Director’s Thoughts – 7/12/2024

Today I thought I’d highlight some resources that many libraries have that are often very expensive and don’t get as much usage as we’d all like! I’m talking about the online resources that you can access from home online because the library pays a subscription for them.

What I love is that these resources are available 24/7 from your cellphone or Internet-connected device. You don’t need to be able to get to the library during operating hours to take advantage of some really cool things.

Unfortunately, these resources are often hard to promote as they are difficult to explain to patrons and often difficult to find online. And a lot of people aren’t going to think about visiting the library’s website for information, they’ll most likely just type their search into Google to find what it spits out. And often, that’s okay, Google or another search engine will find sufficient information. But, if you’re looking for more detailed information, it’s helpful to use an online resource from the library.

So what does the library have? Well, that depends on your library, its funding, and your community. For example, at my library patrons have access to things like Consumer Reports online, Morningstar, Mango Languages, and Gale Legal Forms. Your library might have access to similar items or other things like LinkedIn Learning, Universal Class, or LearningExpress.

You can also find access to newspapers, peer-reviewed journal articles for research, and primary sources for reports. There is literally so much available at your fingertips – and it’s all free! Take a moment to explore your library’s website, I can almost guarantee you’ll find something you didn’t know was available and a lot more than that!