Databases

Have fun with thousands of activities. For kids in preschool to second grade, ABCmouse makes learning easy!

Search here for the full text of industry and trade magazines, journals and newsletters. Includes up-to-date industry reports that detail trends, challenges, opportunities, financial benchmarks, and more.

Features a wide variety of credible, vetted news sources. Includes the Seattle Times Collection.

Search billions of records to discover your family story. Discover the meaning and history behind your last name. Build your family tree. Connect with the past in the world's largest collection of online records. 

Includes:

• U.S. Federal Census from 1790
• American Genealogical Biographical Index

Search writing guidelines for spelling, usage, punctuation, and style. Allows up to 25 users at a time.

Build a love of reading and learning in your pre-K-3 young readers. Watch classic video storybooks paired with related nonfiction eBooks, including some in Spanish. Click the apple and book icon in the top right corner for the Help tab.

Get one-on-one, real-time tutoring from 1pm to 11pm daily. Get writing help. For students in grades K-12, college, and adult learners. Available via chat and audio.

View our frequently asked questions for:

• a list of session limits and
• subjects you can get help with.

You don't need a Brainfuse account to get help from a tutor. Log in with your library account to connect to a live tutoring session or browse the SkillSurfer. Create a free Brainfuse account to save your sessions or use other features such as Writing Lab. Read our Brainfuse account FAQ for details.

Brainfuse cannot help you retrieve your PIN. If you forgot your PIN you must contact a library or Ask KCLS for help.

Obtenga tutoría individual en tiempo real de 1pm a 11pm todos los días. Obtenga ayuda para escribir. Para estudiantes en los grados K-12, universitarios y adultos. Disponible a través de chat y audio.

Vea nuestras preguntas frecuentes para:

• una lista de límites de sesión y
• temas con los que puede obtener ayuda.

No necesitas una cuenta de Brainfuse para recibir ayuda de un tutor. Inicia una sesión con tu cuenta de la biblioteca para conectarte a una sesión de tutoría en vivo o navegar por SkillSurfer. Crea una cuenta de Brainfuse gratuita para guardar tus sesiones o utilizar otras funciones como Writing Lab. Lee nuestro Brainfuse account FAQ para más detalles.

Brainfuse no puede ayudarlo a recuperar su PIN. Si olvidó su PIN, debe comunicarse con una biblioteca o solicitar ayuda a KCLS.

Find accurate information to help you complete school assignments or explore your interests. Read or listen to articles at a reading level that is right for you. Get articles, images, definitions, and websites from trusted sources.

Earn an accredited high school diploma. Gain real-world career skills to prepare for your first job or advance in your current job.

Choose a major from one of these career fields. Complete coursework to develop the skills and knowledge that employers are looking for.

Find out how to enroll.

You must live or own property in our service area to use Career Online High School. Our service area includes all of King County except for Seattle, Yarrow Point, and Hunts Point.

Save money by learning how to fix and maintain your car. Get step-by-step instructions specific to your year, make, and model.

Includes:

• maintenance tables
• repair instructions
• labor estimating tool
• technical service bulletins
• vacuum and wiring diagrams
• Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) practice tests

Compare the latest gadgets. Find reliable cars. Search for appliances by feature. Check with the experts before making your next purchase. Read product reviews, ratings, buying advice, and articles from the latest issues.

Explore the details of daily life around the world from pre-history to today. Learn through articles, maps, charts, and primary documents. Engage your students with lesson plans.

Create marketing plans, conduct competitive analysis, locate people, and search for jobs. Get accurate company and residential data for the U.S. and Canada.

Includes:

• business listings (U.S. and Canada)
• residential listings (U.S.)
• job and internship searches from Indeed.com (U.S.)
• historical businesses (U.S.)
• new movers/homeowners list from U.S. Consumers & Lifestyles (U.S.)

Download up to 250 records at a time.

Access data to make informed decisions. Data comes from the U.S. Census, business reports, and residential statistics.

Get ready for the Washington State Driver’s License test. Access online practice tests and the official Washington State Driver’s Manual. Commercial Driver’s License materials and the Washington Motorcycle Handbook are also available. Tests are in English, Russian, and Spanish. An audio version of the manual is also available in English.

Historical records, including many with digitized images. Find tips and resources using the Research Wiki. Free account registration is required. No library card number or pin is needed.

• save and share your family tree
• order microfilmed records to view in a local Family History Library

For fundraisers and grant writers seeking information. Research millions of nonprofit grants, grant maker, and grant recipient profiles. Find information about key decision-makers and leaders.  

