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Photo credit: Motoya Nakamura, Multnomah County
Gone are the days when you were hushed for giggling. Libraries are now thriving community spaces where you can meet with peers, get computer help and enjoy art programs. But did you know there are many more free things that you can do through the library?
- Learn a new language: With Mango Languages, you have access to over 40 language courses from basic introductory courses to more advanced, and conversational learning. Learn Arabic, Spanish, Mandarin, Italian, Vietnamese, German and more.
- Watch a movie: Watch documentaries and indie films through the Kanopy collection or stream music, comics, and videos through Hoopla.
- Print documents free of charge: Printing is available at all library locations, for free! Use the mobile printing service or come use a library computer for copying, faxing and scanning.
- Visit a local museum: Enjoy free educational and cultural experiences through My Discovery Pass. You’ll find tickets for museums, local cultural attractions and performances.
- Live homework help: With your library account, you can gain access to Tutor.com, where you can practice for the PSAT, tackle a math problem, or have a paper for your class proofread.
- Start your citizenship journey: Learn about the process of becoming a citizen in a free series of classes. The classes cover U.S. history, government and other information that can help you prepare for the Citizenship Test. Classes are in English and taught by volunteers from Mission: Citizen.
- Get Job help, resume building and interview prep: Library staff can help you get started with your job search. From creating a resume and cover letter, to practicing for an interview, the library has classes and individual appointments available for you.
- Take adult literacy classes: The library offers one-on-one and small group tutoring to help patrons achieve their learning goals. Whether it is to prepare for a GED exam or read a child’s notes from school, the library’s adult literacy team can help.
- Visit the Rockwood Makerspace and build cool things (grades 6-12): The Rockwood Makerspace is a collaborative learning environment for teens to hang out, create independent projects with art supplies, and learn new technology.
- Get one-on-one tech help: Many locations offer drop-in tech help sessions. Come by and meet one-on-one with a friendly tech helper. They’ll help you find answers to questions about mobile devices, websites, getting started with e-books and more.