Internal Resource

Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints

This rich resource provides pro/con viewpoints, reference articles, interactive maps, infographics, and more covering today’s hottest social issues. It’s an excellent resource for debaters, students, and educators alike. Content explores current events, news and commentary, economics, environmental issues, law and politics, health and medicine, and more.

Your gateway to:

  • 20,100+ pro/con viewpoints
  • 19,200+ reference articles, including topic overviews
  • 12,700+ charts and graphs, along with other statistical information
  • 300+ profiles of federal agencies and special-interest groups
  • Special coverage of the annual debate topic determined by the National Speech and Debate Association
  • Full-text newspapers and periodicals from multiple perspectives, including: The New York Times, Newsweek, Foreign Policy, American Scientist and Education Week, and more.

Special features include:

  • Educator Resources
    Find tools to help educators and students get the most out of Gale In Context resources. There are lesson plans and activities to put concepts into practice!
  • Topic Finder
    Visualize connections between search terms and topics and view relevant articles for those topics.

Explore Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints
Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints is provided by Kentucky Virtual Library. A special username and password are required for home access; ask at any BCPL service desk for the login credentials or call the main library at 543-7675.

Fiero Code

Fiero Code: Learn-to-code software Learn computer programming skills through a series of quick tutorials and gamified projects! Choose from a variety of “workouts” and “missions” as you learn to build websites, video games, phone apps, animations, and more. Plus, explore career opportunities in computer programming, start your own project in the Create module, or join a live coding challenge.

The Fiero Code software provides an accessible, easy-to-navigate coding journey geared toward youth ages 8–18, but adults can enjoy Fiero Code, too! It’s a great, low-commitment way for all ages to learn and practice their coding skills, and more adult-focused content for career-building is coming soon.

Coding languages include:

  • CSS
  • HTML
  • JavaScript
  • Python
  • Scratch
  • SQL

Explore Fiero Code
An e-mail is required to set up your account.

Would you like to join a Code Club or other coding-related programs?

Let us know!

Not convinced Fiero Code is right for you?

Here are just a few of the benefits of learning to code with Fiero Code:

  • Project-Based Learning
    Coders have numerous opportunities to build real-world websites, video games, apps, animations, and more from scratch.
  • Story-Based Learning & Gamification
    Make learning fun to stay engaged and achieve the outcome you want. Maintain progress with Streaks and Top Projects—and don’t forget to level-up your personal avatar. As you complete each Fiero Code workout and mission, you’ll unlock gear and other items to customize your avatar. 
  • Maker & Robotics
    Experience the thrill of coding a robot and use with devices including Ozobot, Sphero, Raspberry Pi, and Makey Makey. 
  • Self-Guided / Self-Paced
    Be empowered! With Fiero Code, you can choose the projects and topics that interest you and do it at your own pace. H    op from discipline to discipline and from tutorials to projects (and back again) with ease.
  • Support from Fiero Code
    With a built-in discussion board moderated by Fiero Code coders and staff, you will never be left without support. 

ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Louisville Courier-Journal

ProQuest Historical Newspapers This local, historical newspaper source provides genealogists, researchers, and scholars with online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts from the Louisville Courier-Journal and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society, and events of the time. Available content spans from 1830 through 2000, including not only articles but also editorials, comics, obituaries, classifieds, legal notices, and more. For researchers seeking an authoritative, regional perspective on national and international events, as well as local perspectives on community news, the full-text, digitized pages of this newspaper (1830–2000) are a valuable resource in a variety of fields including history, political science, African-American studies, and genealogy.

Relevant focus areas include:

  • African American Studies
  • Agriculture
  • American History
  • Culture
  • Economics
  • Genealogy
  • Government
  • History
  • Industrialization
  • Political Science
  • Sports
  • The US Civil War

Your library barcode will be required for remote access.

Explore ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Louisville Courier-Journal

Newspapers.com– World Collections

Newspapers.com–World Collections Powered by Ancestry and distributed by ProQuest, Newspapers.com– World Collections provides online access to 4,000+ historical newspapers.

Dating from the early 1700s into the 2000s, the database contains full runs and portions of runs of well-known regional and state titles as well as small local newspapers from the United States and other countries.  It offers invaluable content for researchers, historians, genealogists, teachers, and students. With ongoing updates and new issues continually being added, there’s always more to be discovered.

