A few weeks ago, I blogged a bit about Digital Maine Library here, what we have known for several years as MARVEL! I think it’s time for another look at this amazing resource.
As previously mentioned, the website seems to be more colorful – each of the databases appear on the homepage, with pictures, and a bit of information about the database.
Scrolling down the homepage I see ChiltonLibrary. I click on the link – picture and words are each part of the link – and am taken to the ChiltonLibrary web page.
This page gives me several options. The tabs along the top are Home (it is the shape of a house) ; Select Vehicle ; ASE Test Prep Quizzes ; Help ; Logout and what looks like and Envelope (this is where I can “Ask An Expert”. On the left of the page there are several boxes to fill in with information about a vehicle – Vehicle Selector. More centered on the page I see information about what information I can find – yes, I know, I did use information twice in the same sentence, but it is what it is!
I’m curious about how far back I can go – how old a vehicle this database will be useful for – 1940 seems to be the answer. My mother had a 1956 Volkswagen Beetle that she absolutely loved – the small rear window was a big deal for her. I put that information in the boxes and press the select button.
The next page is titled Your Current Vehicle: 1956 Volkswagen Beetle. Below that there are two bullet points of data that is available for the vehicle – Repair and Bulletins/Recalls.
I click on Repair. There is quite a list on the next page! Above the list is Collapse TOC and Search. No, I’m sorry, I have absolutely NO idea what TOC means, but it does collapse the list to no list, or opens it to the many choices.
I don’t claim to be a car person – yes, I drive a car, and can and do maintain it, but much if not all of this information is waaaaay beyond my knowledge base. I see how a person who works with and on vehicles might find this very helpful.
Now I’m curious and check the information on a MUCH newer vehicle – a 2016 Volkswagen Beetle. This time I am given three choices Repair ; Maintenance and Bulletins/Recalls. As we just learned, the Repair button is not necessarily useful to me, but the Maintenance and Bulletins/Recalls are something I will find useful.
On the Repair page I am given choices – a Vehicle Configuration Filter. I don’t have a Beetle, so I’ll make it up as I move through the list. After making my choices, I am shown a list of what should be done at 5000 miles. There is a Look Ahead button – this takes me to the 15000 mile service, and beyond that. Looks like a good place for me!
I go back to Bulletins/Recalls. This page has a fairly long list of issues to be checked. I did not re-select my vehicle, so perhaps they don’t all pertain to what I chose, but this is another interesting place to poke around when I’m in the search for a “new to me” vehicle.
Back to the homepage I go.
I click on ASE Test Prep Quizzes. ASE is short for National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. So these are a great resource for anyone interested in becoming certified in automotive repair. Something I will do my best to remember for future use with folks looking for this information.
Help is exactly what it says – an online manual for using the ChiltonLibrary.
From a Library standpoint, this is another amazing database provided by the Maine State Library, and one that will be very helpful to folks looking for how to repair their (insert make, model and year here).
From a consumer standpoint, I think it will be useful when searching for that perfect “new to me” vehicle!