ghosts of libraries past The - Signal Tribune

CHICAGO, Oct. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --NetZoom, Inc., the maker of the most comprehensive NetZoomTM Visio Stencils Device Libraryfor documenting and diagramming network, data center assets, and audio-video devices, released new Visio Stencils for the following product lines:

Manufacturer / Product Line / Product #

Arista Networks

7020R Series

7020SR-24C2

Axis Communications

Camera Station

S2224

Barracuda Networks

NG Firewall

F380

Cisco Systems-Set 11

Cisco Web Security Appliance

WSA-S695-K9

Extreme Networks

VSP 7400

VSP7400-48Y-8C

Focusrite

RedNet Series

Rednet A16R

IBM-Set 7

Hardware Management Console

FC 0083 2461-SE2 HMC

Minuteman

EnteprisePlus Series

e1500RT2U

Onkyo

TX Series

TX-RZ820

Procera Networks

PacketLogic Series

IBS10G

Raritan Computer-Set 3

Dominion PX III

PX3-5660V-E2 - Red

Super Micro Computer-Set 4

SuperChassis 800 Series

SC815TQC-605WB

"We're adding new hardware devices to the library each month to stay ahead of the technological advancement in the data center and audio-video domains," says Aaron Sax, Director, Marketing at NetZoom, Inc."We take great pride that IT Professionals throughout the world depend on NetZoom Stencils to create the best diagrams in the industry."

Availability:NetZoomVisio Stencilsprovides access to the most comprehensive collection of Visio Stencils for IT, Data Center, and Audio-Video Diagramming.The device library is immediately available on a subscription basis and includes device stencils for racks, servers, networks, telecom, audio, video, security, and infrastructure devices.

About NetZoom:Founded in 1995, NetZoom, Inc. is an Illinois corporation with headquarters in the Chicago area. The company's NetZoom software enables data center professionals around the world to effectively model, manage, monitor, and maximize IT and Facility infrastructure.

For more information, please visitNetZoom.com.

Press ContactMarketing Director2300 Cabot Drive, Suite 535Lisle, IL 60532 USAPhone: 630.281.6464Email:224240@email4pr.com

NetZoom is a trademark of NetZoom, Inc. All others are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/netzoom-stencils-updated-its-device-library-for-september-2019-netzoom-visio-stencils-continues-to-be-the-no-one-place-for-visio-stencils-shapes-templates-and-add-ons-300931068.html

SOURCE NetZoom, Inc.

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PR Newswire - NetZoom(TM) Stencils Updated Its Device Library For September, 2019. NetZoom Visio Stencils Continues To Be The No. One Place For Visio...

With service to more than 2 million people, The Seattle Public Library and King County Library System share a central mission: Providing universal access to information and ideas.

In our increasingly digital age, we cannot fulfill that mission without providing access to digital materials, including e-books and e-audiobooks. Together, our two library systems checked out more than 7 million digital books to patrons last year, making us among the leading public libraries in the world for digital lending.

Our ability to connect our patrons to digital materials, however, is threatened. On Nov. 1, Macmillan Publishing, one of the countrys biggest publishers, is launching a library e-book embargo, meaning that for the first eight weeks after publication, public libraries no matter their size may purchase just one copy of a new e-book.

Macmillanbooks recently or soon to be published include Me, by Elton John, Permanent Record, by Edward Snowden, and We Are the Weather, by Jonathan Safran Foer.

Macmillans plan will have a serious impact on library users, especially those with the fewest resources and the most barriers. Readers with disabilities, such as poor vision and dyslexia, for example, are especially reliant on e-books. For library users who count on us to provide them with the latest books and materials, it means that wait periods will be the longest just when demand is the highest.

Macmillans policy is part of a growing trend among the nations biggest publishers to charge public libraries higher prices for e-books and e-audiobooks and to restrict their access. Its rationale is that they lose sales of electronic books to libraries as customers forego buying and instead borrow.

However, studies and common sense suggest the opposite, that libraries are an essential part of the publishing ecosystem that promotes books, reading and learning. One study compiled by the Panorama Project showed that 50% of all library users report purchasing books by an author they were introduced to in the library. Patrons try out books with us and then go back and purchase their favorites for their personal libraries and as gifts.

