With the exception of Pixel of Ink, which is just for the Kindle format, all of these websites offer eBooks in several different formats. Due to copyright restrictions, many of these books are in the public domain and therefore were published before 1923.

Disclaimer: The following links are provided to assist in locating downloadable books. JCPL is not responsible for their content. These third party web sites may or may not provide content meeting JCPL’s Collection Development Policy.

Baen Books eBook Library (http://www.baen.com/library/)

A selection of free, current, science fiction and fantasy novels from Baen Books, including books by Mercedes Lackey, David Weber, and Eric Flint. You can read these books online or download them to an eBook reader.

Inkmesh (http://inkmesh.com/)

Search across multiple websites to find free eBooks and compare eBook prices. Allows easy browsing by subject, too.

Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org/)

The Internet Archive aims to provide “permanent access for researchers, historians, scholars, people with disabilities, and the general public to historical collections that exist in digital format.” The site offers eBooks in several different formats, including HTML, PDF, and EPUB. Audio files and “moving images” are also available for download.

Just Free Books (http://www.justfreebooks.info/)

A search engine that searches for free eBooks across more than 700 websites. Allows you to narrow your search results by file type.

ManyBooks.net (http://www.manybooks.net/)

Download more than 29,000 free eBooks in a variety of formats. All the eBooks are in the public domain or have a Creative Commons license. A clean design makes this site easy to navigate. Browse by genre or Library of Congress Subject Headings.

Munseys (http://www.munseys.com)

Numerous titles available for free download in a wide variety of formats. Titles range from Shakespeare to pulp and dime-store fiction.

Pixel of Ink (www.pixelofink.com)

This website helps users find free and bargain Kindle books from Amazon. Pixel of Ink sorts through Amazon’s daily deals and publishes them on their easy-to-use site. As the site warns, the prices of these books could change at any moment. You have to check it frequently to snatch up the best deals. Pixel of Ink also offers a Young Edition that features eBooks for children through teens.

Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/)

Project Gutenberg offers “over 33,000 free ebooks to read on your PC, iPad, Kindle, Sony Reader, iPhone, Android or other portable device.” All of the titles are available because their copyright has expired, so this is a good place to look for classic titles.

Kentucky no longer sends tax forms to libraries. To order Kentucky tax forms, instructions, and schedules, call the Kentucky Department of Revenue at (502) 564-3658 or visit http://revenue.ky.gov/forms/.

If your family earned less than $50,000 this year, you may qualify to have the Central Kentucky Economic Empowerment Project prepare and file your tax return for free. CKEEP will offer appointments here at the library; call the United Way at 211 to schedule your appointment.

Created by: HackCollege

However, with so many out of work and competing for the same jobs, how can you set yourself above the rest? Statistics show that many of the unemployed have been out of work for over six months with little current information to place on a resume. One possible solution is volunteering. A recent LinkedIn survey found that one in five employers hire someone primarily because of his volunteer service outside the office. If you are unemployed, this volunteer service shows you’ve been productive with your time. It further shows that you have continued to gain experience, and it can provide that current resume information that may set you above the competition.

So, while you continue to wait for the economy to improve, find a volunteer opportunity in your community. Be sure to look for work that is substantive and may apply to the type of employment you would like to have. Ideally, volunteer within your field of expertise and find work that allows you to demonstrate your leadership qualities.

JCPL has various resources available on resume writing and job interviewing to assist you as you move back into the job market. Look on the shelves in the 650.14 section for multiple resources on interviewing and resume skills. Also, check out the links below for more information on using volunteerism in your resume:

http://www.snagajob.com/job-articles/volunteer-experience-on-resume.aspx
http://www.volunteerguide.org/motivate/resume
http://career-advice.monster.com/resumes-cover-letters/Resume-Writing-Tips/Leverage-Volunteer-Work-on-Resume/article.aspx

You can search the documents or browse curated themes that focus on subjects such as letters from children, notable sermons, nonviolence strategies, and more. A draft of King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech shows edits he made just before giving the speech. Here’s a telegram from Dr. King to Eartha Kitt, and a letter a child wrote to Corretta Scott King after her husband was assassinated. All of these items make history come alive in a way that only primary source documents can.

If you’d like to know more about some of the issues the series explores, such as World War I or the Titanic disaster, or get caught up in the time period with a great historical novel, here are some JCPL resources you might enjoy.

Movies:

Gosford Park

Brideshead Revisited (the 1981 mini-series) and Brideshead Revisited (the 2009 movie)

All Quiet on the Western Front

Howard’s End

Atonement

Books:

Photo credit: The Farmers' Museum

JCPL has launched a unique program series, “Third Thursday,” specifically for homeschooling families in the community. Begun in November, the series will take place every third Thursday of the month and cover a variety of topics.

After meeting with parents and receiving feedback about interests and needs, the children’s and teen librarians have planned programs that homeschool families can apply to each student, no matter the age. The programs help families address the need for field trips and professional instructors, for FREE.

For November’s program, “A Visit to the More House,” the library took advantage of its Internet-2 connection to take a virtual field trip to the New York State Historical Association’s Jonas More House kitchen to see how food was stored and prepared in the 19^th century. Internet-2 is an advanced networking consortium led by the U.S. research and education community, with access to an upgraded high speed internet for clear two-way conferencing. Jessamine County has used the revolutionary technology to great effect over the past few years and considers it an integral part of the library’s programming goals. The More House program, scheduled with Thanksgiving in mind, was a success with homeschooling children, teens, and parents. More than 30 participants were able to speak directly with “Mrs. More,” watch live methods of cooking and ask questions about traditional foods. As one homeschooling mother commented, “It really brought history to life for the kids.”

In 2012, the Third Thursday programs will continue to supplement the homeschooler’s textbook learning by offering a rich variety of classes and topics.  In January, a certified instructor will teach yoga to both students and parents. Also on the slate for spring are more I2 connection programs, including one visit to a medieval village where students will chat with an in-character medieval peasant to learn about what life was like in that time, and another to the Underground Railroad with an in-character runaway slave whose story will illustrate the danger of the journey which students read about in class.  In addition to these I2 programs, Jessamine County Public Library will also be hosting an instructor from the Living Arts and Science Center in Lexington, Kentucky, for a class on the Irish art of Celtic knots, and, later this spring, a full-size mobile planetarium will be brought into the library to showcase the night sky.

If you would like to register for the upcoming Third Thursday program, and/or sign up for the library’s newsletter, please contact the information desk at 885-3523 ext. 228.

Here you can find help sheets for downloading eBooks to your nook, Sony Reader, Kindle, or other device, instructions for installing and using Adobe Digital Editions or the Sony Reader software, as well as links to websites that offer free downloadable eBooks in various formats.