Free Genealogy Databases Class, 12/1/12

   The Special Collections Department at the Emily Fowler Library will present a class on using the  genealogy databases we subscribe to such as Ancestry.com and Family Search as well as the indexes and local history resources we have available on our homepage. The class will be held Saturday December 1st, 2012 from 3:00pm-5:00pm at the Fowler Library.

Cat-Top

   With so much genealogy information being added daily to these and other databases, knowledge of efficient search strategies, techniques, and learning what each has to offer make your research faster and more enjoyable.

  This class is free but registration is required. Please call (940) 349- 6814 or contact me at chuck.voellinger@cityofdenton.com to register or for more information.

Online Genealogy Class, May 5th 2012

   The Emily Fowler Library Special Collections Dept. will be presenting a class on Online Genealogy research and resources this coming Saturday, May 5th at 10am. Join us for this informative program about how to get the most out of your genealogy research using online resources. This class is free as always but, please call (940) 349-8752 to register.

Epperson Family

War of 1812 Ancestors; March 17th at 3pm. Emily Fowler Library

  Join us on Saturday March 17th at 3pm for a special program about researching your veteran ancestors from the War of 1812. This year marks the 200th anniversary of what many call the “Second American Revolution” and our program will be presented by Kathy Strauss, Librarian in the Special Collections Dept. at the Emily Fowler Library, 502 Oakland St Denton, Tx 76201. Call 940-349-6813 for more information. This program is free and will last approximately two hours.

War of 1812 American Line

Mango: the fun, fast and easy way to learn a language

Did you know that we have a fun, fast and easy language learning program called Mango Languages?  The best part is it is free for Denton Public Library patrons and you can access it anywhere there is Internet with your library card.

Mango is the easiest and most effective way to learn to speak a foreign language.  It is available in two versions: 

Mango Basic:

Perfect for a foreign language beginner, Mango Basic teaches everyday greetings, gratitudes, goodbyes and helpful phrases in a short period of time.  The courses, which require only two to five hours of time to complete, are currently available in 34 foreign languages and 15 English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. 

Mango Complete:

 Mango Complete offers a 100-lesson course that digs much deeper and is designed to provide a more complete understanding of the entire language and culture. It is available in 31 foreign language and 14 ESL courses. Foreign language courses include Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.  ESL courses include Polish, Spanish and Portuguese.

 To learn more about Mango and get a short preview of what the program has to offer, you can visit the company’s website at http://www.mangolanguages.com.  Even better, you can visit libraries.mangolanguages.com/denton/start/ and get started on the courses themselves!

AtoZ the USA

Denton Public Library has acquired AtoZ the USA, a database offering extensive information on all 50 U.S. states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia.

AtoZ the USA offers in-depth e-content in 156 data categories with more than fifty maps for each state. It has thousands of U.S. state reports and articles ready to download, image collections of flags, vintage postcards, panoramic photos, license plates, and much more. Map collections include thousands of modern and antique maps, and dozens of other categories feature data on geography, government, history, and society and culture. Created by a dedicated team of researchers, cartographers, and writers, the database is continually updated.

AtoZtheUSA.com is proving valuable to multiple educational disciplines. People relocating to another part of the country, students working on research for state reports, and students of U.S. history will all find what they need within this site.

Our library is proud to offer this rich, colorful content as a no-cost service to customers who seek specific information on the country and its territories or simply just want a good read. With AtoZ the USA, you can quickly locate accurate data and become familiar with the entire United States without leaving your desk. To take AtoZ the USA out for a “test drive,” visit the “Homework” section of our databases page.

For more information, contact Sian Brannon at 940-349-8759, or sian.brannon@cityofdenton.com, or visit www.dentonlibrary.com.

For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our Web site at www.cityofdenton.com, go to Quick Links and click on Press Releases.

Learn to Use Novelist Database

Looking for a good book to read? The Denton Public Library has a database that can help. Library staff will demonstrate how to use the Novelist website at the South Branch Library on Wednesday, August 4 at 7:00PM. This website has recommended reads, book group guides and articles about your favorite authors. It and many other useful databases can be found at www.dentonlibrary.com.

For more information, contact Kimberly Wells at 940-349-8796, or kimberly.wells@cityofdenton.com, or visit .  

