With a library card, you can rule the world

Stream movies and music, read the news, learn a language with the Palm Beach County Public Library.

Last week, we were charmed by our library’s offerings beyond books. This week, we are blown away by the digital doors you can open with a Palm Beach County Public Library card.

Why it matters: Our democracy depends on informed people who can make good decisions. Public libraries offer information to anyone who seeks it.

🔎 What we found: The people who greet the public in our libraries are committed to helping all of us navigate the overwhelming number of resources available.

Pro tip: Ask for help. Use the chat on the library website.

Where to start: Grab your library card, and point your browser to the Palm Beach County Public Library homepage.

➡️ Highlights include:

• CloudLibrary: An easy-to-use portal for free e-books and e-audiobooks. (Download the app on your device to read or listen there.) 

• Hoopla: Movies, television shows, e-books, e-audiobooks and music. (App available.)

• Flipster: Read full-page, full-color duplicates of digital magazines on a computer or digital device. (App available.)

• Udemy: Free access to this learning tool with courses available in leadership, software, and personal development. The self-paced courses include videos and resources that can be downloaded and saved. (App available.)

• Freegal: A downloadable music service provided by the library for free. Access to 8 million songs including Sony Music’s catalog of artists. Stream up to five hours of music per day. 

• Consumer Reports: Ratings, reviews, recommendations and buying advice.

🗞️ News sources

• A free day pass to The New York Times website. (Go back each day to get another one.)

• Free access to a frequently updated text archive of stories in The Palm Beach Post, Sun-Sentinel, Wall Street Journal and more.

📇 Business resources

• Morningstar Investment Research Center: In-depth financial information on more than 21,000 stocks and funds.

• Value Line: Includes Value Line Investment Survey Online, Value Line Daily Options, Value Line Special Situations Service, and Value Line Electronic Convertibles.

• Weiss Financial Ratings: Get up-to-date rating information on insurance companies, financial institutions, mutual funds, and other investment products.

📍 At the library: If you log on to a personal or library computer at any county branch you can access:

• Ancestry Library Edition: Includes over 1 billion records from Social Security Death Index, U.S. Federal Census Images, Military and Immigration and Naturalization records.

• Foundation Directory Online: The leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Free access to this directory is available at the Main Library, Jupiter branch and Belle Glade branch.

🙏 Thank you to Michelle Quigley, a Palm Beach County research librarian, for giving Stet a tour of our public gem at Hagen Ranch Road.

• Find your local library here.