As Labor Day approaches, many students are well into a new school year. Whether you are a student yourself or have students in your home, the back-to-school routine can be difficult to acclimate to after summer break.
As a student of online classes, my biggest challenge is finding time to complete my assignments. Luckily, the Bartholomew County Public Library has many online resources to make finishing those tasks less burdensome for myself and other students of all ages.
These resources can be found on the library’s website at mybcpl.org/ resources. Whether you are writing a paper, learning a new language or studying for an online test, your library card is your ticket to online resources through the Bartholomew County Public Library.
Are you writing a paper and need articles to reference? Your library can provide you with access to online encyclopedias and academic journals as well as many newspapers and magazines. From the resources page, select the “Research and Homework Help” tab.
Using the drop-down menu, you will find Encyclopedia Britannica, Biography in Context and Gale Virtual Reference Library. You will also find dozens of general interest and academic digital magazines and journals. Finding information on your topic is easy using the search options within each resource. Journal citations are a breeze, too, as you can select your format and download or email the article and citation directly to yourself. Finding reputable sources and information for your assignments has never been easier.
Perhaps you are struggling to learn a new language? The library has several language resources for students of any age. On the resources page, select the “Language/Country Resources” tab.
Using the drop-down menu, you can choose from Mango Languages, Muzzy and Rosetta Stone. Mango offers tutorials in more than 40 different languages, including Spanish, French and Chinese (Mandarin) from beginner to intermediate levels. Rosetta Stone offers level-one instruction in about two dozen languages as well.
For children, Muzzy languages is a fun way to learn a new language with videos and interactive lessons. Your library also offers downloadable foreign language textbooks and travel books through Overdrive. All of these language resources are free with your library card.
Do you need to prepare for a test? The Testing and Education Reference Center is specifically designed to help you prepare with sample tests and online books. Subject tests for General Education Development (GED) and Advanced Placement are available for high school students or students preparing for a diploma equivalency exam.
Students preparing for college can access SAT and ACT prep materials, along with College Level Examination Program (CLEP) materials to prepare for testing out of a subject. Grad students can prepare for the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), GRE, Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Career tools are available as well to prepare for exams for Nursing, Teaching, Real Estate and many other professional licensing exams. International students can prepare for TOEFL and citizenship exams using online sample tests and books. Again, all of this is at your fingertips using your library card and the library’s website.
These and many more resources are available to you through your library to make your work easier. And remember, if you need any help finding or using resources, your library staff is close by to give you a hand.
Sandy Allman is a reference assistant at the Bartholomew County Public Library and can be reached at [email protected].
