The Westchester Library System subscribes to a variety of third-party online resources offering eBooks (as well as streaming audio and video). Westchester County residents who are active cardholders are entitled to access to free access to these services using their library card number and PIN.

Please be aware that different services may offer access to different content: a book that is not accessible on Hoopla may be available through Overdrive or Freading.  The most up-to-date information on all of these resources can be found by visiting the Westchester Library System website at this link..

Freading: a New Look at eBook Lending

Free Journals and Databases

Numerous online journals, article databases, and academic resources are now available for free to the general public in response to the pandemic. Expand the section below to see a complete list.

Gallica, a digital library from the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF). For more information, click here.

Hoopla Digital

OverDrive

Publishers Weekly

**NEW** Team StarKid

Started at the University of Michigan with The Very Potter Musical, Team Starkid are a theatre troupe that specialize in creating musical parodies. Team Starkid have been creating musicals for over a decade, parodying Batman, Disney’s Aladdin, and Oregon Trail, along with their very successful trilogy of Harry Potter parodies. The content is pretty firmly PG-13–so maybe not appropriate for tween patrons–but there’s a lot here for teen patrons who enjoy a good parody. My own personal favorite is Starship, an original story parodying films like Alien and Starship Troopers with a full cast of brightly-colored puppets.

Boy’s Life

https://boyslife.org/
Published by the Boy Scouts of America, Boys' Life magazine and the accompanying
website provide fun, ideas and knowledge to boys from ages 7 to 18. Play games,
read jokes and comics, learn about the latest outdoor gear, enter a contest or check
out some awesome Eagle Scout projects. If you love the outdoors, this website is full
of expert advice and outdoor hacks.

Mystery Science Theater 3000

https://mst3k.com/video
Mad scientists trap an employee in space and force him to watch some of the worst movies that you could ever get the rights to broadcast—so he riffs on the films with the help of robot buddies built from parts of the theater control system.

Teen Nick

http://www.teennick.com/
Teen Nick fans will find information on the latest shows, as well as games, videos
and quizzes through Teen Nick’s website. While the site offers updates about Teen
Nick shows, it also has features that interest teens such as surviving high school and
back to school ideas.

The InSite

http://www.theinsite.org/
The InSite is designed for teens who have an interest in improving the world. Teens
can learn about social justice, building a positive self-image and helping the Earth.
They can also submit artwork and writing or participate in discussions about
making the world a better place.

https://teens.lovetoknow.com/Teen_Journals_Online

Journaling can be your contribution to history, as well a source of relief and connection. Whether you see it as a blog or a diary, keeping an online journal to recount your day, or an event is one way to stay in touch with others, find relief from stress, or simply help you to reflect.

Alternatively, keep your own personal print journal! Journalling is generally a great stress/anxiety aid, as well as a way to preserve memories.

https://teens.lovetoknow.com/teen-activities/8-books-teens-should-read

These reading recommendations are all (except for Soldier Boy) are available to borrow as free e-books on our Overdrive page: https://westchester.overdrive.com/

https://www.habbo.com/

Habbo Hotel is a place for teens to come and chat. Each teen receives a personal room to decorate with virtual objects. They can also customize their avatars by dressing them in virtual clothes or create games to play with friends. The room might have music, be set up like a classroom, or have other features so the different avatars can visit one another. The rooms teens can interact in are staffed by adult moderators to make sure it stays safe.

Marco Polo App

Videochatting with friends and family is great, but sometimes your schedules just don’t align. Marco Polo is a bit like SnapChat, except that you can’t

search for users or add them without their phone number. Simply record a video message to a specific friend or family member, and they can watch live if they’re around– or record you one when they have a moment later. Marco Polo also doesn’t sell ads or user data, making it a safer choice than most social media sites!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.happybits.marcopolo

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/marco-polo-stay-in-touch/id912561374

Scratch

https://scratch.mit.edu/

Hosted by MIT Media Lab’s Lifelong Kindergarten Program, Scratch is a place where teens program and share stories, games and animations they create. To join the free online community, teens only need to create a username and provide their country, age, gender and an email address. Check out the creations of others, then comment and chat about them, or make your own animation to share.

Teen Line:

https://teenlineonline.org/

Teens looking for other teens to talk with about problems or embarrassing questions can call, text, email or online chat with trained teenage volunteers through Teen Line. All lines of communication are open in the evenings to provide peer support to teens during after school hours. Every topic, from gender identity to divorce or depression, can be discussed with another teenager who understands where you’re coming from. There are also tons of message boards for lighter topics like fashion and pop culture, health and fitness or homework help.

Girls Health

https://www.girlshealth.gov/

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Girlshealth.gov features health information for tween and teen girls. In addition to articles on health, fitness and nutrition, girls will also find quizzes, celebrity spotlights and videos with tips on topics such as bullying, relationships and planning for the future.

Young Men’s Health

https://youngmenshealthsite.org/

Boston Children’s Hospital presents Young Men’s Health, a website designed to provide information about teen health. Teen boys can ask questions or review the question of the week to find information on uncomfortable health issues. They can also browse in-depth health guides in categories ranging from health and fitness to emotional or sexual health.

• Maker Camp! makercamp.com and https://makercamp.com/project-library/
• Get the whole family involved to make the longest exploding “stick bomb” ever!  All you need are popsicle sticks and determination.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Cobra-Weave-Exploding-Stick-Bomb/

• if you’re a fan of Andrew LLoyd Webber musicals– check out his Facebook page.  He regularly posts himself playing and asks people to submit videos of their sing-alongs. Try a sing-along: the “best” are edited into a compilation each week.
• Never had time to cook before? Try out some new recipes! https://minimalistbaker.com/—-Minimalist Baker is a place for recipes requiring 10 ingredients or less, 1 bowl, or 30 minutes or less to prepare.

Also, King Arthur Flour has a great resource for quarantine baking substitutions. (Scroll down on the page for their adaptions of the usual recipes): https://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2020/03/30/what-to-bake-if-you-run-out-of-ingredients

• Using tissue paper and a silk scarf you can tie dye a one of a kind scarf for yourself or for someone special:

https://urbancomfort.typepad.com/urban_nest/2014/02/quick-easy-tissue-dyed-silk-scarf.html

• Another tie-dye idea: with just colorful sharpie pens, and rubbing alcohol, you can create easy tie dye tee shirts.

https://gluesticksblog.com/sharpie-tie-dyed-shirts/

• Since we cannot get to the nail salon, here are 17 hacks that will have your manicure looking like a it was done by a professional!: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/advice/a6317/nail-art-hacks/