If you live in Massachusetts, you can get a Boston Public Library e-card

[kestrell]

This is if you do not already have a BPL card. The point of this is that you can register for an e-card online and it allows you access to all the online services, including being able to electronically borrow music, audiobooks, and ebooks. Some of these ebooks require an additional ebook reader app, but many can be read using just your browser.

This online registration form is mostly accessible--I am using Jaws with Chrome--but the label for the "City" combo box didn't get read for some reason. You will get an error and a link back to the form if you miss anything, though, so just stick with it.

Here's the link to the form and the FAQ
https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4197886/eCard-Registration

Comments

[kestrell]

Theoretically, Overdrive works with screen readers, but I tried it once, and it takes some exploring and experimentation; it was kind of a pain int he ass, frankly, compared to the ebooks which just let you use your browser but, hey, if you want that ebook enough, go for it.

[duskpeterson]

E-cards are wonderful. I have e-cards for as many county libraries systems in Maryland as I can (I live in Maryland), as well as for the libraries in DC and Philadelphia, though I have to pay a small fee for out-of-state library memberships. All of this gives me access to a ton of research databases I couldn't possibly afford to subscribe to as an individual.

[kestrell]

Can you tell me more about the research databases? Are you speaking about the online catalogs in general, or specific research databases, like university libraries have? I admit I haven't explored all the resources on BPL.org.

[cvirtue]

Ooh, yeah, more about the research databases! I've had to make allegedly adorable noises at my friends who work for large institutions to get full copies of things sometimes...

[kestrell]

*nod nod*

[duskpeterson]

You asked, "Are you speaking about the online catalogs in general, or specific research databases, like university libraries have?"

My reply:

Mainly research databases, though public libraries often offer broader online resources than that. Nearly all public libraries subscribe to databases now, though the libraries tend to bury the databases pretty deep in their websites.

Boston Public Library's online resources, including databases, are available through clicking on the menu item "Books and More," then on the submenu item "Online Resources."

https://www.bpl.org/online-resources/

That page is divided by topic, but you can see all the resources together by clicking on "A-Z Resources," which leads to this page:

https://www.bpl.org/resource/

That list mixes together public available databases, such as Internet Archive, with some really excellent subscription databases that the library subscribes to.

[kestrell]

Wow!!! Thank you *so* much for leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for me to follow!

If you don't hear from me for a while, I'm down the research rabbithole...

[duskpeterson]

I hope that research rabbit-hole went well!

[kestrell]

I never did get to that research rabbit hole--I've been doing spring cleaning, getting my new laptop in working order, and filling out the panelist survey for Readercon, and next I'll be helping to edit a health policy document. But I've promised myself some serious rabbit hole research soon, very soon.

[cvirtue]

I wonder if that's what they did for P? We went into a Boston branch library near MGH, and they took her town library card and did something, and now she can use it to get BPL books.

One of the virtues of the land-grant university

[jesse_the_k]

...which plays such a large part in my town is that you can get a courtesy card for $40 annually (or less, if you're a in-state student elsewhere). I spent so many happy hours in their periodical room, and later using their terminals to research nifty stuff.