Online Learning and Research Resources

Find authoritative online resources by clicking on category links below or by searching for an online resource in the search field above and choosing In Library Website from the second dropdown box. These resources provide access to millions of articles in a variety of subjects as well as practice tests, certification courses and job skill building.

Ask a Librarian!

Central Skagit Library provides research sources, reading recommendations, tech assistance, and more, and it's yours for the asking. Just fill out the "Ask A Librarian!" form (link below) and our professional staff will be happy to assist with your information needs.

Ask a Librarian!

Newspaper Collections

Seattle Times Collection - access past and current newspapers.

Washington State Newspapers - Access to over 100 news sources based in the state of Washington.

The Washington State Digital Newspaper Archive - The site features new titles in the State Library’s digital newspaper collection, with full-text article search of more than 400,000 pages from the State Library’s collection of historic Washington newspapers. Visitors can interact with the site with the help of text correction features to improve search results on dark or damaged pages, by attaching subject tags to articles, and saving their search history for larger research projects.

Access World News Research Collection - Explore and stay informed on local, national and international topics, people and events in areas such as business, health, education, jobs and careers, political and social issues and more. Features a wide variety of credible, vetted news sources from around the world to around the corner. Includes lesson plans!

News: Gale Onefile - Access major U.S. and international newspapers online to search articles instantly by title, headline, date, or other fields.  

Washington State Library Newspaper Microfilm Services - Provides information about newspapers available on microfilm from the Washington State Library and how to access them.
Arts and Literature
Fine Arts: Gale OneFile - Search millions of articles about drama, music, art history, and filmmaking. Diverse resource for serious fine arts students. 
LitFinder: Gale Literature - Access literary works and authors throughout history, including full-text poems, plays, short stories, speeches, and more. 
NoveList Plus - Baffled by book recommendations from online sites? Exhausted your streaming queue? Ready for something new? No matter your age or interests, with NoveList Plus, you'll find titles, articles, and lists for your fiction and nonfiction needs. Happy reading!
Religion and Philosophy: Gale OneFile - Research the impact of religion on culture throughout history, including literature, arts, and language. Updated daily.
Business and Economics
Agriculture: Gale OneFile - Access current and authoritative periodical content covering agriculture and its related fields. 
Business: Gale OneFile - Understand the activities of companies and industries worldwide through leading business and trade publications. Updated daily. 
Business Insights: Global - Compare global economies, countries, and industries with in-depth analysis on over 400,000 companies. 
Business Plan Builder: Gale Business - Gale Business: Plan Builder is a step-by-step online planning tool for starting, managing and optimizing a business or nonprofit. The program’s intuitive dashboard walks users through five areas of exploration to develop a business plan focused on long-term success.
Communications & Mass Media: Gale OneFile - Search millions of articles covering all aspects of communications, including advertising, public relations, and more. 
Computer Science: Gale OneFile - Access leading business and technical publications in the computer, telecommunications, and electronics industries. 
DemographicsNow: Business and People - from Gale Business - A powerful online subscription resource, Gale Business: DemographicsNow connects users with a wealth of highly detailed demographic data that spans the entire United States—making it ideal for gaining consumer and market insight for opening a business, finding an untapped audience for products/services, analyzing the shifts and needs of a given population, and much more.
Economics and Theory: Gale OneFile - Discover content useful for starting a business, marketing a product, developing policy, analyzing trends, and more.
Entrepreneurship: Gale Business - Designed specifically for peoppl who are starting or operating their own business. Learn how to start, finance, or manage your small business. Includes sample business plans, how to guides, legal forms, articles, and more. 
Entrepreneurship: Gale OneFile - Analyze business insights, tips, strategies, and success stories. Updated daily. Best for business schools and entrepreneurs.
Hospitality and Tourism: Gale OneFile - Discover well-rounded coverage of both the historical and current state of affairs in the hospitality and tourism industries. 
Insurance and Liability: Gale OneFile - Discover information about physical and intellectual asset protection, from individuals to multinational corporations. 
Leadership and Management: Gale OneFile - Search authoritative periodical content covering topics like organizational dynamics, adult learning, and more.
Car Repair
Chilton Library - Chilton manuals for auto maintenance and repair. Find repair and service manuals for your vehicle along with diagrams to simplify troubleshooting.
Career Prep and Job Hunting
Business Plan Builder: Gale Business - Gale Business: Plan Builder is a step-by-step online planning tool for starting, managing and optimizing a business or nonprofit. The program’s intuitive dashboard walks users through five areas of exploration to develop a business plan focused on long-term success.
Culinary Arts: Gale OneFile - Find a variety of information from major cooking and nutrition magazines as well as key reference titles. 
Employment Security Department - Whether your are job seeking or unable to work, Employment Security has programs that may be useful.
LinkedIn Learning - LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com, is a leading online learning platform that helps anyone learn business, software, technology and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. Through the Washington State Library subscription, patrons have access to the LinkedIn Learning video library of engaging, top-quality courses taught by recognized industry experts. For 20 years, Lynda.com has helped students, leaders, IT and design pros, project managers—anyone in any role—develop software, creative, and business skills. 

