Library Tech Tools

This page is a collection technology tools available from the library and free on the internet, that can help make interacting with the library easier for you.

Email & Messaging
	Library Email Notification - The Library would prefer to contact you via email (instead of by telephone) when you have something on hold or overdue. If you have not already, please update your account for email notification (log in with your library barcode and PIN)
	LibraryElf.com - This is a company that lets you manage multiple library cards from a single account. You create an account with them, then add the library barcodes and PINs of the library cards you wish to manage, and LibraryElf will email you when books are due, overdue, ready to be picked up, etc. Use their website to sign up (be sure that "Merrimack Valley Library Consortium" is selected in the libraries list)
	"Email Me" Bookmarklet [def] - This email function is a little different - it lets you easily send email messages to yourself. You sign up for this service with your email address, add their bookmarklet to your toolbar, and then if you find a website or catalog record you'd like to email to yourself, just click the bookmarklet and it will show up in your inbox
	Meebo.com - For instant messaging (IM), users of four different IM services (Yahoo, MSN, AIM and GoogleTalk) to log into their account all from the same website. So, instead of needing to log in to each individually, or needing each service's software installed on the computer you're using, this one website allows access to all four services

Book Lists
	The Library does not keep track of the books you check out. This is to protect the privacy of our patrons. However, within our catalog, you can choose to can keep up to 100 books using your account's MyList feature. When using the catalog, login with your barcode and PIN, and then add books to your MyList by clicking the "Add to my list" listed with each book. To review your MyList, click the "MyList" link in the top right corner of the page
	LibraryThing.com - This website lets readers easily keep track of the books they read. LibraryThing accounts contain as much or as little personal information as you want, is very easy to add books to, and nicely displays and shares your reading list online
	Add to LibraryThing Bookmarklet [def] - Automatically add books to your LibraryThing account just by searching in Amazon.com and clicking this bookmarklet. To add it, just click and drag this link up into your browser's shortcut or bookmarks toolbar
	goodreads.com - Designed to connect people through the books they read. Users can set up various reading lists for themselves, as well as see what their friends are reading, meet new people, and get reading suggestions from people with similar reading tastes

Searching
	Search the Catalog - The Chelmsford Library is a part of the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC), a group of 35+ area libraries that freely shares materials. You can limit your search just to Chelmsford, or search the entire consortium and request another library's item be delivered to Chelmsford
	Search the State - You can easily expand your searching beyond the MVLC, to cover most of the libraries in Massachusetts, by using the Virtual Catalog. You can request items found in this catalog be delivered to Chelmsford
	Search the World - The WorldCat.org website allows you to search for an item (book, movie, etc), and then see what libraries close to you own it (based on a zip code you enter).
	Download Digital Audio Books - As part of the MVLC, Chelmsford Library patrons can search for and download audio books in digital format. Listen to them on your computer, transfer them to an mp3 player, or burn them to CDs - all without leaving your home.
	Check CPL Bookmarklet [def] - Automatically checks to see if any MVLC library owns a book just by searching in Amazon.com and clicking this bookmarklet. To add it, just click and drag this link up into your browser's shortcut or bookmarks toolbar
	Amazon "Search the MVLC" link - Places a search link and CPL logo on every Amazon book details page, which lets patrons automatically search for that ISBN in the library catalog (see what this looks like). This Greasemonkey script [def] (click to download) requires the Firefox browser and the Greasemonkey plugin.
	MVLC "No Results" Helper - When your search in the MVLC catalog yields no results, this adds a login box for the Massachusetts State-wide Virtual Catalog, and a form to email a Chelmsford librarian for help (see what this looks like). This Greasemonkey script [def] (click to download) requires the Firefox browser and the Greasemonkey plugin.