By L. Fabry

Parents and children no longer have to rely solely on their local library for resources. The below 100 sites are ideal for curious students, kids who love to read, or parents interested in expanding their child’s education.

For Both Parent and Child

Adults and children will find these sites informative and fun.

1. New York Public Library: The NYPL contains a network of community libraries, and its intellectual and cultural range is both global and local. Its “On-Lion for Kids” section offers games, reviews, and homework help.

2. Library of Congress: This is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution, and one of the largest libraries in the world. Here you will find various resources for children and families on various subjects.

3. I SPY: This interactive website is a must for teachers, parents, kids, and librarians. Sponsored by Scholastic, there are a ton of resources available for download or to enjoy on the site.

5. Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County: The recipient of a Library Journal award, this library has plenty to offer those in and around the Charlotte area, as well as visitors. Adults can get help with taxes, computers, and job searches. Children can listen to online stories, explore interactive activities and games, and print take home activities and reading lists.

6. San Antonio Public Library: Visitors to this site can download digital media or learn about the Big Read. The Kids Page offers links and advice for research, reading, and more.

7. Houston Public Library: On this site, adults can get tax help, government documents, and recession resources. Kids can get Tumble books, games, and even rhymes and songs in Spanish.

8. Burlington Public Library for Kids and Tots: Kids can find recommended books, programs, and games all on this site. There is also a special section for parents or toddlers.

9. The Online Literature Library: As the name suggests, this site has many works of literature online and free to view. Parents and children can choose from Lewis Carroll, the Bronte sisters, Mark Twain, and many more.

10. The Online Books Page: Too busy to go to your local library? Then visit this site containing over 35,000 books available by subject, author, and title.

12. Project Gutenberg: With branches of libraries all over the world contributing, Project Gutenberg is the Internet’s oldest producer of free electronic books. Read a text or learn how to help by visiting this site.

13. Westchester Library System: Parents and children will find an abundance of resources at this site. There are downloadable audiobooks for adults, as well as eBooks for kids.

14. Multnomah County Library: This site is a valuable resource for both children and parents. Get recommendations, use the child safe search engines, get games, or even submit an original work and for publication.

15. Boston French Library: This library provides an authentic French cultural and social experience, as well as housing a large collection of French books, periodicals, DVDs, and audio and video cassettes.

16. Berkeley Public Library: Located in California, this library has options for children, teens, and adults. They have a ton of resources for everyone available online.

17. CHUH: Parents and children will enjoy the site for the Cleveland Heights University Heights Library. They can find reading help, book discussions, and more.

18. Falmouth Public Library: Located in Massachusetts, this library has options for kids, teens, and adults. There is homework help, book recommendations, and even parenting tips.

19. Lake Agassiz Regional Library: The LARL is a great place for kids and teens. Get recommendations for award winning books, help with all kinds of homework, fun for kids of all ages, and even guides for parents and teachers.

20. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh: Visitors to this site can get books, downloads, and more. The children’s site is divided into sections for little and big kids.

21. Northwest Regional Library: Located in Oregon, the mission of the NWREL is to improve learning by building capacity in schools, families, and communities. Visitors will find help with mathematics, science, and technology education.

22. Wilton Library: This library is located in Connecticut and allows visitors to research from home. Children can find several links to sites containing games, stories, and more.

23. Enoch Pratt Free Library: Located in Maryland, this is one of the oldest free public library systems in the United States. Find your family history, view the digital collection, or more on this site for kids and parents.

24. Awesome Library: This site contains 37,000 carefully reviewed research resources, including the top five percent in education. You can search for items for children, teens, and adults.

25. Kansas City Public Library: Parents will enjoy the tax, job hunting, and reenactments at this library. Children will like the Hog Blog, Scribbles, and Tumble books.

26. Georgetown County Library: Children and parents can get audiobooks, as well as other resources. The children’s section also contains links to health information.

