Hotspots!

"Hey Howard!" Bob said.
"Hiya Bob!  Where's your mask?" replied Howard.
"Where's YOURS?  I guess I don't have one, but we're social-distancing," Bob admitted.
"I don't think we're six feet apart, Bob," Howard smirked.
"No, but we're only two inches tall, Howard," Bob reminded Howard.
"Oh.  I guess that makes a difference," Howard said thoughtfully. 
"A bit.  So, how have you been, Howard?" Bob inquired.

Howard sighed. "Well, not so good.  I can't get online to pay my bills and do my studies but they don't want me to roam far from the pond, either."

"Why can't you get online, Howard?" Bob pried.
Howard pouted in a duckly way. "Well, I don't have internet, and the library is closed when I need to do stuff.  So what can I do?"

Bob smiled, "You can check out a hotspot."

"A Whatspot?" Howard queried.
"A HOTSPOT!" Bob repeated emphatically.

Howard looked confused.  "Why would I want to check out a hotspot?  This is Texas.  Hotspots are everywhere!"

Bob explained, "Not that kind of hotspot.  A 'hotspot' is a little gizmo that lets you connect to the internet."
"I told you I don't have internet.  And I already have a laptop," Howard quacked, exasperated.

"No, a 'hotspot' IS internet.  You connect it to your device and there you go, you're online." Bob bobbed his head.

Howard looked up.  "NO!  Are you kidding?  That's...magic-talk."

Bob chuckled.  "Nope.  And you can check them out from the library!"

Howard did a double-take.  "You mean, like a book?"

"Pretty much.  First you have to sign an agreement form, though," Bob added.

"Always a hitch," Howard muttered.

"No, no," Bob clucked, "it's just that a hotspot is pricey and the library wants to be sure you will be responsible and take care of it.  You know, don't take it in the pond with you or throw it in the book drop."

Howard pondered a moment.  "Oh, I guess I can understand that."

Bob assumed a pedantic pose. "All you need to do is call up the Leon Valley Public Library and say you'd like a hotspot, and the staff will set a form out on the porch for you to fill out when you can get there.  After that, if a hotspot is available, you can check out one, just like a book."
Howard paused.  "For free?"

Bob detailed, "For free if you are a LVPL member in good standing, of course!"
"WOW."  Howard soaked that in for a minute, flabbergasted by such astounding news.  "Then what?"

Bob inhaled, "Then you can take it home, or wherever you want to do your internetting, and connect it to your device to get online."

"On anything?" Howard slitted his eyes somewhat in disbelief.
"On anything that can connect to wi-fi, or can get online and has a USB connection, I'm pretty sure," Bob informed.
"So like, a laptop? A tablet? A phone? A desktop?" Howard listed.

"Yup, all those things," Bob agreed.  "But just one hotspot per household, so you might not want to do them all at the same time!"

Howard shrugged.  "Well, it's just me, so..."

Bob snickered. "I never know with you, Howard."

Howard gave Bob a look, then started, "How do I connect, then, Bob?"

Bob waved his little clipboard around in the air. "When you check out a hotspot packet, you'll have all this:  A hotspot (with a battery), a charging/connection cable, a charging block (wall plug thingie), a little instruction guide, and a plastic baggy to carry it all in."

Howard ogled the device. "Ohmigosh, Bob, the hotspot is HUGE!! 
How will people use THAT?"

Bob rolled his beady eyes. "Remember, we're just two inches tall, Howard."
"Oh, yeah," gurgled Howard.

Bob attempted to educate Howard. "The first thing you'll want to do is to make sure the battery is charged.  You can go ahead and start charging it, or turn it on to see if it seems to be working ok."

"How do I do that, Bob?" Howard wobbled around the hotspot.

Bob cleared his throat.  "To charge the hotspot, you just connect the tiny end of the charging cord to the hotspot jack, and connect the USB (fatter) end to the charging block, then stick that plug in a wall plug or the like.  Or you can just use the USB end, if you have something that charges USB things."

"To turn on the hotspot, you just press that On-Off button, the circle towards the bottom, for about 3 seconds.  The helpful finger will show you exactly where it is," Bob elucidated constructively.

