Posted by eileen on January 30, 2012
Did you miss out on seeing some of the Academy Award nominees for Best Picture before they left theaters? Just check them out from WPL (or find a local showing for those still in theaters)! Is the DVD or Blu-Ray you want checked out? Place a hold and read the book while you’re waiting!
The Artist - Find in a theater
10 Oscar nominations
The Descendants – Find in a theater, DVD (coming soon), Blu-Ray (coming soon), Read the book
5 Oscar nominations
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close – Find in a theater, Read the book
2 Oscar nominations
The Help – DVD, Blu-Ray, Read the book
4 Oscar nominations
Hugo – Find in a theater, DVD (coming soon), Blu-Ray (coming soon), Read the book
11 Oscar nominations
Midnight in Paris - DVD, Blu-Ray
4 Oscar nominations
Moneyball - DVD, Blu-Ray, Read the book
6 Oscar nominations
The Tree of Life - DVD, Blu-Ray
3 Oscar nominations
War Horse – Find in a theater, DVD (coming soon), Blu-Ray (coming soon), Read the book
6 Oscar nominations
Why are there nine Best Picture nominees this year? Read John Young’s EW.com article to find out!
Posted by eileen on January 18, 2012
Learning a foreign language? Take a look at the library’s Foreign Language site. You’ll find links to helpful library catalog searches, such as Recordings on CD and cassette and Videos and DVDs. You can also use Mango Languages, an online service provided by the Friends of Wheaton Public Library, that teaches practical conversation and cultural awareness for the world’s most popular languages. Create a free account on Mango Languages to keep track of your progress. Choose from a basic lesson or more in-depth language study lessons.
To access Mango Languages from outside the library, you need to log in with your library card number and PIN. If you have any questions, please call the Reference Desk at 630-868-7520.
Posted by eileen on January 6, 2012
The library unveiled our brand new Blu-ray collection this week. It has been extremely popular so far and almost all our Blu-rays are checked out already! Don’t worry though; you can place a hold on the Blu-ray you want and we will notify you when it is ready to be picked up. (Note: You must have a valid WPL card to place a hold. To place a hold from home, you must also have a PIN set up.) You will not be able to place a hold on a Blu-ray when the status is Check Shelf or Recently Returned. In that case, call the library at 630-868-7520 and ask that the copy be pulled for you and held at the Main Desk. There is a 50 cent rental charge for each fiction Blu-ray.
Not sure what Blu-rays are? Visit Blu-ray Disc’s FAQs page. It is important to note that Blu-rays cannot be played in regular DVD players. You must play the Blu-ray in a designated Blu-ray player or it will not work. Some computers and video game consoles have the ability to play Blu-rays as well. Questions? Call the AV Department at 630-868-7560.
Posted by eileen on October 5, 2011
Getting in the Halloween spirit? Why not check out a spooky book or audiobook? If you’re not sure what you’d like to read, there are many lists available online. I recently took a look at GoodReads’ Listopia list of Best Horror Novels. The fun thing about the Listopia lists is anyone with a GoodReads account (free) can vote and add to the lists! Stephen King currently dominates their Best Horror Novel list. Six of the top ten are his. If you prefer YA titles, take a look at our Horror for Young Adults list.
For even more great suggestions, NoveList Plus is the place to go. NoveList is one of the library’s subscription databases. It can be accessed from any computer in the library. WPL cardholders can access NoveList from home by logging in with your card number and PIN. Once in NoveList, on the left side you’ll see a list of genres and you can jump straight to Horror or Thrillers and Suspense (or whatever you feel like reading).
Some titles from Best Horror Novels you can find at WPL:
Note: Links to downloadable books are not working. Click the link and then type the desired book in the search box. Sorry!
