If a shiny new tablet was under the tree, the library can help

by Jennifer Nicholson Rowan Public Library

It is that time of year again, when many kids, teens and even a few adults will looking at a shiny, new tablet.

While tablets are fun, providing users hours of entertainment through games and movies, tablets can also be a great educational tool, as well. A simple swipe of your finger and you have access to world at your fingertips, eBooks, magazines, test prep, even to journal articles. The possibilities are endless.

Know a booklover who got a tablet this year? Free eBooks, movies and audiobooks are just an app away, through the North Carolina Digital Library, powered by the Overdrive Media.

Users simply can download the Overdrive app through their app store, and with a Rowan Public Library card, users have access to thousands of eBooks and audiobooks. The best part of using the North Carolina Digital Library is users can check out books for free, with no worries of accumulating late fees or fines, or having to worry about returning books to the library. Everything is done directly through the app, so users can enjoy books without leaving their couches.

Another great app for booklovers is Goodreads. Users can access Goodreads via app, through the app store, or by going online to www.goodreads.com. It is a website that allows users to connect with friends, authors and others who love to read. Create customized book lists, see what others are reading and reviewing, take fun quizzes and read quotes from your favorite authors. Users of the Goodreads app can use a barcode scanner to easily keep track of his or her book — a perfect way to keep track of your must-read and your have-read lists.

While many people will get a small break from work or school this season, many will still be fretting over a big project at work or a school report due soon. Tablet users can simply download the Access My Library (AML) app, find a library, including the Rowan Public Library, and have quick access to reference eBooks and databases. Access to full text articles is just a swipe away. Researching for project has never been so easy and simple.

Know any high school student who got a tablet? Studying for the SAT can be daunting, yet users can download the Official SAT Question of the Day, created by the College Board, the creators of the SAT test. Through the SAT Question of the Day app, students can find popular vocabulary words of the day and test their reading, math and writing skills. Now the students will have a more daunting task finding a good excuse not to study.

While these are just a few apps, there are many different apps that many parents and even the kids can feel excited about downloading. For assistance on downloading Access My Library, Overdrive Media, or questions regarding other apps, please visit the Rowan Public Library.