Archive: Apr 2020
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Morgantown’s 24/7 Digital Library Has Been Restored
Leave a CommentFolks, we are back on air! Our 24/7 digital library is up and running again. We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced yesterday. Get back to it and happy reading!
Feel free to reach us with any questions at askmympls@gmail.com
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Morgantown’s Digital Libraries Are Down Due to Network Outage
Leave a CommentUpdate #2: As of 10:00 am this morning, our team discovered that the library’s entire network experienced a “major outage.” This means all of Morgantown Public Library’s digital resources are inaccessible at this time. Our ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, comics, and all of our other digital offerings are affected due to this network power outage.
The West Virginia Library Commission manages the Morgantown Public Library’s digital network by providing internet, telecommunications, and technology resources along with 172 public libraries across West Virginia. This power outage is affecting public libraries across the state.
We are keenly aware that our patrons rely on our digital libraries more than ever during this time so we are working diligently with the West Virginia Library Commission IT Operations Team to resolve this issue and we sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.
We will notify you as we learn more on our social media accounts, website, and newsletter. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at askmympls@gmail.com.
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WVU Social Work Student Collaborates with Library Staff
Leave a CommentWe are still improving how we can better serve this community. Our WVU partner–Déja Fleury, a senior undergraduate student from the WVU School of Social Work, has been working with library staff to conduct a needs assessment so staff are better equipped to mediate and help certain populations that that would require social services.
The wonderful fact about the library is that it is one of the last places that is truly public. We don’t ask for money, you can stay all day, and we welcome everyone, no matter their socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, or religion.
Our commitment to inclusivity means welcoming people of different needs, and sometimes needs that involve social work, “…a branch librarian might run story hour in the morning, assist with a research project at lunchtime, and in the afternoon administer life-saving medical aid to a patron who overdosed…” (https://www.neh.gov/…/complicated-role-modern-public-librar…)
Our commitment to our community is great but that also means our responsibilities are vast. With Fleury’s help, we hope to better understand the specific skillset our library staff will need to better address these community needs.
Always evaluating and ever improving,
MPLSPhoto courtesy of Carly Suplita
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Aull About History’s 3rd Episode is Out
Leave a CommentA Confederate raid on Morgantown during the American Civil War?! 😲 Learn more in the third installment of Aull About History, a local history podcast from The Dominion Post in partnership with the Aull Center, a division of the Morgantown Public Library System.
Photo Courtesy of The City of Morgantown.
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15-Day Reading Challenge
Leave a CommentBeginning April 15th and ending on April 30th participate in Morgantown Public Library’s 15-Day Reading Challenge. Register at mympls.beanstack.com to begin.
Compete in your age category: a) kids up to 12 or b) 13 and up. Within 15 days, log as least 3 books to then be entered into a drawing for either a $25 gift card to Pinnochio’s Books and Toys in the “up to 12” age category and a $50 gift card to Iron Horse Tavern in the “13 and up” age category.
Sign Up for the Reading Challenge
Beanstack is easy to use and available both online and as a mobile app. Get started by visiting our Morgantown Public Library Beanstack website at mympls.beanstack.org to create your account. You can also register through the app (find out below under “Get the App”).
Note: An email address is required, if you do not have an email address you will need to create one first then come back to register for Beanstack.
Have your Library Card ready and choose how you would like to register (as an individual, registering a child, registering a family or group) and then complete all required fields (marked with *) on the online form. If you do not have a library card email us at askmympls@gmail.com with your full name, current mailing address, and phone number for a temporary library card.
Once registered, you can access your account online or in the app by signing in with your username and password.
Enjoy the fun of reading and unlock achievements!
Beanstack is a website and app that serves as an interactive home for reading challenges and events. It’s your one-stop-shop to not only register for challenges, but to also track your reading habits and unlock badges!
