If you are a new computer user, I am sure you have heard “click with the LEFT button.”  In fact, you may have heard this so many times, you are wondering why the mouse even HAS two buttons.  (And this applies to you Mac users also.)  Well, I am here to tell you that the RIGHT button has a use as well.

Use #1: Definitions.  You’re reading a article or something off the internet and come across a word you don’t know.   Highlight the word (by clicking and dragging), right-click over the highlighted section, and click on “search Google for <word>.”  A new tab should open with results from Google!  (If it doesn’t, type define before the word and press enter.)

Use #2: Copying and pasting.  This works everywhere, not just the internet.  You’re in Microsoft Word (or other program) and you need to move text you have already typed to a different place.  Highlight the section to be moved (by clicking and dragging), right-click on the highlighted section, and click on “copy.”  Now move the cursor to the new location, right-click again and select “paste.”  Now your text has been moved.

Use #3: Hyperlinks.  The blog you are reading has a hyperlink that you want to check out, but you are not done with the current blog.  If you click on the link it might open a new tab or it might use the current tab.  So right-click on the hyperlink, click on “open link in new tab,” and then you will be able to switch over to the link after you are finished reading.

There are more uses of course, but I hope this gives you an idea of what can be done.  Leave a comment with your favorite right-click function.

Are you an aspiring world class chef? Teens in grades 6-12 are invited to Teen Iron Chef. Enter Kitchen Stadium and battle other teens in preparing dishes with a secret ingredient. Registration is required and participation is limited.

Teen Iron Chef participants will be divided into three teams, and each team will have access to a pantry full of food, a variety of cooking implements, and the secret ingredient. They will prepare a few dishes focusing on the featured ingredient, and will present them to the panel of judges. The judges will score each team and select a winner.

Schedule:

Tuesday, July 6, 2:00 PM – Kentwood branch

Wednesday, July 7, 2:00 PM – Walker branch

Thursday, July 8,  1:00 PM – Grandville branch

Thursday, July 8, 3:00 PM – Cascade Township branch

Monday, July 19,  2:00 PM – Byron Township branch

Monday, July 19,  5:30 PM – Wyoming branch

Tuesday, July 20, 1:00 PM – Englehardt branch

Tuesday, July 20,  3:30 PM – East Grand Rapids branch

Wednesday, July 21, 2:00 PM – Krause Memorial branch

Wednesday, July 21,  3:00 PM – Alpine Township branch

Thursday, July 22,  3:00 PM – Gaines Township branch

Thursday, July 22,  4:30 PM – Spencer Township branch

Thursday, July 22,  6:30 PM – Tyrone Township branch  (program held at Township Hall)

Come and see if you’ve got what it takes to come out on top!

As noted in some of our most recent blog posts regarding changes to the Lakeland Library Cooperative’s hold policies, local libraries are facing significant funding cuts and are being forced to make difficult decisions regarding allocation of resources. Unfortunately, this isn’t a unique situation as libraries all across the country struggle to do more with less. 

Library Advocacy Day from ALA Washington on Vimeo.

Today, on Library Advocacy Day, we encourage you to advocate for your library and let your local leaders know just how important the library is to you. Your voice makes all the difference.

 Thank you!

On Monday, June 28, the Lakeland Library Cooperative’s new policy restricting holds on new books and nonprint materials goes into effect.

PLEASE NOTE: Kent District Library cardholders will still be able to place holds on all new KDL books and nonprint items.

This policy change is being made due to cuts to the Lakeland budget. It is necessary in order to reduce the volume of materials being transported in delivery between libraries. If you are not a KDL cardholder, please contact your local home library to ask how this Lakeland policy affects you.

Cheryl Garrison
Kent District Library Interim Director

The Kent District Library invites you to the second annual “A Novel Experience” event featuring David Baldacci, best-selling author and literacy advocate.

Mark your calendars now! We hope you’ll join us on Tuesday, September 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center for this special evening. Tickets are $15, and proceeds will support KDL’s literacy programs for young children.

A special Author Reception will be held at Watermark Country Club. A limited number of tickets will be available for $60, which includes admission to the public event.

You can purchase your tickets starting September 1 online, at any KDL branch location or any Schuler Books & Music location in Grand Rapids.

More details coming soon!

There’s still time to enter the “Get Caught Listening” contest! June is Audiobook Month sponsored by the Association of American Publishers, and you could win a free Playaway audiobook from the Kent District Library. Visit the original blog post announcing the contest and tell us your favorite audiobook or one you’d like to hear. We will randomly select three lucky winners to receive one of the following titles: Relentless by Dean Koontz, The 39 Clues by Jude Watson, or Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

Be sure to enter before June 30 to be eligible to win. Please do not leave your reply on this blog post; enter to win here. One response per person.

Good luck!

“Paperless society” and “going digital” are catch phrases we have heard for many years.  Well, the paperless society has not come about yet (nor has that hover board), but you can take steps to go digital in your own life.  Actually, if you are reading this blog, you already have started!

Until my kids are out of school, I know I will not have a paperless home, but I have been working on making digital copies of my photos.  This is a HUGE undertaking but something I feel strongly about.  So anytime I see an article about how to digitize photos, I have to read it.  A recent article came across my computer screen and I thought I would share it with you.  This article is from lifehacker.com and is The Step-by-Step Guide to Digitizing Your Life.  It covers more than photos so make sure to click on the link.

Leave a comment with your guess on how long it will take before we are a paperless society!

Power has been restored to our Byron Township and Walker branch locations. Please see their respective branch pages for normal hours of operation.

Thank you!

Teens in grades 6-12 are invited to an Ice Cream Social, taking place at several KDL branches this summer. Bring a friend and design your own creamy creation. This program is sure to be delicious with tasty frappes and yummy sundaes.

Ice cream socials will be held:

Plainfield Township branch – Tuesday, June 29, 6:30 PM

Sand Lake / Nelson Township branch – Saturday, July 10, 1:30 PM

Grandville branch – Tuesday, July 13, 1:00 PM

Alpine Township branch – Tuesday, July 13, 3:00 PM

Gaines Township branch – Thursday, July 15, 3:00 PM

Caledonia Township branch – Friday, July 23, 2:00 PM

Wyoming branch – Monday, July 26, 5:30 PM

Englehardt branch – Thursday, July 29, 2:00 PM

Cascade Township branch – Thursday, July 29, 3:00 PM

East Grand Rapids branch – Tuesday, August 3, 3:30 PM

Spencer Township branch – Thursday, August 5, 4:30 PM

KDL is offering other food-related programs for teens this summer including Teen Iron Chef and Creative Cooking with Hillary Kraley.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, this week’s Creative Cooking with Hillary Kraley programs have been cancelled.  The programs would have occurred on Tuesday, June 22 at 2:00 p.m. at the Byron Township Branch and on Thursday, June 24 at 3:00 p.m. at the Gaines Township Branch.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.  Interested teens could attend the following Creative Cooking programs instead:

Kentwood Branch – Thursday, July 15, 2:00 p.m.

Grandville Branch – Thursday, July 22, 1:00 p.m.

Cascade Township Branch – Thursday, August 5, 3:00 p.m.