The Electronic Newsletter of the Palm Beach County Library System

1/ Introduction to Books & Bytes
2/ Your Library Card Account Online
3/ Useful Web Links Section Highlight – Culture Links
4/ Reader's Advisory Section Highlight – Westerns
5/ In Next Month's Issue

1/ Introduction to Books & Bytes

Welcome to the September issue of Books & Bytes. This month we will review your library card account online. This will be followed by an exploration of the Culture Links category in Useful Web Links. We will also examine the Westerns section in our Reader's Advisory.

We hope you enjoy receiving Books & Bytes. Please let us know what you think of our publication by writing to: webmaster@pbclibrary.org

2/ Your Library Card Account Online

One of the most valuable services we offer online is the ability to check your account. With your library card number and a four digit PIN, you will gain access to important information about your account.  This includes a list of the items currently charged out and their due dates, the total value of any overdue fines accumulated, and the current status of your requests.

People check their account information most often to extend the loan period of the materials they have checked out on their card. This can be done in seven simple steps, which are outlined below.

1/ Locate the "Check Your Library Card Account" section at the top right corner of any page in our web site.
2/ Enter your library card number (e.g. d012345678).
3/ Enter your four digit PIN. (The numbers appear as stars for your security.)
4/ Click the "Go" button.
5/ A list of your borrowed items will soon appear.  Click the box beside the items you wish to renew. You may renew more than one item at a time.
6/ Enter your PIN for verification in the box provided.
7/ Click the "Renew Selected Items" button.

Please remember that some items cannot be renewed. This includes books on the New York Times Best Sellers list and items that other patrons have requested. Finally, only one renewal is allowed per item.

The three most common questions that people ask about their library card account are the following:

a/ What is my PIN?

If you have held your library card for many years, the last four digits of your home phone number were selected as your PIN. Newer card holders are given the opportunity to select a PIN when they sign up for their card. If you wish to change your PIN, or have forgotten the old one, please visit your local library and talk to a staff member at the check-out desk.  A new PIN may be selected on the spot.

b/ Every time I attempt to access my account, I receive an error message.  What is happening?

After the library closes for the day, "Your Library Card" information is taken off-line for three hours to perform general maintenance. This occurs every evening, starting at 10 p.m. on Monday -Friday, 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. If you continue to encounter this message, particularly between 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. from Monday through Friday, it may be due to your browser retrieving an old page from its memory. To solve this problem you should clear your cache.

c/ What is the cache and why do I need to clear it sometimes?

When you view a web page, your browser makes a copy of that page and stores it in an area on your computer called the "Temporary Internet Files" (in Internet Explorer) or the cache (in Netscape). The browser may be taking the "Sorry" page from the cache and displaying that information instead of checking for a new page. This problem will continue until you clear the cache.

The steps necessary to clear your cache in the most common browsers are described on our web site at:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/cache.htm

For further information about borrowing library items, please take a look at our "Library Card FAQ” page at:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/borrow.htm

3/ Useful Web Links

As a regular feature each month, we examine one section of our Useful Web Links. Our web directory is compiled by librarians who apply their knowledge and Internet experience to recommend web sites for each topic.

Looking for a craft idea to do with your grandchildren? Do you want to know if Al Pacino ever won the Academy Award for Best Actor? Perhaps you want to learn more about famous classical composers. If so, you will want to surf on over to the “Culture” section of Useful Web Links.
http://www.pbclibrary.org/links-culture.htm

Culture is divided into four subsections – Art, Entertainment, Music, and Sports

Our Art links include:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/links-culture.htm#Art

ArtSource
This site provides a subject directory of various art and architecture resources.

Craft Site Directory
This is a searchable database offering links to a variety of arts and crafts web sites.

Internet ArtResources
This site provides information about contemporary artists and reviews of art shows. A directory of museums and galleries is also available.

Museums Around the World
A huge list of all types of museums arranged by country.

Museum of Advertising Icons
The Museum of Advertising Icons, located in Miami, Florida, offers online access to their collection of toys and collectibles associated with advertising campaigns and other information about advertising.

The Web Museum
Links to thousands of fine art images digitized for the Web.

