Skip to Main Content

Research Center - Library

Education / Training

LearningExpress Library - Online practice tests and interactive skill-building tutorials.
LinkedIn Learning - 16,000+ online courses taught by real-world professionals. Earn a certificate when you complete a course.
- The link invites you to set up your free account and also serves as URL for future logins. Logon with library card number and PIN. Forgot your PIN?
- Also available as a mobile app. Use "mckinneypublic" as Library ID, then input library card and PIN.
- See also the Getting Started Guide.
Texas Driver’s License Practice Tests - Car, motorcycle, and CDL practice tests, with online driver’s manuals
TExES Test Preparation Manuals - Up to date TExES study materials endorsed by the Texas Education Agency
Tuition Funding Sources - Scholarships, college, and career information.
Udemy - 14,000+ online video courses in the areas of business, tech, and personal development.

Free Language Learning Resources

Duolingo - Takes a game-like approach to learning, and has apps for iOS and Android. Offers 36 languages.
GCFLearnFree - Learn new words, review grammar, or learn to speak English. Also offers tutorials on technology and core skills, career planning, and job searching.
Headstart2 Defense Language Institute - A government service offering over 40 languages, with interactive lessons with maps, images, sound, and cultural notes.
Innovative Language - Offers over 30 languages; also has apps for iOS and Android.
Internet Polyglot - Extensive exercises for learning words and their pronunciation. Offers 34 languages.
Omniglot - An online encyclopedia of writing systems and languages, with links to resources for specific languages, most of which are free.
Streema - Offers free TV streaming from over 100 countries around the world in nearly as many languages.
USA Learns - Learn English speaking, listening, vocabulary, pronunciation, reading, writing and grammar.

Genealogy

Ancestry Library Edition - Available only onsite at McKinney Public Library locations. Resources include: U.S. Census, Social Security Death Index, and birth, marriage and death records.
HeritageQuest Online -Available at the library and remotely. Billions of census records, family histories, military and bank records, and access to Periodical Source Index Archive. Available through TexShare; call the library at 972-547-7323 for login access.
Library Genealogy page
Newspapers.com - World Collection - Available at the library and remotely. Search historical newspapers (1700s–2000s) from across the United States and beyond. Explore newspaper articles and clippings for help with genealogy, history and other research. Logon with your library card number.

Reading Resources

Beanstack - Book recommendations and online reading logs for young readers
cloudLibrary - Downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks. Log on with your library card number and password. Forgot your password?
NextReads - Receive emailed newsletters of new titles by subject and annotated by librarians.
NoveList - Find books that match your reading style. Log on with your library card number.
Salem Press Online - Online versions of books in literature, history, science, and health. Log on with your library card number.
Storyline Online - Free streaming free videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations.

Reference

Credo Reference - Reference resource in all subject areas, including encyclopedias, videos, photographs and maps. Choose McKinney Public Library and log on with your library card number.
Gale OneFile: Health and Medicine - Full text of nursing and health journals. Log on with your library card number.
Reference Solutions - Information on businesses and people specifically designed for small business owners, marketing professionals, researchers and job seekers. Helps users create marketing plans, conduct competitive analysis, raise funds and locate people. Log on with your library card number.
Reference Solutions Webinars - How to use Reference Solutions; search essentials; research for starting, managing, and growing businesses; job seeking and career search strategies.
TexShare (Library of Texas) - Magazine and newspaper articles, homework help, books and literature databases, health, business and genealogical information. Call the library at 972-547-7323 for login access.