Magazines & Newspaper Articles

Getting Started Video

This unique collection is sourced from nearly 20,000 American and global newspapers from 1704 to the present, including over 400 African American newspapers. More than 800 Suggested Searches, organized by historical eras, themes, topical areas and events, provide direct links to useful content.

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.

Find content from the Library's many digital resources using one search box. Use EBSCO Discovery to find full-text magazine, newspaper, and journal articles; primary sources; educational videos; encyclopedia articles; reference eBooks; and more from the Library's subscription databases. With easy filtering options, you can narrow your results to the type of content, source, and date to find exactly the information resources you need.

Getting Started Video

This research database includes full-text articles from magazines and journals along with reference books, encyclopedias, and an eBook collection containing titles from top educational publishers and university presses. Find videos from the Associated Press, primary source documents, biographies, and an image collection of more than 2 million photos, maps and flags.

Getting Started Video

Designed specifically for middle school students, this resource includes full-text articles from popular magazines, reference books, and primary sources covering many subjects, including history, science, and health. Explora Middle School also includes images, maps, and flags.

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.

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

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

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 Video

Explore amazing adventures in science, nature, culture, archaeology, and space. Find the National Geographic Kids magazine 2009-present (three-month embargo);  National Geographic Kids books, downloadable images, and videos. Best for kids ages 6–14.

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

Step 1: Use this link to redeem a digital pass for 72 hours.

• The Library's subscription includes access to the full range of content: News, Games, Cooking, Wirecutter, and The Athletic. You do not need to log into each service separately.

Step 2: Login or Create an Account

• Log-in to your New York Times account or create an account with an email address and password. You will only be asked to create a user account the first time you access this content. You cannot be an existing digital subscriber. View our FAQ.

Step 3: Activating/Reactivating your Pass

• After activating your Pass, you will have unlimited access to The New York Times for 72 hours. Your active Pass allows you to log in directly to the New York Times either using their mobile apps or at NYTimes.com.
• Once your pass expires, use the dedicated link above to redeem another digital pass for 72 hours.

The Library's subscription to the New York Times Digital Edition is generously supported in part by the Library Foundation of Contra Costa. 

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.
• Sacramento Bee Collection - 1984 - present. Search current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles and content only published online. 
• San Jose Mercury News Collection - current and archived issues. The daily image edition is available from 2020 - present. 
• The Atlantic Collection - current and archived issues of the magazine and website. 

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. 

Find popular titles such as The New Yorker, New Scientist, 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

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.

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. 

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. Note: Patrons need to be in California to access remotely as restrictions apply based on location. 

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.