Read an E-Book Week: Learning Express Library

While NetLibrary and OverDrive are the major providers of ebooks to the Troy Public Library, several of the eResources we subscribe to also have ebooks. For the rest of the week, we will take a look at some of these less obvious places to find ebooks.

Learning Express Library is an eResource that provides practice tests for several different academic subjects, standardized tests like the ACT and SAT, and careers. It also includes courses that cover a variety of topics such as math and reading skills improvement, job searching, interviewing, and more.

While mainly focused on practice tests for various exams, Learning Express Library also features a sizable ebook collection. All ebooks from Learning Express Library are in the Adobe PDF format. They can be viewed inside your browser with Adobe Reader. They can also be easily saved to your computer for access anytime.

Learning Express Library ebooks reflect topics that are covered by the practice tests and courses they provide. You will find ebooks on such topics as academic test preparation, math skills, and job searching skills. While the initial Learning Express Library ebook page displays all of the ebooks that are available, there is some limited search capability to help you find what you are looking for. You can search by subject, title, or author. There is no advanced search.

To access Learning Express Library, you will need a valid Troy Library card. To get started, go to troylibrary.info, and then click on the eResources link. Select Education, and then click on Learning Express Library. Create an account to fully use all of the features of Learning Express Library. To learn more, click here. If you wish to just access the ebooks available from Learning Express Library, click here.

More Courses and Tests Available from Learning Express

LearningExpress Library, a test preparation database to which the Troy Public Library subscribes, has recently added several new practice tests and course offerings.

Practice exams are now available for various healthcare related exams, including radiography, certified surgical technologist, and certified medical assistant. Practice is also available for Commercial Driver's License topics, including basic CDL knowledge, air brakes, passenger transport, and more. GED practice exams are now available in Spanish as well as English.

Several previous course offerings have been updated. This includes many practices exams for Advanced Placement subjects such as biology, chemistry, and calculus. Practice tests for the GMAT and GRE have also been updated.

To access LearningExpress Library from our homepage, you must have a Troy Public Library card. Click the "Information On Demand" link on our homepage, click Education from the subject listings, and then click LearningExpress Library. If you have never used LearningExpress, you will need to register for an account after arriving at the LearningExpress Library homepage.

Additionally, if you are reading this and do not have a Troy Library card, but are a resident of Michigan, LearningExpress is available to all Michigan residents through the Michigan eLibrary. Go to mel.org and click on the MeL Databases link.

New Database Features at TPL

While attending the Michigan Library Association Annual Conference in Kalamazoo last week, I went to a session that showcased new updates in databases to which the Michigan eLibrary (MeL) subscribes. These databases are provided to the Troy Library free-of-charge, courtesy of the State Library of Michigan. Here are the highlights:

• Kids's Infobits, this youth database now has the ability to read the text of an article to you. This can be helpful for people with dyslexia, or people who use English as a second language. You can play the audio at your computer while looking at the article, or can download it to your computer as an MP3 file to be listened to later.
  
• MeL Michigana has added more content. This database houses several digital collections relating to Michigan history, including the Civil War Diaries Collection from Western Michigan University, the Archives of Michigan Image Collection, and the Virtual Motor City image collection from Wayne State University.
• Business & Company Resource Center now has enhanced investment reports compiled daily by Reuters Research on Demand.
• LearningExpress Library has added a U.S. Citizenship practice test dealing with history and civics. LearningExpress still continues to offer practice exams for the ACT, SAT, ASVAB, and various civil service exams, as well as practice tests for various school subjects. LearningExpress Library also contains a large library of eBooks to help in test preparation.

To access any of these databases, go to the Troy Public Library homepage and click on "Information On-Demand". Have your Troy Library card number handy.