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.

Flu and Flu clinic information

Looking for a Flu Clinic?  Click here to search for flu clinics in Massachusetts by zip code, town name, or map location. Some clinics offer pneumococcal (“pneumonia”) immunizations as well as seasonal flu immunizations. When clinics begin providing H1N1 swine flu immunizations, that information will also be listed.  Information on Newton flu clinics, as well as other information specifically for Newton residents, can be found here.

Flu.gov (from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) has many resources for information on both seasonal and H1N1 flu, including a new H1N1 Flu Self-Evaluation guide for adults 18 and older and a Flu Myths and Facts section.

Both the Massachusetts Department of Health and the CDC also have websites with constantly updated flu information.

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!

Newton librarian speaks to Association of Jewish Libraries

Last month, Reference Librarian Cathy Balshone-Becze spoke at the regional conference for the New England chapter of the Association of Jewish Libraries (NEAJL),  held at Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, Connecticut.  She spoke on “What Public Libraries Can Do For Special Libraries: Presenting an Overview of Services.”  See a report on her talk and view her PowerPoint presentation on the Association’s blog, where you can also read more about the meeting and the other presentations.

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.

Your library on NPR

Don’t miss Weekend Edition on National Public Radio (NPR) this Saturday, February 28th. They will air a story with Lynn Neary featuring the Library’s Retirement Planning Club for Women!  Portions of the Club’s February meeting were taped, and several members were interviewed about their experiences.

Locally this program is aired on WBUR 90.9 FM at 8 a.m.  The interview should occur towards the end of the first hour, though local stations may adjust the programming schedule.

In the event you aren’t able to listen when the program is first broadcast, there will be a link on the NPR website to the podcast for the show to listen to at your convenience.

Get some consumer savvy!

Information is power, and we could all use some help in this economic climate.  So come to the Newton Free Library this Wednesday, December 17th at 7:00 p.m., when Deb Bloomberg from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston will help us learn more about money, banking, credit, and identity theft in a free interactive program called “Consumer Savvy.”  The program will be held in the auditorium.

The talk is a program of the Library’s Retirement Planning Club for Women, but you don’t need to be a member (or a woman) to attend.  Check out the Club page to get free email updates on future activities, and to use our regularly-updated collection of online retirement planning resources (including a monthly newsletter of new books purchased on retirement planning topics), investor education course modules, and retirement planning blog.  New members are always welcome!

When the going gets tough, the tough go to the library

Lately the press is full of cost-saving tips for the down economy, and using the library is often mentioned.  This walkway was full of people waiting to get into the building when we opened today, and the library has been busy and crowded all afternoon.  Why? Because we have:

• DVDs you don’t have to pay to rent
• Books you don’t have to pay to buy (new items arriving daily!)
• Graphic novels and books in foreign languages
• Hundreds of magazine titles to check out, browse, or search online
• Music CDs and audiobooks (physical and downloadable) you don’t have to pay to download
• Free computer access, for job searches, email, or whatever
• Free classes on using a computer, finding a job, and other topics
• Free concerts, lectures & other events
• Book groups and clubs
• Storytimes and other programs for kids
• Study rooms and comfortable chairs
• Free wireless access
• Free research help
• Dozens of free online resources (databases) for research or fun (learn a language, check antique prices, fix your car!).  Most of our databases are also available from home.
• Free personalized reading lists, bibliographies, and other book suggestions
• Free or reduced-fee museum passes
• Free literacy tutoring
• Free interlibrary loan for titles we don’t have
• Free delivery service to the homebound, and other special services
• Large print books and descriptive videos
• Used books and gift items for sale
• Research material on Newton history
• Free art exhibits, changing monthly

Come join us!

Looking for a job?

The library’s free class, “Applying for a Job Online,” will be offered twice in December, and three times in January (January sign-up begins on December 15th).  In our hands-on workshop, learn about the wealth of online and print resources available to guide job applicants, and learn the terms you need to understand when you go online to apply for a job: “scannable resume,” “job bank,” “keywords,” ”guerilla resume.” Classes will be held:

December 9 (Tuesday), 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
December 11 (Thursday), 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
January 9 (Friday), 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
January 14 (Wednesday), 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
January 26 (Monday), 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Space is limited, so call (617) 796-1380 to sign up today!  And we have other computer classes, too!

If you can’t come to the class, you can view the course materials here (as well as material from some of our other classes).   And don’t forget our Job Search Blog, with links to other online resources and job search news, as well as our list of career-related databases and websites.

New Genealogy Club!

Please come to the first meeting of our new Genealogy Club, to be held Wednesday, September 10 at 7:00 p.m. in Room B!  The Club will meet monthly on the second Wednesday of the month, and both novice and experienced researchers are welcome.  All are encouraged to bring records and problems from their own research for discussion.

The first several meetings will focus on recent records such as federal census records and vital records.  For more information, contact Ruy Cardoso at ruygenealogy@yahoo.com, or call him at (617) 332-2351.

If you need additional help, you can also sign up for our class on Basic Genealogy Resources, to be held on Wednesday, September 24 from 2:30 – 4:00.  To register, call the Reference Department (617) 796-1380.  And click here for online genealogy resources available from the Library.

And for still more genealogy, the Massachusetts State Archives offers a series of free workshops, generally one a month, ranging from beginner to advanced genealogy topics.  Please call (617) 727-2816 to reserve a place.  The Archives will also be holding extended hours on Wednesday, October 29th, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.