Welcome to the Portage Public Library
Please send email to porill@scls.lib.wi.us with your comments and suggestions. Please replace the "at" in the address with @.
Latest News
NOW AVAILABLE: BOOK LOVER'S CORNER, a place where can look up book reviews, bestsellers, information about book clubs & discussion guides, and much more. You can find the link on the left navigation bar.
Renew Your "Friends of the Library" Membership
It's time to renew your Friends of the Portage Public Library Annual Membership so you don't miss out on valuable information. The membership year runs from January through December. Please renew today by filling out a membership form and returning it to the library on your next visit. Be sure to include your email address so that we can email our newsletters to you rather than mailing them. That will help us save money on postage.
Individual $5, Family $10, Business/Organization $25, Patron $30 or more. Dues are tax deductible.
COMPUTER SURVIVAL TRAINING
The Portage Public Library is offering computer classes designed for adults who struggle to keep up with technology in the 21st Century. You need to sign up for each class separately.
Monday, February 27, 2012 @5:30 PM
Computer Basics
Monday, March 26, 2012 @5:30 PM
Internet Basics
Monday, April 23, 2012 @5:30 PM
SEATS ARE VERY LIMITED, SO ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!
REGISTER AT THE DESK TODAY!
YOU MAY BRING YOUR OWN LAPTOP, ALSO.
Brown Bag Book Discussion: Presidents
January-April: the 3rd Monday of each month, 5:30 p.m.
Join the Friends of the Library for an exciting new book discussion series-
the Presidents! This year, the group will focus on Presidents George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson. Discussions will start at 5:30 p.m. We're inviting participants to bring something to eat (brown bag it). Coffee and tea will be provided.
Date Book Title Discussion Leader
January 16 His Excellency (Washington) Ron Knecht
by Joseph Ellis
February 20 American Lion (Jackson) Hans Jensen
by Jan Meacham
March 19 Theodore Rex (T. Roosevelt) Morgan Foster
by Edmund Morris
April 16 Lyndon B. Johnson, Portrait of Charles Bradley
a President by Robert Dallek
Some copies of the book are behind the front desk. Just ask!
*Inclement weather: if the schools are closed, the discussion is postponed until the following Monday.
Sign up at the front desk.
Delivery
The delivery of holds from other libraries in our system will be 2 hours later than it is now starting the week of September 5th. We will not receive delivery until around 11:00 a.m. Therefore, delivery will not be finished until 2 or 3 p.m. at the earliest. If you come in or call before that time, your item that you placed on hold might not be checked in yet.
Don't Miss Lists
Looking for the Don't Miss Lists? Some lists are now available. "Don't Miss Lists" for new materials are being developed and will be posted when they are available. Look for the lists on top blue bar next to "help" and "databases" on LINKcat.
Kindle is Here!
Our OverDrive digital media program has videos, audio books, and e-books available for download for free. If you are wanting to download e-books, you may do so on Barnes & Noble Nook, Kindle, Sony Reader, Literati Reader, Android & Apple devices, and now on KINDLE.
The Portage Public Library is excited to announce that its eBook collection is now compatible with the world’s bestselling eBook reader, the Amazon® Kindle. Patrons can now download popular and classic eBooks to a Kindle device or any mobile device running the free Kindle app, such as iPhone®, iPad®, Android™, and more. To get started, visit www.portagelibrary.us and click the Overdrive button.
OVERDRIVE E-BOOKS ARE NOW COMPATIBLE WITH AMAZON KINDLE. YOU MAY DOWNLOAD TO YOUR KINDLE STARTING SEPTEMBER 22, 2011. To learn how to download to your ereader, click on the YouTube logo above "YouTube Tutorial on transferring ebooks to ereaders" on the left navigation area of this page. Video is not real clear, but you will get the general idea of how to download. Also, go to the "Help" menu on the Overdrive page. Click on "Kindle Basics".
Audio Books & Ereaders
To get to our OverDrive program, click on the "OverDrive" badge on the left side of this page. When you're in OverDrive, click on the the "help" link at the top right. There is a quickstart guide that will help you download software that is needed. Also, for Ebooks click on "Adobe EPUB Ebooks" and then "the basics". You'l find information about ebooks.
We have a video tutorials about downloading ebooks to an ereader -(left side of this page, "transferring ebooks to ereaders". Click on the YouTube logo. Happy downloading!
New LINKcat Catalog
On April 18th the South Central Library System has transitioned to updated software for our LINKcat catalog. This new software runs the inventory, search, and checkout services in our library and our online catalog. The software we are using is old & outdated. Our new software provides more choices like saving a history of everything you read.
When the new LINKcat comes up, everyone will be learning something new. During this time it will take us a bit longer to process new items. We ask for your patience during times when you may need to wait a few extra minutes, or services aren't available.
The first time you access the new LINKcat, you will need to use your full 14-digit library card number (no spaces) and your pin number to log in. After that you may change your password. Library staff will no longer be able to tell you your password, but can reset it for you. You may need to reset your bookmarks or favorites after the transition, and resave your new login information.
City Weather Emergencies
When a city weather emergency is declared and/or cancelled, the information will be sent out via Nixle, and will be posted on Police Dept. Facebook page (www.facebook.com/PortagePD) and on Twitter. If you do not have a cell phone or access to the Internet, you can call the dedicated Snow Emergency hot line at 742-2176 Ext 335.
Tutor.com
Got a chemistry test, alegbra homework, resume to write? Tutor.com give students of all ages the help they need to succeed in school and beyond. Professional tutors are available to help with all math, science, social studies and English subject- from elementary to advanced levels.
You and your tutor work one-to-one in a secure, online classroom and everything is anonymous. You use an interactive whiteboard, file sharing and instant messaging to work through your problem. Work with a tutor in real time to help with homework, but also, to get help with resumes and cover letters. Your tutor edits your resume on screen and reviews all edits with you.
Tutors only work with one student at a time. No exceptions. Tutors work step-by-step with you to make sure you really understand the material. Tutors never give answers.
Every tutor is screeened, certified and background-checked, and no personal information is ever shared between tutor and student.
In the SkillsCenter Resource Library, you have access to thousands of worksheets, videos, lessons and other resources to work on independently. Find resources for math, science, citizenship and GED test prep, family budgeting, resume writing and more. The service is available 24/7.
Access Tutor.com by clicking on "online resources" and then "view by name" then "locally subscribed resources". Scroll down to tutor.com and click on "Portage Public Library". Or click on the icon below.
New Web Site Address
The Portage Public Library has a new web site address. It's now www.portagelibrary.us
Please use this when logging onto our site. Our old address will continue to work at the present.
Share Your Story
Has the library affected your life? Do you have a story to tell? SCLS and its member libraries have created a website to begin sharing these stories--- www.librariesforreallife.org -- which can be done by completing either the online form or a paper form available at Portage Public Library. Some stories will be told with photos and text, some audio files and photos, and others through video clips. Stop by for a form or click on the badge below.
Free Wi-fi
