Free stuff at Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill public libraries

Public libraries are about more than just checking out books.

They are also one of the few places you can go for free Wi-Fi without needing to pay for anything in return.

And while you’re there, if you’re a cardholder, you can check out some awesome stuff.

You may not have known that at public libraries around the Triangle:

• You can reserve huge conference spaces for up to 100+ people.

• You can check out cameras and other technology equipment.

• You can use library computers free of charge.

The N&O put together a resource list of libraries in and around the Triangle, as well as what you can get with your little plastic card.

Wake County Public Library: Wake County

The Wake County Public Library has 23 branches across the county. Library administration is located at 4020 Carya Dr. in Raleigh.

How to get a library card

You can register online for a temporary card and PIN at catalog.wakegov.com/MyAccount/SelfReg. The temporary number is good for 60 days.

To receive a permanent library card, you will need to visit one of the Wake County Public Library locations.

• What to bring: When you go to get your permanent card, you will need to bring a photo ID and proof of your current address. Acceptable proof of address documents are a photo ID that includes your current address, or a photo ID and a separate item, such as a bill or a lease, that verifies your current address.

• Children ages 16 and under will need to bring a parent or legal guardian to sign for their card.

• Wake County residents and property owners can receive a library card for free. Non-residents can get a card for an annual $25 fee.

For more information on registering for a Wake County Public Library card, visit askwcpl.wakegov.com/faq/221496.

Free resources available

When you receive your Wake County Public Library card, you’ll be given a confidential PIN. Your PIN allows you to:

Other resources offered by Wake County Public Libraries include:

• Get that job: Adult Services librarians offer free resume and cover letter review.

• College prep: The library’s “Level Up: To College and Beyond” program is a series of free, virtual programs and appointments where experts help teens prep for college, trade school, certificate programs and more. Resources include one-on-one appointments, workshops and online resources.

• Research: Not sure where to start your research? A librarian will compile a list of resources for you. Then, work with a librarian and learn how to gather quality information, access materials and get started on your research.

• Device advice: Get help with basic computer skills or learn how to download eBooks and eAudio to your phone, tablet or computer. This service is temporarily suspended due to the pandemic.

• Book bundles: The library offers hand-picked book bundles for young readers, express book bags for teens and adults, plus custom book lists based on your interests.

• Book groups: Join a librarian-led book discussion group, pick up a book club kit or check out the library’s online resources for making the most of your book club discussions.

• eBooks: Use Overdrive to access popular fiction and nonfiction titles in eBook and eAudio formats, plus check out more eBooks from the library’s databases.

• Storytime anytime: The library offers storytime videos for babies, toddlers, preschool children and families, including some bilingual options.

• Events and activities: Keep up with events hosted by the library by using the event calendar.

Durham County Library: Durham County

The Durham County Library’s main branch is located at 300 N. Roxboro St. in Durham.

There are six other locations, as well as two mobile libraries: The Bookmobile and The Tech Mobile.

Here’s information about the other six branches:

• East Regional Library – 211 Lick Creek Lane in Durham, 919-560-0203

• North Regional Library – 221 Milton Road in Durham, 919-560-0231

• South Regional Library – 4505 S. Alston Avenue in Durham, 919-560-7410

• Southwest Regional Library – 3605 Shannon Road in Durham, 919-560-8590

• Temporarily closed: Stanford L. Warren Branch Library – 1201 Fayetteville Street in Durham

• Temporarily closed: Bragtown Branch Library – 3200 Dearborn Drive in Durham

How to get a library card

Register for a library card online at durhamcountylibrary.org/library-cards/temporary-online-cards.

• What to bring: You’ll need a photo ID and proof of address. That could be one item (like an NC driver’s license with your current address) or two separate items (like an employment ID plus a utility bill with your name and address on it).

• Children under 18 years old must have a parent or guardian present to get signed up for a card.

• Library cards are available to all Durham County residents free of charge. To get a card, come to any Durham County Library location (including the Bookmobile). If you’re not a resident of Durham County, you can get a non-resident card for $45 per year. This card gives you the same privileges as a resident card.

You can reserve spaces

• Meeting and study rooms are available for public use at Main Library, all of the regional libraries and Stanford L. Warren Branch Library (which is currently closed for repairs).

• For information on reserving study and meeting rooms, visit durhamcountylibrary.org/meeting-and-study-rooms.

Free resources available

• Find a job: Looking for employment? Use your Durham County Library card and PIN to enjoy free access to numerous online resources.

• Learn a language: Learning a language? Find information on language classes in sign language, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and French.

• Take a test: Looking for practice tests? Get a full service test center for third grade through adult learners and more.

• Watch a movie: Looking for movies and TV shows? Find over tens of thousands of films and educational shows on hundreds of subjects.

• Read an e-book or listen to e-audio: Looking for ebooks and e-audio? Get bestselling and popular titles in multiple formats, including Kindle and MP3.