Features include:

  • Find newspapers by country, state, and city
  • Discover interesting clipping from other users or create and save your own
  • Link clippings to your family trees on Ancestry.com
  • Set Search Alerts to automatically run your search on newly added newspapers
  • Follow a paper’s “page” or another user’s profile to catch new discoveries related to your own research

Explore Newspapers.com— World Collections

ArtistWorks

ArtistWorks—Find it in Libby. Learn to play an instrument from Grammy winners!

ArtistWorks offers instrumental and voice lessons from world-class professionals. From beginner instruction to advanced classes, aspiring musicians of all skills levels are provided a guided path of video lessons containing everything they need to reach their musical goals.

Learn at your own speed and enjoy the instructional videos on desktop or mobile devices. ArtistWorks is available as a Kentucky Libraries Unbound/Libby Extra. You will need to log in to KLU/Libby with your library card number and PIN to access Extras. Once your ArtistWorks account is created, it will need to be renewed through Libby every 30 days.

Features include:

  • Bluegrass, Blues, Classical, Country, Jazz, Rock, and more
  • Hundreds of hours of high-quality video instruction
  • Studio quality play-along tracks
  • Downloadable written materials, tablature, and sheet music

Set Up with Libby     Current Account Access

Screenshot displaying Libby Extras

Universal Class

Universal Class - Find it in Libby Learn skills for business and life!

Universal Class offers more than 500 lifelong-learning courses in over 30 subject areas—many of which offer continuing education units (CEUs). Courses are designed and led by professional instructors to build deeper understanding and mastery of subject matter through a variety of mediums including videos, assignments, quizzes, tests, and interactive opportunities with other learners. Universal Class is a great choice for both serious students and casual learners.

Patrons may take multiple classes and learn at their own pace. Universal Class is best accessed through a desktop computer and is available as a Kentucky Libraries Unbound/Libby Extra. You will need to log in to KLU/Libby with your library card number and PIN to access Extras. Once your Universal Class account is created, it will need to be renewed through Libby every 30 days.

Set Up with Libby     Current Account Access

 

Extras Screenshot

A wide variety of courses span everything from homeschool courses for the kids (and parents) to business and accounting to dozens of cooking, baking, arts & crafts, and gardening courses. Examples include:

  • Advanced Dog Training
    AREAS OF STUDY – click to enlarge.
  • Building Self-Esteem
  • Buying & Selling Antiques & Collectibles
  • Debt Reduction
  • Dream Interpretation
  • Gender Sensitivity Training
  • Haunted Places
  • Interview Skills
  • Introduction to Six Sigma
  • Memory Improvement
  • Retirement Planning
  • Single Parenting 101
  • Solving Classroom Discipline Problems
  • UFO Studies
  • US Citizenship Test Preparation
  • Weight Loss Management
  • Hundreds more!

New York Times Digital

New York Times devices Understand the world. Navigate life.
Access The New York Times here.

Whether you’re managing finances, tackling tough parenting problems, or simply looking to make sense of this moment, rely on original, quality journalism from The New York Times to lead the way. It’s an essential source for fearless reporting, varied perspectives, and practical advice on nearly every topic—from the vital issues shaping our world to the simple pleasures that make everyday life better.

  • The New York Times Digital subscription provides unlimited access to current New York Times articles but does not include New York Times Cooking or Crosswords.
  • Selected articles are also available in Spanish and Chinese.

ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS
*Please note, the READ ON link on NYTimes.com leads to a newsletter subscription page. However, you can bypass or navigate away to explore all that the New York Times Digital subscription has to offer!

Inside the library:

  1. Use a BCPL computer or connect your device to our Wi-Fi.
  2. Register or log in at nytimes.com/register.
  3. You can now enjoy unlimited access to NYTimes.com on any device during your visit.

Outside the library:

Claim your digital access code for full, 24-hour access to unlimited articles on NYTimes.com or in the New York Times app.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIN-Learning button LinkedIn Learning is a premier online learning resource featuring tutorials from recognized experts in their fields covering technical skills, creative techniques, business strategies, career development, and more. Learning is self-paced and courses and tutorials are broken up into short videos, so it’s easy to squeeze in just a few minutes of learning a day if that’s all the time you have.

Please note: LinkedIn Learning requires that users be at least 16 years old, but a public LinkedIn profile is not required for access.

