What You Need to Know About PWPL Digital Library and Its Electronic Resources
Prince William County Public Library Electronic Resources
Do you love reading books, magazines, and newspapers? Do you enjoy listening to audiobooks and music? Do you like watching videos and documentaries? Do you want to learn new skills, languages, or hobbies? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you will be delighted to know that the Prince William County Public Library (PWPL) offers a wide range of electronic resources that you can access for free with your library card.
prince william county public library electronic resources
Electronic resources are digital materials that you can access online or download to your computer or mobile device. They include e-books, audiobooks, magazines, newspapers, music, videos, databases, test guides, language learning tools, genealogy records, and more. They are convenient, easy to use, and available 24/7. You can enjoy them at home, at work, or on the go.
In this article, we will introduce you to the types of electronic resources that PWPL provides through its digital library. We will also show you how to access them using your library card, digital library card, mobile apps, or web browser. By the end of this article, you will be able to explore the digital library and discover new ways of learning and entertainment.
Types of Electronic Resources
PWPL's digital library provides free access to thousands of online and digital resources that you can organize by four categories: Read, Listen, Watch, or Learn. You can also search by subject or browse by alphabetical order. Here is an overview of each category and some examples of the electronic resources that you can find in them.
Read
If you are a reader, you will love the variety of e-books, magazines, and newspapers that you can access from the digital library. You can read them online or download them to your device for offline reading. You can also adjust the font size, brightness, and layout to suit your preferences. Here are some of the platforms that you can use to access these materials.
E-books: You can access and download e-books from various platforms such as OverDrive, hoopla, and RBdigital. OverDrive and hoopla offer a large collection of fiction and nonfiction titles for all ages and interests. RBdigital specializes in classic literature and romance novels. You can borrow up to 10 e-books at a time from each platform and keep them for up to 21 days.
Magazines: You can browse and read digital magazines from Flipster and RBdigital. Flipster offers popular magazines such as People, Time, National Geographic, and Consumer Reports. RBdigital offers more than 3,000 magazines from around the world in different languages and genres. You can read as many magazines as you want and keep them for as long as you want.
Newspapers: You can access local, national, and international newspapers from America's Newspapers and World News. America's Newspapers provides current and archived articles from more than 9,000 newspapers in the United States, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and USA Today. World News provides access to more than 10,000 news sources from 172 countries, including The Guardian, The Times of India, and China Daily.
Listen
If you prefer listening to reading, you will enjoy the selection of audiobooks and music that you can access from the digital library. You can listen to them online or download them to your device for offline listening. You can also adjust the playback speed, volume, and bookmarks to suit your needs. Here are some of the platforms that you can use to access these materials.
Audiobooks: You can access and download audiobooks from various platforms such as OverDrive, hoopla, and RBdigital. OverDrive and hoopla offer a large collection of fiction and nonfiction titles for all ages and interests. RBdigital specializes in classic literature and romance novels. You can borrow up to 10 audiobooks at a time from each platform and keep them for up to 21 days.
Music: You can stream and download music from Freegal and hoopla. Freegal offers more than 15 million songs from over 40,000 labels, including Sony Music Entertainment. You can stream up to three hours of music per day and download up to five songs per week. hoopla offers more than 300,000 albums from various genres and artists. You can borrow up to 10 albums per month and keep them for up to seven days.
Watch
If you are a visual learner or a movie lover, you will appreciate the variety of videos that you can access from the digital library. You can stream or download videos to your device for offline viewing. You can also adjust the quality, subtitles, and captions to suit your preferences. Here are some of the platforms that you can use to access these materials.
Videos: You can stream or download videos from Access Video On Demand, hoopla, and Kanopy. Access Video On Demand offers tens of thousands of educational videos, including content from PBS, BBC, National Geographic, and many other content providers. hoopla offers more than 80,000 movies, TV shows, documentaries, and educational videos for all ages and interests. Kanopy offers more than 30,000 films, including award-winning documentaries, indie films, foreign films, classics, and children's movies.
Learn
If you want to learn new skills, languages, or hobbies, you will find a wealth of online databases that you can access from the digital library. These databases provide reliable information on various topics such as research, education, personal development, health, finance, genealogy, etc. You can also use them to prepare for standardized tests or learn a new language. Here are some examples of the databases that you can find in the digital library.
Test Guides: You can prepare for standardized tests with LearningExpress Library and Testing & Education Reference Center. LearningExpress Library offers practice tests, tutorials, and e-books for academic and career advancement. You can find tests for GED, SAT, ACT, AP, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, TOEFL, ASVAB, civil service, military, nursing, and more. Testing & Education Reference Center offers practice tests, courses, scholarship information, and career tools. You can find tests for college admission, graduate school admission, professional certification, licensing, and aptitude.
Language Learning: You can learn a new language with Mango Languages and Pronunciator. Mango Languages offers interactive lessons for more than 70 languages, including English as a second language. You can learn vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and culture through conversations and games. Pronunciator offers self-paced courses for more than 160 languages, including English as a second language. You can learn listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through drills, quizzes, and live tutors.
Genealogy: You can trace your family history with Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest Online. Ancestry Library Edition provides access to billions of records from the United States and around the world. You can find records from the census, military, court, land, probate, vital, church, directories, passenger lists, and more. HeritageQuest Online provides access to millions of records from the United States. You can find records from the census, books, serials, Revolutionary War pensions, Freedman's Bank records, and more.
