Clark Memorial Library is pleased to offer digital services to augment what we have available on our shelves.
Services are arranged into headings below by the type of content you can access. Simply click on the headings, or the “+” sign to the right, to expand and display the resources listed for each. While most require you to log in, some do not.
For each, you will either need to download the application (app) to your phone, computer, or tablet, or you can just go straight to the website.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to anyone on staff either in person, by email (clarkmain@bethanylibrary.com) or by phone at (203) 393-2301.
A Glossary has been provided at the bottom of this page to assist with specific technical terms used in the descriptions below.
Click on the headings, or the “+” sign to the right, to expand and display the resources listed for each.
Clark Memorial Library’s – Online Catalog
Go to our catalog online to browse and reserve books, eBooks, audiobooks, puzzles, magazines, and DVDs from any of the 30+ libraries (including Clark) that are in our LION (Libraries Online) Consortium. Log in using your name and Library card number to request an item, then once you receive an email notification, you can come pickup your request in the lobby where we will have placed your item(s) in a bag with your last name on it.
Libby is Overdrive and Overdrive is Libby. So when you see “Overdrive” in our catalog as the location for this resource, simply go to Libby to access this item directly.
Libby/Overdrive – Application (App)
Download this app to your phone, tablet, or computer to access eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines. You will need to log in using your name and Library card number. Use this app to browse, borrow, and download – then read or sync to your Kindle to read offline. There is a limit of 10 books that you can have on loan or on request at any time, magazines do not count.
Libby is Overdrive and Overdrive is Libby. So, when you see “Overdrive” in our catalog as the location for this resource, simply go to your Libby app to access this item directly.
Download this app to your phone, table, or computer to access eBooks and audiobooks from Libby and cloud Library as well as books available in the public domain (because they are beyond copyright limitations, books like “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen and “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll, are available to all for free in the public domain), and other purchased titles. Books borrowed from The Palace Project cannot be sync’d to your Kindle.
Download this app to your phone, computer, or tablet to access ad-free streaming of independent films, documentaries, classics, world cinema, and educational content plus kid-friendly programming on your phone, computer, or tablet. Each patron has 5 credits to use to “purchase” their desired content each month.
This app does it all – books, videos, and more! Download this app to your phone, or tablet or log in on your computer with your name and Library card number to access instant borrowing (with no holds or late fees!) and accessible streaming or download to read when offline.
Downloads for offline use are generally limited to the mobile app (downloaded to your phone or tablet) due to publisher restrictions.
Be careful though, because hoopla will ‘ding’ you for a credit for ‘sampling’ or ‘viewing’ and each patron only gets 5 credits per month.
Go to our LSC page and log in using your Library card number and name to watch new and archived virtual author talks featuring bestselling authors and recorded Q&A sessions.
Free access to PBS’s award winning documentaries and video content. Log in to track what you’ve watched or to save viewing progress of a specific title.
No log in needed – just start browsing through hundreds of documentaries you can watch for free.
Log in to access craft ideas, classes, and daily practice lessons on crafts from knitting to jewelry making. With live events and a blog, you can always find something to do here.
No log in needed to access printable coloring pages, crafts and journal prompts.
Instructables
No log in needed to browse the D.I.Y. content – only if you want to comment or share any of the programs offered.
Digital Public Library of America
Log in to this resource collection of over 53 million images, texts, videos, and sounds (music) from across the United States.
International Children’s Library
No log in needed to browse and view children’s literature from around the world. Promoting tolerance and respect for diverse cultures, these children’s books are offered in native languages and include all original artwork.
researchCT IT – CT State Library
No log in needed to browse and view children’s literature from around the world. Promoting tolerance and respect for diverse cultures, these children’s books are offered in native languages and include all original artwork.
For terms above that you may not be familiar with, we have provided brief definitions below.
App or Application
An application, or more commonly referred to as an “app”, is a software program designed for specific tasks on electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, computers. Apps noted above are Libby, The Palace Project, kanopy, and hoopla.
Catalog
In library terms, a “catalog” is the term for the full collection of all materials held by the library. Above is referenced the Clark Memorial Library’s catalog which also includes materials available from other libraries within our consortium.
Consortium
For our purposes, a ‘consortium’ is a group of libraries who share their catalogs and the resources within among each other and their patrons. We are part of the LION (Libraries Online) Consortium
Download
Downloading means to save something to your local device. Downloading usually refers to either an app or a file of some type. In cases noted above, downloading is in reference downloading apps to your phone, computer, or tablet; or to downloading the file of an eBook or Audiobook, or movie. You would download the app to access the files, then you would download the files so that you could view them when not online. You must be online to download something.
Log in
Log in is the term used when you are prompted to enter in a user name and password in order to access the content/information on the web page. In the cases above, when log in is mentioned, it likely refers to you needing to enter in your name and Library card number.
Offline
To be offline means that you are not connected to the internet.
Online
To be online means to have an open and working connection to the internet.
Streaming
As opposed to downloading, streaming means to view something while it is still hosted by the website. You must be online to stream.
Sync
To “sync” or synchronize the content from one device to another. For example, above, the Libby app allows you to download a book and sync it to your Kindle, whereas books borrowed through The Palace Project can not be sync’d to your Kindle.
If you have additional terms you’d like us to add to the Glossary, please feel free to let us know!