28 Ways to Use Plano Public Library

The high temperature for today is 28 degrees – so let’s run through 28 ways to use your library! What would you add to this list?

Get a library card – All you need is photo identification and proof of address, plus fill out the application, and we will get you set up. Each library card account can have up to 50 items checked out on it.

Pop by a physical location – We have five locations across Plano, and every resident in Plano is within five miles of a Plano Public Library (PPL) location. You do not need a library card to be at the library, but you should pick one up when you get there!

Attend a library workshop – We host dozens of events each week, and they aren’t just for kids. You can find events covering financial, business, STEAM, art, storytime and more on our online calendar.

Read – Whether you read picture books, Young Adult, graphic novels, manga, mysteries, cookbooks, or historical memoirs, we have something you’ll be interested in. As of the end of December 2023, PPL has 491,555 physical books on our shelves!

Watch – Pick up a DVD from the latest movies to classics. We have a Junior Media section, too, with many animated movies. Binge Boxes have 4+ movies in each box, and often feature a specific genre or series. If you want to stream videos, download the Kanopy app and use your library card to watch documentaries, classic films and award-winning movies. Kanopy Kids is unlimited – perfect for spending cold days inside.

Grab a Backpack – Bilingual, Sensory, Theme and Older Adult Backpacks are great kits to get a variety of educational and entertainment content in one go.

Peruse art on display – Each PPL location has local art up on walls and even in display cases. You can see some of the art featured in our On Exhibit video series and learn how to exhibit your art.

Catch up on news – You can flip through the latest news in print with Dallas Morning News and a few other periodicals. With your library card, you also have access to DMN and other news across the globe through PressReader, The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal – click on Newspapers for more info.

Use a computer – Each PPL location has computers ready for you to use. They come with basic Internet and Microsoft applications, as well as access to our printers. Whether you need them to work, watch a movie or catch up on email, they’re handy!

Connect to the Internet – We have WiFi at all of our locations, making it easy for you to use your own device to get work done. Connect to your online classes, schedule a virtual interview, download a book or two, print to our printers… so many options!

Browse the online catalog – If you don’t want to pop into the library right now, we get it (see the intro to this article – 28 degrees!) You can browse our entire collection online. Search topics you’re interested in, filter through the variety of “shelf locations” and place hold requests for items you want to borrow.

Flip through magazines – We have a few magazines in print at our locations, but you can also download tens of thousands more through PressReader, Libby and Flipster. Art, science, cooking, do-it-yourself projects, history, and so many more topics to choose from – click on Magazines to learn more.

Reserve a study room – All locations have study rooms to use, and you can reserve them in advance!

Bring the kids to play (and learn!) – Play is a form of early literacy, did you know? PPL locations have great play spaces for kids 0-5 with furniture and toys just for them. Check out our recent perusal of the Harrington kids area in this video.

Porch pick-up – One of the many services that came out of COVID is porch pick-up. If you have holds to pick up from the library, give the library (where your holds are being held at) a call and we will get them outside on a cart for you to grab.

Learn online – With your library card, and Texas State Library and Archives Commission, you have access to a wealth of online databases for research and learning. Check out the full list on our website and get to exploring!

Explore your ancestry – The Genealogy Center is located at Haggard Library, with many physical options to explore your family history: print books, maps and computers. We also have microfilm of newspapers, a media converter (think VHS to DVD), and a large document scanner. With your library card you have access to online databases, some of which you can access from home.

Browse eBooks and audiobooks – With your library card, you can access almost 100,000 eBooks and audiobooks through the Libby app. Use your smartphone, tablet or computer and your Internet connection to download the Libby app or use your browser. Connect your library card and get to reading.

Borrow from another library – While we have a lot in our collection at PPL (see a few of the options above!), we don’t have everything. Plano residents can use the InterLibrary Loan system to borrow items from other libraries.

Subscribe to the library online – Follow PPL on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and of course, catch up here on Plano Library Learns!

Pick up the latest Engage brochure – PPL prints three brochures each year, with four months of events planned inside. See what’s happening for babies, kids, teens and adults all in one place. Download the PDF from our website.

Book-a-Librarian – If you need help loading the Libby app, using our technology, or need help with a research project, we have professionals who can help! Submit a Book-a-Librarian request through our website.

Create in our Digital Creation Spaces – We have three Digital Creation Spaces (Haggard, Harrington and Parr) with computers and creative technology to work on your latest podcast venture, digital drawing, photography and more. Schedule a time to use the DCS.

Return your checked-out items – Done with a book, movie or kit? Bring it back! We have exterior return slots as well as interior ones, so when you’re done you can easily return it. And I guess while you’re already here, you can browse for more 🙂

Explore the Spark Spaces – Each PPL location has a Spark Space, or interactive learning display, for you! Learn about art, science, money and more.

Add a book to your own collection – Each PPL location has an area for the Friends of the Plano Public Library book sale. You can find books, DVDs and magazines to purchase.

Join a book club – We have five book clubs that meet monthly, some in-person, some virtual-only and others a hybrid of the two.

Just hang out – We have the space and we would love to see you at the library.