North Lake County Public Library purges database

POLSON — North Lake County Public Library in Polson is purging its electronic database, removing the names of patrons who have not used their library cards for several years. The staff expects the project to be completed by March 1st.

If you haven’t used your card lately, but plan to do so in the future, please notify the library by calling 406-883-8225 or stopping by the circulation desk. The staff can update your contact information and renew your library privileges. The goal is to keep patrons’ names in the database unless they have permanently moved away or are deceased.

An active library card in good standing can access many new services, along with the traditional ones. For the past several years, users have been able to check out e-books and audio books, not to mention CDs, DVDs, and a multitude of new conventional books. A technology training specialist is onsite to offer help Monday through Thursday from 10am to 8pm. Free technology classes are also available, and one-on-one tutorials can be scheduled. The public is also invited to come in and use the free computers with wireless, high-speed Internet. All you’ll need is your library card number. Guests traveling through the area will be issued a guest pass.

With an active library card, users can set up an account that will allow them to access the Montana Shared Catalog from any computer, anywhere, 24 hours a day. Accounts must be set up initially in the library. Patrons can easily browse the catalog, place holds, check due dates, and renew their checkouts from afar. If it’s more convenient to pick up items or return them to another of our partner libraries, that’s an option, too.

Along with your library card comes immediate access to North Lake County Public Library’s password for the exciting resources contained in the vast EBSCOhost databases. These provide patrons with the latest information from nearly 20,000 periodicals. Topics include health, academics, history, business, children’s resources, science, and many more. Also available are practice exams for competency tests, including the SAT, ACT, and ASVAB, etc.

In addition, EBSCO’s Discovery Service allows patrons to use a simple search box while exposing them to nearly everything that is available in libraries throughout Montana. EBSCOhost’s e-book collection, which provides access to North Lake County Public Library’s digital version of books and journals, is also available.

HomeworkMT offers free online tutoring, writing assistance, test preparation, and academic resources to all Montana residents. Users can get live help from a tutor in the subjects of English, math, social studies, or science. Students must come to the library to set up an initial account; after that, HomeworkMT is available from any computer anytime.

Having car trouble? Try the library’s Auto Repair Reference Center to get diagnostics, quick repair tips, video instructions, and step-by-step drawings and diagrams for more than 37,000 vehicles.

Genealogists will be interested to know that the library offers HeritageQuest – and now, Ancestry.com here in the library building – for searching family history.

World Book Online is being added in the near future.

One of the library’s most popular services is MontanaLibrary2Go, which allows patrons to browse, check out, and download digital media to their audio players or e-book readers using their library cards. It’s easy, it’s free, and it’s available day and night from any home, office, school, or library computer. Users can listen to audio titles on their PCs, burn selected titles to CD, or transfer them to a supported device.

If you don’t have a library card and would like to open one, come to the circulation desk; cards are another of the services the library offers for free! Children must be 5 years of age, and anyone under the age of 18 will require the signature of a parent or legal guardian.

North Lake County Public Library is located at #2 First Avenue East in Polson. Winter hours are 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Friday, and 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday. The library is closed Sundays and legal holidays.