Community Resources
The Community Resources listed below have been specially curated by our staff to meet the various needs of you, our patrons! Here you'll find links related to Digital Literacy, Transportation, Human Resources, and so much more.
We will continue to add new information and links as needed to better serve our community.​
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Questions?
Contact us at baplreference@bcfls.org
Books & Other Media
The Universal Yiddish Library is the largest digital collection of searchable, full-text Yiddish books ever created. It contains 60,000+ records, and nearly 20,000 books that have already been digitized, and over 18,000 currently fully searchable via OCR.
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The Yiddish Book Center is dedicated to rescuing, translating, and preserving Yiddish literature while promoting Jewish culture through various educational and cultural programs. It serves as a resource for scholars and the public to explore the legacy and modern relevance of Yiddish and Jewish storytelling.
Digital Literacy
This website offers a free library of video-based lessons to teach and learn real-world digital skills via Google’s “Applied Digital Skills” curriculum.
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This site provides free, user-friendly tutorials designed to help beginners improve their digital literacy skills, from computer basics to online security.
Domestic Violence Support
VOICE (Victim Outreach Center)
VOICE (Victim Outreach Intervention Center) Butler County is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free and confidential services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes. As a systems-change organization, VOICE offers emergency shelters, advocacy, counseling, and crisis support to individuals and families. Beyond direct assistance, VOICE also engages in community outreach, education, and volunteer programs to promote awareness and foster safer communities.
Educator Resources
Open Education Resources Commons
OER Commons is a dynamic digital library offering open educational resources to educators, students, and self-learners worldwide for teaching and learning.
Environment & Ecology
Beeswarmed.org is a free, community-driven platform that connects people who spot honey bee swarms with local beekeepers, facilitating safe and timely swarm rescues.
Health & Wellness
​Addiction Help Online is a guide to addiction and recovery founded by people in long-term sobriety and board-certified specialists.
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Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global, peer-led group focused on an abstinence-based recovery model from alcoholism.
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Immunization Guidance from PA Department of Health
The Pennsylvania Department of Health provides clear, evidence-based immunization guidance aligned with major medical organizations (AAP, AAFP, ACOG), advising Pennsylvanians of all ages—including children, adults, and pregnant individuals—to stay current with recommended vaccines to protect against preventable diseases.
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This comprehensive library offers health resources tailored to veterans, providing reliable medical information, videos, and tools to support their well-being.
Human Resources
988 Lifeline (Suicide Hotline)
This national hotline offers free, 24/7 support through phone, text, or chat to anyone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, connecting them with trained crisis counselors and resources.
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Center for Community Resources
CCR provides support and services for mental health, housing, and crisis management in Butler County, PA, linking individuals to appropriate local resources.
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​COMPASS is Pennsylvania’s online tool for applying to public assistance programs, including healthcare, food, and energy support.
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Levin & Perconti Cerebral Palsy Toolkit
The Cerebral Palsy Toolkit by Levin & Perconti offers comprehensive resources and support to help families understand cerebral palsy, access early intervention, and navigate daily challenges.
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Pennsylvania's LIHEAP helps low-income families afford heating costs during the winter by providing cash grants and crisis assistance.
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National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Butler County
The local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness offers education, advocacy, and support for those affected by mental health conditions in Butler County.
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The PA CareKit is a comprehensive online resource developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging to support caregivers with tools, information, and guidance tailored to their unique caregiving journeys.
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PA Navigate is an online platform that helps Pennsylvanians access over 2,300 health and social care services and programs in their communities, including resources for food, housing, utilities, health, financial, education, work, legal, and transportation.
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This seasonal warming center in Butler County provides temporary shelter and essential services to those experiencing homelessness during the winter months.
Local & Municipal Records
Butler Area School District Records
A resource for accessing public meeting agendas, minutes, and board policies for the Butler Area School District.
