Free PDF converter available

Portable Document format (PDF) files are a great way to ensure that scanned text mimics its original appearance or as a way to standardize document formats, but most PDFs are not configured for editing. Often, the only thing you can do is to read or print a PDF.

But now there's a program out there, the Nuance PDF Reader, which allows you to do much more than to simply view a PDF. Nuance's reader allows you to convert PDF files to Word, Excel, or RTF via a hosted web service. You can also use annotation tools to highlight, cross-out, and underline text, as well as to fill out and save PDF forms. Best of all the reader is a FREE from Nuance.

To take advantage of this handy utility, go to the Nuance reader download site and install the program. A Web wizard will lead you through the conversion process.

Proquest Databases Trial

The Ritz is participating in a SUNY wide trial the ProQuest system of databases. More than 30 databases are included in this trial, and they cover a wide variety of subjects, among them film, music, history & technology.

To try out these databases, point your browser to SUNY ProQuest Trial

As always, the library would appreciate your feedback on our services & resources , so feel free to share your opinion of the ProQuest databases by e-mailing Reference Services

Films on Demand adds TED Talks

As part of it's ongoing series of conferences, TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) offers videos of presentations by speakers with "ideas worth spreading"

Recently some 200 of the best of these talks were added to Films on Demand, with more to show up in the coming months. These short presentations cover a variety of topics, from Malcolm Gladwell discussing spagetti sauce, to Al Gore explain 15 ways to avert a climate crisis. All TED talks are less one half hour in length.

For more information, call 845.431.8634 or email refdesk

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New ebrary App for Apple products

Ebrary, the Ritz's largest electronic book system, can now be accessed via an app for the iPad and iPod Touch. The app allows you to search and read over 70,000 books, and also gives you the option of downloading books.

At this point the ebrary app is only available for Apple products and can be downloaded for free from the App Store.

Use of the app requires ebrary and adobe accounts.

Interested? Start here.

The Ritz Library Book Catalog - ANYWHERE!!!

Looking for a book in the library stacks but can't find an open computer to use the online catalog? Would you rather use your mobile device or smart phone? Try out the new QR code we've placed on the ends of the library shelves throughout the 3rd floor. You'll need to install a QR code scanner on your smart phone - just look for it in the App Store on iPhone or iPod Touch or in the Market on an Android-equipped device. Once you've installed it, use it to scan the code & you've got instant access to the Ritz catalog anywhere, not just in the library!

Look for the code above & get scanning!!

Download free titles to your eReader device

Project Gutenberg offers approximately 36,000 titles that are in the public domain as electronic downloads to your computer or other device. If you enjoy reading and are looking for a title, check out their selections.  Click here for the link to their mobile site.

Another site that offers free eBooks for various readers is Manybooks which also offers public domain titles for download.