A-Z Resources

Getting Started Video

With 10,000+ (English/Spanish) interactive books, educational games, puzzles, and other learning activities, ABCmouse.com’s award-winning online curriculum is an invaluable resource for young learners ages 2 to 8. 

• ABCmouse inside the library - Use this link when you are visiting the library.
• ABCmouse at Home - Use this link when you are outside of the library.

Miscellaneous Instructions

• If new to ABCmouse, you will create your own family account by entering your username and password. You will then be presented with an account confirmation page. We recommend saving this page for future reference, as it is associated with your library card number.
• You will then build a profile for you and your child/children. You can add up to three children to your account.
• At the end of the profile set up, you will be given the choice to do an assessment that will help you determine what your child needs to work on in ABCmouse. You will have an opportunity to do another assessment at the end of the four weeks to track progress.
• Once you’ve created an account you will stay logged in until you log out. Log back in at ABCmouse at Home and enter your library card information.

Help with Passwords and Other Customer Support Issues:

If you have forgotten your password, please use this form and enter the same email address you used to create your ABCmouse account.

If you have difficulty with changing your password or you need help with anything else, please contact the ABCmouse Customer Support Team: 866-779-1872 (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm PST) or BLHSupport@ABCmouse.com, opens a new window.

A collection of music, dance, and theatre content spanning hundreds of genres and a wide range of subject types. Enjoy instructional videos, performances, and more from leading providers such as the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Qwest TV, Smithsonian, L.A. Theatre Works, and Broadway On-Demand.

Audio Collections

Audio Drama: The L.A. Theatre Works Collections delivers some of the most significant dramatic literature of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries by leading actors from around the world, all from the curated archive of the nation’s premiere radio theatre company and recorded specifically for online listening. 

Music Online: Smithsonian Global Sound for Libraries provides an extensive virtual encyclopedia of unique American folk, blues, soul, jazz, and protest songs, as well as a broad range of world music through partnership with Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. 

Video Collections

Music Online: The Qwest TV Collection, co-created by Quincy Jones & Reza Ackbaraly, offers valuable materials for music history and cultural studies through the preservation of diverse live performances, spanning the evolution of jazz and beyond — representing funk, soul, hip-hop, folk, indie, electronic, blues, and other eclectic world genres. 

Dance Online: Dance in Video presents an extensive collection of performances, instructional materials, documentaries, and interviews, showcasing high-caliber performances from the greatest dance companies and performers worldwide, spanning from traditional ballet to hip hop, street dance, and modern dance, offering a unique opportunity for to study and analyze the fusion between styles. 

The Broadway On Demand Collection takes viewers from behind the stage to the bright lights of Broadway through masterful plays, musicals, and dance performances, but it also provides a diverse range of unique behind-the-scenes series, documentaries, instructional videos, and more. 

National Theatre Collections provides contemporary video productions, modern reinterpretations of classic all featuring acclaimed actors and directors of the highest caliber along with exclusive behind-the-scenes archival content. 

The Royal Shakespeare Company Collection with high-definition recordings of The Bard's dramatic canon, featuring the world's finest Shakespearean actors and directors, along with supplementary teaching materials, the Royal Shakespeare Company Collection helps bring Shakespeare to life in the modern age. 

Theatre in Video offers access to hundreds of the world's most important plays, documentaries, and instructional materials, as well as interviews with prominent directors, designers, writers, and actors, providing an authentic behind-the-scenes look at various productions. 

Classical Music in Video provide an extensive collection of influential performances and documentaries demonstrating the continuous development of classical music, spanning eras from canonical masters to modern composers. 

Opera in Video offers a curated selection of the world's most significant opera performances, featuring top artists, conductors, and venues, providing a valuable resource for studying opera's rich canon.

Access to these resources is made possible by the California State Library.

Available for in-library use only

No library card required.

The Physical Review journals published by the American Physical Society (APS), offer high-quality research and review journals to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics. APS provides free online access to all APS journals in U.S. public libraries. This initiative is offered by APS as a contribution to public engagement with the ongoing development of scientific understanding.

Available for in-library use only

No library card required.

Getting Started Video

Coverage of the US and UK, including census, vital, church, court, and immigration records, as well as record collections from Canada, Europe, Australia, and other areas of the world. This resource is a strong complement to HeritageQuest Online. 