How to Access Electronic Resources
Now that you know the types of electronic resources that PWPL provides through its digital library, you may wonder how to access them. The good news is that it is very easy and convenient to do so. All you need is a valid library card or a digital library card. You can also use mobile apps or a web browser to access the electronic resources on your device. Here are the requirements and steps to access the electronic resources from PWPL digital library.
Library Card
The first thing you need to access the electronic resources from PWPL digital library is a valid library card. A library card is a plastic card that you can use to borrow physical and digital materials from the library. It also gives you access to the library's computers and online services.
If you already have a library card from PWPL or any of its reciprocal libraries in Virginia (Alexandria Library; Arlington Public Library; Central Rappahannock Regional Library; Fairfax County Public Library; Fauquier County Public Library; Loudoun County Public Library; Prince William County Public Schools), you can use it to access the electronic resources from PWPL digital library.
If you do not have a library card yet, you can apply for one online or in person. To apply online, go to the online catalog and click on "Don't Have a PWPL library card?" to start an application. You will need to provide your name, address, phone number, email address, date of birth, and photo ID number. You will receive a temporary barcode that you can use to access the electronic resources for 30 days.
To apply in person, visit any of PWPL's 12 libraries and show identification with your current address. You will need to fill out an application form and receive your library card on the spot. You can use your library card immediately to access the electronic resources.
Digital Library Card
If you do not have a library card yet or if you do not want to apply for one online or in person, you have another option: a digital library card. A digital library card is a virtual card that you can use to access the electronic resources from PWPL digital library only. It does not give you access to the physical materials or computers from the library.
phone number, email address, and zip code. You will receive a digital library card number that you can use to access the electronic resources for five years.
If you have any issues accessing the electronic resources with your digital library card, please call a staff member to assist you.
Mobile Apps
One of the easiest and most convenient ways to access the electronic resources from PWPL digital library is to use mobile apps on your smartphone or tablet. Mobile apps are software applications that you can download and install on your device. They allow you to access the electronic resources without using a web browser or entering your library card number every time.
Some of the platforms that provide mobile apps for accessing electronic resources include Libby, by OverDrive; hoopla; Kanopy; Mango Languages; Pronunciator; and Freegal. You can find these apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play, or the Microsoft store. You can also click on their logos in the digital library website to download them.
To use these apps, you will need to create an account with your email address and password. You will also need to enter your library card number or digital library card number once to link your account to PWPL digital library. Then, you can browse, borrow, download, and enjoy the electronic resources on your device.
Note: The legacy OverDrive app is no longer available to download from the Apple App Store, Google Play, or the Microsoft store. Instead, please download the Libby, by OverDrive app.
Web Browser
Another way to access the electronic resources from PWPL digital library is to use a web browser on your computer or mobile device. A web browser is a software application that allows you to access websites and online services. Some of the common web browsers include Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Internet Explorer.
To use a web browser to access the electronic resources, you will need to go to the digital library website and click on the platform that you want to use. You will be redirected to the platform's website where you will need to enter your library card number or digital library card number to access the electronic resources. Then, you can browse, borrow, read, listen, watch, or learn online.
Some of the platforms that allow you to access the electronic resources through a web browser include OverDrive; hoopla; RBdigital; Flipster; America's Newspapers and World News; Access Video On Demand; Gale Courses; LearningExpress Library; Testing & Education Reference Center; Ancestry Library Edition; and HeritageQuest Online.
Note: Some platforms may require you to create an account or install additional software to access the electronic resources through a web browser. Some platforms may not allow you to download the electronic resources through a web browser. Please check the platform's website for more details.
Conclusion
In this article, we have introduced you to the types of electronic resources that PWPL provides through its digital library. We have also shown you how to access them using your library card, digital library card, mobile apps, or web browser. We hope that you have learned something new and useful from this article.
Electronic resources are a great way to enrich your life and build your community. They offer you unlimited access to thousands of online and digital materials that you can enjoy anytime and anywhere. They also help you save money, space, and time by eliminating the need for physical copies, storage, and transportation.
We invite you to explore the digital library and discover new ways of learning and entertainment. Whether you want to read a book, listen to an audiobook, watch a video, or learn a new skill, you will find something that suits your needs and interests in the digital library.
If you have any questions or feedback about the electronic resources or the digital library, please feel free to contact us at any time. We are always happy to help you and hear from you. Thank you for choosing PWPL as your source of information and inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I renew or return an electronic resource?
A: Most electronic resources are automatically returned at the end of their loan period. You do not need to worry about late fees or damaged items. However, if you want to return an electronic resource early or renew it for another loan period (if available), you can do so through the platform's website or app. Please check the platform's website for more details.
Q: How do I place a hold or request an electronic resource?
A: Some electronic resources may not be available for immediate borrowing due to high demand or limited copies. In that case, you can place a hold or request an electronic resource through the platform's website or app. You will be notified by email when the electronic resource is available for you to borrow. Please check the platform's website for more details.
Q: How do I suggest an electronic resource for purchase?
A: If you cannot find an electronic resource that you are looking for in the digital library, you can suggest it for purchase through the online catalog. You will need to log in with your library card number or digital library card number and fill out a form with the title, author, format, and other information of the electronic resource. We will consider your suggestion and notify you of the outcome.
Q: How do I get technical support for an electronic resource?
A: If you encounter any technical issues with an electronic resource, such as downloading, streaming, logging in, or accessing, you can get technical support from the platform's website or app. You can also contact us by phone, email, or chat and we will try our best to assist you.
Q: How do I find more information about an electronic resource?
A: If you want to find more information about an electronic resource, such as its description, reviews, ratings, recommendations, or related materials, you can visit the platform's website or app. You can also visit PWPL Discover & Learn for tutorials and more.
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