Learning Resources
K-5 Learning eSources
Florida Electronic Library - For all ages, with homework help and teacher resources. Sources include electronic magazines, newspapers, almanacs, encyclopedias, and books. Topics include Current Events, education, business, technology, and health.
Freegal - Download 5 free mp3s a week from a library of over 15 million songs on 28,000 labels including Sony Music.
Gale in Context: Biography - Find biographical information on the world's most influential people.
Gale in Context: Elementary - Gale In Context: Elementary features a broad range of reliable, authoritative content for today's young learners.
Learning Express - Learning Express helps you to prepare for standardized tests, career entrance exams, and other common assessments. Homework help and career resources are also available.
NoveList K - Find fiction and nonfiction books you will love to read.
OverDrive for Kids - Find free digital audiobooks and eBooks for kids.
Transparent Language - Learn a second language with Transparent. Transparent also includes KidsSpeak for elementary-aged children.
Tutor.com - Tutor.com combines online tutoring, homework help, and test preparation with powerful diagnostic tools and self-study resources to provide a well-balanced and flexible educational environment designed to meet the individual needs of all learners. Library card holders have access to live tutors daily from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
World Book For Kids - World Book is a comprehensive online encyclopedia with multimedia content available for researchers of any age.
Visit our YouTube channel to learn "How To" navigate these eSources, to access your library account, and to explore the library website.
6-12 Learning eSources
Real Life - What do you want to do with your life? It's a big question, with far too many possible answers!
Florida Electronic Library - For all ages, with homework help and teacher resources. Sources include electronic magazines, newspapers, almanacs, encyclopedias, and books. Topics include Current Events, education, business, technology, and health.
Gale eBooks - Access reference ebooks about business, the environment, history, medicine, science, philosophy, religion, and more.
Gale in Context: Biography - Find biographical information on the world's most influential people.
Gale In Context: Middle School - With Gale In Context: Middle School, students in middle grades can find the information they seek at an appropriate reading level.
Issues & Controversies - Explore hundreds of hot topics in politics, government, business, society, education, and popular culture, with sections opposing viewpoints.
Learning Express - Learning Express helps you to prepare for standardized tests, career entrance exams, and other common assessments. Homework help and career resources are also available.
LitFinder - Find full-text poems, short stories, essays, speeches, plays, and literary criticism.
MasterFILE Premier - Search magazines, journals, and reference materials on a variety of subjects: business, health, education, science & much more.
NewsBank - Find full-text newspaper articles across the USA. Access the Gainesville Sun, Ocala Star Banner, Florida Times Union, USA Today, and thousands more.
NoveList K-8 Plus - Find books children and teens will love to read with additional resources for parents, teachers, and librarians.
Transparent Language - Learn a second language with Transparent. Transparent also includes KidsSpeak for elementary-aged children.
Tutor.com - Tutor.com combines online tutoring, homework help, and test preparation with powerful diagnostic tools and self-study resources to provide a well-balanced and flexible educational environment designed to meet the individual needs of all learners. Library card holders have access to live tutors daily from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
World Book - World Book is a comprehensive online encyclopedia with multimedia content available for researchers of any age.
Visit our YouTube channel to learn "How To" navigate these eSources, to access your library account, and to explore the library website.
Early Literacy
Every Child Ready to Read at Your Library
There are five early literacy practices parents and caregivers can use to engage with small children.
Talking: Talking with your children helps them learn oral language, which is one of the most critical early literacy skills. Children learn about language by listening to parents talk and joining in the conversation.
Singing: Continue to develop language skills with singing. Music slows down language so children can hear the different word sounds. Singing also helps children learn new words and information.
Reading: Reading together develops vocabulary and comprehension, nurtures a love for reading, and motivates children to want to learn to read. It’s also a perfect time to cuddle, which demonstrates that reading is a comforting activity.
Writing: Children become aware that printed letters stand for spoken words as they see print used in their daily lives.
Playing: Play is one of the best ways for children to learn language and literacy skills. Activities involving play help children put thoughts into words and talk about what they are doing.
Join us for story time where we share stories, songs and rhymes, and more.
Baby and Preschool Programs
Baby Time - offers simple rhymes, movements, and songs that you can share with your babies. Take a few minutes to enjoy this short program which offers some bonding time with your little one.
Story Time - geared towards different age groups, such as babies, toddlers, preschoolers or school-age children. Usually consists of an opening song, several age-appropriate books read aloud, interspersed with fun activities such as fingerplays or flannelboard stories, and ends with a closing song.
Music and Movement - consists of simple songs, rhymes and fingerplays to keep children ages 3 to 8 moving and dancing. May include shakey eggs and musical instruments. These programs are all music, no books read.
Homeschooling Resources
If you are considering homeschooling your children this fall, the library is your greatest resource. Whether this is your first time homeschooling or if you have been homeschooling for years, the library can supplement your homeschooling curriculum.
These websites will give you more information and help get you started:
School Board of Alachua County: (SBAC) provides information about homeschooling in Alachua County. Here you will find the contact information for submitting your letter of intent to start homeschooling. Check out the site shortcuts on the bottom right-hand side of page.
Florida Department of Education: The Department of Education provides technical assistance and information to school districts and parents. You will find all the rules and regulations for homeschooling.
Florida Parent-Educators Association: (FPEA) is an independent organization that exists solely to serve home education families in Florida. Here you will find a sample letter of intent to start homeschooling and many resources for homeschooling.
Home Education Foundation: (HEF) is a corporation established to raise support and direct the lobbying for home education in Florida.
For more information about homeschooling and library resources, click here.
Parenting Resources
Additional resources recommended by library staff:
Baby Center - Provides resources for the journey of Mommy- and Daddy-hood.
Fatherly - A resource for men who want to be great fathers.
Parent Toolkit - This one-stop resource developed with parents in mind includes information about every aspect of your child's development.
Too Small to Fail - Promotes the importance of early language and brain development.
Understood - A site for learning and attention issues. Get personalized recommendations for your child.
Vroom - Learn how to turn shared moments into brain-building moments.