Your local public library may provide a free or for-fee interlibrary loan service for requesting books and other materials from other libraries. Your library may also provide access to some databases.
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Special libraries serve specific communities and provide specialized information resources. These libraries may include court libraries, government libraries, medical libraries, news libraries, and more, and in some cases, will allow public access.
Look for public walk-in rights at academic libraries near you, or consider joining an independent library, such as the Boston Athenaeum, if they have access to resources that would be helpful for your work. While independent libraries charge a membership fee, the fee may be reduced for new or younger members.