What's Happening at YOUR Library?

Join us every Thursday in September at the Fredericktown Branch to make some beautiful noise. Kristin Englehart, founder of SEMO Soundforge, will focus each week on a different lesson.This program is free and all ages and abilities are welcome. Practice instruments are provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own instruments if you have them. For more information please call or visit the library.

Wolfner Day September 9 Wolfner Talking Book and Braille Library is a free library service that includes:

• Loan of audio, Braille and large print books and magazines
• Loan of digital audio players
• Audiobook downloads available 24 hours a day through the website
• Accessible newspapers and magazines
• Free shipping to your home via United States Postal Service

Stop by any branch to learn more!

We’d love your feedback on our story time schedule! Fill out the quick survey below to let us know which dates and times work best for you. Your input helps us plan programs that work for more families!

Click here to take our survey.

Your computer and your mobile phone leak your private and vital data every minute that they are turned on and connected to a network. Your web browser and most apps often function like spyware, some apps are even designed as spyware. It’s up to you to protect your privacy. Taking a proactive approach to security will help you protect your location, communications like texts, other people’s data in your address book, health data, information about the websites you visit and much more.

We’ll go over the problem and the solutions.

Tuesday, September 16, 6:00 Fredericktown Branch

If your Windows 10 computer is being denied an upgrade to Windows 11 but you would like to keep using it safely, we can assist you in upgrading it to GNU+Linux Mint which is a free, secure and trusted operating system. Most Windows PCs and Macs made after 2010 can be upgraded to GNU+Linux Mint. The GNU+Linux upgrade process usually takes thirty minutes or less. But we suggest that you allow for up to 1 hour or even more. Please note, this free service is for personal and home users only.

We’ll be doing Upgrades
Monday, 9/22, 10am-2pm and Saturday, 9/27 9am-1pm

Walk-ins welcome but priority given to those registered with link below which provides additional important details and pre-upgrade preparation such as backing up files before you arrive. Note: Installing GNU/Linux requires the drive be erased and reformatted. Back-up your files/data to an external drive before arriving to do the upgrade.

We’re partnering with Madison County Recovery Allies, local residents and businesses to begin a new computer UpCycle program!

How it works: If you have an older computer (back to 2010), Mac or Windows, that you no longer use, you can donate it to us and we will be upgrading it to run Linux Mint which is a secure operating system designed to run great on older computers. Once computers are upgraded we will be giving them away to area residents based on a first come, first served basis.

To learn more about Linux and all of the free applications that come installed on an UpCycled computer check out the new Community Computer Upcycle page .

Ozark Regional Library is happy to announce that we are offering digital literacy assessments and training from Northstar Digital Literacy. This free service is provided by a partnership between the Missouri State Library, the REAL (Remote Electronic Access for Libraries) program, and MOREnet.

Northstar Digital Literacy training begins with a selection of assessments which determine how proficient the user is at the targeted skill, such as working with Windows 11 or Microsoft Word. From there, users can take a series of self-guided training sessions and tests to improve their proficiency levels. Users can earn certificates for completing these training modules if they pass the test with 85% or higher (to earn the certificate, users must take the proctored assessment while being proctored at a Northstar location such as Ozark Regional Library). The certificate may be used as proof of technology skills when applying for a job. All assessments and training are free of charge.

Proctors will soon be available at all of our libraries. If you would like to take a proctored assessment please contact the nearest branch of Ozark Regional Library, or contact us via our website at ozarkregional.org.

Click here to begin digital literacy training.

Need help with technology? Come by the library -- appointments are recommended! Use the link below to schedule your time.

Tech Help Schedule:
* Mondays: Ironton - 10 AM-12 PM
* Select Tuesdays (twice a month):
  - Annapolis - 2 PM-4 PM
  - Viburnum - 2 PM-4 PM
* Wednesdays: Fredericktown - 10 AM-12 PM

Technology Help -Make an Appointment

Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines to read on your phone or tablet using the Libby app by OverDrive. You can even send and read your borrowed ebooks to your Kindle ereader (U.S. only)! It’s free and easy to get started. Learn more at overdrive.com/apps/libby/ .

The Voices of the Ozarks project which started in Fredericktown pre-COVID will be renewed and expanded with a focus on family recipes and intergenerational dialogues in 2024!

The goal is to record approximately two (2) interviews per month (one in the Fredericktown library and one in the Ironton library) from April through December of 2024. These short audio recordings will be posted online with photos of the participants, the recipe, and a sample (when possible) to celebrate the past and present of Ozark cuisine. This program is designed to be a recorded dialogue between our older and younger generations, but participants are not required to bring someone with them. Visit ozarkregional.org or call (573) 546-2615 for more information.

Voices of the Ozarks Reservation

Passport Services - Ironton

We offer passport applications and passport acceptance services. We welcome any questions you may have about the passport application process.

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is a nationwide initiative that promotes the joy of story. This free program ranges from newborn to just before kindergarten.