Resources for Families and Educators

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Resources for Families

Find programs and resources to help develop children's language skills and encourage a lifelong love of learning.

Get a Library Card.
Discover books, music, movies and more for the whole family in our online catalog, or in the Digital Library.
Free events for all ages, babies and toddlers, preschoolers, children, tweens, and teens at ten library locations across Sarasota County.
Visit a storytime in person or watch on-demand storytime on our Vimeo Channels- A-Z Storytime, Spanish Storytime, and Fast Fun for Little Ones!
Explore STEM topics with our very own STEM Club! View recorded events on our Vimeo STEM club Channel.
Keep the learning going, check out a free mobile hotspot with your Sarasota County Library card.
Visit the resource pages for early literacy (babies, toddlers and preschool), children and teens.

Resources to Support Educators

Explore the library's wide array of resources to support Sarasota County's educators, whether teaching online, looking for materials to support curriculum development, or connecting students with effective and engaging learning resources. Get a library card.

Digital Library

The Digital Library is your one-stop-shop for all digital resources from Sarasota County Libraries. Access all of our databases, including accessible databases cloudLibrary, hoopla, Creativebug, HelpNow and more. Explore Homework Help or specific categories relevant to your academic focus, such as arts, history, job preparation.

BrainFuse HelpNow

Brainfuse HelpNow™ is a unique tutoring, homework help, and studying suite designed to assist patrons of all ages succeed. It provides differentiated learning solutions for users of diverse needs, background, and for all ages.

Get Live homework help every day 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. (except holidays).
Develop skills within the SkillSurfer section, which offers extensive library of lessons, videos, and practice tests in a wide range of academic subjects. SkillSurfer includes state-aligned skills building, practice tests, college application assistance, ESL services, parent resources, life skills development and more.
Test your knowledge with practice tests in ASVAB, TOEFL, SAT, ACT, and more.

Educator's Reference Complete (Gale OneFile)

Gain insight on issues in administration, funding, and policy. Best for educators, administrators, and education students. Over 450 full-text academic journals, hundreds of full-text academic journals, and premier reference sources focused on educational principles, child development and psychology.

Elementary (Gale in Context)

Introduce elementary students to database searching with resources featuring age-appropriate, curriculum-related content. Best for students K-Grade 5. formerly Kids InfoBits

Middle School (Gale in Context)

Explore the most-studied topics including cultures, government, people, history, literature, and more. Articles include topic overviews, plot summaries and primary sources. formerly Junior Reference Collection

High School (Gale OneFile)

Search magazines, journals, newspapers, and reference on a range of topics. Best for middle- and high-school students. formerly InfoTrac Student Edition

Reading

Picture Book Index

An organized collection of picture books by alphabetical order by category.

NoveList K-8 Plus

Helps younger readers find books for their reading level and interests.
Search Tips.

Beanstack

Encourage your students to join reading challenges through the year.

Book Club Bags

Sets of 10 books with discussion guides geared toward children and young adults.

All Libraries and History Center Are Reopened!

Learn more about reopening efforts following Hurricane Milton.

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Resources for Families and Educators