For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our Web site at www.cityofdenton.com, go to Quick Links and click on Press Releases.

Need Help With Your Job Skills?

The Texas Workskills Development in Libraries project better known as TWDL (pronounced ‘Twiddle’) has begun. TWDL was created to help Texas residents obtain information and learn better ways to look for a job as well as providing ways to improve their job skills. The project supports Texas library staff, management and volunteers in gathering 21st Century job training resources that can be easily accessed and offered to all Texans.

Information about resume writing, interviewing strategies, and job searching can be found by either visiting the Denton Public Library or the TWDL web site, http://www.twdl.org. In addition to information, another highlight of http://www.twdl.org is the links to self-paced tutorials, lists of agencies offering free training by region and much more. Created for Texas residents and library staff, http://www.twdl.org allows all to access this valuable information 24/7.

“The public library has always been known as a resource for providing quality information, and now during these economically stressful times,  we wanted to provide work skill information that will help people become employed or improve their skills,” said Wylaina Hildreth, Senior Librarian. So, we invite one and all to come into the library or visit http://www.twdl.org as part of their job search or work skill improvement.

Texas Workskills Development in Libraries is a cooperative effort by the Big Country Library System, Houston Area Library System, North Texas Library Partners, Northeast Texas Library System, Texas Trans-Pecos Library System, and West Texas Library System.

For more information, contact Sian Brannon, North Branch Manager, at 940.349.8759 or at sian.brannon@cityofdenton.com.

For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our website at http://www.cityofdenton.com, go to Quick Information and click on Press Releases.

Read-Along Ebooks for Children and Teens

Access read-along ebooks for children and teens online from home.  If you have a library card and know your PIN, you can access Denton Public Library’s Tumblebooks and Tumblereadables accounts by clicking on the links at www.dentonlibrary.com.  Tumblebooks offers over 200 animated picture books, including favorites such as Biscuit, Diary of a Worm, and How I Became a Pirate. The collection features adjustable online text and complete audio narration.  Sentences are highlighted as they are being read and the pages turn automatically, but children can also read at their own pace. 

Tumblereadables is an online collection of read-along titles for elementary, middle school, and high school students featuring the same adjustable read-along text and full narration as Tumblebooks. This collection features chapter books, early readers, YA/Teen Novels, and high interest/low level books for both middle school and high school students, plus classics of American and English literature.

Read-alongs are an excellent tool for emergent, struggling, and reluctant readers, as well as being an effective resource for ESL learners.  In an increasingly electronic world, seasoned readers will also appreciate the ability to access books on their computers and portable devices.  These databases are great resources for bookworms and reluctant readers alike.  Take advantage of Tumblebooks and Tumblereadables today! 

For more information, contact Dana Zakrzewski at 940-349-8715, or dana.zakrzewski@cityofdenton.com, or visit .  

For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our Web site at www.cityofdenton.com, go to Quick Links and click on Press Releases.

Learn About Genealogy Databases

Did you know that the Denton Public Library offers a variety of genealogy research databases you can access from your home with your library card at no charge? Library staff will demonstrate how these databases can used to search census records, research old newspaper articles, explore military records and much more at The Genealogy Database Tech Talk at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 5, at the South Branch Library.

This program is perfect for those who would love to explore their family histories but can’t find the time to visit archives across the country or pay for expensive databases. Seating is limited so please call 940-349-8796 to register. The South Branch Library is located at 3228 Teasley Lane.

For more information, contact Kimberly Wells at 940-349-8796, or kimberly.wells@cityofdenton.com, or visit .  

For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our Web site at www.cityofdenton.com, go to Quick Links and click on Press Releases.

Learn How to Download Ebooks and Audiobooks

Learn how to download digital audio books, eBooks, music and videos from the Denton Public Library’s web site to your home computer or mobile device at the South Branch Library on Wednesday, June 2, at 7 p.m.  Library staff will demonstrate how library card holders can download best-selling novels, classics, self-improvement guides and much more using the Download Center at www.dentonlibrary.com.

For more information, contact Kimberly Wells at 940-349-8796, or kimberly.wells@cityofdenton.com, or visit .  

For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our Web site at www.cityofdenton.com, go to Quick Links and click on Press Releases.