By: Samantha Lowe
Ready or not, it’s back to school time! And the Library is here to help. The Library offers many resources to help your young scholar succeed in school.
With the influx of AI tools and the constant dissemination of misinformation online, it’s now more important than ever to teach kids how to find reliable information. I tell teens often that even if they’re not planning to go to college, knowing how to use Library databases is going to help them to be better informed, more well-rounded adults. It’s vital that kids learn how to ask questions about what they’re reading such as: who wrote this article and how are they qualified? What’s the goal of the article? Is the author trying to sell me something? When was this written and is the information still accurate or relevant? These are just some of the questions kids can learn to navigate through using our databases and resources.
Gale and Salem are two database vendors the Library subscribes to. Gale resources especially are designed for different age ranges. Essentially, your elementary schooler won’t see the same database as your high schooler. They’ll open a kid-friendly interface with relevant information for their research projects. And the high schoolers will get something closer to the databases they’ll see in college (if that’s the path they choose). Both Gale and Salem offer articles on a variety of subjects from literature to history to science and so much in between.
Of course, I can’t talk about research tools without mentioning POWER Library. POWER Library is a Pennsylvania statewide resource that provides access to thousands of articles, newspapers, reference materials, and more. There are even off shoots called POWER Kids and POWER Teens, so that kids and teens get services at their level. So, regardless of what they’re researching, students can feel confident in the information they’re finding.
The Library’s resources don’t stop at research though. Tutor.com is an online resource where students connect with live tutors to help with reading and math. You can even stick with a tutor you really like. And it’s completely free with your library card! We subscribe to Tutor.com so you can access it all with your library card and pin numbers. This is not a trial version—it’s the full website. Tutors are available to help students in first grade all the way through college. That’s right, adults can use it too. And by using your library card to access tutor.com, you can actually get a more customized experience as well. When purchasing a subscription, there’s anxiety around getting your money’s worth or possibly not being able to afford it if you need to increase your access. With your library card, you get exactly the level of access you need when you need it, with no strings attached.
Do you have a reluctant or maybe a bit of a picky reader? NoveList Plus is another resource that can help. NoveList Plus categorizes books based on age range, appeal factors, and more to help readers find their next favorite book. Does your child like a strong female protagonist? Or maybe they need a fast-paced adventure. What about a world building saga? With NoveList Plus you can browse books based on exactly what you’re looking for and see if they’re available in the Library right there.
So whether your child is conducting research, getting some extra help, or looking for their next read, the Library is full of resources to help.