In my experience public libraries subscribe to many of the academic databases. Often you are able to use them from home by first going to the library's web site

In my experience public libraries subscribe to many of the academic databases. Often you are able to use them from home by first going to the library's web site and clicking the link to whatever you want to use, rather than going to the publisher/database website directly. Maybe you will have to enter a library card number. Some university libraries also provide services to alumni, either free or for a fee (in the case of my university's library, I believe it's an annual fee rather than a la carte).