Improved access to e-audios for iPod users!

OverDrive, the vendor for the C/W MARS Digital Books Collection, recently announced that with the latest version of the OverDrive Media Console software most WMA format audiobooks will be compatible with iPods. Only the MP3-format titles were compatible in the past.

New digital books patrons will download OverDrive Media Console v. 3.2 immediately. Current users of version 3.1 will be prompted to upgrade starting the end of June or beginning of July. Version 3.2 "transcodes" the WMA files before sending them directly to the iPod, leaving no unnecessary files on the user's PC.

Publishers have reserved the right to allow this file conversion on a title-by-title basis. However, some of OverDrive's largest and most popular publishing partners have allowed this for all their titles currently offered by OverDrive. These publishers include BBC Audiobooks America, Books on Tape, Brilliance Audio, Penguin Audio, and Hatchette Audio. This means that all of the titles by these publishers in the C/W MARS Digital Books Collection are available to iPod users!

Information can be gotten here: http://www.overdrive.com/aboutus/getArticle.aspx?newsArticleID=20090527

New Monday Hours starting July 1

Starting July 1, the Greenfield Public Library will have new Monday hours: 1:00pm - 8:00pm with hours the rest of the week remaining unchanged: Tuesday and Wednesday 9:30am - 8:00pm, Thursday and Friday 9:30am - 5:00pm, and Saturday 9:30am - 2:00pm.

With the monies budgeted by City Council, the Library will be able to remain open on Mondays, reducing service hours instead of closing for the day. Despite an overall budget cut and a loss of three positions, the Library staff is dedicated to remaining open as many hours as possible to serve the residents of Greenfield and the surrounding communities. Though saddened we will be losing Monday morning, the staff looks forward to seeing everyone throughout the summer and the rest of the year.

Libraries Lend a Hand in Tough Times

The Today Show had a story today on the importance of libraries in these tough economic times.

Libraries all across the country are experiencing just what we are here in Greenfield -- people at the doors waiting for us to open, lines to use free Internet computers, and increased use of materials. Now more than ever the library is the place to be.

Database trial membership

The Greenfield Public Library is happy to announce a six-month trial membership for VerbaLearn, a vocabulary boosting program! Log in from home with your library card.

VerbaLearn is jam-packed with great features to help you study more efficiently, track your progress, score higher, and simply save you time!

Here are some of the great ways you can boost your vocabulary with VerbaLearn!

	Listen To An MP3 − Review your words by listening to MP3's online at VerbaLearn.com, offline on a computer, or anywhere on an MP3 player.
	Watch A Video Flashcard − Review your words by watching video flashcards with audio online at VerbaLearn.com, offline on a computer, or anywhere on a video iPod.
	Crossword Puzzle − Review your words by completing a customized crossword puzzle made just for you.
	Print Flashcards − Print customized VerbaLearn flashcards of your current words to help you review.
	Standard Review − Complete example sentences online to learn your words in context and improve your understanding of word usage.
	Advanced Review − Complete fill-in-the-blank questions online to improve your word recall and spelling accuracy.

New Museum Passes!

The Greenfield Public is pleased to announce two new passes for local area attractions. Thanks to a generous contribution from a local resident, the library now has a pass to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame that will admit up to six people at reduced admission rates ($12 for adults and $8 kids 5 -15). In addition, the Mohawk Trail Concerts have donated two free tickets to each concert on June 26/27, and July 3/4, 10/11, and 24/25.

Passes can be reserved by calling the library at 413-772-1544 or by accessing the library’s website www.greenfieldpubliclibrary.org/attractions.html. To reserve passes, you must have a valid C/W MARS library card.