Features

• To have your records waiting for you when you get home, use the "Send Document" feature. 
• The Learning Center has guides for beginning searchers as well as tips for the advanced searcher.
• Download blank ancestral charts and correspondence sheets to keep track of your research.

Access message boards with over 25 million posts on more than 198,000 boards. The comments, advice, feedback, and information posted by fellow genealogists and researchers may prove invaluable to your own research.

Getting Started Video

Presents topically-focused digital collections of primary sources such as photos, newspapers, letters, diaries, ephemera, and more. Collections cover a broad range of topics of importance to U.S. and California history. 

Access to nearly 300 collections in many categories including:

•       African American Studies
•       Business History
•       Colonial U.S. History
•       County and Regional History
•       Cultural Studies
•       Environmental Studies
•       Law and Legal Studies
•       Native American Studies
•       Social History
•       Women’s Studies

Access to this resource is made possible by the California State Library.

Getting Started Video

Comprehensive coverage of the African American experience from the early 18th century to the present day. Sourced from more than 19,000 American and global news sources, including over 400 current and historical Black publications. 

This primary source collection offers an expansive window into centuries of African American history, culture, and daily life—as well as the ways the dominant culture has portrayed and perceived people of African descent.

Provides full-text searching as well as access to content by Topic, Event, and Eras in African American History. Updated daily.

Getting Started Video

Live real-time homework assistance is available every day from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tutoring is available in English and Spanish.

Get help with subjects such as math, science, social studies, and standardized test prep. This service includes writing assistance, support for adult learners, and live chess tutoring. 

Getting Started Video

Connect with a Live Job Coach to get assistance with searching, applying, and preparing for jobs. Brush up on your interview skills. Find templates to build an effective resume and submit your document to the resume lab and get suggestions on how to make improvements. 

Job Matching experts provide job seekers with available positions matching their skills, interests, and preferences. Life Skills Coaches assist people with essential skills, such as time management and budgeting.

Live help is available daily 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., excluding holidays. 

Getting Started Video

No library card required. 

Offers live online assistance for veterans and their families on a wide variety of resources. 

• Connect with a live tutor to help navigate your eligible VA Benefits, including housing and health care assistance. All navigators are veterans.
• Choose skill building lessons in math, science, reading/writing, social studies, and a wide range of practice tests to master high school equivalency tests, college entrance exams, career prep, Praxis, ASVAB, GRE, ESL and more.
• Get help with live job coaching, identifying skills, resume building, and translating military experiences into civilian occupations. 

Una enciclopedia en dos partes con portales para estudiantes de primaria y secundaria.

Acceso proporcionado por cortesía de la Biblioteca del Estado de California.

A three-part multi-subject encyclopedia with portals for elementary, middle, and high school students.

Access provided courtesy of the California State Library. 

Digital scans of Contra Costa County Library's microfilm collection of a selection of historical local newspapers from the late 19th century to the early 20th century.

Antioch Ledger, Byron Times, Concord Transcript, Contra Costa Courier, Contra Costa Courier and Danville Journal, Contra Costa Gazette (Martinez), Contra Costan, Daily Gazette, Daily Press, Danville Journal, Journal (El Cerrito), Martinez Daily Standard, Pittsburg Post, Pittsburg Post Dispatch, and Richmond Daily Independent. 

No library card required. 

CA Driver Permit Practice Tests include the following:

• 10 car practice tests
• 6 motorcycle practice tests
• 3 CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) practice tests
• 3 online driver’s manuals (car, motorcycle, CDL)
• An FAQ section with detailed answers to 100+ DMV-related questions

Need a Driver License Handbook? You can get them in different languages from CA.gov, opens a new window.

Getting Started Video

Find detailed information on vehicle maintenance and repairs. Includes diagnostics, step-by-step repair procedures, maintenance schedules, wiring diagrams, recalls, and more.

Expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background for more than 200 literary classics. View online or create an account for offline use. 

Getting Started Video

With in-depth reviews and buying advice from Consumer Reports, you can compare products and brands before you make a purchase. Categories include: appliances, cars, electronics, health, fitness, and food, home and garden, babies and kids, and money. 

• Results from Consumer Reports’ in-house testing laboratory
• General buying guides, product ratings, reviews, and recommendations
• Comparisons of products and services
• Money-saving advice and tips

Issues of Consumer Reports magazine are also available on Flipster. 

Getting Started Video

Find age-appropriate articles and facts with easy-to-browse categories organized by popular topics, full-text magazines, and topic overviews.

