There's Still Time to Win Prizes!

NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight TM

It's hard to believe we are less than a week away from wrapping up the 2012 Summer Reading program at the library!  We'll be celebrating the end of Summer Reading with a special "Beatles & Bubblegum" music concert this Friday, August 10.  The doors will open at 6:30 pm and the concert will begin at 7:00 pm.  There will be raffle prizes for children, teens, and adults!

The final weekly raffle prize and the grand prize winners for the adult and teen programs will be drawn on Monday, August 13 at 1:00 pm.  This means there is still plenty of time to finish and return a book for one last raffle ticket for the drawings. Remember, it only takes one ticket to win a prize!  The grand prize for both the adults and teens will be the new NOOK Simple TouchTM with GlowLightTM.

There is also time to enter the "Matawan/Aberdeen @ Night!" photography contest.  Submit your digital photos by midnight on Friday, August 10 so they can be judged by our panel.  The winners will be announced on Monday, August 13. Click here for contest rules and click here to see the submitted photos on flickr.  We have some very talented patrons!  

Good luck everyone!

Apps, apps, everywhere!

Let’s face it. Apps are everywhere. They’re on our smartphones, our tablets, and our televisions. Soon, they might even be loaded on our coffee pots and refrigerators.  Apps have the unique potential to make our lives more convenient and enjoyable. Some of us enjoy using our smartphones or tablets to peruse a digital download on the morning commute, yet would rather not endure the hassle of disclosing credit card information to the eBook distributor. But what if there was a way to download a book from the Matawan Aberdeen Public Library directly onto our smartphone or tablet without having to set foot in the library?   With the Freading app and the OverDrive Media Console app, consider your problems solved. Both of these apps empower you to borrow your favorite eBooks from our library - with no credit cards or fees of any kind. The only card you'll need is your library card.

OverDrive Media Console app

Freading app

The apps are enhanced for the high resolution displays already built in to your smartphones and tablets, making text appear more crisp than print. The Freading and OverDrive apps are available for free on the Apple App Store and the Android Market. To make it even easier for you we've put the links to these apps on the homepage of our website.

For the members of our library who are music enthusiasts, we have an app for you, too. Freegal is the perfect solution for music fanatics trying to stay within a budget. The application, also free on the Apple App Store and the Android Market, allows users to download three songs per week FOR FREE. The selection is truly remarkable, including the likes of popular artists such as Adele, John Mayer, The Fray, and The Script. The best part is that the mp3 files are yours to keep forever!

Freegal app

So what are you waiting for? Begin downloading eBooks and free music to your smartphones and tablets today! 

More good news! If you want to learn more about iPads and apps, we will be offering a class called Tips Tricks & Apps for iPad Users on Wednesday, July 25 @ 7 PM in the library.  To register for this engaging program, stop by the library, call Jill at 732-583-9100, or email Jill at jstafford@lmxac.org.

This post was written by Skyler Lutz and Jill Stafford.

Between the Covers!

Summer Reading Club officially began on Saturday, June 16^th and runs through Friday, August 10^th.  All Matawan and Aberdeen adults are eligible to register for the club and be entered to win weekly raffle prizes.  If you’ve never taken part in Summer Reading Club, here’s how it works. First, you’ll need to sign up for the club with your library card at the circulation desk. Don’t have a library card?  No problem.  It only takes a few minutes to be issued a new card; you just need to bring proof of residency (driver’s license, utility bill, lease, etc.) for Matawan or Aberdeen (including Cliffwood and Cliffwood Beach). When you sign up for the reading club you will be assigned a number and you’ll receive a new tote bag (courtesy of the Friends of the Library) to carry around your library books. Each time you return a book or audiobook you will be given a ticket for the weekly raffle. Write your assigned number on the ticket, drop it in the jar, and every Monday we will draw a ticket and the winner will receive a fun prize.  At the end of summer all the tickets will be put back in the jar for a chance to win the Grand Prize!

The Summer Reading Club theme for adults is Between the Covers (of books!) with a focus on nighttime.  In celebration of this year’s theme we will feature presentations by a couple of New Jersey authors who will discuss their publications and other inspiring topics. Helen Henderson will talk about the path to publication as well as her book, Windmaster.  Louis Coppola will give an anecdotal look at his years of service to a major television network while discussing his publication, CBS: The Chucklehead Broadcasting System, Celebrating 44 Years of Glorified Insignificance. There will also be a program introducing the genres of graphic novels and manga books.  In keeping with the theme we will host the program, Film Noir: The Stuff that Dreams Are Made Of, presented by Chris Messineo from the NJ Film School.  In addition, look for our monthly After Hours Music program, educational programs, and much more!  All events are free of charge but registration is required.

