The Blackstone Library provides a variety of free digital resources you can use online from home or in person at the library. Wherever you have an internet connection, you can search our catalog & place holds, download eBooks, audiobooks and magazines. Check out our digital media collections below or explore the quick links on the right. There are also a number of databases available under our “Research” tab or click here.
eBooks & Audiobooks from OverDrive
OverDrive has thousands of ebooks and audiobooks for borrowing. Available to Branford and LION library card holders. Need help downloading to your device? Visit our help page here. Try OverDrive’s Libby app, either through your web browser or download the Libby App on the App Store or Google Play. Please note that the original OverDrive app (blue with white O) is no longer available. You must download the Libby app.
eBooks & Audiobooks from the State of Connecticut, Digital Public Library of America Collection and OverDrive with the Palace app.
Borrow ebooks and audiobooks from the multiple collections, using the Palace App.
Heritage Hub
Search for obituaries and death notices from 1704 – today, including hard-to-find obituary content from the mid 1900’s, coverage from all 50 states, and original obituary images from historical newspapers. Access is available 24/7.
Hoopla
Blackstone Library cardholders can download ebooks, audiobooks, comics, movies, TV series and music to their computers and mobile devices. Sign up at hoopladigital.com or through the Hoopla app on your mobile device. You can browse the collection or search for a specific title. Just click on the title you want and then click on Borrow! Read more about Hoopla here.
Kanopy
Kanopy is an on demand streaming service that allows you to stream to your computer or mobile device, to your television by connecting it to your computer with an HDMI cable, or by using Roku, Apple TV or Chromecast. You’ll find independent, classic, international films, series and documentaries. Included are the Criterion Collection, the Great Courses and PBS. Create an account at Kanopy, using your Blackstone Library card.
Magazines from OverDrive
Our magazine collection has migrated from RBDigital to OverDrive. Browse magazines here and try the Libby app now for accessing your OverDrive ebooks, audiobooks and magazines or go to libbyapp.com to read in your browser.
Newspapers
Blackstone Library cardholders have remote access to the New Haven Register from home. You will find full-text articles on local news, issues, events, people and much more from current and archived issues from 1988. Updated daily, it includes obituaries, editorials, announcements, sports, real estate and other sections.
To view the new image edition, choose the database where “image” is listed as the format.
If you do not have a Blackstone Library card, you can still access these databases when using a computer at the library. In addition, anyone with a Connecticut library card can access a wide array of newspapers from researchIT CT.
Petersons Test Prep
Log in to Petersons Test Prep using your Blackstone Library barcode and create your account. Petersons provides standardized test preparation, tools for researching and selecting college and graduate schools, and information on tuition assistance. There are resources for jobs and careers, practice tests, online books, advice on resumes, cover letters, interviewing and networking and much more
Shoutbomb Text Messaging Service
Keep up-to-date with your library account on your mobile phone using the library’s Shoutbomb text messaging service. Receive text notices about items available to pick up, items due soon, overdue items and fines. PLEASE NOTE: The library does NOT charge a fee for this service, but your cell phone plan’s regular text-messaging rates apply. For additional information and instructions, click here.
Transparent Language
Blackstone Library now offers Transparent Language to cardholders. Create your account at https://library.transparent.com/blackstonelibrary and start learning. To view the Transparent Language interface in other languages, click on the American flag icon on the top right. When you choose a language to learn, you will see choices for learning that language in other native languages.