Free Resources

POWER Library Has More Than You Think

Look I love Libby, let’s be clear about that, it is a brilliant resource for so many great reads. But I also have a confession to make… it doesn’t always have EVERYTHING I need. *GASP* I know. I will pause for you to compose yourself.

*DRAMATIC PAUSE FOR EFFECT*

BUT – just because Libby may not offer a book does not meant the library does not have it. We may OF COURSE have a physical copy (please come see us in person we miss you) but we may also have that eBook you need RIGHT NOW via one of the last places you may think to look. The State Library’s POWER Library!!!

POWER is a very underused brilliant offering that I have found often has those sneaky eBooks that Libby just does not offer. And it has an easy way to find all of their eBook offerings in one place!

I get it you are saying… surely you must be joking, Libby has everything I need!

Well, let me give you an example. I just bought a new house and I am looking for an easy to care for lawn. And do you know what one of the easiest to care for lawns is? Moss. Well, when I go to see about how to care for moss gardens this is what Libby had to say for itself.

Libby, sweetheart, no – not even remotely what I needed.

So, I went to the ever handy POWER Library E-Book Collection and did the same search and HUZZAH!

POWER, I appreciate you.

So, now all I had to do is click on the “Electronic Location” link and… TA-DA!

Okay, I know that doesn’t look very exciting but it is what I needed and was looking for – so it was a success!

What I am trying to say is that the library DOES have that eBook or resource you are looking for electronically it just may not always be on Libby. Give POWER a chance and see everything that the State has wonderfully bestowed upon us.

Drop us a message or shoot your message to the State librarians via POWER’s chat function, someone is always willing to help you find the resource you need even when it isn’t where you think.

-Adrianne, Northland Public Library

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Go Out and Find A Grave

Graveyards can be eerie places, don’t get me wrong. Especially this time of year when the leaves are off the trees and the weather is a seasonally appropriate 80 degrees Fahrenheit. But there are plenty of reasons why you would want to stroll among the headstones. Perhaps you’re visiting a loved one, searching for the grave of a newly discovered ancestor, or paying your respects to a dear cultural icon.

There’s also a livestream if you want to see Andy Warhol’s grave but you’re not so invested that you would drive to the South Hills.

How would I go about locating a grave? You just access the publicly available, totally free to use Find A Grave. You can search for people by name, location, D.O.B., D.O.D, names of relatives, plot numbers, and more! You can also browse specific cemeteries or browse for cemeteries by location. A neat feature for the morbidly (read: academically) curious is the famous grave search, where you can find the resting places of famous people!

And if you’re looking for some spooky fun grave facts for tonight’s Halloween party, you can rattle on about the famous graves of Pennsylvania!

One of the coolest features of the site is that members can contribute information, like memorial data and photos. This is helpful for creating a more comprehensive resource for genealogy researchers and folks who are searching for the lost graves of relatives.

So, if you go out to the graveyard today, you may want to bring your smartphone so you can better navigate your way through history with Find A Grave.

Derek – South Park Township Library

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Free Movies = Best Movies

It’s that time of year – everybody wants the same ten movies, they’re all checked out, your horror movie collection has been gutted worse than the characters in the movies…and the requests just won’t stop coming.

We of course have a variety of tools at our disposal to handle situations like this, but I wanted to give you another one: Tubi.com. Tubi is a totally free and legal streaming service – just make an account and get started.

Now, the trick to Tubi is that you’re not going to find the newest Marvel movie on there. Often, Tubi picks up movies by independent filmmakers, or older movies whose rights are less exclusive/tricky to navigate. I wouldn’t send a patron to Tubi if they’re looking for a very specific title, but the fun here is in browsing and seeing what’s available – especially for horror fans. Tubi is chockful of low budget independent horror, things you won’t really find anywhere else. It’s a great way to discover new voices and approaches to the genre, for people who maybe are a little bit over your usual jumpscare and generous stabbings, or just want to put on something spooky in the background with friends.

(My recommendations to get people started out? Try Sleepaway Camp if they like slashers, and Night of the Creeps for aliens, zombies, and pure camp)

Some other non-horror films you can find on Tubi:

12 Angry Men

The Shawshank Redemption

To Kill a Mockingbird

The Mask (okay, non-horror but it’ll still haunt your dreams)

I hope your patrons find something new and fresh this spooky season!

-Jaime, Penn Hills Library

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Research with POWER Library

School is back in session, which for many students means homework. The library is here to help with resources like POWER Library. Free to anyone with a Pennsylvania library card, POWER Library offers access to many databases on various subjects.

Helping students navigate a research project and look for information? Check out the Gale research databases! There are ones specifically for elementary, middle, and high school students.

Students can find anything ranging from articles, to images, to videos for their projects. In addition to being able to print and email content, the databases will also show students how to cite their resources.

Be sure to explore what else POWER Library has to offer.

-Erin Weaver, Bridgeville Public Library

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