There are an estimated 116,867 libraries in the United States. As more and more people choose to read on their tablets and phones, we join libraries across the country in asking Macmillan to reverse its policy so that we can continue to meet readers needs both online and in print. Tens of thousands of readers have already added their names to a petition launched by the American Library Association at eBooksForAll.org.

Whether you are a cardholder with the Seattle Public Library, the King County Library System or any of the other 60 public library systems in Washington state, we encourage you to stand with us and work toward a more just outcome for the greater reading community.

You can make your voice heard on this issue by emailing Macmillan and asking it to change its policy: elending.feedback@macmillan.com, or providing feedback using the Twitter hashtag #eBooksForAll.

As always, and especially during this time, we hope that you will continue to support your local libraries and our mission. More importantly, use this time to browse our shelves and online catalog. We are certain that you will uncover new authors, find old favorites and understand the role libraries play in providing you access to your educational, informational and reading interests.

Marcellus Turner is executive director and chief librarian of The Seattle Public Library.

Lisa G. Rosenblum is executive director of the King County Library System.

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Publishers e-book restrictions and pricing hurt library users in Seattle, King County and beyond - Seattle Times

Oct 03, 2019 Kate Hill Arts, Cazenovia Republican, Entertainment, Library News, News

This month, the New Woodstock Free Library launched Tuesday Night Out a new adult program series held each Tuesday at 7 p.m. The free programs are designed to encourage adults of all ages to interact with others, make new friends and engage in enjoyable, stress-reducing activities. (Submitted)

Staff Writer

On Oct. 1, the New Woodstock Free Library launched Tuesday Night Out a new adult program series held each Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Each week, the library will present a different free activity designed to encourage community members to relax, have fun and meet new people.

According to Heather Elia, the series organizer and facilitator, the weekly programs will continue indefinitely as long as there is sufficient interest.

Elia is a New Woodstock resident and a masters student in library and information science at Syracuse Universitys School of Information Studies.

I approached [Library Manager] Renee Beardsley about hosting this series of events because I thought there might be a community need for people to get out of the house once a week to interact with others, make new friends, and engage in some enjoyable, stress-reducing activities, Elia said. Ive been inspired by my coursework and exposure to what other public libraries are doing in their communities . . . I [wanted] to introduce these sorts of free, fun activities to my own community, and the library is the perfect place because its free and open to everyone.

Elia designed the first five programs based on ideas gathered from other public libraries and her own interests.

Preference was given to activities that were easy and inexpensive to organize and that with the exception of the book group did not require special preparation or extended commitment.

According to Elia, suggestions for future Tuesday activities are strongly encouraged.

Its really about what community members are interested in, she said. Thats how the series will be guided going forward.

The program series kicked off with a coloring session in the librarys main room.

Adult coloring books have become a nationwide trend, due in large part to research suggesting that coloring has the potential to reduce anxiety, create focus and bring about increased mindfulness.

During the session, participants had the opportunity to get creative, relax and enjoy each others company.

The library will host four additional programs this month.

Sign-up is not required, unless otherwise noted.

During the second program, participants will choose from the librarys diverse collection of board and card games.

The first monthly meeting will focus on the novel The Other Einstein (2016) by Marie Benedict.

Told through letters, the story follows Albert Einsteins first wife, Mileva Mitza Mari a brilliant physicist in her own right, whose accomplishments were obscured by her husbands shadow.

Library Manager Renee Beardsley will lead the session.

Call 315-662-3134 or email newwoodstock@midyork.org to reserve a copy of the book.

Community members are invited to bring along their favorite cups or mugs from home and relax over a hot cup of tea and lively conversation.

A selection of caffeinated and decaffeinated teas will be provided.

Unlike a traditional book club, this event will offer participants the chance to discuss anything and everything they have been reading, as well as books they are looking forward to.

Community members are also invited to volunteer to lead future sessions.

