Westerly Sun Column | N.Y. Times now available through library

Libraries are ever-evolving, and 21st-century libraries look and feel much different than they did in the past. Westerly Library and Wilcox Park in 2024 looks drastically different from Westerly Library and Wilcox Park in 2004 … not to mention when it was first built in 1894. Despite the many changes, our core tenets remain largely the same, one of them being equitable access to information ... including news! We have long provided access to paper copies of local newspapers, back issues of The Westerly Sun on microfilm (and now digitally from 1893-1950), and a huge collection of reliable news sources through NewsBank, but we’re thrilled to add one more newspaper to the list: library users can now enjoy New York Times All Access.

The New York Times All Access subscription includes everything NYT has to offer, including U.S. and world news articles, sports coverage through The Athletic, and product reviews through Wirecutter. You can even search the NYTimes archive, with articles dating back to 1851! At the moment, though, many people are more focused on current events, particularly in regards to the upcoming election, which NYT provides constant updates on. If you’re part of this group, you can check out their 2024 Election page for live updates, polls, and to read up on where the candidates stand on various issues.

Many others will be looking for a respite from election news over the next few months, which can also be found in New York Times All Access. If you want to distract yourself from the upcoming election and/or drown your sorrows and feelings of impending doom, I’ve personally found great success with the NYT games and puzzles, including Wordle, Sudoku, and — of course — the crossword. All of these are updated daily, and are now available free to Westerly Library cardholders. The New York Times cooking page is also a fantastic resource, not just because of the thousands of fantastic recipes, but also because of the helpful tips that readers provide in the comments. Whether you’re a baker, a chef, or simply a food-lover, you’ll find great value in this section of the paper.

Libraries are ever-evolving, and 21st-century libraries look and feel much different than they did in the past. Westerly Library and Wilcox Park in 2024 looks drastically different from Westerly Library and Wilcox Park in 2004 … not to mention when it was first built in 1894. Despite the many changes, our core tenets remain largely the same, one of them being equitable access to information ... including news! We have long provided access to paper copies of local newspapers, back issues of The Westerly Sun on microfilm (and now digitally from 1893-1950), and a huge collection of reliable news sources through NewsBank, but we’re thrilled to add one more newspaper to the list: library users can now enjoy New York Times All Access.

The New York Times All Access subscription includes everything NYT has to offer, including U.S. and world news articles, sports coverage through The Athletic, and product reviews through Wirecutter. You can even search the NYTimes archive, with articles dating back to 1851! At the moment, though, many people are more focused on current events, particularly in regards to the upcoming election, which NYT provides constant updates on. If you’re part of this group, you can check out their 2024 Election page for live updates, polls, and to read up on where the candidates stand on various issues.

Many others will be looking for a respite from election news over the next few months, which can also be found in New York Times All Access. If you want to distract yourself from the upcoming election and/or drown your sorrows and feelings of impending doom, I’ve personally found great success with the NYT games and puzzles, including Wordle, Sudoku, and — of course — the crossword. All of these are updated daily, and are now available free to Westerly Library cardholders. The New York Times cooking page is also a fantastic resource, not just because of the thousands of fantastic recipes, but also because of the helpful tips that readers provide in the comments. Whether you’re a baker, a chef, or simply a food-lover, you’ll find great value in this section of the paper.