Need help using FDO?
To make an online or in-person appointment with a librarian at the Redmond Library or Federal Way Library:

Email Kirsten Erickson at krerickson@kcls.org

Write a will or trust for free in less than 20 minutes. Legally valid in all 50 states. For complex estate plans, you can create a set of documented wishes to bring to an attorney.

Quickly access scholarly articles and journals. Best for academic research.

Learn how to start, finance, or manage your small business. Includes sample business plans, how to guides, articles, and more.

Research global companies and industries with in-depth analysis

Explore this database of encyclopedias and reference sources within the Gale eBooks platform. For multidisciplinary research.

Search general interest magazines for articles and stories.

Find information about health issues, from current disease to alternative medicine.

Get biographical information that you can rely on for your next paper or project. Connect with accurate and engaging articles, videos, audio, and images. Complete your research with ease on any device.

An engaging online experience for those seeking contextual information on a wide array of subjects.

Search resources for elementary school kids.

Read about news, topic overviews and multimedia content on global events.

Explore thousands of topics across subjects areas including geography, science, and social issues.

Explore topics like cultures, government, people, history, literature, and more.

Explore both sides of an issue. Use statistics and primary sources to weigh the pros and cons. Read articles written from diverse perspectives to understand others better.

Read leading business and trade publications. Updated daily.

Analyze business insights, tips, strategies, and success stories. Updated daily. Best for business schools and entrepreneurs.

Find up-to-date information on a range of health care topics. Best for students, researchers, and health care professionals.

Search magazines, journals, newspapers, and reference on a range of topics. Best for middle- and high-school students.

Search journals and magazines from and about Latin America in Spanish and Portuguese.

Search periodicals covering topics like business structure, adult learning, and more. Updated daily. 

Access major U.S. and international newspapers online. Search articles by title, headline, date, or other fields.

Access the most searched magazines across Gale OneFile.

Access information on the latest developments across a range of scientific disciplines. Updated daily.

Search balanced coverage of events in U.S. history. Best for novice historians and academic researchers. Updated daily.

Research jobs through publications about careers.

Access balanced coverage of events in world history as well as scholarly work in the field. 

Search many subjects that are available from Gale databases.

Get ideas for your business plan. Read plans used to find funding for other small businesses. Find plans in the manufacturing, retail, and service industries.

Discover HeinOnline's special collection of research databases. Free access to libraries includes periodicals, government documents, international resources, and case law.

Databases included:

• Civil Rights and Social Justice
• Slavery in America and the World
• LGBTQ+ Rights
• Gun Regulation and Legislation in America

Search U.S. statistics from thousands of trusted sources. View historical context for data. Create custom data tables. Download and share tables.

Discover history from ancient times to the current era.

Includes:

• articles
• primary sources
• maps
• journals
• multimedia
• study units
• history guides

Watch movies, TV, music, and comics for your computer or mobile devices. All titles are available with no holds and no waiting. Limit of 10 checkouts each month.

See also: hoopla FAQs.

Lending times for shows with episodes have changed. Read more about the change in this news post.

Watch thousands of films from independent filmmakers and popular producers. Titles include The Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, and PBS. Also available for Roku. 

See also: How many titles can I watch?

Watch a streaming collection of age-appropriate films and TV series selected for kids. Finding the right video is easy using Common Sense Media ratings. Titles selected help children to develop empathy, mindfulness, and self-esteem. Set up a personalized PIN to keep your kids inside Kanopy Kids. 

Find how-to instructions about the law and legal issues. Download common legal forms to fill in on many topics.

Learn about science with hands-on activities for children in grades 2-5. Some activities require adult help.

Explore LinkedIn Learning for Library. Investigate all 16,000 courses including all LinkedIn Learning content. Set and track goals, learn a new language, study business, tech, or graphic design.

Library ID for the mobile app (all lowercase): kcls

Discover authentic children's and teen books and comics in Spanish from Latin America. Access MakeMake 24/7 with your library card and save your favorite books with no limits.

Descubre auténticas libros y cómics en español proveniente de América Latina. Accede a MakeMake 24 horas al día, 7 días a la semana con la tarjeta de la biblioteca y marca tus libros favoritos sin límites.

Learn a new language at your own pace. Practice reading, writing, and listening in online lessons. Customize your lessons by choosing the topics that you're interested in. Take your learning with you on your mobile device.

The Morningstar database has a new name and look. Learn about the changes and how the database can support your financial goals.

Stay current with investing data and reports. Find mutual fund and stock data and portfolio analysis. Get up-to-date financial news and commentary. Learn about personal finance topics like stocks or retirement. 

