Efficiency Tools for Consuming Online Content and More<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOne reason why I really enjoy audiobooks and podcasts is that I can do other things at the same time (ex: clean, shelve, set up a display, decorate) and I found myself wishing that I could do the same with the online articles that I bookmarked for later. Well, it turns out that I can! Microsoft Edge Read Aloud<\/strong> and Read Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Reader<\/strong> allow me to do that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Microsoft Edge Read Aloud<\/strong><\/a> is a built-in browser tool that reads webpages aloud. For a more natural sounding voice I prefer the Microsoft Guy Online (Natural) \u2013 English (United States) option. You can also speed up or slow down the pace.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Read Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Reader<\/strong><\/a> is a Chrome extension that also reads webpages aloud and allows you to step away from your screen to do other tasks. For a more natural sounding voice I like the following options: Google UK English Male, Google UK English Female, and Google US English. You can adjust the speed and pitch to make it sound as natural as possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"Read](\"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The read aloud feature is also available on your iPhone<\/a> and Android <\/a>devices. However, not all websites support this feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor a more focused reading experience, I use Reading mode on Google<\/strong><\/a> and Immersive Reader on Microsoft Edge<\/strong><\/a>. These built-in browser features simplify webpages into clean, distraction-free layouts, no images or ads. You can also adjust the font, text size, letter and line spacing, and background color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-18-1024x505.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tools to Keep You on Track<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe following tools help you stay organized and focused as you juggle projects and daily tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Momentum<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 I love this Chrome extension. It replaces new tabs with to-do lists (tasks), daily inspiration, and focus reminders. You can customize it to match your interests and goals, and the beautiful images paired with motivational quotes make tackling my to-do list feel less stressful and more manageable. Momentum not only keeps me organized, but calm, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Browser](\"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-6-1024x333.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Google Keep<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>is an oldie but a goodie. This tool allows you to create to-do lists easily and quickly. Also:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- It syncs across devices, so your lists are always with you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You can share this with others for collaboration or project management purposes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You can set reminders tied to time or location.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Trello<\/strong><\/a> is a more advanced organizational tool, but it\u2019s easy to use. It is also an older tool, but it\u2019s still very effective. In addition to creating to-do lists, you can create visual project boards that can be used for group projects, planning events, managing grants, budget planning, staff training schedules, and more. You can also:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Assign tasks to specific people with due dates and checklists.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Comment, attach files, and tag others right inside cards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Track progress together since updates happen in real time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"Side-by-side](\"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-7-1024x299.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
October: More than Pumpkins<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nI knew October was full of important observances like Breast Cancer Awareness<\/a>, National Bullying Prevention Month<\/a>, and Digital Citizenship Week<\/a>, but l recently discovered it celebrates many techie, fun, and nerdy themes too. Here are a few I wanted to highlight:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Tech and Innovation<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"Banner](\"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-8.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nPromotes online safety, digital responsibility, and keeping your digital life protected. The following are great resources to use not just with patrons but in our everyday life as well:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Stay Safe Online<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Better Business Bureau Scam Prevention Guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Teaching Internet Safety<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- “Cybersecurity Trainings Aren\u2019t Enough to End\u201d Phishing Hacks<\/a> (Podcast Episode)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Person](\"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-9.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOctober 20 \u2013 <\/strong>Reminds us that being flooded with too much information can be overwhelming and stressful and encourages us to slow down and find balance and focus in this age of information overload. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-10.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOctober 28<\/strong> \u2013 Honors the art of animation and celebrates the first public showing of moving pictures in Paris in 1892.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-11-1024x344.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOctober 29<\/strong> \u2013 Marks the anniversary of the first internet connection between two computers made on October 29, 1969.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Vintage](\"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-12-1024x477.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOctober 30 <\/strong>\u2013 Recognizes the creativity of audio storytelling and marks the anniversary of the famous 1938 broadcast of War of the Worlds<\/em>, which showed how powerful sharing stories through sound can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Fun and Nerdy<\/strong>\n
\n- National Frankenstein Day<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 October 31<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- National Candy Corn Day<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 October 30<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Punk for a Day<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 October 25<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Smart is Cool Day<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 October 22<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Dictionary Day<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 October 16<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- I Love Yarn Day<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 <\/strong>October 11<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I love that October has so many days celebrating technology, creativity, and learning, and these are just a few of them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Black](\"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-15.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nReading Rainbow is back<\/a>! This show meant so much to many of us growing up, and it\u2019s wonderful to see that a new generation will get to enjoy the same magic we did. It relaunched on October 4, and you can check out the first episode here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wrapping Up the Fall Tech Tools Series<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019ve reached the end of the Tech Tools for Fall series! Over the last three months, we\u2019ve looked at smarter ways to manage information, take care of ourselves, and stay safe online. Whether you\u2019ve adopted one new app or explored a new idea, my hope is that a few of these tools have made your day-to-day a little easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nQuestions? Let\u2019s connect! Have a tool to share? Send it my way and I\u2019ll spotlight staff picks! etdominguez@tsl.texas.gov<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nSubscribe<\/a> to our newsletter to stay informed on what Texas public libraries are doing with technology to serve their communities and share<\/a> your own tech stories to be featured in a future issue!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We live in a time when information about nearly anything is instantly within reach, and while I feel fortunate for that, it can also feel overwhelming. There\u2019s so much I want to read, watch, and learn, but never enough time to get to it all. And with the holidays and end of year looming, my…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":33727,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1010,624,59],"tags":[438,567,803],"class_list":["post-33679","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digital-literacy","category-e-resources","category-public-libraries","tag-digital-literacy-2","tag-public-libraries","tag-resources"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33679","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33679"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33679\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33749,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33679\/revisions\/33749"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- \n