Getting Started Video

Full-text for popular middle school magazines. Includes biographies and historical essays. Contains primary source documents, photos, maps, and flags. Designed to meet the unique needs of its users, Explora supports both student research and classroom instruction.

Getting Started Video

Contains the full-text of high-quality articles, covering a wide-range of subjects for research papers, class projects, and homework. Includes biographies, primary sources, newspapers, reference books, and images.

Designed for high school, undergraduate students, and other researchers, this resource includes essays, articles, reports, and other reliable sources that provide an in-depth look at the history of race and a critical context for learning more about topics associated with race, ethnicity, diversity, and inclusiveness.

Getting Started Video

Your favorite magazines like Consumer Reports, Food & Wine, Fortune, People, Sunset, TIME and many more are available on your computer or mobile device. Complete issues with full-color images and articles. No check-out required, just click and read.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started Video

Focuses on the study of sustainability and the environment. Topics include ecosystems, global warming, food safety, and introductions to environmental disasters.

Includes sources such as topic summaries, scholarly articles, statistics, conference proceedings, news and magazine articles, podcasts, videos, industry reports, and consumer data.

Access to this resource is made possible by the California State Library.

Getting Started Video 

Allows students to manipulate 3D interactive models to visualize and understand biology, chemistry, earth, and space science concepts.

Interactive content is not supported on mobile devices. To access this content, please use a desktop web browser. 

Access to this resource is made possible by the California State Library.

Getting Started Video

A comprehensive treasury of American genealogical sources—rich in unique primary sources, local and family histories, and finding aids. The resource delivers an essential collection of genealogical and historical sources—with coverage dating back to the 1700s—that can help people find their ancestors and discover a place’s past.
The collection consists of six core data sets:

• U.S. Federal Censuses feature the original images of every extant federal census in the United States, from 1790 through 1950, slave, veteran, and non-population schedules, and more related content. 
• Genealogy and local history books provide more than 7 million digitized page images from over 28,000 family histories, local histories, and other books. 
• Revolutionary War records provides access to the complete NARA Series M804 collection - Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, a collection of an estimated 83,000 application files from officers and enlisted men who served in the Revolutionary War in all branches of the American military: army, navy, and marines.
• Freedman’s Bank Records, with more than 480,000 names of bank applicants, their dependents, and heirs from 1865–1874, offers valuable data that can provide important clues to tracing African American ancestors and researching the Reconstruction Era.

Links to the following content are also available:

• U.S. Congressional Serial Set records the memorials, petitions, private relief actions made to the U.S. Congress back to 1789, with a total of more than 480,000 pages of information.
• Periodical Source Index Archive published by the Allen County Public Library, is recognized as the most comprehensive index of genealogy and local history periodicals. It contains more than 2.3 million records covering titles published around the world since 1800.

Getting Started Video

The experience and impact of Hispanic Americans as recorded by the news media. This collection is sourced from more than 17,000 American and global news sources, including over 700 Spanish-language or bilingual publications. The time period Hispanic Life in America covers is from the early 18^th century to today. 

Getting Started Video

eCard access does not include Hoopla. Upgrade to a full-service card.

Hoopla has movies, TV shows, music, eBooks, eAudiobooks, comics, and magazines. No holds or waiting lists. Selecting the 'Kids Mode' will limit results to children's content only. 

Check out up to 4 items per month

How long do I get to keep what I've checked out?

• TV/Movies = 3 days 
• Music = 7 days 
• eBooks/eAudiobooks/Comics =  21 days
• Magazines = 7 days
• BingePasses = 7 days

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started Video

Use library card number and PIN when signing in. After registering with an email address and password, go to your inbox and open the email from Kanopy. Verify your email address.

eCard access does not include Kanopy. Upgrade to a full-service card.

Stream a collection of movies and shows for kids. Kanopy Kids is appropriate for children ages 2 and up, with a focus on Kids age 2-8. Parents can also choose to implement parental controls to enable them to stay within the dedicated Kanopy Kids area for age-appropriate content.

Kanopy Kids titles don't use tickets, so you can watch as many kid-friendly titles as you'd like. 

Getting Started Video

Use library card number and PIN when signing in. After registering with an email address and password, go to your inbox and open the email from Kanopy. Verify your email address.

eCard access does not include Kanopy. Upgrade to a full-service card.

Stream independent, classic, international, critically-acclaimed and documentary films. You have 24 tickets each month to watch films. How tickets work.