Howard shook his feathers.  "I think I've got it, Bob."

Bob thought he heard the slightest bit of annoyance in Howard's reply.  "There is the little instruction booklet, Howard, if you would rather just read how to do it."

"Naw, I'm very happy to let you demonstrate, Bob," Howard grinned.

Bob stamped around for a moment.  "OK."  Bob preened.

"Now the button is a little tricky and sometimes you have to try again, but if the battery has juice, the little icons on top of the hotspot will turn green when the machine is on."  Bob beamed.

"It needs juice?"  Howard turned about.  "Orange or grape?"

"Electricity, Howard.  Battery juice," Bob said patiently.

Howard licked his bill.  "I don't think I've had that kind.  Sounds spicy."

Bob went on. "Ahem.  Anyway, green icons, more or less."

Howard nodded.  "Gotcha.  Green=on.  Then what?"

"If you have a wi-fi enabled device, you turn it on and go to the section in your internet stuff that shows you which networks are available.  If you need to, turn on your wi-fi first, of course.  If you don't have a wi-fi gizmo, like an ethernet-connected desktop, then connect the hotspot with the charging cable to a USB jack," Bob stated matter-of-factly.

Howard stared.  "Like, what?"

Bob demonstrated.  "Like this: 

"Find the wi-fi settings stuff.

"Look for the list of networks.  After a minute or two, CoolpadSurf_xxxx should show up in your list of options.  (xxxx is a number, the last four digits of the device's number/barcode)."  Bob continued.

"That's the network your little hotspot is offering.

"So you select that network."

Howard inspected the screens and followed the helpful finger. "Fine so far, Bob.  Turn everything on, find the CoolpadSurf network.  Gotcha."

"Good," expressed Bob with delight.  "The next box will ask for your password.  That's the eight-digit number next to HSPW on the barcode sticker, which is on the back of the hotspot."

"Oh, I see.  HSPW is Hot Spot Pass Word!"  Howard wriggled in gleeful understanding.
Bob tittered.  "Yup, just enter that number and Connect." 

"That's it?" Howard seemed a little dumbfounded.

"That's it!" Bob confirmed.  "Just remember to turn it off when you aren't using it.  It turns off pretty much the same way it turns on, though it looks like everything is on and green for a minute, then shuts down."

Howard flapped in exultation.  "Awesome, Bob!"
"I thought you'd like it, Howard!" Bob puffed, quite pleased.

Howard began waddling off.

"Hey Howard, where are you going, you just got here?" Bob yelled.

Howard didn't even look back.  "I'm going to check out a hotspot.  I've got stuff to do!"

                                      

Red Rover Red Rover

MARS!! 

The Planet Mars

NASA plans a Perseverence Rover Mission to Mars this July/August (2020), since Mars and Earth will be in good positions to make a long-distance trip between them a bit shorter than it would be otherwise.  The mission will have the rover robot gather up evidence to see if there is or was life on Mars!

So here are a number of fun things to do to learn about Mars:

This links to a wonderful powerpoint presentation all about Mars, a guessing game where you rack up points with your guide Marvin the Martian, called IMAGINE MARS:  An Interactive Journey Through Time.  It gives an overview of Mars from astronomical history to books and movies to  NASA missions.  Very cool.  

Sign up for a (bilingual!) STEM newsletter and learn even more nifty things!


These are some clever STEM crafts to explore:

                                   Make a Cardboard Rover!
                                          Here's mine...but it could definitely use some work!

Make a Paper Mars Helicopter!          (This one is a bit easier).

Mars-scape

If you like games,
 here is a whole variety pack of nifty space games:

Free Kid Science Apps!  (Space Science Games)
(sponsored by the Space Science Institute/NSF/NASA)
Rover Coder, Planet Families, Planet Families 2, Matter Sorter, Space Stage, Solar Vision, Star Maze, Rubble!

And a whole page of space games you can play straight through a browser!

A website with all kinds of space info and fun for kids...

Fascinating interactive space website!

Perseverence Rover you can mouse over for info, rotate, look all over virtually!

And some neat information about the Mission:

Perseverance Rover Illustration

        
         Don't just stand around, go have a great time with Mars!

