Living Local — Las Vegas’s Unsung Resource Is Better than Ever!

I stopped by the local branch of the Clark County Library to check on education options (discussed in last week’s post) and was totally blown away by the online and streaming options now offered for the free price of a library card.

Here is a partial list, which I have unfortunately been unable to totally check out. Please note that several of the services do overlap, so be sure to check out all in each area of interest. Also, you have to initially sign up for most of them through the library website, lvccld.org, and only after you have a library card and a PIN.

STREAMING

FreeGal: streaming music service with 15 million+ songs available through your computer, tablet, or phone.

Hoopla and Kanopy: two top-grade streaming services accessed through a phone, tablet, Roku, or TV. Each allows up to 10 free monthly selections from their vast collections of film/TV/videos, music, and e-books (including graphic novels and comics). An entire season of a show is one selection. I found sign-up for both quick and easy.

RB Digital: vast selections of audiobooks, magazines, and videos—everything from Acorn TV and Great Courses to the latest copy of the National Enquirer. Accessed through computer, tablet, or phone. Spanish-language books and videos are available through their Pongalo service.

E-BOOKS & MAGAZINES

Flipster: download copies of your favorite magazines to your phone or tablet.

Libby: extensive e-book collection, including the latest version of the Dummies series, as well as audio versions of books and plays (performed by the L.A. Theatre Works).

Press Reader: check out PDF versions of thousands of newspapers and magazines.

EDUCATION

Creative Bug: online videos in painting, knitting, sewing and other crafts

Gale Courses: hundreds of instructor-led online learning courses, including accounting and finance, legal, writing and publishing, and computer applications.

GFC Global: operated by Goodwill Industries, this site offers a selection of courses in basic skill,s including reading, math, and finance.

Lydia.com: Top-rated business and technical education site, with both single courses and complete learning paths (become a 3D visual design specialist in 53 hours, a songwriter in 22).

Testing & Education: excellent resource for the college bound, including test prep, college database, and scholarship tools. Also offers practice tests for U.S. citizenship.

Transparent Language: comprehensive language-learning solution through RB Digital (see above).

PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE

EmployNV: resumé writing assistance, job readiness activities and job search capabilities with special areas for veterans, seniors, youth and other labor market sectors.

VetNow: online resources for veterans and their families with assistance in navigating the VA bureaucracy plus educational and employment training.

For more information on any of them go to https://lvccld.org/online-resources/ or stop by your local branch, ask the staff or scan the branch for some very helpful flyers.