What You Can Do
- Register as an Individual, Family, Group, or Class
- Perfect for parents and teachers
- Track Your Reading
- Keep a Reading Log
- Set/Record Session Timers
- Keeps track of what you’ve read and how long you’ve read
- Complete Reading Challenges
- Choose from Youth or Adult Reading Challenges created by the Library
- Write Book Reviews
- Now available on desktop and mobile
- Earn Badges, Incentives, and Prizes
- Digital badges and achievements as well as prizes from your Library
- View Highlights
- Features your badges, stats, and streaks based on your reading habits
- Manage a Family Member’s Reading Log & Achievements
- (If registered as a Family) Easily switch views between member profiles without having to change log-ins
Get the App
Find the free app in your Apple App or Google Play store under the name “Beanstack Tracker” and select “Get” or “Install.”
Once downloaded, open the app and follow the simple step-by-step prompts to create an account for yourself, your child, or your family/group. If you’ve already created your account through the website, you can skip this step and just sign in to your existing account with your registered username and password.
Registering on the Website vs. Through the App: Since the app does not use our direct website link, the first prompt in creating your account is selecting “Find Your School or Library” and entering “Morgantown” in the search option. Otherwise the process is the same as registering on the website. All fields are required except for phone number.
Troubleshooting
If at any time you need help with Beanstack, please visit their Helpdesk and type in your question.
For questions related to the 15-Day Reading Challenge, please reach out to Crystal at askmympls.org@gmail.com.
- Register as an Individual, Family, Group, or Class
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Morgantown’s 24/7 Digital Library
Leave a CommentAs our families face the uncertainties of school closures, public gatherings, and the disruption of children’s activities, we want you to know that the Morgantown Public Library System and all of its staff continue to work hard to bring you our usual offerings now, in digital form.
Our digital library meets you wherever you are at www.mympls.org. Every card holder has 24/7 free access to ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, movies, music, geneaology research, and so much more.
Your 24/7 Digital Library
Libby by Overdrive (ebooks, audiobooks, videos, and music)
Card holders can check out up to 10 items at a time from 25,000 ebooks and audiobooks. The collection has your favorite bestsellers, classics, nonfiction, and children’s titles. There are no late fees and returns are automatic. In a new book hold policy, readers can now delay their book holds until they are ready. Download your iOS and Android apps on your phone or tablet to access it today.
RBdigital (magazines, ebooks, and audiobooks)
RBdigital offers thousands of exclusive magazines, audiobooks, and ebooks. The magazine collection alone includes over 150 popular and special interest magazines in full color and in complete digital editions. With digital magazines you get all of the glossy content without worrying about other people’s germs! Titles are available without holds, delays, or checkout limits and are accessible by iOS, Android, and KindleFire.
Tumblebooks (children’s ebooks K-6)
Tumblebooks is the library’s largest digital collection of children’s books with 1,100 animated, talking picture books and graphic novels in fiction, non-fiction, and foreign language titles. You can access all of this through any Tumblebooks iOS and Android application.
For a limited time, Tumblebooks is also offering new materials for Teens, a comprehensive collection of math learning resources, and steamy romance novels for our seasoned readers:
Teen Book Cloud – grade 7-12 ( Username: tumble2020 | Password: A3b5c6 )
Audio Book Cloud – all ages audio books ( Username: tumble2020 | Password: A3b5c6 )
Romance Book Cloud – a huge collection of Romance novels for the older crowd! ( Username: tumble2020 | Password: A3b5c6 )
Hoopla (eBooks, audiobooks, comics, movies, music, and TV shows)
For instant access to thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, comics, graphic novels, manga and movies, Hoopla is there for you. All of this can be accessed on your PC, MAC, iOS, Android and Kindle Fire devices.
Due to high cost per checkout, card holders have a 6-item checkout limit per month. However, for a limited time, Hoopla is now opening a collection of over 1,000 bonus borrows for ebooks, videos, and audiobooks that will not count towards your 6-item limit checkout. Visit Hoopla for more information.
Freegal (music)
Unlimited music streaming of over 3 million songs right at your fingertips with no restrictions and no caps on song downloads. The collection includes over 10,000 labels with music originating from over 60 countries. Download your iOS and Android apps to your phone or computer to access it wherever you are.
