In order to access our digital collections online, you must have a library card from a library within the Upper Hudson Library System. You can locate our participating libraries here. To get a temporary card to use online, you can self-register and get your permanent card at your local library at your convenience. Follow the instructions in the guide below to get your card and start reading today!
Guide to Getting a Library Card Online
UHLS Digital Resources
We know some folks want their library available wherever they are, 24/7! In 2020 a public library card in Albany and Rensselaer Counties includes access to ebooks, digital audiobooks and magazines, streaming video, and several subscription databases. Some of our member libraries provide additional digital resources, so be sure to contact your home library for information on how to access these resources or to get a library card.
Funding for the UHLS digital resources below is provided by the Albany Public Library via the New York State Library’s Central Library grants. Additional funding for OverDrive is provided by our 29 member libraries.
Starting January 1, 2026, library patrons will be able to use their library cards for unlimited access to a full online collection of comics(with the exception of Marvel comics) for adults, teens and children!
Cypress Resume is an online resume and cover letter builder. The platform enables users to create basic professional looking resumes in three steps, and it also automates simple cover letters and reference sheets.
All resumes and cover letters created with Cypress are downloadable into MS Word. Upper Hudson Library System is providing Cypress Resume to our member libraries through NYS Coordinated Outreach Services funds.
Hoopla: eBooks, audiobooks, music, movies and television
Patrons of our library are able to borrow eContent on demand through Hoopla. Please note that due to an increase in the cost for the library to offer this service, there is a limit on the number of checkouts allowed per day in Hoopla. If you receive a message regarding this, please try again after midnight. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience.
Libby: eBooks, audiobooks, magazines
The Upper Hudson Library System hosts a great collection of ebooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines. It’s easier than ever to enjoy them on your desktop computer or mobile device. Learn more on our Getting Started with Libby page.
New York Heritage: Local history digital collections
Several public libraries in Albany and Rensselaer counties have begun digitizing their local history resources to make them even more accessible. New York Heritage is an invaluable research portal for anyone interested in learning more about New York State. UHLS members on New York Heritage include: Albany Public Library, Altamont Free Library, Bethlehem Public Library, Guilderland Public Library, Nassau Free Library, Voorheesville Public Library, and William K. Sanford Town Library (Colonie).
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Ancestry Several New York repositories have formed a partnership with Ancestry to digitize family history records and make them available online for free. The list of records available is located in the Ancestry.com New York web page. Descriptions of the records as well as the holding organizations are provided through the links and logos on the page. |
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Access several online databases where you can find newspapers and research materials on many different subjects. Searching a database is a little different than using an Internet search engine like Google, and specific strategies for combining search terms may be necessary to get the best results. The reliability of the information you can find in a database is well worth the extra effort, so please ask your home librarian if you have any questions. These databases are available from home from anywhere in New York State. No library card required. For more information, please visit NOVELNY. Information about NOVELNY for librarians:
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| Business and Finance | |
| Business Insights: Essentials |
Includes company profiles, industry reports and financial reports, as well as business magazines and newspapers. |
| General Reference / School Oriented | |
| Britannica Escolar |
Discover the leading knowledge-building resource that is universally trusted for accurate and age-appropriate content in Spanish. New features make it more valuable than ever for native Spanish speakers, bilingual students, and students learning Spanish. |
| Britannica School |
Britannica School is the go-to site for learning more about any subject—for grades Pre-K-12 and all reading abilities—offering thousands of up-to-date, curated, and curriculum-relevant articles, images, videos, audio clips, primary sources, maps, research tools, and recommended Web sites. Available at three levels—Elementary, Middle, or High. |
| Kids InfoBits |
Contains over 100 age-appropriate magazines for grades K-5. Also includes Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary, maps, flags, seals, charts and graphs. |
| Opposing Viewpoints in Context |
Contains a range of perspectives on many important issues, with over 13,000 pro/con viewpoints. Includes a variety of resource types: reference, news, primary sources, multimedia and more. |
| Research in Context |
Resource for students in grades 6 to 8. Offers magazines, newspapers, primary sources, over 12,000 videos and more on a variety of topics. Supports national and state curriculum standards in language arts, social studies and science. |
| Health & Medicine | |
| Health Reference Center Academic |
This health database includes over 2800 journals and magazines, many of which are full text. It contains nursing and allied health journals, other medical journals, newsletters and consumer health magazines. |
| Multi-Subject | |
| Academic One File |
This database contains over 12,000 journals and reference sources, many of which are peer-reviewed and full text. It has extensive coverage of the physical sciences, technology, medicine, social sciences, the arts, theology, literature and more. The database also contains some full text titles that are cited in databases such as AGRICOLA, CINAHL, EconLit, ERIC, MEDLINE, MLA International Bibliography, PsycINFO and others. |
| Britannica Academic Edition |
Britannica Academic delivers fast and easy access to high-quality, comprehensive information. The rich combination of the venerable Encyclopedia Britannica plus Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, magazines and periodicals, and many other research tools provides the variety of reliable sources that students need to consult when conducting thorough research—all from one resource. Written by Nobel laureates, historians, curators, professors, and other notable experts, Britannica Academic’s articles provide trusted information with balanced, global perspectives and insights that users will not find anywhere else. |
| General One File |
This general periodical database contains over 12,000 periodicals, newspapers, reference books and multimedia sources, over half of which are full text. The backfile extends nearly 30 years. Subjects include humanities, education, environmental issues, technology, health care, politics and more. |
| Newspapers | |
| Infotrac Newsstand |
This full-text newspaper database has several New York Newspapers including the New York Times from 1995 on, and over 1,000 major U.S. regional, national, and local newspapers. |
| New York State Newspapers |
A subset of InfoTrac Custom Newspapers, this database includes the following full-text newspapers from around New York State: Buffalo News, New York Times, New York Post, New York Observer, Syracuse Herald American, Syracuse Herald-Journal, and Syracuse Post-Standard. |
| Technology | |
| Computer Database |
Provides access to business and technical publications in the computer, electronics, and telecommunications industries. |