With the never-ending snow, now is the perfect time to revisit a former hobby or get excited about something new like bird watching, genealogy, or learning a language.
Online resources for genealogy and language learners can be found at https://www.hinsdalelibrary.info/digital-resources.
• Ancestry.com is an online source for family and local histories, military and census records, as well as photographs, maps, personal narratives and newspapers. Access to this resource has been temporarily expanded to HPL cardholders working remotely through March 2021, courtesy of ProQuest and its partner Ancestry.
• Mango Languages
This online language learning resource offers over 60 languages. Set up an account and select your language to get started. Mango adapts to your unique learning style, so you pick up on new vocabulary, intuit unfamiliar grammatical structure and train your pronunciation, all while boosting your cultural IQ.
Visit the library to find the following titles and many more. Grab and go browsing is currently available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• "Birds in Your Backyard" by Robert Dolezal
This indispensable guide for bird enthusiasts is a comprehensive and richly illustrated volume with over 600 full-color photos. Together with a little careful planning and planting you can turn your yard into a bird and butterfly oasis.
• "Midwestern Guide: Backyard Birds" by Bill Thompson
Of all the classic American pastimes, perhaps none is as widely accessible as watching birds. While birders often spend their efforts in search of the rarest creatures, some of the most beautiful and intriguing birds are the ones that frequent our backyards (or nearby) daily.
• "National Geographic Kids Bird Guide of North America" by Jonathan Alderfer
Featuring 100 species of birds from coast to coast, this colorful guide helps kids identify and understand birds.
• "Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide" by Diane Elder
Are you stuck in your genealogical research? Wondering how to make progress on your brick wall problems? Discover the process that a professional genealogist uses to solve difficult cases.
• "Unofficial Guide to Ancestry.com: How to Find Your Family History" by Nancy Hendrickson
Discover how to take advantage of what the world's biggest genealogy website has to offer - and how to find answers to your genealogy questions within its billions of records and millions of AncestryDNA profiles. Each chapter includes step-by-step examples with illustrations to show you exactly how to apply search techniques to your genealogy.
• "Conversational Italian for Travelers: Just the Important Phrases" by Kathryn Occhipinti
This work is accessible and humorous while providing a method to understand and remember important Italian phrases covering topics such as how to change money, take the train and order from the menu in restaurants.
• "Short Stories in Spanish: Read for Pleasure at Your Level and Learn Spanish the Fun Way" by Olly Richards
Written especially for students from beginner to intermediate level, these eight captivating stories will entertain you and give you a feeling of progress when reading.
- Maura Schoo is an adult services librarian at the Hinsdale Public Library.
