Back in the day, the library was one of the only ways we could access information on subjects we weren’t familiar with. Of course, now that we have smartphones and internet access, it’s much easier to get the information we need and browse through an unending supply of informational resources.
That hardly means that the library is an outdated source. In fact, it’s quite the opposite!
With so much information out there right at our fingertips, libraries can help narrow down the good from the bad and the quality from the junk. The library has embraced this internet age and created new services, resources and experiences that can still help us learn more every time we visit.
If you live in or near our Southern Californian apartments, then you’re likely pretty close to one or more of the Los Angeles Public Library's branches, all of which have a wealth of resources available to card holders!
Things you can do at the Los Angeles Public Library
How to get a library card
Library cards are available at no cost to California residents!
If you live within the Los Angeles city limits, then you can apply for an e-card that grants you immediate access to the databases and online resources available through the Los Angeles Public Library. You can also sign up for a physical library card at any one of the Los Angeles Public Library’s branches, which gives you a library card number that you can use to access the online databases.
You will need to provide a physical address on both your e-card and physical card application, so have that handy!
What can I use my library card for?
Book checkout
There are 72 branches of the Los Angeles Public Library, servicing an area of around 468 square miles containing four million people.
That, of course, means there are plenty of books to go around!
With over 6 million books, magazines, audiobooks, CDs and DVDs available to check out throughout the library’s expansive system, there’s certainly enough to keep you busy.
Online databases & streaming services
The internet and the wealth of knowledge available on it makes it a perfect resource for libraries. And, with a library card, you can access some astoundingly-in-depth databases of knowledge, entertainment and more.
A Los Angeles Public Library library card grants card holders access to an abundance of free online content: e-books and audiobooks through databases like Overdrive and Hoopla; music and podcasts through Freegal and Aloud; online learning courses through platforms like Gale, Universal and LinkedIn Learning; movies and TV through Kanopy and Digitalia Film; newspapers and magazines via the New York Times and Pressreader; and language learning programs through Mango, Cell-Ed and Transparent Language.
Creative labs and studios
Got an idea for a cool project, but none of the tools or spaces to make it happen?
Head to the library!
The Central Library in Downtown L.A. has a special DIY studio space that’s filled with all sorts of tools, materials and setups to pursue your hobbies and interests. There are green screens and backdrops for video recording, 3D printers and laser-cutting machines, sewing machines, embroidery machines, Adobe software and so much more!
Research sessions
Whether you’re looking for information on a niche industry, sources for an article, ideas for unique stories or an in-depth history of your neighborhood, the reference librarians at Los Angeles Public Library are available for private consultation on specialized subjects or research projects. They will find information you never even knew existed!
Museum passes
The Los Angeles Public Library has a collection of museum passes that you can check out with your library card, either for free or at a highly reduced rate.
Here are some of the institutions that participate in the Discover & Go collaboration with the Los Angeles Public Library!
- The Broad
- Craft Contemporary
- Grammy Museum
- Hammer
- La Brea Tar Pits & Museum
- LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
- Los Angeles Zoo
- Natural History Museum Los Angeles County
- Los Angeles Conservancy
- Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
- Chinese American Museum
- The Museum of Jurassic Technology
Technology checkout
We’ve all been there. We’ve spilled coffee on our laptop, had issues with a Wi-Fi provider, broken our iPad or had some problem with our technology right when it's most inconvenient.
The Los Angeles Public Library Tech2Go program offers a variety of tech bundles available to borrow, including iPad Minis, mobile hotspots and computer bundles. These are great if you’re scrambling for an extra screen for a project you’re working on, or if you’ve got visiting guests who need to get some work done. Whatever you need it for, you can borrow these tech items for up to six months at a time!
Education and research resources
The Los Angeles Public Library has a wide range of specialized education programs ranging from earning a high school diploma to K-12 learning tools to language-learning courses and more!
You can also access research databases for local and national records. There’s a government document locator, a journal database, Los Angeles Public Library indexes covering a variety of subjects, rare photo collections and more.
So, head out to your nearest library and see what they have to offer! With a free card and unlimited information available at your fingertips, there’s no telling what you may learn next!
Enjoy!
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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/sasint
Colleen Ford is a South African who now lives on Oahu in Hawai'i. She loves to travel, camp, spearfish and hike. She's also part of a super cool canoe club and is pretty decent at it. Colleen enjoys Star Wars and also not being cold ever.
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