Kids and parents find using the Internet to do homework frustrating. A key word search can bring millions of hits, but finding one that is useful and accessible to the student seems impossible. Luckily there are ways to get to suitable sites more quickly. Beebe Library’s Homework Help page on the Library’s new website that collects resources helpful for doing homework, writing reports, playing games or looking for answers to questions.

One link on the Library’s page is to Great Web Sites for Kids, a product of the American Library Association.

A useful feature of GWSK is the ability to limit the search to sites that are appropriate for a specific age group. A search for sites for pre-kindergarten kids turns up information for parents trying to help kids become enthusiastic readers as well as info on on-line games, and sites by such authors as Jan Brett or Audrey Wood. There is even a link to a Thomas the Tank Engine site. A search geared to elementary aged kids finds information on preparing for a science fair, biographies of authors and help finding the next perfect book.

Many of the links on Beebe Library’s website are to databases the library subscribes to. Each database is an organized collection of reliable information. Kidsearch is a database for kids from kindergarten to middle school. You can search by keyword, and limit your search to encyclopedias, or search a large topic (such as a country) and then limit your search to animals of that country. This is a great site for students doing reports.

Some of these sites such as GWSK are available to anyone, but many like Kidsearch are available by subscription only. To use those, you need to know your Wakefield Library card number. If you don’t already know it, your library card is the best bargain in town. Not only can you borrow as many books as you want you can access online information available only to those whose library has a subscription.

Visit the library to get a free library card if you do not already have one. Children under the age of 16 must have a parent or guardian sign their application. If you have lost your card, you can purchase a replacement for one dollar.

Categories: Library News