• Take a class: Looking for online classes? Find instructor-led courses in business, writing and publishing, computer applications and technology and healthcare, among others.

• Find your ancestors: Looking for family history? Get information on census data, vital records, military records, immigration records and more through a variety of resources.

• Get help with homework: Looking for homework help? Find resources for elementary, middle and high school students.

Visit durhamcountylibrary.org/online-resources for a complete list of online resources, including a free subscription to the New York Times.

Events and activities

• Event calendar: Check out the library’s Calendar of Events to see what’s happening and when each day.

• Library Fest: Library Fest is an annual community celebration and showcase of the many diverse ways the library can be a part of your life.

• Durham Comics Fest: An annual, all-ages celebration of comics and graphic novels, with an emphasis on supporting a community of comics readers and creators. Our main event each year is a multi-day festival with talks, workshops, swaps and more.

• Día: El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), known as Día for short, is a national celebration of reading and families. Every year, we celebrate Día with free books and fun activities for kids on April 30 or on the Saturday closest to April 30.

Other things to note

• Spanish language services: The library offers programs in Spanish and bilingual programs for all ages. We’ve got reading support for children, volunteer opportunities for Hispanic teens, English as a second language classes for adults and fun programs throughout the year, both at the libraries and out in the community with our community partners.

• The MakerLab: The MakerLab is a place for all youth to explore and create in various physical and digital fields. Come here for 3D printing and modeling, coding, robotics, digital design and more! This space has technology and other resources to aid you in your innovative endeavors. There are weekly programs offered in subjects like crafts, coding, and design.

• The Innovation Lab: The Innovation Lab is a place for adults and older youth to explore and create in various physical and digital fields. Come here for 3D printing and modeling, laser cutting, coding, robotics, digital design and more! This space includes technology and other resources to aid you in your innovative endeavors. There are weekly programs offered in subjects like crafts, coding, and design.

• Older adult and shut-in service (OASIS): If you’re unable to visit the library due to age, illness or physical disability, our Older Adult and Shut-In Service (OASIS) has a range of services that can help bring the library to you. The Durham County Library provides reading material and programs to homebound people in nursing homes, retirement communities, senior centers, and private residences. They also serve people in prisons and other institutions. For more information about OASIS, please contact the library at 919-560-0152 or 919-560-0153.

• Digging Durham Seed Library: Did you know that you can check out seeds at the library? The Digging Durham Seed Library offers vegetable, herb and flower seeds that you can take home and plant. You can take seed packets each season, and if you grow seeds, you can donate them for others to check out. By providing both a repository for seeds and training for the folks who plant them, the seed library helps to improve local sustainable food sources, enhance food security, develop local biodiversity and boost Durham’s foodie culture.

Chapel Hill Public Library: Orange County

The Chapel Hill Public Library is located at 100 Library Dr. in Chapel Hill.

How to get a library card

Register for a library card online at chapelhillpubliclibrary.org/get-a-library-card.

A library card is available at no cost to the following:

• People who live in Orange County.

• People who pay property taxes to Chapel Hill or Orange County.

• Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools employees, regardless of where they live.

• Town of Chapel Hill employees and those who retired from the Town with five years of service, regardless of where they live.

If you don’t meet any of these criteria, you can get a card for $65 per year.

How to reserve spaces

• The library has seven work rooms that hold at least four people. There are also four conference spaces that hold between 12 and 164 people. You can reserve rooms through this website, or by calling the library or visiting in person.

• Note: Spaces are currently closed due to COVID-19.

Free resources available for adults

• Online language learning: These conversation and film-based resources can help you learn more than 100 languages (including English) from just about any location.

• Consumer reports: Access the full text version of Consumer Reports for ratings, product reviews, expert buying advice, product comparisons, and user reviews. Click “Search within this publication” to find specific topics.

• Online research: NC Live offers in-depth databases on a comprehensive list of subjects.

Free resources available for kids

• Brain games and early literacy: Build a love of reading and learning through a variety of online services suited to growing minds.

• Kids sites: Use the library website to take advantage of kid-friendly educational sites like ABC-Ya, Nick Jr., Disney Junior and Sesame Street are available through the library’s website.

• Storytime: Weekly storytime events can foster a love of reading and learning in young children.

Events and activities

• Event calendar: Check out the library’s Calendar of Events to see what’s happening and when each day.

• Repeat events: The Chapel Hill Public Library consistently has family story time (stories for families with children ages 2 and up) and Sunday STEAM (a variety of science, technology, engineering, art and math activities for children in grades K-5), among other events.

Other things to note

• Fine-free library: The Chapel Hill Public Library is a fine-free library. However, if a library item is not returned after a certain period of time, you will receive a bill for the replacement cost of the item and your ability to check out other materials will be suspended. If you return the item, your ability to borrow materials will be restored. If you cannot find the item, you can pay the bill and have your ability to borrow materials restored.

• The Digital Media Lab: The DML is a shared work space that provides access to the tools of the DML. It is not a private room and is not intended as a meeting space.

