by Steve Traiman
FREE services you can access from anywhere through St. Pete Beach Library online. The library has long been the go-to place for researching information and seeking free entertainment. It is still a terrific place to get out of the mid-day sun and be entertained or learn something. In the digital age, people do not search the stacks to check out books as much as they used to,but many library card holders use their library card numbers to access a wide variety of free services through apps on their smartphones. Here are a few, for example, that are available to SPB Library Card Holders. Anyone 16 and older with valid photo id and proof of residence can get one, usually for free, good for 3 years. You can apply online at Pinellas Public Library Cooperative www.pplc.us or in person at a library.
Libby (formerly known as Overdrive) offers eBooks, eAudiobooks, and 100s of popular magazines. In fact, you can request alerts when each new issue of your favorite magazines is available! Libby is available to anyone with a valid PPLC (Pinellas Public Library Cooperative) card. Download the app on your smartphone or tablet, or access online at www.libbyapp.com.
CloudLibrary offers eBooks and eAudiobooks to St. Pete Beach Library card holders (and possibly other libraries as well, including Seminole, Palm Harbor, St. Petersburg, and East Lake). The wait for these items is usually shorter than Libby. There are no magazines here. Download the app on your smartphone or tablet or log in at www.yourcloudlibrary.com.
Hoopla is offered by most libraries in Pinellas so your PPLC card will likely give you access. Hoopla offers a variety of formats including audiobooks, eBooks, comics, movies, TV, magazines, or music. There are limits to how much you can watch or read each month, but the app is available for your TV too! Download the app on your smartphone or tablet or log in at www.hoopladigital.com.
Kanopy offers streaming movies, documentaries, foreign films, classic cinema, independent films and educational videos to St. Pete Beach Library cardholders (and maybe through other libraries). There’s a TV app for this service as well. Download the app on your smartphone, tablet or TV or log in at www.kanopy.com.
Freegal is a music streaming service, but you can also download three songs per week and build your collection over time. This is free and legal music; get it? Freegal! St. Pete Beach cardholders have access. Download the app on your smartphone or tablet or log in at www.freegalmusic.com.
America’s News with NewsBank provides a comprehensive collection of reliable news sources covering a wide array of topics and issues. Go to www.SPBLibrary.com and under Newspapers, click on “America’s News.” Log in with your library card number.
The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal are available in both print (in-house reading only) and digital remote access through the generosity of the Friends of St. Pete Beach Library to St. Pete Beach Library cardholders. Access this and all of the following through the library website at www.SPBLibrary.com.
New to investing? Planning for retirement? Morningstar Investment Research Center’s newsletter, personal finance articles, informative videos and analyst insights are free to St. Pete Beach Library cardholders.
NetSmartz Kids Internet Safety teaches kids to be safe online through games and videos.
Consumer Reports online offers ratings and reviews for thousands of products and services. New in October, complements of the Friends of the St. Pete Beach Library.
AtoZ Databases Profiles over 30 million U.S. businesses and executives, and over 220 million U.S. residents. Ideal for finding friends and relatives, market research, sales leads, and mailing list.