Resources
There are so many wonderful resources out there that all Kansas residents have access to through the State Library of Kansas! These include digital books, audio books, talking books, job and career tools, digital literacy resources for students of all ages and much more. Please see our “Free for Kansans” page for more information on many of these digital resources. In order to use most of these resources, you need to sign up for a Kansas Library ecard at the Frankfort City Library. The librarian there will be able to sign you up and help answer questions about these digital resources. Here is a little more information about getting your Kansas Library ecard:
How do I get a Kansas Library eCard?
Request a card at your local public, academic, or school library. The library may require some proof of your Kansas residency. The staff will enter your full name and date of birth into the Kansas Library eCard database. The library will provide you with a paper card, which will have your KSLC number. Your birthdate in MMDDYYYY format will be the password, and it will expire 3 years after creation.
Optional: provide an email to have the system send your card’s details by email instead of using the paper card.
Who can get a card & is there an age limit?
Any resident of Kansas can apply for a Kansas Library eCard. Participating libraries and schools may require some proof of residency before issuing the card. There are no lower age limits for a card, but very young Kansans will need a parent or guardian to request a card on their behalf. Please realize that some online resources may not be useful to residents that cannot yet read or type, but see the eBooks for Kids page for materials they will enjoy.
When does my card expire & how do I renew it?
Each card will automatically expire three years from the date it was issued. If your expiration date is not recorded on the card, log in to the KSLC website. The date that the card was issued or last renewed will be posted at the top of the page after login. To renew, simply inquire at your nearest public, academic, or school library. The staff will renew your account.
The Sunflower eLibrary by Overdrive has thousands of ebooks and audio books that can be checked out from your computer, tablet or phone. In order to use the Sunflower library, you will need a valid Frankfort City Library card. You can contact the library when you are ready to sign up and they will make sure your card is in the database. For mobile devices, you can download the Libby app from your app store. Below are some tips to getting started with the Sunflower library:
Use these steps to get started with free ebooks, audiobooks, and more from your library or school:
1. Find your library or school
Find and open your library or school’s digital collection using one of the following:
- The Libby app (recommended for public, corporate, and academic library users)
- Sora (available for most schools)
- The original OverDrive app (for all other library or school users)
- Overdrive.com
2. Borrow
Borrow a title from your library or school’s digital collection. You’ll need a valid library card or student ID to complete this step.
3. Enjoy
You can enjoy many titles immediately online, download them for offline use, or send borrowed ebooks to a Kindle device (U.S. libraries and schools only).
If you’re on a computer, you may also be able to transfer titles to compatible ereaders or MP3 players.
The Overdrive website also has a great help section that explains how to use or troubleshoot the Sunflower library in almost any situation. This help page is located here: https://help.overdrive.com/en-us/home.htm. Of course, the librarian at the library will be able to help you use the eLibrary, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions.
There are a few other digital libraries that all Kansas residents have access to, with their State Library card. These include: cloudLibrary, Enki Library, Freading and Comics Plus. For children and youth there is also BookFlix, Britannica E-Stax and TumbleBooks. Each of these are wonderful free resources with thousands of books, audio books and more. There are so many books to choose from! You can see more information about each of these resources on the State Library of Kansas Digital Book eLending page. As always, you can find out more information from your friendly Frankfort librarian.
Kansas Talking Books provides personalized library support and materials in a specialized format to eligible Kansas residents to ensure that all may read. This no-cost library service features:
- Audio books, audio magazines, braille books, and braille magazines mailed directly to your house and returned postage free.
- Special equipment lent to you at no charge.
- A collection that includes romance, mysteries, bestsellers, science fiction, westerns, biographies, fiction, children’s books, young adult books and more.
- Find your next good read and get library help by calling 800-362-0699, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Download books and magazines from the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) website or by using the BARD Mobile app.
Who is eligible?
Any Kansas resident with a visual impairment, physical impairment or reading disability that prevents the reading of traditional print materials is eligible for Kansas Talking Books. Schools and medical facilities who serve qualifying individuals may also be eligible.
Who can sign residents up for Talking Books Service?
Doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, ophthalmologist, optometrist, psychologist, registered nurse, therapist, or professional staff of hospitals, institutions, and public or welfare agencies (such as an educator, social worker, case worker, counselor, rehabilitation teacher, certified reading specialist, school psychologist, superintendent, or librarian).
Click here to download an application.
Applications must be signed by an appropriate certifying authority–please read the instructions carefully.
Please call 800-362-0699 or 620-341-6280, or send an email to KTB@ks.gov for more information.