eResources Help

eBooks & eResources FAQs

• What happened to Boundless?

  Baker & Taylor, the company that owns Boundless went out of business in December 2025.

  The titles in SJPL’s Boundless collection were transferred to Overdrive.

• What is Tutor.com?

  Tutor.com provides support for college students, other adult learners, and job seekers.

  Services include:

  • Live tutoring (math, science, computer skills, and more)
  • Drop-off writing and résumé review
  • Test prep (including live tutoring) for the GED, SAT, ACT, GRE, US Citizenship Test
  • Practice interviews
  • On-demand resources such as worksheets, video lessons, and job listings

  Live Tutoring & Drop-Off Details

  Each user is entitled to 10 live tutoring sessions or drop-off submissions per week.
  Tutoring is available noon-midnight daily, except on these holidays:

  • January 1
  • July 4
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • December 25

  Related Page: Tutor.com

• What is HomeworkCA?

  HomeworkCA is a program from the California State Library and the Pacific Library Partnership to provide free online homework help for all California public libraries during the ’26-’27 school year. The following services will be provided by Tutor.com:

  Services include:

  • Live tutoring for K-12th grade in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese
  • Drop-off math and essay review service
  • Test prep (including live tutoring) for SAT, ACT, and AP Tests
  • Support for the college admissions process (including resources about financial aid and FAFSA)

  Unlimited access to tutoring is available 24/7 daily, except on these holidays:

  • January 1
  • July 4
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • December 25

  For details, including additional FAQs, please visit HomeworkCA.com.

• Will upgrading or replacing my library card affect my access to Overdrive/Libby?

  No, your Overdrive account is based on an internal user number that is different from your library card number. In most cases, you will not lose access to any books that are currently checked out, your current holds, or your reading history. As a precaution, you can take a screenshot of your current place in line, opens a new window or export your history, opens a new window before changing your library card number.

  Once you have your new library card number, you should use it to log in to Overdrive. If you use Libby, you will need to verify your card and input your new card number.

  If you have questions about this process, please contact eResources Support.

  Related Page: Online Resources Help

• How do I access The New York Times Online?

  The San Jose Public Library provides free online access to the New York Times on Internet computers and library wi-fi at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library and at all Branch libraries during our normal operating hours. We also offer 72-hour offsite "At- Home" access through our website. The daily edition is also available from Pressreader.

  Please note that as of July 1st, 2026 SJPL's subscription no longer includes "extras" such as Cooking, Games, The Athletic, and Wirecutter.

  Offsite "At-Home" access:

  1. Click this link: sjpl.org/resource/new-york-times/, then click the Access Now button to get your New York Times access code. This code will be usable by you for 72 hours.
  2. Click on "Redeem".
     After the first 72 hours have passed, you will need to redeem another code for another 72 hours of remote access (i.e. Repeat Steps 1&2).  
  3. Create an account with the New York Times or sign in with an existing New York Times account.  Please be advised that registering an email address with New York Times will opt you into receiving marketing emails from the New York Times. To opt out of receiving emails, be sure to click on the check box during your initial sign up.
  4. You will see a page that looks like this*:

  

  Click on "Go to NYTimes.com". Please note the date when your access ends.

  5. Enjoy the New York Times for 72 hours!

  Reading on The New York Times app

  The New York Times Digital app is free and available for the following operating systems:

  • Android
  • iOS
  • Kindle Fire

  Please visit your device's app store to get the app. You will need to follow the "Offsite " At-Home" access" instructions above in a browser before you log in to the The New York Times app:

  1. Follow steps 1 and 2 above to get your 72 hour access.
  2. Open the NYTimes app
  3. Log in with the email you used to register -- the access code will have already been applied.

  Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

  In-Library New York Times Access: 

  To access The New York Times Online on library internet computers and over branch wifi:

  Go to your favorite browser and type in www.nytimes.com. You can also find it by going to the San Jose Public Library website.

  1. Select Books & eResources at the top of the San Jose Public Library homepage. 
  2. Select “Newspapers & Magazines” from the “eBooks & Other Formats” category
  3. Find “New York Times (In-Library Access)” in the alphabetical list and press on the link for New York Times (In-Library Access)
  4. Finally, press on the link for the New York Times (In-Library Access) to access this resource

  * The text in the image reads:

  Welcome to The New York Times
  Enjoy your 3 days of unlimited access to NYTimes.com, and the NYTimes smartphone and tablet apps.
  An email confirmation has been sent to [your email]. Your digital access begins immediately and runs through [date]. Go to NYTimes.com [link].

  Related Page: Online Resources Help

• What if I already have a Tutor.com account?

  If you are using Tutor.com for help with college-level courses, other adult education, or job and career support, you will continue to log in as usual.

  If you need support for grades K-12, you will need to use the new HomeworkCA program link, including creating a new account. Your previous activity and saved content will not transfer over, but you should still be able to access it by logging in to the SJPL program. As a precaution, we recommend making a backup of any information you want to save.