You can now use your smartphones to check out books, DVDs, and more at the self checkouts! In this video, we demonstrate how to use the CardStar app which is available for both Android and Apple smartphones.

Update: Prefer to use the Key Ring app instead? Find us on their app! Available for Android and Apple smartphones. 

Start learning now!

Since October 5, 2009 Darien Library has offered lynda.com as a technology education resources. The service is available to residents, those who work full-time in Darien, and non-resident Contributors to the Library at the $300 annual level, lynda.com currently provides 1,612 online subscribers with instruction in a wide range of Mac and PC software programs. 

With Lynda, you can set your own training schedule. The site includes practice exercises and a helpful feature that keeps track of where you left off each time you end a session. In addition, upon completion of the video training, you can take part in lynda.com’s Certificate of Completion program.

How to Gain Access

Come to the Help Desk in the Power Library (aka computer room) on the Lower Level or call the Help Desk at 203-669-5238 to get started. Give us your name and email address so we can register your account. You will receive an email from lynda.com to active your account. We will then assign you to either an in-library access for a couple hours or you can access lynda.com from home for seven days. If no one is waiting, you can ask for your access to be renewed. 

iPad Boot Camp: Thursday, August 4, from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. (Photo courtesy of flickr user Daveonflickr.)

iPad Boot Camp at Darien Library

Thursday, August 4 at 6:30 p.m.

On Thursday, August 4, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., we are pleased to present iPad Boot Camp. Taught by Evan Barnet, President of Barnet, LLC, all features of the iPad will be explored, from web-searching to e-reader.

The iPad is a tablet computer (mobile computer) designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. Its primary uses include, books, movies, music, games, and web content.

iPad Boot Camp is part of the Library’s Adult Summer Reading Program, You’re Connected!

Have you been participating in our Adult Summer Reading Program? The Grand Prize is an iPad2. How's this for perfect timing?

Ever been in this situation?  You've found some great information, but left your flash drive at home?  You're short on time and don't want the hassle of email or CD burning.  Well, you're in luck.  Now you can buy flash drives right here at the Darien Library.  We're pleased to announce the arrival of our own Darien Library Flash Drives!  With a capacity of 2 GB, these sleek, stylish drives can hold multiple documents, digital photos, and video clips.  Equipped with a keychain attachment, the drives are small enough to add to your car keys.  They don't require any additional software; you just plug them in to the computer, and you're good to go. Each drive costs $10 and is available for sale at our Help Desk in the Power Library on the Library's Lower Level. They also make thoughtful gifts (that won't break the bank!).  Stop by and pick up yours today.

See you @ the Library!

Earlier this month, Darien Library hosted the Connecticut Library Consortium's (CLC's) 5th Annual TRENDSPOTTING symposium:

eBooks: Collections at the Crossroads

Below, Eli Neiburger, the Keynote Speaker, delivers his presentation at the event. Eli is the Associate Director of IT & Production at Ann Arbor District Library. He is the author of "Gamers...in the LIBRARY?!" He was recently named one of Library Journal's 2011 Movers and Shakers.*

*Every year since 2002, Library Journal has identified outstanding professionals from around the world who are considered the emerging leaders in the library world and whom the editors believe will shape the future of libraries by innovating with technology, advocating for community-based research and programming, and improving the quality of life of the people they serve.

Photo courtesy of flickr user YayAdrian

At the beginning of December, we launched a new service designed to keep you up-to-date on library events, services and news.  Text a Librarian Outbound Messages will allow you to receive text message updates from Darien Library.  Members may select to receive general Library news, news from the Teen Lounge, and/or news from the Children’s Library.

DLNews: Updates about Library events, services, materials and news.
DLTeen: Information about events, materials, and news from the Teen Lounge.
DLKids: Information from the Children’s Library about events, services, and materials of interest to parents and kids.

Text will be sent from each list weekly, highlighting a particular event, service, or Library news item that will be of interest to subscribers. 

A Pew Research Center report found that 85% of Americans now own mobile phones, a percentage that increases to 96% among 18-29 year olds, and a Nielsen survey found that American adults text twice as much as they talk on their mobile phones. We are eager to be able to connect with patrons on-the-go, and to be able to reach out with news alerts, reminders about upcoming events, and for suggestions for materials or services.  

These services supplement our existing Text-a-Librarian text message reference service:  By texting AskDL to 66746, our patrons are put in touch with a librarian who can answer questions by text message.

Darien Library does not charge for text services, but standard message and data rates apply. 

Image courtesy of Flickr user SummerSound

We haven't had our first official snowfall yet (thank goodness!), but the holidays are upon us! Trying to sort fact from fiction when it comes to tech buying this holiday season? No worries. We've put together a list of the top tech buying guides to help take the angst out of your gift giving this holiday season. Whether you or your loved one has an e-reader, laptop, gps, or digital camera on your list, these guides will give you up-to-date information on what's available and how it compares to its competitors. Just click on the links below and explore. Happy Holidays!

• Engadget
• Gizmodo
• New York Times
• PC Magazine
• Tech Crunch
• Wall Street Journal
• Wired

Laptop users with machines running Windows XP are able to print wirelessly from their computers when in the Library. 

In order to print wirelessly, you will need to download and install a small piece of software. Simply click on this link, and then click on the "Save File" button to save the install file to your computer. Depending on your settings, the install file will be saved either to your Desktop or to your Downloads folder in your My Documents folder.

To collect your printout:

• Go to the Print Release Station in our Small Office/Home Office copy center (SoHo) on the Library's Lower Level.
• Begin by entering your library barcode.
• Then click on "Search Print Documents." A list of jobs waiting to be printed will appear.
• Click on the job you want to print, and then click on the "Print Job" button.  Printouts cost $0.10/page for black and white and $0.25/page for color.
• Be sure to click "I'm Finished" when you're done.
• Your job should be waiting for you on either the SOHO BW or SOHO COLOR printer.

If you need assistance, please speak to the staff member on duty at the Help Desk in the Power Library just outside SoHo.