Ebooks, films, research databases and more — free with your library card, any hour of the day.
Elkhart Public Library offers free access to these information providers. Some require a library card number, and some are available only inside an Elkhart Public Library location (look for the “In-library only” label).
Need help navigating a resource? Try our free tutorials at Niche Academy. Can’t find what you need? Our reference librarians can help — email us, call 574-522-5669, or stop by the reference desk on the second floor downtown.
View the full alphabetical list of resources. Looking for student resources? Check out our ecard page.
Resources
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App/website
ABC Mouse
Early learning for ages 3-8 with a focus on phonics, math, music and more through a research-backed curriculum that features lessons, activities, and games. It also offers curriculum options for English and Spanish speakers.
Library card requiredView resource: ABC Mouse (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Ancestry.com Library Edition
A database of U.S. Census data from 1790-1950, Social Security death index, United Kingdom census collection, city directories, military records and more.
Library card required Only available inside an EPL locationView resource: Ancestry.com Library Edition (opens in a new tab) -
Website
AtoZ Databases
Comprehensive tools and datasets for business analysis, marketing, and employment whether you’re looking to hire or get hired.
Library card requiredView resource: AtoZ Databases (opens in a new tab) -
Website
AtoZ World Food
Food culture, etiquette and recipes from around the world for you to explore and try.
Library card requiredView resource: AtoZ World Food (opens in a new tab) -
App/website
Barron’s
Tools and resources for in-depth market analysis and investment strategies. Create an account for three days of access, then sign in again with the same username and password to keep reading.
No card neededView resource: Barron’s (opens in a new tab) -
Website
BookFlix
A digital literacy resource from Scholastic that pairs classic storybook videos with related nonfiction eBooks to help children build reading skills, vocabulary, and real-world knowledge. The platform offers titles in English and Spanish for early readers up to grade 3.
Library card requiredView resource: BookFlix (opens in a new tab) -
App/website
Brainfuse HelpNow
Live tutors, skill builders, and writing labs to learn relevant topics for grades K-12 as well as college courses and general life skills. Brainfuse also offers Spanish resources upon request.
No card neededView resource: Brainfuse HelpNow (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Britannica
The oldest English-language encyclopedia with informative writings, videos, and activities across countless topics. With your EPL barcode, you're able to tailor Britannica's content based on age ranges, research needs, and reading levels.
Library card required There are other sites/resources like Britannica Books and Escola, but it's not clear if an EPL card's access extends to them or not.View resource: Britannica (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Chilton Library
A database of parts lists, repair diagrams, and videos for all domestic and import vehicles since 1940 available to help with your car repairs.
Library card requiredView resource: Chilton Library (opens in a new tab) -
App
Comics Plus
With Comics Plus, readers can have unlimited, simultaneous access to thousands of digital graphic novels, manga, and picture books from dozens of library-friendly publishers.
Library card requiredView resource: Comics Plus (opens in a new tab) -
App
Comics Plus (K-12)
Access the Children's Library of digital graphic novels, manga, and picture books from Comics Plus.
Library card requiredView resource: Comics Plus (K-12) (opens in a new tab) -
App
Comics Plus (Teens)
Access the Teen Library of digital graphic novels, manga, and picture books from Comics Plus.
Library card requiredView resource: Comics Plus (Teens) (opens in a new tab) -
App/website
Consumer Reports
Professional information, tools, and recommendations on a variety of products from industries including food, health, tech, auto, and so many more to help you make reliable purchasing decisions.
Library card requiredView resource: Consumer Reports (opens in a new tab) -
App/website
Driving Tests
Materials including handbooks, quizzes, and flashcards to study and practice for your certified drivers license or other Bureau of Motor Vehicles tests. Test and study materials are available in several languages.
No card neededView resource: Driving Tests (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Elkhart Historic Photos
View Elkhart Public Library's collection of historic images from around Elkhart and its residents, maintained in cooperation with the Indiana State Library.
