Orange County Public Libraries (OCPL) offer many freebies and deals for people with a library card. The card is free to get and it can unlock an incredible variety of adventure, from free museum passes to free WiFi hotspots that you can take home!
To get a library card, you just need to be a California resident with a valid government-issued photo ID. The ID could be a driver’s license, state ID, passport, consulate ID, or an active military ID. You may aslo be asked to provide proof of address.
Once you have a library card, you can start enjoying free 24/7 access to the online library, including streaming services. You can also check out Museum Passes and so much more.
Free Museum Passes
Since this library system is affiliated with the Discover & Go program, you can get free and discounted tickets to over 200 destinations across California with your library card!
These destinations include:
- Aquarium of the Pacific
- Cabrillo Playhouse
- Mission San Juan Capistrano
- Newport Whales
- Santa Anna Zoo
- and more!
In order to reserve a museum pass, you need to be an Orange County resident who is at least 18 years old. You must have an Orange County Public Libraries Card and your OCPL account must be in good standing.
Bring the Internet Home
The Orange County Public Libraries have WiFi hotspots that you can take home! This is a great option for low income families who struggle to maintain internet at home.
These devices can be checked out for up to three weeks at a time for free. However, they cannot be renewed or extended.
3D Printers
It appears that certain locations in the Orange County Public Libraries system have 3D printers! These devices can be used to make all sorts of different things, including phone holders, fidget toys, bookmarks and more.
The library also offers classes to help you learn about these new tools. The classes are usually reserved for people who are at least 13 years old due to the sensitive nature of the equipment. However, some branches do not have an age limit. In fact, the flyer for the Silverado event said that all ages were welcome!
We were able to find flyers advertising that printers were available at the following locations:
- Fountain Valley
- La Habra Branch
- Library of the Canyons (Silverado)
24/7 eLibrary
The library partners with a wide range of online services that are available 24/7. Once you have a library card, you can get free access to the following online services.
Streaming Services
One of my favorite ways to save money with a library card is by using the library’s free streaming services. When you have an Orange County Public Libraries card, you can enjoy free video and music streaming from these platforms:
- Access Video on Demand
- Freegal
- Hoopla
- Just for Kids Streaming Video Collection
eBooks
Getting books from the library is great, but you can save a trip when you log into these online databases with your Orange County Public Libraries card. You can read books without ever leaving home!
- Bookflix (also includes games and other features for young learners)
- Brittanica eScholar
- Brittanica School
- California Mission eBooks
- Gale eBooks
- Libby
- Literature Resource Center
- Novelist K-8 Plus
- Novelist Plus
- Teachingbooks
- TrueFlix (also includes videos, projects, activities and online resources)
- Worldcat
Magazines & Newspapers
It’s becoming more and more common for magazines, newspapers and other publications to lock all their online content behind a paywall. However, you can get free access to the following databases with your library card:
- Digital Newspapers
- Los Angeles Times Database
- National Geographic Virtual Library
- NY Times
Homework & Educational Resources
Students in K-12 educational programs may be able to boost their online with the following services, which are available for free through your local library!
- Brainfuse
- BrainHQ
- CA DMV Tests
- Culturegrams
- Gale Courses
- National Geographic Kids
- ProQuest
- Universal Class
Career Resources
If you’re looking for a new or better job, then Orange County Public Libraries may be able to help! Your library card credentials can help you log into these career and learning resources to help you boost your resume and find better opportunities.
- Brainfuse & VetNow
- Coursera
- GetSetUp
- Job Seeker Resources
- Job Seeker Toolkit
- Learning Express Library
- LinkedIn Learning
- Mango Languages
- Northstar Digital Literacy
- Skillshare
Legal Resources
If you need legal help and you don’t have time for legal aid, then these online library resources may be able to help.
- LawDepot
- Orange County Public Law Library Databases
Other Online Resources
That’s not all your Orange County Public Libraries card can do! There are tons of other resources available to you, including the following:
- Building & Construction Trade
- Data Axle
- Fold3
- Health & Wellness
- HeritageQuest Online
- Historical Sheet Music
- Indiginous Voices of San Juan Capistrano
- Little Saigon Stories
- Small Business Resources
- ValueLine
Other Services
In addition to these great perks, the Orange County Public Libraries offer even more great services. For example, any Orange County residents who are at least 19 years old can enroll in Career Online High School for free through their local library system. You could earn your diploma in as little as five months!
Locations
There are Orange County Public Libraries all over the county! There are branches in the following cities:
- Aliso Viejo
- Brea
- Costa Mesa
- Cypress
- Dana Point
- Lake Forest
- Foothill Ranch
- Fountain Valley
- Garden Grove
- Irvine
- La Habra
- La Palma
- Ladera Ranch
- Laguna Beach
- Laguna Hills
- Laguna Niguel
- Laguna Woods
- Silverado
- Seal Beach
- Rancho Santa Margarita
- San Clemente
- San Juan Capistrano
- Seal Beach
- Stanton
- Tustin
- Villa Park
- Westminster
Summary
Get a library card from Orange County Public Libraries (OCPL) and unlock a world of freebies and deals. With your card, you can enjoy free museum passes to over 200 destinations across California through the Discover & Go program. OCPL also offers free WiFi hotspots that you can take home, 3D printers, online streaming services, eBooks, magazines, newspapers, educational resources, career and legal resources, and much more. Don’t miss out on these valuable perks and services available to Orange County residents with a library card.
Nicole Thelin
Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.