Located at 2106 Main St., the New Woodstock Free Library is open Monday 1 to 9 p.m.; Tuesday 1to 5 p.m.; Wednesday 1to 5 p.m. and 7to 9 p.m.; Thursday 1to 5 p.m.; Friday 1to 5 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m.to 1 p.m.

For more information on the Tuesday Night Out program series, contact Library Manager Renee Beardsley at 315-662-3134 or email Heather Elia at heatherelia@twc.com.

Read the rest here:
Spend Tuesday Night Out at New Woodstock Library - Eagle News Online

When my husband retired last fall, we discovered that our new reduced income left us unable to afford newspaper subscriptions.

Bad timing.

With the upcoming elections, we wanted to remain as deeply informed as possible on national news and politics, which for us includes reading whats sometimes called a legacy newspaper. Having recently moved from Pennsylvania to the Pacific Northwest, we also wanted to read local news to learn about our new community.

These days. you can often read only a limited number of free articles online in major national, and many local, legacy papers before you hit a paywall. So frustrating. But I also started wondering: What does it mean for democracy if people who have low, or even no, income are blocked from reading independent journalism?

With a library card, which can be obtained for free, if you have access to a home computer or smartphone, you can access newspaper databases remotely.

At this point I should say that I am all for journalists getting paid for their work, and all for newspapers making enough money to stay in business. I believe that the free presss role as government watchdog and guardian of our rights is crucial. Sadly, due to lack of advertising and other factors, almost 1,800 newspapers closed between 2004 and 2018, according to a recent study. So I am happy that the paywall model has allowed some of those newspapers that remain to continue.

But the possibility that perhaps not everyone has access to the free press still concerned me. I went looking for answers.

In the heyday of print newspapers, most particularly in the 20th century, news was easily available and basically inescapable. Newspapers were everywhere: on coffee tables in homes, offices and waiting rooms, for sale with visible headlines on newsstands in cities or in news boxes on suburban corners. Commuters on public transportation generously or carelessly left papers behind for the next person to pick up.

Most importantly, you could walk into any public library and find a plethora of different newspapers hanging on wooden poles or stacked in labeled racks. Anyone could read these papers for free, no library card required.

Back then, this was the classic solution to reading newspapers when you couldnt afford to buy them. Unfortunately, just as the number of print newspaper titles in the country has declined, so, too, has the number of print newspaper titles in libraries.

What you will find in libraries today is an abundance of computers that are available for the public to use for free. For the longest time, I assumed any attempt to read a newspaper on one of those computers would hit a paywall, just as on my home computer.

I was wrong.

Newspapers can be accessed online without hitting a paywall and without needing a library card on those free public-access computers, as long as you are physically in the library building, according to Kirk Blankenship, electronic resources librarian for Seattle Public Libraries.

It turns out that, as newspapers started going online, libraries began purchasing digital newspapers from database companies. Libraries pay these companies for the databases that seem best for the populations they serve.

Patricia Kelly-Evans, a reference librarian at the Montgomery County-Norristown (Pa.) Public Library, told me Libraries strive to meet their communities needs while performing their own budgetary balancing acts. They make decisions based on pricing models, patron feedback and usage statistics.

Blankenship estimates Seattle Libraries spend about $60,000 a year on databases.

But have the database companies compensated the newspapers for the use of their content?

Yes, according to Lisa Wilson, news product management lead at ProQuest, a database company often used in public libraries.

ProQuest works with publishers to license news content for products like US Newsstream. When libraries purchase these products from ProQuest, they make them available to their patrons at no cost, Wilson explained via email.

So it turns out libraries are still the solution for reading newspapers on a regular basis for free.

US Newsstream is a database that gives access to U.S. news content from the 1980s to the present. In my library, a US Newsstream sub-database called US Major Dailies lets patrons read The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. Other newspapers are available in other databases or sub-databases, either from ProQuest or another database company such as NewsBank. Want to read your former hometown newspaper? Chances are you can.

Why do libraries provide this public service?

Providing access to information and removing barriers is a primary tenet of libraries, Blankenship said.