 This service works best in Google Chrome. 

Enjoy access to The New York Times online. Create a free New York Times account and read at any community library location.  

Get a 24-hour access code access code to read outside the library or with The New York Times app.  

Redeem access codes, inside or outside libraries, to access more content: 

• The Athletic
• New York Times Cooking
• New York Times Games

How do The New York Times terms of service impact people younger than age 13, including those with student accounts? 

Read U.S. newspapers published in the 19th century. 

Find your next reading recommendation. Get read-alikes, books that are similar to another book you like. Research an author or book. Explore themed book lists. Get discussion guides for your book group. Read articles about books and authors.

Read eBooks or magazines. Listen to downloadable audiobooks. Available on your computer, mobile device, or eReader.

Use the Libby app to borrow and read titles from OverDrive. Get Libby using the apps buttons below.

Find the right eBook for your kids. Reading is easy on your computer, mobile device, or eReader. Customize the font size, spacing, or use a different font including dyslexic.

Use the Libby app to borrow and read titles from OverDrive. Get Libby in the “View available apps” section below. 

Find your next book on your computer, mobile device, or eReader.

Use the Libby app to borrow and read titles from OverDrive. Get Libby in the “View available apps” section below. 

Read online science journals published by the American Physical Society.

Journals include:

• Physical Review X
• PRX Energy
• PRX Quantum
• Review of Modern Physics
• Physics
• and more.

Read newspapers and magazines from around the world in many languages. Newspapers include up to 3 months of back coverage. Log in* to PressReader to share or print articles.

*You will need to log in to use the site. Even if you're in King County Library System (KCLS) library or connected to KCLS WiFi.

To log in:
1. Click on “Sign in” on the upper right corner of the PressReader site.
2. Select the library card icon.
3. Enter your library card barcode number and PIN.
4. Select King County Library System as your library. You will see a green coffee cup icon on the top left side of the PressReader site when you are logged in. Once logged in you will have 48 hours before needing to sign back in again.

Find information about COVID-19 that you can trust.

Find articles, reports, and books about PTSD and other effects of trauma. Search for specific symptoms or diagnostic codes.

If you have a disability and find an article you would like to read that is not accessible:

• The National Center for PTSD will send you a copy that is 508 accessible.
• Contact ncptsd@va.gov

Rosetta Stone will move to a new platform on November 20. All current accounts will be reset. Learn about the change and action needed.

Learn a new language with the immersion method. Practice reading, writing, speaking and listening at your own pace. Choose from 30 languages. Take your learning with you on your mobile device.

Read our Rosetta Stone FAQs.

Find large-scale maps of Washington cities and towns. Explore detailed views that show street blocks and building numbers. Maps range from 1867 to 1970.

This service works best using Firefox, Opera, Chrome, or Safari.

Accessibility
Is accessing information on our website difficult using assistive technology such as: 

• a screen reader, 
• eye tracking device,
• voice recognition software, or 
• other technology? 

If you do and it's difficult for you to use this service, contact Ask KCLS to discuss options.

Read the latest editions of this daily newspaper online. Stay current on local business, money, and real estate news.

Accessibility

Is accessing information on our website difficult using assistive technology such as:

• a screen reader, 
• eye tracking device, 
• voice recognition software, or
• other technology?

If you do and it's difficult for you to use this service, contact Ask KCLS to discuss options.

Find full-text articles from The Seattle Times, from 1985 to the present. Features full-color newspaper pages, from 2018 to the present.

Watch video storybooks and read-alongs. For readers in grades K-6, including some in Spanish and French.

Teachers may not use their personal library card number for classroom use.

Learn and improve skills in business, technology, design and more. Create an account to take online classes. Available in multiple languages. 

Get stock analysis from Value Line. Learn about Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and historical stock information. 

This service works best in Google Chrome. It is not supported in Safari.

Clear cookies, cache, and history before signing back into Value Line. 

Access the Wall Street Journal online. Create a free Wall Street Journal account and get a 3-day access code.

3-day codes work at WSJ.com only. Do not share sign-on credentials with any other person.

How do the Wall Street Journal terms of service impact people younger than 15? Including those with student accounts?

Read articles from The Washington Post (2014-present).

Weiss Financial Ratings is currently unavailable due to Hurricane Milton. We hope to restore service shortly.

Plan your financial future with a variety of tools.

Including:

• Information on buying a home, planning for retirement or saving for your child’s education
• Medigap and insurance planning 
• Stock, mutual fund, and exchange traded fund portfolio information
• Financial literacy basics and more

Learn about the lands, peoples, and cultures in countries all around the world.