You just need your library card and PIN to get started! If you have a public profile you do not want linked to your LinkedIn Learning account, you may be asked to provide a Library ID instead of your e-mail. Our Library ID is bcplibky.

Explore Now!

AtoZdatabases

AtoZdatabases is a premier online reference and research tool providing library cardholders instant, up-to-date information on US businesses and residents, including marketing and sales leads; mailing lists; employment opportunities; background searches; and profiles on companies, executives, and healthcare professionals. Database search results and lists can be easily and conveniently downloaded, printed, or e-mailed in Excel, CSV, or PDF formats.

Plus, use Platinum Search to find or search by historical addresses, attend live training webinars with AtoZ University, or send your own marketing e-mails for free with pre-designed templates for events like family reunions, youth sports, or wedding announcements.

For Business:

  • Access profiles on over 30 million companies and executives
  • Perform industry research, find competitor information, and more with the US Business database
  • Search over 240 million residents to compile mailing lists or perform market research including income, household, and lifestyle data
  • Discover over 12 million new movers or 2 million new homeowners

For Job Seekers:

  • Search the database of over 7 million real-time job listings, powered by Indeed
  • Discover full-time, part-time, internship, temporary, and contract opportunities
  • Find resumé and cover letter templates and examples
  • Get interview tips, including how-to videos
  • Pinpoint local companies in your desired industry
  • Do your research; access company and executive profiles to identify human resources contacts and prepare for interviews

Plus:

  • Locate friends and family, including addresses and phone numbers
  • Research home market values and neighbors in the US Residents database before buying or selling a home
  • Perform background and criminal checks
  • Search for and view profiles for over 12 million healthcare professionals
  • Send free group e-mails using pre-designed templates
  • And more!

Search AtoZdatabases»

Legal Information Source

Image who's a man an woman in business suits looking at legal documents. Text reads "EBSCO Legal Information Source" Legal Information Reference Center is an EBSCOhost database specifically geared to help everyday citizens understand the complex world of law, providing the necessary tools and detailed how-to instructions to navigate wide range of legal issues. A majority of the full-text legal reference books are provided through Nolo, the nation’s oldest and most respected provider of legal information for consumers and small businesses. Plus, with the Legal Forms by U.S. State feature, you can search state-specific legal forms by top subject areas.

Covered legal topics include:

  • Adoption
  • Bankruptcy
  • Businesses & corporations
  • Child custody
  • Criminal law
  • Divorce
  • Estate planning
  • Family law
  • Immigration
  • Name changes
  • Patents, copyrights & trademarks
  • Property and real estate
  • Rights and disputes
  • Small claims court
  • And more

EXPLORE NOW

Creativebug

CreativeBug block ad Find inspiration and instruction with video classes taught by recognized artists, crafters, designers, and makers! With over 1,000 delectable, quick classes and in-depth workshops, Creativebug is the perfect creative companion for those who like to mix imagination and step-by-step DIY instruction.

You can:

  • Learn easy ways to practice your craft every day.
  • Nurture your creative soul by learning new skills.
  • Access an extensive pattern library for knitters and crocheters.
  • Enjoy guilt-free, inspirational screen time with 27/4 unlimited access!

Topics include:

  • Baking & Cake Decorating
  • Bath & Body
  • Book Binding
  • Canning & Preserving
  • Ceramics
  • Collage & Decoupage
  • Crochet
  • Cutting Machine Crafts
  • Drawing & Illustration
  • Flowers
  • Furniture Refinishing & Upholstery
  • Holidays
  • Home Décor
  • Jewelry Making
  • Painting
  • Parties
  • Quilting
  • Sewing
  • Textiles
  • Weddings

Sign in or create an account now

Auto Repair Source

Auto Repair Source square Powered by the automotive experts at MOTOR, Auto Repair Source provides the most accurate, authoritative and up-to-date service and repair information for thousands of domestic and imported vehicles. All content comes from the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and includes step-by-step repair information, diagrams, maintenance schedules, parts and labor estimates, service bulletins, and recalls. A valid library card is required for use outside a BCPL library location. Get started with Auto Repair Source now »

Kanopy

Indie movies. Critically-acclaimed documentaries. Classic films. Celebrated educational series like NOVA, Ken Burns America, and The Great Courses. BCPL’s newest streaming service offers all of this and more.

