Win a new iPad from BPL! Two different ways to win!

Do you want to win a new iPad? Bossier Parish Library will give away a free iPad in November and you could win! There are two different ways to get your name in the drawing for the new iPad and you can even win smaller prizes every week!

Library Love Letters

The first way to participate and get your name in the drawing for an iPad is to show Bossier Parish Library a little love and write us a Love Letter. We want to hear what you like about Bossier Library. Each Bossier Parish Library branch has a special Library Love Letter display where you can fill out a letter telling us what you love about Bossier Library. Or if you prefer, you can fill one out online here on our newly updated website. Each love letter is entered into the drawing for a brand new iPad on November 7th.

Question of the Week

The second way to get in the drawing for the iPad is to answer our Question of the Week. Each Monday a new question will be posted on Facebook, Twitter and this blog. You can also find the question on the Love Letter board at your local branch. The answer to each question can be found on the BPL website or catalog. Some questions will be about the library itself and some will be about our collection. Library employees will not have the answer but they may be able to point you in the direction of our website or catalog. 

Each week a random winner will be chosen from all of the correct answers. This winner will then be put in the drawing for the iPad on November 7th. 

In addition to being entered into the drawing weekly winners win prizes as well! You can win one of these prizes! 

Don't miss out on your chance to win one of these prizes and be entered into the iPad Giveaway.
Friend us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to see the questions every Monday!

The Fine Print: This contest is only open to Bossier Parish Library patrons with current accounts.
Weekly winners have until 5 pm on the following Sunday to pick up or utilize their chosen prize.
The grand prize winner has 14 days to pick up their prize.
Prizes are not transferable and have no monetary value.
Library staff and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate.

Mark your calendars! Both programs start Monday, July 21st. (that's this Monday!)

Online Computer Tutorials

Learning your way around the Internet and programs like Microsoft Word or Excel can be pretty intimidating when you're just starting out. At Bossier Library we offer classes on things like Internet and Email, and programs like Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. However, these classes have been on hiatus; first while we installed brand new computers at every branch and now to make way for the Summer Reading Programs. Classes will start again in September, but if you have a computer and an Internet connection you don't have to wait to start learning about computers! There are many online tutorials available that can help you master the basics. This week we are going to list the top three free online tutorial sites that we found just by searching on Google. Not all free tutorial sites are created equal, so we're going to rank our favorite results.

3. HomeandLearn.co.uk

Home and Learn is a site based in the United Kingdom, which is why it's address may look a little different than the ones you're used to seeing. However, all of the information is the same for programs in the United States. They offer tutorials on Beginners Computer, Word, and Excel. There are even a few classes on Web Design for those who are looking for something more advanced. Each Tutorial is divided into shorter lessons to make it easy to take it slow and cover all the information. Each lesson has screenshots so users can see exactly what they are describing. The only problem with this site is the many ads on the tutorials. There are banner ads at the top and bottom of each step in most tutorials. Because they are related to computers, sometimes users may find them misleading or confusing. Unfortunately ads are a necessary evil for most websites. Luckily, the ads do not take away from the usefulness of the website.
Overall: The tutorials on this website are easy to find and to follow. There are no video tutorials available.

2. Free-Computer-Tutorials.net

This site offers tutorials on Windows XP, Vista and 7, as well as on programs like Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. It's fairly easy to navigate with links on the left hand side to each lesson. There are pictures for every lesson that explain step by step the basics of the operating system or program.
The only downside to this website, in our opinion, is the number of ads. Though ads are a necessary evil on most websites, they can be distracting or even misleading.

This site also provides free video tutorials on YouTube or you can purchase individual lessons on CD/DVD through the website, if you prefer.

Overall: Easy to understand lessons and easy to navigate website make this a great site however the abundance of ads may be off-putting for some users. The free video tutorials make this a great resource for beginning computer users.

