Oshkosh Public Library Hot Topics

"Read to Lead"

 


Kids, if you are 5 to 9 years old, read 20 or more nature books and enter to win a Kindle Fire or other great prizes.  The Wisconsin State Park System and the statewide Read to Lead initiative to encourage kids and families to read everywhere are teaming up this year.  Kids can read or have someone read to them the books on the list and check them off as they go.  Each week in 2012 a new pairing of a state park and nature book will be featured.  Enjoy special nature programs at some parks during their "Read to Lead" week.  High Cliff State Park and Heritage Hill State Park are featured in October.  These books are available to read at the parks and libraries.  For a list of the books and their park plus the book list, check out the DNR site.

1940 Census

The 1940 U.S. Federal Census is the largest and most comprehensive record set available that records the names of those who were living in the United States at the time the census was taken.  The 1940 United States Census included several standard questions, such as: name, age, gender, race, education, and place of birth. But the census also introduced some new questions like where people lived 5 years before, highest educational grade achieved and detailed income and occupation information.

Currently, the Census is not indexed by name.  To find individuals, you would need to know the location of their residence or the enumeration district number.  The National Archives provides some help on how to begin your search.  You can also help index the Census through the Community Indexing Project.

Harry Potter Ebooks & Audiobooks Now Available

 

Harry Potter books are now available for checkout in ebook and audiobook format from OverDrive.  The collection is available in EPUB eBook format (and Kindle in the U.S.) as well as MP3 audiobook format.  To checkout or place a hold on a title, go to the Library's Download Audiobooks, Ebooks page and click on the OverDrive image.  Access to OverDrive Digital Audio Books is made possible by funding from the Winnefox Library System and the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium.

Oshkosh History Books Online

Unpublished


Now available in the Library's Digital Collection, are two multi-volume sets from local historian Clarence "Inky" Jungwirth.  Browse or search the four volume set, "History of the City of Oshkosh" and the five volume set "Tales of Oshkosh"  Both sets provide a glimpse of Oshkosh history and life in Oshkosh.  Jungwirth Histories of Oshkosh is just one collection of local history books on Oshkosh.  Check out our other online books.

Pioneer Churches

Pioneer Churches

As immigrants settled in their new communities, a place of worship was usually established.  These pioneer churches were a gathering place for the immigrants and reflected the values they brought over from their homeland.  Our Pioneer Churches web page provides links to browse the entire collection or choose one of the churches in the collection.  Links to local history books are also  provided.  Churches in this collection are located in Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Marquette, Calumet, and Waushara counties. 

New Telephone Directory

Looking for a phone number of a long lost friend?  Need to know who's the top guy at a company?  Try our new online resource, AtoZdatabases.  The resource is a premier reference and marketing database including 220 million residents and 30 million business profiles.  Ideal for finding friends and relatives, sales leads, mailing lists, market research, employment opportunities and more.  The database is updated biweekly.  Results can be printed, emailed or downloaded to your computer.  You'll will also find links to the resource from our Telephone and Business webpages.

Oaklawn Referendum Information Website

 

Oshkosh Area School District will have a referendum on the April ballot.  Voters will be asked to vote for funding a new Oaklawn School.  This website will provide the community with up to date information on the upcoming Oaklawn Referendum including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) and Powerpoint presentations.  The Library has some information on the Oaklawn school in its collection: folder of newspaper clippings and a book "History of Oshkosh School, Past and Present."

Oshkosh Public Library receives $1.1 million bequest

The Oshkosh Public Library Board has established the Marjorie M. Drexler Memorial fund after receiving a $1.1 million bequest. We are honored that Mrs. Drexler valued the services and collections of the Oshkosh Public Library and remembered us with this generous gift. For more information, please read the news release.

Shopping for an eReader?

 

 

 

Nook Color or Kindle Keyboard?  Nook Tablet or Kindle Fire?  iPad or Sony?  If you're looking to purchase an ereader for yourself or someone else this holiday season, it can be confusing.  Try some of these articles that discuss the difference between readers and tablets.  Some even provide nice comparison charts.  Before purchasing that ereader or tablet, make sure that it's compatible with OverDrive.  OverDrive is the ebook and audiobook service available for Oshkosh Public Library patrons.  Download or place a hold on over 6000 ebooks and audiobooks.  (Information fron Tech Bits - publication of South Central Library System)

New Checkout Limits and Lending Periods for eBooks

 

Users of the OverDrive eBook service have more time to read their ebook.   In addition to choosing a 7 or 14 day lending period, a 21 day period has been added for ebooks but not audiobooks.  Users can also have up to ten items checked out up from six.  Ten holds are now permitted per account also up from six.

Oshkosh Public Library is a member of OverDrive Advantage.
As a member, OPL has purchased more copies of popular titles for our patrons. 
Look for the orange Advantage logo.

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