A-Z Resources

Interactive books and educational games for children ages 2-6.

• 8,500+ individual learning activities.
• 850+ lessons.
• Reading, math, science, and social studies.

Peer-reviewed, full-text articles perfect for your next research paper.

• Translate or listen to articles.
• Citation tools make creating a bibliography easy.

Getting started with Academic One File.

Alexander Street is a hub for scholarly resources in streaming video, audio, and text formats, fostering research, teaching, and learning across various disciplines. Key offerings include:

• History: Explore extensive historical documents and multimedia resources.
• Literature & Language: Investigate a wide range of literary works and linguistic studies.
• Music & Performing Arts: This is their largest collection and includes a large mix of music genres and performers (Classical Music, Opera, and Jazz).
• Social Sciences: Explore aspects of human society from various sociological and anthropological perspectives.

This platform also offers advanced search functionality and full video transcripts. Access this resource using our special link.

Collection of resources on physics, includes volumes on:

• Atomic, molecular, and optical physics.
• Nuclear physics, gravitation, and cosmology.
• The APS Journal Archive (back to 1893).

Trace your family's history.

• 4 billion names in worldwide historical records.
• Family tree services.
• Genealogy learning materials.

Access restricted within library buildings only.

For help getting started, see our AncestryLibrary help videos.

AtoZdatabase is the job search, reference & mailing list database. You can use it to find details on millions of business and individuals within the U.S.

• Find a job.
• Search by person or business.
• Look up phone number to find out who called you.
• Search for healthcare provider by speciality, state of license, geography.
• Create mailing lists and sales leads.

Beanstack is like a smart watch or fitness tracker for your reading goals. The app version has many built-in features like a barcode scanner and timer to make this process very easy—it's way better than paper and pencil!

• Log your reading progress by page, minute, or book, it's up to you.
• Beanstack can also send book recommendations by email based on your reading interests.
• We also use this site for our summer reading program and other online events.  

Learn how to create a Beanstack account and use the app or website.

Biography In Context is for those seeking contextual information on the world's most influential people.

It's built on a foundation of more than 650,000 biographical entries covering international figures from all time periods and areas of study, providing coverage of the most searched and studied people.

Watch and read kids' eBooks.

• Pairs classic video storybooks with related nonfiction.
• Animals and Nature, Family and Community, Celebrations.
• Read Along with word-by-word highlighting.

Sign up to get book recommendations in your email box.

• For adults, teens, and children.
• Browse award winning, subject, and best selling lists.
• New book notifications.

Download books and audiobooks to your favorite device.

• eBooks and eAudiobooks.
• Adult bestsellers and nonfiction titles.
• Children and teen collections.

Check out the Getting started with Boundless video series and Boundless FAQs if you need help.

An online homework and study tools for kids and adults.

• Live tutoring.
• Create flash cards.
• Practice tests for SAT and GED.
• Prepare for U.S. Citizenship Test.
• Discover college majors and careers that match your skills and interests.

The Spanish version of Britannica Scholar.

Impulse su investigación con esta enciclopedia fácil de usar para estudiantes en edad escolar.

• Artículos, imágenes, videos y fuentes primarias.
• Para estudiantes de la primaria o secundaria.
• Traduzca o escuche los artículos.
• La creación de una bibliografía es fácil al usar las herramientas de citaciones.

Read nearly two centuries of digitized California newspapers. A rich primary source for those interested in the history of the Golden State.

• 1846 to the Present
• Over 200,000 issues
• 7 million articles.

Get ready to take the written California Driver's permit and license tests.

• Califorania DMV practice tests and exam simulator.
• Permit, driver’s license, and senior citizens’ refresher tests.
• Car, motorcycle, and commercial (CDL).

Great resource for book reports, English papers, and exams.

• Literature notes on commonly assigned books.
• Test prep and study guides.

