TOWSON, MD—Another school year is underway for Baltimore County Public Schools’ students and staff. Baltimore County Public Library officials are reminding families that the library is more than just books. BCPL has access to several in-person and online tools, e-sources, and engaging programs to help students and their families navigate the school year.

While all Baltimore County residents are able to obtain library cards in person or online, BCPS student identification numbers already serve as library cards. Using their ID, students have access to homework help. With Brainfuse, students can talk with a tutor through a live chat from 2 p.m. to midnight, seven days a week. Spanish-speaking tutors are available. The library also has accounts with SkillSurfer, which helps with long division and reading comprehension, and Writing Lab, where students can get feedback on the structure, grammar and style of their writing.

For older students, the library is ready to help them with their next steps, whether that is college or a career. Through Peterson’s Test and Career Prep, students can access online practice tests and study materials for GED, SAT, ACT, Praxis, NCLEX, TOEFL, citizenship, postal or military exams, law enforcement, occupational tests, certification and licensing tests and more.

If research projects are due, the library has access to dozens of online databases, many of which contain full-text articles from magazines, journals, current and historic newspapers, encyclopedias, and more.

In this digital age, having access to the internet is critical. All 19 branches are equipped with public Wi-Fi in the building and surrounding parking lots. If students need a study spot, each library has a designated quiet space along with study rooms that can be used alone or in a group on a first-come, first-serve basis. The library also has more than 250 Chromebooks and 300 Hotspots that families can check out if they need internet in their homes.

After-School Snacks

Beginning Monday, September 8, eight of the Library’s branches will provide daily snacks to kids 18 and under, thanks to the partnership with Good Harvest. The snacks, which are made up of a grain, fruit, and juice may only be eaten in the branch, the grab-and-go option is not available. Branches distributing snacks include Essex, Lansdowne, Loch Raven, Randallstown, Reisterstown, Rosedale, Sollers Point, and Woodlawn.

In addition to snacks, many branches offer after-school programming which ranges from homework help, to games, crafts, movies, and teen hangout.

Photo by Iñaki del Olmo on Unsplash