A-Z Resources

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.

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.

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.

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.

Download and stream digital content to your computer or device:

• Streaming movies & TV.
• eBooks
• eAudiobooks
• Graphic novels
• Music albums

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.

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

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.

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. 

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library. Palo Alto City Library has access from Oct 1, 2021 to Sep 30, 2024.

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

• Unlimited access to thousands of digital picture books
• 65+ 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.

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).

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.