Mango Languages (a language-learning resource)
With 70 languages to choose from— from Arabic to Yiddish— prepare for real-world conversations through practical, relevant, and content-focused communication based on vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Mango also has a collection of foreign films in a variety of languages with a breakdown of the dialogue designed for language instruction. For those who are learning English, Mango offers English instruction in over 20 different languages as well. Brush up on your language skills or learn a new one today from your iOS, Android, tablet, or computer.
ArtistWorks (music lessons)
Experience world-class music, voice, and art instruction through self-paced video lessons taught by accomplished and Grammy Award-winning music and art professionals. Courses range from basic to advanced instruction. ArtistWorks is browser enabled for both desktop and mobile devices so you can enjoy on-the-go learning without having to download an app.
HeritageQuest (genealogical research)
HeritageQuest is a comprehensive genealogical research database powered by Ancestry.com. The collection includes over 25,000 books, US census data, city directories, military records, wills, US serial sets, and maps and photos, making it one of the largest collections of genealogy material you can access from the comfort of your own home.
WV Info Depot (periodicals, newspapers, and magazines)
Using the username, “West”, and the password, “Virginia,” access millions of full-text periodicals, newspapers, and magazines.
Job & Career Accelerator (career assistance)
Explore career options, search for jobs and internships, create a resume, and find schools and scholarships.
Learning Express (tutorials, tests, and career preparation)
Beat the “quarantine slide” and stay sharp for your upcoming standardized tests with EBSCO’s Learning Express, which provides a comprehensive selection of interactive online tutorials and practice tests which have been modeled by real educators using the official tests as their guide. Learning Express includes testing materials for the Common Core, Non-Common Core, and Canadian editions of the major standardized tests, as well as the ACT, SAT, AP and TOEFL. Start a new career or advance in your current field with guided support and preparatory help with continued education, high school equivalency credentials, computer skills, and so much more.
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Happy National Census Day!
Leave a CommentThe 2020 Census is more than a nation-wide head count. More people counted in the state means more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. It means more federal and state dollars for essential public services such as healthcare, schools, roads, and emergency response. The outcome of the 2020 census will determine the budgets of these institutions for the next ten years until the next census.
The Morgantown Public Library is one such institution that relies heavily on an accurate count. In order to provide more books, ebooks, audiobooks, research databases, better educational programming and learning spaces for the city’s growing population, the library’s budget must grow as well. For this to happen, the city’s census count must reflect this population growth.
As of March 27th, West Virginia’s response rate was well below the national average–a mere 19.1%. Moreover, the Census Bureau is finding it increasingly difficult to count Monongalia County. With the current public health crisis surrounding COVID-19, residents may be reluctant to open their doors to census takers for fear of contagion. More than ever, it is important that we all complete the census, either online, over the phone, or by mail.
It takes just five minutes to make sure the city that serves your family is adequately funded. We are committed to helping our communities achieve a complete count because libraries serve everyone, and we believe that everyone counts. Be heard. Be counted. Complete your 2020 Census today.
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Complete your 2020 Census at https://my2020census.gov/. Completing the census over the phone is also an option (see below for phone numbers by language.) All homes will receive a paper questionnaire if they do not first respond online or by phone. The paper questionnaire will have a return address of the following: U.S. Census Bureau, National Processing Center, 1201 E 10th Street, Jeffersonville, IN 47132
- English: 844-330-2020
- Spanish: 844-468-2020
- Chinese (Mandarin): 844-391-2020
- Chinese (Cantonese): 844-398-2020
- Vietnamese: 844-461-2020
- Korean: 844-392-2020
- Russian: 844-417-2020
- Arabic: 844-416-2020
- Tagalog: 844-478-2020
- Polish: 844-479-2020
- French: 844-494-2020
- Haitian Creole: 844-477-2020
- Portuguese: 844-474-2020
- Japanese: 844-460-2020
- English (for Puerto Rico residents): 844-418-2020
- Spanish (for Puerto Rico residents): 844-426-2020
- TDD (Telephone Display Device): 844-467-2020