Learn a Foreign Language, Research Your Genealogy for Free Online

LONG VALLEY - Washington Township Public Library is currently closed until Monday, March 30th, but cardholders still have access to lots of great resources from home, including Rosetta Stone language learning software and several genealogy databases.

The New Jersey State Library has made Rosetta Stone available for free to patrons of NJ libraries. In order to access it, click here. From home you will be asked to enter your library card barcode — 13 numbers, no spaces or dashes. On the next page enter your email address and a password that contains at least 6 letters plus 1 number, and then choose the language you want to learn. On the new page click on “Launch Rosetta Stone Language Lessons.” Now choose the same language as you did earlier and the level you want to start with, and click Continue. Note that Rosetta Stone requires Adobe Flash Player to run. If you don’t have it on your computer, you can download it for free at adobe.com. It also requires a headset with a microphone, since most of the tutorials use voice recognition. There is also a Rosetta Stone app available from the App Store or Google Play. Read these instructions before installing the app.

The library also offers access to those looking to research their family history. Several databases are available from home for free, including HeritageQuest and the military records-focused Fold3. Both databases will prompt you to enter you library barcode (all 13 numbers from the back of the card with no spaces) in order to gain access. For a list of additional online resources, visit the library's genealogy webpage and click "A Guide to Genealogical Resources on the Internet." Please note that Ancestry Library Edition and FamilySearch are restricted to in-library use only and cannot be accessed from home.

If you have questions about any of these services, please contact william.haggis@wtpl.org. For access to other online resources, including e-books, e-audiobooks, e-magazines, and e-comics, and for the latest updates about the library, visit wtpl.org.