Tons and tons of free books available to you, in print and digitally, is likely the best thing we offer and have offered for years. But for the past few years, we have loaned out mobile hotspots and they are a huge hit. One of our patrons called it the greatest thing we ever offered, so I need to explain what they are. 

1) What is a mobile hotspot? It is a wireless router that makes mobile Wi-Fi (wireless internet). This can give wireless internet to your devices, including laptops, tablets, phones, or devices running on Android, Windows or iOS.   

2) How does it work? Simply turn on the device (instruction included) and go to the wireless screen on your device. You will get a charging cable to keep the device powered. An instructional brochure with screenshots will also be included as well as secure passwords for when you use the device. These devices are extremely easy to use. If you are not computer savvy, we can help you with using one.    

3) How do I reserve a hotspot? Hotspots can be reserved online using your library card, over the phone, or in person.  

4) Will this work where I live? This device relies on cell service. According to the map for Juniata County, there is coverage throughout the area until you go west of Walnut. Visit http://coverage.sprint.com/ to plug in a zip code and see if coverage is available. Please be sure to check if your address has coverage. If it does not, it will not work.  

5) Is there a data limit? No! There is unlimited data available from this device and it can be used by up to 10 devices at once. It will give off 3G, 4G, and 4G LTE data depending on the area and signal strength.  

6) Can I renew the hotspot I currently have checked out? As long as there is not a waiting list you may renew the device. However, the mobile hotspots are in high demand and there often is a waitlist. Renewals will incur additional fees depending on the borrowing time requested.  

7) Can I reserve the hotspot for a future date? Due to their high demand, we cannot guarantee your reservation will be fulfilled on a given future date.  We have loaned out mobile hotspots since April 2017 and they are always checked out. We have purchased more of them each year to keep up with demand and we now allow you to borrow a Chromebook with it.   

Borrowing a hotspot is $10 for 2 weeks and $20 for a month.

You can now listen to these videos! Find us in your favorite podcast app! Check out previous episodes of AMA: https://www.juniatalibrary.org/about-the-library/ask-us-anything

PS: We now offer you access to RBdigital, an eAudio book service that is free and has NO WAIT LISTS! Yes, you really read that correctly! Start by finding the RBdigital app in your app store or visit the website:  http://juniata.rbdigital.com/ 

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The Juniata County Library wants to hear your questions and answer them. Submit new questions here: http://bit.ly/2Wqrdki

You can always begin at our website and access great databases full of trustworthy information. But say you are on Facebook and see something in your feed. How can you tell if what you are seeing/reading is trustworthy?  

Some easy ways to tell if what you are reading may not be trustworthy or from a reliable source: 

1) Look closely at the website address (URL): Does it say .com, .org or something you are familiar with? That's a good sign. But if it ends in .com.er or some unfamiliar ending, be wary.  

2) Look at the writing style: Does the writing have poor grammar or spelling? It doesn't have to be beautifully written, but if there are errors in the spelling, that could be a sign that the source is not fully trustworthy. Official sources are edited and reviewed by professionals.   

3) Is the information verifiable: If you read something that is truly unbelievable and you only found it on one website, look around and see if other official sources have reported on it or confirmed the story. If it is blockbuster news, it would be reported by multiple outlets.   

Here is a helpful sheet that gives you a checklist for identifying trustworthy information: http://library.pfeiffer.edu/Fake-News-Worksheet.pdf

You can now listen to these videos! Find us in your favorite podcast app! Check out previous episodes of AMA: https://www.juniatalibrary.org/about-the-library/ask-us-anything

PS: We now offer you access to RBdigital, an eAudio book service that is free and has NO WAIT LISTS! Yes, you really read that correctly! Start by finding the RBdigital app in your app store or visit the website:  http://juniata.rbdigital.com/ 

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The Juniata County Library wants to hear your questions and answer them. Submit new questions here: http://bit.ly/2Wqrdki

Today I give a book review on The Years that Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks us by Paul Tough.   

Tough provides a common-sensical overview of the critical role the college years play in the course of the rest of life. It comes as little surprise that educational attainment, and the quality of that educational setting, is directly correlated with income. But what makes the author’s exploration of elite schools intriguing is the class analysis he brings to his discussion of who is admitted to the top schools and how they do once they get there. If a student was prepped for the experience at a boarding school or a high-performing high school, then the transition is likely to be a lot less overwhelming than for a first-generation college-goer or a low-income student.   

