Digital Resources
Explore the world with your library card
Your library card gives you access to more than twenty databases to help you learn, work, and play.
How to login
- Enter your 14-digit library card number, the entire number on the back of your card. (i.e., 23610704097509)
- Your PIN is the last four digits of your library card number. (i.e., 7509)
Need help?
If you need help with any of these databases, check out the SCPL Academy, which consists of ready-to-use tutorials for our library services and databases.
You may contact SCPL Staff for further assistance by calling (502) 633-3803 or visiting us at 309 Eighth Street in Shelbyville, Kentucky.
Our most popular databases
Featured database
Kanopy is a streaming movie service that offers instant access to an extensive, curated catalog of educational, entertaining, and enriching films. It includes content from leading producers such as Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, Paramount, PBS, BBC, and many more. This service includes Kanopy for Kids with content specifically geared towards children. Kanopy Kids features a collection of films and TV series that inspire and inform, helping children develop social-emotional skills and reinforcing valuable learning topics, such as history, science, and new languages. A diverse selection of educational and entertaining content that ranges across movies, television series, animated storybooks, and animated favorites can be found on Kanopy Kids.
Explore Lexington history through local news, events, and people with Lexington Herald-Leader Collection.
Art & Crafting
Creativebug
Access hundreds of crafty tutorials for crocheting, jewelry making, painting, and more with Creativebug.
The MET Museum’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
- Explore art history with the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.
Education
Read The Sentinel-News, USA Today, Associated Press News Service, and more with America’s News.
Find information on topics related to business, education, the environment, health, jobs and careers, politics and government, sports, STEM more including newspapers, videos and web-only content featuring The Sentinel-News, USA Today and more.
Articles about current events, business and careers, health, and more on Explora for Public Libraries
Free Online Learning at GCFGlobal powered by Goodwill Industries. Includes in-depth tutorials and classes for subjects such as computer basics, internet skills, graphic design, resume writing, and smartphones, plus basic skills in subjects such as math and grammar.
Explore encyclopedias, Novelist, health information, and more with Kentucky Virtual Library
A consortium of over 60 research and education databases for students, adults, librarians, and professionals.
Test prep for GED, ACT, SAT, AP tests, ASVAB, nursing, postal worker exams, U.S. citizenship test, and more on Learning Express Library
Explore Lexington history through local news, events, and people with Lexington Herald-Leader Collection.
Search current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles and online-only content. The Lexington Herald-Leader Collection is available remotely 24/7 on any device.
Learn over 70 languages with Mango Languages
Read and learn with unlimited digital access to the New York Times.
Note that access to the New York Times requires that you create a free New York Times account. If you already have a New York Times account, log in to your existing account.
Education: K-12
Ever wonder why Yoda talks backwards, or what a group of flamingos is called? Find out on Answers.com
Look up biographies on Biography.com
Discover articles and encyclopedias on elementary grade level with Explora for Primary Schools
Articles about math and science, history, and more on Explora for Secondary Schools
Read scholarly journals and articles via Gale Virtual Reference Library
Excellent resource for scholastic research.
Explore encyclopedias, Novelist, health information, and more with Kentucky Virtual Library
A consortium of over 60 research and education databases for students, adults, librarians, and professionals.
Free online courses, lessons, and practice tests on Khan Academy
Test prep for GED, ACT, SAT, AP tests, ASVAB, nursing, postal worker exams, U.S. citizenship test, and more on Learning Express Library
Learn over 70 languages with Mango Languages
Explore World Maps
Digital Libraries & Resources - eBooks, Movies, Magazines, and Music
Booklist Reader
- Booklist Reader is a digital magazine featuring diverse readers’ advisory recommendations for readers and listeners of all ages. Filled with high-interest, themed lists that showcase books that are out now.
Author Check
- Author Check allows you to track your favorite authors, get email notifications when books written by your favorite authors arrive at SCPL, and explore author profiles.
Kanopy
- Instantly borrow movies with Kanopy! Kanopy is a streaming movie service that offers instant access to an extensive, curated catalog of educational, entertaining, and enriching films. It includes content from leading producers such as Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, Paramount, PBS, BBC, and many more. This service includes Kanopy for Kids with content specifically geared towards children. Kanopy Kids features a collection of films and TV series that inspire and inform, helping children develop social-emotional skills and reinforcing valuable learning topics, such as history, science, and new languages. A diverse selection of educational and entertaining content that ranges across movies, television series, animated storybooks, and animated favorites can be found on Kanopy Kids.