Comics Plus Children’s Library is appropriate for Ages 5-14:

• Readers: Beginning and emerging readers in elementary school; active readers in upper elementary and middle school; reluctant and remedial readers of all ages.
• Formats: Early readers and picture books to traditional comic books, manga, and comic strips.
• Key Titles: Adventure Time; Archie Comics; Avatar: The Last Airbender; Awkward; Big Nate; Bone; Chicagoland Detective Agency; Disney Descendants; Disney Fairies; Djeliya; Fairy Tail; Fuku Fuku Kitten Tales; Geronimo Stilton; The Legend of Zelda; Lucy the Dinosaur; Lumberjanes; Mail Order Ninja; Minecraft; My Little Pony; Quince; The Sisters; Sonic the Hedgehog; Stranger Things; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; They Called Us Enemy
• Key Publishers: ABDO, Archie Comics, Andrews McMeel, Capstone, Cartoon Books, Classics Illustrated, Immedium, Junior Yen, Kodansha, Lerner, Manga Classics, Papercutz, Rosen, Saddleback Educational

Every title is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on your computer, tablet or phone -- no holds or wait lists required.

Enjoy unlimited access to thousands of graphic novels, manga and comics from a variety of library-friendly publishers. The Comics Plus Full Catalog allows you to access content for all ages, including adult content.

Every title is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on your computer, tablet or phone -- no holds or wait lists required.

Get comprehensive product reviews and buying guides from the award winning ConsumerReports.org, the digital version of the popular print magazine.

Features include:

• Expert ratings and reviews on thousands of products.
• Money-saving advice and tips.
• Buying guides and videos across categories like electronics, home and garden, baby products, and cars.

How to Access:

1. Click on the authentication link.
2. Log in with your 14-digit library barcode and PIN.
3. Enjoy unlimited access to ConsumerReports.org.
4. Revisit our website the next time you need to login, or bookmark this page.

For any questions or assistance, contact eHelp. Please note that as a library user, you cannot modify account information or access certain member-only special features.

• Health
• Employment
• Government Benefits
• Housing
• And many more

Creativebug is a comprehensive collection of arts and crafts video tutorials, offering on-demand and unlimited access to expert instruction in various creative disciplines:

• Drawing & Painting
• Fiber Arts (Sewing, Knitting, Crocheting, and Quilting)
• Jewelry Making
• Paper crafts
• Holiday gifts

Access to Creativebug also includes scheduled live events, interviews with artists, exclusive documentaries, and art studio tours!

Need help accessing? Watch our video tutorials or contact eHelp for support.

Provides detailed cultural information on over 200 countries, all 50 states in US and the Canadian provinces and territories. Includes four editions:

• World Edition
• Kids edition
• States edition
• Provinces edition

Get free and low-cost passes for cultural destinations like:

• Museums
• Science Centers
• Zoos
• Theatres

Instructions

1. Log in with your library card on the Discover & Go site.
2. Browse for passes by date or by venue.
3. Make a reservation.
4. Print your pass.

Restrictions

• Patrons must live within the library's service area (zip code) in order to log in and reserve passes.
• Discover & Go passes are available to Palo Alto Library cardholders age 14 and older. For some attractions, the minimum age will be 16 or 18 and up.
• You can have 2 active reservations at a time and reserve up to 3 months in advance.
• Active reservations can be canceled only if the pass has not been printed.
• If you reserve a pass and do not use it or cancel the reservation, the unused pass will count towards your limit.
• Some venues have placed a 1-pass-per-year restriction and you will only be able to reserve those passes once per calendar year. You will find details about each pass within the venue information.
• The pass is for use only by the person named and only on the date specified. No photocopies are allowed.
• Valid ID is required for admission with passes to venues.

Prepare to drive. Driving-Tests.org offers a number of practice tests for:

• Getting driver permits.
• Prepping for the written California Driver's test
• Signs and situations
• And a featured Test Simulator

Authoritative eBooks on a variety of subjects including:

• Arts
• Business
• Education
• Health and medicine
• History
• Law
• Religion and philosophy
• Science and technology
• Social Sciences

EDS provides fast, simple access to all of our library’s full text articles.

