Now @ MPL...

Tired of those unreliable floppies that never seem to work
and can only hold a tiny amount of information?? Then......

Purchase a Milwaukee Public
Library USB drive today for $10 and get as much memory in just one
256mb USB drive as you do in 180 floppy disks!
The MPL USB drive can be used on library computers to store
documents, photos, musical files and more.

Available at all MPL circulation desks

Good news! The Central Library now has 17 additional Internet Terminals available on weekday mornings from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Whether you're conducting research or surfing the Internet, come on up to the 2nd floor Training Room for a two hour session. See you there!

Fill in some of those gaps on your family tree at the open lab for using Ancestry Library Edition, a powerful tool for genealogists.

(Waldburg family tree)

The open labs take place on the following Saturdays: October 27, November 17, and December 15, from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. This is a free service and it requires no advance registration. Simply go to the Central Library's computer lab, on the 2nd floor, and prepare to delve deeply into your family's history. A staff member will be on hand to answer questions about using this powerful database which gives you access to billions of names in almost as many different types of records.

Milwaukee Public Library also offers access to other Genealogy tools online. Additional questions may be answered by calling the dedicated staff at the Humanities desk at (414) 286-3061.

Need Help Getting a Job Online? A job trainer speicialist with help you learn how to:

-Complete online job applications
-Write a resume online
-Search online job listings
-Obtain a free e-mail account.

Every Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. -- No Appointment Necessary

Come to the Central Library's Computer Training Lab on the 2nd Floor.

Work on your resume or online job application on Tuesday afternoons or Thursday evenings. Staff will be available to help with resume hints and assist in creating e-mail accounts and passwords for online job applications. Tuesdays at 1:30pm and Thursdays at 5:30pm, June through August. Center Street Library is funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, Community Development Grants Administration (CDGA) City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Center Street Library
2727 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53210 (414) 286-3090
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Monday & Tuesday, 1:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday & Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(Closed Saturdays June through August)

Microsoft has introduced its 2007 version of Microsoft Office. At this point MPL is still on an older version of Microsoft Office, so any documents saved in Office 2007 will not open on library computers.

All hope is not lost, however! The website www.zamzar.com that will convert your documents from Office 2007 to a format readable on MPL computers for free. It does take a little time and an email address, but you can usually get your converted document back in about 20 minutes, and then you will be able to use it on the library computers.

The Milwaukee Public Library's very popular series of computer classes is starting up again at the end of January. The series starts with the most basic computer skills, and each class builds on the one before it for seven weeks.

The classes are:
Computer Basics
Internet Basics
Internet Search Tools
Email Basics
Intro to Word Processing
Intro to Spreadsheets
Intro to Powerpoint

The classes do require pre-registration. Registration opens January 2, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. Starting at 9:00 a.m. the librarians at Ready Reference can register individuals over the phone at (414) 286-3011. Registration can also be done over the internet from the Events Calendar.

Computer Classes will be offered again for Summer 08'.
Classes will start in June and July.
Registration begins Monday, May 19.

Talk to your local librarian for more information. Classes are funded by Northwestern Mutual Life.

Computer classes start again
The Milwaukee Public Library's very popular series of computer classes is starting up again in the beginning of September. The series starts with the most basic computer skills, and each class builds on the one before it for seven weeks.

The classes are:
Computer Basics
Internet Basics
Internet Search Tools
Email Basics
Intro to Word Processing
Intro to Spreadsheets
Intro to Powerpoint

The classes do require pre-registration. Registration opens August 25th at 8:00 a.m. Starting at 9:00 a.m. the librarians at Ready Reference can register individuals over the phone at (414) 286-3011. Registration can also be done over the internet from the Events Calendar.

In the month of December, eight MPL branch libraries will be offering sessions from Generations on Line , an organization dedicated to promoting Internet access and literacy to elders. Seniors and caregivers will learn how to use the Internet in three easy clicks with the help of trained senior volunteer coaches. Using the skills learned in the session, attendees will be able to enroll in the Medicare Drug plan, access online information, send email to family and friends, and more.

Sessions will be held:

Monday, December 1st at Mill Road Library at 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, December 3rd at Capitol Library at 9:00 a.m.
Saturday, December 6th at Atkinson Library at 10:00 a.m.
Monday, December 8th at East Library at 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, December 10th at Zablocki Library at 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, December 10th at Washington Park Library at 10:00 a.m.
Monday, December 15th at Bay View Library at 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, December 17th at Tippecanoe Library at 10:00 a.m.

Advanced registration is recommended by calling your local library; walk-ins are welcome if space allows.

MPL's next session of free computer classes will be starting the week of January 26, 2009. Made possible with funds from Northwestern Mutual Foundation, this series of seven classes includes Computer Basics, Internet Basics, Internet Search Tools, Email Basics, Intro to Word Processing, Intro to Spreadsheets, and Intro to Power Point.

