Electronic information databases have revolutionized public library service. Now resident patrons of Westchester Public Library can take advantage of these exciting new resources on their home computers for help with car repair, test preparation, reference questions or research, and much more.

The library recently mounted four new databases on its website, all of which are now available to resident patrons who possess a home computer and who follow the necessary set-up instructions.

The four databases added by the library are: the Chilton Library, which provides on-line access to repair manuals for cars, trucks, vans and SUVs; the Facts on File World News Digest, which gives access to news articles, maps, and more from 1940 to present, as well as access to three other databases: Issues and Controversies, Today’s Science, and the World Almanac Reference Database; the Learning Express Library, which provides interactive online practice test and tutorial courses for a wide variety of academic and licensing tests; and XREFER, a rich database of hundreds of scholarly reference books.

A fifth database on the library’s website, INSPIRE, Indiana’s Online Research Library, will continue to be available free of charge to all Indiana residents.

To access the new electronic databases, resident Westchester patrons will need to use the barcode on their library card and to add a password to their accounts.

Completion of a password information card at either the Thomas or Hageman branch of the library will also allow both resident and nonresident patrons to reserve an item, check their account for items out, due dates, and fines, and use the library’s wireless access.

Home access to the new e-sources also requires that patrons turn off the pop-up window blockers on their computers and set their browsers to accept cookies. Patrons will also need to configure their browsers to understand and allow JavaScript or Scripting.

For more information about these instructions, patrons may consult the Catalog Access Help section available on the home page of the library’s website:

www.wpl.lib.in.us

Nonresident library patrons will continue to have access to these databases by using the public computers located at both Thomas Library, 200 W. Indiana Ave. in Chesterton and Hageman Library, 100 Francis St. in Porter. For more information call the reference desk at 926-7696 or ask for help at either Thomas or Hageman Library.

Posted 4/6/2006