Athens libraries shift to online service

All Athens Regional Library System library branches are closed because of coronavirus, but the library system says it will continue to serve the community through its website, athenslibrary.org.

From Rhiannon Eades, Athens Regional Library…

“We recognize that having our branches closed is an inconvenience to our patrons, but we want to help our community stay safe and healthy,” said Athens Regional Library System Executive Director Valerie Bell. “In the meantime, we’d like to invite our patrons to visit our virtual library branch and explore our offerings. From digital eBooks, magazines and audiobooks to language learning software, we’ve got something for everyone, all available for free.”

The library announced Thursday that it has expanded its online collection of digital eBooks and audiobooks by 80%, including many new releases and in-demand titles. Visit the library’s website at athenslibrary.org/online-library and select RBDigital to browse the collection. You can download titles directly to your mobile device using the RBDigital app with your library card account information. RBDigital also offers hundreds of titles of digital magazines, for kids and adults.

In addition to RBDigital, the library also offers ERead Kids, a collection of digital titles for children. Not sure what to read? NextReads can help you find your next book!

“We’d also like to remind our users about our other online resources, which are great to help you learn new skills or work on projects while you’re at home practicing social distancing,” Bell said.

Mango Language offers free interactive lessons in 70 languages – from French and Spanish to Mandarin and even Pirate!

If you’re curious about your family history, now is a great time to begin working on a genealogy research project. The library system offers access to a wealth of genealogy resources online, such as fold3 for military records, FamilySearch and HeritageQuest, which has family history research tutorials and more. Explore historical documents, photos, newspapers and other interesting items through the Digital Library of Georgia.

LearningExpress offers help with test preparation, both academic and professional. Whether you have a student preparing for AP tests or college entrance exams or you are seeking to advance in a professional field such as cosmetology, law enforcement or nursing, LearningExpress has a lot to offer.

Don't forget… the library system also offers free access to the New York Times and Proquest Newspapers, which includes many popular news sources including the Los Angeles Times, Wallstreet Journal and Christian Science Monitor.

Many of these resources require the current GALILEO password. Contact your local library branch through http://athenslibrary.org/homepage/regional-information/contact-us if you need assistance. Please visit the library system's website at www.athenslibrary.org for more information.