The book is fueled by anecdotal evidence, putting readers in the shoes of students navigating the cultural disruptions and emotionally wrenching times that attend social mobility. Tough closely scrutinizes one of the determinants of the college pecking order: the SAT and ACT tests. Again, the results are hardly a surprise. If you can afford an expensive tutor who explains that the tests are designed to measure your ability to take the tests, not your math or verbal skills, you have an advantage.   

The admissions process, with its “market-based dictates of enrollment management,” its predictive analytics and yield rates, has resulted in a situation where the admissions staff spend more time looking for low-performing, high-income students than the reverse: “That’s how they make their budget.”   

Still, while jobs available to those without a degree are routinely unstable and unreliable, the degree’s wage premium these days is chiefly insurance against moving downward. Thankfully, the author includes inspiring anecdotes about low-income students, which lightens the mostly bleak-looking landscape.   

Though offering little groundbreaking news, Tough clearly shows that college placement remains mostly about wealth at the expense of a collective educational environment. 

You can now listen to these videos! Find us in your favorite podcast app! Check out previous episodes of AMA: https://www.juniatalibrary.org/about-the-library/ask-us-anything

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The Juniata County Library wants to hear your questions and answer them. Submit new questions here: http://bit.ly/2Wqrdki

Ask Us Anything - Episode 35: An interview with Sal Giordano (5/11/2020)  

Today I interview my brother Sal and talk to him about the books he has been reading. Sal and I have a very different taste in books but if you are into fantasy/sci-fi, Sal has some great recommendations.   

Malazan Book of the Fallen Series 3:18 https://smile.amazon.com/Complete-Malazan-Book-Fallen-ebook/dp/B00HL0MA3W?sa-no-redirect=1  

Our internet falls out a bit 7:39  

Night of Knives 8:43 https://smile.amazon.com/Night-Knives-Novel-Malazan-Empire-ebook/dp/B002HRY18Q?sa-no-redirect=1  

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry 14:14 https://smile.amazon.com/Astrophysics-People-Hurry-deGrasse-Tyson/dp/0393609391?sa-no-redirect=1  

Sal and I are big fans of Game of Thrones and we discuss some overall themes of the books and show now that the show is over and we await the final books in the series. We start here 22:05  

You can now listen to these videos! Find us in your favorite podcast app! 

Check out previous episodes of AMA: https://www.juniatalibrary.org/about-the-library/ask-us-anything  

PS: We now offer you access to RBdigital, an eAudio book service that is free and has NO WAIT LISTS! Yes, you really read that correctly! Start by finding the RBdigital app in your app store or visit the website:  http://juniata.rbdigital.com/  

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The Juniata County Library wants to hear your questions and answer them. Submit new questions here: http://bit.ly/2Wqrdki

Ask Us Anything - Episode 33: Book Review: Where I see Libraries Going in the Future (5/7/2020)  

Libraries are so much more than just books. I see libraries in the future dedicating themselves more to offering space for users to use. Be it a maker space, meeting rooms, more seating, or other ways of utilizing space. I have seen library users take what they read or find at the library and want to put it into action, but they need space to do so. A library is a free place anyone can come into and we believe our meeting spaces should be free as well. We offer 2 meeting rooms that are free for anyone (or any group) to use. 

I also see many libraries placing less emphasis on print materials. This by no means is going to lead to no more books being around. It will likely manifest in fewer reference texts on shelves or more weeding of books and removing titles that do not circulate regularly. It is difficult to justify spending large amounts of money on print materials, which have less and less checkouts each year. Money will always be spent on books, but maybe less on books and more on modifying space in libraries so that people can use it for different purposes. 

You can now listen to these videos! Find us in your favorite podcast app!  

PS: We now offer you access to RBdigital, an eAudio book service that is free and has NO WAIT LISTS! Yes, you really read that correctly! Start by finding the RBdigital app in your app store or visit the website:  http://juniata.rbdigital.com/  

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The Juniata County Library wants to hear your questions and answer them. Submit new questions here: http://bit.ly/2Wqrdki

Ask Us Anything - Episode 33: Book Review: Where I see Libraries Going in the Future (5/7/2020)

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Joining me today is my lovely wife Megan! We reflect on our month of April and what has worked for us during the pandemic. Megan recaps what she is reading, too.  What has worked for us / helped us in April: 0:50 How audiobooks have worked for Megan: 9:56 What Megan has been reading: 17:13 A pen recommendation: 20:26