What is a TumbleBook?

TumbleBooks are animated, talking picture books which teach kids the joy of reading in a format they’ll love. TumbleBooks are created by taking existing picture books, adding animation, sound, music and narration to produce and electronic picture book which you can read, or have read to you.

What will I find in the collection?

Over 150 TumbleBooks, plus educational games, reading comprehension quizzes, and our new Record-a-Book function.

Do I need special software to view TumbleBooks?

All you need is the Flash plug-in which is preloaded on most computers. If you are unable to view the TumbleBooks, you can download the plug-in for FREE at www.macromedia.com/downloads.

Where can I find TumbleBooks?

Go to the Montgomery City/County Library website (www.mccpl.lib.al.us). From our home page, look for the link “Check out our new TumbleBook Library for Children” in the middle of the page.

What is a TumbleBook?

TumbleBooks are animated, talking picture books which teach kids the joy of reading in a format they’ll love. TumbleBooks are created by taking existing picture books, adding animation, sound, music and narration to produce and electronic picture book which you can read, or have read to you.

What will I find in the collection?

Over 150 TumbleBooks, plus educational games, reading comprehension quizzes, and our new Record-a-Book function.

Do I need special software to view TumbleBooks?

All you need is the Flash plug-in which is preloaded on most computers. If you are unable to view the TumbleBooks, you can download the plug-in for FREE at www.macromedia.com/downloads.

Where can I find TumbleBooks?

Go to the Montgomery City/County Library website (www.mccpl.lib.al.us). From our home page, look for the link “Check out our new TumbleBook Library for Children” in the middle of the page.

Libraries and the Economy

• In times of economic hardship, Americans turn to – and depend on – their libraries and librarians.
• Libraries are part of the solution when a community is struggling economically. From free access to books and online resources for families to library business centers that help support entrepreneurship and retraining, libraries support lifelong learning.
• Libraries are America’s great information equalizers – the only place people of all ages and backgrounds can find and freely use such a diversity of resources, along with the expert guidance of librarians.
• As more and more Americans look for employment, libraries are helping level the playing field for job seekers. Only 44 percent of the top 100 U.S. retailers accepted in-store paper applications in 2006- down from 68 percent in 2004. Library staff report that many patrons are turning to library computers and Internet access to find work, apply for jobs online, type resumes and cover letters and open email accounts.
• Many libraries nationwide design and offer programs tailored to meet local community economic needs, providing residents with guidance (including sessions with career advisers), training and workshops in resume writing and interviewing, job-search resources, and connections with outside agencies that offer training and job placement.
• During times of economic downturn, libraries see more users because people cut back on entertainment. People are able to rent movies for free and check out CDs, use databases and download audio books.
• A 2002 ALA study contracted with the University of Illinois Library Research Center (LRC) highlights the increase of library usage in the wake of a recession. This study found that circulation in March 2001 was 8.3 percent higher than would be expected from the trend observed since January 1997.
• When the economy is down, library use is up. Unfortunately, at the same time, tight city and state budgets are closing library doors and reducing access when it’s needed most.

    — from the American Library Association

Families in Montgomery and surrounding counties who have family members deployed overseas in the military are now able to visit one of two public library locations in the Montgomery City-County Public Library system and visually communicate with them using computers equipped with video web cameras. The new program, called Connecting Families, has put the video webcams and computers in more than 100 libraries throughout the state of Alabama. Families will be able to utilize this service at one of the two libraries – Morgan Memorial, 245 High Street or Rufus A. Lewis Regional Library, 3095 Mobile Highway, when they want to come and use this technology to see and talk to their deployed family members.

According to Rebecca Mitchell, Director of the Alabama Public Library Service, Alabama is the only state in the nation that is offering this service. Connecting Families is a partnership between the Alabama Public Library Service, the Montgomery City-County Public Library and the Alabama Broadband Initiative that Governor Riley launched earlier this year. The program got its start thanks to a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The program is intended to meet the needs of the military families, not only in Iraq and Afghanistan, but other countries; however, the service is for anyone who has need for it.

MCCPL’s Library Director, Jaunita Owes, announced that the web cams will become a permanent addition to the library’s computer network and as such the citizens of Montgomery County may take advantage of this free service and talk to any member of their family anywhere in the world. Mrs. Owes also stated that with such a sluggish economy, the Library is grateful to Governor Riley and APLS Director Rebecca Mitchell for their vision and the award of the web cams that will continue to enable the library to reach more of its citizens through specialized services.
The Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library is open seven days a week and the Rufus A. Lewis Regional Library is open six days a week. For specific hours of operation please visit the library’s web site at www.mccpl.lib.al.us or call 240-4300 for additional information.

Montgomery City-County Public Library is thrilled to announce the release of our latest resource—Language Learning Programs! You can now learn German, French, English (ESL), Dutch, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, or Spanish through our Library!

Montgomery City-County Public Library has partnered with the world’s premier provider of language learning software—TELL ME MORE^®, powered by Auralog. TELL ME MORE^® has supported over 5 million students and is available globally. Leading Universities, Corporations, Institutions, and Governments rely on TELL ME MORE^® to effectively communicate globally.

With more than five times the amount of content, and four times the number of activities—TELL ME MORE^® will help you learn all aspects of the language you are pursuing—including culture! Take advantage of the industry’s most advanced speech recognition technology to practice pronunciation and get feedback!

For more information, contact a public library near you or call 240-4300.