The Shining by Stephen King – Book, Audiobook
More titles by Stephen King – Books, Audiobooks, Movies, Downloadable eBooks and audiobooks
Dracula by Bram Stoker – Book, Audiobook, Downloadable eBook and audiobook
I am Legend by Richard Mattheson – Book, Audiobook, Movie, Downloadable audiobook
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty – Book , Movie
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson – Book, Audiobook, Movie, Downloadable eBook
The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris – Book, Audiobook, Movie
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley – Book, Audiobook, Movie, Downloadable eBook (type Frankenstein in the search box)
Posted by eileen on July 19, 2011
I saw the final Harry Potter movie last night and like most fans, I am feeling kinda sad that it’s all over. At least we have Pottermore to look forward to this fall. Seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 made me want to re-read and re-watch the whole series. If you’re feeling the same way, here are some quick links to find the books and movies in the library catalog and place a hold. The audiobooks are also extremely well done and Jim Dale is a joy to listen to.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone - Book, Audiobook, DVD
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – Book, Audiobook, DVD
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Book, Audiobook, DVD
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Book, Audiobook, DVD
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Book, Audiobook, DVD
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – Book, Audiobook, DVD
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Book, Audiobook, DVD (Part 1)
The Tales of Beedle the Bard - Book
Posted by eileen on June 30, 2011
After reading Investopedia’s, “13 Things You Pay for that Your Library has for Free,” I decided to adapt this to exactly what our library offers. So, thank you to Investopedia for giving me a great base for this post.
1. Read for Free
As you already know, WPL has thousands of books to be checked out: fiction, nonfiction, children’s lit., etc. We also have downloadable ebooks through eMediaLibrary. If you’re interested in finding out more about using eMediaLibrary, come to Ebook Q & A on Tuesday, July 12 at 7pm. You can even earn a prize (and be entered in drawings) this summer. Just join our Summer Reading Program and get a coupon for a free bowl at Noodles & Company. Read nine books to be entered in the Grand Prize drawing for an ebook reader! Stop by the Reference Desk to sign up.
2. Magazines and Newspapers for Free
WPL has all local papers and many many magazines to be read in the library or checked out. Have a specific magazine or newspaper in mind? Do a Magazine Search in the catalog and see what we have!
3. Listen for Free
We have pretty much every kind of music you can think of on CD. Plus, there is also a pretty awesome audiobook collection. You can check out audiobooks on CD, MP3, Playaway, or even download them straight to your phone or iPod from eMediaLibrary. Not sure what a playaway is? Take a look at Pierce County Library’s description.
4. Free Periodicals Searches
This is great for students. Need scholarly articles for your research papers? The library offers many subscription databases. WPL cardholders can use our databases from anywhere, but anyone can come use them on one of the library’s computers. Take a look at Magazines A-Z to get an idea of how many journals you can actually search (it’s A LOT).
5. Multiple Ways to Ask a Librarian
We have Reference Librarians just waiting for your questions! Can’t find an address you need? Need help getting started with genealogy research? Just looking for something good to read or watch? Ask Us! You can call: 630-868-7520, send a text message: 630-384-9751, email: askref@wheatonlibrary.org, or even IM a librarian.
6. Internet and WiFi
Stop in with your laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc. and take advantage of our free wireless access. Don’t have one of those things? Use a library computer. There are computers on the first floor with access to all our databases, as well as many useful sites that have no time limit. Need full Internet access for email, Google, etc.? Go to the second floor. If you don’t have a WPL card and are over 18, you can have a guest pass to use for 30 minutes. Have a WPL card? You get two hours of access per day.
7. Rent a Movie for 50 cents
The library has a pretty extensive DVD collection, including TV Series, Feature Films, and How-To DVDs, among other things. Check out Coming Soon on DVD to place a hold on a movie the library is about to get. Non-fiction and Children’s DVDs are free to check out!
8. Learn a Foreign Language for Free
Our Foreign Languages page links to Mango Languages, a database that teaches practical conversation and cultural awareness for the world’s most popular languages. You can also check out CDs, DVDs, and books to help with your language skills.
9. Job Preparation for Free
“Learning Express enables you to study for hundreds of tests including civil service, military entrance exams and preparation tests for SAT/ACT, MSAT, LSAT and dozens of others. You will find practice tests at all levels. You can practice, save your test, see your results and try again all for free.” - Investopedia
10. Find Your Family History for Free
Learn more about our Genealogy Collection from some of my previous posts or go straight to our Genealogy and Local History page. Every Thursday evening from 7-9pm, Genealogical Society volunteers are available in the library to help with your search.
11. Free Resources for Parents
Having trouble with potty training? Looking for free things to do with your kids? Helping them with homework? Let WPL help you!
