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The back-to-school season is here which often brings worries about homework, papers and tests. Mesa County Libraries have a variety of resources and services to help students and their parents successfully get through the year.
Book-a-Librarian is a new service that allows people to sign up for an individualized 30-minute research session. With this service and in-library staff help, students have personal navigators to help guide them with education needs.
In addition to in-person visits, there is opportunity to chat online with a staff person during open hours. When students are up late and the library is closed, AskCo is always available, a 24/7 chat service. Through the website, www.mcpld.org, Ebsco's MasterFILE Premier offers access to full-text magazine and journal articles, access to newspapers, encyclopedias and Learn-A-Test. Making it easier to meet school requirements, many of these resources are specialized by school level.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Elementary school students
To start the year off on the right foot, the Central Library is offering Back-to-School Night open houses:
• 2-4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 28
• 5:30-7:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 30
Take a tour of the Children's area to learn about Homework Help, books, computers, and other resources available to help kids succeed in school. This is a great time for kids to get their own library card and meet library staff.
The Homework Help section of the library's website offers online access to encyclopedias and kid magazines. There are entire computer databases that focus on popular elementary school paper topics such as animals, cultures around the world and biographies. These can be explored at home or at any library branch. From the Research tab, choose Homework Help.
For these students, Learn-A-Test offers help with reading and math skills.
Middle and high school students
Learn-A-Test also offers specialized help for middle and high school students. Middle school students have access to math, reading comprehension and writing tests. High school students can practice math, vocabulary and spelling, and writing and grammar. There is also an entire section on college preparation tests. Teens thinking about taking the ACT will benefit from ACT Prep Day.
• 1-4:15 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 25, Central Library
This is an afternoon for teens to practice their test taking skills by being timed to complete an ACT practice test. Students need to bring their own calculator.
When working on papers and reports, middle school students have access to World Book Encyclopedia Online geared toward grades 6-9, Kids Search for kindergarten through eighth grade, and Middle Search Plus. Middle Search Plus offers age appropriate magazines, biographies, historical essays and other documents. There are also images of photos, maps and flags to enhance reports.
MAS Ultra - School Edition is the specialized database for high school students. It offers magazines, full text reference books, biographies, documents and images. Ebsco Topic Search focuses on current events and Funk & Wagnall's New Encyclopedia is also available online.
For all students learning a foreign language, the library offers two options. Rosetta Stone is a highly recommended program for learning Spanish using a computer at the library. Mango Languages offers guidance through learning Spanish, French, German and nine additional languages, accessible from the Internet.
College students
College students can also strengthen their foreign language skills with Rosetta Stone and Mango Languages.
In addition to MasterFILE Premier and Interlibrary Loan resources, Mesa County Libraries are an important resource for business students. An entire page is dedicated to Business Information (under Resource Tools). Some examples of resources available are Reference USA, a business and reference database, provided in part by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Resource Center which offers business plans, how-to guides, forms, and industry reports, and databases offering access to full-text business journals.
Addressing the needs of college students, Learn-A-Test offers help with college level math, reading and writing skills, graduate school entrance exams, and career college skills. AskCO 24/7 reference chat service is a great solution for late night help when in-person help is unavailable. Students can use public library wireless service to get away from campus distractions.
It is important for Mesa County Libraries to provide students the help they need to succeed in school. Include your library card with your back-to-school supplies and you are off to a great start. For more information, visit www.mcpld.org or call 243-4442.
Rachel Hanson is the promotions coordinator for Mesa County Public Library.
Book-a-Librarian is a new service that allows people to sign up for an individualized 30-minute research session. With this service and in-library staff help, students have personal navigators to help guide them with education needs.
In addition to in-person visits, there is opportunity to chat online with a staff person during open hours. When students are up late and the library is closed, AskCo is always available, a 24/7 chat service. Through the website, www.mcpld.org, Ebsco's MasterFILE Premier offers access to full-text magazine and journal articles, access to newspapers, encyclopedias and Learn-A-Test. Making it easier to meet school requirements, many of these resources are specialized by school level.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Elementary school students
To start the year off on the right foot, the Central Library is offering Back-to-School Night open houses:
• 2-4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 28
• 5:30-7:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 30
Take a tour of the Children's area to learn about Homework Help, books, computers, and other resources available to help kids succeed in school. This is a great time for kids to get their own library card and meet library staff.
The Homework Help section of the library's website offers online access to encyclopedias and kid magazines. There are entire computer databases that focus on popular elementary school paper topics such as animals, cultures around the world and biographies. These can be explored at home or at any library branch. From the Research tab, choose Homework Help.
For these students, Learn-A-Test offers help with reading and math skills.
Middle and high school students
Learn-A-Test also offers specialized help for middle and high school students. Middle school students have access to math, reading comprehension and writing tests. High school students can practice math, vocabulary and spelling, and writing and grammar. There is also an entire section on college preparation tests. Teens thinking about taking the ACT will benefit from ACT Prep Day.
• 1-4:15 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 25, Central Library
This is an afternoon for teens to practice their test taking skills by being timed to complete an ACT practice test. Students need to bring their own calculator.
When working on papers and reports, middle school students have access to World Book Encyclopedia Online geared toward grades 6-9, Kids Search for kindergarten through eighth grade, and Middle Search Plus. Middle Search Plus offers age appropriate magazines, biographies, historical essays and other documents. There are also images of photos, maps and flags to enhance reports.
MAS Ultra - School Edition is the specialized database for high school students. It offers magazines, full text reference books, biographies, documents and images. Ebsco Topic Search focuses on current events and Funk & Wagnall's New Encyclopedia is also available online.
For all students learning a foreign language, the library offers two options. Rosetta Stone is a highly recommended program for learning Spanish using a computer at the library. Mango Languages offers guidance through learning Spanish, French, German and nine additional languages, accessible from the Internet.
College students
College students can also strengthen their foreign language skills with Rosetta Stone and Mango Languages.
In addition to MasterFILE Premier and Interlibrary Loan resources, Mesa County Libraries are an important resource for business students. An entire page is dedicated to Business Information (under Resource Tools). Some examples of resources available are Reference USA, a business and reference database, provided in part by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Resource Center which offers business plans, how-to guides, forms, and industry reports, and databases offering access to full-text business journals.
Addressing the needs of college students, Learn-A-Test offers help with college level math, reading and writing skills, graduate school entrance exams, and career college skills. AskCO 24/7 reference chat service is a great solution for late night help when in-person help is unavailable. Students can use public library wireless service to get away from campus distractions.
It is important for Mesa County Libraries to provide students the help they need to succeed in school. Include your library card with your back-to-school supplies and you are off to a great start. For more information, visit www.mcpld.org or call 243-4442.
Rachel Hanson is the promotions coordinator for Mesa County Public Library.
