Dear Adele

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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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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.