Blogs

April Fools’ Day falls on the first day of April. It received its name from the custom of playing practical jokes on this day, for example, telling friends that their shoelaces are untied or sending them on so-called fools’ errands.

Leslie Crowe joined Dublin Fire Brigade in the 30's, married in the early fifties, and moved out to the new suburb of Santry to 60 Lorcan Drive with with his growing family.

Every year, millions of adults resolve to lose weight, be more productive, or get in shape during the next year but how many actually stick to it? 

Access to Transparent Language Online will no longer be available through RBdigital. The same great language learning is now available directly at Transparent Languages Online.

Meet Libby our new way to download and read digital magazines for free.

Don't panic! Everything you need for learning languages, upskilling on computers, and online learning is still here. Our large selection of foreign language newspapers and magazines, titles include Hola, El País, Le Monde, Die Zeit, Der Spiegel, Jeune Afrique, Bunte & Paris Match, are now located in the Lending section of the Central Library.Our reference books are available to borrow in the main lending section of the library. We also have a wide range of study material for the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), FCE (First Certificate) & CAE (Cambridge Advanced) exams, TOEFL & TOEIC resources, as well as books on English grammar, vocabulary, English in the workplace and English writing.Learning a language has never been easier. You can learn a language on any device!“Road to IELTS” is an online resource, and free to all library members who are studying for The International English Language Testing System exam. This will provide you with over 300 activities and 30 practice tests covering all 4 areas of the IELTS exam.Online learning couldn't be more straightforward. Microsoft Imagine Academy is designed to prepare you for the future by building your expertise in today’s most popular technologies. There are over 100 downloadable learning materials to choose from. Again this is free for all members of the library.Assistive technologies are available here in the Central Library for people with visual impairment, or people whose first language is not English, indeed anyone who finds reading difficult.TTRS or Touch Type Read and Spell is an online course for both adults and children. This online course assists students to learn at their own pace at the learning hub in the library or at home.The Magic Table (or ‘Tovertafel’ in Dutch) is an award-winning innovation from the Netherlands that uses technology to help people with mid-to-late stage dementia and adults with learning disabilities. A staff member can give you a demo or alternately you could make a group-booking.If you have any queries on any of the resources above contact the Central Library on 01-8734333 or email [email protected] the library is simple as ABC. There are no fines and you can use your card in any library in Ireland. Teenagers will need the signature of a  parent or guardian when completing the membership form. Their parent or guardian will need to bring photo I.D. and proof of address. 

Our featured online resource this week is Freegal ,a free music service which offers access to about 15 million songs, including Sony Music’s catalog of legendary artists, and over 40,000 music videos.The Freegal Music website has thousands of artists, tens of thousands of albums, and millions of songs.In total the collection is comprised of music from over 40,000 labels with music that originates in over 100 countries. There is no software to download, and there are no digital rights management (DRM) restrictions. Dublin City Public Library users have unlimited streaming and can download 5 songs per week. All you need is your library card number and PIN. Go to https://dcpl.freegalmusic.com/ or download the free App from Google Play or the Apple Store  

The e-resource featured in this week’s blog is World Book Online. A suite of three websites from the publishers of the famous World Book encyclopedias. Supplying you with accurate information at age appropriate levels in a controlled safe learning environment.From pre-primary to secondary school – from the wobblers and toddlers to tweenies –  World Book provides fast and accurate information at every level in an immersive learning environment. The information is reliable, age-appropriate, and easy to read and comprehend.·         Early World of Learning for ages 3 to 6 years: this is a resource for preschoolers and children in early primary education. Developed with experts on early childhood education, it offers rich resources designed for the younger child.(An example of a webpage on World Book Online)·         Kids for ages 7 to 11 years: this is a premier reference website developed especially for young students. It features an intuitive user interface, thousands of easy-to-read articles packed with stunning illustrations, videos, interactive maps, and a wealth of engaging games and activities.(Example of the search function on World Book Online)·         Student for ages 12 to 15 years: this contains numerous tools to engage users in 21st-century education and blended-learning practices.(Further example of the search function on World Book Online)And best of all, it’s free with your Dublin City Public Libraries membership card.See World Book Online for more details.

Whatever your area of interest, we have an online resource for you.  Today we’re going to take a look at The Great Courses Library Collection. This resource gives our library members access to an amazing world of knowledge.

“I’ve read everything written by my favourite authors, what shall I read next?”  Sound familiar? Well this online resource, now available with your library membership, will help answer that dilemma.Get book recommendations anywhere, anytime with Who Else Writes Like...?Who Else Writes Like...? is an established reference resource and reading promotion tool. It is designed to help anyone who enjoys reading fiction to expand the number of writers they read.You can browse by genre or go straight to an author of interest, check up on characters and series or the latest prize-winning writers, and follow the links to authors' websites for additional information.So click on 'Browse authors' to get started and discover a whole new world of fiction writers based on your favourite authors.How to accessSelect Log in with your library card number, then select 'Dublin City Public Libraries'. In branch libraries no login required.