Need help getting started with Kanopy? Visit these self-help guides or stop by the Library for help.
Now Streaming by Amanda Perry
Need help getting started with hoopla? Check out these How to hoopla guides for help.
Guides on How to hoopla by Amanda Perry
Need help getting started with Libby? Follow the instructions on the User Guide or watch the video below.
User Guide for Libby by Amanda Perry
OverDrive to Libby - Make the Switch
Important: The OverDrive app is set to be retired by the end of 2022. Beginning in February 2022 the OverDrive app will be removed from the Apple App Store, Google Play, and Microsoft Store. Current OverDrive app users can continue to use the app, however, new users looking for the OverDrive app will be directed to Libby. All users can continue to use, borrow, and open titles from the library’s OverDrive website via a browser. All OverDrive app users will need to switch over to using the Libby app for all OverDrive services. The Libby app is currently unavailable on Kindle Fire tablets, those users will continue to use the OverDrive app until further notice. To get started with Libby click on the link above.
Read the latest books with Online Book Clubs
Genealogy
Research your family history with Ancestry
Explore your family history with the premier collection of U.S. obituaries and death notices for in-depth genealogical research from 1704–today with Heritage Hub.
Access census records, books, and magazines for genealogy with Heritage Quest
Helpful genealogy websites:
Government and Legal Resources
Just for Kids!
Read the latest issue of the ChopChop newsletter for kid-friendly recipes and cooking tips.
Read children’s books with animation, music, and narration on Tumble Book Library.
You can also check out the Spanish language version, Biblioteca Tumble.
Find children’s ebooks, audiobooks, and videos with Kentucky Libraries Unbound
Local Information
Explore and stay informed on local and national topics, people and events in areas such as business, health, education, jobs and careers, political and social issues and more. Features a wide variety of credible, vetted news sources spanning the U.S., including the Sentinel-News with America’s News.
Find information on community issues and events, business, education, politics, people in the news, and more.
Medical and Psychology
Find answers about mainstream medicine and holistic medicine on Consumer Health Complete
Information for libraries about the Coronavirus
Find food nutrition information on Nutrition.gov
Reference
Read The Sentinel-News, Associated Press News Service, and more with America’s News.
Explore and stay informed on local and national topics, people and events in areas such as business, health, education, jobs and careers, political and social issues and more. Features a wide variety of credible, vetted news sources spanning the U.S., including the Sentinel-News, USA Today, and more. America’s News is available remotely 24/7 on any device.
Access DIY vehicle repair, recall notices, guides, and manuals for over 25,000 vehicles with Auto Repair Source
Access full reviews of thousands of products, including TVs, mattresses, vehicles, washing machines, and more with Consumer Reports.
Read reviews about products before you buy with Consumer Search
Explore Lexington history through local news, events, and people with Lexington Herald-Leader Collection.
Search current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles and online-only content. The Lexington Herald-Leader Collection is available remotely 24/7 on any device.
Read and learn with unlimited digital access to the New York Times.
Note that access to the New York Times requires that you create a free New York Times account. If you already have a New York Times account, log in to your existing account.
Use the phonebook online with Switchboard (White Pages)
Small Businesses and Jobs
Look for jobs, find businesses, generate mailing lists, and more with AtoZdatabases
Premier reference and marketing database that provides details on every business and every household within the U.S.
Read The Sentinel-News, Lexington Herald-Leader, Associated Press News Service, and more with America’s News.
Find information on topics related to business, education, the environment, health, jobs and careers, politics and government, sports, STEM more including newspapers, videos and web-only content featuring The Sentinel-News, Lexington Herald-Leader, USA Today and more.
Create a professional resume with Cypress Resume
A free resource for global patent and scholarly knowledge about patents on Lens.org.
Information on starting a company, management, growing your business, and more on Small Business Reference Center
If you’re interested in learning about patents and trademark law, check out USPTO: United States Patent and Trademark Office