Northstar Digital Literacy - Northstar Digital Literacy is an online learning platform focused on everyday computer skills. Register for a free account to get access to their courses and tests: Basic Computer Skills, Internet Basics, Using Email, Windows, Microsoft Products, Social Media, Information Literacy, Career Search Skills, Your Digital Footprint, K-12 Distance Learning. To receive a certificate for passing one of the assessment tests, the test must be proctored.  Email the Washington State Library at certify@sos.wa.gov to inquire about taking a proctored assessment; be sure to include your ZIP code in the request. Northstar is made available to Washington citizens by the Washington State Library.

Petersons Test and Career Prep - from Gale Presents - Practice tests and preparation guides for college entrance, career certifications and much more.
Vocations and Careers: Gale OneFile - Research a vocation, find an appropriate institution of learning, and get assistance on job searches and maintaining a career.
Washington State Employment Security Department - This state department provides inclusive workforce solutions that promote economic resilience and prosperity.
WorkSource Washington - WorkSource is a statewide partnership of state, local and nonprofit agencies that provides an array of employment and training services to job seekers and employers in Washington
Civics and History
Communications & Mass Media: Gale OneFile - Search millions of articles covering all aspects of communications, including advertising, public relations, and more. 
Contemporary Women's Issues: Gale OneFile - Find timely and historically relevant content on issues that influence women's lives across the globe. 
Diversity Studies: Gale OneFile - Access a range of periodical content to explore cultural differences, contributions, and influences in the global community. 
Gender Studies: Gale OneFile - Discover balanced coverage of topics related to gender studies, family and marital issues, and more. 
Military and Intelligence: Gale OneFile - Search scholarly journals, magazines, and reports covering all aspects of past and present military affairs. Updated daily. 
Religion and Philosophy: Gale OneFile - Research the impact of religion on culture throughout history, including literature, arts, and language. Updated daily.
Scholastic FreedomFLIX - FreedomFlix is an exciting digital resource that will engage even the most reluctant readers! With more than 60 social studies units spanning ten core curricula areas, FreedomFlix provides a wealth
of learning opportunities. 
Scholastic TrueFLIX - Offering dozens of units to supplement social studies and science core-curricula learning, TrueFlix is a highly-engaging multimedia resource for students in grades 3–5. Beautiful, authentic ebooks are enhanced by a deep and diverse reservoir of related content in a variety of text types and media—including primary sources, fiction, videos, audio clips, images, and related websites.
Sedro-Woolley Heritage - Sedro-Woolley Heritage documents the early culture, industry, and community life of Sedro-Woolley and locations throughout Washington's Skagit County. The collection is a project of the Central Skagit Sedro-Woolley Library and the Sedro-Woolley Museum, funded by a grant from the Washington State Library.
U.S. History: Gale OneFile - Search balanced coverage of events in U.S. history. Best for novice historians and academic researchers. Updated daily. 
War and Terrorism: Gale OneFile - Gain valuable insight into conflicts and their causes, impact, and perception on a global scale. 
World History: Gale OneFile - Access balanced coverage of events in world history and scholarly work being established in the field.
Consumer Resources
Consumer Reports - Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit member organization that works side by side with consumers for truth, transparency, and fairness in the marketplace. Consumer Reports works to create a fair and just marketplace for all.
Home Improvement: Gale OneFile - Search home improvement topics such as architectural techniques, tool and material selection, zoning requirements, and more. 
Culture and Travel
A to Z World Travel - A comprehensive travel guide providing practical information for experiencing the world and all its wonders, for travelers and students alike. For patrons with 7-digit library card numbers: add the prefix CSSWL (all CAPS) directly in front of your card number to log in. 
Business Insights: Global -Compare global economies, countries, and industries with in-depth analysis on over 400,000 companies. 