12. Car Repair and Buying Help
Did you know the library offers free access to Auto Repair Reference Center? This wonderful database provides repair procedures, service bulletins and recalls, wiring diagrams, and more for pretty much any car you can think of (since 1954). WPL recently started subscribing to Consumer Reports – Cars online. You no longer have to wait for the print edition each year, just check it out online for constant updates.
13. Other Services
The library offers tax forms during tax season, voter registration on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm, bus schedules, Rules of the Road, test proctoring, free introductory Microsoft Office classes. WPL is much more than just a place to read! Although, it’s still a great place to read too. 
Posted by eileen on March 1, 2011
Didn’t see all ten of the Best Picture nominees? Who did?! Don’t worry, you can see them for free by checking them out on DVD from Wheaton Public Library, plus many of the other winning movies. Winners in bold.
Best Picture Nominees:
Black Swan – Coming soon! – Actress in a Leading Role – Natalie Portman
The Fighter – Coming soon! – Actor in a Supporting Role – Christian Bale, Actress in a Supporting Role – Melissa Leo
Inception – Cinematography, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects
The Kids Are All Right
The King’s Speech – Coming soon! – Actor in a Leading Role – Colin Firth, Best Directing – Tom Hooper, Writing (Original Screenplay)
127 Hours
The Social Network - Music (Original Score), Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Toy Story 3 – Animated Feature Film, Music (Original Song)
True Grit – (Not available yet, but check out the original movie with John Wayne)
Winter’s Bone
Other Winners:
Alice in Wonderland – Art Direction, Costume Design
Inside Job – Documentary Feature
The Wolfman – Makeup
Posted by eileen on January 12, 2011
New Book Alerts is a free online service that showcases the newest titles purchased by Wheaton Public Library. You can select to receive alerts via email and/or RSS feeds, which are updated weekly. You can choose which alerts you would like by category or genre, including: Comics and Graphic Novels, Romance, Sports, Children’s Books, and many more. Plus, the alerts aren’t just for books! The New Book Alerts service also includes DVDs, audiobooks, and CDs.
When you see a new title you are interested in, just click Borrow to see if the item is on the shelf. If it’s not currently available, click Place Hold and the library will notify you when the item is available. To place a hold, you need a WPL card number and PIN.
Posted by eileen on December 22, 2010
Haven’t seen all the Golden Globe nominated movies? The library has many of them on DVD! If the one you want is checked out, just put it on hold and we’ll notify you when it can be picked up! (Updated 1/17 – Winners in bold)
Inception – Best Motion Picture-Drama, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Original Score
Inception: Music from the Motion Picture
The Social Network - Best Motion Picture-Drama, Best Actor-Drama, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director – David Fincher, Best Screenplay – Aaron Sorkin, Best Original Score – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Winter’s Bone – Best Actress-Drama
Alice in Wonderland – Best Motion Picture-Comedy/Musical, Best Actor-Comedy/Musical, Best Original Score
The Kids are All Right – Best Motion Picture-Comedy/Musical, Best Actress-Comedy/Musical – Annette Bening, Best Screenplay
Red – Best Motion Picture-Comedy/Musical
Easy A - Best Actress-Comedy/Musical
Animal Kingdom – Best Supporting Actress
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps - Best Supporting Actor
The Town - Best Supporting Actor
Despicable Me – Best Animated Feature Film
How to Train Your Dragon – Best Animated Feature Film
Toy Story 3 - Best Animated Feature Film
I am Love (Italy) – Best Foreign Language Film
Cecil B. DeMille Award – Robert De Niro
Posted by eileen on August 30, 2010
Never seen some of the shows that won Primetime Emmys this year? WPL has a large collection of TV series on DVD. Stop by to take a look or put a hold on some of the Emmy winners listed below, right from our website! To place a hold online, you just need a WPL card number and PIN. Can’t find a DVD you think we should have? Contact the Reference Department at 630-868-7520 or email askref@wheatonlibrary.org.
Best Series, Drama – Mad Men
Best Series, Comedy and Best Supporting Actor, Comedy: Eric Stonestreet – Modern Family
Best Actor, Drama: Bryan Cranston and Best Supporting Actor, Drama: Aaron Paul - Breaking Bad
Best Actress, Drama: Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer
Best Supporting Actress, Comedy: Jane Lynch - Glee
Outstanding Miniseries – The Pacific
