Dorset Library Online Resources
If you are a Member of Dorset Libraries you have access to e-books, magazines and newspapers, available to download and read at home. Dorset Library is a member of Libraries West, who provide the online resources. There is also access to Encyclopedia Britannica and Oxford Reference amongst many other high quality reference sources
All the resources are usable on a tablet (app available for iOS, Android & Kindle Fire) or on a PC using the web browser - smart phones as well, although you would probably need a magnifying glass. |
Magazines
With your library card number and pin, you can download magazines for free. Dorset Libraries make the magazines available via the Libby app (available for Apple IOS, Android, Kindle Fire) or on PCs via the web browser.
This picture is a Libby page on my iPad. Click this Link for the Dorset Council web page explaining how to get started. It has links to the app required and instructions for library membership. |
Magazines Services Overview
- you can check out as many magazine issues as you like
- choose from around 3,000 different titles across a wide range of genres including computers & technology, crafts, current affairs, entertainment, food & cooking, lifestyle, science & nature, sports and home & garden
- checkout editions for 21 days. Loans expire automatically after 21 days but if you haven't finished reading them you can renew for a further 21 days as many times as you like
- checkout as many editions as you like at any one time - there are no loan limits!
- titles are always available to checkout so you won't ever need to reserve them
- all titles are unabridged, interactive and in full colour
- available at the same time as they appear on newsagents shelves
- each title comes with at least 12 months of back issues to explore
Using Libby
The Libby app works well, but finding your way around may not initially be obvious. It is well worth clicking and using Libby Help - Getting Started.
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Newspapers
With your library card number and pin, you can read many newspapers for free. Dorset Libraries make the newspapers available via the same Libby app used for magazines as described above (available for Apple IOS, Android, Kindle Fire) or on PCs via the web browser.
Click this Link for the Libraries West web page explaining how to get started. It has links to the app required and instructions for library membership.
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Using Libby to read Newspapers
Reading Newspapers is a little more convoluted than magazines (above), but it is worth persevering because it is simple once you have been through the process a couple of times. The Libby app gives you authorised access to the PressReader, which sits in your library "shelf" under extras. (I have cleared out my magazines for the picture shown. Selecting PressReader takes you to the PressReader website with your free access to Newspapers authorised. |
Knowing about three controls will help in early stages of getting used to reading:
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Reference
Wikipedia is quite amazing, but sometimes you may need a different type of material or indeed, to check that a mistake hasn't got past their organisation of amateur editors. Dorset Library provides a page of links to available authoritative reference material. Click here or on the image to jump to the page. Please pay attention to the log on instructions for each link because they are not all the same.
I would like to bring your attention to 2 in particular - Encyclopedia Britannica and Oxford reference |
Encyclopedia Britannia is probably the world's most famous and authoritative source of information. Britannica promises fact-checked, insightful articles, biographies, and interactive features, curated from the rich knowledge of leading contributors from around the globe and thoroughly vetted with a meticulous editorial process. The web site is easy to use and very readable. See above for access.
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Oxford Reference is the online service covering 25 different subject areas, bringing together entries across Oxford University Press’s Dictionaries, Companions and Encyclopedias. Subject areas are: Archaeology, Art and Architecture, Classical Studies, History, Language Reference, Law, Linguistics, Literature, Media Studies, Medicine and Health, Music, Names Studies, Performing Arts, Quotations, Philosophy, Religions, Science and Technology, Social Sciences and Society and Culture.
See above for access. |