Learning from Home
Learning from Home at the Library đź•®
Need a Galesburg Public Library card?
Residents of the city of Galesburg, along with students enrolled in a Galesburg CUSD #205 school, may apply for a free Galesburg Public Library card. Library card holders must be at least 5 years old. Fill out an application today.
Check out a book
To browse our physical library collection of books, audiobooks, DVDs, and more, or to request library materials to borrow via curbside checkout, visit our Library Catalog.
To borrow e-books and audiobooks, visit any of our e-book libraries:
- Alliance Digital Media Library — uses Libby app
- eRead Illinois — uses Axis 360 app
- Tumblebooks
Get a book suggestion
Not sure what to read next? Visit our Readers’ Advisory page. Here you’ll find themed book lists for readers of all ages, links to our book review blogs for kids and adults, and resources for hosting your own book club.
Want a more personalized recommendation? Fill out a Reader’s Advisory Request — Adult/Young Adult Form or Children Form — and a librarian will hand-select books based on your interests and preferences.
Want a bunch of new books to try? Request a Grab & Go bag! Each Grab & Go bag contains up to ten books and fun library surprise for you to keep. You can specify a topic or genre, or just let us surprise you. For a kids’ Grab & Go bag, contact the Children’s Room to get started. For adults or teens, contact the Reference Department.
Participate in a reading challenge
Galesburg Public Library hosts ongoing reading challenges for youth of all ages. Parents with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers may sign up for 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, while youth in grades K-12 may choose one of our Illinois Reader’s Choice Challenges. Whichever one you pick, our challenges allow you to read you way toward earning a free book to keep! Sign up today on our Beanstack page. Prefer to do the challenge screen-free? Paper forms are available by request.
Check out a Kids’ Kit for At-Home Learning & Fun
Galesburg Public Library’s Children’s Department offers a number of kids’ kits, available to borrow with your library card. From early literacy to STEAM, these kits are so much fun you won’t even realize you’re learning! For a list of current available kits, click here.
Get homework help from trusted sources
Your library card is your ticket to use subscription databases, most of which are available to use from your own home. We also now offer Brainfuse services, which is a real-time, online tutoring platform built to help users of all ages. You can log in from home using your library card number.
Try a virtual activity
Virtual Programs: Our librarians are bringing many of your favorite library programs online, including weekly children’s storytimes, Dungeons and Dragons club for teens, and so much more.
Learn about media literacy
Watch this presentation from our Children’s Library Assistant Ms. Meghan and our Young Adult Librarian John teaching the SIFT method to evaluate media and news articles for accuracy and trustworthiness.
Schedule a virtual library tour or librarian “class visit”
While we can’t meet with your students in person, we’re happy to provide a live or pre-recorded virtual tour of the library, customized virtual storytimes, or virtual book talks prepared to go along with a lesson or theme of your choice. Contact a librarian to start planning your customized class visit.