Bill Bixby and Ray Walston from "My Favorite Martian"

Returning Checkouts

 "Hey Bob," waved Howard.

"Howdy Howard," Bob returned.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Howard asked.

"I've decided I'm a BIG FAN of people who return their items in a timely fashion," Bob smiled.

"I kinda get that," Howard agreed, looking at the fan.  "But why seem so concerned?"

"I feel for the people...I don't want them to rack up fines and have troubles," pouted Bob.

"Why would they do that?" Howard seemed mystified.

"Well, there were about a thousand things out in March, but there was no way to return stuff then, so all the due dates were just extended.  Now the return box has been open for 2 weeks and normal actions like fines will restart on July 1.  Only about a tenth of the checkouts have come back," worried Bob.

"Can't they just renew things?" wondered Howard.

"Nope, they can't renew any more for what was already out.  And because of the one week quarantine, there's hardly any more time to return stuff without starting to get fines!" Bob squawked.

"How's that?" Howard was curious.

"Today, for example, is the 19th, so if you turned in your book or movie today by 5PM, say, add 7 days before it is handled again to be checked in," posited Bob.

Howard looked into the air.  "Uh...19 plus 7, carry the one, er, 26!"

"Yup," Bob acknowledged, "your items would be checked in on the 26th.  You'd be ok."

"But if I brought them back on the 25th?" Howard continued.  

"That would be 25 plus 7 so then they'd be checked in on the 2nd of July and you'd have an overdue fine." Bob stared down dejectedly.

"I thought there was a grace period?" added Howard.

"That is the quarantine period," Bob declared.

"Oh boy, I'd better see if I have anything to turn in, then!" flustered Howard fluttered off.

 

Understanding Curbside

"Why so glum, Howard?"

 

"I want to read an actual book, Bob!"
 

                  "So read a book, Howard."

"The library's closed so I can't check one out, Bob!"

"No, remember, I told you the library is open for curbside service," Bob stated patiently.    

"I forgot," blinked Howard. 
"Uh, what does that mean?" Howard looked at Bob a little sheepishly.

"It means you can check out books and stuff, but you have to do it
a different way than by just going into the library," Bob announced.

"How do you mean, Bob?" Howard inquired. 

"You can call the library at 210-684-0720 and talk to the staff--
just ask for the item you want!  

Or you can go online to the Leon Valley Public Library's catalog at  https://leonvalley.biblionix.com/catalog/ and reserve something--it's called 'putting on hold,'" Bob informed Howard.

"How do I know they have what I want, or even how I know what I want?" puzzled Howard.

"Just browse through the catalog, or talk to a staff member," Bob answered.

"Oh, ok.  So how do I order a book or movie from the catalog?" Howard wanted to know.

"Simply go to the catalog page and log in to your account.  There's a box in the upper right corner that says Log in to your account.  You type your card number in the top line--you don't need the zeroes in front of the number--and your phone number--you don't need the area code if it is 210--or password--if you made your own--in the lower box line." Bob said matter-of-factly.

"What if I have trouble?" worried Howard. "Like if I can't remember my card number, or I changed my phone number recently or something?"

"Call the library and talk to a live person, or send an email to ask what to do through the Contact Us link at the lower left corner of the catalog.  A box also drops down from the log in boxes if you don't fill 'em in, asking if you need help," assured Bob.

"That's handy!  Alrighty.  So if I log in without problems, then what do I do?" Howard continued.

 




"You find what you want in the catalog...when you click on the item you are interested in, there is a Reserve this item button to select what you want.  Click on that and you'll put that book or movie or audiobook on hold," Bob replied.

Howard considered that a moment.  "Ah.  Then what?"

Bob took a breath.  "Then you wait to be contacted by library staff--they have to see if the item you asked for is available, after all--and you schedule an appointment to pick up your request."

"I need to make an appointment?  Just for me?" Howard seemed surprised.

"Yup.  The staff will leave your request out on a porch table for you to drop by and pick up at your scheduled time, so there is a minimum of contact to keep the bad virus at bay," Bob nodded wisely.

"Oh, I see.  I guess I can do that," Howard agreed thoughtfully.

"Go get a book!" Bob encouraged.

"Definitely!" Howard quacked excitedly.

