Tag Archives: e resources

Your new Your Library

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We’ve just launched a brand new version of Your Library, Edinburgh Libraries’ gateway site to all our online resources and services. Your Library features links to more than fifty sites and apps, making it easier than ever for library members to find information, learn new skills and pursue their interests.
We’ve created a separate look and feel for children’s and teenage content and even a dedicated area for teachers which gives immediate access to hints and tips and lesson plans on how to use the different learning resources.
The site has been redesigned to give users a less cluttered more intuitive interface. Use  the drop-down menus and filter buttons to easily find the resources that best suit your needs and interests. There are embedded videos to give short, informative introductions to resources such as Scran and Whose Town?
So explore the site for yourself and if you have any comments, suggestions or questions about it we’d love to hear from you. And if you like what you see, click to share our fantastic free resources with colleagues!

Maths + Games = Fun

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Mathletics, our free online award-winning maths website, now lets you play in the The Mathletics Four Nations Challenge taking place on 13th and 14th November.  Register to take part by going to the Four Nations Maths Challenge website and signing in with your Mathletics login.

If you’ve not yet signed up to Mathletics, then just go to our Your Library website, enter your library barcode number and complete the registration. A login will be sent to you by email within 48 hours. Then you’re ready to start the sums. Practice rounds of the challenge start on the 5th of November so you can start testing your skills before the competition takes place on the 13th and 14th of November. There are prizes for schools, classes and individuals.

Good luck!

Piece together the past

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…. with a little help from Edinburgh Libraries. Join us at Central Library on Saturday 17th November for our Local and Family History Day and find out everything you need to know about investigating your local and family history.

Attend a workshop on how to get the most out of our fantastic free e-resources, discover the incredible hidden treasures from our collections, and take a look at some specially curated exhibitions.

Throughout the day (from 11am till 3pm) you’ll be able to talk to the experts who’ll be able to answer all your family history queries and questions on the history of Edinburgh. The following organisations will be on hand to offer advice and inspiration:

Edinburgh City Archives

Edinburgh Libraries

Edinburgh Museums and Galleries

Edinburgh’s War

Living Memory Association

Lothians Family History Society

Old Edinburgh Club

SCRAN

The Scottish Genealogy Society

Take a look at our Local and Family History Day programme for a full rundown of the day’s events.

If you’d like to know more contact informationdigital@edinburgh.gov.uk.

Language e-learning, for everyone

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This month we’re focusing on our fantastic e-resources which can help you learn a new language, refresh your vocabulary or simply help you get by in the supermarche or bahnhof when on holiday.

You can learn a language from home with Tell me more and use the handy speech recognition software to get your pronunciation just right. Choose from English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Dutch. There are levels to suit everyone from the complete beginner to advanced student. With sections designed to improve your reading, writing, speaking, listening and cultural skills, you can choose from a variety of activities to tailor your learning to suit you.

Transparent Language Online offers a range 80 languages and provides a diverse array of resources,  such as access to social media in the languate you’re studying and games to help practice your new found knowledge. There’s even an iPhone and adroid app (under its previous name of Byki) for learning on the go!

The Kids Zone on Your Library

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We’ve brought together all our fantastic e-resources for children and young people in a new Kids Zone. There’s really useful Homework Help pages and trusted learning resources such as Britannica Junior and Britannica Student, which are invaluble for project work and researching assignments. Everyone’s sure to find the answer they’re looking for!

We’ve got holiday entertainment covered too. Try Who Next..? for sure-fired suggestions for holiday reading favourites. Then click over to Library2go where you can download ebooks or eaudiobooks for reading or listening on the go. And if your students are at a loose end during the holidays, remind them that GridClub, a brilliant online resource of hundreds of fun (and educational!) activities, is available in their local library.