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Get ready for a great adventure!

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Summary

Looking for a quarantine activity? The city's virtual library provides free access to thousands of e-books, movies, and educational resources.

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Start learning, reading, and discovering today! Get your free e-library card here.

Who else could use a little distraction right now?

 

Lose yourself in a good book. Expand your mind by learning something completely new. Soothe your soul with music.

 

The library can help.

 

That’s right, the library. Even though all of the Austin Public Library’s physical locations are closed, the city’s virtual library is buzzing with possibilities. Austin’s virtual library has over 800,000 different items (including e-books, movies, online courses, and audio-books), all available for free, from your own home.

 

Never heard of the virtual library before? You’re not alone. That’s why The Austin Common sat down (virtually) with local librarians Amy Mullin & Maggie Bond to talk about the many ways you can enjoy the library’s resources, even during the pandemic. You can watch our full video interview and virtual tour (or check out our summarized list) below.

 Here’s a few of the virtual library’s Services You Can Access From Home:

 

1. OverDrive – e-books, audio books, and video streaming

 

2. RB Digital – indie flicks, live music concert recordings, e-magazines

 

3. Great Courses – audio and video courses

Everything from “Becoming A Great Essayist” to “The Everyday Guide To Wine.”

 

4. Brainfuse – live tutoring in English and Spanish

Brainfuse offers live tutoring everyday from 2pm to 11pm for learners of all age groups – adults, college students, and kids.

“So Brainfuse is a fantastic way if your, say 8 year old, is studying fractions and and you haven’t touched fractions in 30 years,” Amy said, “send them to Brainfuse, and it will save you a headache trying to relearn fractions.”

 

5. Mango Languages – learn over 70 world languages

 

6. Electric Lady Bird – local music streaming service

Listen to commercial-free music from local bands 24/7.

PS – Electric Lady Bird is opening another round of artist submissions on May 1st. If you want your music to be featured (and earn a little extra cash), you can apply here.

“We’re also hoping this will help out a lot of musicians who couldn’t play SXSW, they’re not playing out right now,” Amy said. “This is a great way to get their music out there and we also do pay them if we accept their album for submission.”

 

7. Kanopy – stream documentaries, art house films, indie movies

 

8. Access your favorite magazines and newspapers for free – Austin American-Statesman and the New York Times are both available.

 

9. APL+ – the library’s beloved in-person programming… gone virtual!

 

“I am about to, hopefully,” Maggie said, “do a series of videos with my partner in crime, Julie, and we do the True Crime Book Club, and we cannot wait to talk to people and to engage with people a little bit that way…It’s going to be so fun.” 

 

10. Book A Librarian – reserve 30 minutes of uninterrupted time with a reference librarian

 

Struggling to use any of these digital tools? Spending quarantine working on a research project and need some help?

“The amazing thing about being a librarian is that people ask us literally any question on earth,” Maggie said… And reference librarians like here are here help!

 

One last thing. Don’t have a library card? Here’s how to get one.

Even though the physical locations of the library aren’t open, you can still get an e-card here. E-cards are free for anyone who lives within Austin city limits and $22/ a year if you live outside the city. Your application will be processed within 2-3 days, and then you’ll have full access to all that the virtual library has to offer!

Have any more questions? Don’t be afraid to reach out to the library. As Maggie says, “We’re here for you.”

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Would you like to learn more about seasonal and local cooking? Join us for a delicious evening with the Sustainable Food Center. They’ll be doing a live cooking demonstration using seasonal ingredients with samples for the first 50 attendees (signup sheet will be available beginning at 6:15 PM). The recipe is smoky black bean quinoa salad (safe for all major dietary restrictions). We’ll also have a mini version of the Central Texas Seed Library on hand so you can check out seeds and plant summer produce at home. The complete circulating collection of the Central Texas Seed Library is housed in the classic card catalog cabinet located in the northwest corner of the Austin Central Library’s 6th floor. In the meantime, check out our list of cookbooks focusing on seasonal ingredients for inspiration.

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Do you have items you bought and don’t use, samples you never got around to trying out, or products you don’t use anymore and don’t want to throw out what’s remaining to end up in a landfill?

Then, this swap is for you!

Bring items that are CLEAN and still usable(no old items or items gone bad).

EXAMPLES:
Haircare – shampoo, hairspray, conditioner, dry shampoo

Skincare – cleansers, toners, moisturizers

Bath and Body Products – body lotions, sunscreen, bath bombs, soap

Personal Care – dental floss, razors, paper products, contact lens solutions, eye drops, vitamins, tampons, pads

Makeup/Cosmetics – lipstick, gloss, foundation, eyeliner, eye shadow, nail polish remover, nail files

Cleaning Products – laundry soap, dish soap, hand soap, spray cleaners, carpet cleaners, wipes, floor cleaner, toilet cleaner, dryer sheets, bleach

Baby Products – baby wipes, baby lotions, oils, children’s toothpaste, children’s sunscreens

Lawn and Garden – weed killers, insect killers, gardening fertilizers, grilling supplies (starters, etc.)

Food and Kitchen – non perishable foods, canned foods, spices, tea, birthday candles

Household – candles, birthday candles, paper plates, plastic cutlery, napkins, toilet paper, paper towels, lightbulbs, air fresheners

Leftover items will be donated.

Come out, mingle and have fun!

NOTE: We will be in the meeting room of the library. It’s a small library, so if you cannot find the meeting room, just ask at the front.

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Austin Central Library hosts Calder Kamin’s exhibition What a Mess, April 16-May 24, showcasing trash transformed into sculptures, animations and installations, commenting on the mess humans have made for our natural neighbors throughout our existence. Through her art advocacy, she encourages audiences to find courage to withstand the growing pains by ending our wasteful culture, dependency on oil, and finding new resolutions.

This exhibition is dedicated to the student strikes #FridaysforFuture.

Image: Plastic Planet Stag, 2018, Calder Kamin, photo by Philip Rogers

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Austin Central Library hosts Calder Kamin’s exhibition What a Mess, April 16-May 24, showcasing trash transformed into sculptures, animations and installations, commenting on the mess humans have made for our natural neighbors throughout our existence. Through her art advocacy, she encourages audiences to find courage to withstand the growing pains by ending our wasteful culture, dependency on oil, and finding new resolutions.

An Artist Talk & Workshop is scheduled for Thursday, May 16, 6-8 PM.

This exhibition is dedicated to the student strikes #FridaysforFuture.

Image: Plastic Planet Stag, 2018, Calder Kamin, photo by Philip Rogers

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