• Contains content from hundreds of academic publishers.
• Supports full text language translation.
• Citation format is available.
• Supports personalized and shared folders.
• Includes EBSCO Master File Complete:
  • Consumer Reports
  • NOLO Press Legal eBooks

Topics Include:

• Business & Economics
• Computer Science & Engineering
• Current Events
• Environment
• Education
• Health Sciences
• History
• Law
• Life Sciences
• Literature
• Performing Arts & Theatre
• Philosophy & Religion

Enki Library is an eBooks platform created by libraries in California with great content from indie publishers.

• You do not need a library card to access: it's freely available to anyone on the internet located in California.
• If prompted, enable location services on your phone or web browser.
• Enki borrowing will not appear in your Palo Alto library account.

An online library of education-related research, including:

• research reports
• journal articles
• conference papers

See the ERIC Product Guide for detailed information on how to search this database.

Find data on communities and identify trends using US Federal Statistics. Data sets include:

• Census Data
• Maps
• Federal Agency statistics

A next-generation digital magazine service for browsing the latest issues of popular magazines on your mobile device or computer. Popular titles include:

• Consumer Reports
• People
• Time
• The Atlantic
• Forbes
• Sunset 

Check out Flipster FAQs if you need help.

Download and stream music to your computer or device. You can also create playlists for listening to later.

• 3 million songs
• Over 10,000 labels
• Over 60 countries

Limits:

• Downloads: 5 per library card per week.
• Streaming: 3 hours per day.

Study environmental issues that affect people globally through:

• Topic overviews
• Journals
• News
• Multimedia content

Made available by the California State Library.

Explore topics in various science areas such as:

• Earth science
• Biology
• Human Anatomy
• Chemistry

Allows students to manipulate 3D interactive models to visualize and understand biology, chemistry, earth, and space sciences.

Made available by the California State Library.

Research database covering:

• Business
• Computers
• Current Events
• Economics
• Education
• Environmental Issues
• Health Care
• Hobbies
• Humanities
• Law
• Literature and Art
• Politics
• Science
• Social Science
• Sports
• Technology

Reveal your families history with this rich genealogy resource.

• Search historical census databases
• 28,000 local and family histories
• Revolutionary War database search
• Freedman's Bank search

Search thousands of obituaries with HeritageHub via Newsbank.

Learn about Palo Alto history. This online collection contains Palo Alto newspapers going back to the 1870s.

Full-text digital scans are searchable by keyword, name, place, and publishing year.

• Palo Alto Live Oak (10/28/1896 – 1903)
• Palo Alto Press (1901-1902)
• Palo Altan (12/1/1905-12/28/1906, 1912-1914)
• Mayfield Enterprise (3/5/1870-5/3/1871)
• Citizen (3/5/1904-12/31/1905)
• The Daily Palo Alto (published by students of Leland Stanford Univ. 9/3/1902-12/17/1902)
• The Palo Alto Times (1893-11/23/1905)
• The Daily Palo Alto Times (1/9/1908-1918)

Download and stream digital content to your computer or device:

• Streaming movies & TV.
• eBooks
• eAudiobooks
• Graphic novels
• Music albums
• Medici.tv (7-day checkout)

Limit 3 checkouts per month per library card.

We invite you to also try Hoopla's BingePass collection, which allows unlimited streaming of an entire series for seven days with just 1 checkout. Every three months you will also find the Bonus Borrows collection featured on their homepage. Bonus Borrows do not count against your 3 checkout per month limit and are a great way to try something new.

IndieFlix is a movie service that offers access to pop culture favorites, box office hits, award-winning feature films, documentaries and shorts.

Unlimited access is available via the Libby website or the Libby app by following the steps below:

• Add your library card number to log into Libby
• Scroll down and click/tap on the "Extras" section
• Click/tap on "IndieFlix"  to get your 7-day pass

You can always get another 7-day pass to IndieFlix by repeating the above steps after the previous access expires.

If you need help with Libby, please contact Libby Support.

Find data for your research project or grant.

IssueLab contains social sector knowledge covering 30 major areas.  

The documents in each collection area include reports from major organizations, such as:

• the Knight Foundation
• Pew Charitable Trust
• the National League of Cities

Free reports on the state of the Silicon Valley business environment and community. Requires submitting an email address for access to downloads.

