If you have used Google to search within the past year, you’ve likely noticed that the first thing that appears is an AI overview.
It takes up a lot of screen space, and its summaries are not always correct.
There are a few ways you can hide the AI summary. In this post, we’ll go over two methods you can try.
The first is to add -ai after your search term. If you were searching for “what is the first sign of spring” type in “what is the first sign of spring -ai” (without the quotation marks).
The second method is a little bit more complex, but you only have to do it once as an initial setup. This method is only available when using the Google Chrome browser on a desktop or laptop computer.
Open Chrome and click the three lines in the top right corner. Next, click on Settings. From there, click on Search Engine in the left menu. For the next step, click manage search engine and site search. Scroll down to Site Search and then click Add. In the Name and Shortcut fields, choose whichever custom name you’d like. In the URL field, type in: https://www.google.com/search?udm=14&q=%s and then click save. To make it your default search engine, click on the three dots next to the new entry and click on make default.
To search using this new search setting, click into the address bar. Next, type in your search term and then hit the enter key.
Currently, the ability to add a custom search URL is only available in the desktop version of the Chrome browser.
Do you have another method to hide the AI summary? Have you experienced incorrect AI summaries? Let us know in the comments!
The Upper Hudson Library System is now offering free access to the New York Times. Using a unique code, users can access content including News, Cooking, Games, and more!
Accessing the New York Times
To begin, go to our landing page. Here, you’ll find a unique link that grants 24 hour access to the New York Times. To access content, you’ll need to create a free New York Times account. If you already have a free account, you can login with that account. If you currently pay for the New York Times, you will be unable to use that account.
After you’ve accessed the NYT landing page, click on the Redeem button to continue. Next, login or create an account. If you don’t already have a free account, you can use an email address to create a new account. If you prefer, you can create a NYT account with your Google, Facebook, or Apple account as well.
After you have either created an account or logged in with an existing free account, you will see a conformation screen:
Your access to the NYT lasts for 24 hours. After 24 hours, you will need access the link on our NYT landing page and login again. To proceed, click the continue button.
Next, you can choose which areas of the NYT you’d like to explore. Once you’ve made your choices, click the continue button on the bottom right.
Sections to Explore & Newsletters
On the next screen, choose which areas of the NYT you are interested in browsing and click continue.
Continuing on, you can select which NYT newsletters you would like receive via email. Note: the emails are quite frequent. If you don’t want to receive any email from the NYT, uncheck all of the pre-selected choices. Click the View All button in the bottom right of the screen to confirm that all of the boxes are unchecked. If you see a plus symbol that means the selection is unchecked. Once you have made your selection, click continue to proceed.
Next, you can choose which NYT games you may want to play. Once you have made your choices, click continue. If you are not interested in Games, click continue without making a selection.
On the next screen, there is a prompt to download the app. If you want to use your phone, scan the QR code to continue. Otherwise, click the not right now button. Note: users have reported a delay in access when using the app.
Click Explore the New York Times to continue.
From here you can explore the site for 24 hours. Once 24 hours have passed, you need to access the site via the unique link mentioned above. Each time you access the NYT with the redemption link, you will need to go through the process above to choose which sections you prefer, which newsletters you want to receive and which games you like.
If you’re a Kindle user and regularly use the Libby app, you may have noticed you can’t return your Kindle eBooks early in the same way you may be used to. In order to return a Kindle eBook loan early, you will now need to do it on the Amazon website or Amazon app.
After the eBook has been deleted, the title will still appear on your Kindle devices. Read on to learn how to return a Kindle eBook early and how to delete returned Kindle eBooks from your Kindle.
Returning a Kindle eBook
Start by going into the Libby app or to libbyapp.com from a browser. Next, go the shelf section of the app.
Go the book you would like to return early and tap Manage Loan. From there, tap on Return Early. Next, tap on Return with Kindle.
Next you’ll see an Amazon window pop up. If you are not logged in to Amazon, you will be prompted to log in. There will be a message stating that the digital book has already been claimed. Click on the “return this book” link to continue.
A conformation screen will pop up asking if you’re sure you want to return this digital library loan. Tap on yes.
You’ll get a conformation from Amazon the book has been returned. When you go back to the Libby app, you can confirm you have returned the book has been returned. If you don’t complete the return process through Amazon, the book will remain on your shelf in the Libby app.
Deleting a Returned eBook from Your Kindle Library
Once you have returned the book, the title will still appear in your content library on your Kindle, but you will be unable to open it or read it. When you attempt to open it, you will see an error message prompting you to purchase the book if you want to read it:
If you would like to remove it from your library so it doesn’t appear on any of your Kindle devices, there are a couple of ways to do it, depending on if you’re on the desktop website or mobile.
On the desktop website, click on Accounts & Lists in the top right corner, and then click on Content Library:
In the mobile app, tap the three lines in the bottom corner. On the next screen, tap the account icon. In a mobile browser, tap your name in the top right and then tap the see all button next to Your Account:
Next, scroll down and then tap on Content Library, and then books:
From there, scroll down to the book you want to delete and then tap the delete button. There will be a confirmation asking if you’re sure you want to delete the title. Once you confirm, you’ll get a success message the item has been deleted. It will no longer appear on any of your Kindle devices. Please note you have to be connected to WiFi for the changes to take effect.
If you have any questions about either process, feel free to call the library or leave a comment below.
hoopla is a free service the library offers that has all sorts of digital content available for streaming and downloading.
