Technology

Need to improve your skills in Microsoft Word or Excel? Perhaps you are interested in the resources the Library offers to you via your home computer? Maybe you are ready to dive into social network sites? If the answer is YES, then the Troy Public LIbrary has a computer class for you.

Registeration is now open for the Library's February classes in Beginning Word, Beginning Excel, Intermediate Excel, Finding Friends on Facebook, and troyilibrary -- A World of Resources on the Web.

Each month, the Library offers free, hands-on, public computer classes taught by Library staff. For information, email the Technology Department, or phone 248.524.3542.

Electronic books and readers – known as eBooks and eReaders – have generated a lot of buzz lately, as the sales of these portable reading devices have skyrocketed. More and more people are showing interest in these lightweight, inexpensive, and convenient alternatives to printed books and magazines.

Do you have a Kindle, Sony eReader, Barnes and Noble nook, or another eReader? Are you thinking about purchasing one for yourself or a family member? Did you know that the Troy Public Library has eBooks available free-of-charge for you to download to your eReader or smartphone?

If you are interested in the eBook revolution, attend All About eBooks and eReaders sponsored by the Troy Library. This 90-minute session will answer all of your questions, and show you what resources are available to you from the Library. We will demonstrate some of the more popular eReaders, purchased courtesy of the Friends of the Troy Library. And if you have an eReader, bring it, and we will show you how to set up an account.

All About eBooks and eReaders will be offered at 6:30 pm on the following dates (click on the date to register): Wednesday, January 11; Thursday February 2; and Tuesday, February 28. Questions? Call the Library's Technology Center at 248.524.3542 or email techroom@troymi.gov.

Need to improve your skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint? Register for computer classes at the Troy Public Library.

The Library has classes in Beginning and Intermediate Word, Beginning and Intermediate Excel, and Beginning PowerPoint. Registration for December classes opens on Monday, November 14, at 10 am.

Each month, the Library offers free, hands-on, public computer classes taught by Library staff. For more information, email the Technology Department, or phone 248.524.3542.

Finally Kindle users can enjoy Troy Public Library's eBook collection through Overdrive.

Go the the Download eBooks, Audiobooks link on the left side of the Library's home page (under Library Links), click on OverDrive, and then on Library Books for Kindle. This will bring you to a list of titles available for Kindle. Check out the book using your Troy Library card, click on the Get for Kindle button, log onto your Amazon account, and the book will be wirelessly downloaded to your Kindle. If you see a title that you like, but it is not immediately available, click Place Hold to be notified when that title becomes available.

Don't have a Kindle? Overdrive is also compatible with the nook, Sony Reader and many other eBook readers, mp3 players, Android phones, Apple iPads, Macs and PCs. Check the list to see if your device will work with Overdrive.

The Troy Public Library's NetLibrary eBook collection has switched to a new platform called EBSCOhost. All of our eBooks that were available through NetLibrary are still available on the new platform. The NetLibrary name has been retired, replace by eBooks on EBSCOhost.

eBooks from EBSCOhost will function just like NetLibrary did. The titles will not be downloadable. Instead, you will be able to view them directly from within your browser. They are non-holdable and cannot be used on eReaders, but are always available for viewing.

If you are a regular user of NetLibrary eBooks, your account is no longer available. Any information that is associated with your account (such as notes you have taken in specific eBooks) has been deleted with your account. To use our new eBooks, simply log in with your Troy library card number.

For more information about this change, please see our blog post.

Are you interested in downloading FREE eAudibooks this summer? Now you can, thanks to Audiobook Community's SYNC campaign.

The SYNC campaign is designed to get more young adults listening to audiobooks. From June 23 through August 17, two audiobooks will be available each week for download: one current young adult title and one classic title. Each week, both books will share a common theme. All audiobooks used in the SYNC campaign are in the MP3 format and will work with both PCs and Macs. They can be transferred to a wide array of mobile devices.

Additionally, OverDrive, the vendor which provides downloadable book and audiobooks to the Troy Public Library, is distributing all of the SYNC titles. To download titles, you will need to install the OverDrive Media Console. After you have downloaded your titles from SYNC, be sure to check out other free OverDrive downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks that are available from the Library.

For more on SYNC, including the release schedule for free eAudiobooks, go here. To download this week's selections, go here. To get text reminders of upcoming titles, text syncya to 25827.