Wet Canvas!
Artists can get lessons, ideas, and tips from the many channels and chat rooms available on this site. An arts resources directory of links to art, music, entertainment, literature, and crafts is also provided.

Our Entertainment links include:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/links-culture.htm#entertainment

Academy of Motion Pictures and Arts
Home of the Oscars and history of the Academy Awards, including previous winners.

Internet Broadway Database
The IBDB provides a comprehensive database of shows produced on Broadway, including all "title page" information about each production. The IBDB also offers historical information about theatres and various statistics and fun facts related to Broadway.

Internet Movie Database
Lists over 100,000 movies with info on cast, reviews, plot, release dates; searchable by title, actor, director, etc.

National Public Radio
NPR's web site, containing the latest news and information on their special shows and personalities.

Our Music links include:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/links-culture.htm#Music

All Music Guide
This guide covers many music genres and provides biographies, discographies, publishing information, and reviews about each artist.

Classical Net
For classical music connoisseurs and novices alike, this web site provides reviews and articles of CDs, scores, and books in order to help listeners build a music library. Extensive lists include facts about composers and styles.

History of Country Music
This site provides an extensive history of country music, from the 1920s to the present. It includes rare images, sound clips and digital movies of influential artists.

The Internet Beatles Album
Facts, history, discography, and other interesting tidbits about the Beatles can be found on this site.

Mojo's Musical Mouseum
Search for lyrics for over 500 children's songs.

Music Notes
Interactive music site with detailed explanations of theory, history, professions, and instruments.

Our Sports links include:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/links-culture.htm#sports

Florida Trail Association
A volunteer organization devoted to the creation and preservation of the Florida National Scenic Trail. Contains a link to the Loxahatchee chapter in Palm Beach County.

Palm Beach County Golf Courses
A list of golf courses and clubs available to visitors and residents all across Palm Beach County.

Palm Beach County Sports Commission
A private, non-profit group promoting all types of sports and sporting events in Palm Beach County. Their web site contains a list of sporting events in the South Florida area.

To visit these great sites and more, drop by the “Culture” section of Useful Web Links at:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/links-culture.htm

4/ Reader's Advisory Highlight

Looking for more information on famous and not-so-famous literature? Do you want to delve deeper into a genre? Or do you simply want to read a good book? As a regular feature each month, we examine one page of our Reader's Advisory. This month, we will explore the world of "Westerns."
http://www.pbclibrary.org/read-western.htm

Go back to those days of yesteryear out on the frontier by diving into a good Western. We link to many great sites that offer reviews, news, and indexes covering the timeless tales of cowboys, Indians, ranchers, and more.

“ALA Recommended Western Fiction”
A list of classic and respected works of western fiction from the American Library Association.

“BookBrowser Western Fiction List”
Go to this site to access a list of western series and sequels from A-Z. Titles on this page link back to BookBrowser reviews.

“Life and Work of Louis L'Amour”
Louis L'Amour was one of America's most prolific and bestselling authors, writing more than 100 novels in a thirty-year career. His novels of the old west have sold hundreds of millions of copies, and made him well-known and appreciated around the world.

“Read West Online Magazine”
A great site for information on all your favorite authors. The site includes an author directory, book reviews, story index, and more.

“Western and Cowboy Poetry at the Bar-D Ranch”
The aim of this site is to give a home on the web to folks' cowboy poetry—from poems by old cowboys to poems by you. That's right, you. Even if you are an old cowboy they still mean you.

“Western Writers of America, Inc.”
A site specifically designed for those interested in writing about the West, offering information from authors and researchers and the Online Roundup magazine.

“Women - Writing the West”
Developed by a non-profit association of authors and other professionals writing and promoting the Women's West, this site includes all fiction genres and types of non-fiction books written about the variety of ways women have responded to the western experience.

“Zane Grey's West Society”
This organization promotes interest in and knowledge of the eminent American author, Zane Grey and his works. It seeks to revive interest in the writings of Zane Grey and preserve the sites of his writings so that future generations may realize the contributions made by him toward the development of the adventure story in American literature.

So if you are looking for great stories about the olden days, take a look at the “Westerns” section of Reader’s Advisory at:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/read-western.htm

5/ Next Month in Books & Bytes

In next month’s issue, we will profile the Friends of the Library and demonstrate the things they do to support the Library System.