Milwaukee County Federated Library System

Serving the public libraries of Milwaukee County with resources and collaborations that enhance our communities.

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1000 Books before Kindergarten app discontinued after December 31, 2021

The 1000 Books before Kindergarten app is being sunsetted or discontinued on December 31, 2021. This means the app will no longer be available in the iTunes or Google Play app stores.  When this app was developed in 2015, there were not many options available for tracking children’s reading.  MCFLS is very proud to have been able to support and offer this app with the great help of the Bridges Library System.

Have no fear, however, because all Wisconsin libraries have access to the Beanstack reading tracker.  Even better is the fact that this app includes a module for 1000 Books before Kindergarten.

Also, please note that the web page for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten is still available. It can be found at https://1000booksbeforekindergarten.org/.  Be sure to check with your local library to find out about their early reading programs.

Thank you for supporting the 1000 Books before Kindergarten app for the last several years. If you want to use an app to track your reading, please consider moving to the Beanstack app at this time.

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February Bonus Borrows

Hoopla Digital Bonus BorrowsHoopla is again offering Bonus Borrows for February 2021. Any items borrowed from this collection does not count against your monthly checkout limit. And, you may borrow as many of these titles as you’d like.  See the Bonus Borrows Collection.

If you get lost finding these titles, just enter in a search with the term Bonus and click when it prompts you to go to this collection.

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Temporary Closing for the Brown Deer Public Library as it Moves Locations

Brown Deer Public Library logoThe Brown Deer Public Library is about ready to move to a new location at 4301 West Brown Deer Road, Brown Deer, WI 53223. The last day the library will be open in its current building is Saturday, February 6, 2021.

Between Monday February 5-Tuesday, February 16, 2021, the library will be moving into its new space. All library services from Brown Deer will be suspended during this brief time. At this time, you are asked to select another MCFLS library for hold pickups.

Beginning Wednesday, February 17, 2021, the library will open its drive-through window at the new location for pickup services. Some integral equipment and technology will be installed later in February with the entire building tentatively set to open the beginning of March 2021. Follow the Brown Deer Public Library’s web page and its Facebook page, to stay on top of hours information and details over time.

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E-Magazines Have Moved to Libby

OMagazines Join the OverDrive familyur e-magazines have joined the OverDrive collection found in Wisconsin’s Digital Library. The company RBdigital has been acquired by OverDrive.

You will continue to have access to the same 3200+, color magazines online. The platform has just changed to match what is offered for many e-books and e-audiobooks.

Find these titles on Wisconsin’s Digital Library web site or through the Libby app.

Read more and access help sheets. . .

 

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TeachingBooks Offers Diverse Books Toolkit

TeachingBooksTeachingBooks is a BadgerLink resource that supports literacy instruction by offering author interviews, lesson plans with interactive activities and discussion guides tied to books.  Recently, this resource made available a Diverse Books Toolkit that features:

  • A search area to find diverse books by culture, subject, grade level and genre
  • Original interviews with diverse authors and illustrators
  • Award-winning titles and book lists as well as the ability to create your own lists

This is a great online tool for educators and parents working to support their child’s learning.

3-Minute Introduction to TeachingBooks [3:40 video]

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Curbside Pick-Up Still Available

While many locations are reopening, most of our member libraries also offer curbside pick-up for your convenience.  Go to the appropriate library web site for hours and specifics tied to this service.

These libraries offer curbside pick-up as of 9/1/2020.

  • Brown Deer
  • Cudahy
  • Franklin
  • Greendale
  • Greenfield
  • Milwaukee – Bay View, Central Drive Up, East, Tippecanoe, Washington Park
  • North Shore
  • Oak Creek
  • Shorewood
  • St. Francis
  • Wauwatosa
  • West Allis
  • Whitefish Bay

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Access Current Newspapers in BadgerLink

Have you ever hit a paywall with online newspaper articles? Don’t want to subscribe to read more? Access U.S. news, current and archival to 1980s through BadgerLink resource, U.S. Newsstream.

Search within or view the articles in the latest issue of key national and regional sources including New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Wisconsin State Journal.

Check out the step-by-step guide for finding publications by title to get started.

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NoveList Helps you Find Fiction Read-Alikes

Looking for your next good read? NoveList is a database with full text reviews, annotations, publication information, subject headings and more – for over 120,000 works of fiction. Offering similar titles or authors for you to search by books you have enjoyed in the past, NoveList is a great way for you to find new, worthwhile titles.

You may have noticed this resource is integrated into our CountyCat catalog! Yes. If you scroll down while viewing a particular book, you will find a read-alikes tab with recommendations.  This is powered by NoveList.  Simply clicking the title link, will take you to the item in CountyCat to preview and potentially request. Get started with this by using the tool within CountyCat or by heading over to the Databases page today.

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A New Kind of Summer Reading

Looking to keep your child engaged with reading, but concerned about visiting the library directly? Try a virtual reading log! For the 2020 Summer Reading Program, all MCFLS member libraries have access to this online reading tracker.  It’s available to all public libraries in the state, now through 2023 from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.  Beanstack makes it easy for you to register yourself or multiple family members, track reading, earn prizes and encounter new titles of interest.

Readers of all ages are welcome to register using the correct library link.