1. GCF Learn Free

This website offers tutorials on Basic Computer Concepts, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and even Access. You can also find tutorials on email and Internet basics. This site isn't just limited to computer topics, either. You can find tutorials on topics from the Workplace, like filling out tax information to basic math and grammar lessons. And they're all free!  Many of the classes are video based, making it even easier for beginning users.
 Registration is not required, but is available for users who want to return to lessons or track their progress. Registration requires a valid email address. Don't worry if you'd rather not register, all the lessons are available without registration. There are even classes with instructors available for users looking for Continuing Education Credits. Registration is required for those classes
GCF Learn Free also has free mobile apps so you can learn on your smartphone or tablet. This means you can take a lesson about iPads on the iPad itself! No other free tutorial site we found offered free mobile apps..
Overall: The variety of classes, clean layout of the website, engaging lessons and free mobile apps make this the best free computer tutorial site we found. We highly recommend it for anyone looking to expand their knowledge on computers and many other topics.

Stay tuned for more information about our Patron Computer Classes coming in September!
Have ideas on topics you'd like us to cover? Leave a comment here or on our Facebook or Twitter.

Please note: These are the opinions of the blog writer only, and not necessarily of Bossier Parish Library staff or patrons. No compensation was received from any of the above websites. (in fact, we'd be a little surprised if these websites even knew we were writing about them!) 

Tech Tuesday: Spotlight on new technology

It's New Tech Tuesday! On the first Tuesday of every month we will be spotlighting a new and exciting technology available to the public.
This week we're talking about Wearable Technology!
Wearables have been a popular topic lately, especially among those who love technology and are always on the lookout for the next shiny new toy.
The most popular version of wearable computer is the Smart Watch. A smart watch is a wearable computer small enough to pass for a wristwatch. They connect to your phone, usually using Bluetooth. Though smart watches don't have all the functions of your smartphone or tablet, they do let you view email, text messages and notifications. You can also control music playing on your phone.
Most of the major phone manufacturers, like Samsung, Sony, Motorola and Apple have released a smart phone or have plans to do so soon. There are also options available from smaller companies, like Pebble which used a Kickstarter campaign to bring their device to the public.

 Smartwatch by Sony

Smartwatch By Samsung

Smartwatch By Pebble

Most of these smart watches have the same features, though there's no word yet on whether they're able to call your car to pick you up when you're in trouble. 

What are your thoughts on smart watches? Fun or frivolous?  Have ideas on topics you'd like us to cover? Leave a comment here or on our Facebook or Twitter. 

Online Services at your local library (And they're free!)

This week we'd like to spotlight some of the free services offered by Bossier Parish Library. The best part? All of them are available online from your home computer! You don't even need to leave the house! Last week we covered Mango Languages, which allows you to learn a new language for free. This week we're going to cover a few of the lesser known online services.

Auto Repair Reference Center (ARRC)
The ARRC is a free database with information on the repair and maintenance of cars and trucks. It gives basic information on various model cars all the way back to 1953. It provides step by step instructions, complete with diagrams. It even has estimates on time and cost of repair, for those of us who would rather leave the repair up to professionals. Now you can arm yourself with knowledge before taking your car to the mechanic.

Cypress Resume

Writing a resume can be tricky - it's fine line between too much and too little information and between being memorable while still remaining professional. Many programs like Microsoft Word have templates available, but those can lack personality. Cypress Resume is a free service available through Bossier Library that makes writing a memorable resume quick and easy! You choose phrases that describe you and your work experience and Cypress Resume assembles them into a professional resume. You can even create an account, which allows you to save your resume and come back any time to add experience without starting all over. 

Legal Forms Library

The Legal Forms Library is just as described - it's a database of legal forms available to the public. Though neither the site or the library can offer legal advice, we can offer free legal forms. There are forms available for everything from Last Will and Testament to Name Changes. These can be completed and printed from any computer with internet access. 

These are just a few of the online services available from your local library. Access to these and many more is available through the Bossier Parish Library website: www.bossierlibrary.org

Comment and let us know what you think! If you'd like more information on these or any other library services, you can call your local library branch or contact us on Facebook or Twitter. 

Learning a New Language with Technology

Have you ever wanted to learn a new language? I personally love the idea of knowing at least enough to get around in several languages, but I don’t always the extra money to spend on classes or on services like Rosetta Stone. I also love to travel and think it’s important to at least make an effort to speak the local language instead of just walking around and hoping someone in the vicinity speaks English. For that I want something practical that I can use in conversation. The last time I tried this I was going to France and wanted to learn the basics. Instead, the CD I bought wanted to teach me to count. I just needed to know where the train station was, not show off my ability to count to ten!  That’s why I was really excited to learn about Mango Languages. Mango is a fast and effective way to learn to hold practical conversations in a new language. It’s got both audio and visual elements which helps me follow along. And the best part? It’s free with my library account!

