Victoria Horst.

You may have heard of the old curse, “May you live in interesting times.” We seem to have managed some very interesting times and everyone here at the library hopes things become less interesting as quickly as possible. Keep safe and well. Perhaps some of the resources listed here will make your stay at home more enjoyable.

The library is closed until further notice. There is discussion at the state and local level about re-opening scenarios, but nothing has been decided at this time. Watch the library Facebook page and announcements here to make sure you have the most current information.  

What you need to know:

1) We are not charging fines while we are closed. Even for books that were overdue before we closed, there will be no fines charged during the days we are closed.

2) Due dates are suspended while we are closed. Do not worry if your items say they are due, and we would really appreciate it if you did not return the items until we reopen. Keep them at home, read them again. The staff is overwhelmed and would appreciate your understanding.

3) If your library card expires while we are closed, the Georgia Public Library Service is automatically renewing your card for a few weeks so that everyone can continue to use the e-resources available through the webpage, GALILEO and GADD.

4) Please do not drop off any donations at the library. We do not have the ability to process anything right now and it is very likely that anything you leave outside our back door will get rained on and then discarded. We are sorry, but we are unable to do this work now.

Consider subscribing to our e-newsletter, liking us on Facebook or checking the Google calendar attached to our webpage (tiftonlibrary.org).

Rather than book reviews this month, here are suggestions for resources you can access over the internet. (Sorry for all the web links. You can also find this article attached to the library webpage (www.tiftonlibrary.org) and all the links will be clickable there.

These resources are available through the Georgia Public Library Service and as such will require a valid library card account and your PIN. (If you do not know your PIN, try the last four digits of the phone number you used when signing up for your card).

While your kids are out of school, you can keep them reading with eRead Kids, (https://georgialibraries.org/ereadkids/) our digital collection of 15,000+ ebooks and audiobooks for kids.

GALILEO is Georgia’s virtual library. You can use it to access articles, eBooks, historical documents and photos, and much more. Go to https://galileo.usg.edu and enter your public library system password or PINES card number. If you can log into PINES, you can get to GALILEO. Here is how: https://help.galileo.usg.edu/faqs/how_do_pines_users_log_in_to_galileo

Some of the resources available through GALILEO include the Georgia Historic Newspaper collection, the Digital Library of Georgia and collections of digitized collections from Georgia communities. There is also a wealth of consumer information (what dishwasher should I buy?) and excellent quality health information written at various levels of understanding and in multiple languages.

Ancestry.com is now available to anyone able to log into GALILEO! This is a temporary situation, so take advantage of it while you can.

Universal Class is available through GALILEO as well. Sign up for classes in a wide variety of subject areas. Learning Express (another GALILEO resource) and Universal Class allow you to complete coursework in a traditional manner and may even offer class credit for successful completion. (Now is the time to get your Excel skills to where you would like them to be.) Don’t forget the Entrepreneurial Mindset Training course as well. Got a great idea, but wonder if it could be made into a sustainable business? This course will teach you the process.

Georgia Download Destination (https://coastalplainga.rbdigital.com/) is a service provided to our patrons through the generosity of our Library Foundation (as is Universal Class). It allows users to download e-books, magazines and audiobooks from a database. This service has become heavily used and you will probably have to put popular items on hold.

PRO TIPS: 1) Limit your searches to available items to minimize frustration. 2) If you are considering purchasing an e-Reader remember that the Kindle Paperwhite does not use a compatible format

The following are websites we have found in the last little while that may contain content that will educate or entertain you. Or, perhaps a bit of both. Follow us on Facebook for more links to more places as we find them.

Thursdays, starting on April 2, the National Theatre (London, England) will be streaming one of its productions. They will post the video at 2 p.m. and each play will be available at any time for a week. Search YouTube for the phrase National Theatre at Home.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has enough online to keep you entertained for hours. (https://mymodernmet.com/) Don’t you have a small person in your life that needs a suit of armor made of cardboard? Remember the Summer Reading theme this year is Imagine Your Story!

Georgia students and educators can access an online library of free educational resources from GPB Education, PBS LearningMedia, and Discovery Education, including videos, activities, and associated lesson plans for teachers, that align with Georgia standards. (https://www.gpb.org/education/learn).

Can’t go to the Georgia Aquarium, but you can watch fish here! Piranhas, no less! (https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/piranha-cam/)

Tour the Carlsbad Caverns! (https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service/carlsbad-caverns/natural-entrance-tour)

Go to the Metropolitan Opera! (https://www.metopera.org/)

This article links to twelve world class museums offering online tours of some of their collections. (https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours)

The Virtual Archeology Museum. Explore shipwrecks without knowing how to swim. (https://www.boem.gov/environment/virtual-archaeology-museum)

The list will end with the biggest of them all. The Smithsonian Institute has a huge amount of material available for every audience and interest. They are looking for people to transcribe archival materials; there are podcasts, videos, and virtual tours. Find a comfy chair, get something nice to drink and prepare to spend some time here. (https://www.si.edu/)