Ancestry Library Edition
Find birth, death, and census records. Only accessible inside the library
Online Resources
Bridges from Overdrive
The library is part of the state-wide BRIDGES library consortium, providing access to e-books and downloadable e-audiobooks from Overdrive. You will need your library card number and PIN to get started.
Early Grinnell Newspapers
Grinnell Newspapers 1870 to 1925
Funded by Friends of Drake Community Library
FamilySearch
Best for worldwide genealogical research, connecting with other researchers, and accessing international documents: civil, church, military, and immigration.
Fantastic Fiction
Search and browse the complete works of over 60,000 fiction authors, with all the latest books and series listed in order.
Freegal Music
Freegal gives you access to over 3 million songs, including famous artists from the Sony Music catalog.
Heritage Quest
Best for beginning your genealogy search of U.S.-based family records: census, city directories, maps, and local/family histories.
Internet Archive Wayback Machine
The Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine is a powerful tool for accessing archived versions of websites that are no longer live.
Kanopy
Library cardholders who are residents of Grinnell, rural Poweshiek County, Kellogg, Oakland Acres, and Searsboro have free, ad-free access to award-winning movies, documentaries, and TV series for all ages.
Library for the Blind & Print Disabled
The Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled brings alternative formats to Iowans who are unable to read standard print. It provides access to information, books, and magazines in audio, braille, electronic text, and large print.
Mango Languages
An online language learning tool that offers courses in Spanish, Polish, English, Mandarin, and more.
Obituary Database
Search scanned obituaries from the newspapers of Grinnell and the surrounding communities in Poweshiek County. Obituaries date from the late 1800s to early 2025.
People's Law Library
Easy-to-understand, basic information about the law.
State Library of Iowa Law Library
Located in the Capitol building in Des Moines, the State law Library provides access services to a highly specialized legal collection. Research assistance is available.