No card neededView resource: Elkhart Historic Photos (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Elkhart History
An archive of articles from The Elkhart Truth, books and other materials in the Elkhart Public Library's collection for you to research the history of Elkhart.
No card neededView resource: Elkhart History (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Family Search
Search billions of ancestor profiles, photographs, and historical documents across the databases of Ancestral File, Pedigree Resource, International Genealogical Index, and government & vital records.
No card neededView resource: Family Search (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Fire Insurance Maps Online
Search, view, and download high-definition, color fire insurance maps, including Sanborn maps, real estate atlases, plat books and other historical maps. What resources are available depends on the year, city or county you are researching.
Library card requiredView resource: Fire Insurance Maps Online (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Fold 3
The premier collection of military records, from the Revolutionary War to WWII.
Library card requiredView resource: Fold 3 (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Gale Legal Forms
A descriptive, wide selection of state (and multi-state) legal forms and resources including wills, power of attorney, corporation filings, landlord-tenant and real estate forms, contract, bankruptcy, bills of sale and more.
Library card requiredView resource: Gale Legal Forms (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Gale Virtual Reference Library
A collection of Ebooks to assist kids, teens and adults in learning about a wide variety of topics such as science, social issues, life skills, careers and more. Including some titles available in Spanish.
Library card requiredView resource: Gale Virtual Reference Library (opens in a new tab) -
Website
GCF Learn Free
Study materials and tutorials to build practical 21st Century job skills in areas such as operating systems, basic office programs, social media, and many more.
No card neededView resource: GCF Learn Free (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Geni Family Tree
The World Family Tree on Geni is the one of the most definitive family trees for the entire world. It respects the privacy of living people while allowing millions of users to collaborate on their shared ancestry by constantly expanding and improving the tree.
Library card required Only available inside an EPL locationView resource: Geni Family Tree (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Heritage Quest
An archive of U.S. Census data from 1790-1950, with images and every-name indexes, Native American records, U.S. city directories and local history, Revolutionary War and Bounty Land records, Freedman’s Bank records, Periodical Source Index Archive, and congressional records.
Library card requiredView resource: Heritage Quest (opens in a new tab) -
App/website
Hoopla
Borrow and enjoy audiobooks, eBooks, comics, movies, TV, magazines, or music everywhere you have a screen — your computer, your phone, your car, even your TV. All you need is a library card. Titles may vary based on the library catalogue.
Library card requiredView resource: Hoopla (opens in a new tab) -
App/website
Investor’s Business Daily
Tools and articles to help you make smart investment decisions. Included with your Wall Street Journal account — sign in there to read it.
No card neededView resource: Investor’s Business Daily (opens in a new tab) -
App/website
Kanopy
Enjoy critically-acclaimed movies, inspiring documentaries, award-winning foreign films and more in an ad-free experience that can be enjoyed on your TV, mobile phones, tablets and online thanks to your public library.
Library card requiredView resource: Kanopy (opens in a new tab) -
App/website
Kanopy Kids
Kanopy's collection of movies and shows for kids available in public libraries only. Kanopy Kids offers unlimited plays, so your kids are free to explore enriching, educational and entertaining films and TV series.
Library card requiredView resource: Kanopy Kids (opens in a new tab) -
Website
KidSpeak
Language learning courses by Transparent Language designed for ages 6+ to learn the basics of Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish through lessons, activities/games, and song.
Library card requiredView resource: KidSpeak (opens in a new tab) -
App
Libby
Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines to read on your phone or tablet using the Libby app by OverDrive. You can even send borrowed ebooks to your Kindle ereader (U.S. only). It’s free and easy to get started.
Library card requiredView resource: Libby (opens in a new tab) -
App/website
LinkedIn Learning
Self-paced, online learning for professional and creative skill development. Available to individual resident account holders. If you are using the app, the library ID is myepl.
Library card requiredView resource: LinkedIn Learning (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Local Obituaries
Death notices and obituaries from local newspapers, archived since 1921 and searchable online.