Stream great movies to your PC or device, including:

• Great cinema from the Criterion Collection.
• A broad collection of foreign films.
• Engaging lectures from The Great Courses.
• Documentaries from PBS.

Viewing Limits

Customers get 9 tickets per card per month which can be used to watch videos via Kanopy. For more information on tickets, please see this explainer on tickets.

Get Started

Watch Kanopy Tutorial online to get started. Check out Kanopy FAQs if you need help. 

Asian language magazines, including publications from:

• China
• Japan
• Taiwan
• Hong Kong

Legal resources including:

• Immigration
• Family Law
• Housing

Full-text legal books from NOLO Press:

• renter's and landlord's rights
• divorce
• small business start ups

Libby, provided by Overdrive, is a platform for eBooks, audiobooks, magazines and streaming video.

• Almost 3000 eBooks
• Over 3600 audiobooks
• Over 3000 magazines such as The New Yorker, Discover, National Geographic, Forbes, and Newsweek

Libby also provides additional streaming services:

• Qello concert and performance streaming, plus films on music. 
• Indieflix films and documentaries from emerging filmmakers 
• Great Courses college-level lectures and literature

Access:

1. Click the Libby Link
2. Follow the prompts to sign in with your library card. We are a member of the Northern California Digital Library (NCDL).
3. Note that you may need to scroll down or click the "more" button to see our library in the list.

Check out the Libby FAQs if you need help.

LINK+ enables you to borrow books from outside the Palo Alto Library system.

Choose from thousands of online courses to learn in-demand skills from real-world industry experts.

• software development
• business and project management
• creative skills and software training (Adobe, 3D animation, film making, etc.)

Access

• Desktop users: Enter your library account number and PIN with our special link.
• Mobile users: Use library code "paloaltocitylibrary" and then enter your library account and PIN on the following screen.

Search citations of local news stories going back to 1989. Some of the articles can be retrieved from the microfilm collection at Rinconada Library.>

Enjoy picture books with your children in a variety of languages.

• Unlimited access to thousands of digital picture books.
• 70+ World Languages together with English translations.

Learn a new language using real life situations and conversation.

• 70 languages including English
• Memory-building exercises and interactive tools.
• Ages 6 and up.
• One time registration required to save sessions or use mobile app.

Getting started with Mango Languages.

Watch classical concerts anywhere.

• Symphonies
• Operas
• Ballet
• Documentaries

This collection is available through Hoopla as a 7-day checkout.

Research thousands of stocks and funds.

• New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, and NASDAQ.
• Track performance of particular indexes, and sectors.
• Create short lists of stocks, funds and ETF's.

Watch Morningstar Tutorial online to get started.

Kids can explore topics in science, nature, culture, archaeology, and space through this multi-media collection of:

• Videos
• Pictures
• Books
• Magazines

Made possible through the California State Library.

Get access to current news from the New York Times website.

This resource also includes access to articles from 1981-present, as well as 1851-1922. Want to read this newspaper in an app? Use PressReader.

Checkout Procedures

• Click on the authentication link.
• Log in with your 14 digit library barcode and PIN.
• Once logged in, you will be prompted to create an account.
  • During the account creation process, an email must be provided to the New York Times.
• Once logged in, you have access to the New York Times Online for 72 hours.
• After 72 hours has expired, simply click on the authentication link once more to receive another 72-hour checkout.

News from over 2,000 local, regional, and national publications.

• Newspapers, journals, newswires, broadcast transcripts, and videos.
• Thousands of obituaries
• From 53 States and Territories.
• Customize news alerts on specific topics.
• 1978-present.

Explore easy-to-follow video tutorials for our most popular online library resources.

• Learn to access eBooks, research databases, language tools, and more.
• Available anytime, at your own pace.
• Most tutorials include written instructions as well.

Book recommendation service for K-8 readers:

• Notification services
• Fiction and non-fiction recommendations
• Mood-based recommendations
• Core Curriculum recommendations

Book recommendation service:

• Notification services
• Fiction and non-fiction recommendations
• Mood-based recommendations

eBooks, audiobooks and video trainings on computer, technology, and business.

