As devoted blog readers will remember, I’m a big fan of libraries in general and my local one (the Boston Public Library) in particular. I recently discovered that the BPL offers access to the O’Reilly online library (which some may remember as Safari). It is a treasure trove of books and videos for learning just about any tech-related topic, including cybersecurity, which is coming in handy as I aim for the Security+ certification.

https://www.bpl.org/resource/oreilly/

Two small catches: You’ll need a BPL card to get access (but it’s very easy to get one, if you’re a Massachusetts resident). If you’re in another place, ask your own friendly local librarian if access might be available to you. Also, as a library user, your progress in a book or video won’t be saved between sessions, so you’ll have to keep track of your place. But that’s a small trade-off for access that would otherwise be $500 a year.