5 Resources That I Never Knew The City Library Offered

by Saia Langi, Glendale Branch 

It’s no mystery that The City Library offers some amazing resources and programming to the many communities that it serves in Salt Lake. From using computers to browse the internet, printers to get your essays, even some sweet programs that keep teens connected like Alphabet soup, Teen Squad and Lit Loot boxes. 

But tell me why it took me twenty eight years to find out that the library has ALOT more to offer its Teens? The next five resources that I will cover will help you level up and be ahead of the game when it comes to school, potential jobs and expanding your own horizons. 

All these resources can be found on the SLCPL website in the Digital Library or even type it into google and you can gain access to them. Some require you to have a library card, others need you to create an account. All of these resources are 100% free!

1. To access the Digital Library, go to slcpl.org. Click on EXPLORE in the toolbar on top. Then click on Digital Library.

2. Once you have clicked on Digital Library. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and there you will find tabs that are under Browse by Topic. The 5 resources that I am sharing will be under the following tabs: Job & Career, Language Learning, Test Prep & Skill Building, and Digital Books.

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Ever felt the existential dread of starting a resume from scratch? Fear no more! Cypress Resume is a great step by step guide for those starting a new resume or in need of sprucing up their old one. Found underneath the Jobs and career tab in the digital library, Cypress Resume will take the pain of organizing a professional resume into an easy step by step process. Simply enter the information in the boxes and presto!  Cypress Resume organizes all of your work experience in a professional and stylish way that will be sure to get you an interview. 

If you are like me and want to learn a language but are too lazy to do so, Mango languages is an easy way to start learning a new language and stay engaged.  Once you have clicked on the Mango languages link it will take you directly to the login portal. You can choose to sign up or continue as a guest. Once signed in, you can pick from a list of languages that are offered. From Spanish to Korean, Haitian Creole, and Cherokee. Heck! They even offer Pirate. Whatever you choose, Mango Languages will have units that will teach you the basics as well as the daily conversations that native speakers have. 

HelpNow is the perfect resource for studying and getting homework help. You can sign up for live tutoring sessions, get study guides and flashcards on science, math, reading and writing for all grades. You can even get feedback on essays by submitting it to the writing lab. This is not only a great resource for homework help but it also has college readiness courses as well as GED prep for those who want to continue their education. This invaluable resource will be sure to help you as you navigate through your schooling journey. 

Need a book but don't want to go all the way to the library to pick up your hold? Libby is the resource for you. With over hundreds of different titles and genres, Libby is an Ebook and audiobook library that is totally available to you on your kindle, phone, or Ipad. Just head to the app store, download the Libby app, find the Library that is closest to you, enter your library card and viola! Instant access to The City Library book collections in the palm of your hand. If you are accessing Libby through the digital library on The City Library’s website, you will need to click on Digital books and then Overdrive. (Libby is the app that connects you to Overdrive on your handheld devices.)
 Once you finish setting up, you are allowed to check out 15 items total and even place holds for popular titles. It's easy to use and you don't have to worry about overdue books again!​

This interactive resource is for Teen students and adult learners alike! Similar to Helpnow, Learning express Library can help you with homework and preparing for college, except the key differences are the fact that you can look up and find careers based on your skills and/or interests. It is a great resource for college students and those who are seeking to hone in on their job skills. Learning express library is a perfect platform for practice tests especially if you are looking to gain U.S citizenship. No matter what stage of life you are in, Learning Express Library’s resources can prepare you for whatever goal you are going after.