Last time we talked about some of our leisure reading online resources for all ages, but your Abilene Public Library has much, much more than that! Students of all ages have access to online courses that can earn Continuing Education Units, as well as test prep, practice exams in various career fields and DIY or personal learning experiences. Teachers (including Mom & Dad who may be teaching your kids at home right now) have access to curriculum guides in various subjects and for various ages. Here are just a few that you can access with your free Abilene Public Library card in our E-resources area on our website, www.abilenetx.gov/apl.
Learning Express Library 3.0 provides an interactive online learning platform to offer a selection of career-oriented and academic resources, job preparation, homework help, test prep, information on career changes, and more. It has skill building modules for K-12 and college prep, as well as video courses to learn popular software and computer basics. College admissions tests like the ACT, SAT, AP and more may not be available to take right now, but high school students can use these preparation modules to keep their skills sharp for when the tests become available again.
Another amazing resource available to you, free with your library card, is Universal Class. Universal Class is an online school where you may take any of 500+ classes, in a variety of subjects, and receive continuing education credit. For instance, the Homeschooling course selection has more than 40 courses, including things like How to Teach Reading Fundamentals, ABCs of English Grammar, Geometry 101 and various history and government modules.
From Science to Pet and Animal Care, or How-to/Do it Yourself to Hobbies and Crafts, there is something for every age and interest, and it is self paced learning. If you haven’t taken a look at Universal Class, you will want to - it can be a perfect addition to your routine as we stay home during this challenging time.
Two great databases for helping with schoolwork are World Book Online and Credo Reference. World Book builds off their well known and authoritative encyclopedia but this suite of products has so much more than that. The 15 products available to you include foreign language encyclopedias (French and Spanish), science, social studies and Dramatic Learning, featuring classroom plays and readers theatre by grade level.
Some age specific products for those learning at home include Early Learning by World Book, an immersive, educational experience for young learners in preK and the early elementary grades eager to learn more about the world around them while learning to read. World Book Kids has videos, engaging short articles and links to the other World Book products developed for elementary grade children. World Book Student includes appealing content, built-in features, and fun tools specifically designed to make knowledge accessible and easy-to-find for kids in upper elementary through middle school. World Book Advanced is for older or gifted students and adults with thousands of articles, primary sources, and online books designed to support personalized learning and enhance digital citizenship. This product suite has so many wonderful areas you will want to explore every one of them.
Credo Core Collection is a general reference resource for researchers at any level. Curated by subject-matter experts to address over 100 topics, the Core Collection provides a launch pad for every lifelong learner. Credo offers a growing list of over 1,100 titles to help users answer their immediate research needs and engage their curiosity. Content – from major reference works, to multi-volume subject encyclopedias, to field guides, to scholarly handbooks, to animations and countless other award-winning sources – spans across all disciplines with something for everyone. Also included are nearly 2,000 short reference videos, more than 550,000 high-resolution art images, photographs and maps across all subject areas.
Technology/Multimedia Manager Tremain Jackson is creating instructional videos on our online resource which will be available as instructional tools on YouTube and the library’s website. If you don’t have a library card, we can make sure you get one even though we are closed right now. Just email us at infodesk.library@abilenetx.gov, or give the Main Library a call at 326-677-2474 and we’ll get you fixed up!
Article Contributed by Janis C. Test, Information Service Manager, Main Library