Research is easy at the Santa Maria Public Library! Come in to browse our special collections, speak to Reference staff, or use the digital resources below.

Reference:

Archives Unbound - Archives Unbound presents digital collections of historical documents that cover a broad range of topics from the Middle Ages forward-from Witchcraft to World War II to 20th-Century political history. Collections are chosen for Archives Unbound based on requests from scholars, archivists, and students.

AtoZdatabases - AtoZdatabases presents a wide variety of resources for searching businesses, jobs, career and college planning, resume and cover letter templates, and interviewing tips. Access to the AtoZdatabases  - please use this link. Please note that a Library card and password are required.

Calisphere - Calisphere is your gateway to California’s remarkable digital collections, with access to unique and historically important artifacts--nearly two million digital primary resource items--from over 300 cultural heritage organizations, including public libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and many more throughout the state. A public service of the University of California, developed by the California Digital Library, Calisphere is committed to providing free access to historical resources for research, teaching, and curious exploration.

MasterFile Premier -  MasterFILE Premier contains more than 1500 full text magazines and journals and more than 180 full-text reference books covering a wide-range of subject areas including business, health, education, general science and multicultural issues.

Reference Solutions - Formerly known as Reference USA, Data Axle Reference Solutions is the go-to resource for comprehensive data on both businesses and individuals, tailored to the needs of small business owners, marketing professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, and job seekers. It empowers users to create marketing plans, conduct competitive analysis, secure funding, and locate individuals. This platform offers detailed profiles of over 50 million U.S. businesses, 150 million U.S. residents, 7+ million job postings, internships, historical business data, and healthcare listings, making it an invaluable research tool for job seekers, businesses, and researchers.

ProQuest: Guided research and learning resources, reference solutions, and e-books available free in this database. Provided by the California State Library.

Luna Digital Collections - Photographic collections of local history of San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara Counties, with emphasis on Adobes in San Luis Obispo County, African Americans on the Central Coast, Asian/Pacific Americans on the Central Coast, Edson Smith Photo Collection, Hispanics on the Central Coast, Native Americans on the Central Coast, Allan Hancock Collection and the Minerva Club Yearbooks. Access is not restricted.

Articles and More:

Overdrive Magazines - The digital magazine service and the world’s largest newsstand, that offers full color, interactive digital magazines for your enjoyment.

New York Times - The New York Times is available to read online from within the Library. You will find breaking news, multimedia, business, sports, movies, travel, books, jobs, education, real estate and more. Access to the New York Times is available offsite - please use this link. Please note that a Library card and password are required.

Santa Maria Times - The Santa Maria Times is available on microfilm dating back to April, 1882. The link (available only within the Library) provides access to digital newspapers from 1882-2019.  This database is fully searchable and the individual articles may be printed, viewed, emailed, or saved directly from the database.

MasterFile Premier -  MasterFILE Premier contains more than 1500 full text magazines and journals and more than 180 full-text reference books covering a wide-range of subject areas including business, health, education, general science and multicultural issues.

Books and Literature:

NoveList - A fiction reader's advisory database. Find books by the same author, or similar books by another author. Browse by subject, genre, and theme for over 150,000 titles. Reviews, book discussion guides and annotated book lists constantly updated.

Libby (formerly OverDrive) - An in-depth selection of e-books and audio books.

Hoopla - Instantly stream movies, music, and television shows or download audiobooks, comics, and eBooks. New titles are added daily. Titles for all age groups available. Library card required. Due to Hoopla’s popularity and budget constraints, the number of monthly Hoopla checkouts is five. If you are unable to obtain an item, please add it to your favorites.   

Braille Services (new to the website)

Language Learning:

Duolingo - A free resource for learning English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and many more languages. Create a profile to save your work. Select your native language and then select the language you wish to learn.

Learn English Aprenda Ingles  - A free website for adults to learn English. Developed by the Sacramento County Office of Education.

USA Learns - Learn English and prepare for the U.S. Citizenship course. 

• English and Spanish version.

Government Resources:

GovInfo Provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal government.

California Municipal Guide

Permit Practice Tests - Get ready for your DMV test with these permit practice tests, read handbooks, and see the California DMV frequently asked questions. 

Santa Barbara County Resource Guide – a guide designed to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness and other shortages to gain access to services such as food, shelter and other basic needs.  

Social Security - Request a replacement Social Security card, apply for Social Security benefits, get your Social Security statement and more, online.

Veterans Resources: The California Department of Veteran’s Affairs website provides educational, employment, healthcare, housing, advocacy and claims information. See also the California Veteran’s Resource Book, a complete guide to State and Federal resources and benefits.

Genealogy and Obituaries:

Ancestry.com is the largest online family history resource. Research:

• Census
• Immigration
• Military
• Birth records
• Death records
• Marriage records

Special Collections

Luna

Job Training and Resources

Career Pathways (State Library Databases)

Coursera - Patrons can build skills with courses, certificates, and degrees online from world-class universities and companies. Please check back on October 1, 2025 for access. 

Training & Resources

Career Online High School - Earn an accredited high school diploma free! Gain the skills you need to become college and career ready.

Careeronestop.org - Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.  Explore careers, find training, and search for jobs.

BLS.gov/ooh - Occupational Outlook Handbook.  Explore careers and career forecasts.

Resources for Job Seekers - Provides resources and links for job training and skill building.

GotResumeBuilder.com - Build your resume in minutes. Offers tips, templates, and guides to help write a resume.