Top Online Resources
Learn & Practice
Driving-Test is a free Driver’s Ed program with the following state-specific information:
- 11 car practice tests
- 9 motorcycle practice tests
- 12 CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) practice tests
- 3 online driver’s manuals (car, motorcycle, CDL)
- An FAQ section with detailed answers to 100+ DMV-related questions.
INSPIRE is a collection of academic databases and other information resources that can be accessed by Indiana residents. It includes magazines, journal articles, websites, pamphlets, images, almanacs, library catalogs, practice tests, language learning software, and more.
Rosetta Stone, via Inspire: Recognized as a leader in technology-based language learning, Rosetta Stone offers libraries and their patrons their proven immersion method.
TERC (Testing & Education Reference Center), via Inspire, is a start-to-finish resource with all the information and support materials needed to make informed, confident decisions to shape the rest of your life.
- Over 300 practice tests and courses
- Dozens of ebooks containing valuable study material and practice tests
- Information on over 4,000 accredited schools
- Scholarship search featuring $8 billion in available scholarships
- Resume builder with over 1,000 brainstorming phrases to get you started
- Career modules covering subjects from career change to salary negotiations
Cooking Classes on Youtube
Cooking classes are held at the library, but may also be recorded and shared on Youtube. If you’d like to be able to ask questions and taste the food, check our online calendar and come to our next class. If you’d rather listen and learn from the convenience of your own home, follow a link below.
Medical
Merck Manuals is a free website for healthcare students, healthcare professionals and consumers. The online version of this best-selling reference title contains essential information on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of medical disorders in ten languages. The website is consistently updated with the latest information and contains additional resources including multimedia content and a consumer medical dictionary. There is no registration required to use the Merck Manuals website.
The Merck Veterinary Manual (MVM) is a free website for veterinary professionals and pet owners. Coverage includes all domesticated species and their diseases.
DIY
ChiltonLibrary provides quick online access to repair, maintenance and service information on seven decades of the broadest range of vehicles available, including cars, trucks, vans and SUVs.
Some of Chilton Library’s more popular features include:
- Maintenance and specification tables that provide the unique data you need for each specific vehicle.
- Step-by-step service and repair procedures, and labor estimating tool to help you confidently determine your next move.
- Vacuum diagrams to simplify troubleshooting.
- Wiring diagrams to help explain system operation.
- Close-up photographs and illustrations for visual support.
- ASE test prep quizzes for the most popular certification exams
- A print button which allows you to easily print out what is needed.
Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center from Inspire is a searchable database of resources for crafts, collectibles, indoor and outdoor recreation, performing arts, and more.
Home Improvement Reference Center from Inspire is a searchable database for home improvement projects from decorating and remodeling to electrical, plumbing, and woodworking.
Online Materials
EBSCO eBook Collection from Inspire: A collection of over 6,000 multidisciplinary books. Topics include college and career development, health and medicine, and business and economics.
Hoopla provides free streaming movies, TV shows, music, and audiobooks with an account created using your green Peabody Public Library card and PIN.
Kanopy showcases more than 30,000 of the world’s best films, including award-winning documentaries, rare and hard-to-find titles, film festival favorites, indie and classic films, and world cinema. With the motto of “thoughtful entertainment,” Kanopy provides access to films of unique social and cultural value. Films can be streamed from any computer, television, mobile device or platform by downloading the Kanopy app for iOS, Android, AppleTV, Chromecast or Roku. See FAQ page for more information.
Kanopy Kids brings you thoughtful entertainment for children aged preschool and up. Parents can trust in a curated selection of educational and enriching videos on Kanopy Kids with developmentally appropriate, age-based ratings from Common Sense Media, as well as additional parental controls to keep kids safe.
NewsBank provides news and informational resources to our patrons with coverage of local and national topics from America’s newspapers, along with specific articles, obituaries, statistics, video clips, quotations, facts, analysis and much more. With unlimited access from all library workstations and remote access 24/7, patrons can freely search, browse, print, save and email full-text articles without a fee. If you are accessing this database from a remote location, you will be prompted to enter your library card number before proceeding.
OverDrive offers downloadable eBooks, Audiobooks, eVideos and eMusic through Indiana Digital Downloads Center. Includes special collections for Kids and Teens.
RBdigital Magazines (formerly Zinio) allows patrons to view and checkout popular magazines with no waiting and no due dates. RBdigital is the ultimate app for magazine lovers, with digital magazines for iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac and PC. There are interactive elements such as audio and video, and intuitive searching and navigating within each magazine.
Popular titles include: Us Weekly, HGTV, Food Network, Better Homes and Gardens, Reader’s Digest, Rolling Stone, Family Circle, National Geographic, and more!
Technology Classes on Youtube
Our Technology Trainer, Beth Gaff, has recorded many of her technology classes, which are available on YouTube under the channel Instructor: Beth Gaff and using the links below.