Kanopy is available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecase. If you need help downloading the app or streaming videos, check out the Kanopy help page. 

Getting started video

Features online tutorials, practice tests, and eBooks to help students of all ages. Offers job search and workplace skills improvement, skill building in reading, writing, math, and basic science, career certification and licensure exam prep (including the California Basic Educational Skills Test [CBEST], California Subject Examinations for Teachers [CSET], California Real Estate Salesperson exam prep, ServSafe California Food Handler practice exams, and the California Police Officer Exam, college and grad school entrance test prep, GED test prep, and more. 

Go directly to one of the Centers within LearningExpress Library:

• Adult Core Skills
  Helps adults achieve their personal, education and career goals by offering resources to help them improve their basic skills in reading, writing, and math, and prepare for the U.S. citizenship exam.

• Career Preparation
  Are you preparing for a professional exam? Are you curious about a particular occupation or looking to improve your workplace skills? Choose the Career Preparation Center and begin your path to a bright future.

• College Admissions Test Preparation
  Getting into college is an important step to building a strong future. First, you must do well on your college admission tests and write a personal essay that highlights your special talents. Use this center to get the resources you need to achieve your college preparation goals.

• College Students
  Provides valuable resources that help college students strengthen their academic skills, prepare for placement tests, and get ready for graduate school entrance exams.

• Computer Skills
  Learn the basics of using a computer, navigating the internet, and using popular software programs from Microsoft and Adobe. Achieve basic to advanced skills in word processing, creating spreadsheets and databases, implementing design, and more.

• Grade 4-8 Educator Resources
  Elementary and middle school teachers: Supplement classroom instruction with curriculum-aligned materials in math, reading, writing, and social studies.

• High School Equivalency Center
  If you are preparing for the GED test, HiSET or TASC exams, the High School Equivalency Center's practice tests, interactive tutorials, and eBooks will help you reach your goal.

• High School Students 
  Find resources to help you build classroom and homework skills in math, English language arts, social studies, science, and technology.

• Job & Career Accelerator
  Explore detailed information on over 1,000 different occupations. Match your interests and skills with the career that's best for you. Search local and national job postings. Create professional resumes and cover letters. Practice and master interviewing skills. 
• Recursos Para Hispanohablantes
  Herramientas de aprendizaje, carrera, y ciudadanía en español. Este centro ofrece a los adultos que están muy ocupados los recursos para mejorar sus habilidades básicas, ganar sus credenciales de GED o ser ciudadano estadounidense.

Getting Started Video

Find eBooks, magazines, and eAudiobooks on your device or in your browser. You can send your borrowed eBooks to your Kindle eReader.  

Check out up to 6 titles at any time— total includes eBooks and eAudiobooks. You can have up to 10 holds. Unlimited checkouts on magazines. 

Libby Help

Getting Started with Libby (for library patrons) Webinar - Registration link

Getting Started Video

Choose from thousands of online courses to learn in-demand skills from real-world industry experts. Learn business, creative, and technology skills to achieve your personal and professional goals. New courses added each week. 

After creating an account, you can watch videos, create playlists, bookmark pages, and obtain certificates of completion. Please note the Library version of LinkedIn does not capture any personally identifiable information from patrons; therefore, they are unable to include names on certificates of completion.

For support:

• Enter card number and PIN
• Visit LinkedIn Learning for Library Patron FAQ 
• Library ID for LinkedIn Learning app is contracostacountylibrary
  https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/go/contracostacountylibrary
• If you change your library card number you will lose any playlists you saved with your previous card.

Getting Started Video

Provides relevant information on thousands of authors and their works across literary genres and time periods. Literary Reference Plus includes thousands of full-text poems, short stories, plot summaries, synopses, critical essays, literary journals, reference books, and author biographies, plus lesson plans and literary study guides. This resource gives students and teachers a complete foundation of literary reference works. 

Coverage List

No library card required.

The Local History Connection (formerly Remember & Go) provides access to historical materials relating to Contra Costa County. The database features the Library’s collections as well as those of other local history-related institutions, such as historical societies and museums, in order to create awareness of these resources and increase their use. Materials of historical significance featured in the database include, but are not limited to, photographs, art and artifacts, newspapers and clippings, documents, maps, and personal papers.

Getting Started Video

Access to over 70 world language courses and 20 English courses taught in the native language of the user. Each Mango lesson incorporates the four key conversational components crucial for successful communication: vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and culture.

