Portland Library
20 Freestone Avenue
Portland, CT 06480
860-342-6770
Computer Services
24/7 Audio and eBook Download Service:
Download
eBooks & Audio Books for Free
Are you missing out on a great service? The
Portland Library through its library network, Library Connection, makes
available downloadable audio books and eBooks for your enjoyment. With a
valid Portland library card, you can browse and search hundreds of great
titles and download them to your computer, transfer them to a portable
device, or burn them on to a CD for your listening or reading pleasure
anywhere, anytime. Downloads can be enjoyed at home, at work, or when you
travel. Try it, it's easy!
To access
digital media you will need a valid Portland library card and access to the
Internet. Then go to www.portlandlibraryct.org or http://libraryconnection.lib.overdrive.com
to install and to activate the free software for your computer and/or
portable device.
Browse or search for downloadable materials. When you locate a title of
interest, simply add it to your cart and then check out the title. It's
"free shopping"!
For more details or if you have questions, please ask at the Information
Desk. Videos are also available for download.
Download
Media Now to an iPad
It just gets better and better … hot off the presses! With OverDrive Media
Console v3.2, most WMA Audiobooks are iPodR & iPadT-compatible! In just a
few clicks, send titles to your device; the 'Plays on' icons indicate
compatibility. In addition, the app for iOS devices, including iPad, iPhone,
and iPod touch, now supports landscape and portrait orientation, and a new
calendar icon displays the number of days remaining on the loan.
Audio Books at iCONN
The Connecticut State Library is pleased to
announce its statewide downloadable audio books service. The audio books
collection is one service of iCONN, the State Library's re-search engine,
and is made possible by a PEGPETIA grant from the Department of Public
Utilities. The service includes over 1300 digital audio book titles from
Ingram Digital Group, and is targeted to schools and public libraries, but
is available to all. Anyone with Internet access is welcome to point to and
search the service at
http://connstatelib.myilibraryaudio.com/ but to place holds or check out
titles requires a valid Connecticut public library card number.
Titles can be downloaded to PC or Macs
using the free plugin from Ingram Digital Group called the Ingram Media
Manager. From your computer, you can then transfer titles to iPods and
certain MP3 players for limited times. More details about how the service
works are available from the Help link at the web site above.
Internet Workstations
The Library has eight workstations available in the
adult area.
There are 2 in the teen area and 2 in the children's area that are filtered.
The Information Access workstation is
assigned by the staff for research. These stations may be reserved in advance
either in
person or by telephoning the Library. Use is limited to one half hour if others are
waiting.
Wireless Service
Portland
Library is a Wi-Fi Hot Spot! Library patrons can experience free wireless
Internet access using their own laptop computers equipped with wireless
cards just about anywhere in the building.
There
are times of the day when all the hard-wired public computers are in use,
and the wireless allows an extension of Internet service that would
otherwise not be available. Most standard wireless devices will connect
automatically to the wireless network.
Wireless
Policy
Using Wireless
Internet Access at Portland Library
The library provides wireless access for users with their own laptop
computers equipped with wireless network cards meeting the WiFi standard
IEEE 802.11b or 802.11g.
How to access the wireless network:
IMPORTANT:
You may need to change you network settings in order to access this wireless
network. Make sure you write down and save your current settings BEFORE
you change them, should you want to return your laptop to its default
settings. These changes may affect your ability to access the internet
in another setting (home or office). Library staff cannot assist you in
making changes to your network settings. If you are not comfortable making
these changes yourself or need assistance, please do not try to use this
service.
Our wireless network is called “PPLWireless”. It is set to broadcast its
SSID. If your network card is set to automatically connect to any available
network, your laptop should see this network and connect.
If your laptop is not set to automatically connect to any available networks
or if your laptop is not set to see this network, open up the
wireless connection and highlight “PPLWireless.”
To access the internet, your wireless connection needs to be set to obtain
an IP address automatically and obtain DNS Server address automatically. If
your home or office internet connection uses settings different from these,
you will need to change them. These settings are found in the Network
Control Panel in Windows 98/ME/2000/XP, in the TCP/IP Control Panel in Mac
OS 9 or earlier, and in the Network Control Panel of the System Preferences
in Mac OS X*.
The Internet is a public communications network, which means that there can
be untrustworthy parties between you and anybody you communicate with. WiFi
poses the same risks to your personal information that a wired network
poses, as well as some new risks. WiFi users need to educate themselves
about these risks and take steps to secure their personal information.
Cautious and informed WiFi users should choose not to transmit their credit
card information and passwords while using any WiFi “HOT SPOT.” As with
most public wireless “HOT SPOTS,” this connection is not secure.
Potentially any information being sent or received could be intercepted by
another wireless user. Please take appropriate precautions when using this
service. The library will not be responsible for any information, hardware,
or software that is compromised.
The Library does not provide e-mail services via the wireless connection.
Printers are not available via the wireless connection. If you need to
print, save to a floppy disk and signup at the Information desk to use one
of the public workstations to print.
Word Processing
Word processing workstations are available. Microsoft Office software packages are available at each station. These stations may be
reserved in advance in person or by telephoning the Library. Use is limited to a one
hour segment if others are waiting.
Public Access Catalogs
Catalogs are available throughout the Library. Not only is the Library's catalog
available, but also many reference tools are attached including magazine indexes and an
encyclopedia.
Computer Training Request
Available training:
the Catalog
our Electronic Databases
Internet
Microsoft Word
Audio Books
Most lessons are scheduled on Saturdays from 9:15 – 10:00 am.
Please ask for more details at the Information Desk. Thank you.
Last updated:
04/11/2011
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