Mango Complete

Did you know your library card is a passport to learning a foreign language?  Well, it is, because your library card gets you access to Mango Complete, the Library’s database for learning foreign languages and English for non-native speakers.  And for those of you who already knew about Mango, here’s something you may not have heard—Mango has been busy adding more languages this summer, including Armenian, Punjabi, and Hungarian, just to name a few.  This means you can now choose from over 60 foreign languages to study. 

But how does Mango work?  Simply go to the Library’s Databases A-Z webpage and select Mango from the alphabetical list.  If you’re at home, you will be asked for your library card number and PIN.  Type in with no spaces your entire library card number, which begins 2133300.  Your PIN number should be the last 4 digits of your phone number unless you’ve changed it to something different.  But if you’re having trouble, ask anyone at the Library to reset your PIN for you. 

And while we love seeing you at the Library, there's actually a big benefit to using Mango at home as opposed to coming to the Library.  What benefit?  One of Mango’s best features is that it will record your voice and compare it to their teacher to see if you are pronouncing words correctly.  Library computers, however, don’t have microphones to allow recording.  Can you imagine what the Library would sound like with 20 people saying “Hello,” in 20 different languages?  Most computers have a built in microphone, so be sure to check your computer before you go out and buy one.

When you first get to Mango, it’s probably a good idea to Create a Profile so that the database can track your progress and remember which lessons you have studied.  All that’s need for a Profile is an active email and the password of your choice.  

Now click on Courses to select from one of over 60 languages or one of more than a dozen English courses designed for specific native speakers.

 

Before starting the lesson, Mango will check to see if Java and Flash are up to date on your computer.  These are plug ins that allow the lessons to display, and your computer likely already has both.  If not and you’re having trouble, check the Support section.  Assuming everything’s a go, you can now start learning.

But if you’re still confused or need some help, contact the Library or sign up for the upcoming Mango class at the Perry Sippo Branch Library on Thursday, July 25 at 6:30 pm.  (Seating is limited for this class, so please sign up ASAP if you want to come!)

Shelia

PS  If you want to use Mango on your tablet or smartphone, download the Mango app free!

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps

Lauren Landis, Genealogy Services
Stark County District Library

Essential Skeleton App

Hi Everyone,
Essential Skeleton is a fully functional (free) app covering a 3D view of the anatomy of a human skeleton for iOS.  With a simple tap you can study the skeletal system, learn more about its systems, and even take a quiz.



Once you have downloaded your Essential Skeleton just tap the app icon to open.  An image of the human skeleton will appear.

Once the app is fully loaded (only a second or two) the opening page will appear with site navigation options.

NOTE:
To rotate the image, swipe one finger across the image on the screen.
To zoom the image, pinch two fingers across the image to reduce the image size or open two fingers across the screen to enlarge.

Let's begin:
Tap on a section of the skeleton you are interested in learning about.  Note the selected bone will turn a different color highlighting its physical structure.

At the top of the screen you will see a System's Trail.  You can also find additional information options next to selected bone or system.

Tap the speaker to hear a pronunciation, discover the spelling and/or the Latin nomenclature or tap the (i) for more information of the selection bone or system.

 

Tap Hide, Hide Others, Fade, or Fade Others to learn more about bone structure relationships. (Tap the options again to return to original image.)
Hide: The selected image disappears.

Hide Others:  Only the selected image remains.

Fade: The selected image fades.

 

Fade Others:  Only the selected image remains.

 

 

Now that you have a basic introduction, why don't you give it a try?  Or venture into some of the additional features listed below.

 

Enjoy,

Dee

 



Additional features include:
- New 3D technology via 3D4Medical's latest graphics engine.
- User friendly and intuitive interface.
- Multiple search options.
- Dynamic quiz function - Drag and Drop and Multi-choice.
- Custom search modes.
- Extensive social media tools and sharing capability. 

Cool New ReferenceUSA Tool by Norma S.

My friend Kay is taking her 14 year old niece to Boston after school is out both for fun and to learn more about the history of the area. One of the things that her niece likes to do is go clothes shopping at any thrift outlets she can find. So my friend asked me if I could get together a list of thrift stores for them. Since she wasn’t sure yet where they were going to stay I got on ReferenceUSA and set about trying to find her a list with addresses and phone numbers.

 

Kay decided it would be a good idea for her to bring her niece to the library so that she could learn how to find things like this for herself. I showed her how to get to the databases from the SCDL home page and how they were organized. We then pulled up ReferenceUSA and started to hunt for thrift stores in Boston.

Because this is so specific we decided that a custom search was called for rather then a quick search so we selected Keyword/SIC/NAICS and the city knowing that the last one would also ask for the state.

 

 

 

When we started looking for Thrift stores ReferenceUSA pulled up quite a large list of suggestions under the business type. Since both Kay and Kim like vintage clothing we also included that in our search.

Surprisingly for a city the size of Boston there are only 16 stores of this type that fit into our selected parameters.

 

 

 

 

I printed out the list for them and because ReferenceUSA has added a couple of new features and one of them is the Heat Map

 

This shows where these stores are located in and around the city so I printed that out for them as well.

 

The map is interactive so you can zoom in and out on the area that you’re interested in.