Kanopy provides easy access—free with your Bullitt County Public Library card!—to a cinephile’s dream library of more than 26,000 films, many of which cannot be  found on popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Video. While the Kanopy collection includes some blockbuster films and shows, such as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Call the Midwife, Kanopy’s biggest claim to fame is their unique and extensive collection of independent, international, and classic films.

Of particular interest, 420 Janus Films—art house and classic films from the Criterion Collection—are included, allowing you to stream cinematic masterpieces like 8 ½, City Lights, Eraserhead, A Hard Day’s Night, Seven Samurai, Stagecoach,  A Woman Under the Influence, and more on your smartphone, tablet, PC, or smart TV. The documentary selection—featuring titles like I Am Not Your Negro, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, Super Size Me, The Red Pill, Don’t Look Back, and Hoop Dreams—is equally impressive.

Another highlight is the wide variety of educational and training videos from suppliers like The Great Courses and PBS. You can browse and explore videos covering Business Skills, Dance, Engineering, History, Photography, Religion & Philosophy, Sports & Fitness, and more. Plus, find instructional videos on topics ranging from refrigeration and air conditioning to first aid and therapeutic massage. There are even curated collections for educators and students that provide lessons in mathematics, languages (including ESL), and science. Teachers can use these in their classrooms with no concerns about licensing—group viewing rights are free!

So next time you have Netflix fatigue and think there are no good movies left to watch, reconsider. Even if indie films and documentaries aren’t usually your go-to for movie night, you could give it a shot. You never know what great entertainment you can find if you step outside your comfort zone.

Visit Kanopy»

 

Alt-PressWatch (KYVL)

This database, provided by Kentucky Virtual Library and ProQuest, contains full-text newspapers and magazines from alternative, independent presses rather than the mainstream media.The database features over 670,000 articles from more than 230 publications, offering a wide range of unfettered, critical coverage of the news. All of these varied alternative and independent presses are presented in 100% full text, allowing researchers total access to regional, rural, and metropolitan perspectives on local, national, and international issues. Providing an alternative to corporate controlled media, the Alt-Press Watch database presents big stories from small sources.

Alt-Press Watch gives readers and researchers access to distinctive, thought-provoking titles, many of which cannot be found in any other database. Magazines and journals of the independent press such as Broken Pencil, which focuses on zine culture, Dissent, Solidarity’s Against the Current, The American Conservative, Left Curve, The Braille Forum and Earth First! provide in-depth coverage of a broad range of critical issues confronting contemporary society, including environment activism, disabilities, public policy, and facets of the political spectrum.  And alternative newsweeklies like Eugene Weekly, Missoula Independent, and The Village Voice offer non-mainstream perspectives on government, policy, and culture; report on local, national, and international issues; and cover hot-button topics like hunger, abuse, religion, and pop culture. The Alt-Press Watch database includes these titles and many others, providing an unmatched, multi-disciplinary resource for researchers seeking an alternative to mainstream media perspectives.

Alt-PressWatch is accessible through the Kentucky Virtual Library Proquest portal. A special username and password are required for home access; ask at any BCPL service desk for the login credentials or call the main library at 543-7675.

LearningExpress Library: Job & Career Accelerator

LearningExpress Library Job & Career Accelerator The Job & Career Accelerator offered by LearningExpress Library can help you accelerate your career by offering expert guidance on interviewing skills, résumé writing, and searching for the right job for you.

  • Build résumés and job letters with step-by-step online builders, or use expert tutorials to create a great résumé or cover letter on your own.
  • Find your career match through interest and skills quizzes.
  • Explore a variety of occupations, including STEM jobs and the most in-demand fields with the highest growth potential. Also includes how-to guides for new veterans.
  • Learn to interview with confidence or negotiate a salary with video tutorials, plus access a variety of interview-related sample letters.
  • Find schools and scholarships matching your career goals and background.
  • And more!

Explore the LearningExpress Library: Job & Career Accelerator

BCPL Staff Picks

Find out what your favorite BCPL staffer is reading, what they recommend, and what books, movies, and music you should ask us about! Through this initiative, you can connect with library staff over our shared love of reading and we can introduce you to awesome books and movies—from new releases to a few of our all-time favorites—that you might have never discovered if we hadn’t “picked” them.