"Just one thing, Bob," Howard paused.

"What?" Bob chirped.

"Why is it called 'curb' service?  You didn't mention a curb at all," Howard pondered.



 
"It means you drive up to the curb to get your books rather than come into the library," Bob extolled.  "And it curbs your hunger for books, quackquack!"


 
"Ha ha!" giggled Howard.  "I see."  And he waddled off to find the library catalog.   

 

Howard Learns to Zoom

"Hi Howard, how're things?"


 "Oh wow, the Library is going to have a virtual program!  But they say it
will be 'by Zoom,' what does that mean, Bob?"



"Well, that's easy," said Bob.  "Zoom is a program platform that lets you see other people wherever they are using Zoom and you can even talk to them, like a video-phone!  And they can see you, too, if you have a web-camera.  All you have to do is click on the link they give you or cut-and-paste the link into a browser, and you can join in!"

"Great!" wiggled Howard.  "Uh, what does that mean?"

"A little before the program is to start, the Library host will post a link, an address that looks like https://zoom.us/ and a bunch of numbers or such.  Should be able to mouse-click on that and it will take you to another page in the browser," Bob informed.

A Zoom invitation

"Browser?" Howard was unsure.

"The window on the computer where you see other websites and places, like the Facebook LVPL Summer Reading group page you started from," Bob stated patiently.

"Ok," Howard nodded.

"If that doesn't work for some reason, you can highlight the address--click the mouse at the beginning of the address and drag it across the address line to the end--it turns another color like using a highlighter pen. 

Highlighting

Let go without clicking anywhere, then click the right mouse button on that color line to see a drop-down menu.  

Copying

 

Choose Copy and click on that, then click on a new browser tab 

Opening a new tab

 
and right-click into the search bar at the top, choosing and clicking on Paste this time,"  Bob breathed in deeply.

Pasting

 

"Wow," said Howard.  "I dunno if I can do all that."

"You can also press down on the Control button and letter C key at the same time on your keyboard in order to copy, and Control plus the letter V key to paste.  It's actually a snap," insisted Bob.

Zoom!

 

 "Sure," muttered Howard.  "Anyway, then what?"

"Your browser will go to the Zoom site and a little pop-up box will inform you that you need to install a little Zoom program for the meeting.  You just click on that and it will do that for you.  Then just follow the instructions.  Sometimes you'll need the Meeting ID code--the other line given to you with the meeting address with a bunch of numbers--in order to get into the right meeting, so you'll need to cut-and-paste that into a join-meeting box, if it asks for that, and a password."

"Mm hmm," Harold agreed rather skeptically.

"Click on this link, it shows a short video of a lady named Marcia explaining how to do all this, probably a lot better than I am,"  Bob happily provided the link below to Howard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9isp3qPeQ0E
Joining a Zoom Call for the First Time; 
Fun and Easy Online Connection
--Marcia Chadly from the Creative Life Center

"There are a lot of other videos to help you with this, too, but I happened to like this one," Bob added.

After Howard watched the video, he was relieved.
"I guess that isn't quite so hard to do," Howard admitted.

Bob approved, "When you've done it a time or two, you'll be a master at it!"

"Howard the Zoom-Master!" Howard chuckled.

Return of the Construction Duckies

A few of you may remember the Construction Duckies, Bob and Howard, who narrated the construction of the LVPL Children's Wing and helped explain things during difficult moments and our last little closing.  Occasionally they pop up to tell silly jokes or make little points.  Just happened to overhear them recently:

"Hey Howard!" yelled Bob.
"Hi Bob!" responded Howard.
"Long time no see!" Bob chortled.
"Yeah.  Don't want to get that bird flu," Howard confessed.
"Uh, I think it's COVID-19," Bob corrected.
"Whatever vid-e-o, don't like being sick," asserted Howard.
"Well no.  Hey, have you heard about all the stuff going on at the library?" questioned Bob.

"This library?" Howard looked around.
"Of course this library!"  Bob uttered in disbelief.
"I thought it was closed.  Enlighten me then!" replied Howard.

"It's gonna be open, but in a different way for a while," informed Bob patiently.
"Open but not open.  I'm confused," Howard frowned.
"I know.  Everything's new,"  Bob stated.
"I kinda sensed that," Howard agreed.

