Technology

Do you check out downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks supplied by the Troy Library through OverDrive? If so, you have a chance to win a Sony Reader! All you need to do is take a short survey about your OverDrive use. The survey is available by going here, and then clicking on the "We want your feedback!" link along the right-hand side. The survey only takes five minutes to complete.

If you haven't tried downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks before, now is the perfect time. For more information, click on the Downloadable Audiobooks, Video link under Library Links, on the left side of our home page.

Interested in downloading audiobooks directly to your smartphone? Now you can.

OverDrive, one of of the vendors that supplies downloadable audiobooks to the Troy Library, has versions of their Media Console software that works for many different smartphones, including Windows Mobile, Android, BlackBerry, and now iPhones. These apps allow you to download OverDrive MP3 audiobooks directly to your smartphone. Go here to download the app for your device.

For more information about the new OverDrive iPhone app, go here.

Are you daunted with the thought of having to look for a job? Do you need help writing a resume? Are you interested in exploring new career options?

With Career Transitions, a new eResource provided by the Troy Public Library, you can do all of this and more. Career Transitions walks you through each step of the job search process. There is a self-guided resume builder, which includes tips to create a quality resume. There are personal assessment tests to help you discover new career possibilities. You can also see projected growth rates by state of careers that interest you.

Best of all, Career Transitions allows you to look up and apply directly to jobs.

To access Career Transitions you will need a Troy Public Library card. You can access it here, or you can click on eResources at the left under Library Links. Click on the Job Seekers link, and then click on Career Transitions.

Online auction site eBay is offering a promotion for sellers: List five items every 30 days and pay no listing fees!

If you're ready to sell on eBay, join us in the Troy Public Library on Thursday, April 22, at 6:30 pm. Bring a description of the item you would like to sell, and digital photos of the item on a flash drive or disk. We will walk you through the steps of creating the listing and we will answer any questions you have about selling on eBay. You must already have an eBay and PayPal acount and should be familiar with buying on eBay.

Register now - seats are limited.

Read an E-Book Week was started in 2004 to help promote ebooks and the concept of reading electronically. While ebooks did take some time to catch on, they have become increasingly popular in recent years with the launches of the Sony Reader, the Amazon Kindle, and the Barnes and Noble nook In 2009, ebook sales reached $169.5 million. With the upcoming launch of the Apple iPad and other ereaders, these sales will undoubtedly continue to grow.

The Troy Public Library offers two services that provide ebooks: NetLibrary and OverDrive. (To find out more about these, click on Downloadable Audio, Video on the left.) But did you know that several other eresources offered by the Library also contain ebooks, such as Gale Virtual Reference Library, Learning Express Library,  and World Book Online Reference Center? You can access these resources by clicking on eResources on the left.

Regardless of which service you use, try reading an ebook this week!

OverDrive, one of the vendors that supplies downloadable audiobooks to the Troy Library, has released an app for BlackBerry smartphones. Called OverDrive Media Console for BlackBerry, you can now download OverDrive MP3 format audiobooks directly to your BlackBerry. The app is still a beta release, but you can download it here.

Do you have a BlackBerry Storm or BlackBerry Curve? If so, download OverDrive's BlackBerry app and give it a try.

(Overdrive also has an app for Android smartphones.)