Task #5: Chilton Library

Well, accessing the Chilton database is definitely easy. I looked up information on my car - a '94 Honda Accord. I was hoping to find out why my car beeps occasionally, as if the keys are left in the ignition or the lights are on. Neither of these scenarios are the case, and my car just beeps at me when I open the door. The Chilton information is mostly on how to repair systems, and not general manual information, though. (I don't have an owner's manual, unfortunately.) Anyway, I guess I need to take to the shop...

I like the fact that patrons have access to this information at home - while they're in the middle of repairing their car, and they don't have to drop everything, come the library, and hopefully find the right repair diagram. This is very convenient - I think more people would use this database, if they knew about.

Task #4: Downloading eBooks

After reviewing a couple of articles in Consumer Reports, it seems as though tablets, instead of specific ereader devices, are the way to go. Tablets such as Apple's iPad or Android varieties offer an ereader app, while allowing you much more versatility. I like the idea of being able to not only read an ebook, but surf online, access email, and download music. In addition, tablets are in color - an important feature for a visual person like myself.

Cari's instructions for the downloading ebooks are excellent - very thorough. Here are the first three steps to downloading ebooks:

1. Go to the library's website and click on "Downloadable Media" under "Books and More."

2. Find the OverDrive icon and select "Adobe Digital Editions," if you're a newcomer.

3. Click on the "Install" button so that you can download ebooks onto your computer, and then transfer to your ereader.