It's Family Tree Time!

Brown Library now offers ancestry.com, an online subscription based Web site for family history and genealogy research. Come in and explore our local history and genealogy room located within the reference section of the library. This genealogy room houses a 2,000-volume collection and includes U.S. census records, archival and marriage records, manuscripts, local cemetery records, and back issues of the Washington Daily News (on microfilm).

Check out this link to view some online tutorials, or webinars, on searching records through ancestry.com. This site is extremely helpful for those new to the search process.

http://learn.ancestry.com/LearnMore/Webinars.aspx

Tips for Searching the OPAC

What is an OPAC?

OPAC is short for Online Public Access Catalog. In other words, the OPAC is an automated, electronic card catalog that allows you to find all the items the library has to share. Understanding the options available in the simple search process will help you plan your search strategy and obtain consistent search results. In general, when you perform a simple search you:

1. Enter the term(s) to be searched in the appropriate box

2. Select the field to be searched (authors, titles, subjects)

3. Select the search type

4. Click the Search button to launch the query and display a list of matches.
Note: The result set indicates places in the record on which search terms were matched and the number of matches per record, providing information about whether the result is relevant to your search.

5. Select an item on the list of matches to display the item record (In some cases, you will need to select from a second results list before an individual record is displayed).

At Brown Library, the OPAC can be found at the front of the library, adjacent to the front desk. There are two terminals available to search, with plenty of scrap paper and pencils to jot down search results. Staff members are always available to help with any search issues and concerns you might have.

For further and more detailed information, check out this link to the OPAC:
http://brownlib.washingtonnc.gov/TLCHelp/IPACHelp.htm

A link to the OPAC is also included at the far right of this blog.

Young Adult Literature, established in 2007

The Young Adult section at Brown Library is relatively new, only existing since 2007. This section, dedicated to both the younger and older teen, contains over 800 titles, with various series books, non-fiction biographies and self-help books, and some of the more recent contemporary works. There is something for everyone! This section of the library is located towards the left side of the library, right behind the CD and DVD collections. Look for the YA signs, and browse through this collection when you have some spare time. We are constantly working on updating and improving this YA area, with new titles added on a regular basis.

If there is a specific book you are looking for, whether for a school related assignment or simply for pleasure reading, check out the online catalog, or OPAC. The terminals are located next to the front desk, and this catalog offers various search methods including title, author, and subject searches. A link to this catalog is also included at the far right side of this blog. The abbreviation YA lets you know that this book or material is classified as Young Adult. YAF symbolizes Young Adult Fiction, and these titles are listed alphabetically by author's last name. The YANF, or Young Adult Non-Fiction titles are arranged numerically by call number, with the first few letters of the author's name at the bottom of the label.

If you are still having trouble, ask for assistance at the front desk. There are some great materials in this section for the avid teen reader, so check out one of the Twilight series books, Lauren Conrad's latest Sweet Little Lies, or one of the classics like the Chocolate War. Happy reading!

Calling all Teens

P.S. Jones Middle School and Brown Library are partnering up to improve teen resources and involvement in the library. It is the goal of the library to draw in a younger crowd, and the first step in accomplishing this goal is the creation of the Brown Library Teen Advisory Board. This group of teens will work with the library in such areas as promotion and publicity, technology, writing, and creativity. Various committees were formed at yesterday's meeting, with a group of teens working to accomplish the goals of each specific area. We look forward to working with such a dedicated group of individuals, and if you have any questions or would like to become involved, give us a call!

(252) 946-4300

Look for an announcement next month with a time and date for the next meeting.

Toddler Time!

For those of you interested in the children's programs offered at Brown Library, this blog is for you! Stella Olivares is our children's coordinator, and she does a wonderful job creating activities for children in the community. Many of her programs combine storytime and crafts, while at the same time incorporating the relevant seasons or holidays into the activity. The February schedule includes the following programs:


Monday, February 1st at 11:00 AM

Monday, February 8th at 11:00 AM (Spanish Story Time)

Friday, February 12th at 3:00 pm (Valentine's Day Party)

Monday, February 15th at 11:00 AM

(Toddler Story Time is a 30 minute story time adventure for your tot, ages 18 months to 3 years. Each child is to be accompanied by a parent or caregiver).

Check the online schedule for future programming:
http://www.ci.washington.nc.us/client_resources/government/toddler%20fall%20schedule.pdf

(the spring schedule is almost complete and will be updated as soon as possible).