did you know...

The State Library provides subscriptions to two services that allow library staff to engage in professional development opportunities about leadership, management, communication, customer service, computers/software and technology skills! 

Lynda.com includes a catalog of over 2,800 online courses presented in small chunks of content, allowing staff to take an entire course or zero in to specific content. Mobile apps for iOS and Android allow courses to be viewed on mobile devices offline.

SkillSoft’s catalog includes 450 courses, 1-2 page printable job aids for quick reference, and approximately 3,000 short videos about software and technology skills.

These services are free to library staff, and would be a great way to train for some of your tech competencies skills.  You must create user accounts to access the courses. For more information, visit: http://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/ld/education/selfpaced.htm

Please contact Jeffrey Hamilton at 919-807-7417 or jeffrey.hamilton@ncdcr.gov with questions or for assistance.

tech tip: the "find" function

The "Find" Function: Behold the power of Ctrl + F

Did you know that holding down the Control (Ctrl) and F keys at the same time will bring up a box where you can search a page or document?  Let's say you're searching for the answer to the question of whether or not beans are known to provide a good source of protein in your diet in the Spark 16 newsletter.  You could (and at some point should) read the newsletter cover to cover, or you could hit Ctrl + F and search for the word "beans" or "protein" to go straight to the answer. 

Try it the next time you're looking for a specific topic in a 300 page PDF user manual, or needing to find and replace a misspelled word in a document.  It'll save you so much time you'll wonder where Ctrl + F has been all of your life!

tech tip: Address Bar vs. Search Bar

Each website has a unique address (called a URL).  For the library, our URL is www.rowanpubliclibrary.org.  If you know the specific URL you would like to visit, you can type it directly into the Address bar ( 1  above).  If you know you did not know the library's URL, you could type Rowan Public Library into the Search Bar ( 2  above) and choose from a list of results.  If your Internet browser does not have a search bar, you can also type www.google.com (or any other search engine) into the Address Bar and use Google's search bar ( 3  above) to search for the library's website.

tech tip: what is cloud storage?

If you've ever watched TV or played around on the Internet, you've probably heard the term Cloud Storage being used.  According to Wikipedia, cloud storage is defined as the model of networked enterprise storage where data is stored in virtualized pools of storage which are generally hosted by third parties. Which is a nerdy wordy way to say those pictures and videos you take on your phone; all the names and numbers in your contact list; spreadsheets and documents; music playlists; and more can be stored in one central place yet accessed anywhere you go where you have an Internet connection.

Cloud storage hosts can include popular cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud.  Patrons working on projects or papers may find cloud storage to be a great solution--it's quick, easy to sign up, and free (for most accounts).

Want to learn more?  DigitalLearn.org has a free class with four mini-lessons (less than 25 minutes total).  You'll be introduced to Cloud Storage, Dropbox, Sharing in the Cloud, and Googledrive and Skydrive.  This can be completed on work time, so ask your supervisor and take a peek!