Our focus will be getting new device owners up to speed with our ebook collection through Library2Go! We would love to have you bring your device with you and attend either hour (11:00 AM or 12:00 Noon).  Our patient librarians will be “standing by” to help you maneuver the ins and outs of downloading and enjoying library ebooks! If you need help before then, try our ebook help pages. See you on the second floor.

Posted by Christopher, a second floor librarian

Image credit: kodomut

“In Flanders Fields”
by Lieutenant Colonel John Alexander McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

from “In Flanders Fields and Other Poems” by John McCrae

Thanks Veterans!

Posted by Christopher, a second floor librarian.

Dracula by Bram Stoker
Take a bite out of the Twilight series by sinking your teeth into this literary work, very loosely based on the life of Vlad the Impaler. Listen to the dramatized LibriVox audio book.

Fall Of The House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe
A classic Poe short story. The quintessential Gothic, haunted house tale! Watch the surrealist silent film from 1928.

Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Be afraid of doctors that keep to themselves… Listen to the LibriVox audio book.

The Monkey’s Paw by William Wymark Jacobs
Beware of what you wish for in this short story. Listen to a Radio Drama of the story.

Shapes in the fire by M. P. Shiel
Shiel was an early master of the supernatural novel. This is a fine collection of creepy short stories. My favorite is Vaila. In addition, I’d recommend the PDF version for the drawings and original formatting.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
A story of split personality and a potion that brings out the worst in a certain benevolent Doctor. Listen to the LibriVox audio book.

The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe (contained in the Collected Works of Poe)
Another great Poe short story. “I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this.”  Listen to this and several other Poe classics.

Posted by Christopher, a spooky second floor librarian.

Once you borrow an ereader, you will need something to read. We include some public domain classics on the device, but why not make a foray into Library2Go?

Be sure to log in before you search for an ebook. This way you will not only see all that is offered statewide (and available to you) but also the ebooks that we have added to the system just for Corvallis-Benton County library users.

As of right now, we have 12,421 ebooks and the list grows by the day. Don’t forget that we also offer audiobooks! We have 13,148 titles right now.

I just got back from an ereaders conference and from what I saw, this holiday season should be lots of fun. Many new ereaders and display technologies will soon be available and the prices keep dropping! I have already been seeing ereaders for under $100 and with a CBCPL library card you can get ebooks at no additional charge!

If you plan on purchasing an ereader, be sure it is on the compatible devices list for OverDrive (our source for Library2Go ebooks). As always, check our ebooks page for the latest news.

Posted by Christopher, a second floor librarian

Posted by Christopher, a second floor librarian

old media/new media by petit hiboux on flickr

We have been hearing from happy people discovering our Kindle compatible library ebooks!

This is new for us all, so we have created some help pages to guide you through the process. If you have used Library2Go ebooks for other reader devices, you’ll find the Kindle process very similar.

Give us a call (541.766.6793),  email or come in and ask if you need assistance.

Posted by Christopher, a second floor librarian

The Jane Austen classic turns 200 this year, so why not check-out the myriad ways you can enjoy it?

Not only do we have a number of editions and formats in the library but thanks to the Public Domain status
of all Austen’s work, numerous ebook editions are available online.

Epub and Kindle editions (copy edited): Feedbooks edition [with historic background in the front matter and very clean epub formatting]. Manybooks [straightforward formatting of Project Gutenberg edition]

Original image format PDFs (Epub and Kindle versions not copy edited): 1811 edition / 1833 edition / 1844 edition /
1864 edition /1882 edition / 1892 edition / 1896 edition

Image by C.E. Brock (1908 edition) courtesy of Mollands Circulating Library.

Posted by Christopher, an ereading second floor librarian

Kindle users, to get started go to Library2Go and log in. Choose the available ebook you want and select “Get for Kindle”. You will then be directed to an Amazon login page.

For assistance check out our ebook help pages or call the reference desk at 541.766.6793

Posted by Christopher an ereading second floor librarian!

Ebook/ereader growth has been incredible. On a recent trip, I saw people ereading nearly everywhere I went. I saw ereaders in the airport, on the plane, by the hotel pool and even in an amusement park! I saw iPads, Kindles and nooks all being read and enjoyed. It would be dishonest to say that I didn’t see traditional paper books being read in those places too, of course. The difference is in the fact that ereading has finally reached the point of broad acceptance.

A recent survey reported that “e-books grew from 0.6% of the overall book market in 2008 to 6.4% of the total in 2010.” Harper-Collins (the company that brought us the despised 26 use ebook model) reports that ebooks now makeup 11% of its total revenue!

Kindle update: Kindle owners take heart! One of the Second Floor Librarians recently attended a digital media conference and reports that although we still have no firm date for Kindle compatibility, The CEO of OverDrive said it would be “very soon.”

Other news: OverDrive plans on revamping their entire interface. The changes, called OverDrive WIN Platform are touted as offering a “Streamlined User Experience & Access to More Content”. It should prove even better for librarians and library users alike!

Posted by Christopher, a second floor librarian

East 42nd by Thomas Hawk on flickr

The library will be closed Monday, July 4th in honor of Independence Day. Here are a few electronic tidbits to help celebrate…

A copy of the Declaration of Independence printed in 1776.

Sheet Music for Yankee Doodle from I hear America singing : 55 songs and choruses for community singing from 1917

Stars and Stripes Forever performed by the U.S. Marine Corps Band.

Have a happy and safe holiday!

Posted by Christopher, a second floor librarian