Free Software & Apps
General Computer Skills
- Basic Computers
- Basic Internet
- Buying Technology
- Chromebooks vs. Windows 10
- Digital Photography
- Downloading and Uploading Pictures
- Gmail
- Internet Safety
- Mastering Basic Computer Skills
- Mastering Facebook
- Mastering the Web for Personal Use
- Online Banking, Taxes & Credit Cards
- Raising Digital Families
- Searching Effectively Online
- Simple Things Computer Users Should Know
- Skills to Help You Get the Job
- Social Media Basics
- Understanding and Using Dropbox
- Understanding and Using the Mouse
- Understanding Windows
- Using Your Keyboard and Mouse
- Windows 8
- Windows 10
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office 2010
Microsoft Office 2013
Tablets and Smartphones
Announcements
Welcome, Katy! Peabody Welcomes New Adult Services Librarian
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. (October 17, 2018) – Peabody Public Library recently welcomed new team member, Katy Southern, who will serve as the Peabody Adult Services Librarian.
Previously, Katy worked at Eckhart Public Library in Auburn, Indiana. While at Eckhart, Katy served the library in several ways by providing consulting and grant writing services, and serving as Supervising Librarian and Collection Development Specialist. Before her tenure at Eckhart Public Library Katy worked in the English department at the University of Wisconsin.
Katy holds Bachelor of Arts in German from Hanover College, and a Master of Arts in Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin.
“I am thrilled to have someone of Katy’s caliber available to serve our customers. I look forward to seeing all that Katy and the adult services department can accomplish for our community in the coming years. We are lucky to have her as a member of the PPL [Peabody Public Library] Family,” said Peabody Public Library Executive Director Mary Hartman.
Want to stay up-to-date on what’s happening at the library? Follow the library on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for event and class updates, and visit www.ppl.lib.in.us and click the “calendar” icon on the homepage to check out the library’s online calendar.
ABOUT PEABODY PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Peabody Public Library serves all individuals as a pathway to learning, culture and entertainment. The library has served individuals in Whitley County since 1901. In 1917, Simon J. Peabody donated lands and funds build Peabody Public Library on North Main Street in Columbia City, and it continued to serve the community well for many years. In 1999, the new state-of-the-art Peabody Public Library was built in Columbia City. The 29,688-square-foot facility located off Hwy 205, sits on 14-acres, and is the only library in the State of Indiana that is located on a wetland.
Pumpkin Decorating Contest
It’s that time of year again, Peabody Public Library is hosting its annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest! We want to see your most clever creations!
Prizes will be awarded for three different categories for children, young adult and adult age groups.
Categories include: cutest pumpkin, most unique pumpkin and best storybook character pumpkin.
Bring in your pumpkin between Thursday, October 18 and October 21 to join the contest! Entries will be publicly displayed in the library. Voting will begin on Saturday, October 22 and will end Sunday, October 28.
CONTEST GUIDELINES
- Please do not carve your pumpkin or use fresh produce of any kind (mold and books don’t get along!)
- You may use a real or artificial pumpkin.
- Be creative! You can use paint, paper, beads, feathers, markers, etc.
- One entry per person. People may work together to create a pumpkin but there will only be one prize for that pumpkin if it wins
- Make sure your pumpkin is family friendly so that everyone can enjoy it
- Do not put your name on your pumpkin, it will be assigned a number
- All content must be secure enough to be moved throughout the library
- Pumpkin must be at the library by closing on Sunday, October 21st
- Pick up your pumpkin after the contest by November 3rd, or it will be discarded
ENTER THE CONTEST
Download the entry form
A few entries from last year
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month!
It’s that time of year again at the library! It’s Library Card Sign-Up Month! Don’t have a library card? Now is a great time to get one, or renew your membership! Learn more about library memberships and details for your service area here.
Check out these awesome giveaways happening in September!
· Sign up for or renew a blue student card and enter to win an upgrade to a full ‘green’ card membership.
· Sign up for or renew a Non-Resident card and enter to win a second year membership free.
· Sign up for or renew a regular borrower’s card or PLAC card and enter to win a Bones Theater Gift Card!
· Every new or renewed account is automatically entered in the drawing for an Echo Dot!
Download the flyer to learn more and to view a map of the service areas in the county.
Update on Student Library Cards
Student cards are now good for one year–no matter when you purchased them!
Blue student cards are available for $5 to students who are enrolled in any Whitley County Consolidated School, but are not eligible for a green Evergreen card due to living in a township that does not support the library through property taxes.
Parents must provide a valid photo ID and the student must be present to register. If you live outside the WCCS district, please also bring in proof of registration, such as a school ID, registration form or agenda.
Student Cards may be renewed up to 1 month before expiration date.
News Release – Peabody Public Library Adds Film Streaming Service, Kanopy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. (May 29, 2018) – Peabody Public Library recently announced that the popular on-demand film streaming service Kanopy, will be available for free at the library beginning June 1.
Library cardholders can access Kanopy and sign up to start streaming films instantly by visiting the library website: www.ppl.lib.in.us. Films can be streamed from any computer, television, mobile device or platform by downloading the Kanopy app for iOS, Android, AppleTV, Chromecast or Roku.
