Farewell Zinio for Libraries - You Will Be Missed

It's been said before but this time they REALLY mean it, AND a new RBdigital app was released 5/1/18. So today's patron having problems may have "yesterday's" app.

Zinio for Libraries or ZFL and its app has reached "end of life" status, and now it's time to move on. As I said last time, Digital Magazines now appear along with our eAudiobooks on the RBdigital website.

If you are using the RBdigital app (and if not, why aren't you?) you may wonder what the fuss is about. The mags have been part of the RBdigital app since it launched. But change is hard, and some patrons have continued using the Zinio for Libraries app. Now, they just plain can't.

The vendor is emailing all ZFL users to tell them:

• They should download the RBdigital app
• It is accessible in the app stores with highlighted links to the downloads
• Their user name and password will remain the same as they migrate to the RBdigital app

Here's what you need to know: 

1.  With Zinio for Libraries web access, a PIN wasn't required and Library card numbers were not always needed, depending on cookies. But, as with most of our electronic resources, patrons now need to enter BOTH their Library and AND PIN when using a browser to reach the RBdigital website. 

2.  Not only is a "Zinio for Libraries" account login and password "compatible" with the RBdigital app for magazines/eAudiobooks, it's important that ZFL users do NOT register again. Without the same Zinio for Libraries account email/password, their previous magazine checkouts won't show up at RBdigital. 

3.  Critical:  After installing the RBdigital app, they must authenticate it with their User Name and Password, within the app. Anyone who forgot their ZFL Password -- or User Name (which is the *email address* used) should:

Go to our RBdigital website
Click to Login then Use the Reset link on Login screen 

4.  Once installed and authenticated, all previously checked out ZFL titles are migrated to the RBdigital app. It takes just a few minutes for the move. BUT for offline reading, titles must be downloaded again to a device using the RBdigital app.

Read more at the  Staff Guide  

You can also show patrons the About Guide

If patrons have additional questions, please direct them to:  yoursupport@recordedbooks.com. 

eAudiobooks at RBdigital

RBdigital - What's in a Name?

RB stands for Recorded Books, a longtime publisher of Audiobooks on CD for libraries. We still buy these - for some patrons they never go out of style. Of course as library material formats change, vendors must change too. We actually started with NetLibrary eBooks in 2001. OverDrive came along with their eAudiobooks in 2006, and hoopla in 2015. So, last year RBdigital was born. Now we have a steadily growing collection of nearly 500 RBdigital titles.

That may not sound like much, but these are best of the best!

• We've got lots of the Great Courses lectures - almost 200
• Those very comprehensive Pimsleur language courses for Spanish, French and Mandarin Chinese. That's 30+ lessons per course with levels 1-5 available for each languages
• Some classic literature titles, courtesy of the Library of Virginia
• ​Popular eAudio titles plus some full author series not available at OverDrive or hoopla. Examples: C.J. Box; John Sandford; Alexander McCall Smith

That's the book stuff. What else do you need to know? A little tech stuff.

Most important: Users cannot enable the RBdigital mobile app until they have registered for a free RBdigital account. They can download the app. They can click a link on a title in the library catalog (all titles have a record) but that's IT until they register at RBdigital.

Are you up to speed?
Have a look at the About Guide on the Research Portal. Don't miss the Tips and FAQ pages. Also take a gander at the Staff Guide for more details.

Should a patron ask "how this" or "why that"...just remember that these eAudio titles function a bit differently than OverDrive or hoopla.

Feel free to show patrons the About Guide, and print any pages for them.

BUT, that's about all you should need to do.

For patrons with questions about their RBdigital account, download issues, media player functionality, etc. etc. - please direct them to the experts at RBdigital:

For All Support Issues

Patrons contact Recorded Books vendor directly
using any of these options:

1. Call Mon–Fri: 877-772-8346 
2. Send email to: yoursupport@recordedbooks.com  
3. Submit ticket via their Help Page (handiest from within the app)

P.S.
The RBdigital magazines (formerly Zinio) do appear with our eAudio titles in their app. Watch for them to show up on our RBdigital website sometime in March.

So, what's a GVRL?

Publishers do love acronyms, but this is a good to remember. GVRL = Gale Virtual Reference Books. Sometimes we just call them Reference eBooks.

Yes, they are different from OverDrive or EBSCOhost eBooks, but all you need to remember is that they are  titles with great information AND are available to our patrons any time. A GVRL title is never checked out - it's always available. No Holds.

• Users don't download the entire eBook, but CAN download a complete chapter or section--and they get to keep it! Need two chapters? No problem! 
• You can search within a GVRL eBook once you are viewing it
• You will see records for GVRL titles in the Library catalog
• To browse the entire collection of eBooks - find it on the eBooks part of the eCollection page. Or from the Research Portal link for Browse all Research Tools - the eCollection A to Z page
• Tip: Stumped for a resource to help a patron? Try a search the entire GVRL site for keywords. You could pinpoint a chapter in an eBook that you might not have found by subject. It was the perfect solution for the recent patron who asked for a book on dental implants.

Give our GVRL site a good look and you'll see that we've just added...

