One way the Muskogee Public Library (MPL) utilizes the Internet is to extend its services beyond the physical walls of the library to you. Instead of visiting the library to check out an audio book or to retrieve a recipe from a back issue of a magazine, you can access these services remotely via the Internet.

Each year the library evaluates online resources to add for public use. The following is a description of a few of the resources MPL recently added.

CultureGrams is an online resource that contains engaging cultural, geographical, and historical information on 89 countries, each of the 50 states, and each of the 13 Canadian provinces and territories. CultureGrams features photos, videos, recipe samples for every country, flag images, audio of state birds, distance calculator, currency converter, and audio of national anthems to list a few features. Several people have used CultureGrams to learn about common greetings and phrases used in other countries in addition to a basic overview of that country (ex. type of government, famous people).

NoveList Plus is a reader’s advisory tool. A reader's advisory resource is something you would use when looking for a specific type of book (non-fiction, fiction, or children's age level). NoveList Plus has an author read-a-like section in which you provide the name of a favorite author and NoveList will provide you a detailed list of authors that are similar in style. You may also list story elements as search criteria. For example you can search for books involving men/women relations, curses, and loss, whereby NoveList would suggest “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” (by Junot Diaz). NoveList also has extensive lists of literary award winners. If you're in the mood for an award winning western novel you might check out the Spur Awards for Best Novel of the West. NoveList Plus also features book discussion guides.

MPL is excited about its latest children’s online resource, TumbleBooks. TumbleBooks is an online collection of children's picture books. TumbleBooks are created by taking existing picture books, adding animation, sound, music, and narration to produce an electronic picture book which you can read, or have read to you. In addition to story books TumbleBooks also features children’s puzzles and games they can interact with online.

Other Internet resources include NetLibrary, a resource for downloading audio books to your PC. Credo Reference offers an extensive selection of virtual reference titles including Miller’s Antique Encyclopedia to Wall Street Words to Cambridge World History of Food to Collins Italian Dictionary to name a few. The Daily Oklahoman online offers access to every article that has appeared in the newspaper from 1901 through present day. EBSCO provides access to current articles from hundreds of magazines and newspapers as well as dating back ten or more years ago. Personal Business Forms provides printable forms for a wide range of categories including individual income taxes.

The resources mentioned are only a sample of the many Online services MPL has to offer you. MPL encourages you to make use of these online resources in addition to providing feedback. For information on how to use the resources in this article you can contact 682-6657 or e-mail us at muskpublib@eok.lib.ok.us.