Your Library Card... A Passport to Learning

iLEARN

Your Library Card...

A Passport to Learning!

by Cassie Johnson

Every student in western Kentucky finished the 2019/20 school year virtually and many students started the 2020/21 school year the same way. This has left parents helping their children at home with school work some, or all, of the time. Naturally, those of us teaching part or full time at home have questions or concerns about our child’s work. “This math wants us to do what? Where can we do research for this report? We need help with Spanish!” Your library is a great resource for assistance this school year. Did you know that the answers to these, and millions of other questions, could be one click away if you have a local library card?

Each county has their own public library and obtaining a library card is easy. Bring your photo ID and sign up in person at the circulation desk, or even easier, sign up online. Your library card allows more than access to just books and videos. You will have a plethora of online programs, movies, resources, and of course digitally downloaded books at your fingertips.

“The library offers so much more than books!” Lenisa Jones, Branch Manager of the Marshall County Public Library in Benton told me. “You can check out books, audio books, DVDs, CDs and games. We also offer equipment you can borrow such as a digital projectors, screens, laptops, and even a 3D printer. Each library has their own limits on how many of each item you can check out at one time." Don't Just Google It! Let’s face it, even though it’s convenient there are some things you simply cannot find by searching Google. Search results may be completely off target if your child phrases the question too vaguely. Save yourself a lot of hassle by using the online resources the library offers. You may be surprised to see how many options you have. “Most public libraries have the program Kentucky Virtual Library,“ explained Deana Gschwind, Director of the Graves County Public Library. “You can find programs like Scholastic, Britanica, other publications and even newspapers for research needs. Helping your student learn a foreign language may be challenging. Mango is an online program that offers 71 choices of languages, so you’re sure to find the assistance you’re looking for. Tumble Books is an amazing program for Kindergarten through fifth grade that offers math, stories, and many others on their broad learning database. Parents of homeschoolers have access to several websites as well.”

Kid-Friendly Options

Wrangling small children inside while wearing masks correctly and adhering to social distance guidelines can turn into quite the fiasco. Don’t forget that most libraries offer convenient curbside pick-up which is especially handy for families with small kids.

“Monday through Saturday from 9:30am to 4:30pm, you can pick up items you check out from any of the Marshall County libraries,” said Jones. “Call and ask for the items to be pulled, or sign in to your account online to put items on hold. Once you arrive, call to let us know you’re in the parking lot. Your items will be placed on a cart for you to retrieve while maintaining social distancing. We also offer a link on our website for pre-made book bundle kits for children. Ask your library about 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten or Universal Class for your youngest readers. Parents request online and we bag up the books which are also offered curbside.”

No Internet? No Problem!

Most households have computer access, but in the event you don’t the library has you covered. Ask your library on their policy for using computers.

“At the GCPL, you can check out an internet hot spot for one week at a time,” said Gschwind. “So, if students don’t have internet access, they can still complete their online sessions from home. We also offer computer access to library card holders.”

“MCPL offers computer stations for anyone,” said Jones. “All of our branch parking lots have access to free Wi-Fi for students who opted to do digital learning.”

Is It Safe to Check Out Books? Sometimes you just need to go inside, search the shelves, and look for the next page turner that’s calling your name. Don’t be afraid of checking out items. Each library has its own quarantine method of cleaning and sanitizing every item that is checked out and returned. In addition, libraries are following CDC guidelines to keep everyone safe.

Have Some Fun! Programs with apps like Hoopla or Libby give you access to comic books, movies, television, and more! Grab the popcorn and snacks to enjoy family movie night or catch up on your favorite shows.

“All libraries are brainstorming and experimenting with ideas to present more virtual options for our communities,” Gschwind said. “In September, we offered several online programs including Story Time for kids, a Paint Party for adults, and Anime Viewing for teens.”

Safety guidelines change frequently due to COVID-19. Check your local library’s website or social media page on a regular basis to stay up to date on the latest updates. MCPL offers a text option for the latest information. Libraries want to provide as many opportunities as they can, but keep in mind the new normal is new for them, too. To find a complete list of the local libraries in Kentucky, visit Kentucky. gov/education and click on Find a Local Library.