Author: Digital Library Marketing Guru

Lote4Kids puts Ukrainian in Focus

Spoken by over 40 million people, Ukrainian is a melodic Slavic language with roots in ancient Eastern Slavic. Using the Cyrillic alphabet, it shares ties with Russian and Belarusian while maintaining a unique vocabulary and cultural heritage. Ukrainian continues to grow in global presence, symbolizing national pride and identity.

LOTE4Kids is an online database of digital picture books in World languages, allowing kids to enjoy books and learn language through the magic of storytelling. Ukrainian is one of over 67 languages available, so your kids can discover and enjoy this magical language.

Pop into your local library to find out all about this great product from Lote4Kids, free to library users.

A Low Cost Christmas

With the cost of living going through the roof, now is the time to channel your inner creative and make ‘home made’ Christmas gifts. Not only will you get the pleasure of creating something beautiful, but you will save a pretty penny too.

Take a look at the classes available on Universal Class – free from your local library. Like the Soap Making Mastery course;

“Imagine turning a simple blend of oils, scents, and ingredients into beautifully handcrafted bars that delight the senses and nourish the skin. Soap Making Mastery isn’t just another online course-it’s an invitation to embark on a journey where creativity meets precision, where the ancient art of soap crafting becomes your new passion and, potentially, a thriving business. This course is designed for anyone with the desire to create something unique-whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced artisan looking to refine your skills.”

Here are the learning outcomes you should be able to master at course completion:

  • Summarize soap making history.
  • Summarize the science of making soap.
  • Make soaps.
  • Summarize signature soap recipes.
  • Describe making special soaps.
  • Describe problems with making soap.
  • Summarize the business of selling your soaps.

Pop into your library today and ask to find out more about Universal Class – your purse will thank you, and all the friends who receive beautiful hand made soap will also thank you.

Keep Abreast of World Events

With so much going on around the world it can sometimes be difficult to keep informed and up to date. Now we live in a ‘global’ age, events happening in far flung places have an impact on our lives here in the UK, so it has never been more vital to keep your finger on the pulse.

By using PressReader, available from your local library, you can access newspapers, magazines and articles from around the world – all for free. You can see everything from American newspapers reporting on their upcoming elections, or what Middle Eastern business magazines are discussing.

It is so easy to use, simply sign into the PressReader website or App using your library card, and select the publication you wish to read.

With publications from over 120 countries in more than 60 different languages, you get instant access to content from home, and from around the world. Ask your library about PressReader today.

Avoid Sewing Disasters!

It’s that time of year when your lovely little ones come home from school and utter those words you dread – “I need a costume for the school Halloween party.”

No need to panic! Visit Universal Class, free from your local library, and get all the information you need to become a Super Mum Sewing Queen. The Sewing 101 course is absolutely free and teaches you everything you need to know.

  • Lesson One: Sewing Basics: • Pins, Needles and Thread • Scissors for cutting, clipping and other cutting tools • The Importance of Pressing • Staying Organized
  • Lesson Two: Your Sewing Machine: • Types of Sewing Machines • Anatomy of a Sewing Machine • Bobbins and Their Problems • Maintenance
  • Lesson Three: Fabric: • Types of Fabric • Warp, Weft, Nap, Right vs. Wrong Side • Selvage • Choosing Fabric for Your Garment • Tricky Fabrics to Sew
  • Lesson Four: All About Patterns: • Choosing a Pattern • Deciphering the Pattern Envelope • Fabric Plus the Extras • Layout Deciphered
  • Lesson Five: Hand Sewing: • Threading the needle • Basting • Hemming • Buttons • Decorative Touches
  • Lesson Six: Pattern Adjustments: • Basic Pattern Fitting and Adjustments • Adjusting Tops • Adjusting Pants and Skirts • Fitting a Pattern, Muslin Mockup
  • Lesson Seven: Pattern Layout: • Pattern Preparation • Choosing the right pieces • What the markings mean • Cutting out the pattern
  • Lesson Eight: Sewing Pajamas: • Choosing Thread • Seam Allowances/Finishes • Sleeves, Gathered, or Straps • Elastic • Hems
  • Lesson Nine: Sewing an Unlined Jacket: • Preparation • Pattern Alterations • Button Loop • Collar/Lapel/Facing • Button • Hem
  • Lesson 10: Sewing a Skirt – Part 1: • Fitting Skirts • Pattern Layout • Marking • Darts
  • Lesson 11: Sewing a Skirt – Part II: • Back Vent • Center Zipper, Finishing • Waistband Facing, Interfacing • Hems Around Vents
  • Lesson 12: Sewing a Shirt or Blouse – Part I: • Pattern Markings • Interfacing • Shoulder Seams • Collar • Cuffs
  • Lesson 13: Sewing a Shirt or Blouse – Part II: • Cuffs • Buttonholes • Sleeves • Hems
  • Lesson 14: Sewing Pants – Part I: • Fitting Pants • Pattern Marking • Center Front • Inner/Outer Leg Seams • Lapped Zipper
  • Lesson 15: Sewing Pants – Part II: • Lapped Zipper • Waistband • Hem – Machine Blindstitch

So now you have no excuse, and your little one will be the Belle of Halloween.

