Resolutions You Can Keep

It's a new year, and the easiest resolution to make and fulfill is to visit your library! There are plenty of reasons for everyone to visit the library, especially the Dorris Van Doren Branch. If you need a more concrete resolution, try one of our 6 suggestions below. You can also visit our teen area and grab a one word resolution. HUGE thanks to the Art Bar blog for providing the idea and templates!

Resolution 1: Wipe my slate clean @ the library during Amnesty/Food For Fines
During January 3-18, come into the library to clear your fines! Return your overdue library materials in good condition without having to pay any applicable fines. If you already have fines, you can pay them down by donating canned and non-perishable goods. You can donate up to 5 items a day to get $5 worth of fines removed from your account. 1 food item = $1 fine

Resolution 2: Make good use of my electronic device
Did you receive a new gadget for Christmas or want to make use of the one you already own? Ask us about our digital services! You can download magazines from Zinio or download books, audiobooks, and more from OverDrive. You'll need your library card and PIN number, and depending on your device, you'll need to download the OverDrive app and use an Adobe ID or an Amazon account.

Resolution 3: Join a club
The Cook the Book Club returns this month, so be sure to sign up by January 16 for the potluck that will take place on Saturday, January 18 at 2 pm in the craft area. This month's cookbook selection is The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays.

Other clubs at Dorris Van Doren:
Crochet & Knitting Club, Saturdays @ 10 am
Chess Club, Thursdays @ 5 pm

Resolution 4: Get crafty
Second Friday Craft Hour for children, 2nd-6th grades @ 3:30 pm
Sweetheart Valentine's Day craft for all ages on February 8 @ 1 pm
Teen Hangout Crafts for teens ages 13-18 on Thursdays @ 4:30 pm

Resolution 5: If you have children, bring them to a storytime or playtime
Weekly Storytimes:
Toddler Tuesdays @ 11 am
Preschool Wednesdays & Thursdays @ 11 am
Family Saturdays @ 11 am

Lego Playtimes:
Get creative and build stuff. We provide the legos. Please do not bring your own.
2nd Fridays for ages 7-12 (January 17) @ 4 pm
3rd Fridays for ages 6 & under (January 24) @ 4 pm

Resolution 6: Learn a language beginning February
Classes are free and do not require registration.
Learn French
Conversational French classes begin February 11 @ 5:30 pm

Learn English
Clase de Conversación en Inglés
Vengan y practiquén el ingles. Todos los niveles bienvenidos.
Begins February 7 @ 4:30 pm

Beat the Thanksgiving Break Boredom

The Dorris Van Doren staff wishes you a safe and happy Thanksgiving! 

Downloadable magazine

Don't forget we'll be open from 9 am-5 pm today (November 27, 2013), closed Thursday and Friday, and open Saturday, 9 am-5 pm.

Sometimes having a lot of time off, along with tryptophan and carbs pumping through your veins can leave you a little bored. The public libraries may be closed Thursday and Friday, but we can still help you fight the boredom!





Make a New Tradition
All El Paso Public Libraries are now accepting poetry entries for our annual poetry contest. Entries are due January 31, 2014 (one entry per participant please). If you're in grades 1-12, you can enter! If not, then you can encourage the children and teens in your life to enter. You can make it an annual Thanksgiving tradition to read and write poetry during the break.

Collect Donations
We're hosting two different donation drives here at the Dorris Van Doren and you can help! The boxes are up front, near the circulation desk. One box belongs to the Girl Scouts, who are collecting gently-used winter clothing (any size) up until the end of next week. The other box belongs to the Ronald McDonald House, which will be collecting new, unwrapped toys up until December 16.  

Download Magazines

Dowloadable magazine

This is one of our favorite new services we offer. You get to download and keep new digital magazines for free! There are many popular titles to choose from and recent back issues are now available. Find some last minute Thanksgiving ideas with the Food Network Magazine and five other cooking magazines. Get crafty with Cloth Paper Scissors and two other craft magazines. Peruse the ESPN Magazine while watching the football games. For more information and instructions, read our previous post about Zinio.

Downloadable Music 

Download Books, Movies, & More
If you can't make it to the library in time to check out materials, visit our digital library, OverDrive. You can download books, audiobooks, music, and movies. It may seem like there aren't many movies to choose from, but there's actually a pretty good selection of indie, foreign, and documentary films. If you're feeling guilty about feasting, there are also yoga and workout videos!

It can be a little confusing at first to get started, but depending on what device you'll be using you'll need to download software and/or apps, have an Adobe ID or Amazon account, and have your library card and pin number handy. Visit the Help Center to get started

Request Materials and Make Lists
Keep track of materials you've checked out or want to check out by creating lists. You can print, email, and text the lists to yourself if you wish. Remember that creating lists does not mean you have requested items; you must click on "Place Hold" to be placed on a waiting list or request items be sent to your branch. To create lists or request materials, simply login to your account using your library card and pin number. Be sure to type in all letters and numbers without the spaces.  

Research
Why would you want to research during the break? We don't know, maybe you're getting a head start, have a last minute assignment due, or want some reliable medical information. We have access to subscription databases through TexShare that contain information and articles from books, magazines, and journals you can't access through Google or Bing. You can also study and take practice tests with Learning Express. All you need is your library card and a login and password (ask for it at the information desk).

Dowloadable movie

Dowloadable movie

Dowloadable movie

Dowloadable movie

Digital Magazines @ Your Library!

The perks of having an El Paso Public Library card just got better with the addition of free digital magazines!

Pros:

• Free for everyone with an El Paso Public Library card! No late fees!
• Current issues of popular magazines.
• Keep issues forever! No need to return magazines & they won't disappear from your device. You have the choice of keeping or deleting issues.
• No checkout limit.
• Access magazines on more than one computer and/or device.
• Available 24/7.
• Print pages 
• Hyperlinks within magazines work on computers and iOS devices.

Cons:

• No back issues. Only the current month's issue is available.
• No subscriptions. You have to log in and download every time a new issue comes out. 
• You can't view the library's collection in the app. You have to log in to the RB Digital portal to check out the magazine, then you can launch the Zinio app to download and view the magazine issue.
• Hyperlinks within magazines didn't work on Windows tablet.

Get started today! 

All you need is your library card, pin number and to create two free accounts (we recommend using the same email address & password for both). You should never enter your credit card information on either account since this is a free service provided by El Paso Public Library. 

The RB Digital Landing Site

This is your first stop where you will need to create a new account and enter your library card number. You'll be able to view magazines that the El Paso Public Library currently owns. This is also where you'll check out issues.

Once you select a magazine to check out, you'll be prompted to create a Zinio account if you don't already have one. You're ready to view the magazine on your computer.

Zinio App

If you're going to view magazines on your computer, you'll just need to log into the RB Digital link above. If you want to view magazines on a device you can download the app for these supported devices:
Android
Blackberry
iPhone & iPad
Kindle Fire
Windows

Visit this page on the El Paso Public Library's site for detailed instructions and video.

Check out this quick little screencast we created. You'll get an idea of how to access titles you've checked out and how magazines look when viewed on a PC. Warning: It might make you hungry ;)