BPL Teenspace - A New Teen Hangout

BPL has just launched a new teen hangout called BPL Teenspace. It's a website just for teens - so you won't have to bother with all the rest of the junk on our website that targets kids or adults. This space is just for you.

Movies, Music & More not only links you to information on great movies and music, but there are links to comics, anime, manga and graphic novels sites, game sites and to sites that are fun or just plain silly. The Books section provides reading lists and award-winning titles just for teens.

Homework Help provides some great links - especially useful are the TexShare databases and World Book Online. Eventually you will graduate from high school (at least we hope you do!) so be sure to use the School and Beyond section to learn about college testing, financial aid, choosing a college and getting accepted.

We know it's hard being a teenager so the My Life section provides resources that focus on the challenge of being a teen in today's world. If you want to take an active part in making a difference in your community or in the world then check out the Get Involved section. And look for announcements about Area 51 events and photos from events.

Be sure to hang out in the new BPL Teenspace and invite your friends too. We hope you'll visit and hangout often.

Texshare Databases Down

Please be aware that all web servers at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission will be down on Friday, July 18 at 5 pm until Sunday, July 20, at 5 pm.

The www.texshare.edu domain and all TexShare Database menu pages hosted there, including all custom gateway menu pages will be unavailable.

The www.tsl.state.tx.us domain and the TexShare Database portal for public libraries hosted there will also be unavailable.

This outage also includes The Library of Texas(www.libraryoftexas.org) and all TRAIL services.

Revised Versions of Library Concept Design #7

Hidell and Associates Architects presented the various conceptual floor plans at the City Council worksession on July 8, 2008. Concept Design #7 was the plan recommended by the Library Advisory Board. Two revised versions of Concept Design #7 were created to address comments by the Library Advisory Board and library staff.

Star-Telegram Articles on New Library

Library's design may be inspired by teens

Bedford council selects library plan

New Library Conceptual Designs

Hidell and Associates Architects held seven Library Design Workshops to involve the community, Library Advisory Board, Friends of the Library, staff and project team in the design process for the new Bedford Public Library. Each of these groups created and voted on the designs. The three designs with the most votes were further developed by Hidell and Associates Architects for review and recommendation by the Library Advisory Board to the City Council.

Hidell and Associates Architects met with the Library Advisory Board on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 to review the three concepts including two version of Conceptual Design #3 and a new one based on all the designs. At this time the Library Advisory Board is recommending that City Council approve Concept Design # 7. Hidell and Associates Architects will present the designs to City Council on Tuesday, July 8 at 6 pm. City Council will give city and library staff direction on how to proceed with the new library.

Conceptual Design 3A

Conceptual Design 3B

Conceptual Design 7

Conceptual Design 11

New Conceptual Design

Kids Spot - A Whole New Place for Kids

Hey kids - just in time for summer we've created Kids Spot, a whole new website just for you! It's colorful, it's fun and it's just for kids.

If you need help deciding what to read check out Book Nook for recommended titles, lists of award-winning books and even online stories. Homework help is full of resources to assist you with your school assignments (luckily you won't need that until the end of August!) and KidSearch lists some Internet search engines that are just right for kids.

Fun Stuff points you to the funnest web sites for kids and Events will let you find out what's happening at the library. There's a whole section just for preschoolers and one with resources for parents and teachers. So be sure to visit Kids Spot.

We've Expanded our Audiobooks Collection

The library has added a whole new batch of audiobooks for your listening pleasure. But instead of having to physically visit the library to check out these titles you can download them to your personal PC or laptop, transfer them to supported portable devices, such as an MP3 player, or even burn some of them to CDs — anytime of day and all without having to leave the comfort of your home or office.

Bedford Public Library, along with six other libraries formed a consortium called Audio On-the-Go in order to bring you these great titles from OverDrive. The initial collection consists of 221 unique digital audiobooks for adults as well as kids such as mysteries, romance, science fiction, historical fiction, health and fitness, history, biography and more. To search and browse this new collection visit www.myaudiolibrary.org

Titles check out for 14 days and are automatically "returned" at the end of the lending period so there are never any fines. You can have three (3) titles checked out at any given time. Titles may be downloaded again if there are no holds. Users can place holds on popular titles which is especially useful for reserving your place in line for pre-release titles. We'll continue to add new titles to the collection and we'll be adding available titles to our online catalog so you can discover these great audiobooks while searching our other resources as well.

Using OverDrive digital audiobooks is easy. All you'll need is a valid library card, a computer, Internet access and free software for the computer and/or device on which you wish to use the material you download from this site. Visit the Quick Start Guide for information on how to get started or take the Guided Tour.

So give it a try!