Youth Library
Stories, science, history, art, and multilingual discovery for young readers.
Explore collection ↗A FREE PUBLIC ACADEMIC LIBRARY
Books and knowledge
for every learner.
Explore legal, open access collections for adults and young people in ebook, PDF, EPUB, audiobook, read aloud, research, and multilingual formats.
UNITED STATES UNIVERSITYU.S. INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION
A NATIONAL PUBLIC LEARNING INSTITUTION
America’s First Online Public Civic Library for Children & Families
Read. Discover. Understand. Participate.
A public doorway to the stories, ideas, rights, responsibilities, and discoveries that shape our shared world. Explore books, primary sources, interactive learning, and family activities that help young people understand their communities and imagine their contribution.
DISCOVER THE COLLECTION
What would you like to discover?
Search the USU catalog by title, institution, subject, audience, and format.
Adult Library
Academic reading, family learning, educator resources, and lifelong discovery.
Explore collection ↗Ebooks & EPUB
Text editions and digital books for supported reading devices.
Explore collection ↗Listen
Audio collections for listening, shared reading, and access.
Explore collection ↗Research
Primary sources, scientific literature, and academic inquiry.
Explore collection ↗Accessible Reading
Accessible formats, eligibility information, and reading choices.
Explore collection ↗CURATED PATHWAYS
A shelf for every kind of discovery.
THE USU CATALOG
18 resources to explore
Interactive website
Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government
Explore government learning through age based adventures and a civic glossary.
- Audience
- Early readers · Independent readers · Teens · Families
- Language
- English
- Access
- Public browsing
Primary source
The Constitution of the United States
Read the transcription of the Constitution and study its structure through a primary source.
- Audience
- Teens · Families · Educators
- Language
- English
- Access
- Free public access
Primary source
The Bill of Rights
Read the amendments and explore questions about rights, government, and public responsibility.
- Audience
- Teens · Families · Educators
- Language
- English
- Access
- Free public access
Primary source
The Declaration of Independence
Study the founding document through its transcription, historical setting, and questions for discussion.
- Audience
- Teens · Families · Educators
- Language
- English
- Access
- Free public access
Resource collection
National Archives Educator Resources
Discover primary sources and educational tools for learning through historical records.
- Audience
- Teens · Educators
- Language
- English
- Access
- Public browsing
Read online
StoryWeaver
Explore multilingual stories through the provider’s public reading platform.
- Audience
- Early readers · Independent readers · Families
- Language
- Multilingual
- Access
- Provider terms apply
Ebook and PDF
OpenStax
Discover textbooks and learning resources for academic study through the source provider.
- Audience
- Teens · Adults · Educators
- Language
- English
- Access
- Open content; some tools may require an account
Simulation
PhET Interactive Simulations
Explore interactive science and mathematics learning through the source provider.
- Audience
- Independent readers · Teens · Educators
- Language
- Multilingual
- Access
- Provider terms apply
Activities
Ready Kids
Find family preparedness learning and activities through the official source.
- Audience
- Independent readers · Families · Educators
- Language
- English
- Access
- External provider; availability may vary
Audio
LibriVox Audiobooks
Discover recorded readings and choose a title appropriate to the reader.
- Audience
- Teens · Adults · Families
- Language
- Multilingual
- Access
- Provider and title terms apply
Ebook and EPUB
Project Gutenberg
Explore a catalog of ebooks and choose an edition for reading or study.
- Audience
- Teens · Adults · Families
- Language
- Multilingual
- Access
- Territorial and title terms apply
Ebook and EPUB
Standard Ebooks
Explore carefully formatted editions through the provider’s catalog.
- Audience
- Teens · Adults
- Language
- English
- Access
- Territorial and title terms apply
Academic books
Directory of Open Access Books
Discover academic books through a scholarly directory.
- Audience
- Adults · Educators
- Language
- Multilingual
- Access
- Title and publisher terms apply
Academic books
OAPEN Library
Browse scholarly publications through an academic library platform.
- Audience
- Adults · Educators
- Language
- Multilingual
- Access
- Title and publisher terms apply
Accessible books
Bookshare
Review accessible book formats, eligibility, and access conditions before registering.
- Audience
- Families · Educators · Adults
- Language
- Multilingual
- Access
- Eligibility and registration required
Read online
International Children’s Digital Library
Discover children’s books through an established external collection.
- Audience
- Early readers · Independent readers · Families
- Language
- Multilingual
- Access
- Provider terms apply
Research database
PubMed
Discover biomedical literature and learn to read a research citation with an educator or qualified guide.
- Audience
- Adults · Educators · Teens
- Language
- English
- Access
- Search is public; full text access varies
Accessible books
Internet Archive Accessible Books
Review the provider’s accessible collection and its eligibility and borrowing requirements.
- Audience
- Adults · Families · Educators
- Language
- Multilingual
- Access
- Provider eligibility and borrowing terms apply
CIVIC COLLECTIONS
Understand the world. Begin contributing to it.
Evidence, historical context, and thoughtful questions guide each collection.
We the People
The Constitution, Bill of Rights, and civic responsibility.
Explore collection ↗How Our Communities Work
Public services, libraries, and community decisions.
Explore collection ↗America’s Story
Historical records, founding documents, and changing public life.
Explore collection ↗Young Citizens in Action
Service, respectful discussion, and informed participation.
Explore collection ↗Words That Changed the World
Documents, letters, and ideas read in their historical context.
Explore collection ↗Truth, Evidence, and Media
Source comparison, interpretation, and responsible inquiry.
Explore collection ↗Science and Society
Scientific discovery, research reading, and public understanding.
Explore collection ↗Heartwork and Human Connection
Empathy, dignity, belonging, and meaningful conversation.
Explore collection ↗Prepared Together
Family preparedness and continuity of learning.
Explore collection ↗A World of Neighbors
Languages, cultures, shared stories, and global understanding.
Explore collection ↗DISCOVER AND PARTICIPATE
Explore. Question. Practice. Reflect. Create.
Guided activities connect reading with meaningful work.
Inside a Primary Source
Read a source, identify its context, and explain what the evidence supports.
Open the activity ↗Build a Community
Explore a fictional community budget and make a proposal with reasons.
Open the activity ↗A Classroom Constitution
Create and revise a group agreement about participation and responsibility.
Open the activity ↗The Young Historian’s Desk
Compare two sources and develop an explanation grounded in evidence.
Open the activity ↗The Civic Conversation Classroom
Practice listening, asking questions, and developing a shared proposal.
Open the activity ↗The Family Preparedness Workshop
Make a practical learning and communication plan with a trusted adult.
Open the activity ↗FAMILY LEARNING
Read, question, and create together.
Choose a source, explore a question, and create a response through conversation, writing, or drawing.
Create an agreement togetherYOUR FAMILY READING PROJECT
What makes a community feel like home?
- Choose a story from a public collection.
- Notice the people who support the community.
- Draw or write one idea for contributing.
- Choose what, if anything, to share.
FROM READING TO RESEARCH
Let a question lead you further.
Public access with responsible stewardship
The Institute links to public-domain, open-license, government, and authorized external platforms. Availability and usage terms remain governed by each provider. Resources are reviewed for provenance, accessibility, audience suitability, and educational value. External registration requirements are identified before readers leave USU.