public library

There’s a New Teacher in Town

Miss Humblebee’s Academy is an early literacy program for 3‑6 year olds (and their parents) to prepare for success in kindergarten and beyond. With hundreds of fun, interactive lessons in Math, Science and Social Studies, Language and Literacy, Art, and Music, the curriculum increases in difficulty as the user progresses through the program.

Miss Humblebee’s Academy assess cognitive skills at regular intervals for measurable improvement toward kindergarten readiness and offers a developmental observation checklist allowing parents to review and record social and emotional growth as an additional condition of preparedness. Libraries can also access aggregate data to see how young learners progress.

Sounds too good to be true? Read a review:

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Public Libraries can be a Health Lifeline for People Most at Risk

Originally posted in Reuters Health by Madeline Kennedy, November 2016 Public libraries can provide vital support for people at high risk for health problems such as new immigrants and people dealing with homelessness, mental illness and substance use, say U.S. researchers. Their analysis of Philadelphia libraries and how communities use them concludes that libraries can … Read more

Smithsonian Primary Sources in U.S. History: “A Treasure Trove”

History is not just a list of dates and events. But history taught well is vibrant, relevant, and engaging. And nothing brings history to life like primary sources that give students a close-up look at history as it unfolded.

Gale and Smithsonian have partnered to deliver an online resource that includes unique and seminal primary sources, including documents, maps, historical objects, and other materials from the museums and archives from the collections of the Smithsonian and from Gale’s leading digital collections: Smithsonian Primary Sources in U.S. History.

Designed for use by both teachers and librarians, this resource from Gale supports core and Advanced Placement U.S. history programs. Primary source images are hand-curated by scholars at the Smithsonian – experts who have a unique knowledge of U.S. history as seen through the Smithsonian’s valuable collections and shaped for the school curriculum by an advisory board of teachers.

See how a reviewer feels about the collection of Primary Sources.

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Philosophy: Sources, Perspectives, and Methodologies “Inspires Curiosity”

Looking to support researchers’ knowledge in philosophy? Philosophy: Sources, Perspectives, and Methodologies, a valuable primer in the study of philosophy, provides the philosophical information students need. By employing literature, film, art, history, and other disciplines, the twenty-seven thematic chapters identify areas of critical thought and practice in the philosophical study.

Read the review:

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Literary Reflections on Thanksgiving

Readers who seek insight into the meaning of Thanksgiving can find a generous serving of literary criticism on the topic in the digital pages of Literature Criticism Online. Perhaps unsurprisingly, authors have found in the holiday a fruitful setting for explorations of family dysfunction and ruminations on the American national character. 

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Energy: In Context: “Useful Across the Curriculum”

Provide middle school students with more on a subject that impacts lives and economies across the globe: energy! Energy: In Context fosters the understanding of energy science, while also exploring the social, political, economic, and cultural factors that impact how we find, use, store, and waste energy. With 50 primary source documents, along with 270 color images, illustrations, and other graphics, Energy: In Context will be your one-stop source for all things energy.

Still not convinced? Read what a librarian has to say:

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Gender: Sources, Perspectives and Methodologies Provides Patrons with a “Great Deal of Information”

Immerse researchers in the study of gender with Gender: Sources, Perspectives and Methodologies. Highlighting queer, women’s, and men’s studies, Gender fosters critical thought in gender and sexuality. By employing literature, film, art, history, and other disciplines, Gender: Sources, Perspectives and Methodologies provides researchers with a “great deal of information.”

Take a peak at what a reviewer had to say:

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Archives of Sexuality & Gender: A “Recommended” Resource

Support scholarly researchers, students, and educators with LGBTQ history and culture with Archives of Sexuality & Gender. Likewise, LGBTQ community, allies, and families can also gain a deep understanding with this resource of approximately 1.5 million pages of primary source content. Covering social, political, health, and legal issues impacting LGBTQ communities around the world, Archives of Sexuality & Gender  is a “recommended” resource for all researchers.

Curious? Read a review from Cheryl LaGuardia, a Research Librarian:

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AARP The Magazine Now Available in InfoTrac Collections

By Sara Constantakis Gale is dedicated to providing the popular magazine content your customers want in our InfoTrac periodical collections. That’s why we’re excited to announce that the highest-circulating magazine in the U.S., previously unavailable in aggregated periodical databases, is now accessible in full text in General OneFile. AARP The Magazine is the flagship publication of … Read more

How Well Do You Know Your Presidents?

By Traci Cothran

Who served as both Vice President and President of the United States, without having earned a single vote in the election?

Gerald Ford, that’s who!

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Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum

Last week I traveled to Grand Rapids, MI, and visited The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. During this 2016 election season, it was a breath of fresh air to wander amidst all the exhibition reminders of Ford’s “character,” “integrity,” “teamwork,” and how he “led by example” – detailing his life from his days as a Boy Scout, to college football player, to Navy man, and into his long career in government.

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