Stanley Seivert, associate librarian at the main Central Branch of the Hennepin County Library in Minneapolis, echoed this sentiment: A major function of libraries is to make information available. Newspapers are just one more source of information.

It gets even better. With a library card, which can be obtained for free, if you have access to a home computer or smartphone, you can access newspaper databases remotely. This means you can read newspapers online from home and other places.

Many libraries let you sign up for a library card through their website, but I recommend signing up for one in-person. This will allow you to talk directly to a librarian about the publications you want to read and be shown the exact path and even shortcuts for doing so.

Your librarys database may be different as well. The Seattle Public Libraries use PressReader, which gives readers an actual page view of current newspapers going back 60 days in essence, a virtual newspaper. My librarys database gives readers a text-only list of headlines.

I currently read The New York Times remotely through my local library site. You can start reading newspapers that interest you by going on your librarys website and then to Online Library. From there, youll see a resource list, where you can find newspapers and search for the particular edition you want. Whatever steps your library requires will quickly become familiar.

Once you come to a list of headlines, you can scroll through and click on whichever headline interests you to read the full article. Or you can save it to a file, email it to yourselfor print it out to read later. You can also have the article read aloud in English or have it translated in print to 20 other languages!

My husband and I are now saving enough so we can buy our own print subscriptions in the near future. Meanwhile, we recently treated ourselves to a paper issue of the Sunday New York Times, and spent a long lovely morning reading it, just like in the old days.

It was nice to have a paper on the coffee table again.

Next Avenue brings you stories that are inspiring and change lives. We know that because we hear it from our readers every single day. One reader says,

"Every time I read a post, I feel like I'm able to take a single, clear lesson away from it, which is why I think it's so great."

Your generous donation will help us continue to bring you the information you care about. What story will you help make possible?

Next Avenue - 2019. All rights reserved.

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How to Read Newspapers on a Budget - Next Avenue

By Alex Leggatt

Durham Universitys Bill Bryson Library will now remain open 24/7 throughout the whole of term time, beginning at the start of next term.

Saul Cahill, Ex-Student Unions Undergraduate Academic Officer, made the announcement in July through the SU website.

He described campaign[ing] for a library that was open 24/7 throughout the entirety of term time as one of his key pledges following his election to the role last year.

Cahill said that he was thrilled to announce the policy: During my election campaign, students talked to me about the added flexibility that extended opening hours could provide, as well as the benefits to students who worked or have caring responsibilities.

I am confident that these extra opening hours will deliver a library that is there for students when they need it, but wont pressure students into feeling like they need it for longer than they do. Most of all, I hope this extra flexibility will prove useful to you over the rest of your studies!

The policy, first proposed by Stuart Goldie (Science Postgraduate Faculty Rep), was passed following a year-long campaign.

Following ongoing work with the Library, Security and Estates & Buildings in Epiphany term 2019, the policy was trialled during exam period in Easter term and reviewed.

The initial SU assembly noted that there was a growing trend among UK universities to offer full time 24/7 library access, with numerous campaigns attempting to lobby for 24/7 library access in recent years.

However, the assembly also noted that students were under increasing pressure to perform well at university, with an FOI request revealing that 1141 undergraduates (8.5% of the student body) were being seen by University counsellors in the academic year from October 2016 July 2017.

The SU recognised that actively lobbying the University to spend funds facilitating all hours working may contribute to the growing problems with student mental health.

The assembly thus required suitable evidence to support the motion, and resolved to investigate the pros and cons of library 24/7 opening, research which Mr Cahill was mandated to undertake.

The research included analysing three years worth of data from the University Library, which found that there was a demand for 24/7 opening outside of what is currently available.

The analysis also found that there was very little difference in library usage between the last week of ordinary opening hours in Epiphany Term and the following week when the library is open 24/7.

This suggested that the main cause of increased library use was pressure from assessments rather than opening hours. Cahill revealed that the University Library will be working alongside library security to monitor students wellbeing in the library, as well as working with the SU to promote healthy study habits through the Revise Wise campaign.

The university introduced 200 new study spaces and a new cafe in February earlier this year, to address complaints that there were not enough library seats for the number of students using the library.