• Over 35,000 technology, digital media, and business eBooks, including Safari Tech Books content, in multiple languages.
• 30,000 hours of video trainings
• curated learning paths and case studies.
• Programming, SQL databases, network administration, and project management
• Titles from Microsoft Press, Adobe Press, Peachpit, and Jossey-Bass.

This service has a 500 daily user limit, so in rare circumstances, users may experience delays in access.

Search Palo Alto obituaries from 1890 to present.

Find career information to help you on your career choices:

• outlook for hundreds of occupations
• descriptions of job types and typical duties
• education and training requirements
• pay ranges

Topical resource on current issues in several areas.

• Business & Economics
• Health & Medicine
• Energy & Environmentalism
• Law & Politics
• Society & Culture
• Science, Technology & Ethics
• War & Diplomacy

Great resources for debates and pro/con papers.

Learn about any subject with this online reference tool. 

• Subject overviews
• Historical timelines
• Quotations

Special Note: We do not subscribe to this full database, use the "by availability" search results filter to narrow your results.

Dive into the history of Palo Alto. PAHA's collections include:

• Historical images
• Local publications
• Obituaries
• Organizational and business archives
• Oral histories

Full-text access to today's national and international newspapers and magazines such as:

• Chicago Tribune
• The Guardian
• Top Magazines

Sign in to the PressReader app or website while connected to the library's wifi to checkout 2-day 'hotspot access' from your device at home or on the go.

Watch PressReader Tutorials online to get started.

Project Gutenberg offers free eBooks and audiobooks.

There are several file formats for download, including the ones compatible with Kindle (mobi), as well as Nook, Kobo or iBooks (epub).

Develop your research skills with these research tutorial videos:

• How to find information
• How to evaluate information
• How to use information

Qello Concerts is the world's largest collection of full-length concerts and music documentaries. 

Unlimited access is available via the Libby website or the Libby app by following the steps below:

• Add your library card number to log into Libby
• Scroll down and click/tap on the "Extras" section
• Click/tap on "Qello Concert" to get your 7-day pass

You can always get another 7-day pass to Qello by repeating the above steps after the previous access expires.

If you need help with Libby, please contact Libby Support.

The Santa Clara County Law Library is a public library providing free access to its legal collection and databases.

Open to residents of Santa Clara County.

For access to the online resources of SCCLL, please contact:

(408) 299-3567 (Recorded Information)
(408) 299-3568
circdesk@sccll.org

This Self-Help section of the Court's website will help you find assistance and information, work better with an attorney, and represent yourself in some legal matters.

Find your next science fair project or explore science topics and news.

• Articles, videos, images and audio files on science topics.
• Chemistry, Biology, Health and Medicine, Math and Technology.
• 200+ experiments and projects from U*X*L Experiment Central.
• Citation tools make creating a bibliography easy.

A curated reference database for educators teaching basic research skills in primary and secondary education.

Resources include:

• General reference
• Common assignments
• Biographies
• Animals
• Countries
• Pro/con
• Lexiles

Curate pro/con database for middle and high school students, university undergraduates and instructors.

• Pro/con
• Controversial issues
• Persuasive writing
• Argument
• Social issues

California social studies facts for beginning researchers.

• Missions and Ranchos, Indigenous Peoples, governors and explorers.
• Explore California history by decade.
• Topics from California social studies curriculum.
• Grades 4-8.

An invaluable resource to explore American history as seen through the eyes of Stanford undergraduates.

• The collection contains 18,931 issues dating back to 1892.
• Issues are presented both as originally printed and in plain text.
• The collection is entirely searchable.

The Sutro Library holds the original collection of Adolph Sutro (1830–1898), California businessman and San Francisco mayor.

• The largest genealogy collections in the U.S.
• William Shakespeare's First, Second, Third and Fourth folios (1623–1685);
• Letters and papers of British explorer and naturalist Joseph Banks (1800s);
• The Mexican Collection: materials on Mexican culture, religion and politics (1540–1889)
• Belgian mapmaker Pieter van den Keere's World Map (1611).

