Air Force libraries bridge the digital divide Published Feb. 22, 2013 By Gloria Kwizera Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- Need assistance setting up a budget, learning a new language or doing your homework? Look no further than your online Air Force library, where Air Force library staff members work to meet customers' needs in an evolving digital world. Worldwide, Air Force libraries offer online learning resources, digital magazines, music, movies and much more for Total Force Airmen, civilians, retirees and family members. A host of popular programs are available, including Zinio Digital Magazines, MyiLibrary eBooks, Safari Books Online, OneClickdigital, OverDrive, CultureGrams, MorningStar, Peterson's Education Resource Center, Transparent Language Online, Universal Class and more. "The resources offered are a great use to anyone and can be accessed once you sign up at the base library," said Karen Keene, supervisory librarian at Kirtland AFB. Zinio Digital Magazines has more than 650 popular news and special-interest digital magazines online, or you can download them to your personal computer, app-enabled tablet or smartphone. To set up an account, please visit your local base library. The libraries also offer MyiLibrary eBooks, OneClickdigital and OverDrive. MyiLibrary eBooks offer a range of eBooks from educational materials to the "For Dummies" series. If you're constantly on the go and don't have time to read that latest novel, check out OneClickDigital, which enables users to listen to and transfer audio books to their portable devices. If you do have time to relax with a book, OverDrive is for you. It features nearly 10,000 electronic books, audio books, videos and music available for checkout to eligible customers. In addition, the Air Force libraries offer opportunities for self-improvement and personal development through the Universal Class program. Any authorized Air Force library customer is eligible to register for more than 540 online classes in 30 different subject areas. To enroll, contact or visit your local library for the access code to create an account. "If you take a Universal Program language class, like French, and later want to improve your grammar and pronunciation, the Transparent Language Online program may be your next step," said Margie Buchanan, Libraries Branch Chief. In addition to grammar and pronunciation, the program includes speech, writing and vocabulary-building lessons for more than 80 foreign languages, including English as a second language. Users must register in person at an Air Force library, joint base library or a downrange learning resource center, but then will be able to use the program anywhere, anytime. "Patrons need to sign up at the library to be compliant with the licensing requirements, and some resources can only be accessed at the library," said Keene. For 24/7 online homework and tutoring assistance, Buchanan suggests visiting Tutor.com. The program is available to dependent children of active duty Airmen, deployed Reserve and Air National Guard Airmen and Air Force Wounded Warriors To set up an account, visit http://www.tutor.com/military. If you're doing a project on an unfamiliar country, you'll find everything you need on CultureGrams, which carries detailed cultural information on more than 200 countries. Business and technology professionals can take advantage of Safari Books, an e-reference resource that offers more than 13,000 titles. To register and access the online programs, go to the AF Portal and click on the word "Library" on the navigation bar, or visit the Kirtland AFB library. For more information call the Kirtland AFB library at (505) 846-1071. Editor's note: Kirtland AFB Nucleus staff writer Adam Bailey contributed to this article.