27. Humbolt County Library: Located in California, this library is full of resources for parents and children. There are links to articles and databases, eBooks, and more.

28. Memphis Public Library: Online resources for this library include audiobooks, learn-a-test, and the option to ask a librarian. There are also special sections for children and teens.

29. Ocean County Library: Located in New Jersey, this library has resources for children and parents, as well as those looking to learn a second language or improve their English.

30. Denver Public Library: This advanced library has many items available for download. Choose the latest in eFlicks, audio books, and eBooks.

31. Orange County Library System: The Virtual Gallery for tips with school also has a contest teens can enter just by taking a quiz. In addition to downloadable media and online galleries, there is also a collection of educational videos.

32. Phoenix Public Library: Stop here for digital media tutorials intended for adults or children who need help. There are also recommendations for books, movies, and music for kids.

33. Englewood Library: This library links to help for homework for both English and Spanish speaking students. They also offer an advanced search engine for those doing research.

34. Union County Carnegie Library: Located in South Carolina, it was voted “Best Small Library” for 2009. Parents can also get books and quizzes online for their children.

35. Chelsea District Library: Even though there are options for adults, children are also given a special section. They can practice safe surfing, get links to cool sites, and book reviews just for them.

36. Grand County Public Library: Visit here for online magazine articles, eBooks, and guides to foundation grants for individuals. There is also a writing contest for children, with the results available.

37. Milanof-Schock Library: Located in Pennsylvania, there is help for those needing passports, as well as an essay contest for adults. Each month there is a variety of free programs for children, teens, and seniors.

38. Haines Borough Public Library: This Alaskan library will deliver materials to the homes of those who cannot get there. They also have book reviews, as well as approved links to health sites.

39. Round Top Family Library: Located in central Texas, this library focuses on family related services. Unlike other libraries, this one gives a weekly livestock commission market report.

For Parents

These sites are ideal for adults looking for help, tips, advice, research, or with older children.

40. National Library of Medicine: Any parent with a health question should visit this site. You can get a ton of information on health including a free medical journal, health and drug information, as well as help for seniors.

41. The Newberry Library: This Chicago based library has been open to the public since 1887. Visitors can get help with genealogy, as well as a section for scholars and teachers.

42. Alex Catalogue of Electronic Texts: This is a collection of public domain and open access documents with a focus on American and English literature as well as Western philosophy. Type what you are searching for and if available, this site will have the text available online for no charge.

43. NeverEndingSearch: Full of interesting posts, Joyce’s blog is an online school library journal. You can get all sorts of tips and information on how to utilize your own library from this blog.

44. Bartelby: This site contains many works of literature, reference, and verse. Ideal for those who need a dictionary, classic, or one of the many other books available free of charge.

45. The British Library: This massive library contains 14 million books, 920,000 journal and newspaper titles, 58 million patents, 3 million sound recordings, and much more. Site highlights include early versions of Shakespeare, interviews with authors, and the option to order copies of documents online.

46. Frankfort Community Public Library: Located in Indiana, adults can find an array of services. Those with a Patron ID can get help with auto and small engine repair, home improvements, and practice tests.

47. Greeneville Greene County Public Library: Located in Tennessee, this site has a variety of online resources, including genealogy. There is also a variety of eBooks and audio books to choose from.

48. Thomas Tredway Library: Part of Augustana College in Illinois, this is an ideal stop for adults and students. Read the blog, chat with a live librarian, and more on this site.

49. Baker Library: This library is run by the Harvard Business School. Get the latest in business news or read the latest publication by this top institute.

50. MIT Libraries: This massive library is ideal for adults or students interested in technology. Get video tutorials, research guides, and more with the click of a button.

51. The Millard Sheets Library: Part of the Otis College in Los Angeles, this is for adults or students interested in art or design. Their online collections feature work from teachers, students, and alumni available for viewing.

52. Fulton County Library: Located in Atlanta, parents will find this site useful as well. It contains a guide for keeping children safe online, as well as recommended sites for kids.