Annual Best Books Lists

Every year, a panel of BCPL staff members come together to read and discuss the hottest releases of the year. We chase down the most talked about and most raved about new releases, read them, and decide collectively if they’re worth all the fuss. From this fun cooperative comes our “Best of the Year” Lists. Categorized as Young Readers, Middle Grade/Tween, Young Adult/Teen, and Adult Fiction and Nonfiction, these five lists gather the definitive books we think you shouldn’t miss!

Check out the Best Books lists»

Ultimate Teen Booklist

Our intention with this list is to provide a guide to some of the best and most enduring literature written for teens, as well as highlight adult and classic titles with special teen appeal. Plus we couldn’t resist sneaking in a few of our own personal favorites just for fun! This is by no means a complete list and will be updated on an annual basis. In fact, we encourage you to share with us favorite titles you feel would improve the list (see back page). While the materials on this list have been selected for ages 12–18, the books span a broad range of reading and maturity levels. We have tried to give a general indication of the appropriateness of each title for different age levels, but these are entirely subjective labels and may vary from individual to individual.

—Tracy Weikel, Committee Organizer

View the Ultimate Teen Booklist (2018 edition)»

Job Seekers’ Packet

This comprehensive yet accessible 19-page PDF has a wealth of information and advice for the job seeker. Contents include:

    • Filing for Unemployment Benefits in Kentucky
    • Tips for Job-Hunting Success
    • How to Fill Out an Online Job Application
    • Résumé Elements & Guidelines
    • Determine Your Skills
    • Importance of Keywords and Action Verbs
    • Résumé Styles
      • Sample–Chronological Résumé
      • Sample–Functional Résumé
      • Sample–Combination Résumé
    • Tips for Writing a Cover Letter
      • Sample –Cover Letter
    • Job Interview Tips
    • Free Job Training Resources
    • Job Searching Online
    • Networking
    • Résumé Worksheet

Download the Job Seeker’s Packet here (updated April 2022) »

Career & Technical Education (KYVL)

proquest logo ProQuest’s Career & Technical Education Database includes career advice and insider knowledge on popular industries, as well as resources you might need to get the job you want. This resource is consistently growing to help professionals, students, and job seekers research and build knowledge in their selected field(s) using content from magazines, journals, e-books, and blogs.

Subjects include:

  • Accounting
  • Auto mechanics
  • Building trades
  • Computing science
  • Graphic design
  • Healthcare
  • Photography
  • Sales and retail
  • And more!

Coverage includes:

  • Careers & Vocations
  • Trade & Industry
  • Technical Resources
  • Job Search

The Career & Technical Education Database is accessible through the Kentucky Virtual Library Proquest portal. A special username and password are required for home access; ask at any BCPL service desk for the login credentials or call the main library at 543-7675.

Small Business Source

Image shows a man and woman looking at a laptop. Text reads "EBSCO Small Business Source." Small Business Source is an EBSCOhost/Explora database specifically for small business owners and aspiring owners. The site offers a multitude of articles, videos, case studies, and more on everything from writing a business plan to industry guides to managing employees.

Topics include:

  • planning and starting a business (or nonprofit);
  • the basics of running a business and keeping it relevant in an ever-changing climate;
  • information on legal issues, marketing, and taxes & accounting;
  • as well as start-up kits and forms to help you from your first steps into business to your last.

EXPLORE NOW

 

LearningExpress Library: Career Preparation

Career Preparation Build job search and workplace skills, prepare for occupational exams, and more. From the job search and résumés, cover letters, and interviewing to succeeding once you have the job, this collection is designed to help you build the skills and confidence you need to get started in a new career,

Includes military and officer exam training and aptitude tests, plus e-books and practice exams in several other fields ranging from nursing and allied health to culinary arts.

Featured career overviews include:

  • Allied heath
  • Caseworker
  • Culinary arts
  • Federal careers
  • Green careers
  • Law enforcement
  • Legal
  • Nursing
  • Teaching
  • Also: Changing careers and career information for veterans

Featured exam preparations include:

  • Air Traffic Controller exam (AT-SAT)
  • Allied Health and Social Worker exams
  • Civil Service exams
  • CDL exams
  • Cosmetology exams
  • Hospitality exams
  • Electrician and Plumbing exams
  • EMS and Firefighting exams
  • Law Enforcement exams
  • Military exams
  • Nursing exams
  • Real Estate exams
  • Teaching exams
  • WorkKeys® Assessments and the TOEIC®

Explore the LearningExpress Library: Career Preparation