Cedar Falls Public Library

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Dear Adele,
I would like to learn how to knit. Where can I find an online class on knitting?
-Feeling Creative

Dear Feeling Creative,
Try out our new database, >Creativebug! It has has thousands of award-winning art & craft video classes taught by recognized design experts and artists. It’s the number one inspirational resource for DIY, crafters, and makers! You just need your library card number to sign up.
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele,
I’m hoping to find some historical Iowa newspapers. Does the library have such a thing?
-History Buff

Dear History Buff,
We have recently added a new database called Newspapers.com. There are historical newspapers from all over the state of Iowa in this. To access you will need to visit our >Databases and click Newspapers.com, then simply use your library card for access outside of the library.
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele is a weekly advice column that provides answers to your questions about Cedar Falls Public Library’s digital services.

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Dear Adele,
I’m wanting to learn more about African American history and look at some records. Do records exist for this?
-Curious

Dear Curious,
There are records available through our African American Heritage database. The records included in this are from Freedman’s Bank, the federal census, military, marriages, and various registers. Visit >databases and use your library card for access outside of the library.
Sincerely,

Adele

Dear Adele,
I want to take some practice tests before I go get my driver’s license. Where do I find these?
-Need for Speed

Dear Need for Speed,
A copy of the manual and driving tests can be found at >Iowa DOT or through our website at >databases and Driver’s Ed Program.
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele is a weekly advice column that provides answers to your questions about Cedar Falls Public Library’s digital services.

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Dear Adele,
I heard that the library is collecting items for a history project. Where can I find information on this?
-Wondering

Dear Wondering,
We have recently begun collecting items from the public to document the COVID-19 pandemic. Once we receive enough items these will be available through our Biblioboard service. See our >Biblioboard page for information on submitting to the project.
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele,
I checked out a book on Overdrive but it’s not working on my Kindle. What should I do?
-Avid Amazon Reader

Dear Avid Amazon Reader,
There are a few things to check when using Overdrive with Kindles. There are multiple formats when you check out a book, the Kindle format is the only one that will work on Kindles. Once you select this and check out the book it will redirect you to Amazon and you will finish the checkout process via Amazon. Amazon owns all rights to Kindle so the final step needs to go through them.
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele is a weekly advice column that provides answers to your questions about Cedar Falls Public Library’s digital services.

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Dear Adele,
I heard there’s a way to get free music downloads from the library. How do I do this?
-Loves to Rock

Dear Loves to Rock,
We have a service called >Freegal. When you log in with your library card, you can download up to five songs per week to keep and have up to two hours of streaming!
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele,
I want to learn another language. Do you have anything with language lessons?
-Multilingual Enthusiast

Dear Multilingual Enthusiast,
We offer Transparent Language. This resource provides lessons on over 100 languages! Whether you want to learn to speak, write, read, or listen, this one resource has it all. You will need to sign up for an account to get started. Visit our >Databases page and click on Transparent Language for access.
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele is a weekly advice column that provides answers to your questions about Cedar Falls Public Library’s digital services.

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Coming Next Week: No-Contact Curbside

On Monday, May 18, the Cedar Falls Public Library staff will be back in the library building preparing for no-contact curbside pickup of holds, which is the first step in a phased approach to reopening the library safely. Our phased approach to reopening includes the following:

Phase 1: No-contact curbside pickup of holds: Beginning Wednesday, May 20.  Available Monday-Friday 9-5 and Saturday 9-12 and 2-4. More details to follow early next week.

Phase 2: Limited capacity use of the library by appointment: Date to be determined.

Phase 3: Increased capacity and more services resume: Date to be determined.

Phase 4: Library open for business as usual: Date to be determined.

When the library can progress from one phase of reopening to another will be informed by guidelines of county, state, and national health organizations, the City of Cedar Falls, and by the availability of adequate safety and cleaning supplies for conducting business in a way that protects patrons and staff.

We look forward to serving you curbside beginning next Wednesday!

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Dear Adele,
I’m looking into my family tree. Do you have any resources to help with this?
-Amateur Genealogist

Dear Amateur Genealogist,
Our most popular source for this is Ancestry Library Edition. Due to Covid-19, you can access Ancestry at home through the end of May 2020. We also have >HeritageQuest that has census records and family histories. You will need your library card to access both of these databases.  Please email reference@cedarfallslibrary.org for instructions on how to access Ancestry at home. Include your library card number in your email.
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele,
I put a bunch of holds on eBooks and now they’ve become available at the same time. There is no way I read them all in two weeks. Is there a way I can suspend some of my holds?
-Overwhelmed Reader

Dear Overwhelmed Reader,
You can suspend your holds! You’ll be in the first position to get the book once your suspension ends. To suspend your hold in Libby, you go to Shelf > Holds, tap Manage Hold, then Suspend Hold. Use the slider to choose how long you’d like to suspend your hold. Tip: When you drag the slider to the right edge, tap the underlined 180 days for more options. Then tap Update Hold.
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele is a weekly advice column that provides answers to your questions about Cedar Falls Public Library’s digital services.

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Dear Adele,
I need to create a resume for the first time and I’m not sure how to begin. Can you help?
-Job Seeker

Dear Job Seeker,
Our Brainfuse service offers resume templates, live resume help, and even interview coaching! You will need to create an account to have full access. Visit https://cedarfallslibrary.org/learn/databases/ and click on Brainfuse to get started.
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele,
The library should have a YouTube channel! Have you considered doing this?
-Mother of Five

Dear Mother of Five,
We do have a YouTube channel that we recently started! You can search YouTube for Cedar Falls Public Library. We are rolling out a wide variety of videos including staff introductions, storytime resources, and other information about our resources.
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele is a weekly advice column that provides answers to your questions about Cedar Falls Public Library’s digital services.

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Dear Adele,
I am looking for some independent books and fan fiction that I can download. Is there an easy source for this?
-Indie Fan

Dear Indie Fan,
Our Biblioboard service has just what you are looking for! You can browse the collections from our homepage or do a search for your favorite genres. No library card is required, you just need to be in the Cedar Falls area. There is no limit on how many titles you can have at once or how many times per month you can download titles. Get started by visiting https://library.biblioboard.com/.
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele,
While I was on Hoopla I got this error message: The collective daily borrow limit set by your library has been reached and will reset at midnight. Please browse and add titles to favorites so you can easily access them after midnight. What does that mean?
-eBook Reader

Dear eBook Reader,
This message means that our library’s purchase limit for e-materials has been reached with Hoopla. This is because our library pays per checkout. As such, we only have so much we can spend each day on Hoopla. But do not worry! That limit gets reset at midnight every night. In the meantime you can mark a book as your favorite by clicking on the heart next to “borrow”. This will save it as a favorite in your My Hoopla so you can check it out for later. Happy reading!
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele is a weekly advice column that provides answers to your questions about Cedar Falls Public Library’s digital services.

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The Cedar Falls Public Library Building and Community Center will be CLOSED until at least May 15, 2020. 

>Click here to head to our Coronavirus Page
>Click here to head to our Remote Services Page
>Click here to head to the City of Cedar Falls COVID-19 Info Page

Cedar Falls City Hall will be closed to the public from March 17 until at least May 15. The Public Library, Hearst Center for the Arts, Community Center, Recreation & Fitness Center, and Visitors Center & Tourism Office will all be closed to the public. The Cedar Falls Public Safety and Public Works buildings will have limited public access. >More Information

>Click for the PDF: City Buildings Extend Closure Until At Least May 15: Released April 28, 2020