No card neededView resource: Local Obituaries (opens in a new tab) -
App/website
New York Times
A source for the latest world news with award-winning journalism from one of the best-known newspapers in the country. Freely accessible online with a library code anyone can use.
No card neededView resource: New York Times (opens in a new tab) -
Website
News Bank/America’s News
More than 3,000 national newspapers, featuring news on business, health, education, jobs and careers, political and social issues, and more. Updated daily.
Library card requiredView resource: News Bank/America’s News (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Newspaper Archive
News, sports, birth announcements, and obituaries from newspapers around the world.
Library card requiredView resource: Newspaper Archive (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Newspapers.com
Access over 4,000 historical newspapers from the 1600s to today. Powered by Ancestry.
Library card requiredView resource: Newspapers.com (opens in a new tab) -
Website
NoveList K-8 Plus
An advisory and book discovery database specialized for younger readers. Plus, teachers, librarians and parents can also find reading lists, Lexile levels and Accelerated Reader level, books by topic, and suggestions for book displays.
Library card requiredView resource: NoveList K-8 Plus (opens in a new tab) -
Website
NoveList Plus
NoveList Plus is a readers’ advisory and book discovery database built specifically for libraries by librarians. NoveList Plus helps staff and readers find their next right book through hand-crafted recommendations, extensively tagged titles, and search tools designed around how readers actually talk about books.
Library card requiredView resource: NoveList Plus (opens in a new tab) -
App/website
PressReader
Same-day issues of publications for newspapers and magazines from around the world, digitally recreated just as they appear in print.
Library card requiredView resource: PressReader (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Reference Shelf
An extensive publication of reference materials published and organized by the H.W. Wilson company for researchers seeking unbiased explorations on topics in modern society.
Library card requiredView resource: Reference Shelf (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Salem Press
A collection of reference books, encyclopedias, and digital databases compiled into easy-to-understand overviews of a variety of complex topics including world history, literature, health, and many more.
Library card requiredView resource: Salem Press (opens in a new tab) -
App/website
The Elkhart Truth
Access the daily Elkhart Truth's article archive, with local stories dating back to the early 2000s.
Library card requiredView resource: The Elkhart Truth (opens in a new tab) -
Website
The Mailbox Plus
A resource for teachers, librarians, and homeschoolers that's packed with 54,000+ ideas and worksheets to teach essential skills and take the stress out of lesson planning for K-6, all on an easy-to-use platform. The platform also includes Spanish worksheets and flash cards.
Library card requiredView resource: The Mailbox Plus (opens in a new tab) -
App/website
Transparent Language
Learning resources for over 140 languages, progress tracking and audio and speaking practice to work on pronunciation and listening comprehension.
Library card requiredView resource: Transparent Language (opens in a new tab) -
App/website
Tumble Book Library
A collection of animated books, read alongs, graphic novels, NatGeo videos, and Spanish-language titles for early readers up to grade 6.
No card neededView resource: Tumble Book Library (opens in a new tab) -
Website
Value Line
An up-to-date collection of investment research, data, expert analysis, and commentary with an easy-to-use Ranking System, spanning thousands of U.S. and foreign companies, industries, mutual funds, ETFs, indexes, and economic commentary.
Library card requiredView resource: Value Line (opens in a new tab) -
App/website
Wall Street Journal
Access the stories, podcasts, videos and more of the Wall Street Journal from anywhere. Set up a free account for three days of access, then renew it the same way when it runs out.
No card neededView resource: Wall Street Journal (opens in a new tab) -
App/website
Weiss Financial Ratings
Unbiased ratings, research and newsletters to support confident investment decisions. The database is updated daily.
Library card requiredView resource: Weiss Financial Ratings (opens in a new tab) -
Website
WorldCat
A resource for locating unique, trustworthy materials that you often can’t find anywhere except in a library. By connecting the collections of thousands of libraries around the world in one place, WorldCat.org makes it easy for you to browse reference materials from one search box.
Library card requiredView resource: WorldCat (opens in a new tab)
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