Summertime...and the winning is easy!

Whether you stop by to check out a delicious beach read, travel guide, how-to book, or the latest Robin Cook CD, make sure you sign up for the Summer Reading Program for adults. Weekly drawings for prizes donated by the Butcher Shop, Caffe Fresco, Dodge's Agway, Fleurs de Margrit, and You're Invited make reading even more irresistible, and if you complete ten squares on our Summer Reading Bingo card, you're eligible to win the GRAND PRIZE from Barnes & Noble. How can you lose?

Donated DVDs

We've had a number of DVDs donated to us recently by a generous patron. Some highlights of the collection include World War II footage, Clint Eastwood's 'The Man with No Name' Trilogy, and just about every Sherlock Holmes movie ever produced!


Stop by Hampton Falls Free Library to check out our every growing DVD collection!

Friendly Summer Reminder!

We hope you all had a great Memorial Day Weekend!

As Summer has officially started, we'd like to remind you that Hampton Falls Free Library is now on Summer Hours. This means that we will be closing at noon on Saturdays instead of 1pm, so us librarian-folk can hit the beach!

Also, as we draw nearer to school's summer vacation, keep an eye and an ear out for Summer Reading Programs. Check the calendar for more details!

Digital Audio - An Overview

What is Digital Audio?

Unlike cassette tapes or CDs, which are prone to breaking and skipping, digital audio is a file that can be read by a computer or another electronic device and converted into sound.

How do I listen to Digital Audio?

There are several different ways to listen to digital audio - in fact, it's best feature is its versatility. Digital audio can be played on any computer that has speakers. It is also very popular to load the audio in the form of .mp3 files into an MP3 player. Once on the MP3 player, it can be listened to through headphones. Or, if you like listening to audio in your car, a simple cassette adapter can play digital audio through your car speakers.

Ok, sounds great... but why does a library care about Digital Audio??

Well, audio isn't just about music anymore! Hampton Falls Free Library now has a subscription to OverDrive, which allows patrons of our library to download and listen to HUNDREDS of audio books (in the form of Digital Audio, of course!) for FREE.

Tell me more.

Well, if you're an audiobook junkie like I am, this is a great way to expand your options. The OverDrive library adds audiobooks to their collection faster than we ever could! In addition to Adult Fiction, OverDrive also has a large amount of Children's and Young Adult Fiction.

Does it get any better?

Yes! You never have to worry about returning digital audiobooks! Each book has a 7-day license. This means that in the 7 days after you download the book, you can listen to it on your computer, burn (some) books to a CD, or transfer it to an MP3 player. After the license is up, you will no longer be able to transfer the files, but if they are already on your MP3 player, you can continue to listen to them.

Alright... but... what if you're not the most technologically capable person? I mean, it's not ME, but I have this friend...

Everyone has to start somewhere, right? If you have any interest in Digital Audio, any interest at all, stop by the library and we can discuss whether or not it is right for you. Although, with the versatility of it, there's bound to be a solution for everyone.

Just bought an MP3 player and need a little help figuring it out? Bring it down to HFFL and I'll show you the ins and outs of it.

Or do you want to check out the OverDrive website to see what all the fuss is about, but you're a bit of a technophobe? Stop by! I'd be happy to walk you through it!

--Kate

Open-Source: Be Free!

I have long been a proponent of the Open-Source/Freeware movement. Instead of AOL Instant Messenger (better known as AIM), which has become increasingly inundated with flashy advertisements and features that become more of a nuisance than a help, I have been a user of the newly-renamed Pidgin. This program works like AIM, but it is open-source, and therefore not affiliated with a major company (like AOL). This tends to yield programs that have all the features you need with nothing you don't (or at least the option to turn off certain features), and (joy!) no pesky advertisements!

What could be better than that, you ask? Well! These days, nearly any program you might buy in a store can likely be found as freeware. These programs aren't necessarily identical, but when you want to use a program like Photoshop, and can't exactly find the $650 to pay for it, the slightly less user-friendly Gimp starts looking a lot more appealing.

