This column, featuring some of OPL staff's favorite library resources appeared in the September 27, 2026, edition of the Omaha World-Herald. It is also available at Omaha.com (opens in a new tab).
September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, and though the month is nearly over, Omaha Public Library (OPL) librarians want to share why you should get a card — no matter the time of year. Your library card provides access to far more than physical books, though staff members are pretty fond of those, too. With the help of OPL staff, here is a list of some of their favorite resources and reasons to sign up for a card:
Books, books and more books: Yes, your library card allows you to check out physical books from your local branch, but you can also check out eBooks, audiobooks, large print and more.
Music: “Freegal is a free music downloading and streaming service that lets you download four songs per week and gives unlimited streaming. It has a wide selection of artists from Dolly Parton to the Minutemen to Beyoncé. The songs are DRM-free, and you can keep a wishlist in case you want to download a full album, rather than just individual songs. Find Freegal Music on omahalibrary.org under Entertainment in our Resource Center.” — David Dick, assistant branch manager at the Downtown Branch
Discovery Passes: The Durham Museum, Film Streams, Fontenelle Forest and many other local businesses, museums and nonprofit organizations have partnered with OPL to offer free passes. It is a great opportunity for Douglas County residents to explore all Omaha has to offer.
Movies: “I knew we carried DVDs, but I didn't realize the full extent of our collection. Thanks to our library resources, I was able to cancel my personal streaming services. This has saved me money and cut down on the time I spent scrolling for something to watch. I've also been making great use of the Kanopy app, which provides access to over 30,000 films, documentaries and educational programs from any device.” — Paige Peterson, library specialist at the Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch
Magazines: Borrow print magazines from your favorite branch or check them out online with Flipster, OverDrive, MasterFile and more.
Seeds: “I really love our seed program, where our patrons can check out seeds to start their very own garden... no matter how many times I talk about our seed program, someone is always amazed, and I love that!” — Tania Chavarria-Newman, library specialist at Central Library
Online learning resources: Get access to LinkedIn Learning, Mango Languages, the New York Times suite and many other tools to help you build new skills. “One of the many things that I love about my library card is NYT Cooking! I only recently discovered that we have access to the entire New York Times suite, and I have had several delicious meals since.” — Gabbi Anzalone, library specialist at the Charles B. Washington Branch
Family research resources: Use tools like Ancestry, FamilySearch and MyHeritage Library Edition to learn more about your family history. The third floor of OPL’s Central Library also houses genealogy resources, a Nebraska Reference Collection and a large collection of government documents dating to the 1800s.
Book recommendations like your favorite book: “I am often looking for books with similar vibes to other books I like, and NoveList is a great way to do that. It's very user-friendly and super fun to use.” — Emma Niebaum, library specialist at the Saddlebrook Branch
If you live in Douglas County, you can receive a full-access library card at no cost. For Nebraska residents outside Douglas County limits, a Nebraska Express card with limited offerings is available for free. To find more information on how to sign up for an OPL card and who is eligible, visit omahalibrary.org.
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