Tag Archives: eresources

Your new Your Library

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

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!

More red hot summer reads

Our companion resource to Who Next…? is called Who else writes like? and it’s aimed at teenagers and older readers. It does exactly what it says – find out who writes like your current favourite authors and be inspired to try new authors.

It can also help with a bit of armchair travel. Who else writes like? allows you to search by country which means you can explore the world without leaving the comfort of your own home. Travel across America with Jack Kerouac, experience France with Muriel Barbery or marvel at the high Swedish crime rate for yourself with a large number of excellent Swedish authors. When you find an author you like then visit the site to find someone who writes in a similar style to your old favourites, to find someone who writes those soppy holiday romance books that you know you love, or just to get ideas for something new.

It’s not three weeks in Barbados, but Who else writes like….? can help you discover new places, cultures and authors to keep you informed and entertained whilst waiting for the Scottish summer to actually start.

Language e-learning, for everyone

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!