Online Resources

Know what you are looking for? Use the search bar to find resources by name or descriptions, scan the listings in alphabetical order, or use filters to explore different subjects, formats, age groups and more.


ABC Mouse

A subscription-based digital educational program that helps kids learn to read through phonics, and teaches lessons in math, social studies, art, music, and much more. 

Only in library branches

Ancestry.com

A searchable collection of billions of historical records from the USA and other countries. Get access to census and military records, birth, marriage and death records, and immigration records. Available at public computers at all Brooklyn Public Library locations.

For remote access to U.S. Federal Census records, genealogical and historical sources for more than 60 countries, Census data, slave schedules, maps, local history books and articles, and more, please visit our HeritageQuest resource.

Only in library branches

BookFlix

Encourages reading by pairing streaming video storybooks with related fiction and non-fiction titles for children.

Library card required

Brainfuse HelpNow

Brainfuse HelpNow offers personalized academic assistance in core subjects (math, reading, writing, science), a 24/7 Writing Lab, academic content and practice tests for skills-building (including SAT preparation), and much more. Live tutoring from Brainfuse experts is available from 2:00 PM - 11:00 PM EST.

Library card required

Brainfuse JobNow

Brainfuse JobNow is designed to support every step of the job search process:

  • Find live online coaches who assist with job search, resumes, interviews and more from 2:00 PM - 11:00 PM EST every day
  • Check out eParachute to discover careers that match your skills and interests
  • Check out SkillsFirst to find sample resumes in your profession
  • Check out SkillSurfer for study materials
  •  

 

 

Library card required

BrainPop

Watch animated movies, play learning games, and more. Includes BrainPOP Jr. (K-3), BrainPOP, BrainPOP Español, and, for English language learners, BrainPOP ESL. Videos and activities cover topic areas within Science, Math, Social Studies, English Language Arts, and more.

Library card required

Brooklyn Newsstand

Brooklyn Newsstand is a collection of digitized Brooklyn newspapers made possible through a partnership between Brooklyn Public Library and Newspapers.com.  

Brooklyn Newsstand (2,402,000 digitized pages) contains 44 newspaper titles-including the full run of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper (1841-1963) and Brooklyn Life (1890-1931), a Brooklyn Society Magazine. Learn more about the history of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

View the full list of newspapers and their date ranges.

This site is best viewed using Chrome or Safari. 

Free & accessible anywhere

Brooklyn Public Library Digital Collections

Discover Brooklyn history: Explore our collection of digitized Brooklyn content.

Free & accessible anywhere

Creativebug

Creativebug is a video-learning site for art and craft classes. New classes from top artists are released every day, with instructors bringing a lifetime of practice and proven teaching methods. Public Performance Rights are included for programming.

Interested in becoming a Creativebug Instructor? Brooklyn Public Library is partnering with the Creativebug editorial team to recruit Brooklyn-based creators and artists, particularly those who can help increase the diversity and representation of Creativebug's course catalog. Apply here: https://cbug.tv/BecomeAnInstructor

Library card required

EPOCH - Electronically Preserving Obituaries as Cultural Heritage

A website that allows anyone to create and publish a free obituary online and in the process involve the community in building their own collection of local history.

Free & accessible anywhere

Fire Insurance Maps Online (FIMO)

New York State high-definition, full-color fire insurance maps from Sanborn and other publishers, real estate atlases, plat books, and other historical maps showing building structures, building construction details, property ownership, property uses, and other useful information. The site has an Interactive map search, and Geo-referenced or search by place name and drop-down menus.

Library card required

GCFLearnFree.org

Video tutorials and self-paced courses to learn computer basics and build skills, including in Microsoft Office, the Internet, Email, and Google Workspace

Free & accessible anywhere

HeritageQuest

Genealogical tool that includes U.S. Federal Census records, genealogical and historical sources for more than 60 countries, Census data, slave schedules, maps, local history books and articles, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant application files, and the Freedman's Bank Records 1865-1874.

Library card required

Instructables

Get step-by-step, user created instructions on how to make just about anything. Examples include instructions on building a digital microscope or sewing a zipper.

Free & accessible anywhere

LearningExpress Library 3.0

This resource supports those looking to improve core academic skills, pass standardized tests, prepare for college, join the military, obtain occupational certification, find a job, change careers, become a U.S. citizen and much more. Includes practice tests and other study materials for the GED/HSE/TASC, HiSET, TASC, SAT, elementary school and middle school standardized tests, civil service, technical, and other professional exams.