Mango Languages has lessons available in 63 different languages, including languages you’d expect to find like Spanish, French or Italian. But Mango doesn’t stop at the expected languages. They have also have languages like Arabic, Yiddish or even Hawaiian. There are special languages as well like Biblical Hebrew, Latin, or Ancient Greek. You can even take a course on speaking Pirate! (I have to admit: I've added that one to my own personal list.)

Mango also has English lessons available for anyone who speaks English as a second language and wants to learn more. There are English lessons available in 17 different languages! 

To access Mango for free, go to our website at www.bossierlibrary.org and find the Mango Languages link on the right hand side. There are links to access from within the library or from home, so you don’t even have to be sitting at a library computer to use Mango.

Once you’re on the site, it will ask you to enter your library card number and PIN. Your library PIN is the last four numbers on your card. Once you've entered that, Mango will ask you to create an account with an email. This lets you keep track of your lessons so that you can pick up where you left off.

Mango even has apps available for iPhone/iPad and for Android devices. You can learn on the go or on your lunch break. You can even use it to entertain yourself and your family on those long boring car rides.

We want to know what you think! Will you be trying Mango? Do you have an idea for a topic or a question you'd like us to address? Leave us a comment here or tell us on Facebook or Twitter. Links to those accounts can be found on the right hand side of this page. 

Part I: Are Your Personal Devices Protected...?

One of the biggest headaches of working in technology, is having to repair an affected computer. Depending on what library department that computer is associated with, it could take a day and a half - just focusing on that one machine - to "wipe it out and restore it" to suitable working conditions. Needless to say, its very frustrating and very time-consuming on my part. But for some of you, when this involves your home computer, it can be a very crippling feeling, especially if that computer is the only computer in your entire household.

So to continue our discussion on free and paid software to help you save time and money, I want to tell you about ways to protect the data on your personal laptops, home computers, smartphones, and tablets by gaining an understanding of why ANTI-VIRUS PROGRAMS are important and how you can download/install one of these programs onto your personal devices for FREE.

ANTI-VIRUS EXPLAINED:

Dummies.com defines anti-virus as "a utility used to spot and erase [computer] viruses from a system." As Princeton.edu points: a "true virus cannot spread [to another computer] without human interaction" in that a virus is "a software program capable of reproducing itself and usually capable of causing great harm to files or other programs on the same computer." Therefore, EVERY DEVICE you own (and use) that connects to the Internet, from your home computer to even your smartphone, should have an anti-virus program installed on it.

Those who create viruses are getting clever and clever. Just like them, we too have to be just as clever in finding ways to safeguard our equipment. Therefore, installing an anti-virus program and forgetting about it, simply isn't enough. You need to make sure it stays up-to-date with the latest virus definitions. Now, virus definitions (or threat signatures) are databases that keep up with the latest viruses along with strategies to help your anti-virus program "get rid of it." So, why is all of this important?

According to an October 2011 report by Kaspersky Labs, makers of Kaspersky Anti-Virus, there are at least 70,000 new viruses introduced EVERYDAY. So whenever your anti-virus program notifies you that it is out-dated, needs to be updated, or has a new update to download/install, you should PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION!

It means that the anti-virus software really needs to connect back to its "home base" to obtain the latest updates. Why? - because today's viruses are brutal. Once your device is infected, the virus is likely designed to block your ability to get on the Internet thereby blocking your ability to update your anti-virus software. By then, its too late!

Here are two popular free antivirus programs.


(1) PANDA CLOUD ANTI-VIRUS FREE

• Unlike AVG, Panda Cloud is currently only available for computers and laptops. 

• Yet unlike any existing anti-virus program - paid or free, Panda Cloud is the first cloud-based anti-virus program on the market. Cloud-based means its a service available through the Internet. So you can only buy/download it via the Internet only, and not in stores.