For Kids

The below libraries stand out for their special attention to their younger patrons.

53. Sacramento Library: The kid’s section of this library contains reading help, book recommendations, games, and tips for internet safety. You can also dial into the library to hear stories by phone at any hour of the day.

54. San Francisco Public Library: In addition to reading and recommended activities in the area, students can get online homework help. Be sure to check out the Bookflix for children who want to hear interactive stories in English and Spanish.

55. Salt Lake City Public Library: This site has a variety of child friendly options. Learn about Utah, get tips on how to encourage a child’s reading, download an activity, and much more.

56. Seattle Public Library: Learn about the Global Reading Challenge, get online resources, or view one of the 160 animated talking picture books at this site. Also of interest are Leslie the Librarian’s picks for children’s books.

57. BCPL Kids Pages: Part of the Baltimore County Public Library, these pages are specially designed for children. It offers help with homework and different pages for children of various ages.

58. Eastchester Middle School: Opening with an interactive Lincoln joke, this site is intended for middle schoolers. Resources for students include current event articles, a summer reading project, and links to recommended websites.

59. KidsPoint: This site is a source for good reading, homework help, scrapbooking, and more. Children can even add their own reviews and take quizzes.

60. KYVL: The Kentucky Virtual Library is the ideal place for children with research projects. With a child’s needs in mind, the library allows them to plan, search, or even take a tutorial on how to maximize their research.

61. Seminole County Public Library: The kids’ page of this site contains bright graphics and designs for children. They can get craft ideas, book reviews, fun stuff, and more.

62. Story Place: Part of the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, this is a children’s digital library. Stories, online activities, take-home activities, and reading lists can be found in English and Spanish.

63. LAPL Kids Path: From the Los Angeles Public Library comes these special pages for kids. Get recommendations, homework help, games, and even options in Spanish.

64. Multnomah County Library: This massive homework center has help for kids of all ages. Subjects range from African American History to Wars.

65. Newark Public Library: This Kids’ Place is full of resources. Children can get help with internet searching, activities, and even view written works and art by other children.

66. International Children’s Digital Library: Available in several different languages, the mission of the ICDL is to excite and inspire the world’s children to become members of the global community. You can search for books by awards won, for different ages, and even by country.

67. Christchurch City Libraries: This library is located in New Zealand. Get fun reads and activities for children, as well as homework tips.

68. Elegant Solutions: This site contains a great deal of free eBooks for kids, as well as for adults. Get everything from children’s classics to modern tales.

Specialty Libraries

Visit these sites with your children for a detailed view of a specific subject.

69. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library: This historic library is full of options for children and parents. View the timeline of Lincoln’s life, watch an array of impressive videos, as well as a special feature on the First Ladies.

70. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum: This site provides access to documents, photographs, sound and video recordings, and other materials for parents and children. The Visible Storage Project allows visitors to view the president’s collection of impressive artifacts from around the world.

71. Lyndon Baines Johnson: With free admission and parking for all, this library contains 45,000 pages of historic manuscripts. Watch a video, plan a tour, or view the archives online.

72. The Ronald Reagan Foundation and Library: Get a ton of information on the Reagan years, including detailed archives. Get details on upcoming events, as well as information for planning a tour.

73. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum: Read JFK’s diary, hear a speech, or get many other resources from this library. This site is ideal for parents who want to teach their children about this historical time in our nation’s history.

74. William J. Clinton Presidential Library: Get biographies on the former president and First Lady as well as other information on this site. Also of note is the president’s eulogy for the bombing victims of Oklahoma City.

75. Billy Graham Library: This library chronicles the life and messages of one the leading religious figures in the world. The multimedia center contains television specials, sermons, and more.

76. Jewish Virtual Library: This site is a must visit for anyone interested in learning about the holocaust. Get dozens of links to articles, pictures, and more on this tragedy.