- Microsoft Edge Read Aloud<\/strong><\/a> is a built-in browser tool that reads webpages aloud. For a more natural sounding voice I prefer the Microsoft Guy Online (Natural) \u2013 English (United States) option. You can also speed up or slow down the pace.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Read Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Reader<\/strong><\/a> is a Chrome extension that also reads webpages aloud and allows you to step away from your screen to do other tasks. For a more natural sounding voice I like the following options: Google UK English Male, Google UK English Female, and Google US English. You can adjust the speed and pitch to make it sound as natural as possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The read aloud feature is also available on your iPhone<\/a> and Android <\/a>devices. However, not all websites support this feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a more focused reading experience, I use Reading mode on Google<\/strong><\/a> and Immersive Reader on Microsoft Edge<\/strong><\/a>. These built-in browser features simplify webpages into clean, distraction-free layouts, no images or ads. You can also adjust the font, text size, letter and line spacing, and background color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n
\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tools to Keep You on Track<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The following tools help you stay organized and focused as you juggle projects and daily tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Momentum<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 I love this Chrome extension. It replaces new tabs with to-do lists (tasks), daily inspiration, and focus reminders. You can customize it to match your interests and goals, and the beautiful images paired with motivational quotes make tackling my to-do list feel less stressful and more manageable. Momentum not only keeps me organized, but calm, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Google Keep<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>is an oldie but a goodie. This tool allows you to create to-do lists easily and quickly. Also:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- It syncs across devices, so your lists are always with you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You can share this with others for collaboration or project management purposes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You can set reminders tied to time or location.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Trello<\/strong><\/a> is a more advanced organizational tool, but it\u2019s easy to use. It is also an older tool, but it\u2019s still very effective. In addition to creating to-do lists, you can create visual project boards that can be used for group projects, planning events, managing grants, budget planning, staff training schedules, and more. You can also:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Assign tasks to specific people with due dates and checklists.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Comment, attach files, and tag others right inside cards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Track progress together since updates happen in real time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
October: More than Pumpkins<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
I knew October was full of important observances like Breast Cancer Awareness<\/a>, National Bullying Prevention Month<\/a>, and Digital Citizenship Week<\/a>, but l recently discovered it celebrates many techie, fun, and nerdy themes too. Here are a few I wanted to highlight:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Tech and Innovation<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Promotes online safety, digital responsibility, and keeping your digital life protected. The following are great resources to use not just with patrons but in our everyday life as well:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Stay Safe Online<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Better Business Bureau Scam Prevention Guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Teaching Internet Safety<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- “Cybersecurity Trainings Aren\u2019t Enough to End\u201d Phishing Hacks<\/a> (Podcast Episode)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOctober 20 \u2013 <\/strong>Reminds us that being flooded with too much information can be overwhelming and stressful and encourages us to slow down and find balance and focus in this age of information overload. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOctober 28<\/strong> \u2013 Honors the art of animation and celebrates the first public showing of moving pictures in Paris in 1892.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOctober 29<\/strong> \u2013 Marks the anniversary of the first internet connection between two computers made on October 29, 1969.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOctober 30 <\/strong>\u2013 Recognizes the creativity of audio storytelling and marks the anniversary of the famous 1938 broadcast of War of the Worlds<\/em>, which showed how powerful sharing stories through sound can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Fun and Nerdy<\/strong>\n
- \n
- National Frankenstein Day<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 October 31<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- National Candy Corn Day<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 October 30<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Punk for a Day<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 October 25<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Smart is Cool Day<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 October 22<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Dictionary Day<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 October 16<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- I Love Yarn Day<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 <\/strong>October 11<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I love that October has so many days celebrating technology, creativity, and learning, and these are just a few of them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nReading Rainbow is back<\/a>! This show meant so much to many of us growing up, and it\u2019s wonderful to see that a new generation will get to enjoy the same magic we did. It relaunched on October 4, and you can check out the first episode here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wrapping Up the Fall Tech Tools Series<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve reached the end of the Tech Tools for Fall series! Over the last three months, we\u2019ve looked at smarter ways to manage information, take care of ourselves, and stay safe online. Whether you\u2019ve adopted one new app or explored a new idea, my hope is that a few of these tools have made your day-to-day a little easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nQuestions? Let\u2019s connect! Have a tool to share? Send it my way and I\u2019ll spotlight staff picks! etdominguez@tsl.texas.gov<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Subscribe<\/a> to our newsletter to stay informed on what Texas public libraries are doing with technology to serve their communities and share<\/a> your own tech stories to be featured in a future issue!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We live in a time when information about nearly anything is instantly within reach, and while I feel fortunate for that, it can also feel overwhelming. There\u2019s so much I want to read, watch, and learn, but never enough time to get to it all. And with the holidays and end of year looming, my…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":33727,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1010,624,59],"tags":[438,567,803],"class_list":["post-33679","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digital-literacy","category-e-resources","category-public-libraries","tag-digital-literacy-2","tag-public-libraries","tag-resources"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33679","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33679"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33679\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33749,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33679\/revisions\/33749"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- National Candy Corn Day<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 October 30<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- National Frankenstein Day<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 October 31<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Better Business Bureau Scam Prevention Guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stay Safe Online<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Tech and Innovation<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Read Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Reader<\/strong><\/a> is a Chrome extension that also reads webpages aloud and allows you to step away from your screen to do other tasks. For a more natural sounding voice I like the following options: Google UK English Male, Google UK English Female, and Google US English. You can adjust the speed and pitch to make it sound as natural as possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n