Look in the right-hand corner of this window. Do you see a search bar up there? Do you use it? If you do — and you use Internet Explorer 7+ or Firefox 2+ — you can Add the CPL Catalog to your search providers.

Here's why you should:

• It saves time — one-click search wherever you are
• It saves money — search CPL instead of Amazon
• It's cool — get suggestions as you type (with jacket images in IE8!)

Check out our other search tools for more time-saving widgets.

Our new, automated phone system will quickly direct you to whomever you want to speak — if you take a few seconds to listen to the prompts, that is:

• Want to know when we're open or how to get here? Press 2
• Need to talk to someone at Checkout about your account or to renew? Press 3
• Have a question for an Adult Department librarian or about an Adult Department program? Press 4
• Same thing, only for the Children's Department? Press 5
• Want to book the library's Community Room or get information from our Business Office? Press 6
• Need to get information about the Friends of the Library or their used book shop, Secondhand Prose? Press 7
• Want to speak to that certain someone whose extension you've forgotten? Press # for the staff directory

Save yourself time and aggravation and endless transfers from the wrong extension. Listen to the prompts. Follow the prompts. You'll be glad you did.

The Boys Scouts of America have introduced a new ability badge for Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts to earn for displaying an understanding and ability with computer and videogames.

Earning the full badge includes selecting a game with a suitable rating, comparing two different systems, planning and participating in a family games tournament and teaching a friend or adult how to play a new game.

Have you wondered about all the hoopla surrounding Facebook and Twitter? If you are curious and want to learn the basics of these social networking tools, sign up and join me on Friday, April 30th at 10:00AM for CPL's Get Connected Class.

Did you know you can use our copiers to digitally scan documents for free? There are two main options:

• Scan to email - get a file sent to your email address
• Scan to flash drive - plug in and go

Below are some quick videos to get you started.

Scan to Email

Scan to Flash Drive

Ubisoft is starting a new environmental initiative by no longer including paper game manuals in XBox 360 or PS3 games, instead these manuals will be available online. Ubisoft said, "internal data shows that producing one ton of paper used in its game manuals consumes around two tons of wood from 13 trees, with a net energy of 28 million BTUs — the average heating and energy for one home per year." But that isn't all they are doing to be more 'green'. Ubisoft is also partnering with Technimark to make new games cases that are made of 100% recycled materials.

In a recent article by Donna Gordon Blankenship of the Associated Press, a third of Americans 14 and older — about 77 million people — use public library computers to look for jobs, connect with friends, do their homework and improve their lives, according to a new study released Thursday, March 25. The study was paid for by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and conducted by the University of Washington Information School. Study researchers were intrigued to find that people across all age and ethnic groups used library computers, said Michael Crandall, one of the principal authors of the study, from the University of Washington Information School.

Sony has unveiled a motion controller for the Playstation 3, an answer to the Wiimote. The "Move" is a rectangular controller made to be comfortable in the hand with a glowing plastic ball on the top that tracks the player's motion. Sony is promising big things for the new controller, including a whole new gaming experience. Not to be outdone, Microsoft is expected to come out with a motion controller in time for this years holiday shopping season.

CantonWiki is having a meetup at the library on Wednesday, March 10 at 7:00PM. The goal is to meet CantonWiki people and to figure out ways to make the site better. Come to the Purple Room (in the Children's Library). You can see the agenda and RSVP on the wiki.

Photo by katielips used by Creative Commons license.

It looks like all the buzz about the next generation Wii console and new Nintendo hand held systems is just talk at this point. In an interview with Gamespot, Nintendo of America marketing head Cammie Dunaway denies any notion of new console hardware coming in the next year. However, she did say, "Part of Nintendo’s heritage is to always be looking at innovation, and to always start working on the next hardware every time we launch a platform, so we’ll have it ready when the time is right."

On Tuesday, Google announced Buzz, a new product that performs functions similar to twitter, friendfeed, facebook, and foursquare, all rolled into Gmail and integrated into many other Google products. To catch up on the hubbub, check out this video:

And these blog posts:

Learn how technology can save you money by using the Internet, Twitter, Facebook and even your cell phone to find and track online coupons and offers. Registration is open now for the class offered Saturday, January 9 at 9:30AM

Baby Boomers respond differently to new technology according to a recent report from Microsoft/AARP. They believe technology can be used to improve health care and fitness, going to demand simpler devices that are safer and easier to use, and they will be a big factor in the adoption of e-readers, recognizing that electronic devices let you carry a lot more reading material and view it in a way that is comfortable.

A recent study jointly published by Microsoft and AARP, Baby Boomers Are Shaping the Future of Technology, AARP and Microsoft Research Shows discusses the expectations of Baby Boomers and the use of technology.  Research shows Baby Boomers enjoy new technology and are eager to use text-messaging, social-networking, etc.  "Baby boomers want technology that reflects their values and helps them express those values with greater purpose, meaning and impact", Adam Sohn, Director of Integrated Communications for AARP said. “While boomers are heavy users of technology today — for everything from entertainment and news to online banking and social networking — what’s most exciting is the technology-assisted world they are helping to create.”

Due to the retagging project going on in the library, the video games have temporarily been moved. They are now behind the check-out desk, but that doesn't mean you still can't check them out! Feel free to ask any of the librarians to pull titles for you, or you can continue to put holds on games. If you'd like to see what we have, check out the list of all 1002 video games.

foursquare is a web app that lets you keep track of where you go, get restaurant ideas and reviews, keep tabs on your friends, and compete to be 'mayor' of local attractions. It does a lot, yet is very simple to use and available on GPS-enabled smartphones.

CNN recently did a writeup about how foursquare may be the Twitter of 2010; ubiquitous, social, and possibly overblown. However, where many people who visit twitter don't see the point, foursquare has concrete uses on top of being fun. For instance, here's a picture of me taunting my friend who was the 'mayor' of Tony's Coney & Grill at the time:

Now he'll have to go to Tony's to get mayorship back! Want to get started? Try to become mayor of Canton Public Library

Whether you need to learn more about your computer's current operating system or if you are interested in learning about a different one, the library carries a wide variety of books to help you. Materials cover older systems like Windows 98, as well as newer ones like Vista and Snow Leopard. Also covered are open source systems such as Linux.

Brighthub.com has listed their "Must Have Wii Video Game Picks for 2009 Holidays". The first on the list is New Super Mario Bros Wii. This game is not only a pick for the holidays but predicted to be one of the best games of 2009. If you don't get the game this holiday season, or want to try it before you buy it, you can check out one of our copies!

Ever wondered how things like hybrid cars or solar panels actually work? How do they help to save ethe environment? What is ethanol? What is a solar cell? Find out the answer to these questions with a series of books called Science in the Real World. To learn about hybrid vehicles, check out How Do Hybrid Cars Work? For solar panels, check out How Do Solar Panels Work?

Did you see this morning's Today Show feature about using energy meters to suss out the energy vampires lurking in your home?

If those energy meters seem like a pricey investment, consider checking out one of the library's Kill-a-Watt meters free of charge.