New Videos "First-Come, First-Served"

Beginning Monday, January 4, 2010, new videos will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Holds will no longer be allowed on videos until they are reassigned to the regular video collection. The length of time that videos are in the hold process has resulted in limited vailability for our users. Under the “no holds” change, new videos will have a quicker turnover, increasing the number of check outs during the 6-month period that they are on the new shelf. Everyone will have a better opportunity to enjoy the new videos. New videos check out for 4 days at $2.50 each. After 6 months, videos are $1.25 each for 7 days. Revenue collected from video check out contributes to the operation of the library.

Your Future: Getting Into College and Michigan Colleges

Two new webpages are up: Planning Your Future and Michigan Colleges & Universities.

Planning Your Future includes links to web sites on testing (ACT, SAT, etc.), choosing a career, how to choose a college, financial aid and scholarship information and personal finance. The sites are primarily for the college bound, but can be helpful to anyone.

Michigan Colleges & Universities contains links to all 4-year and 2-year colleges and universities in Michigan. Please let us know if we have missed a school.

December 26 2008

Color Printing Now Available

High quality color printing is available from all public Internet machines. Color printing is both easy and, at $1 per page, very economical. Instructions for using the automated print system are posted near every computer. Be sure to ask about color printing at the Reference and Youth Services Desks.

December 23 2008

Laptop Rental at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library

Check out a Laptop for use use within the Library.

Laptops allow the user to access the Internet through the Library's wireless network in most parts of the building. The laptop's operating system is Windows XP and they are also equipped with Microsoft Office products 2007. The laptops allow the user to upload to the Internet or download to a disk or flash drive. Please note that any programs or documents saved to the laptop will be erased after each individual use so the user is encouraged to use external storage for saving work.

The first hour of use is free of charge. Each additional hour or partial hour may be rented for a charge of $2.50 per hour or partial hour.

Printing is available.

Click here for more information.

September 30 2008

Consumers Reports Online

Shop with Confidence!
Full Online Access to Consumer Reports Now Available!

Get immediate, complete access to the best consumer information available.

Every issue of Consumer Reports from 1999 to the latest issue is now available and fully searchable.

Access by clicking on "Research Resources" on the library's webpage, and then choosing "Consumer Information." Log in using your library card number.


September 4 2008

Tumble Talking Books - Audio Library

Our latest audio book service brings hundreds of e-titles directly to your personal computer. Choose from fiction, non-fiction, read-alongs, classics, and Spanish audio books. There's nothing to download, transfer, checkout or return. The only requirement is a PC with an Internet Connection!




Just browse for a title and click on the Listen Online button. Each selection is streamed in high quality, unabridged format.

TumbleTalkingBooks offers Read-Alongs which include the accompanying e-book in large print, easy-to-read format.

Questions? Call the Reference Desk at 837-3449.

To access click here or go to the Library's Homepage (www.midland-mi.org/gracedowlibrary), select "Research Resources" and select "TumbleTalkingBooks."

July 7 2008

Mango Languages

Bonjour! Comment allez-vous?

Traveling abroad? Looking to improve your career by learning a new language? We can help with this brand new electronic resource





Chose from any of these 12 languages

Brazilian Portuguese
Spanish
Japanese
French
German
Italian
Greek
Russian
Mandarin Chinese
ESL Polish
ESL Spanish
ESL Brazilian Portuguese

This easy to use resource is both fun and effective. Lessons provide hours of interactive instruction based on tested methodology. Click here and start learning.