We’ve all been there: you’re signing up for another account on another website, and you’re asked to create a password. Easy, you think, and you type in “password.” The website rejects this: it’s not strong enough! Never fear, though—you have a backup password for situations like these. You type in...
How far back can you trace your family line? Your parents, grandparents, greats or great-greats? How about farther back? Can you say, with certainty, that you know where you come from? These are just some of the questions that those getting into genealogy research set out to answer and it’s the...
New technology can often seem overwhelming when you focus on the differences it has from the things that you used to know. Keyboards have mysterious buttons, phones now have no buttons at all, and thousands of books can fit into the palm of your hand. But if you take a...
For those of you who dread the burden of shopping: circling for a parking spot, going into a store, wading through crowds of shoppers, meandering through each aisle, and waiting in a seemingly endless line to check out, there is an alternative for you. For those of you who delight...
Most of us could agree that smartphones are more of a necessity than a luxury these days, but all work and no play would make anyone a dull boy! Among the seemingly infinite number of life-improving, useful apps is a vast selection of mobile games—games designed to be played on...
With the rising cost of cable and streaming services, you have no doubt found yourself thinking, “Wow, I wish all this was available for free.” Enter: your local library! With nothing more than your Citrus County Library card, you can watch movies and TV shows for free through the
I think we can all admit that one of Citrus County’s favorite past times is a good round of Sunday golf. However, golf probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the wide world of gadgetry. But for those of you looking to level up...
As we journey further into 2024, important events loom on the horizon - tax season, elections, and more. With each topical event comes misinformation campaigns. Misinformation is the deliberate act of providing misleading or inaccurate information. Social media platforms are fraught with misinformation, but these errors are not limited to...
It’s wild to think that most of us carry, in the form of our smartphone, a computer more powerful than the ones that got us to the moon. Our cell phones go everywhere with us, so why shouldn’t we take advantage of that? One of the unsung heroes of the iPhone...
Finding the right cell phone can be difficult, even for those that grew up with them. You have to take into consideration not only the make and model of the phone, but it’s miscellaneous features, extras, and perks awarded to you by a plan provider. The possibilities are endless, and...
There are not many things in our world that are truly free any longer. We often encounter fine print disclaimers, alluring promises with subliminal stipulations and catches that will frustrate any consumer, however, what if I told you that among the many free services and programs that your Citrus County...
For those on the go, or those that just want more time to themselves, the thought of planning and cooking dinner can quickly become overwhelming. The concern of keeping dinner interesting and healthy can quickly make eating out seem like the best option for you or your family. It’d definitely...
As we age, it's important to maintain a sense of excitement and discovery in our lives, and with the ease and prominence of online shopping, a subscription box might just be the way to go! Subscription boxes offer a wonderful way for seniors to receive curated surprises right at their doorstep....
The World Wide Web is a wonderful place, but it can also be scary and dark where bad guys lurk with ill intentions. The Web is full of misinformation, fake websites, scams and cybercriminals. Websites which may appear legitimate may not be what they seem. Understanding how to read a...
Research shows that there is a powerful link between STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and early childhood. It has been proven that children who learn STEM skills early on are better prepared for school and future careers. Libraries are considered a neutral and safe place for people to come....
Music lovers rejoice! Gone are the days of waiting for your favorite song to play on the radio. Music streaming services are making it easier than ever to listen to your favorite musicians, albums, and songs whenever you want. You’re probably heard the term “streaming” in relation to video services such...
Gone are the days of photography being an inaccessible art! You don’t have to buy an expensive camera and special equipment to take good photos—most of us already have a smartphone right at our fingertips! Over the last few years, the capabilities of the average cellphone have well surpassed expectations. Turn...
When buying a computer, it’s easy to get caught up in thinking about memory space, screen size, accessories, and other needed software. One important piece of the puzzle that’s often forgotten about is your antivirus software. While most new computers will come with some protection and a free trial of...
The Homosassa Library will be hosting afternoon and Saturday technology classes January-March. These classes are in addition to morning classes which occur on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:15 AM. Interested in learning more about eBay? Come to the Buying and Selling on eBay class on Tuesday, January 24 at 1:30...