Enrich your reading experience for children's and young adult literature.

• Author interview, read-alongs and explanations of their work
• Reader's advisory
• Teacher and librarian resources

Teaching Books provides multimedia resources for exploring a wide range of children's and young adult literature and authors, with instant access to educational content.

• Short movies
• Audiobook readings
• Book discussion guides

• English and math skill-building
• AP Subjects and High School Equivalency tests
• College Prep like the ACT and SAT
• Career and military tests
• GMAT, GRE, LSAT and other college exams
• TOEIC, TOEFL and US citizenship exams

* Requires customers to create a user name and password on the NelNetSolutions.com site (after authenticating as a library user with barcode and PIN when accessing outside the library).

Explore U.S. history from pre-colonial time to present.

• Articles on events, individuals, and periods of U.S. History.
• Translate or listen to articles.
• Citation tools make creating a bibliography easy.

U.S. Newsstream is a comprehensive collection that covers local, national, and international news, updated daily. You can search current U.S. news content, as well as archives that stretch back into the 1980s.

Key U.S. titles include:

• The New York Times (backfile from 1980 forward)
• The Wall Street Journal (from 1984 forward)
• The Washington Post (from 1987 forward)
• Los Angeles Times (from 1985 forward)
• Chicago Tribune (from 1985 forward)
• The Boston Globe (from 1980 forward)
• CNN Newswires
• The Huffington Post

It also offers exclusive access to over 80 Gannett regional newspapers and includes hundreds of other local, regional, and national titles from throughout the U.S.

Data from the United States Census Bureau

Enhance your investment expertise with this comprehensive market analysis and educational resource.

• Gain valuable market insights
• Stay informed with daily market updates
• Access in-depth investment learning materials

Limited to 3 simultaneous library users at a time.

This is an all-in-one suite of services designed for career or veteran needs. Here you can get online coaching and self-study tools to:

• Update your resume
• Write a cover letter
• Prepare for a job interview
• Navigate veteran benefits and community resources
• Collaborative learning tools

The Virtual Privacy Lab at San Jose Public Library offers ways to educate yourself on the underlying technical issues that make online privacy challenging.

• Privacy topics
• Customizable privacy toolkit
• Solutions to privacy issue

Get online access to current business news from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Checkout Procedures

• Click on the authentication link.
• Enter your 14 digit library barcode and PIN if you are accessing the link remotely for the first time. 
• After logging in, you will be prompted to create an account and accept their Privacy Notice, Subscriber Agreement, and Cookie Notice.
  • During the account creation process, an email must be provided to the Wall Street Journal.
  • Do not share your Wall Street Journal account with others.
• You have access to the Wall Street Journal for 3 days.
• After 72 hours has expired, simply click on the authentication link once more to receive another 3 day checkout.

Unlimited digital access to WashingtonPost.com available outside of the library.

• Expert reporting and analysis from Washington and around the world.
• Real-time Q&A Discussions providing a behind the scenes look at key stories.
• Live-streaming of Washington Post Live events.

Checkout Procedure

• Click on the authentication link.
• Create an account with WashingtonPost.com
• Once logged in, you have unlimited access to The Washington Post website.
• Note that closing your web browser or restarting your computer may require revisiting the authentication link.

Unlimited digital access to WashingtonPost.com without creating a new account.

• Expert reporting and analysis from Washington and around the world.
• Real-time Q&A Discussions providing a behind the scenes look at key stories.
• Live-streaming of Washington Post Live events.

Checkout Procedure

• Click on the authentication link.
• Log in with your 14 digit library barcode and PIN.
• Once logged in, you have unlimited access to The Washington Post website.
• Note that closing your web browser or restarting your computer may require revisiting the authentication link.

Learn more about world history, politics, economics, and culture.

• Articles on history, political movements, and current events.
• Cross searchable with U.S. History In Context.
• Translate or listen to articles.
• Citation tools make creating a bibliography easy.

Search library catalogs from around the world.

Note: Palo Alto City Library does not have inter-library loan services with libraries outside the LINK+ system. Most resources found in WorldCat will require a library account with the library holding a particular item.