Special Collections
Business and Career Resources
The Main Library has an extensive collection of business resources, including magazines, newsletters, and newspapers to assist small business owners, job seekers, investors, and consumers with their research needs. We offer materials and research assistance to help you make informed financial and career decisions. To speak with the Business Librarian, please contact 561-233-2600
Call 561-233-2600The Audubon Collection
In 1979, the Audubon Society of the Everglades (ASE) donated funds to Palm Beach County to establish an ornithological collection at the Main Library. Included in the collection are books on birding and field guides to the birds from around the globe, with special focus on North and South America.
The collection also features books about individual species of birds and about the science of ornithology. Several important multi-volume, birds-of-the-world encyclopedias are included. The collection is an ongoing project of the Audubon Society of the Everglades, and it is becoming one of the most informative and complete collections of bird books found in Florida. The Audubon books are in the library's online catalog and most are available to borrow.
Search the CollectionForeign Language Materials
There is also a rich and ever-growing collection of materials in Spanish, Haitian Creole, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and other foreign languages.
Search the Collection#1000BlackGirlBooks
Eleven-year-old Marley Dias was frustrated by the lack of books about black girls in her school curriculum, so in November of 2015, she launched a campaign to collect 1000 books where black girls are the main characters and #1000blackgirlbooks was born. “Black girl books are not just for black girls; they are for all children because not all black girl stories are the same. Teachers, school boards and parents need to make sure that all children have access to these stories. I hope this list of books will help you learn more about the diverse experiences of black girls.” Marley Dias. You can find our collection of #1000blackgirlbooks throughout the Library System. The collection includes Picture Books, Beginning Readers, Chapter Books, Biographies, and Young Adult titles.
Search the CollectionHaitian Cultural Collection
The Palm Beach County Library System is proud to honor Haitian culture, history, and language through our Haitian Cultural Collection (HCC) located at the Lantana Road Branch. The Haitian Cultural Collection consists of books for children, young adults and adults written in French, Kreyol, and English about Haiti, its history, its people, its cultures, arts, and more! All the HCC books can be found in the library’s online catalog and are available to be borrowed.
Search the CollectionParenting Collection
Located at the Gardens Branch, this collection provides all the tools, tips and tricks that every parent needs to help guide them in raising their child. You will find advice for handling the challenges at each stage of life and you can explore the different methods of raising a happy, healthy child.
Search the CollectionLibrary and Information Science Collection
For those studying to become librarians, the Main Library offers books and professional journals about library and information studies.
Search the CollectionMicrofilm Collection
The Main Library retains a collection of historical microfilms for select journals and newspapers. The library offers access to a digital scanner for saving high quality scanned images from this collection. Please contact the Research Department at the Main Library for microfilm inquiries.
Call 561-233-2600Special Services
Government Research Service (GRS)
GRS provides a full range of research, information, and document delivery services to government clients, staff, and elected officials in Palm Beach County. The GRS Collection includes legal documents, government serials, professional journals, and local and state collections. To speak with the GRS Librarian, please contact 561-233-2777 or 1-888-780-4962 (Toll-free) or email grs@pbclibrary.org.
Government Research Page Legal Research PageGenealogy Research Service (GRS)
The Genealogy Research Service provides access to a wealth of family history sources including biographical books, genealogy Internet links, genealogy programs, how-to book listings, local city directories, local historical sites, newspapers, journals, and our online resources including Ancestry Library Edition. To speak with the GRS Librarian, please contact 561-233-2777 or 1-888-780-4962 (Toll-free) or email grs@pbclibrary.org.
Genealogy Research PageConsumer Health Information Service (CHIS)
The Consumer Health Information Service offers quality health and medical information free-of-charge to residents of Palm Beach County. Working with you and your health care professional, our service can help you make informed medical decisions. Staffed by a trained consumer health librarian, CHIS offers one-on-one assistance to provide the answers to medical and health-related questions. CHIS librarians do not offer medical advice. To speak with the CHIS Librarian, please contact 561-233-2736 or 1-888-780-4962 or email health@pbclibrary.org.
Consumer Health PageCreationStation
CreationStation is a digital media lab and recording studio where you can create multi-media content with Apple computers, video cameras, digital software, a photo scanner, sound recording and editing equipment, and a green screen.
Visit Our CreationStation PageSpecial Items You can Borrow
Birding Backpack
The birding backpack is a kit that includes everything you need to enjoy your next birding adventure, and it’s free to check out with your Palm Beach County Library System card! Each backpack has enough pockets for you to carry water bottles, sunscreen, hats and anything else you may need on a beautiful Florida day. Inside, you will find a high quality pair of adult binoculars, two pairs of children’s binoculars and a guide to Florida birds.
Learn More About Birding BackpacksMobile Wi-Fi HotSpots
Kit includes mobile device, USB cable, and charger. Device offers unlimited data at 4GLTE high speed. The instruction guide included in the kit has simple instructions for setting up and connecting to the HotSpot. Members needing additional assistance should contact your nearest Palm Beach County Library location.
Learn More About Mobile Wi-Fi HotSpotsCivics & Citizenship Kits
Receive aids in your studies for the naturalization test, available at every location.
Visit Our Citizenship PageMaggie
Meet Maggie - the electronic magnifier. If you know anyone who is visually impaired, let them know we have a Maggie for them to use free at all of our branch locations. Ask a staff member for details.
Learn More About Maggie