Class registration begins Monday, January 12. To register, call your local library or Ready Reference at 286-3011. Space is limited, but walk-ins are welcome if space is available (except at Bay View and Zablocki libraries).

MPL's next session of free computer classes will be starting the week of June 2nd. Made possible with funds from Northwestern Mutual Foundation, this series of seven classes includes Computer Basics, Internet Basics, Internet Search Tools, Email Basics, Intro to Word Processing, Intro to Spreadsheets, and Intro to Power Point.

Class registration begins Monday, May 18th. To register, call your local library or Ready Reference at 286-3011. Space is limited, but walk-ins are welcome if space is available (except at Bay View and Zablocki libraries).

Visit any Milwaukee Public Library to sign up beginning May 18. Receive a FREE 5” mini sub coupon from Cousins Subs just for signing up. Receive a reading log to track your reading and visits to the library. Keep reading to earn a Super Reader backback or Super Reader penguin Beanie Baby, a Super Reader yard sign, a coupon for a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut and free apple fries from Burger King. Plus coupons for free admission to fun places around town.

Enter our Grand Prize drawings for an on-field recognition ceremony at a Milwaukee Brewers game, a family fourpack to a Milwaukee Brewers game, a Bucks VIP package, a family four-pack to the Bristol Renaissance Faire and a family membership to the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum and the Milwaukee Public Museum. Visit any Milwaukee Public Library or log on to www.mpl.org/SummerReading for full details.

Two computer workstations at Central Library provide access to library patrons with physical disabilities.

The stations include software and assistive technology devices set up for magnifying print, controlling a cursor using slight finger movements, and print/ electronic material converted into text that can be read aloud.

If you are are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, have low vision, mobility limitations (including carpal tunnel and arthritis) or learning disabilities, you may sign up to use these computers at the Central Library Information Services Desk. Reservations can be made up to a week in advance by calling 414-286-3017. TDD: 286-3062. Valid identification is required at the time of use.

The Milwaukee Public Library is launching its latest digital collection: Milwaukee Mayors.

This collection includes photos or drawings of all but one of Milwaukee mayors, past and present. A biographical sketch of each mayor is also included. This is a great way to see what the leaders of the City of Milwaukee looked like, and also earn a little about them.

Most of the information, and many of the images for this collection come from the book Biographical sketches of the mayors of the City of Milwaukee, a volume of images and information put together by MPL's staff over the years.

Additional photos were pulled from the Humanities Department's Historic Portrait Collection, which has portraits of many prominent Milwaukee citizens and visitors.

The Milwaukee Public Library's very popular series of computer classes is starting up again at the beginning of September. The series starts with the most basic computer skills, and each class builds on the one before it for seven weeks.

The classes are:
Computer Basics
Internet Basics
Internet Search Tools
Email Basics
Intro to Word Processing
Intro to Spreadsheets
Intro to Powerpoint

The classes do require pre-registration. Registration opens August 24th, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. Starting at 9:00 a.m. the librarians at Ready Reference can register individuals over the phone at (414) 286-3011. Starting August 24th, registration can also be done via the internet from the Events Calendar.

Out of work? Need help getting a job online?

18 libraries in Milwaukee County will be hosting a job specialist who can help you
learn to:

~ Complete online job applications.
~ Write a resume online.
~ Search online job listings.
~ Obtain a free e-mail account.

Six neighborhood MPL libraries will be hosting this job specialist for a full 16 weeks (August 16th through December 7th). To find out when and where to get help, click here.

This program is funded through a Library Services and Technology Acts (LSTA) grant, courtesy of the Milwaukee County Federated Library System.

MPL also offers free drop-in job and resume help at its Center Street, Central, and Forest Home locations (the latter for Spanish speakers). For a complete list of similar assistance in Milwaukee, click here.

President Obama has proclaimed October as National Information Literacy Awareness Month. In our time of twenty-four hour television news and Internet content, the skills necessary to find and evaluate authoritative information is more critical than ever before. The MPL home page is a good place to start for finding credible information. So if you find yourself overwhelmed by information overload, contact your local Milwaukee Public Library for tips on how to separate the facts from the fiction.

Effective Wednesday, November 4th, 2009, the way people sign on to MPL's public access computers will be changing slightly. Where it used to be the last two digits of the birth year, going forward it will now be the same as the password that is used to view your own patron record.

To create your password click here. Simply enter your library card number and click on the submit button. If you have no previous password you will be prompted to create one. If you have forgotten your password a librarian can reset it for you so that you can create a new one.

The password can be created or reset from home or at your local neighborhood library.

This password will not only get you logged onto MPL's internet computers, but it will also allow you to access your own patron record. From your patron record you can track what books you have checked out or on hold.