Digital Library Cards Now Provide Access to All Online Resources at The Seattle Public Library
release date: April 29, 2020
Seattle residents can now sign up online to receive a full-access digital Library card from The Seattle Public Library. Launched in late March, the Library’s instant digital Library card originally provided access to just e-books and e-audiobooks. Now, Seattle residents who sign up for these digital Library cards will also connect to all of the Library’s digital resources, from streaming services such as Hoopla to educational resources such as Lynda.com.
“Having access to the Library’s extensive digital resources right now is so critical for Seattle residents, whether they want to improve their job skills, find educational resources for their children or simply find a new book,” said Bo Kinney, Circulation Services Manager. “We’ve worked hard to find a way to provide full-access Library cards to community members who didn’t have one before we closed.”
More than 5,500 people have signed up for the instant digital card in the last month, and an estimated 3,500 of those signups are new borrowers.
Seattle residents can sign up for the card in minutes at spl.org/card. To be eligible, you must be 13 years or older, live in Seattle and have a mobile phone to verify your account. People who successfully sign up will get immediate access to the OverDrive collection of 200,000 e-books and e-audiobooks, and to the rest of the Library’s resources within two or three days of signing up.
Full digital access includes job and training resources; online newspapers, magazines and other databases; learning platforms; and streaming services such as Hoopla and Kanopy. Find out more about The Seattle Public Library’s digital collections and resources at spl.org/stayinghome.
If a Seattle resident already has an active account with The Seattle Public Library but is having trouble accessing their account at spl.org, they can ask for assistance by contacting the Library’s online help and reference service at Ask Us.
All physical locations of The Seattle Public Library are closed in accordance with public health guidelines through at least May 4, 2020, but the Library is offering many virtual programs and services, from story times on Facebook Live to one-on-one appointments for entrepreneurs. Find out more at spl.org/ChiefLibrarian.