Includes Little Pim, a language-learning tool perfect for babies, toddlers, and pre-k learners. American Sign Language is also available in Mango.

How to Get Started

1. Create an Account in Mango. Sign up with your email address and password.
   Although creating a Guest Account is an option, it will not save any progress or allow use of the mobile app.
2. After first creating your Mango Account, confirm your email address in your inbox, then log into your Mango Account. 
3. Pick a Language 

Mango YouTube Tutorials and Videos

Getting Started Video

In this resource you will find the National Geographic Kids magazine 2009-present (three-month embargo); more than 500 National Geographic Kids books; 900 kid-friendly, downloadable images; and more than 200 videos. It offers endless opportunities for kids to explore amazing adventures in science, nature, culture, archaeology, and space. Best for children aged 6–14.

Access to this resource is made possible by the California State Library.

Get started:

• Go to the New York Times account page.
• Enter your library card and 6-digit PIN if outside the library.
• Create Your New York Times Account or Log In if you already have an account with this provider.
• Off-site access is available through 72-hour passes. To continue using this resource, log in again.  (You will only be asked to create a user account the first time you access this content.)
• Enjoy from any location, on any web enabled device, by just logging into NYTimes.com with that same email and password.

Note:

• In-library use provides full-text online articles from 1981 – present. Due to publishing restrictions, articles from 1923 – 80 are not available for on-site access; however, patrons can access 5 articles per day from this date range via remote access.
• The Crosswords app is not included; however, crosswords from the past week, as well as a handful from the archive, are available in the Crosswords section. The Cooking app is not included, but patrons can access recipes via the Food section.

Access to this resource is made possible by the California State Library.

Getting Started Video

Explore and stay informed on local, national, and international topics, people and events in areas such as business, health, education, jobs and careers, political and social issues, and more.

Read full-page, full-color versions of hundreds of national, international, and California newspapers with NewsBank's Image editions. Search for a specific title and select the "Image" format when available.

• East Bay Times daily image edition from 12/18/18 - present.
• San Francisco Chronicle Collection - current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles, and content only published online. The daily image edition is available from 2017 - present. 
• Contra Costa Times is available from 6/1/95 - 4/4/16. Obituary articles are included, but obituary notices are not.
• Black Life in America - The experience and impact of African Americans as recorded by the news media, 1704 to today. Discover hard-to-find articles from historical and current sources with information on people, issues, and events that shaped and continue to influence conversations about race, equity and diversity.
• Hispanic Life in America - This collection is sourced from more than 17,000 American and global news sources, including over 700 Spanish-language or bilingual publications. The time period Hispanic Life in America covers is from the early 18^th century to today. 

No library card required.

Learn how to use the Library's digital resources with step-by-step getting started videos. 

The videos include instructions for using Libby by OverDrive, Rosetta Stone, Ancestry Library Edition, Discover & Go, and many others.

Getting Started Video

Choose the best titles for your reading list. Find "read-alikes," reviews of both fiction and nonfiction titles, plot summaries, book discussion guides, recommendations, articles, and more. Includes selections for kids, teens, and adults. 

Getting Started Video

Gives users on-demand access to a vast collection of titles from O'Reilly (including eBooks in early release) and nearly 200 other publishers. Find videos, eBooks, resource centers, learning paths, case studies, and playlists. Subject areas include information technology and software, business, digital media, professional and personal development, and desktop and web applications.

Due to licensing restrictions, content can only be streamed online in a standard web browser for Windows and Mac, not downloaded. Print pages for offline access. You can read anytime with no due dates. 

Getting Started Video 

Downloadable bestsellers, classics, fiction, and nonfiction. Loan period is 7, 14, or 21 days; it's your choice at the time of checkout. You can have 6 titles checked out at any time— total includes all formats. You can have up to 10 holds.

This collection also includes magazines with unlimited checkouts. 

You may check out a maximum of one Lucky Day item from at a time with a loan period of 14 days. 

Libby is an app by OverDrive that is available for Android, iOS, and Kindle Fire devices.

Support:

• Libby Help
• Contact Front Line Tech Support for further questions. 
• OverDrive offers a Help section to answer your questions.

Getting Started Video 

Downloadable eBooks and eAudioBooks for children. Loan period is 7, 14, or 21 days; it's your choice at the time of checkout. You can have up to 6 titles checked out at any time-total includes all formats. You can have up to 10 holds.

