If you live or work in Massachusetts, you can get a Boston Public Library eCard allowing you access to all of the BPL’s online resources. Sign up for one here: https://www.bpl.org/ecard/. You can also visit that page for answers to frequently asked questions.

Below are just some of the online resources you can access with a Boston Public Library eCard. For the full list of resources, most of which require eCard login, visit their Online Resources page.

For help resetting your eCard PIN: If you have already set up an online account, click here. If you have not yet setup an online account, email websupport@bpl.org.

To do online research using your CWMARS library card, visit our Online Research, Magazines and Newspapers page.

ART & ARCHITECTURE
Grove Art Online
Contains the full searchable text and images of Grove Art Online, The Oxford Companion to Western Art, Encyclopedia of Aesthetics, and The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms.

Resources in the broader Oxford Art Online may not be available.

Smithsonian Collections Online
Full reproductions of Smithsonian Magazine (1970-present) and Air & Space Magazine (1986-present) with searchable text and illustrations.


BIOGRAPHY & GENEALOGY
19th Century US Newspapers
Searchable full-page and article reproductions of newspapers from across the country. Massachusetts Coverage: Boston: Atlas, Congregationalist, Courier, Daily Advertiser, Emancipator & Republican, Investigator, Liberator; Lowell: Lowell Daily Citizen.

HeritageQuest Online (Also available for use with your CWMARS library card)
Genealogical sources and research aids, including city directories, family and local histories, U.S. Census records from 1790-1940, and military records from the Revolutionary War and other conflicts.

New York Times (1851-2016)
Searchable full-page and article reproductions back to the first issue on Sept 18, 1851.

Obituary Database
The Obituary Database is an index of obituaries that appeared in the Boston Evening Transcript (BET), Boston Globe (BG) and the Boston Herald/Herald American (BH). Currently, this database includes obituaries published between 1932 and 1941 and between 1953 and 2010.


EDUCATION
Career Transitions New!
Find a new job or discover a new career with searchable listings for jobs and schools, writing tools, tips and advice, and even simulated job interviews.

LearningExpress Library
Test preparation materials and practice exams for K-12 subjects, high school equivalency, college and graduate admissions, military, U.S. citizenship, and professional licensing and certification exams. Includes the Job & Career Accelerator to help you achieve your career goals. Watch the BPL tutorial

Lynda.com
Video courses in business, software, technology, and creative skills, taught by recognized industry experts.

To use our free collection of Lynda.com tutorials, do not visit Lynda.com directly. Always follow links from bpl.org to access our Lynda.com Library subscription sign in portal. Watch the BPL tutorial

Mango Languages
An interactive language-learning resource supporting dozens of languages, including Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), English, Hindi, and Spanish. Watch the BPL tutorial

Teacher Resources
ERIC (Education Resources Information Center)
An index and full-text digital library of English-language education research, including journal articles, government publications, reports, theses, dissertations, books, conference proceedings, and audiovisual materials. All items are described using the ERIC Thesaurus, a special collection of subject terms for education topics. This resource is created and maintained by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences.


NEWS & CURRENT EVENTS
New York Times (1985-Present)
Text- only articles (not page reproductions).  Does not contain all content found in the published version of the Times, such as advertisements, charts, classified ads, graphs, most images, and non-staff written articles. Updated daily by 8 a.m.

History and Political Science
18th Century Collections Online
Over 180,000 full-text searchable 18th century books, pamphlets, essays, broadsides, and more, primarily in English, covering all aspects of life and knowledge, including history, geography, arts and literature, law, science, medicine, and the social sciences.

AP Images
Searchable Associated Press content, including 4.6 million photographs (1826-present) as well as graphics, audio (1920-present), and articles (1997-present).


HOBBIES & LEISURE
AtoZ World Food
AtoZ World Food contains traditional recipes and covers food culture for 174 countries of the world in six categories: National Cuisine, Regional Cuisine, Daily Meals, Dining Etiquette, Special Occasion Foods, and Food Trivia.


LITERATURE, BOOKS & READING
Hoopla Streaming Media
Movies, TV shows, music, eBooks, and comics for online streaming or download to mobile devices, with no waiting lists. Borrow up to 10 items per calendar month. Watch the BPL tutorial