Image by @durhamuni via Twitter

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Bill Bryson Library to now remain open 24/7 - Palatinate

Dishonored 2

Arkanes Dishonored 2 has just been added to Xbox Game Pass, the subscription-based service that gives you access to more than 100 games for about $10 a month. (For $15 a month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also grants you access to a library of PC games, as well as Xbox Live Gold.) Dishonored 2 will take up about 55 gigabytes of hard-drive space, which is fairly average these days, and is certainly worth a look. It holds a score of 88 on Metacritic, and took home more than 100 game-of-the-year awards in 2016.

The Dishonored sequel joins a nice selection of other Bethesda titles in the services console library. Currently, Xbox Game Pass includes 2016s Doom, Fallout 3, Fallout 4, Oblivion, Prey, Rage, The Elder Scrolls Online, Wolfenstein: The New Order, and Wolfenstein: The New Colossus. Outside of Bethesda, Game Pass also has such gems as the Batman: Arkham trilogy, Forza Horizon 4, a ton of Gears of War and Halo offerings, Mass Effect, Metal Gear Solid V, Minecraft, Quantum Break, Superhot, and so on. Its a treasure trove right now.

Given the number of playtime hours you can easily squeeze out of something like Fallout 4, ESO, or Oblivion, theres really no better time to take Game Pass for a test driveespecially with Obsidians The Outer Worlds just around the corner.

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Dishonored 2 Joins Other Bethesda Hits In The Xbox Game Pass Library - Forbes

The British Library, London. (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)

A new project of the British Library, entitled Discovering Sacred Texts, has begun uploading images of manuscripts and early printed versions of some of the worlds most sacred religious texts, including dozens of Jewish works.

One of the earliest surviving manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible from the 10th century is among the collection, as well as important printed versions of the Bible from the 16th century; a rare manuscript of the Talmud which survived the book burnings of medieval Europe; the first complete printed text of the Mishna from 15th century Naples, and other texts.

One of the jewels of the collection are fragments of the First Gaster Bible, dating from the 10th century and likely produced in Egypt.

The fragments held by the British Library come from the Ketuvim, or Writings, section of the Hebrew Bible and include portions sections from the Books of Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel and Ruth.

Images available on the British Librarys online exhibition demonstrate the beauty of the original manuscript with its gold embellishments of scrolls, spirals, foliage, interwoven buds, palmettes and golden chains, executed in an Islamic-style typical of the age and location.

Another special item available on the online collection is a manuscript of two tractates from the Babylonian Talmud dating from 1290, including 102 folio pages.

As the collection notes, manuscripts of the Talmud were frequently condemned by Christian leaders, leading to mass burnings of many such manuscripts during the medieval era, such as in Paris in 1242.

Very few Talmudic manuscripts survived this period as a result.

Another remarkable item which is part of the Discovering Sacred Texts online collection is a manuscript of Maimonides renowned work of Jewish thought and philosophy The Guide for the Perplexed, written by the revered rabbi in 1190.

The British Librarys Hebrew manuscript, produced in Spain, dates from 1325 and is decorated with around 200 colorful illuminations and decorative embellishments.

The project was supported by Dangoor Education since its inception and by Allchurches Trust, alongside other funders.

I am delighted to be involved in such an important and innovative project which will bring to the public for the first time some of the worlds oldest and most sacred texts, said David Dangoor, head of Dangoor Education. These texts form the bedrock of our human civilization, and when compared and contrasted by their viewers, will demonstrate that our sacred texts all speak a similar language of humanity, compassion and the norms of a fair and equitable society. They all have much to teach us and it is extremely welcome that they are now more accessible.

A curated selection of the collection items representing these faiths will be on physical display in the British Librarys free, permanent Treasures Gallery to coincide with the launch of Discovering Sacred Texts.

This site gives free access to an incredible range of texts, videos and curated articles relating to some of the worlds major faiths, which we hope will provide an invaluable tool for students, teachers and lifelong learners all over the world, Alex Whitfield, head of learning at the British Library, commented.

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Rare Jewish texts showcased in British Library online collection - The Jerusalem Post