It’s that time again! Kids are headed back to school, and soon homework, SAT prep, and college applications will begin. The good news is, the library has resources that can help.
Early Literacy
Technically, this isn’t a back-to-school category, but in the spirit of school readiness, I’m including it here.
Launchpads
For our younger patrons, we have Launchpad tablets. They’re durable tablets that are packed with learning content, and they don’t need Wi-Fi in order to work!
Note that “juvenile” launchpads are for kids, but each one has an age recommendation in the description. If you see one labeled “YA” instead of juvenile, that launchpad is designed for teens.
“I Can Read” Books
Books in our “I Can Read” section are designed for new readers to practice with. Examples include books by Dr. Seuss, the Pete the Cat series, and the Berenstain Bears series. See more I Can Read titles in our library
Homework Help
The following sites can be used for research and to create citations automatically in all major styles. Some articles can be saved directly to Google Drive, which can be helpful if your school issues Chromebooks to students.
When clicking on any of the links below, allow location access to skip logging in with your library barcode. To find these on our main website, select Research in the main menu.
Gale:
- Gale Elementary – Magazine articles, videos, graphics, and images covering a wide variety of subjects
- Gale Middle School – Citable content from primary sources, newspapers, videos, and magazines
- Gale High School – Information on high school research topics, plus pop culture, sports, and more
- For college students, try Gale’s Academic OneFile.
- Opposing Viewpoints – Authoritative articles, research reports, videos, and statistics on debated topics
Britannica Encyclopedia – This landing page includes links to age-appropriate content for elementary, middle school, and high school students. Also available in Spanish. For college students and adults, try the academic version.
America’s News by Newsbank – Access to newspapers and magazines of local and national interest. Many available with images.
Test Prep and College/Career Planning
For study guides, testing practice, college and career information, and tools for building a resume and cover letter, try Peterson’s Test and Career Prep. Whether you’re looking for help with the GED, SAT, Civil Service tests, or anything in between, Peterson’s has you covered. Learn more about Peterson’s from this prior blog post.
If you allow location when you click the link, you won’t need your library card to sign in. Use the search bar to see if the resources you are looking for are available. To access them, track your progress, and save your documents, create a free account using your email address.
Summary
Whether you’re getting ready to start school or enter the job market, the library has you covered from pre-K to career. Check out the research page on the library’s website for these and other great online resources.
