If you are still looking for a New Year’s resolution, this one has a lot of potential. While many Oregon Hill residents enjoy walking downtown to our nearby Richmond Public Library Main Street location, all Richmond residents can take advantage of RPL’s FREE online resources.

Here is a list of them:
America’s News (Search largest collection of full-text U.S. newspapers)
Auto Repair Reference Center (Find the cost of repair to your car or truck)
Biography in Context (Biographical information on more than 500,000 people)
Find It Virginia (one-stop source for newspaper and periodical articles on a wide range of topics, resources for middle and high school students with research assignments)
Global Issues in Context (variety of sources focusing on broad issues such as war, genocide, terrorism, human rights, poverty, climate change. What no Kardashian or Duck Dynasty?) Literati Public (Literati is a great place to stat research on any topic, plus online homework help)
Mango Languages (Study over 77 different languages through everyday conversation. Includes over 15 courses for people learning English as a second language)
Mergent (Full financial information offered on international and U.S. companies)
NoveList Plus (Literature database spotlights biographies, book titles, subject headings, and read-a-likes for current as well as past authors)
Opposing Viewpoints in Context (This database allows users to explore both sides of hotly debated topics)
Reference USA (Find residential, business, and medical listings across the country by name, address, telephone number, or business code)
TumbleBook Library (Animated, talking picture books that teach kids the joy of reading)
Zinio (Full digital copies of popular magazines)

Then in my true, made-for-TV infomercial voice, But that’s not all!-

In addition to the many, many e-books that can be downloaded for your iPad or e-tablet reading pleasure, there is also the Learning Express Library, which offers online courses and practice tests for Civil Service, ASVAB, GED, SAT, and even vocations like nursing. Again, you can register and access these FREE online resources using your Richmond PUBLIC library card number as your username.

The thing is, I don’t think many Richmond teachers, let alone students, fully recognize just how much is available online from RPL. So, even if you are already using RPL online, make a point to tell your neighbors about it and have a Happy New Year!