# OED Online through Chicago Public Library discontinued

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oed-online-through-chicago-public-library-discontinued/118353>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [July 11, 2002, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oed-online-through-chicago-public-library-discontinued/118353 "2002-07-11T03:07:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oed-online-through-chicago-public-library-discontinued/118353/1 "2002-07-11T03:07:08Z")

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When I tried to access it from home today, it had vanished from the list of reference works. I phoned their information line and was told it was a cost-cutting measure.

I really didn’t need it, but it was cool to have _the_ authoritative English dictionary.

I still have the compact edition I bought in the 80s from Book-of-the-Month Club (and most of the library branches have it, too), but now it seems so … _medieval_.

Darn. ☹

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**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oed-online-through-chicago-public-library-discontinued/118353/2 "2002-07-11T03:09:26Z")

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You mean somebody was offering FREE access to the OED???

Or do I misunderstand, and it was a subscription service?

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**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oed-online-through-chicago-public-library-discontinued/118353/3 "2002-07-11T03:40:05Z")

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Lots of libraries carry databases that are available free to library card holders. All you need is a library card for that library. Of course, you also need to fund libraries through taxes as well. The Chicago Public Library paid for the subscription and made it available to all thier cardholders. That’s the way it works.

Log into thier website, click on “databases”, and enter your card number. You should see what is available through Universities!

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**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oed-online-through-chicago-public-library-discontinued/118353/4 "2002-07-11T04:14:13Z")

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I can’t believe I missed out on it. Pooh. My library doesn’t have it.