Who can imagine life without public libraries? I certainly can’t. I’ve been an ardent library patron since the day my sister received her first library card. Even after obtaining my own library card when I was 11, I continued to rely on my sister’s card because I would frequently max out mine. I jumped on ebooks as soon as I could. The availability of digital loans made me yearn for an e-reader even more than I already did in the year before. I took the plunge and bought my Kindle in 2013.
Bookstagram Safety
Joining bookstagram can be such a rewarding experience. You meet fellow book lovers, can share all your book photography in abundance and discover lots of new books. Amidst all the excitement, there is one thing I’ve found is often overlooked: bookstagram safety. Its so important to remember that bookstagram is a sub-community on Instagram. Since Instagram is a social networking site, the rules of staying safe on the Internet apply as well.
Zinio: Borrow or Subscribe to Digital Magazines
Earlier this week I discovered that amongst its e-resources, my library also offers digital magazines via Zinio. I knew all along about ebook loans via Overdrive and access to journals via JSTOR etc but somehow Zinio passed me by. With library subscriptions to selected digital magazines, library members can access the most recent issues. The best part is, unlike for ebooks on Overdrive, there’s no waiting time on Zinio. Pick a magazine and read it instantly.
Customer Service at Book Depository
As much as I prefer ordering books online for the price and convenience, the waiting time does bother me. It’s been taking longer and longer for shipments to be dispatched, which doesn’t coincide with the estimated delivery times listed on Book Depository. I find this rather problematic when it comes to pre-orders that I want to read before all the spoilers emerge. Though for the most part the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
Staying Connected with Postmatic
Email replies to blog comments are a great way to keep conversations going. When we comment on a blog, we seldom check back to see if we received any comment replies. Yet comment replies tend to encourage us to return to a blog. It’s nice knowing the blogger cares about our opinions. This is where Postmatic comes in. It’s a WordPress plugin aimed at keeping the conversation going by setting up an email commenting system.