COLUMN: OCPL offers reliable resources amid online overload

In a world where online information changes by the minute and not all sources can be trusted, the Owen County Public Library (OCPL) is offering a solid alternative to the chaos of internet searches.

With a carefully curated collection of noncirculating reference materials, the library gives patrons instant access to trustworthy information, no scrolling, sifting, or second-guessing required.

These reference books, housed permanently within the library, are not available for checkout, ensuring that all patrons have immediate, in-library access at any time.

Among the highlights is an extensive selection of up-to-date medical directories and reference books, offering plain-language summaries of various health conditions, along with contact information and websites for hundreds of vetted health organizations and agencies.

For those navigating legal challenges, the library provides a full collection of Nolo legal help guides. These user-friendly books cover everything from real estate transactions and landlord/tenant disputes to divorce proceedings, copyright issues and neighborhood law.

Many of the guides include links to free, downloadable legal forms.

Research enthusiasts will appreciate the new World Book encyclopedia set, perfect for digging into topics the "old-school" way — no Wi-Fi required.

Complementing this is the Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language (1950 edition), a massive and impressive volume that is worth a visit all on its own.

One of the library's more unusual offerings is a medical-grade faux skeleton used for anatomical study. Whether you're curious about how joints work or studying for a biology exam, this full-sized skeleton can offer insight — though, as the library staff jokes, it's "a little too big for the photocopier."

Speaking of copies: patrons may photocopy up to five pages per day from any materials labeled reference materials for free. Additional pages are just 10 cents each. (Skeletons excluded — though 3D-printing one is not out of the question, for those truly curious.)

In an age of information overload, OCPL is bringing clarity, credibility and a touch of fun back into the search for knowledge.

The OCPL is located at 10 S. Montgomery St. in Spencer.