"First, you can return anything you had checked out before," Bob started.
"Before what?" Howard wondered.
"Before the library closed," Bob sighed.
"I thought you said it was open?" Howard pointed out obstinately.
"It's opening in baby steps.  The dropbox is now open for returns," explained Bob.
"Dropbox is the book return, ahhh...I guess that's good.  Why can't I just wait until the building is open?" Howard asked reasonably.
"That might be some time from now, and the books and stuff need to come back NOW so they can go through a 7-day quarantine and be safe to return to the shelves so other folks can check them out.  And it's ok to put in the DVDs and things not usually recommended for the dropbox right now, since the staff will empty it often and patrons can't enter the building," Bob justified.
"Naturally.  So when are my books due?" Howard inquired.
"Everything is due around June 24, but there's about a week grace period, so call it July," Bob elucidated.
"July."  Howard tittered as Bob rolled his eyes.

"Second...the Summer Reading Program is kicking off on June 16!" squealed Bob.
"That's a....Tuesday, right?" pondered Howard.
"Right you are, Howard," Bob affirmed.
"So how does that work?" Howard wanted to know.
"There will be a "drive through" Summer Reading Party!  People who want to participate can drive up to the library between 10:30AM and 11:30AM...you know, on the front porch side of the library where the parking lot and car things are...and the staff will hand out reading logs and fun packets to those interested, nice and safe-like," educated Bob.

"You don't say!" Howard quacked excitedly.  "But what if I can't make it?  Or drive?" Howard looked down at his stubby wings.
"The reading logs will also be posted online, so you can still participate," Bob guaranteed.

"Is that all?" Howard pouted slightly.
"Oh no," Bob squawked.  "The fun part is the LVPL Summer Reading group on Facebook!"
"The whatsit where?" Howard expressed bewilderedly and knit his feathered brows together.
"If you go to the Leon Valley Public Library Facebook page ,
or just search for the LVPL Summer Reading group ,
you can join!" related Bob.
"And why should I do that?" puzzled Howard.
"If you are part of that group, you get to know about all kinds of virtual activities, secret passwords to programs, and, like, cool stuff!" Bob giggled and wriggled with pleasure.
"Ah, you mean it's like being in a secret club house?" Howard cheeped.

"Exactly!  And there will be prizes for reading and other nifty things going on," Bob went on further.




"Well, we'd better join then!" Howard waddled off in glee.
 

 
"What else is going on at the library?" Howard called back.

"Beginning on the 23rd--also a Tuesday--the library will offer curb service," Bob declared.


"A WHAT kind of service?" 
Howard seemed a bit baffled.

"CURB service.  That's when people can call or go online to the library's catalog to reserve items to check out.  When the staff finds the things they want to check out, they will arrange a pick up time with the people and then the patrons can come and safely retrieve their requested items," Bob attempted to educate the perpetually perplexed Howard.


 

"So I can check out books?" hoped Howard.

"Yes, of course!" nodded Bob.

"And movies, or other things?" Howard garnered with growing elation.

"Call them up at 210-684-0720 and ask,
if you have any doubts," Bob comforted.
"But what if I don't know what I want?" supposed Howard.
"That's what the catalog is for, just browse around in there...but for kids there are some new Book Bundles," Bob told Harold
enticingly.

"Book bundles...like, a bunch of books?" Harold supposed.
"That's it, kits made up of three to six books arranged by topic, for a quick reading selection.  They have kid kits about Stars, Bedtime, Food, Spring, Color, Night, Having Fun, Fish, Dinosaurs, Pirates, and even a Variety Pack," Bob announced.

"How on earth do you know all
these things, Bob?" Howard brooded.




"Oh, I pay attention...and get around," Bob teased.

 

"Wow, you Really do get around," Howard reflected as he noted the galaxy behind him.
"All you have to do is use your imagination, Howard," Bob suggested wisely.
"Now, let's sign up for that summer reading group, quack!" Howard tottered off enthusiastically.
"You mean 'quick,' right?" Bob corrected.
"That's what I said!  Come on!" Howard shuffled off happily.