Library is window to rest of the world

Readers of all ages take advantage of the library's computer services. Wintertime is a great time to visit the Bill Ellis Memorial Library.

Mark your calendar for Port Aransas public library's annual book sale, which is slated for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7 - 8.

Read about the history of Mustang Island's only complete city in some of the library's history collection, which includes "Hurricane Junction" by Cyril Matthew Kuehne, and "The Stubborn Fisherman," by Elda Mae Roberts.

The library has a paperback book selection, and more than 24,000 items in its collection.

Visit the library's Web site at www.cityofportaransas. org/library.cfm and you will see the catalog, general information about the library and many links to interesting and helpful Web sites.

Card-holding library patrons can also access Tex- Share, a commercial database subscription that is paid for and administered by the Texas State Library for use by participating libraries. TexShare gives immediate access to online databases with full-text articles from popular periodicals, medical resources and health information, academic reference materials and much more.

Two online learning resources are also available.

Learning Express Library offers patrons real testtaking experiences, instant scoring and other features. Practice tests include ACT, GED, SAT, TAKS and more. Courses are offered at different levels in grammar, writing, math and other subjects.

Rosetta Stone, a languagelearning interactive software program, offers courses in English and Spanish. Both Learning Express Library and Rosetta Stone links can be found on the Web site under Web links/education.

Users will be asked to sign up with a user name and password.

The library has three computers available (one is reserved for children) offering Internet access. Wireless Internet is also available for patrons who bring in their laptop computers.

The library has some 24,000 items in the collection, including adult, junior and children's books; audio on cassette and CD; VHS tapes and DVDs. The library also has 68 magazine subscriptions. Back issues of magazines are available for checkout.

Interlibrary Loan service is available to any patron seeking materials that are not in the collection.

The fall Book Club meets at 6:30 pm. every second Tuesday of each month. Check with the library circulation desk for more details.

The library is supported by a group of library and book sale volunteers and by the Friends of the Library.

The library, at 710 W. Avenue A (next door to city hall), is open Tuesday 10 a.m.- 8 p.m., Wednesday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. A meeting room is available for use by non-profit organizations.

For more information call (361) 749-4116 or email eml@cityofportaransas.org.