Scams are prevalent and difficult to prosecute; consequently, scams are not going away anytime soon. Scams are increasing in quantity, diversifying and becoming much more strategic and deceptive.
There are a lot of ways that you can keep track of your reading. Many people will keep a list of every title they’ve ever read, either by paper or even Excel. Citrus Libraries has partnered with Beanstack to make your reading log easily accessible and easier than ever to...
With every year that goes by and every new phone that gets released, sometimes it can feel like they get more and more complicated.
Citrus libraries has a host of technology and computer classes just for you. Explore classes and learn more in this special article.
Konnichiwa, hola, and bonjour! Learning a new language is a constructive way to keep your brain sharp and expand your horizons, and smartphone apps have made it easier and more accessible than ever.
In the world of electronics there are a ton of different devices you can buy. As if making that decision isn’t hard enough, retailers then throw in words like “refurbished”, “pre-owned” and “open box”. Are any one of these better or worse than the other? Hopefully this article will help...
Have you ever been in line at the store and heard someone blurt out, “Hey Siri! What’s the temperature?” This experience may have left you wondering what is this Siri, and what is this power that Siri harnesses to be able to deliver an answer to one’s inquiry within seconds?...
Hurricane season (June 1st – November 30th) is right around the corner. As we prepare for potential high winds, heavy rain, storm surge and flooding, let’s take a look at how technology can help keep us informed and up-to-date in the case of an emergency.
Libraries are often a person’s first stop in the search for answers. We can point you to both physical and digital resources that cover topics at a variety of levels.
What You Need to Know + Some Helpful Hints Looking for something to watch? With Smart TV’s and streaming services, options are no longer limited to cable or the local video store. Let’s start by talking about what makes a TV “smart.” Smart TV’s are able to connect to your home...
Since 2008, there have been two main types of smartphones to choose from: The Apple iPhone that uses the iOS operating system, and smartphones manufactured by other major companies that use the Android operating system. The debate over which is better, iPhone or Android, can get rather heated.
Chances are great that you have at least heard of the relatively new payment methods of Apple Pay and Google Pay. Its operation may seem almost like science fiction, but do not be intimidated. These card-less payment methods are not only convenient, quick, and ubiquitously accepted, but they are also...
December and the holiday season are drawing near, which means plenty of shopping, traveling, and planning to be done. The Citrus County Library System invites you to take part in our free technology classes this month to see how tech can make life a bit easier during the holidays. The...
If you’ve ever done a search on the internet, you’ve used something called a browser. Depending on how many types of devices you own, you may be familiar with several different browsers. Some of the most popular include Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. These browsers can do a...
Social Media for Books One of the best things about finishing a book is talking about it with our friends, family, or book club. Whether it be to gush over favorite lines or to hear someone else’s perspective on a plot point, the input of others can shape our reading experience....
It can be frustrating when you use an unfamiliar computer or smart device to sign in to your email account. However, sometimes you need to. Maybe you need to print something out and you don’t have a printer in your home. An employer or agency has sent you documentation to...
For those of you who have used any kind of online service, you’ve probably had to make an account. There’s one thing that they all have in common…passwords. Having a password of the appropriate strength is important for ensuring your online privacy. Making sure to properly store those passwords is...
Online shopping is a great and convenient way to get the best deals on all of your holiday shopping right from the comfort of your home. But just like anything in today’s tech driven world, it comes with its own dangers to look out for. In the weeks leading up...
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a hurricane is a type of storm called a tropical cyclone, which forms over tropical or subtropical waters. Tropical cyclones that have a maximum sustained surface wind of less than 39 miles per hour are called tropical depressions. Once those sustained...
Spam or robocalls as they are often known are automated telephone calls that deliver a recorded message are on the rise. The FCC states that they receive over 200,000 complaints a year specific to unwanted phone calls and that approximately 2.4 billion robocalls are made each month. These calls are...
From Smartphones to Smart Televisions to now Smart Homes all of our devices seem to be getting “smarter.” But at the same time most of us are left behind scratching our heads about what all that actually means. When someone says that they have a “smart home” they are basically saying...