I recently been exposed to other wonders like OpenOffice, which has programs extremely similar to MS Word, MS Excel, MS Paint, and MS Access. Another blessing, as the Standard version of Microsoft Office can run you $240.

I've also learned about AVG, free anti-virus software that (I hope!) works as well as Norton. I installed it on my laptop about a week ago, so time will tell!

--Kate

Therapy Dog Reading Program is BACK!

After a wildly successful first session, the Therapy Dog Reading Program is coming back! If you missed Harry and Puddin last time around, be sure to sign up NOW by either coming into the library or giving us a call, because the program is filling up very fast!

Session 2 Dates
Harry.........April 17th
Puddin.......April 24th
Harry.........May 1st
Puddin.......May 8th

Times are:
3:30-3:45,
3:40-4:05, and
4:10-4:25
on each reading day.

Come early to pick out a book to read to Harry or Puddin, or choose from our doggy-themed selection, or bring your favorite book from home!

MORE New DVDs!

And there's something for everyone!

Brand new movies Borat and Casino Royale are now part of our library collection!

In addition, we've recently been flooded with donations! Thanks to members of the community, we are now proud to share classic movies on DVD with you, such as Office Space, the Goonies, and even the Muppet movies.

Our DVD Collection continues to grow, so come in often and check out what's new!

New Media @ HFFL

Are you aware of all the new media available to you at the Hampton Falls Free Library? The year 2007 has taken HFFL into a technology-laden future. Here's what we have available to you:

OverDrive Downloadable Audio Books
The latest in audio book technology - and it's easy. You can download audio books from the internet and listen to them on your computer, or you can transfer them to an mp3 player for enjoyment on the go!
The HFFL website has a link to the OverDrive page, as well as simple directions for using the site. These can also be found here.

Playaway Digital Audio Books
Playaway is a new form of audio book. Instead of material recorded on audio cassettes or compact discs, which require a player in order to use them, this is an independent, ready-to-go, self-playing audio book. The media itself is a tiny plastic case, smaller than an iPod or a deck of cards. All you need to do is plug in your favorite headphones and you're listening to a book!

Playaway Audio we have:
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson
Summerland - Michael Chabon
Guns, Germs, and Steel : the fates of human societies - Jared M. Diamond
The Big Love - Sarah Dunn
Lord of the Flies - William Golding
Team of Rivals : the political genius of Abraham Lincoln - Doris Kearns Goodwin
The Greatest Speeches of All Time
The Classic Hundred Poems
Water for Elephants - Sarah Gruen
Thunderstruck - Erik Larson
Busting Vegas : the MIT Whiz Kid who brought the casino to their knees - Ben Mezrich
Culture Warrior - Bill O'Reilly
Live from New York : an uncensored history of Saturday Night Life - Tom Shales
Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
The 9/11 Commission Report

DVDs
Times are changing, and VHS tapes are not going to be around much longer. We have been expanding our DVD collection recently, and encourage everyone to check back here for recent releases!

2007 Additions:
Capote (2006)
Chariots of Fire (1997)
The DaVinci Code (2006)
The Departed (2007)
Enron (2006)
Flags of our Father (2007)
Flyboys (2006)
The Guardian (2007)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Pirates of the Caribbean (2006)
The Prestige (2006)
Walk the Line (2006)

The New To-Do!

With the increasing responsibilites of life piling up, I've been meaning to make a good ol' fashioned to-do list for a while now. Unfortunately, the very first item on my would-be list is "1. Buy To-Do List Notebook".

Today, however, my problems have been solved! Check out pocketmod.com! With some simple dragging & dropping on the ingenious little program, and some crafty folding, an ordinary piece of paper can be your portable, pocket-sized key to staying organized!

At least, that's what I'm hoping.

--Kate

Our Maiden Voyage!

Hello internet!

In an attempt to stay at the cutting edge of technology, we've finally entered the world of blogging! Look here in the future for the first word on new releases, library musings, the occasional rant, and what books your favorite librarians have on their nightstands.

We're also interested in what you have on your minds. Feel free to comment on our blog posts, respond to questions, or ask your own.

--Judy & Kate