There are many types of digital content on hoopla: ebooks, digital audiobooks, music, movies, TV shows, magazines and graphic novels.
hoopla is available on a variety of devices including iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, a computer, and on your TV through Roku devices, Amazon Fire sticks, and Apple TV devices.
Content on hoopla is always available. There are no wait lists. If you see a title you like, you can borrow it right away. You can borrow five titles per month. The borrow count resets at the start of each month.
hoopla is only available to East Greenbush/Schodack residents, but many libraries in the Upper Hudson Library System offer access as well. If you’re unsure, check with your home library.
Using Hoopla
Navigate to hoopla’s website or download the app from your device’s app store. If you haven’t used hoopla before, click or tap the get started button to register. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll see hoopla’s home screen. Note: the screenshots in this post are from an iOS device, but it should be fairly similar on whichever device you’re using.
The top row has featured content suggestions from hoopla. Next, you’ll see the different content categories. You can tap on any of these categories to browse the different types of content. Under the categories, you’ll see current and recently borrowed items. If you keep scrolling, there are recommendations based on borrowing history, items you’ve added to favorites and various featured content from hoopla.
Books
To browse through the content that hoopla offers, use the navigation toolbar on the home screen.
Ebooks, audiobooks, and comics are in their own categories.
Tapping on a title in any section gives you more details about that title. You can add titles to your favorites list by tapping the heart icon. Scrolling down, you’ll see related authors and published reviews. The title screen shows the lending period and if the item is downloadable.
Books, audiobooks, and comics have a 21 day borrowing period. To borrow, tap the borrow button.
Videos
hoopla offers both movies and television series. The section for each is accessible by tapping their respective buttons on the home screen. The top row of each section has featured titles. If you scroll down a bit, you can access a list of genres and collections. Movies and television titles both have a lending period of three days.
BingePasses
To navigate to BingePasses, tap the BingePasses button on the home screen.
BingePasses are entire collections of streaming content. When you borrow a BingePass, it only counts as one borrow.
Some examples of BingePasses include hoopla magazines, which include issues of magazines such as Us Weekly, Reader’s Digest, TIME, and more. Hallmark Movies Now is another BingePass that gives you unlimited access to the entire Hallmark Movies Now on-demand library for seven days. These include movies from the Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Family, and Hallmark Mystery.
BingePasses have a seven day loan period.
Music
To navigate to music, tap the music button on the navigation bar on the home screen. Popular titles are shown first. Scroll down a bit and you’ll be able to browse through all the available genres and collections available on hoopla.
Each title’s page contains the tracks on that album and whether it is downloadable.
Music titles have a seven day lending period.
Other Content
You can access audiobooks, television, and comics by tapping their respective buttons on the home screen.
Accessing Borrowed Content
Your borrowed content can be accessed by tapping the My hoopla button on the bottom navigation bar.
Books can only be read or listened to on the hoopla app (there are no Kindle compatible books on hoopla). Ebooks and comics are automatically downloaded to your device when you borrow them. Content that hasn’t been downloaded is streamed with an internet connection. You can download content to your device by going to the item in My hoopla and tapping download to your device. If a title has been downloaded, you’ll see that as well. You can delete the download if you would like. Keep in mind, if you haven’t downloaded content (aside from ebooks and comics), it will not be accessible without an internet connection.
At the end of an item’s loan period, it will be automatically returned.
My hoopla is also where you access your favorites list.
Kids Mode
hoopla offers a mode to show only kid-friendly content. To turn it on, tap the Kids icon in the top left corner. When you turn on Kids mode, you have the option to set a pin in order to exit back to all content.
Search and Settings
Looking for a particular title, author, or series? Use the search button on the bottom navigation bar.
To change settings, tap on the settings icon on the bottom navigation bar. Here, there is the ability to turn Kids mode on, as well as other settings.
Personal settings allows you to change the email address associated with your account, change your password, hide your history, or only download titles while connected to WiFi. You also have the option to cancel your account.
In Library settings, you can change what library you use to access hoopla. You can also change your library card number.
Notification settings allows you to turn on email notifications or push notifications. Notifications include personalized recommendations and new content alerts.
Tapping on Link a streaming device allows you to link your account to another device such a Roku or Amazon Fire stick.
Conclusion
hoopla offers many types of content, available for free with your library card. If you have trouble logging in or have any questions about hoopla, please contact the library.
Have you used hoopla? Let us know in the comments.
Click/tap “click here to select and upload a file” to choose the item you are printing. Accepted file types include Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc), Apple’s iWork (Pages, Numbers, etc), images/screenshots and more. Check out the full list of accepted file types here.
After selecting the item you are printing, there are more options.
Changing Print Settings
To change the displayed language, tap English in the top right corner for over 10 language options. If you would like to change the number of copies, the color settings, the paper size, or more print settings, click/tap on the blue and white gear icon next to the file name of what you are printing.
There are a variety of options available to change including paper size, color or black white white, page range and more. You can also preview the document or remove it if you change your mind about printing it. Also displayed is the total number of pages and cost of the print job. After you have made your changes, click/tap on the green accept button.
Next, click/tap on Accept Terms and Conditions check box and click/tap on the continue button.
Enter your email address to continue. You will get a conformation email once the job has been processed. Use the same email address at the print release station at the library to pay for and release your print job.
After the job has been processed successfully, a status of ready is displayed in the print queue next to the file name.
Once you’ve received the ready conformation, head on over to the print release station at the library, located next to the Reference Desk.
Our printing prices remain the same:
Black & White, single-sided: 15¢ per page
Black & White, double-sided: 30¢ per sheet
Color, single-sided: 50¢ per page
Have you tried out Princh yet? Let us know in the comments.