Channel Your Inner Spooky

There is nothing better than snuggling under a warm toastie blanket on a cold Autumn night with a wealth of great comics at your fingertips.

ComicsPlus is the free service available from your local library which brings hundreds of comics straight to your tablet. You can search for styles, authors, or themes, and find fabulous content like this great featured comic for Halloween;

Whatever your age or tastes, ComicsPlus caters for you. Simply go into the Categories section to select the genre that you love, or the catalogue that suits your age. It’s easy, and most important, it is absolutely free to library users.

Learn on The Go!

Continue your language learning whenever or wherever it’s convenient for you.

Transparent Language Online users can take their language learning on the go with an iOS or Android smartphone or tablet.

The Transparent Language Mobile app is a FREE iOS and Android app which can be used in conjunction with Transparent Language Online – free from your local library. Besides offering the best, most integrated and customised language learning experience for an individual, there is a wealth of free resources, from Word of the Day to our language and culture blogs, to help make language learning a part of your life.

Improve Your Computer Skills

In our modern era, computers have seamlessly woven themselves into the fabric of our daily lives. From business operations to personal tasks, these machines have become indispensable. For many, this transition happened so rapidly that they felt left behind. If you’ve ever felt daunted by the prospect of navigating the digital realm or simply wished for a clearer understanding of how your devices work, then the computer basics course from Universal Class is tailor-made for you.

By the culmination of this course, you won’t just be a user; you’ll be an informed and confident navigator of the digital world. Whether you aim to apply these skills in a professional setting or simply wish to enrich your personal experiences, this foundation will serve you well in our increasingly digitized society.

Universal Class is a free programme available from your local library. You can choose from hundreds of free online courses to enhance your personal development goals. Pop into your library today to find out more.

Explore the Lote4Kids App

Have you explored the Lote4Kids App yet? It’s a huge hit with users of all ages! The app’s intuitive design and ad-free, secure environment make it a favourite on iOS and Android devices.

Don’t miss out – download the app today from the Apple Store or Google Play. Once you have the app it couldn’t be easier, simply find your library, enter your barcode and dive into exciting stories and activities!


Make Language Learning Fun

Picture Card Books are the latest innovation from LOTE4Kids, to help children learn language in an enjoyable way! These bilingual resources are available free of charge for you from your local library.

An initial series of 30 Picture Card Books has been created for Chinese Simplified (Mandarin) and English, with illustrations by digital artists and voice-overs by native speakers, to provide children with a new and contemporary learning journey. Lote4Kids will release new Picture Card Books in 2-3 languages every month, so stay tuned!

Picture cards are a powerful tool in making language learning accessible and enjoyable for children. By focusing on topics that are directly relevant to their lives, these visual aids not only facilitate vocabulary building but also foster a deeper connection with the language being learned. As children grow in their language abilities, the scope of picture cards can expand, paving the way for a lifelong journey of language exploration and learning.

So pop into your local library today to find out more about this fantastic free resource.

Join The Language Competition

Compete with library patrons all over the world this summer!

It’s simple. Log in to Transparent Language Online for Libraries. Pick any (or many) of the 130+ available languages.

Learn as much as you can during from July 26 – August 11. The 3 library patrons with the most learning time in that window are our medalists!

Medalists win Amazon gift cards for themselves (plus a $100 gift card for their library):

🥇1st place: $150

🥈2nd place: $100

🥉3rd place: $50

That’s it! TLO will announce and email the winners in August.

Now some “fine print” stuff:

  1. Only library patrons using Transparent Language Online for Libraries are eligible. Individual subscribers or users sponsored by any other organization are not eligible, sorry!
  2. You must have an email associated with your account (either your username or entered in your user profile) so we can contact you. No email in the account = not eligible to win.
  3. Learning time = time spent doing lessons, refreshing Learned Vocab, or doing Practice activities in Transparent Language Online on web or mobile.
  4. The contest runs from 12:01am EST on July 26, 2024 to 11:59pm EST on August 11, 2024. Only learning time completed during that time will count.
  5. We will select the winners based on learning time completed, but reserve the right not to choose a specific user for any reason. Winners will be announced by August 30, 2024 and contacted by email. Failure to reply to the email within 7 days forfeits the prize and a new winner will be selected.
  6. Prizes are Amazon gift cards amounting to $150, $100, and $50 respectively, and a $100 gift card for the associated library. If the winning patrons and/or libraries are not in the US, we will try to accommodate their local currency. Applicable exchange rates will be applied.