Portage Library offers Database Webinars

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library is offering webinars for the public that will explain how to use its new databases -- Mango, Universal Class, and Law Depot.

At the Houghton County Fair in August, Portage Lake District Library Director Shawn Leche offers information about the library's new databases -- Mango, Universal Class, and Law Depot. Leche has been offering Webinars to the public to explain how they can access the databases through the library.* (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

If you missed the Webinar on Sept. 13 for Mango and Universal Class, it will be offered again from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

A Webinar for Law Depot will be given from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22.

Mango is an online language learning system that teaches practical conversation skills for real communication. Each lesson combines real life situations and audio from native speakers with simple, clear instructions. The courses are presented with an appreciation for cultural nuance and real-world application that integrates components of vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and culture. It includes over 30 languages and 10 courses which teach English as a second language. Patrons can choose a level of instruction from basic to complete courses that are more in-depth. The database features a fluency button to click on to hear a word pronounced at normal speaking speed.

Universal Class offers over 500 online continuing education courses taught by real instructors with remote, 24/7 access so people can study at their convenience on their own schedule. Patrons can enroll in up to five courses at a time and have six months to finish each course. A complete list of classes is posted on the library’s website.**

Law Depot offers do-it-yourself legal assistance with creating legally binding agreements and documents. The Law Depot service guides users through the creation of their documents in a step-by-step fashion and checks their input for common errors. Users can create comprehensive state-specific legal contracts and create and print specific blank forms for non-contested transactions and agreements.

Mango, Universal Class, and Law Depot are available free of charge to all Portage Lake District Library patrons.

These webinars are free and open to all. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.

* See our Jan. 15, 2011, article, "Portage Library offers new data bases for online learning" to learn about Mango and Universal Class.

** Click here for the Portage Library's list of classes offered by Universal Class.