Library Connection
Volume 7, Issue 4, April 2020www.columbusne.us/library 402-564-7116
Libraries & Ideas
According to an old superstition, if you wore new clothes on Easter, you would have good luck for the rest of the year. Starting in the mid-1800’s, upper-class New Yorkers exiting the grand
churches along Fifth Avenue would show off their finery. This tradition led to the present day Fifth Avenue Easter Parade.
This article was written by Reference Librarian Rachelle McPhillips, and was published in the March 21st edition of the Columbus Telegram.
In an effort to curtail the spread of COVID-19, the library building is current-ly closed. In the interest of everyone’s health and safety, current checkouts have been extended and no late fees will be charged while we are closed. Library staff are available to answer questions over the phone and can help you access your account and our online resources. Check Facebook for our available hours and call 402-564-7116 for assistance.
Our Digital Library remains available wherever you have access to the inter-net. We recently added streaming services like Acorn, Qello, Pongalo, and IndieFlix from RBDigital. Cardholders can stream British television, concerts, Spanish language programs, independent films and more.
Tutor.com is another recent addition that gives students and parents access to tutors and homework help. Tutor.com from CPL is available around the clock and live tutoring help is available from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
To help you get the most out of the Digital Library collection, we offer Niche Academy. This resource provides tutorials for our electronic resources like RBDigital, Tutor.com, and more. To get started, head to http://cplconnect.us
and choose “Digital Library.” Niche Academy is in the Quicklinks list on that page. Alternatively, head there directly by typing https://
my.nicheacademy.com/columbuspubliclibrary.
This page is home to the growing list of tutorials related to questions our patrons have had about the library’s digital services, how to manage your library account online, as well as other online resources like free email and social media sites and apps.
Learn how to download ebooks and audiobooks from Overdrive, Freading, RBDigital, and Cloud Library. All you need is an internet connection, your library card, and a little help from free tutorials at Niche Academy.
Maybe you would like to create a playlist for screen-free time. Check out the Freegal Music tutorial to learn how to take advantage of five free downloads a week and three hours of ad-free streaming a day.
Stay in touch with far away loved ones through email and social media. Niche Academy has tutorials for using free email service, Facebook, Instagram and more.
While you are online, take a moment to complete our latest survey for the development of a new library building. We value your input as we strive to design the best project for our community. Visit www.columbusne.us/ librarysurvey to rank five site options by your order of preference.
Results from previous surveys were used to consider possible locations for the new building. Several locations were explored and the survey includes the three options that met all the requirements for availability, price, and space to accommodate the new building, connected parking and future growth.
As you consider the options, keep in mind that the construction of a new library building would not create an additional tax, as a 1/2 cent sales tax is currently in place to pay for both the new public safety facilities and a new library.
Follow us on Facebook to get the latest updates on library services. Library staff are brainstorming creative ways to continue to deliver quality library service to our community. We miss our patrons and look forward to seeing you soon. Until then, please enjoy these resources from home, stay healthy, and remember that we are here to help.
Calendar Connection
Even though the library is closed, the Teen Space is still hosting several events through the Columbus Library Facebook page. Check out our 6 word story challenge! We are challenging any 6th-12th grader in Platte County to write a story with just six words. Students can submit up to two stories via email to [email protected]. If you are entering two stories, please submit them one at a time. Our judges will read each story and determine 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place winners. The winners will then be announced on May 8th. Jessica is also looking for a way to hold Anime Club online. Keep an eye on our Facebook page to stay up to date on this development. If you are curious about new YA releases, you can listen to Jessica discuss some of the most anticipated young adult books of 2020. You can find these short podcasts on our Facebook page. While there, check out a new digital resource called TeenBookCloud. This is an online database where you can find a large selection of graphic novels, enhanced novels, eBooks, classic literature, National Geographic videos, and audiobooks. The collection is available online around the clock. No downloads, no waiting! If you can access the internet, you can be reading, watching, or listening to fantastic content.
You don’t have to wait until Tech Tuesday resumes to get all your tech questions answered. Staff are availa-ble during our normal operating hours to help you with any problems you encounter when accessing our digital databases. If you are having a problem with one of your gadgets, a friendly staff person can try and walk you through it. Call the library at 402-564-7116 to ask questions, or for more information.
If you are looking for something to do to pass the time, you can find plenty of how-to books online. These guides cover topics such as jewelry making, container garden-ing, creating a backyard garden, taking the perfect picture, knitting, drawing, and dehy-drating food. There are even books that teach you how to relax. To get started, grab your library card and go to cplconnect.us and click on the Digital Library tab on the left side of the page. Then choose from any of our eBook databases listed under
“Entertainment”. Before you know it, you will have mastered a new hobby or skill!
Calendar Connection
If you are looking to entertain your little ones with some great stories, we will be posting some videos on our Facebook page. These will coincide with our usual chil-dren’s programs. Every Monday at 6:30 p.m., and also on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m., you will be able to click on a link to watch an author reading a book they wrote and published. The stories we have lined up are ones we are sure children will enjoy. Afterwards, check out TumbleBookLibrary on our Facebook page. This is an online collection of e-books for children. They are a great way to en-courage tech-savvy kids to enjoy reading. There are over 250 animated, talking picture books. The site also features Spanish and French books, read-along chapter books, non-fiction books, and exciting games and puzzles. If you are looking for another edu-cational resource, then explore TumbleMath. Here, you will find an extensive collec-tion of math picture books to make learning fun. For more ideas, Mr. H has come up with some family-friendly activities that can be played indoors. You can view this calendar on our website at www.columbusne.us/library.
Your Columbus Public Library
There have been many great books added to our catalog recently. To place a hold on any of the titles listed below, or another book, please call the library at 402-564-7116.
Alone in the Wild– Kelley Armstrong The Museum of Desire– Jonathan Kellerman The Warsaw Protocol– Steve Berry Sisters by Choice– Susan Mallery
Above the Bay of Angels– Rhys Bowen Blindside– James Patterson
The Third to Die– Allison Brennan Journaled to Death– Heather Redmond Collateral Damage– Lynette Eason Last Day– Luann Rice
Vendetta Road– Christine Feehan Golden in Death– J.D. Robb Two Steps Forward– Suzanne Woods Fisher Cartier’s Hope– M.J. Rose
Wicked Bite– Jeaniene Frost A Divided Loyalty– Charles Todd Perfect Little Children– Sophie Hannah Salt River– Randy Wayne White
Since the library is currently closed to the public for an undetermined amount of time, library staff are posting fun and informative activities to our Columbus Public Library Facebook page. We want to reassure you that all your checkouts have been extended and you will not need to worry about any late fees related to the coronavirus shutdowns. We are still at the library an-swering questions and helping with digital resources. As we clean, repair, organize, and sort through the library collection, we look forward to the day when we can open our doors to the public and enjoy interacting with our valued patrons again.
Connecting Readers & Writers
Happy Birthday to these authors: Francine Prose– April 1, 1947
Vince Flynn– April 6, 1966 Tom Clancy– April 12, 1947 Rebecca Makkai– April 20, 1978
Michael Bussi– April 29, 1965
If you want to participate in an adult story time, Ne-braska author Tosca Lee is reading a chapter each night at 8:00 p.m. out of her book “Iscariot: a Novel of Judas”. If you are just joining, you can go back and watch her videos from the beginning so you can hear the whole story in order. You can find the link on our Facebook page. Tosca Lee is a lot of fun and will be joining us (hopefully) on August 22nd for her author talk about her new book “A Single Light”, the second in her “Line Between” series.
Easter is the only time when it’s perfectly safe to put all your eggs in one basket- Evan Esar
