BCPL

News release

The Boyle County Public Library (BCPL) is partnering with the Danville Independent School District to expand access for students to the library’s online resources. Spearheaded by Instructional Services Librarian Caleb Conover, the Student Access Key (STACK) initiative allows all students in the Danville Independent School District to use their student ID number to access three of the library’s largest digital services.

“Lifelong learning is an important aspect of the library’s mission,” said Conover. “And we are always looking for ways to make our resources more accessible. Whether it’s practicing a new language, doing research for a project, preparing for college entrance exams, or being able to find homework help from trained tutors online, we hope students take advantage of this new means of access to better their academic careers.”

Library Director Georgia de Araujo is excited about the project, as well.

“The Library subscribes to an amazing collection of online resources. Making it easier for students to have access to them both during their school day and after school when they are doing homework or studying is so important.”

• The STACK program will focus on Biblioboard, Tutor.com and Mango Languages. All of these digital services are currently available through the library with a library card. The STACK program takes accessibility a step further, removing any barriers for students who don’t have a library card or,   for whatever reason, are unable to get one.

• Biblioboard is a digital content platform that includes ebooks, images and local digitized materials. It is an online research tool and sharing platform, offering modulesof history and primary research material.

• Tutor.com combines live, online tutoring with several self-study tools to create a robust, personalized learning experience for students in a safe and secure learning environment. It provides thousands of tutors, all of whom are carefully screened experts and includes certified teachers, college professors, graduate students and select undergraduates from accredited universities and other professionals. 

From elementary classes to honors level and AP, tutors work with students at their own level and pace in many subjects, including math, science, language arts, Spanish, college test prep, and more.In addition to the live tutoring, Tutor.com also offers drop-off reviews, practice quizzes, study resources, and SAT/ACT Essentials Test Prep, powered by the Princeton Review.

• Mango Languages is an online language-learning system. Each lesson combines real life situations and audio from native speakers with simple, clear instructions. The courses are presented with an appreciation for cultural nuance and real-world application by focusing on the four key elements of language learning: vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and culture. Mango offers access to over 70 foreign language courses and 17 English courses taught completely in the user’s native language.

“With this new partnership,our students will no longer need a library card to take advantage of many of the library’s online resources,” said Brian Gover, Director of Technology at Danville Independent School District. “They’ll use an individual PIN number to access the digital resources they desire.”

While this initial offering of the Student Access Key program is with Danville schools, the library seeks to offer this type of access to any other public or private elementary, middle or high school in Boyle County. 

“Our collaboration with Danville Independent Schools was a natural first step, because their student ID system meshed very well with the project,” says Conover. “We will continue to work on providing similar access to others schools in the county.”

SO YOU KNOW

Any school within Boyle County interested in learning more about the STACKprogram can contact Caleb Conover by calling (859) 238.7323 or email cconover@boylepublib.org.