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A repository of Butler County's codified laws and ordinances, covering a wide range of local regulations.​
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The Butler County archive contains past meeting records, documents, and other historical public information.​
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Provides legal research materials, resources, and support to the public and attorneys in Butler County.​
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Contains Butler Township's codified ordinances, offering insight into local governance and policies.​
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County Archives for Butler County Financial Reports
A subsection of the Butler County archive focusing on historical assessments and land records.​
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A platform for accessing public legal advertisements, including notices about estates, sheriff sales, and other legal proceedings in Pennsylvania.
Research Resources
Directory of Open Access Books
Provides access to thousands of peer-reviewed academic books available for free, promoting the discovery and use of open-access publications.
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Directory of Open Access Journals
A comprehensive directory that indexes and provides free access to high-quality, peer-reviewed open-access journals across multiple disciplines.
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A free online resource to locate and document gravesites, create memorials, and connect with family history and genealogy records.
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A repository hosted by the University of Minnesota offering free, openly licensed textbooks for use in classrooms and self-study across a wide range of subjects.
Safety & Online Security
The FTC’s Consumer Alerts page delivers timely, easy-to-understand guidance on the latest consumer issues—from emerging scams to smart money management—all written in plain language to help people stay informed and protected.
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The FTC’s Online Privacy and Security page offers straightforward, actionable guidance on protecting your personal data—covering topics like securing devices, avoiding scams, using two-factor authentication, and understanding how apps and websites collect your information.
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Pass-It-On Resources | Federal Trade Commission
The "Pass It On" section of the FTC website encourages individuals to share information about scams they have encountered to help protect others, offering downloadable materials on various types of fraud. It focuses on raising awareness about issues like identity theft, unwanted calls, and impersonation scams, urging users to spread knowledge to prevent financial harm and support broader consumer protection efforts.​
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Scam & Fraud Prevention from the National Council on Aging
The NCOA article highlights that in 2022, seniors aged 60 and over lost $3.1 billion to online fraud and offers four key safety tips—such as avoiding suspicious links and attachments, ignoring robocalls, steering clear of pop-up warnings, and not conducting sensitive transactions on unsecured networks—to help older adults navigate the internet more safely.
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The Senior’s Guide to Online Safety from ConnectSafely
ConnectSafely’s Senior’s Guide to Online Safety provides clear, practical advice for older adults on using the internet safely—covering essentials like strong, unique passwords, cautious posting and privacy settings, avoiding scams and phishing, and protecting personal information and finances.
Taxes
Butler Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offered by the Center for Community Resources provides free tax preparation services to households earning less than $60,000, ensuring accurate local, state, and federal tax filings, along with financial literacy resources and future planning assistance.
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Tax Forms | IRS - Federal Income Tax
The IRS "Forms, Instructions, and Publications" page offers access to the latest tax forms, filing instructions, and related documents for taxpayers and tax professionals.​
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Tax Forms | PA State Income Tax
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue provides downloadable personal income tax (PIT) forms, filing instructions, and guidance for individuals filing taxes in Pennsylvania.
Transportation
Bus Schedules | Butler Transit Authority
The Butler Transit Authority's Route Schedules page provides detailed information on both commuter and local bus routes, including schedules, stops, and trip planning resources for travelers in the Butler, PA, area.​​
Veterans Resources
Pennsylvania Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs provides programs, benefits, and resources to support the state’s nearly 700,000 veterans and their families.​​
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA.gov is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ official website, offering veterans, service members, and their families access to healthcare, benefits, resources, and tools to manage everything from disability claims to education, housing, and burial services.
Voter Resources
Butler County Bureau of Elections
The Butler County Bureau of Elections website provides resources for voter registration, election results, and polling locations for Butler County, PA voters.
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The Pennsylvania Voter Services site lets users check their voter registration status and provides access to other voting tools in Pennsylvania.
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Vote.gov is a comprehensive resource to register to vote in any state, offering a state-by-state guide for voter registration.​​
Vote.pa is Pennsylvania's official portal for voting information, including voter registration, election deadlines, and polling places.​​