Finally, the library is hosting a digital photography contest, Matawan or Aberdeen @ Night. Check out our website for details.

GED® Online

Are you thinking about getting your GED but you don’t think you have the time?  Are you concerned that you don’t know where to start or how to prepare?  Matawan Aberdeen Public Library is proud to offer a free, comprehensive online GED test preparation course called GED^® Online.

This program offers 118 interactive lessons in all of the subjects that are covered on the GED test (writing, social studies, science, reading and mathematics).  User-friendly lessons cover all aspects of test preparation, from pre-assessment and skill-building to pre- and post-testing.   Pre-tests identify your individual strengths and weaknesses. Then lessons are tailored to meet your individual needs and allow you to develop study plans to help you address areas where you need additional practice. 

Just stop in at the Information Desk at the library, or contact an Adult Services Librarian or Computer Technician at 732-583-9100, to create a “student” account for you.  Once your account is created, you will be able to access the resource from any location (https://www.wgcontemporary.com/login.html), and you’ll be on your way.

Take advantage of this amazing free program and start working towards getting your GED today!

This post was created by Susie Benanti.

Small Business Resource Center

Do you dream about starting your own small business?  If so, did you know the NJ State library has recently purchased a new resource just for you?  Small Business Resource Center was purchased for New Jersey libraries as part of a new statewide campaign called NJ Grows Biz, an initiative to help small businesses get started and succeed.

This powerful online business and marketing tool can be accessed through the Matawan Aberdeen Public Library or from your home 24/7 - all you need is a library card.  The database is a wealth of information that can help you get started with any type of business, whether you want to start a coffee house or open your own daycare facility.  A basic search of your business topic you’ll get full-text information from Business Plans Handbook, including competition, market analysis, financial plans, and much more. Your searching will also yield full-text, up-to-date articles from top industry magazines, and even professional organization and associations you might be interested in joining.

There is a “How To …” section that includes information on How to Start a Small Business, How to Write a Business Plan, and How to Market or Advertise Your Business, just to name a few.  Not sure what type of business you would like to start?  The list of business types will provide plenty of ideas.

Click here to get started or stop by the library and we'll be happy to show you how to use the database!

Freading - a new ebook service!

How many of you have become a little frustrated because of the long wait for ebooks in eLibraryNJ?  It's okay, you can admit it.

The Matawan Aberdeen Public Library is now offering our patrons a new service called Freading.  Freading allows you to download ebooks without having to be put on a wait list!  Because Freading allows simultaneous check outs of the same ebook, you will never have to wait for someone to return the book first. 

What are some of the other benefits of Freading?

• There are over 20,000 titles to choose from in many different genres. 
• It's compatible with with many devices such as the Kindle Fire, the Nook devices, Kobo, iPad, and many more.
• Freading works on Adobe Digital Editions, just like eLibraryNJ, so there is no need to download additional software.

How does Freading work?

You can access the site by clicking the Freading icon located on the homepage of our website, or you can just click here. Once you login with your library card you'll be able to use your tokens to download books.  Tokens?  Each ebook is worth 1, 2 or 4 tokens, assigned by the publisher and clearly displayed on the book cover. You'll receive 4 tokens per week to use to checkout books so you can checkout 1 ebook worth 4 tokens or 2 ebooks worth 2 tokens each, etc. Any unused tokens roll over to the next week, but all tokens expire at the end of every month.  The checkout period is 2 weeks and you are able to renew the ebook one time.

Give Freading a try and let us know what you think!

Getting "Fiscally Fit"

Many thanks to all of you who participated in our Financial Literacy survey throughout December!  The winner of the 2 GB MP3 player with Flash Drive is Sheila K.  Congratulations, Sheila!

The survey asked the question, "Which seminar topics would you like to see offered by The Society for Financial Awareness?" The outcome of the survey showed the majority of you are interested in learning about the following 3 topics:

*Getting "Fiscally Fit"
*Financial Blunders - Lessons We Never Learn
*Legal Lessons for Life

On Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00 pm we are very fortunate to have Bruce Yenk, President of the Greater Central Chapter of the Society Awareness, presenting Getting "Fiscally Fit" at the library.  This program will cover such topics as the basic principles of cash management, accumulating wealth, the importance of having a financial blueprint, and roadblocks to financial success. To register for this valuable seminar please stop by the library, call 732-583-9100, or email Jill at jstafford@lmxac.org.

Look for the other two seminars to be offered later in 2012!