Posted on 16 September 2020 by Gillian.
We think everyone in Medicine Hat should have a library card. It just makes good sense! Whether you want to expand your intellectual capacity and become as wise as Councillor Samraj (pictured), or you just want to keep abreast of the daily news coming from around the world - a library card is your connection to everything; for only $5/year! Cards for children (ages 0 - 18) are always free, so getting a card for your child is really a no-brainer (in our humble opinion).
If you're not sure what exactly your library card gives you access to, take a look at our quick guide below.
What can I do with my library card?
Borrow physical materials like books, cookbooks, graphic novels, movies (remember Blockbuster?; we can be your Blockbuster!), music, video games, audiobooks, and more. To search our catalogue of materials, visit mhpl.bibliocommons.com.
Access a BUNCH of great online resources, like:
- Overdrive - download eBooks and eAudiobooks. Get the Libby app on your smartphone or tablet to make downloading a breeze! We also have Overdrive access for Kids & Teens.
- RBDigital - eAudiobooks, comics, and 50+ of North America's most popular magazines.
- PressReader - digital newspapers from around the world and at home (yes, the digital edition of the Medicine Hat News is free to read with your library card).
- Gale Courses - 350+ online, instructor-led learning classes.
- Solaro - homework help for students in grades 3 - 12. (yay!)
- Pronunciator - language learning tool, over 150 languages to choose from!
- Consumer Reports - become a savvy consumer by checking review data on Consumer Reports before making your next big purchase. Your wallet will thank you.
- Ancestry - research your family tree with this popular genealogical database. At-home access has been extended to the end of December 2020!
- TumbleBooks - an online collection of animated, talking picture books which teach young children the joys of reading.
This just scratches the surface of all the things that you can do with your library card. Browse through our page of All Online Resources. For a more comprehensive list, take a look at the blog post we published for our 103rd Anniversary (we're turning 105 this year!): 103 Reasons to Have a Library Card.
Sold! How do I get a card?
Bring a piece of photo ID to the Library and we'll get you all signed up. If you want to do a test-run before taking the plunge, start a 90-Day Free Trial to access our online resources. If you've had a card before and it just needs to be renewed, complete our online renewal form.
Now go forth and tell your friends all about what you've learned here. :)