Hay recursos para hispanohablantes, incluyendo herramientas de aprendizaje, carrera y ciudadanía en español.

Please note that you will need to create a username and password.

To learn more about using this resource, check out this video tutorial.

Library card required

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com)

LinkedIn Learning offers more than 16,000 online courses in seven languages, hosted by expert instructors with real-world experience. Courses on LinkedIn Learning include Leadership, Project Management, Mental Wellness, Job Hunting, Digital Marketing, Data Science, 3D Animation, and CAD.

For Mobile users: 
1. Download the LinkedIn Learning app from Google Play / App Store 
2. Open the app 
3. Select - "Sign In" 
4. Select "Sign in with your library card" 
5. You'll be prompted to "Enter your Library ID". Tap on the box and enter "bklynlibrary" (all lowercase, no quotation marks) 
6. Use your BPL library card number or username and PIN and click on "Continue". 
First time users will be prompted to select topics of interest.

Library card required

Mango Languages

Learn a new language or brush up current skills.  Contains 52 language learning courses including Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Vietnamese as well as 17 English courses for speakers new to English.  There is a mobile app to use to learn on the go and there are feature films to complement select courses.

Library card required

Metrix Learning

Metrix Learning is an online learning management system that helps jobseekers upgrade their skills and study for certification exams to help secure employment.

Course content covers academic, workplace and personal skills for industries like Business, Construction, Healthcare, Hospitality, Information Technology, Manufacturing, Human Services and more. Search for courses, add them to your "Plan", and click "Launch" when ready to take a course. Select "Career" and "Pathways" to rate your skills and readiness for a particular career. Metrix will help you identify skills gaps and courses needed to fill those gaps.

Access

To access Metrix Learning, click "Visit This Resource" below, "Request a Login", and "Sign up Now". You must live in New York State to access Metrix through Brooklyn Public Library. You will receive a Welcome email from Metrix Learning containing your username and password. Access will last for six months. If you wish to continue learning after six months, please email   [email protected] to request an extension.

10.2022 The Medcom license for medical classes is no longer available. We're sorry for the inconvenience.

Library card required

Mometrix eLibrary

Unlimited access to test preparation materials for over 1,000 different standardized exams. Access study guides and practice questions for exams including the GED, SAT, ACT, TEAS, HESI, Praxis, TOEFL, career and technical certification.

Library card required

New York Heritage Digital Collections

Search and browse digital collections about New York State's extensive history. Includes letters, diaries, photographs, newspapers, and maps from over 160 museums, libraries and archives.

Free & accessible anywhere

New York State Newspapers

Current and archived articles from newspapers across New York State.  Includes the New York Observer, the New York Post and Newsday.

Free & accessible anywhere in NY state

New York Times (1851-2007) with Index (1851-1993)

PDFs of articles include original layout, images, and advertisements. Limit searches by topic, article title, date, and more.   

Library card required

New York Times Digital Microfilm

Browse 2008 - present issues of the New York Times by date and page number or search for articles by keyword. Includes high-quality replications of photos, graphs, and tables. (Please note that present coverage will be one month behind due to a publisher embargo period.)

Library card required

PowerMyLearning

Online learning activities curated by educators and organized by subject, grade and Common Core standard. Educators can create playlists of activities tailored to their lessons and invite students to a "class" with a code and track their students' progress. Students can create an avatar and "level up" the more they play. Parents can also log in and connect with their children to set goals and rewards for them. Create a free login to get started.

Free & accessible anywhere

ScienceFlix

Covers major science areas like Earth Science, Space, Life Science, Human Body, Physics, and Engineering, with general overviews and articles for deeper understanding. Includes videos, project ideas, experiments, quizzes, and information about careers in science. Complements the Next Generation Science Standards.  Can adjust Lexile reading levels of articles.

To learn more about this resource, check out this video tutorial.

Library card required

TrueFlix

Read and listen to e-books and watch videos online based on titles from the Trueflix nonfiction book series.  Also look up project ideas, extra information, and lesson plans for teachers and others.

Library card required

Tumblebooks

Search from a selection of read-a-long and animated talking picture books, eBooks, graphic novels, non-fiction, and educational videos, puzzles, and games.  Titles include accelerated reading, Lexile, and grade reading levels.  Create your own playlists of favorite titles.

Library card required

Urban Archive

View our collection of city stories and check out the platform of digital collections of New York City's museums, archives, and libraries.

Free & accessible anywhere