Audiobooks have returned!

OverDrive is here–the Library has a new service for audiobooks and eBooks!  Items in the collection include newly-released books, some titles that are “always available” no matter how many patrons want to check them out, and foreign language study.  The Minuteman Library Network will continue to grow this collection, so check back frequently!

OverDrive Audiobooks and eBooks   (Home Access Only) 
Please note: You will need to download additional software the first time you borrow an OverDrive title. OverDrive will prompt you to download the necessary software after you check out a title. For more information, see the Quick Start Guide under “Getting Started” on the OverDrive page.

Need scholarly articles?

JSTOR has them–over 1,800,000 of them!  Also over 1 million book reviews, and content going back to 1665.  The database includes over 900 full-text journals across more than 40 disciplines in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.  Available at the Library or from home, it’s our Database of the Month for October.

JSTOR   Home Access | In Library Access
(Home access for this database is available only to Newton residents with a Newton library card number beginning 21323.)

Need help with your investments?

Morningstar Investment Research Center is a comprehensive online investing database, available free at the Newton Free Library, providing independent opinion and data on more than 30,000 stocks and mutual funds.

To learn more about the database, attend a free online training session from home or office:

WHEN:  Wednesday, September 30th, at 4 p.m. (Eastern Time).

WHERE:  Anywhere with phone and internet access.

HOW:  To register, send an e-mail to librarytraining@morningstar.com, and mention the Newton Free Library.

Or try it out at the Library at your convenience:
Morningstar Investment Research Center*
(In Library Only–also via wireless in the Library)

Looking for a good book?

NoveList ® 
Home Access | In Library Access

The Library has an online database to help you!  Our September Database of the Month is NoveList®, with information on over 155,000 fiction titles. 

NoveList’s easy to use “Find” box enables you to quickly search for books, authors, series, and plots for readers of all ages.  Other features include author read-alikes, BookTalks, feature articles and book discussion guides.

Not sure what you’re looking for?  Click on “Recommended Reads” under an age category to browse through hundreds of titles carefully selected by librarians and organized by genre or topic.  Or type a topic in the “Find” box (baseball, summer vacations, “women detectives in New York”) and “play” with the results.

Still need more ideas?  Check out the books Newton librarians have selected for our Books for You database, or fill out our questionnaire to have a personalized booklist emailed to you.

We have more…view or sign up for emailed BookLetters newsletters on various topics.

And once you’ve found a good book, we’d love your reviews for our Newton Reads blog!

Listen to blues and jazz (and other music) on your computer

Our August Database of the Month is

African American Song*   Home Access | In Library Access

This free online music collection contains jazz, blues, gospel, ragtime, folk songs, and other genres.  Listen to music in the library with headphones or at home on a pc or MAC using Windows Media Player.  Create and save your own playlists using the registration feature.

Want more music?  Try our other streaming-music databases:

American Song*   Home Access | In Library Access

Classical Music Library*   Home Access | In Library Access

Naxos Music Library*   Home Access | In Library Access

Smithsonian Global Sound*   Home Access | In Library Access

Happy listening!

New features for reading database articles

Gale’s Infotrac databases (Academic OneFile, General Reference Center, Science Resource Center, Health Reference Center, Literature Resource Center, etc.) have added new features to use when reading articles:

1)  Dictionary:  Highlight any word or phrase in an article, click “dictionary,” and your understanding increases!

2)  Audio:  No time to read?  Most articles can now be read to you by a charming automated voice!  You can even download these mp3 files for later listening (educational, noncommercial use only).  Many Fodor’s Guides are in the General OneFile database, for example.  Type “italy travel” in the search box and the “Books” tab will show 46 books.  Download one for listening on the plane!

3)  Translation:  Read your articles in 11 languages–yes, the results are machine-generated, and “in no way intended to replace human translation,” but it’s fun for learning new vocabulary!

4)  Social networking tools:  Share articles on Facebook, Twitter, Del.icio.us, MySpace, and more.

Our article databases (Gale’s and others) can be found here.

We have a database for your health…

This month’s Database of the Month is ConsumerLab, which provides comprehensive information about vitamin, herbal and other supplements, and nutritional products. The site includes ConsumerLab’s independent product evaluations, lists of quality-approved brands, product recalls, and safety warnings. A science-based encyclopedia of natural products is also provided, including a drug-interaction database. ConsumerLab.com is not affiliated with manufacturers of health and nutrition products, and test samples used in product reviews are purchased independently.

Available in the library only, from our list of Consumer databases and websites.

Are you searching for a job or new career?

The Newton Free Library can help!  Check out the resources in our online Career Center, read our Job Search blog, or use our online databases to explore careers, research businesses, or take practice tests.

We also offer a class in Applying for a Job Online (if you can’t make it to a class, you can view the class handout here.)

And of course we have plenty of resume, cover letter, and job exploration books, magazines, and audiovisual materials.  Ask for help at the Reference Desk.

Are you saving for retirement, college, or a new home?

Morningstar Investment Research Center is a comprehensive online investing database, available free at the Newton Free Library, providing independent opinion and data on more than 30,000 stocks and mutual funds.

To learn more about the database, attend a free online training session:

WHEN:  Wednesday, April 29th, at 4 p.m. (Eastern Time).

WHERE:  Anywhere with phone and internet access.

HOW:  To register, send an e-mail to librarytraining@morningstar.com, and mention the Newton Free Library.

Morningstar Investment Research Center*
(In Library Only–also via wireless in the Library)

JSTOR–Now available at home!

Now you can read JSTOR articles without having to come in to the library–perfect for those late-night research sessions!  We now have remote access to JSTOR.

JSTOR is a collection of over 600 full-text journals across 40 disciplines in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

JSTOR* Home Access | In Library Access

Please note:  We are allowed two simultaneous remote users only.