Global Issues: Gale In Context - Analyze important global issues and events through topic overviews, international viewpoints, news, and multimedia content. 
Hospitality and Tourism: Gale OneFile - Discover well-rounded coverage of both the historical and current state of affairs in the hospitality and tourism industries. 
Informe Acedemico: Gale OneFile - Search across full-text Spanish- and Portuguese-language scholarly journals and magazines from and about Latin America. 
Pop Culture Studies: Gale OneFile - Access scholarly journals and magazines that both analyze and contribute to popular culture.
Religion and Philosophy: Gale OneFile - Research the impact of religion on culture throughout history, including literature, arts, and language. Updated daily.
Rocket Languages - Register on a computer with your library card, then download the app and use it on your mobile device. Improve your language skills with our Interactive Audio Course. It's a great way to practice speaking and boost your confidence for real-life situations. 
Tutorial video guide here: Rocket Languages Guide
World Factbook - This U.S. government publication provides reliable, up-to-date information about countries around the world. No login required.
Health, Medicine and Nutrition
Culinary Arts: Gale OneFile - Find a variety of information from major cooking and nutrition magazines as well as key reference titles. 
Health and Medicine: Gale OneFile - Find up-to-date information on a range of health care topics. Best for students, researchers, and health care professionals. 
Health and Wellness: Gale - Search a full range of health-related issues, from current disease and disorder information to alternative medical practices. 
Nursing and Allied Health: Gale OneFile - Research full-text titles cited in CINAHL and other resources to support specialized care, treatment, and patient management. 
Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine: Gale OneFile - Access academic journals and magazines covering the fields of physical therapy, physical fitness, and sports medicine. 
Psychology: Gale OneFile - Find authoritative periodical content supporting research in all fields of psychology. 
Skagit County Public Health Department - Skagit County Public Health provides up-to-date information on health issues in our county and resources to help us all stay healthy.
Washington State Department of Health - Provides information on all aspects of public health in Washington.
Home, Garden and Farm
Agriculture: Gale OneFile - Access current and authoritative periodical content covering agriculture and its related fields. 
Gardening and Horticulture: Gale OneFile - Find millions of articles on the practical and scientific aspects of horticulture studies. For all horticultural enthusiasts. 
Environmental Studies and Policy: Gale OneFile - Investigate environmental issues with diverse perspectives from the scientific community, policymakers, and corporate interests. 
Home Improvement: Gale OneFile - Search home improvement topics such as architectural techniques, tool and material selection, zoning requirements, and more.
Homework Help Elementary to College
Gale Academic OneFile - Quickly access articles from a database of scholarly journals and other trusted periodicals. Best for academic research. 
Gale In Context: College - An engaging online experience for those seeking contextual information on a wide array of subjects for college level students.
Petersons Test and Career Prep - from Gale Presents - Practice tests and preparation guides for college entrance, career certifications and much more.
Gale In Context: Elementary - Introduce elementary students to database searching with resources featuring age-appropriate, curriculum-related content. 
Gale In Context: High School - Explore thousands of topics across subjects including literature, science, history, and social issues using different sources. 
Gale OneFile: High School Edition - Search magazines, journals, newspapers, and reference on a range of topics. Best for middle- and high-school students. 
Washington State Driver License Prep - The Washington State Department of Licensing website provides everything you need to know about getting a driver license in Washington, including the complete Washington Driver Guide (written in seven languages, audio available in English only) and practice for the knowledge test in English and Spanish.
Gale In Context: Middle School - Explore the most-studied topics including cultures, government, people, history, literature, and more. 
Learn a Language

