Most people associate libraries with borrowing books. At MCPL, we're proud to have a collection that includes picture books to adult fiction to biographies and beyond (with detours through wordless picture books, graphic novels, cookbooks, test manuals, and more). Our collection currently includes titles in eight (8) non-English languages. We also offer multiple e-book and electronic audiobook services for our customers.
However, your library card offers a lot more than books. Here are five non-book resources you might not know that you can access with your library card:
Go! Kits. These special science-themed kits are available in two levels: Little Explorers for kids ages 3–6 and Young Voyagers for kids in grades 3–6. These kits can be checked out by an adult for a two-week borrowing period, and include books, toys, and activities related to the kit's theme, as well a tablet for accessing science-themed apps. Go! Kits are currently available at nine (9) branches. Follow the links above for up-to-date information about Go! Kit locations.
Prepare for tests. Our database collection includes driving-tests.org, which includes practice tests for the written portion of Maryland's permit test, as well as Maryland's Driver's Handbook. We also offer Gale's Testing and Education Reference Center, which includes test prep materials and practice tests for a variety of tests, including college admission exams.
Borrow Kill-A-Watt kits.Place a hold through our catalog and request a Kill-A-Watt meter to be picked up at your branch. These devices allow you to measure the energy consumed by different household devices. They can be valuable for determining which devices are high energy users in your home, and for determining the power used by devices when they are turned off, sometimes called standby power, vampire power, or phantom load.
Take online classes. Build your professional or technical skills with offerings from our Gale Courses service or learn a new language with Mango Languages or Rosetta Stone for adults and Muzzy for children. You can even earn your high school diploma with Career Online High School. For those looking for a more artistic learning experience, our new ArtistWorks database offers music and drawing classes.
Download and stream music. Our Freegal service offers customers five (5) free downloads per week from a collection that includes a range of popular current tracks ("Hello" anyone?) and classics (Beethoven? Brahms?). Our Alexander Street streaming music databases offer a variety of genres, including classical, world music, and jazz, and a few even offer monthly downloads of select tracks.
September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, and that makes it the perfect time to get or renew your card and start checking out some of these items today!