Medical and science reference titles:

• Gale Encyclopedia Of Dermatology 
• Encyclopedia of Surgery and Medical Tests

A few for students of all ages:

• Principles of Biology 
• Principles of Physical Science
• Value of a Dollar: The Colonial Era to the Civil War, 1600-1865

Some content rich titles under Business:

• Titles from the New Strategist Press about Demographics & Spending Patterns

My new personal fav:

• Crimes of the Centuries : Notorious Crimes, Criminals, and Criminal Trials in American History  (fascinating reading!)

Wondering what the most popular title is? It's a tie between Scholarships, Fellowships and Loans and Gastrointestinal Diseases and Disorders. I really hope that's not related.

Post from 1/12/2016 updated 12/18/17

OverDrive for Kindle users just got MUCH easier

OverDrive and Amazon have updated the way that Kindle owners can find and borrow titles to read on their device. Not all publishers allow their books in Kindle format, but the majority of the titles we have purchased at OverDrive are available for Kindle.Which means they are compatible with eReaders like the e-Ink style Paperwhite or the Kindle Fire color tablet. In fact, you don't even need a Kindle!

Many patrons prefer reading  in a Kindle Reading app installed on a mobile device like an iPad or even on a computer. Someone who might read on their phone while riding the bus and then later on their laptop likes having Kindle sync to the last point read on all of their devices. No bookmarks necessary.

What do you need to know to help patrons?  Here's what's NEW and what is the SAME:

No need to choose Kindle format before borrowing

Step 1
When Browsing, there is now a Kindle collection [only] to choose.When searching, Kindle Format is now a prominent link in results. When patrons use these, find a book they want and Borrow it - the Kindle Book will be the first format option presented on their Loans page.  NEW   

Step 1-A
The all-Kindle-all-the-time patron will want to know they can set their OverDrive account to ONLY show them Kindle titles. Kindle will be the only choice on their Loans page.  This is important for patrons who use our APL app to place holds, or they may get the EPUB format default.  NEW 

Step 2

Users still must complete the loan at Amazon, with their own Amazon account. If their Kindle device cannot access the open web (have only the Kindle 3G connection to BUY Kindle books) they will need to do this on a computer. An OverDrive title, like any Kindle book, can be "delivered" to a specific Kindle eReader, or Kindle app on a  mobile device or computer.   SAME

 

Step 3

Patrons can use their own or our public PCs  to deliver the OverDrive title to their Kindle, but they DO need to know their Amazon account email and password. Once signed in to Amazon, they just find the Kindle Store and then click on the page called “Manage Your Content and Devices.”  Then click in the box for “Actions” next to the OverDrive title. Choose Deliver to…and the name of the device or location of Kindle or Kindle app.      SAME

Want to return a Kindle book early? This cannot be done from the OverDrive Account or Loans page. 

Go back to Amazon's “Manage Your Content and Devices” and choose Return this book.

SAME



See the OverDrive Help site for more info about managing Kindle titles at Amazon
Click here to print an OverDrive tip sheet for Kindle. 

Help for SAT Tests plus Loads More at Homework Help site!

The new SAT test came out in 2016...but there are plenty of kids taking them this year! Here are a few tips for you to help patrons when all the print books are checked out.

Free Tutoring
The Homework Help site is for all Virginia Students Grades 3-12. 


Besides subject tutoring in general math, science, reading and writing, the online tutors will also help students prepare for their SAT tests.

It's not specific test practice but kids will get help with their SAT questions from state-certifed teachers.



Students shouldn't need their Library Card, but if that happens, they can Login in here instead.


Test Prep eBooks 
Access to a few of Barron's SAT prep books on the Literati site. These eBooks aren't downloadable, just read onscreen. Always available, with unlimited users.

•      Barron's New SAT  
•      Barron's PSAT/NMSQT  

Note: Kids and parents can always find the link to Free Tutoring on our website page for elementary schoolers or Middle and High Schoolers.  Or click here to get started at the Literati site. Just click the Homework Help tab at the right margin.

Remembering September 11th

As part of the commemoration of this year's anniversary, please take a look at the Topic Guide for Arlington Remembers.

Why do we commemorate that day? We want to remember, as a way to honor the all victims and the families affected by the attacks. And we also keep remembering because we are still trying to make sense of what happened.

Here is a snippet from an eBook that outlines political events prior to September 11 and their cause and effect on American lives.

Understanding the Unthinkable

"While the devastating attacks that visited American shores on September 11, 2001, can be chronicled in precise detail, understanding why the attacks happened presents a challenge. In the days just after September 11, Americans reacted with disbelief..."

Read this GVRL eBook in your web browser.


Cause & Effect: September 11 Attacks. Robert Green. San Diego: ReferencePoint Press, 2016. Gale Virtual Reference Library.  


I hope that you find the Arlington Remembers collection of resources of interest.

Sally

Zinio App Grows Up

Yowza!

The Zinio app has finally grown beyond a “Reading Only”  app to an actual Browsing app…where patrons can browse for a magazine right within the app.

Users can:

Download titles already checked out

NEW: Browse for more magazines from within the app (1/2016)

NEW: Mobile offline reading for iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire (1/2016) once title is downloaded

Even if you have the app installed be sure to check for an update.  Visit the app store on your device - if you don't find it - see our own Zinio page for details on Kindle Fire HDX or Windows devices.