Family

Check out ABC Mouse for award-winning educational games, puzzles, books and other fun interactive learning activities for kids age 2 to 6. It’s free to use in the Ames Public Library! In Library Use Only

Academic OneFile offers access to millions of peer-reviewed, full text articles for a variety of academic subjects.

Search local job fairs, companies in the news, state and national business, economic and employment trends. Find diverse perspectives on topics related to job searching, consumer spending and the housing market. Updated daily. 

This engaging resource for children in grades PreK–3 will help early readers develop and practice essential reading skills, and introduces them to a world of knowledge and exploration.

Stuck on a tough homework assignment? Looking for test prep resources? Brainfuse offers virtual live tutoring, a 24-hour writing assignment review, study groups, flashcards, and can even help create a study plan. Find test prep for college entrance exams and ASVAB. Adult learners will find tutoring and study guides just for adults, as well as computer training courses, and study guides for the U.S. Citizenship Test, TABE, TOEFL, GED, and more. 

Conduct research, complete school assignments, work on special projects, or explore your interests. Britannica Library includes special sections for children, young adults, and adults. 

FirstSearch is a great place to start if you're looking for a specific book or for full-text articles. You can search for books and e-books at libraries across the world and access millions of full-text, full-image articles from thousands of serials.

If you need a quick brush up on your Microsoft Office or other technology skills GCF LearnFree is the place to start. Check out their more than 125 self-paced tutorials for math, career, reading, every day life skills, and more. 

Informe Académico proporciona acceso a periódicos y revistas especializadas de lengua española y portuguesa. La base de datos ofrece una amplia gama de contenidos sobre América Latina. 

InfoTrac Student Edition has great resources for high school students doing research on current events, the arts, science, pop culture, health, government, history, sports, and more. 

Khan Academy's mission is to provide free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere, and they’ve partnered with institutions like NASA and the Museum of Modern Art to do so. Create an account and you'll have access to videos, exercises, and your own learning dashboard as you study at your own pace. 

If you're in grades K-5 and doing research start here! Kids InfoBits is easy to search and has lots of articles and pictures on current events, art, science, health, government, history, sports, and more. 

Little Pim is the fun, easy way for kids ages 0-6 to learn a new language. Come explore with Little Pim, the adorable cartoon panda, as you discover a new language!

Powered by intelligent technology and an adaptive algorithm, Mango empowers you to communicate with confidence, preparing you for uncharted experiences with language and culture. Challenge yourself to discover something new. Start the conversation.

Mometrix eLibrary delivers the most comprehensive list of study guides and practice questions on the market, all at your fingertips, anywhere, anytime you have an internet connection.

NoveList is a fiction database that provides subject heading access, reviews, annotations, and much more for over 120,000 fiction titles. It also includes other content of interest to fiction readers, such as Author Read-alikes, Book Discussion Guides, BookTalks, and Feature Articles. 

Opposing Viewpoints is the perfect resource for anyone wanting information on today's hottest social issues, from capital punishment to immigration to marijuana. It offers pro/con viewpoints, reference articles, interactive maps, infographics, and more. Informed, differing views help you develop critical-thinking skills and draw your own conclusions.

Middle-schoolers, you have your very own database! Start your online search right here with info on science, social studies, government, history, literature, and more. 

Want a fun, 21st century alternative to print picture books? TumbleBookLibrary has a great interactive collection of stories with sound, music, animation, and narration. Have your favorite book read as you follow along and enjoy the story. Be sure to check out their book of the day!