The internet is everywhere, allowing you to work, play, and complete daily life tasks wherever there is WiFi. This is especially helpful in the age of physical distancing and mask-wearing.

For those with WiFi access, barriers may still exist. Some community members experience frustration with email and online forms, and concerns about internet safety, leaving them feeling increasingly isolated from social connections and workforce opportunities.

Do you have a friend or family member that could use a little help? VITAL's Northstar Online Learning teaches the basic computer skills needed to communicate using computers. Its free, self-paced courses offer step-by-step instruction, practice, and review for: Read more about Learn Basic Computer Skills with Northstar Learning

We are pleased to share that the Library is the recipient of two grants to support access to digital resources in Monroe County. The City of Bloomington Information & Technology Services Department has awarded the Library a Digital Equity Grant of $10,500, and the Wahl Family Charitable Trust has gifted the Library $5,300.

“Providing equitable access to information is one of the Library’s most important goals and is reflective of our core mission to provide opportunities to read, learn, connect and create,” said Grier Carson, Associate Director. “One of the greatest challenges posed by the current public health crisis is our inability to reach each and every Library patron when physical access to the Library carries with it a number of health considerations. These grants will help us improve upon that.” Read more about Two Grants Fund Hotspots, iPads, and Diverse Books

For many of us, connecting with friends and family has been especially challenging this year. If you’re unable to spend time with loved ones in person this holiday season, here are some tools to help you connect with them online! 

To access these resources you’ll need your library card number and password. If you’re not sure where to find that information, visit our eLibrary access guide to get started.

Ancestry.com Read more about Get to Know Your Family!

Available through the eLibrary, World Book Online includes a number of different educational resources for learners of all ages. 

Online encyclopedias provide a convenient way to obtain accurate information on a variety of topics, written by experts and trusted authors. The different encyclopedias available through the World Book Online suite gear the information to different reading abilities. There are no advertisements to confuse or distract from the research topic at hand. Learners can choose to have the articles read aloud to them, just by clicking on the "ear" icon at the top of the article. Learners can also choose to enlarge the text, share, and save articles in a variety of formats––and even translate the article into many different languages. Read more about World Book Online: Student Encyclopedia

One simple fact about the modern world is that the need for learning never ends. Another simple fact? The cost of learning keeps going up. As the Rolling Stones once said:

What can a poor boy do
Except play in a rock and roll band . . .

Nowadays, a poor boy can also go to LinkedIn Learning through the Library’s website and, with just his Library card barcode number, learn the basics of music— and how to play it, record it, and promote it. And that’s just the beginning of what he can learn with LinkedIn Learning's high-quality, self-paced online video lessons. Read more about Online Learning Made Easy