Libby is an app by OverDrive that is available for Android, iOS, and Kindle Fire devices.

Libby Help

Getting Started Video 

Downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks, just for teens! Every book lover is sure to find an enjoyable title, available for download to the device of their choice, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can check out up to 6 titles for 7, 14, or 21 days; it's your choice at the time of checkout. You can have up to 10 holds. 

Libby is an app by OverDrive that is available for Android, iOS, and Kindle Fire devices.

Libby Help

Find popular titles such as US Weekly, National Geographic, Good Housekeeping, Vanity Fair, and Rolling Stone. Titles in a variety of languages including Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, German, French, and more. Includes Comics and Manga magazines. Rolling 3 years of back issues, wherever available. 

Unlimited checkouts on magazines. 

Magazines can be read in the Libby app, on Libby in your browser, and on the Library's OverDrive site. 

Getting Started Video

Provides students with a series of essays that present multiple sides of a current issue. Hundreds of topics, each with an overview, point, counterpoint, and critical thinking guide. The database includes thousands of articles from top political magazines, videos, radio and television news transcripts, images, and more. 

Getting Started Video
PressReader is a newspaper and magazine service that provides unlimited access to 7,000+ current publications from over 120 countries, in 60 different languages. Publications include The Economist, USA Today, The New York Times, La Opinión, World Journal, Times of India, El Diario, La Razón, China Daily, Der Tagesspiegel, The Guardian, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Variety, Newsweek, and Popular Science.  

(Please note: issues for The Economist and The New York Times are limited to a 24-hour checkout period and can be checked out again once the 24 hour period is up.) 

Read online or download. No limits on downloads. Provides up to a 60-day backfile and the ability to perform keyword searches across all titles. Instantly translates articles into 18 languages. Listen to content out loud.

Use PressReader in your browser

Click on PressReader and enter your library card number and PIN, if needed. If you are in a Contra Costa County Library location you may see language indicating you are at a "PressReader Hotspot." This designation should provide you with access to all of the PressReader content.

To use the full features of PressReader, such as creating collections, saving articles, and reading offline, create a personal account from the sign in page using your email address.

Use the PressReader App

1. Download and open the PressReader app
2. Tap on "Libraries & Groups"
3. Search and select “Contra Costa County Library”
4. Enter your library card number and PIN
5. Tap on Sign in

After you’re authenticated, you have access to the app for about 48 hours. When your two days are up, just repeat the process.

More Help

PressReader Help Center

PressReader Support Site

No library card required.

This website contains primary-source documents focused on six different phases of Black Freedom:

• Slavery and the Abolitionist Movement (1790-1860)
• The Civil War and the Reconstruction Era (1861-1877)
• Jim Crow Era from 1878 to the Great Depression (1878-1932)
• The New Deal and World War II (1933-1945)
• The Civil Rights and Black Power Movements (1946-1975)
• The Contemporary Era (1976-2000)

Getting Started Video

Provides brief reports on countries. Learn about the land, history, people, customs, lifestyle, society, and government. Find recipes by country, printable flags and maps, and audios of national anthems.

The Kids Edition features reports on the U.S. states and country reports written for elementary students with easy-to-understand information and fun facts.

Access to this resource is made possible by the California State Library.

Getting Started Video

General reference collection of periodical and digital media content with editorial guidance for novice researchers. Includes newspapers (Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times), magazines, scholarly journals, books, videos and audios, dissertations and theses, reports and more. 

Access to this resource is made possible by the California State Library.

Getting Started Video

Provides video instruction on the important concepts in information literacy. Develop your research skills with these tutorial videos:

• How to find information
• How to evaluate information
• How to use information

Grades 9+

Access to this resource is made possible by the California State Library.

A general reference database for upper elementary and middle school learners, researchers and educators covering curriculum areas such as reading, language arts, current events, science, social studies, history, health and technology. Includes age-appropriate newspaper, magazine, book and website content. Grades 3-9

SIRS Discoverer Help

Access to this resource is made possible by the California State Library.

Delivers the pros and cons on social issues with relevant, credible information. Analyses and opinions are hand selected from thousands of national and international sources such as newspaper and magazine articles, videos, charts, maps, statistics, primary sources and government documents. Grades 6-12

SIRS Issues Researcher Help

Access to this resource is made possible by the California State Library.

Getting Started Video

Lists periodicals (journals, magazines, newspapers, etc.) available through many of the Library’s online databases, and links you to the databases that hold their articles. Search for a specific publication or browse by topic area. 

