
There are digital entertainment options for all ages and tastes.
09 July 2025
In brief:
- This article lists free resources available from Libraries ACT.
- Libraries ACT offers free books, digital resources and more to members.
You may already know that your Libraries ACT membership allows you to borrow physical books - not to mention, films, music and magazines.
However, you may not be aware that it also includes a range of digital resources you can access for free from your home.
Here's how to make the most of your library membership.
Get crafty
Creativebug is an online platform with thousands of award-winning art and craft video classes.
Learn to draw, create an accordion book, knit a pair of socks… the choices are endless. There are classes for kids and adults across topics like food and home, jewellery, art and design and paper.
Take a one-off class on a rainy day or start a 30-day creative challenge.
On-demand video classes mean you can take it at your own pace and create something special that matches your interest.
Go exploring
Check out a mangrove forest in Brazil or venture to an ancient cypress forest in central Florida – all without leaving your front door.
Your library membership gives you online access to National Geographic magazine (plus National Geographic History, National Geographic Traveler and National Geographic Kids).
There are more than 1,600 issues to explore. Each has breathtaking photography and high-quality journalism that's sure to fill you with a sense of wonder.
The Nat Geo kids section also has videos, pictures and e-books.
Learn a language
Libraries ACT members have free access to Mango, a language learning platform with over 70 languages available.
There's also LOTE4kids, where children can read books in languages other than English.
It's not just international languages, either. Those learning English can access programs that can help with pronunciation, reading skills, writing and grammar.
There's also Learn to IELTS to help people who are planning to take the International English Language Testing System.
Enjoy story time
If you've ever been to Giggle & Wiggle or Story Time at your local library, you'll know just how popular these programs are with kids.
Luckily, both are available to watch on demand. Giggle and Wiggle is for children 0-2 years of age and their parents. It includes singing, dancing and sharing rhymes while boosting language development.
Story Time helps children learn pre-reading, listening and language skills.
Story Box Library is another free digital resource.
It's a place for pre-school through to upper primary-aged children to watch stories read aloud by storytellers.
Watch a movie or show
Your membership includes access to Kanopy, a streaming service with over 45,000 films and TV series.
There's something for every kind of viewer, including indie films, animation, world cinema, documentaries, classic films, new releases and series from BBC.
Kanopy Kids is the children’s version, with unlimited plays of enriching, educational and entertaining movies and shows.
Beamafilm is another streaming platform for movie lovers.
Libraries ACT members get eight movies or episodes per calendar month. This includes international cinema and Australasian stories.
Other digital resources include music streaming, newspapers and news, book recommendations, family history databases, games and activities, encyclopedias and much, much more.
Mystery Box
Library members can receive a delivery of surprise library books and DVDs straight to their house.
Staff will hand-pick and pack a variety of books and DVDs based on individual or families’ tastes and needs.
Couriers will then deliver your Mystery Box to your house and then collect them four weeks later.
To subscribe for a Mystery Box, library members need to fill in this online registration form.
Other resources available for library members include:
- music streaming
- newspapers and news
- book recommendations
- family history databases
- games and activities
- encyclopedias.
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