Khan Academy is known for its engaging resources for older kids, but it also has free and fun learning and discovery for younger kids, up to 7, including circle time and printables. Khan Academy — click here!
Telephone Town Hall for Seniors
The Chester County Commissioners and the Chester County Department of Aging Services are hosting a telephone community briefing on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.
The briefing will provide information on all available resources for Chester County residents age 60 and older during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To register, click here.
Virtual Program: Medicare 101
Join us for Medicare 101 on Monday, May 18, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
If you will be joining the ranks of Medicare soon, are already in the Medicare system and have questions, are helping a friend or relative obtain Medicare coverage, or just want to understand what Medicare is all about, this session is for you. Learn about Medicare A, B & C; the drug benefit (Part D); the types of health care insurance available in Chester County; benefits available to low income beneficiaries; and things to consider when selecting your medical coverage.
APPRISE is Pennsylvania’s free, unbiased health insurance counseling program.
Please register for the program: Monday, May 18, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
A Zoom link will be emailed to registrants 2 hours before the program starts. Make sure to check the email address you registered with to receive the link. You do not need a Zoom account to attend the virtual program.
Virtual Program: Stitch ‘n Time Needle Arts Group
Join us for a virtual Stitch ‘n Time Needle Arts Group on Monday, May 18, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Sometimes the most difficult part of any project is finding the time to work on it. Wouldn’t it be great to have a time set aside just to work on your project in the company of other like-minded people? Enjoy friendly tips, camaraderie and much needed time. Learn new skills or build on old ones. Whether you knit, crochet, cross stitch, needle point, weave, quilt, sew or any of the other needle crafts, you are welcome to join the group!
Please register for this program: Monday, May 18, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
A Zoom link will be emailed to registrants 2 hours before the program starts. Make sure to check the email address you registered with to receive the link. You do not need a Zoom account to attend the virtual program.
Teen Update: Crash Course with Hank & John Green
Popular vlogging brothers, Hank and John Green, are co-creators and contributors to Crash Course which offers fun and informative video tutorials geared for teens and young adults. The videos are free and there are over 15 courses available on topics that range from the humanities to the sciences.
Crash Course has hundreds of millions of views on its YouTube channel and its fans include students as well as casual learners who just want to get smarter. US and World History, Mythology, Ecology, Film Studies, Literature, Biology, Computer Science . . . choose your topic and get ready to learn and be entertained at the same time.
And as Hank and John like to say, “Don’t forget to be awesome!”
Kids’ Update: Learn about Shakespeare
You are never too young to discover Shakespeare. Folger Shakespeare Library has an exciting resource for kids learn about Shakespeare’s life and works. Discover it all at Shakespeare for Kids!
Discover the secret to a good night’s sleep in No More Noisy Nights.
eBooks on EBSCOhost (Power Library)
Did you know that with your library card you have instant access to over 16,000 eBooks from the world’s leading publishers across all major subject areas? It’s true! Just go to our the Tools and Research tab on our website at chescolibraries and select “All CCLS databases.”
eBooks on EBSCOhost (POWER Library) includes both fiction and nonfiction books for children, young adults and adults. It’s a great way to find a book to read for a book club or reading group, since it is always available to any number of readers. Give it a look! Just click on this link and scroll down to eBooks on EBSCO. https://www.ccls.org/196/Databases-by-Name
Here are just a few of the many tantalizing reads available through this database:
New Kitchen Basics : 10 Essential Ingredients, 120 Recipes – Revolutionize the Way You Cook, Every Day / by Claire Thomson
This is just one of over 1,000 cookbooks available.
Nancy : A Comic Collection / by Olivia Jaimes
Over 680 comic books and graphic novels
The National Team (Updated and Expanded Edition) : The Inside Story of the Women Who Changed Soccer
Over 8,000 biographies and memoirs
If I were a Park Ranger / by Catherine Stier & Patrick Corrigan
Thousands of colorfully illustrated nonfiction books for kids on all kinds of topics.
Kids’ Update: Happy Mom’s Day!
Today is Mother’s Day! On Mother’s Day, children of all ages, honor their mothers and so treat your mom to a special day. Learn more about Mother’s Day History and Facts here.
Since no one can go shopping, make a great card or gift for your favorite ladies — Mom, Grandmom, Auntie, anyone! Celebrate the day with style! Find some great ideas at Mother’s Day Crafts for Kids!
Then, read a story about one terrific grandmother in No Mirrors in My Nana’s House.
Citizen DJ: a new tool for the creatively inclined from the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress has a new open-source project called the Citizen DJ project. Developed by Innovator-in-Residence Brian Foo, this project provides a simple interface for exploring the Library’s extensive audio collections, as well as a platform for combining these samples with hip-hop beats. Creators can also download “sample packs” containing an array of sound clips that can be uploaded into their music production programs of choice.
The audio clips, drawn from over a century of live music, theatrical performances, speeches, interviews, and ambient sound recordings, have no copyright restrictions. So creators can freely use these clips to create songs for personal or commercial purposes.
“My goal is to develop a simple way to discover and use public domain audio and video material for music making so that generations of artists and producers can use it to maximize their creativity, invent new sounds, and connect listeners to materials, cultures and sonic history that might otherwise go unremembered,” Foo shared in a press release. “That’s what Citizen DJ is all about—an easy to use tool that unlocks the amazing treasures in the Library of Congress for music makers and their audiences.”
The project will fully launch this summer, but the Library of Congress is encouraging members of the public to try out a demo version and share user feedback through May 15. Give it a try!
Kids’ Update: World Migratory Bird Day
Today is World Migratory Bird Day. How much do you know about the many birds that live and travel through your neighborhood? Today is a great day to start learning. James John Audubon (1785-1851) was an American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter, who actually tried to paint every bird in North America. His work can be seen in his book Birds of America, a collection of 435 life-size prints! Did you know that Aubudon actually lived nearby? You can visit his home, Mill Grove and hike the trails around it in a small town named after him — Audubon, PA!
Once you’ve learned about J.J., you can learn about North American Birds right here from the Audubon Society, and here’s some Bird Trivia from the California Audubon Society. What a great time to start a lifetime hobby as a BIRDER!
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