Off the Shelf: DO try this at home!

Published 4:33 pm Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Did you know the North Olympic Library System is open 24/7?

With Internet access on your home computer, smartphone or tablet, you can explore the databases at www.nols.org simply by selecting the “E-Resources” tab.

Among other resources, you will find Chilton’s automotive repair guides, Consumer Reports, Microsoft IT Academy, HeritageQuest, downloadable movies, music, e-books and much more.

Helpful tips when researching

When using databases, click on everything clickable, scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to find the nooks and crannies, and try the advanced search function to enjoy the full benefit of each resource.

Databases for all ages

For parents and kids, try NoveList-K8, CultureGrams and eLibrary. NoveList-K8 will guide you to themed book lists organized according to the age and ability of the reader. For teens, you may search within genres like “Angst-filled and Awkward” and “Romantic and Witty.”

A sensitive keyword search box guides you to that book about “Japanese American evacuation” whose title you can’t quite recall. CultureGrams contains information about world economies, interviews with locals, National Geographic maps, easy-to-read demographic charts, national anthem sound files, photos, recipes and statistics for the inquiring young mind.

ProQuest

For mature readers looking for sophisticated magazine and news journal articles, visit ProQuest. Literature, history, medicine, business, science and technology, social sciences, arts — you name it, you’ll find it, and the information is gathered from diverse professional and scholarly sources.

Creating a personal “My Research” account allows you to organize, save, re-run and modify your recent search results. Alerts and RSS feeds will automatically send you an update when new articles pertaining to your subject of interest become available.

NoveList

And don’t forget NoveList, which isn’t just about novels. “Quick Links” will hunt down author read-alikes, book discussion guides, “Books to Movies” and “Grab and Go Booklists.”

This is another NOLS database containing information for readers of all ages, from Caldecott winners to Nobel laureates.

More info

You can find all these resources and more at www.nols.org.

Need help? Reach out to your friendly library staff by calling the Sequim Library at 683-1161 or stopping-in for a visit at 630 N. Sequim Ave.

Mary Coté is a customer service specialist at Sequim and Port Angeles branch libraries.