OC Library card benefits extend to an infinite amount of resources and perks beyond just borrowing books. Here are many of the little known benefits to owning a library card.
Discounted & Free Museum Passes
Discover & Go is a program provided by your library that offers free and low-cost passes for museums, science centers, zoos, theatres, and other cultural destinations. Explore Orange County museums and attractions and reserve free or low-cost passes to participating organizations.
Sign up on the Discover & Go Website.
Participating Orange County Museums & Institutions
Note: Not a complete list plus get access to more Southern California institutions and beyond.
- Aquarium of the Pacific
- Brea Gallery
- Cabrillo Playhouse
- Casa Romantica
- Heritage Museum of Orange County (HMOC)
- Mission San Juan Capistrano
- Muckenthaler Cultural Center
- Pretend City Children’s Museum
Check out all the free museum days in Southern California and how to get free and discounted museum admission.
Free Access to California State Parks
Get a California State Library Parks Pass during Library Week in April.
Free Public Computers
The library has computer terminals available for public use.
Hotspots
Take the internet home. Hotspots are available for checkout by library card holders. (depending on availability)
Wi-Fi
The library offers free public Wi-Fi.
Books by Mail
Books By Mail is a free service that delivers books and audiobooks on CD through the US Postal Service to eligible homebound residents in Orange County.
Book Club
Programs vary by library but many offer monthly book clubs, online books clubs, book club kits and much more.
Career Online High School
OC Public Libraries offers individuals the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma through Career Online High School, part of the world’s first accredited national online high school district.
World Language Collections
The library offers materials for checkout in Spanish.
Wireless Printing
Wireless Printing is limited to 50 pages at a cost of .15 per page.
Free eLibrary
The elibrary offers a wide range of electronic and digitized resources including the ability to:
Things you can do with eLibrary
- Stream Movies for Free
- Listen to free audio books and music
- Read Old Newspapers and Magazines
- Rent Movies & Music for Free
- Learn New Career Skills
- Digital Software
- Prepare for Exams
Free Online Resources via eLibrary
- Books & Literature: Bookflix, True Flix, Books in Print, California Mission eBooks, Gale eBooks, Hoopla, Literature Resource Center, Novelist Plus, Novelist K-8 Plus, OC Public Libraries Catalog, Overdrive & Libby, TeachingBooks, WorldCat
- Building & Construction Trade
- Business: Small Business Resources, Data Axle, ValueLIne
- Encyclopedia: Brittanica School, Brittanica Escholar
- Health & Wellness
- History and Genealogy: Ancestry Library Edition, California Mission eBooks, Fold3, Heritagequest Online, Historical Sheet Music, Indigenous Voices of San Juan Capistrano, National Geographic Virtual Library, Gale Presents, OC Public Libraries Digital Newspapers, OC Public Libraries Genealogy Page, OC Register, OC Stories, OC Surf Stories
- Homework Help: Brainfuse Help Now, Culturegrams, eLibrary, Gale in Context, Gale Interactive Science, Gale Presents, ProQuest, Proquest Research Companion, SIRS Discoverer, SIRS Issues Researcher
- Jobs and Careers: VetNow, Coursera, GetSetUp, Job Seeker Resources, Learning Express Library Complete, Linkedin Learning, Northstar Digital Literacy, Job, Skill Share
- Language: Mango
- Legal Resources: Orange County Law Library Database
- Magazines, Newspapers & Current Events: America’s News, Explora, Gale in Context, Gale Interactive Science, Gale Presents, Los Angeles Times, National Geographic Virtual Library, NY Times, OC Public Libraries Digital Newspapers
- Movies & Music: Freegal Music, Hoopla
- Online Learning: ABC Mouse, ALLDATA, ArtistWorks.com, Brainfuse HelpNow, BrainHQ, Driving Tests, Coursera, Chilton, Gale Courses, GetSetUp, Khan Academy, Linkedin Learning, Northstar Digital Literacy, Skillshare, Universal Class, World Book: Early Learning
- Tax Information & Forms: Tax Information & Forms
- Veterans: Brainfuse, JobNow, & VetNow, 211 Veterans Resources
See the complete eLibrary list.
Events & Programs
The Orange County Libraries offer a wide range of in-person and virtual events and programs for all age groups.
See the OC Public Libraries event calendar.
Examples of library events include: Storytime (baby, preschool, bilingual etc.), Baby and Toddler Playtime, Arts & Crafts, Summer Reading Programs, Holiday & Seasonal Events, Movie Screenings, Teen Writers Groups
See our list of the Best OC Public Libraries
OC Public Libraries Resources
Below are links to all referenced library benefits.
- Library Card Application
- eCard Application
- Books by Mail
- Borrowing Privileges and Policies
- Career Online High School
- Event calendar
- eLibrary List
- Hotspots
- Public Computers
- Wi-Fi
- Wireless Printing
- Kids Services
- Teen Services
- Adult Services
- Senior Services
- Discover & Go
- California State Library Parks Pass
Related Articles
| Best Libraries in Orange County | Museums in Orange County |
| Children’s Museums in Orange County | Reciprocal Museum Membership Programs |
| Orange County Museum Of Art | Best Value Annual Passes In OC |