Getting Started Video

Formerly known as Reference USA, Data Axle's Reference Solutions is the go-to resource for comprehensive data on both businesses and individuals, tailored to the needs of small business owners, marketing professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, and job seekers. It empowers users to create marketing plans, conduct competitive analysis, secure funding, and locate individuals.

This platform offers detailed profiles of over 50 million U.S. businesses, 150 million U.S. residents, 2 million job postings, internships, historical business data, and healthcare listings, making it an invaluable research tool for job seekers, businesses, and researchers.

Getting Started Video

Includes 24 languages and offers over 50 hours of foundational immersion instruction at every language level. Learning is structured around core lessons to build reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills and focuses on activities to refine grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. 

Note: The following languages appearing on the platform are no longer available: Dari, Urdu, Swahili, Pashto, and Indonesian.

On your computer:

1. 1. From the Library website, go to Digital Resources - Home from the top navigation bar. 
   2. Under Learning, select Rosetta Stone.
   3. Click on the link into Rosetta Stone Library Solution.
   4. Sign in with your email address and password. If this is your first time using Rosetta Stone, you will need to create a new free account.
   5. Select a language you would like to learn.
   6. Click on Launch Rosetta Stone Foundations.

On a mobile device: 

First-time users: Download the Rosetta Stone app, but do not open it. 

1. Download the Rosetta Stone app:
   Apple
   Android
2. DO NOT launch or open the app or you will not access the free site.
   Instead:
3. Open your browser on your mobile device and follow the steps listed above under "On your computer."
4. After you Sign in and click on “Launch Rosetta Stone Foundations,” the app should launch automatically.

If you experience trouble setting up Rosetta Stone, please contact their customer support team by emailing support@rosettastone.com or by completing this form.

Covers a wide-range of technology topics including Coding, Business & IT, and Certification.

Productivity & Collaboration Tools: This collection of eBooks and courses provides training on the most popular applications and hardware in the workforce including Microsoft Office, Google, Android, iOS, Slack, Adobe and much more.

IT Skills and Certifications: This collection of eBooks and courses provides coverage for over 100 industry certifications in the IT world. These courses will help you to prepare for the certification exams in a very competitive IT job market.

Getting Started Video

Explore children's books, young adult literature, and their authors. Find high quality, ready-to-use instructional resources by book, author, illustrator, subject, series, award, or booklist. Resources include meet-the-author videos and book readings, book discussion guides, and literature lesson plans. 

Access is provided by the California State Library K-12 student readiness initiative.  

Getting Started Video

This resource features interactive, animated stories, puzzles and games. There are stories by well-known authors, original stories, classic fairy tales, puzzles and games in English, Spanish, French and a mobile version. Some bilingual stories are also available. You can have stories play automatically, or click through at your own pace.

No library card required.

See video storytimes through the Library’s YouTube channel. Enjoy songs, rhymes and stories at your own convenience.

Get started:

• Use this link to create your account. Password parameters are 5-15 characters, at least 1 capital letter, 1 number, and no special characters.
• Your access will be available for the next 3 days.
• After 3 days, come back and click the above link again and login as an existing user with the same username and password you originally created.

You will have access to: 

• Unlimited articles on WSJ.com
• A four-year archive/article search
• The digital version of the daily paper
• More than 30 newsletters and alerts
• Informative videos and podcasts, featuring interviews with WSJ editors and notable influencers

The default search is for the last 90 days of articles. The Advanced Search feature lets you search articles for the last four years.

This service is available via any web browser (such as Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge) on your computer or device, however it is not available via the WSJ app.

IMPORTANT: You are not permitted to share the sign-on credentials with any other person whatsoever. Any violation of this clause will result in Dow Jones terminating access for our library. 

No library card required.

Expert reporting and analysis from Washington and around the world, including award-winning investigative coverage and editorial commentary. You can access the Washington Post for free from either inside the library or remotely.  

• Washington Post Onsite Access - This is the link to use when you are either on a library computer or on a device using the library's public wi-fi. 
• Washington Post Offsite Access - This is the link to use when you are remote from the library. To access your free Washington Post account, register or log in by entering an email address and password.

Unrestricted off-site access is available for 7 days. To continue using this resource for another access period, use the offsite access link to log in again. Note that closing your web browser or restarting your computer may require revisiting the authentication link.