Wherever your kids are learning this fall, the library can help

20181007cr column mug eck, angelaAngela Eck

As a parent, I know firsthand that deciding how to educate your kids while keeping them safe and healthy is incredibly stressful during the time of COVID-19.

Every decision is fraught with uncertainty and imperfection. As some kids return to school in person, some virtually from home, and others begin to homeschool, please remember that the Bartholomew County Public Library is here to support you with an endless array of educational resources. Whether you need to supplement your child’s in-school learning, or you are looking to build an entire curriculum for homeschooling, we have tools to help you.

For parents and caregivers looking for educational resources for children in pre-K and elementary school, I highly recommend Scholastic Teachables, which is accessible through the library’s website (www.mybcpl.org). You will need your library card number to sign in, but if you don’t yet have a library card with us and you are urgently in need of resources, you can apply for a digital access card online to get you going right away. This resource offers thousands of printable worksheets and activity pages that are aligned to common core standards for each grade level. You can search by grade level and subject. I have already used Scholastic Teachables several times to print worksheets for my kids, and have found them to be exactly in-line with what they need at their grade levels.

For families who have chosen to homeschool, or to do virtual school, our knowledgeable Children’s Department staff has gathered together many resources on our website as a starting point. Visit http://mybcpl.org/kids and check out the “Resources for Learning at Home” section. Our Children’s Department staff have constructed a Homeschool Services webpage, designed completely with homeschoolers in mind: https://www.mybcpl.org/homeschool-services. Or, come into the Children’s Department to browse our Special Collection for Caregivers and Teachers and ask our helpful librarians to get you started with some resources. Call at least a day or two ahead (812-379-1288 for the Children’s Department or 813-379-1289 for the Teen Department) to let us know the subject and age range for the books you need. We will gladly pick out a custom selection of books for you to pick up —either by coming into the building, or using our curbside pickup service.

Also, remember that in addition to our print book collection, we have a vast collection of eBooks and downloadable audio books, through our Overdrive and Hoopla apps. If you cannot make it into the library or don’t feel safe coming into the library, those are always an option for you. And, again, if you don’t yet have a library card with us, you can get started immediately by applying online for a Digital Access Card.

We have numerous online educational resources that parent and teachers should check out — all of which are completely free to use. From the library’s homepage, hover over “Explore” and choose “Learning Resources” from the drop-down menu. For language learning, check out Mango Languages. For test preparation for the SAT, ACT, high school equivalency exam, and more, visit Learning Express. For Read Along eBooks and games, check out Tumblebooks. For music instruction from the comfort of your home, give Artist Works a try. For teens, check out Gale Courses, which has over 300 online courses aimed at teens and adults. This is just a small sampling of what we have to offer.

In a world in which everything seems to be in flux and constantly in question, one thing remains consistent: The library is always here to provide you with the resources your family needs to further your education. We librarians are a tenacious bunch when it comes to ensuring that everyone has access to learning resources. We will continue to provide this essential service, no matter what else 2020 has to throw at us.

Angela Eck is assistant director at the Bartholomew County Public Library. She can be reached at [email protected].