April 6-12 is National Library Week, and the Louisville Free Public Library (LFPL) has plenty to celebrate.
In addition to loaning out books and hosting community programming, LFPL has a number of lesser-known services that are just as useful. Here are seven you can check out:
Geneology
If you’re undertaking the project of tracing your family’s history, LFPL can help. Cardholders can enjoy access to a wide range of local and regional history resources, including Courier Journal archives going all the way back to 1830, maps of more than 130 Kentucky towns, and census + cemetery records.
Research
Your LFPL library card gives you access to nearly 100 research databases of all kinds. Looking to fix your car? Try the Auto Repair Source database. Opening a small business? Get tips from the Small Business Reference Center.
Continuing Education
Whether you’re looking to switch careers or prep for a big life event, LFPL has you covered. The Learning Express Library lets cardholders take practice exams for tests like the SAT, ACT, GED, and GRE, plus professional tests like cosmetology, teaching, CDL, and citizenship tests.
Book club
Attention Louisville book clubs: LFPL has you covered. Book Discussion Kits are available for reservation and can be checked out from any branch for up to six weeks. The kits contain 10 copies of a book (or 30 copies for children/teen kits), plus author info, reviews, and suggested discussion topics.
Movie night
LFPL cardholders get access to the streaming service Hoopla, which includes audiobooks, comics, and ebooks, as well as a library of movies, TV shows, and even music to stream.
Languages
The LFPL catalog contains material in Spanish, Arabic, Swahili, French, Nepali, and more. If you want to learn a new language, take advantage of Transparent Language, which has over 110 different courses.
Hands on
If you like to learn with your hands, both the Northeast Regional and South Central libraries have maker spaces available to all cardholders. These labs contain everything from 3D printers to sewing machines to computers equipped with the Adobe suite. If you’d rather cast your eyes to the skies, consider checking out a telescope from the Main, Northeast, Southwest, or South Central libraries.
If you still don’t have a library card, what are you waiting for?
