With so much uncertainty in the world right now, there’s one thing that will certainly always be there for you – your library card. You might remember getting your first library card, and that feeling of clutching it in your hands as you scurried off to find a stack of books to bring home. Well, while we loved that feeling too, let’s just say the times have changed a bit. If your kids are out of school right now and bored at home, now might be the perfect time to get familiar with what your D-FW libraries have to offer online, without venturing outdoors.
Scroll below to find your city’s library services.
J. Erik Jonsson Central Library in Downtown Dallas.
Dallas Public Libraries
Here’s just a few free online resources available to Dallas Public Libraries cardholders.
eBooks, Audiobooks, Magazines, Movies and Music
Get the latest titles online through a few of the library’s digital checkout systems. OverDrive has eBooks, audiobooks, movies, TV shows and kid-optimized content at OverDrive Kids. Hoopla features music, movies, TV, comic books and more. Then there’s cloudLibrary with audiobooks, axis360 with eBooks and Flipster with magazines.
The Dallas Morning News and More
Local news is always a must – did you know your library card comes with access to the last 90 days of The Dallas Morning News? Check out PressReader, which also gives you digital versions of magazines and newspapers around the world in over 60 languages.
Looking For A Job?
If you’re on the job hunt, there’s a few online resources that the Dallas Library System can direct you to. In the libraries, there are dedicated job seeking computers that give you extended browsing sessions and the Central Library has a Job Seekers Resource Center. Through the library’s website, you can get into Job Now, which gets you expert résumé revisions, cover letter templates, live interview coaching and career assessments. If you already have a place in mind and you’re looking for specifics, Reference USA can give you the low-down on a company – including HR contacts.
Street View New Voices
Did you know the Dallas Public Library has its own podcast? It’s called Street View New Voices, and you can stream it here. The podcast centers on the library’s homeless patrons, who talk about their experiences with the DPL’s homeless engagement coordinator Suzanne Glover. New episodes come out every few weeks.
East Branch Library in Arlington.
Arlington Public Libraries
Grab a Book
Just like at the Dallas Library System, there are plenty of ways to check out eBooks – and movies, TV shows, magazines and more – online. Look through OverDrive, RBDigital, eBrary and eBook Central to find the next thing to dive into.
Start a Business
If you’ve always wanted to start a business, the Arlington Public Library can get you set up with all the resources you need. If you already own a local business, you can get a corporate library card so employees can access Morningstar or other online databases from the office. The library’s website has everything you need to know about creating a business plan, tax information, contracting, marketing and more.
Get a Hobby
Have a leaky faucet you’ve been meaning to fix for ages? Need to repair your car’s engine? Or just want to get into something new? The Arlington Public Library has a wealth of hobby how-tos that can keep you busy while you’re indoors. The Home Improvement Reference Center provides detailed, step-by-step guides to home repair projects, while the Hobbies & Crafts Center gives users access to popular magazines like Bead & Button, Creative Knitting, FineScale Modeler and Quilter’s World.
Learn Something New
Want to learn a language? There’s Mango for that. Need to brush up on your geometry before the GED test? There’s the Adult Learning Center. Your middle or high schooler looking for tutoring? Brainfuse Arlington is here to help. Dig around a little more – there’s a plethora of databases and resources available online to Arlington Library cardholders.
Plano Public Libraries
Don’t miss out on online resources available to library cardholders in Plano.
Facebook Live Reading Time
If you can’t make it out of the house, don’t fret. The Plano Library just moved its reading time online, streaming live from Facebook daily. They even include cue cards in the comments for your child to sing along. Find the latest story time on the Plano Public Library Facebook page.
Learn with Lynda.com
Your library card gives you access to Lynda.com, a website run by LinkedIn. Through the site, you’re able to take over 15,000 video courses that can teach you everything from photography to web development to design, for free and completely online. Log in with your library card number here.
Homework Help
Scratching your head at your kid’s trigonometry homework? That’s where Tutor.com comes in. Thanks to its partnership with the Plano Public Library, tutors are available online every day from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. to help with homework, proofreading papers and more. Tutor.com tutors are experts in math, science, history, English and additional subjects. Log in with your Plano Library card.
Say it With Science
Did you know the Plano Public Library has its own Youtube channel? There’s something for the whole family, including literacy and STEAM arts and crafts series, along with financial literacy and Adobe Basics classes.
Fort Worth Public Library from Lamar Street.
Fort Worth Public Libraries
Last but not least, let’s look at what we can check out online at the Fort Worth Public Library.
Hit the Books
Fort Worth Public Libraries probably have the widest eBook selection out of all D-FW libraries. Look at OverDrive, Google Books, Gale eBooks, Project Gutenberg, LibriVox, and more for books, magazines, movies and TV shows.
Stay Informed
Local news outlets are key to a functioning society. Subscribe to your local newspaper when you can, but if you need to look back at old clips – the Fort Worth Library has them. They have copies of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram and The Dallas Morning News.
Listen to the Locals
Want to discover new music from Fort Worth artists? Check out Amplify 817, an effort created by Hear Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Public Library Foundation, which streams music from locals. Anyone can stream the music for free, and cardholders are able to download the albums at no cost.
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