Did you know that A.K. Smiley Library is more than just books? We also have online databases one can access with their library card number and PIN. We are very excited to announce that we now have Learning Express Library Complete! This database has resources for everyone. Students who need to study for the SAT can take a practice test online. Adults who are looking for career exams like Civil Service or Cosmetology can find study guides and practice tests. There are even resources for 4th-8th graders such as math and language skills improvement. All of these tests/exams are the most current versions. For computer help Learning Express Library Complete offers an online session for computer basics. All patrons need to do is create a user name and password.
A second database AKSPL offers is Ancestry.com library edition. Genealogy has grown in popularity—especially when it comes to true crime cases being solved with it. Ancestry.com is only available inside the Library. There is no remote access at this time. However, one does not need to create an account with them. Bring it up on one of our public computers or a laptop and one can start researching new branches of their family tree.
A third database AKSPL offers is Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints. This is a great research tool for a school pro/con essay assignment. There is remote access – one just needs their library card number. Popular topics that are updated are politics, health and medicine, and society/culture. The articles here are clearly and concisely broken down explaining each side of the pro/con argument. For students needing to cite their research there is a box at the end of the article which shows how to format it in MLA, APA, or the Chicago Manual of Style.
Lastly, for veterans who are looking for resources, AKSPL offers VetNow. All one needs to do is login with their library card number as a remote user. It offers resume assistance, job resources, and a live Veteran Navigator for help with VA benefits. One can also create an account with their own username and password for a more personalized experience.
The best part about all of these databases is that they are available to the public for free! Research should not cost anything. To use these or any of our other databases start by getting a library card. All that is required is a photo ID with current address or photo ID with proof of address if one just moved to the area. A full listing of our databases can be found at: https://www.akspl.org/elibrary/#eDatabases.