Transparent Language Online - Learn 120+ languages at home, at the library, or on the go. Listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Learn what you want, when you want. Sign up for an account today! All you need is an email address to get started.

Legal Forms, Law and Criminal Justice
Legal Forms: Gale - Take the law into your own hands and create accurate, reliable legal documents with no hassle with Gale LegalForms. It offers Washington-specific “attorney forms” – officially approved forms actually used by law firms. Many of the forms and documents are available in Word and Adobe format so you just need to simply “fill in the blanks.”
Criminal Justice: Gale OneFile - Comprehensive periodical content for researchers studying law, law enforcement, forensic science, terrorism, and more. 
Insurance and Liability: Gale OneFile - Discover information about physical and intellectual asset protection, from individuals to multinational corporations.
Obituaries/Genealolgy

HeritageHub - Explore your family history with the premier collection of U.S. obituaries and death notices for in-depth genealogical research from 1704 – today. HeritageHub helps you easily identify relatives, uncover new information and potentially unknown family members. Includes deep coverage from all 50 states, hard-to-find content from the mid 1900’s, and original obituary images. Access is available 24/7.

State and Local Resources
Community Action of Skagit County - Community Action is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3), serving homeless and low-income families and individuals.
Employment Security Department - Whether you are job-seeking or unable to work, Employment Security has programs that may be useful.
FamHelp - The Aging and Long-Term Support Administration is committed to the safety and well-being of residents and staff at every long-term care facility in Washington. We are also committed to helping families with loved ones in a long-term care facility get accurate and timely information.
Helping Hands Food Bank - Helping Hands Food Bank serves the area around Sedro-Woolley.
Office of the Secretary of State | Washington State Library - Grouping of resources provided by the Washington State Library.
OnwardWA - Have you lost your job? OnwardWA is a one-stop resource for the people of Washington impacted by job loss during the Covid-19 pandemic. Connect to essential life resources (money, food, shelter, etc.), retraining opportunities, or your next job. ​
Sedro-Woolley Heritage - Sedro-Woolley Heritage documents the early culture, industry, and community life of Sedro-Woolley and other locations throughout Washington's Skagit County. The collection is a project of the Central Skagit Sedro-Woolley Library and the Sedro-Woolley Museum, funded by a grant from the Washington State Library.
Skagit County Public Health Department - Skagit County Public Health provides up-to-date information on health issues in our county and resources to help us all stay healthy.
Skagit County Re-Entry and Resource Guide - Skagit community resource guide for people seeking resources for low-income and re-entry after leaving prison; housing and food assistance; family law; employment; healthcare; and many other services.
Skagit County Reentry Resource Guide With Hour.pdf
Spanish Civil Survival Translated Version.pdf
Washington State Department of Commerce - The Office of Crime Victim Advocacy (OCVA) within the state Department of Commerce provides grants for crime victim service providers and offers a guide to resources for crime victims, as well as a Direct Services hotline for assistance in connecting with these resources at 1-800-822-1067.
Washington State Department of Corrections - Provides information related to the Department of Corrections, including support for families of those incarcerated and for special services for victims of crimes.
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries - The Crime Victims Compensation Program of the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) handles claims for medical bills and other expenses from crime victims, including lost wages for a parent caring for a child victim.
Washington State Governor's Office - Information and resources from the Governor's Office.
WorkSource Washington - WorkSource is a partnership consisting of state, local, and nonprofit agencies that offer various employment and training services to job seekers and employers throughout Washington state.
Science
Agriculture: Gale OneFile - Access current and authoritative periodical content covering agriculture and its related fields. 

Computer Science: Gale OneFile - Access leading business and technical publications in the computer, telecommunications, and electronics industries. 

Environmental Studies and Policy: Gale OneFile - Investigate environmental issues with diverse perspectives from the scientific community, policymakers, and corporate interests. 
Gardening and Horticulture: Gale OneFile - Find millions of articles on the practical and scientific aspects of horticulture studies. For all horticultural enthusiasts. 
Health and Medicine: Gale OneFile - Find up-to-date information on a range of health care topics. Best for students, researchers, and health care professionals. 
Information Science: Gale OneFile - Access articles covering all aspects of managing and maintaining information and technology. Updated daily. 
Scholastic ScienceFLIX - Emphasizing the latest STEM thinking and the Next Generation Science Standards, ScienceFlix® is transforming the way students access science topics, acquire scientific knowledge, and build an abiding interest in science, technology, and engineering.
Science: Gale OneFile - Access information on the latest developments across a range of scientific disciplines. Updated daily. 
Teacher Resources
Educator's Reference Complete: Gale OneFile - Gain insight on issues in administration, funding, and policy. Best for educators, administrators, and education students.
Training, Certifications and Tutorials
Career Online High School - COHS offers adults the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma and a career certificate online with the flexibility of online access, 24/7.
LinkedIn Learning - LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com, is a leading online learning platform that helps anyone learn business, software, technology and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. Through the Washington State Library subscription, patrons have access to the LinkedIn Learning video library of engaging, top-quality courses taught by recognized industry experts. For 20 years, Lynda.com has helped students, leaders, IT and design pros, project managers—anyone in any role—develop software, creative, and business skills. 
Niche Academy Tutorials - Tutorials on how to use library resources and apps.
Northstar Digital Literacy is an online learning platform focused on everyday computer skills. Register for a free account to get access to their courses and tests: Basic Computer Skills, Internet Basics, Using Email, Windows, Microsoft Products, Social Media, Information Literacy, Career Search Skills, Your Digital Footprint, and K-12 Distance Learning. To receive a certificate for passing one of the assessment tests, the test must be proctored.  Email the Washington State Library at certify@sos.wa.gov to inquire about taking a proctored assessment; be sure to include your ZIP code in the request. Northstar is made available to Washington citizens by the Washington State Library.
Petersons Test and Career Prep - from Gale Presents - Practice tests and preparation guides for college entrance, career certifications and much more.
Washington State Driver License Prep - The Washington State Department of Licensing website provides everything you need to know about getting a driver's license in Washington, including the complete Washington Driver Guide (written in seven languages, audio available in English only) and practice for the knowledge test in English and Spanish.
Washington State Library Microsoft Imagine Academy - The Washington Libraries Microsoft Imagine Academy is a free program for people who want to improve their computer skills on any level (basic to advanced). This new online resource provides a wide variety of official Microsoft courses and learning resources covering subjects from digital literacy to business skills to advanced networking and programming skills. Click on the icon to reach the Secretary of State webpage hosting access to the Microsoft Imagine Academy. ​There, you may enter your zip code and select "Library, State (LIB)" in the dropdown box to access the online learning.