Offering what the New York Times calls “a garden of cinematic delights,” Kanopy showcases more than 30,000 of the world’s best films, including award-winning documentaries, rare and hard-to-find titles, film festival favorites, indie and classic films, and world cinema with collections from Kino Lorber, Music Box Films, Samuel Goldwyn, The Orchard, The Great Courses, PBS and thousands of independent filmmakers.
With the motto of “thoughtful entertainment,” Kanopy provides patrons with access to films of unique social and cultural value; films that are often difficult or impossible to access elsewhere, and programming that features diversity, with a wide array of foreign language films and films on race, and current affairs.
“Kanopy is a delightful addition to our streaming services. It has a wonderful collection of videos for children and adults. The content runs the gamut from popular movies to award winners to educational films. I especially like their PBS collection. Kanopy provides our customers with another viewing choice for themselves and for their families. Best of all, it’s free with your Peabody Public Library card,” said Peabody Public Library Executive Director Mary Hartman.
The Kanopy collection includes indie hits like Hunt For the Wilderpeople and 2 Days in Paris, classic masterpieces like Aguirre, the Wrath of God and Seven Samurai, and award-winning documentaries like the 2017 Oscar®-nominated I Am Not Your Negro and Sundance Film Festival winner Mother of George.
Want to stay up-to-date on what’s happening at the library? Follow the library on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for event and class updates, and visit www.ppl.lib.in.us and click the “calendar” icon on the homepage to check out the library’s online calendar.
ABOUT KANOPY
Kanopy was founded in 2008 by CEO Olivia Humphrey as an educational tool for colleges and universities. More than 5 million Kanopy users stream the most acclaimed movies and documentaries from award-winning filmmakers, and experience the best in independent, classic film, and world cinema.
ABOUT PEABODY PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Peabody Public Library serves all individuals as a pathway to learning, culture and entertainment. The library has served individuals in Whitley County since 1901. In 1917, Simon J. Peabody donated lands and funds build Peabody Public Library on North Main Street in Columbia City, and it continued to serve the community well for many years. In 1999, the new state-of-the-art Peabody Public Library was built in Columbia City. The 29,688-square-foot facility located off Hwy 205, sits on 14-acres, and is the only library in the State of Indiana that is located on a wetland.
News Release – Peabody Public Library Welcomes New Youth Services Librarian
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. (May 14, 2018) – Peabody Public Library recently welcomed new team member, Mary Graber, who will serve as the Peabody Youth Services Librarian.
“I am excited to be a part of the Peabody Public Library,” said Graber. “I think the youth services staff and I will do great things together!”
Previously, Graber worked at Eckhart Public Library in nearby Auburn, Indiana, for the last 13 years. Graber gained experience in several areas at Eckhart Library, serving as library clerk in the Children’s Technical Services Department, the Children’s and Teen Department Assistant, to the Children’s and Teen Librarian, and the Assistant Teen Supervisor and Programming Specialist.
“Peabody Public Library is thrilled to have someone of Mary’s caliber working for us. She has done so much for the youth of the Auburn community, we are fortunate to have her here, providing excellent services for our youth,” said Peabody Library Director Mary Hartman.
Want to stay up-to-date on what’s happening at the library? Follow the library on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for event and class updates, and visit www.ppl.lib.in.us and click the “calendar” icon on the homepage to check out the library’s online calendar.
ABOUT PEABODY PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Peabody Public Library serves all individuals as a pathway to learning, culture and entertainment. The library has served individuals in Whitley County since 1901. In 1917, Simon J. Peabody donated lands and funds build Peabody Public Library on North Main Street in Columbia City, and it continued to serve the community well for many years. In 1999, the new state-of-the-art Peabody Public Library was built in Columbia City. The 29,688-square-foot facility located off Hwy 205, sits on 14-acres, and is the only library in the State of Indiana that is located on a wetland.
Cooking Classes on Youtube
We’ve been holding cooking classes here at the Peabody Public Library for years now, but in 2018 we’re adding a new twist by making the classes available on Youtube. Of course, you’re still going to have to come to the library if you want to sample the goodies and be part of the fun! But if you just can’t make it… or want to catch up on past classes… or need to go back and refresh your memory on the process… you can now follow links to our Cook, Talk and Taste playlist on Youtube.
Happy cooking!
200th Anniversary of Frankenstein
January 2018 is the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s timeless novel, Frankenstein. Thanks to Indiana Humanities, Peabody will host a Read-A-Thon and “Frankfest!” Lot’s of fun things will happen this year, so stay tuned and keep your eyes open for a big “undead” (maybe green) guy!
Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange
Take a puzzle—Leave a Puzzle
Many people have enjoyed working on the puzzles in the adult department. Now you can take one home, too! Only one puzzle per person at a time, please. Puzzles are on top of the Reference Shelf (by the globe and the big trophy). Enjoy this new service!