Thanks to Public Library Association Magazine (PLA) for a little love on a new resource I promoted. This was cool to see and appreciate the love by colleagues. Read all about it in the Jan/Feb issue of Public Libraries Magazine

Welcome to this week's debut Tech Blog. Periodically check back as we will feature useful information and tips for all things tech based. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more updates throughout the week.

Often in teaching classes and helping patrons, the topic of Smartphone tips is bound to come up. How can my phone do this, do that, save this, or have this? The most common topic, however, is battery life. What was an old rule of thumb - closing applications to conserve battery - has been debunked! Wired helped shed some light on why this is actually a hindrance to your battery life. Logic is that it takes the phone extra battery power to kill the app than it would if you just left it alone.

For our eBook readers, another question comes up regarding memory. Users with older model phones will often find themselves in a situation where they cannot checkout an eBook due to low memory. Instead of cursing outdated technology, look at ways to reduce memory by using Cloud storage. Syncing photos to Cloud storage can allow you to delete photos from your device, freeing up memory. Set up automatic backup of photos or use apps such as Flickr or Dropbox to conserve space on your device's hard-memory.

Love music? If you don't want to rely on streaming prices and or commercials, store your own tunes also in the Cloud. Either school of Smartphone (Apple or Android) offers apps that can store thousands of music for free. Look into Google Play music which lets you house up to 25,000 songs for free using the Music Manager app open to both iOS and Android. Use the app to play from your own selection or default to the radio streaming offerings.

For questions on charging, yes, some devices do take long to charge. To help speed the process, turn off Wi-Fi and, if you can withstand being disconnected for a bit, turn your phone to airplane mode. While the jury is still out on 3rd party chargers for any brand, using company certified chargers work best. Another myth was squashed in regards to 0-100% charging; PC Advisor has a great write up on why this isn't the best way to charge, especially as phone batteries develop. Keep all this mind in regards to your Smartphone, as with tips on conserving memory, charging can prolong the life of your phone and resist the temptation for pricey upgrades.