77. Daughters of the American Revolution Library: Take your children back to the first days of the United States with this website. View photo galleries, get exhibit information, or read an excerpt from “Forgotten Patriots.”

78. GAR Museum: The Grand Army of the Republic museum and library is located in Philadelphia. It has a ton of historical information on the Grand Army, its meaning, and even historical images.

79. CUL Digital Collections: This library website is part of Southern Methodist University and specializes in World War II. With over 340 documents to choose from they include subjects such as women’s issues, children’s issues, pocket guides to other countries, the Victory Bulletin and 10 issues of the State Summary of War Casualties.

80. Homeland Security Digital Library: Resources include search engines, upcoming events, and a blog. Be sure to check out a book or journal as well.

81. U.S. Army War College Library: Although intended for military personnel, visitors can get useful information. The site also provides links to various military related information.

82. Basic Jazz Record Library: Part of NPR, experts rate the best jazz albums. Get artist information, as well as song clips on this site.

83. Rock & Roll Library: The site’s focus is on preserving and presenting the historical and cultural significance of popular music. Get information on the featured artist of the month, learn about this day in music history, and more.

84. Kiddie Record King: With over 12,000 items in this collection, parents will find a ton of music intended for children. Clips are available for instant listening, and you can also request CDs or MP3s.

85. Irving S. Gilmore Music Library: Housed in Yale University, this library has a ton of music resources. Visitors can also take an online webinar or see a virtual exhibit.

86. UCLA Music Library: This library houses special collections and archives related to popular American music, film music, jazz, and classical music. An abundance of music is also available for online listening.

87. NASA Headquarters Library: A must visit for both parents and children. Learn all about space exploration through this massive library containing videos, astronaut journals, and much more.

88. Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library: This library is ideal for parents or children who are seeing impaired. With a wide array of materials in both brail and audio form, this site also provides useful links for those in need.

89. Codices Electronici Sangallenses: The Digital Abbey Library of St. Gallen provides access to the medieval codices in their virtual library. Constantly updated, this collection has over 250 manuscripts available.

90. WPA Film Library: A leading source of stock footage, the WPA Film Library is offers one of the largest and most diverse libraries in the industry. Get a ton of historical and educational films on this site.

91. ZML: This movie library has thousands of full length movies available for instant download. After sign up and agreeing to a monthly fee, you can view such movies as “Yes Man,” “The Spirit,” or “Marley and Me.”

92. The Paley Center for Media: Along with a blog and list of upcoming events, you can get videos from the screening room, featuring some of the greats in media. Get a ton of clips from this site including “The Carol Burnett Show,” “Boston Legal,” “Roseanne,” and many others with a behind the scenes view.

93. Elfwood: Adults and children who enjoy science fiction will love this site and its massive amounts of free eBooks. It holds over 20,000 works by over 1,500 artists and writers.

94. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute: When it opened in 1992, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute represented the fulfillment of a vision first put forth by its founders in the 1970’s. This is an ideal place for parents to teach their children about the civil rights movement.

95. WisBlawg: From the library at the University of Wisconsin, this blog is intended for law students. Read the answers to challenging legal questions on the blog.

96. Library Land: This is a great place to start looking for information. With a ton of links to choose from, it’s like having your local library resources in your computer.

97. Library Spot: The site was designed to create one spot for users to find library and reference sites. Categories include links to several kinds of libraries as well as biographies, dictionaries, calendars, maps, encyclopedias, and statistics.

98. Basketball U Library: Provided by the NBA, this site is a comprehensive library for the sport of basketball. Get information on NBA legends, learn how to improve your game, and more.

99. Baseball Library: Lovers of the sport will enjoy this site. Get stats on ballplayers, teams, book excerpts, and the latest in baseball news from this site.

100. National Football Museum: Not American football, this is the official FIFA Soccer museum. Learn about the sport or visit the Hall of Fame to view the male and female players who have been inducted.

No matter the age or gender of your child, you are sure to find many things that interest you both on these 100 sites.