• Downloadable materials: E-books and audiobooks are available for download.

• For more information: Visit chapelhillpubliclibrary.org/about-chpl/policies for FAQs and more information on library policies.

Orange County Public Library: Orange County

The Orange County Main Library is located at 137 W. Margaret Ln. in Hillsborough.

How to get a library card

Register for a library card online at orangecountync.gov/FormCenter/Library-13/Sign-Up-for-a-Library-Card-Online-206.

• If you live or work in Orange County, you may get a free library card from the Orange County Public Library. You may also get a free card if you live in Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham or Person County.

• If you are a student at or work for Orange County Schools, Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools, Eno River Academy, or The Expedition School, you already have a free library account in place.

• You can also get a Student Easy Access (SEA) account at the beginning of and throughout the school year. It is okay to have a SEA account in addition to a regular library card.

How to reserve spaces

• The Orange County Public Library in downtown Hillsborough provides welcoming study rooms for residents, county departments and community organizations. Note: The large meeting room is not available for use at this time.

• You can reserve study and meeting rooms by visiting orangecountync.gov/2001/Study-Meeting-Rooms.

Free resources available

• College prep: With a free library account, (full privilege or Student Easy Access) you can find out about career and technical education, explore careers and practice standardized tests, also for free. In their catalog you’ll find test study guides, as well as how-to manuals on paying for college.

• Jobs and business: A free library account gets you no-cost access to online career and business resources through NC LIVE.

• School success: Conduct research, prepare for standardized tests, get help with math, English, social studies and science classes and more.

• Local history collection: The Orange County Public Library is the home of the Rebecca B. Wall Local History Collection which contains historical reference items from the area, including: books, journals, magazines, maps, microfilm and online resources.

• NC LIVE: NC LIVE is a free state-wide service providing access to magazines, newspapers, homework help, test prep (PSAT, SAT, GRE, WorkKeys), language instruction and more.

• WiFi to go: Check out hotspots (one per family) at the library. Connect up to 15 wireless enabled devices. They carry special fees if they are damaged ($100), reconfigured ($5) or if you exceed allowed data limits.

Events and activities

• Event calendar: Check out the library’s Calendar of Events to see what’s happening and when each day.

• Not a Book Club: This group is for those 16 and older. “We’re ‘Not a Book Club,’ so there’s no assigned reading and no pressure. Just grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, and let’s talk books!”

Other things to note

• How to use your library: The Orange County Public Library’s YouTube channel has over 10 videos to walk you through using the library system. Learn how to navigate remote printing, how to make an appointment for curbside pickup and more.

• Fine-free library: The Orange County Public Library does not charge fines for overdue materials.

• Notary services: The Main Library offers free notary services Monday through Friday by appointment only.

• Interlibrary loans: The library charges $3 for each Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request. The charge will be added to the customer’s account at the time the ILL item arrives at the library. Whether the library is able to provide the item requested is dependent upon the response of the libraries that own the item.

NC’s State Government and Heritage Library

Part of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ State Library, the State Government and Heritage Library (GHL) provides access to information on North Carolina history, government, data and statistics and genealogy for North Carolina residents and state agency employees.

The library is located at 109 East Jones St. in Raleigh.

How to get a library card

North Carolina residents and state agency employees can sign up for a free GHL library card online at ghl.nccardinal.org/eg/opac/register#librarycardsignup or by visiting the library in person to fill out an application.

• If you sign up online, you will receive your card number in an email along with information on how to use your card.

• You can visit the library in person with your state issued identification to pick up your card.

Find more information about how to sign up for a GHL library card at statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/search-library/access-materials-and-resources/slnc-government-and-heritage-library-card.

Free online resources available

• Newspapers: The library offers online access to several historical and current newspaper databases, including full articles from The New York Times (1980-present) and The Wall Street Journal (1981-present).

• Genealogy and history: Doing family research? The library offers several resources related to genealogy, including access to AmericanAncestors.org, an online repository for more than 1.4 billion records spanning twenty-two countries. New to genealogical research? The library also offers guides to help you get started.

• Geographic information: The library offers geographic information tools, including several databases of historical North Carolina maps.

• Data: The library’s data resources include several tools related to demographics and business information around the state and country.

• Ebooks and videos: Through the library’s ebooks and video resources, you’ll gain access to thousands of fiction, reference and scholarly books, plus videos on business, humanities, science, math, fitness, popular musical performances and more.

• Reference: The library’s online reference materials include databases on agriculture, business, criminal justice, education, public health and more.

Events and activities

• Field trips and tours: The library offers several resources for educators, including field trips to the library and personalized in-person or online instruction for classes. Field trips can focus on a particular subject or be presented as an overview of the library.

• Events: Keep up with events hosted by the State Library at statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/news-events.

Learn more about the State Library and Government and Heritage Library by visiting statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/about-us/government-and-heritage-library.