• In a January/February 2012 performance test conducted by AV-Test.org, Panda Cloud was ranked #1, while AVG ranked third and Microsoft Security Essentials ranked lowest. In April 2012, PCWorld stated that Panda Cloud "...outperformed AVG in a malware [detection] test." Just so your know, malware is another name for a type of [computer] virus and it means "malicious software".

• To download Panda Cloud for FREE:
• Visit http://www.cloudantivirus.com/en/forHome/ and click on the Download Free button.
• Their FREE version offers protection against real-time anti-virus and anti-spyware protection, along with automatic, behind-the-scenes updates. In case you're wondering, spyware is a type of malware that monitors your actions as you're using your device and reports your actions back to someone else, likely a hacker.

(2) AVG ANTI-VIRUS FREE

• In April 2012, PCWorld named AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition as their top pick in "Free Anti-Virus  You Can Trust".

• Unlike Panda Cloud, AVG offers protection for your mobile devices as well as year-round telephone support for the FREE version installed on your personal computers and laptops.

• To download AVG for FREE:
• For Android-based devices, such as smartphones and tablets: 
• Visit the Google Play Store and search for "Antivirus Free" by AVG Mobilization. 
• Be sure to check the box to "Allow automatic updating" either before or after install.
• Like most anti-virus programs for mobile devices, it will scan every new app that you install, perform scheduled scans on your existing apps, emails, text messages, etc., along with performing automatic updates - if you have the "Allow automatic updating" button checked.
• For personal computers and laptops:  
• Visit http://free.avg.com/us-en/free-downloads and find the Install button for the latest FREE version.
• Their FREE 2012 version offers basic protection against viruses and spyware and don't forget about the year-round free telephone support.

Here are a few other FREE anti-virus programs:

• Avast
• Avira
• Bitdefender
• Microsoft Security Essentials

PLEASE NOTE: Not all anti-virus programs "get along", so you only want to have ONE anti-virus (AV) program on your computer at any given time. Multiple AV programs on the same device could cause a "tug-of-war" whenever a virus is detected. So if you already have an anti-virus program installed, consider uninstalling it prior to installing something else. If you are unfamiliar with whether your current program is working for you, then seek out expert advice by visiting your local computer store like Best Buy, Office Depot, or Staples.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

I personally used Panda Cloud on my personal laptop and AVG on my Android-based smartphone, so what do you use? Perhaps you use an anti-virus that is different from those mentioned here. If so, feel free to share your preferred AV program with us in the comments section below.

In Part Two, the discussion continues as I focus on how to protect and backup your smartphone data.

Taskos: A To-Do List App for Android Users

For the month of August, we'll be discussing free and paid software to help you save time and money.

MY STORY:

One would think that since I work in the field of technology, that I'd utilize software installed on my computer that would help me manage my time. Ha Ha - not so! At work, I have Microsoft Outlook, but that's about it.

On a personal note, I spent more time with my Android-based smartphone then anytime else. Therefore, when I needed a way to track my to-do items for work or play, I decided to visit the Google Marketplace - now known as the Google Play store - in search of an app.

For the past year or so, I've been using a free app called TaskOS (http://www.taskos.com).

Learn more at http://www.taskos.com/ 

ABOUT TaskOS:

TaskOS is a free to-do list, which allows its user you to:

• Create your own to-do list categories. My categories are Work, Home, and Business.
• Set color-coded, priorities list for each task - high (red), normal (yellow), or low (green).
• Set a deadline to indicate when this task needs to be completed.
• Share a to-do list item with one of your contacts, which helps in keeping you accountable for completing that task.
• Adds notes - type a note or use the speaker icon to record notes for a particular task.
• Set a alert. The alert settings are off, one-time, or recurring.

You can even add a widget to one of your screens. There it will display at least one of your current to-do list item. Once you have completed a task, open the app, click the box next to that item, and the app literally crosses it off of your to-do list.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

If you're a TaskOS user, tell us about your experience with this app. Or if you're a iPhone or Blackberry user, tell us about a free or paid app that you have found helpful in better managing your time.

In our next article, we'll discuss both free and paid software for maintaining the health and functionality of your Windows-based PC. Thanks for you tuning in!