Pburg Free

The blog for all who know and use the Phillipsburg Free Public Library and our Web Branch at www.pburglib.org

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Of Passwords and PINs

Here at the Library we get many emails and calls from people at home who want to get into their library account, renew their items, place a request, borrow items from other libraries, print out an article, and a whole host of other online services. Those services are paid for by the library, and are right here on the When We're Closed page, ready for you to use 24/7. But--what will you need in order to Log In? Here's a handy guide:
  • Library Catalog Click "Log In" to see what you have out, what you have on reserve, renew your stuff, and so on. Barcode Number is the number on the front of your library card. Password is the PIN you told us when you got your card. Don't think you chose a PIN? Try the last four digits of your home phone number. If that doesn't work, please give us a call. We got a lot of security on your confidential info!
  • Online Databases If you're not in the Library, click on "At Home". Your Patron ID is the barcode number on the front of your card.
  • Jersey Clicks Find it under "Online Databases", for a whole 'nother set of marvelous databases. All you will need is your library card barcode number.
  • Jersey Cat To request an item from another library, you will be asked for your library card barcode number.
  • Q and A NJ Choose a college librarian, or a "plain vanilla" librarian. All you need here is a "screen name" (yours or an alias), plus an email address if you want a written answer.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Back To School

Back to school time. Pencils, markers, glue sticks, and oh yes......Assignments due tomorrow morning, too late to hit the library. No worries! There's a whole library on our web site at www.pburglib.org Read or print out article or even chapters from reference books, chat online with a reference librarian, find and reserve books in the Library Catalog. Best of all, we have age-appropriate help for students from elementary school through high school. Just click on "When we're closed" ( www.pburglib.org/after_hours.htm ). Type in your library card as your username. These are pricey resources, but available free to library members. You will find:
  • Online Databases includes the Animals Database, Magazine Indexes for Elementary, Middle and High School, Newspaper Archives, and NoveList (try this last one for help with book reports). Your search results may include articles, pamphlets, and book chapters
  • Q and A New Jersey free, live, interactive Internet-librarian assistance 24/7
  • Email a Librarian and have your question answered within 24 hours

And of course, check the Library Catalog for a needed book. "Availability" tells you the date the book is due back if it is checked out; simply type in your library card number to reserve it. If you do not have a PIN when asked, use the last four digits of your phone number. Have a great school year!

Friday, August 04, 2006

We've Gone Wireless!


Beginning August 4, 2006, Phillipsburg Free Public Library makes wireless Internet access available inside our building. Anyone with a wireless-enabled laptop or PDA can get online. Powered by a grant from the Highlands Regional Library Cooperative and the New Jersey State Library.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Join the Conversation

These hot summer days, it's fun to read and to watch movies--and even more fun to talk about them in air conditioned comfort.

  • 6:00 p.m. Wednesday August 16th see a free showing of The Magdalene Sisters (2002). Three young Irish women struggle to maintain their spirits while they endure life in a home for "wayward girls" in the 1950's. More info on the film at the free Internet Movie Database, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318411/ . Stay afterward to talk about it.

  • 7:00 p.m. Wednesday August 23rd discuss the book The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. Anyone who has read the book is welcome to come and talk about it. For more information and links to reviews, visit www.pburglib.org/bookdiscuss.htm