What is Rosetta Stone? It is an online language library that offers a powerful method for fast and effective language learning online. This award-winning program uses recorded voices of native speakers and thousands of real life photographs to recreate the natural process of language learning.

Benefits of Rosetta Stone: Designed for beginning learners of all ages, Online progress reports, individualized  instruction, suitable for all language backgrounds, over 8,000 real life images.

How do you get started? 1. You will need the Shockwave plug-in to use RosettaStone. The plug-in is FREE. Your computer  may already have Shockwave installed. 2. Log on to the Jefferson County Library Cooperative website. www.jclc.org 3. Select Resources- Databases then Languages- RosettaStone Online Learning Center. 4. Click register ( Library card required) and Quick Start Guide to begin. 5. Click Launch Course to start. It's that easy. ( Or go online and BUY AND PAY FOR the online course or CD version. ( REMEMBER GOING THROUGH THE LIBRARY WEBSITE FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY IS ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!!) You can visit the website ROSETTASTONE.com to see about the program that you can pay for.

Spanish and German are two of the 29 languages available in the Rosetta Stone program, now available at all 18 libraries in the Jefferson County Library Cooperative. Other languages include Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, French, Greek, Italian, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Swahili and Vietnamese.

The Rosetta Stone program lets the participant compare his pronunciation with that of a native speaker. Pictures of objects and activities appear on a screen, and the participant learns what words correspond with the pictures. Online feedback is provided.

Pat Ryan, director of the JCLC, said nine of the 18 member libraries have provided funding for patrons of all the others. The funding libraries are Bessemer, Birmingham, Gardendale, Homewood, Hoover, Emmet O'Neal in Mountain Brook, Irondale, Leeds and Trussville.

"All you need is a library card to download the software and create a password to set up your account," Ryan said.

She said the program can aid students by supplementing what they learn in their high school language classes. It can help adults build conversational skills if they want to travel to or do business in a foreign country.

French, Spanish and Arabic are the most popular languages. English is also popular with Hispanic families.

Rosetta Stone joined a growing list of online services the libraries provide, including databasesand online homework help.

The only downside to the online language service is that participating libraries have pooled only enough money to fund it for 12 months.

"It's a one-year pilot project," Ryan said. "We hope to ask the Jefferson County Commission to provide funding."

For information about the service, go to the Jefferson County Library Cooperative's Web site at www.jclc.com.