The free Smithsonian Libraries Digital Book Bag offers online jigsaw puzzles, downloadable coloring pages, fillable postcards, virtual meeting backgrounds and staff-selected digital reading recommendations. This is a virtual collection of resources, not a physical book bag mailed to your home. Visitors can choose individual activities rather than registering for a giveaway or requesting a shipment.
Smithsonian Libraries assembled the collection in 2020 to provide enjoyable ways to explore its books and collections from home. Some activities work directly in a browser; others require downloading a file, and printing is optional for selected materials. This guide explains what each part offers, what you may need, and how to find the original resources.
Offer at a glance
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What Is Included in the Free Smithsonian Libraries Digital Book Bag?
The Digital Book Bag is a collection of links, not one combined PDF. Its sections cover online jigsaw puzzles, three coloring packets, nine fillable digital postcards, downloadable backgrounds for video calls and a selection of books from online libraries. You can explore whichever category suits your interests without completing the others.
The activities offer different ways to spend time with collection materials. A reader might browse a historic book, a child and caregiver could choose a coloring page, and someone looking for a short screen break could try a digital puzzle. The Smithsonian provides the links to the individual activities on its collection page.
Play Online Jigsaw Puzzles
The puzzle section uses images from Smithsonian library collections. The provider says visitors can work on the puzzles through its blog or through Jigsaw Explorer, where puzzle settings can be adjusted for an easier or more challenging experience. These are digital jigsaws played on a device, not cardboard puzzles that arrive in a package.
For a shared activity, one person can select a puzzle and others can help identify pieces or patterns. An individual can also complete one independently. Because the settings are adjustable, the activity does not require every participant to have the same puzzle experience.
Download Free Coloring Pages
The collection points to three free coloring packets developed for the #ColorOurCollections initiative. The Smithsonian describes designs such as vintage Parisian fashions and floral patterns. These are collection-inspired activities rather than a promise of a physical coloring book.
Follow the coloring section to select a packet and review the available download. If you prefer paper coloring, you will need a printer, paper and your own crayons or pencils. The files are offered without an advertised purchase price, but the cost of printing is not included. Readers who enjoy historical imagery may find these designs especially interesting.
Send Digital Postcards and Try Meeting Backgrounds
Smithsonian Libraries highlights nine fillable digital postcards that can be emailed or printed. The provider mentions subjects including a dinosaur skull, a goldfish and a historical figure. Fillable PDFs provide a way to add a message before sharing, although the exact editing process depends on your PDF application.
The virtual-meeting backgrounds are a different set of downloads made from images in Smithsonian books. They can add visual interest to a video call or remote learning session. Whether your software supports a custom background depends on its settings and your device. Check your meeting application’s instructions before trying to use one.
How to Get the Free Smithsonian Digital Activities
- Open the Smithsonian Libraries Digital Book Bag page using either blue button.
- Browse the sections for puzzles, coloring pages, postcards, backgrounds and digital books.
- Select the relevant link to reach the individual activity or file.
- Play online, save a download or print a page as appropriate for that resource.
- Check any instructions and reuse conditions displayed with the particular file.
Read Free Digital Books
The reading section features staff-selected titles from the Smithsonian Digital Library and Biodiversity Heritage Library. Smithsonian Libraries describes these choices as free to access without a waiting list or library hold. The recommendations are intended for online exploration, not a delivery of printed books.
A curated reading selection is a useful starting point when a large digital library feels overwhelming. Visitors interested in history, art, science or natural-history literature can explore the highlighted titles and follow the links for further reading. The formats available for each item are determined by the linked library page.
Is the Digital Book Bag Really Free?
The Smithsonian describes its Digital Book Bag as a collection of free online resources. No purchase, physical shipment or mailed gift is promised. Internet access and a compatible device are necessary to use the digital material, and some downloadable files may require a PDF viewer or image software. Printing materials at home may involve your own paper and ink costs.
The collection page does not state a specific U.S.-only eligibility requirement, registration deadline or expiration date. Because it was published in August 2020, individual links may be changed or retired over time. Check the live provider page before depending on a particular activity for a classroom or event.
How Is This Different From Other Smithsonian Resources?
The Digital Book Bag is a small curated selection of puzzles, creative downloads and reading suggestions. It is different from the Smithsonian Learning Lab, a broader educational collection platform, and Smithsonian Open Access, which offers a much larger selection of downloadable collection items. This particular page is best understood as a convenient starting point for a few free activities.
You can review the original Smithsonian Libraries Digital Book Bag page to see the current selection and follow its activity links. If you plan to reuse an image outside personal activity, check the rights information associated with that particular resource rather than assuming every Smithsonian image has the same reuse terms.
