Published:
Happy National Library Card Sign-Up Month! If you don’t have a DCPL card, get one. If you do, it's time to find out just how power packed that 14-digit card number is. (Pro tip: Download the DC Public Library app and turn your phone into your library card!) Besides borrowing books, audiobooks and DVDs, you can reserve rooms, get 20 free photocopies a day and download Libby for thousands of electronic books and magazines. Even better, dive into 120 digital tools in the “Research & Learn” section of dclibrary.org. Search by topic or audience or start with these five tips.
Looking to get personalized reading recommendations from DC Public Library staff?
Get a personalized reading list
Craving a great book? Want to enchant a child? Prospecting for your book club? Bingo! NoveList Plus (and the K-8 version for children) helps you explore more than half a million fiction and non-fiction books by various story elements. Discover what appeals to you in a book, like mood, style or types of characters. What genres, like cozy mysteries or space opera. Or themes, like opposites attract. You can plug in a favorite title, series or author to find "read alikes.” And when you find a gem, click to see if it's in the DCPL collection to check it out!
PressReader and other media in your DCPL treasure chest
PressReader’s brain banquet has thousands of publications from more than 120 countries in 60 languages. Find U.S. newspapers like The New York Times, The Boston Globe and The Philadelphia Inquirer. There’s also The Guardian, Foreign Affairs, The Economist, The New Yorker, GQ, Car and Driver, Bon Appétit, Modern Cat, puzzles and much more! DCPL also provides free access to other great media, including Consumer Reports, The Washington Post Digital, The New York Times Digital, Washington Business Journal, Harvard Business Review and The Atlantic. At The Wall Street Journal, click “Publications,” the newspaper link, then “Show issue contents” by today’s date.
Friends, lend your ears to Freegal! Stream millions of songs in more than 200 genres from popular labels like Sony Music. “I personally love Freegal+ Music,” says April DeRome, DCPL’s digital tools wizard. “I find so much new music on there from their curated playlists and featured songs that change weekly. Also, it's free and has no commercials!” Stream as much as you want, create your own playlists, even download up to three songs a week. Access Freegal anywhere, just like April does: “I use the app on my phone in the gym, on walks, and in the car.”
Creativebug and more tips to make your free time sparkle
Nothing to do? No excuses! Not when you’ve got unlimited access to thousands of craft classes at Creativebug. Whether you want to make a natural deodorant, crochet a decorative cake (not kidding!), make a digital portrait or learn how artmakers can prevent body strain, you’ll find that and more taught by experts. There are even “Mixtapes” that bring together project videos with a common theme. When you’re done, inspire others by uploading a photo of your creation to the site. If movement's more your style, find instruction videos in dance at Alexander Street’s Dance in Video and sports at Hiveclass.
Universal Class and other great learning resources for job and life skills
Universal Class offers certificates and CEUs in 600+ courses on far-flung topics like computers, alternative medicine and dealing with clutter. Peterson’s Test and Career Prep offers academic exam prep and job certification prep, whether you're an aspiring truck driver, nail technologist or FBI agent. The Khan Academy has great resources for young and adult learners in subjects like math, reading and science. Test prep includes LCAT and MCAT. LinkedIn Learning builds hard and soft skills, providing certificates for your LinkedIn profile. (Signing in requires a PIN. To reset yours, go to dclibrary.org, click “My Account,” then “I forgot my PIN.”)
About the Author
Barbara Cornell is a Library Associate at the William O. Lockridge Bellevue Neighborhood Library. She grew up in Michigan, where the public library across the street from her house was a first taste of independence. Since then, she has lived in five countries and always finds a home in books. She has two grown sons and lives with her husband in Washington, DC.