The Children's department has four Gates Library Initiative computers
available to the public. These four computers have a large assortment of
children's games and educational programs on them for patron use. Two of
these computers may be used to access the Internet, but are subject to the
Library Internet Use Agreement that must be signed by all patrons. All
four of the computers may be used by children 11 and under when accompanied by a
parent.
Arthur's Brainteasers
Ages 4 and up
Arthurs Brainteasers is a learning program that helps children develop
problem-solving skills as they play creative games. It features a variety
of learning activities, creative games, clever puzzles, and
thought-provoking challenges.
Arthur's Math
Ages 4 and up
Arthur's Math Carnival is a learning program that helps children build
math and logic skills through a variety of challenges.
Arthur's Reading
Ages 4 and up
Arthur's Reading Roundup is a learning program that features a variety of
challenging activities, word games, contests, and puzzles.
Barney's Circus
Ages 3-7
Barney's Goes to the Circus offers a variety of learning activities for
young children and features characters from the "Barney" television show.
The activities reinforce concepts learned at the early elementary level
such as sorting, following directions, and identifying animals, colors,
and letters.
Barney's Farm
Ages 3-7
Fun on the Farm with Barney offers a variety of learning activities for
young children and features characters from the "Barney" television show.
The activities reinforce concepts learned at the early elementary level
such as counting, matching, and identifying animals.
Barney's Sea
Ages 3-7
Barney Under the Sea offers a variety of learning activities for young
children and features characters from the "Barney" television show. The
activities reinforce concepts learned at the early elementary level such
as counting, matching, and identifying animals.
Cat in the Hat
Ages 3-7
The Cat in the Hat is an interactive, multimedia presentation of the
popular children's book. The interface uses visual cues and sound, rather
than written commands, to guide the children as they move through each
screen. It combines the book with music, an interactive interface, and
educational games.
Green Eggs and Ham
Ages 3-7
Green Eggs and Ham is an interactive, multimedia presentation of the
popular children's book. The interface uses visual cues and sound, rather
than written commands, to guide children as they move through each screen.
It combines the book with music, an interactive interface, and educational
games.
Leopard
How the Leopard Got His Spots, narrated by Danny Glover, is a classic
children's tale by Rudyard Kipling about how a leopard got his spots. It
is also part of the P.J. Reader program. P.J. Reader stories are
interactive, multimedia programs that help children develop critical
listening and reading skills as they explore classic children's tales. The
stories and games reinforce concepts learned in school, such as counting,
identifying colors and patterns, solving puzzles, and recognizing shapes
and sizes. The stories feature P.J. rabbit who instructs children how to
start the story, get help, move through the story, use the play pages, and
play the games.
Koi and the Kola Nuts
Koi and the Kola Nuts, narrated by Whoopi Goldberg is the story of a boy
named Koi who visits an African village and is tested by the villagers who
doubt he is the son of a king. It is also part of the P.J. Reader program.
P.J. Reader stories are interactive, multimedia programs that help
children develop critical listening and reading skills as they explore
classic children's tales. The stories and games reinforce concepts learned
in school, such as counting, identifying colors and patterns, solving
puzzles, and recognizing shapes and sizes. The stories feature P.J. rabbit
who instructs children how to start the story, get help, move through the
story, use the play pages, and play the games.
MSB Dinos
Ages 6-10
The primary goal of The Magic School Bus Explores in the Age of Dinosaurs
is to refill Ms. Fizzle's photo album with missing pictures of dinosaurs.
The program is designed to encourage exploration and learning by allowing
children to click anywhere on the screen and see or hear results. It is
suitable for early to moderate readers and therefore has a few written
commands.
MSB Earth
Ages 6-10
The primary goal of The Magic School Bus Explores Inside the Earth is to
find the rocks missing from the rock collection. The program is designed
to encourage exploration and learning by allowing children to click
anywhere on the screen and see or hear results. It is suitable for early
to moderate readers and therefore has a few written commands.
MSB Rainforest
Ages 6-10
The primary goal of The Magic School Bus Explores the Rainforest is to
turn the classroom into a rainforest for Rainforest Day. To accomplish
this, users must fill Wanda's Bioclonic Toolbox with bioclones of
rainforest treasures. The program is designed to encourage exploration and
learning by allowing children to click anywhere on the screen and see or
hear results. It is suitable for early to moderate readers and therefore
has a few written commands.
Paul Bunyan
Paul Bunyan, narrated by Jonathan Winters, is the story of a very, very
tall man named Paul Bunyan, a blue ox named Babe, and their adventures
together. It is also part of the P.J. Reader program. P.J. Reader stories
are interactive, multimedia programs that help children develop critical
listening and reading skills as they explore classic children's tales. The
stories and games reinforce concepts learned in school, such as counting,
identifying colors and patterns, solving puzzles, and recognizing shapes
and sizes. The stories feature P.J. rabbit, who instructs children how to
start the story, get help, move through the story, use the play pages, and
play the games.
Success Builder Algebra
Success Builder Algebra 1 is a program designed to teach algebra skills.
It is divided into 12 chapters, contains over 50 in-depth topics, and
offers more than 500 multiple-choice practice problems.
Success Builder Geometry
Success Builder Geometry is a program designed to teach algebra skills. It
is divided into 12 chapters, contains over 50 in-depth topics, and offers
more than 500 multiple-choice practice problems.
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word 2000 is more than just a word processor. The program is
equipped with templates and wizards that help you create useful documents,
such as resumes, letters, and fax cover sheets. There are also advanced
features, such as tables and clip art, which allow users to create
professional looking documents with custom graphics.
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 is a presentation software package that allows
users to design effective presentations than can be delivered
electronically, with overheads, or with handouts. PowerPoint provides
guidance and support for users by offering assistance with design, data,
and organization of presentation content.
Microsoft Publisher
Microsoft Publisher 2000 allows users to design and print distinctive
newsletters, cards, flyers, and many other types of publication. Its
wizards guide you through the process of creating publications by
presenting a series of multiple-choice questions. Publisher is a complex
program best suited for creating documents with complicated layouts and
lots of pictures. If you are typing a document that has only text, like a
letter or a resume, Microsoft Word is a better choice.
Encarta Encyclopedia
Encarta Encyclopedia 2001 Deluxe is a reference tool with multimedia
features, offering unique perspectives on certain types of information
print encyclopedias cannot provide. It is an excellent resource for
general, authoritative information on more than 100,000 topics.
Encarta World English
Dictionary
More than just a dictionary, Encarta World English Dictionary is an
electronic "desk reference library." Its reference features include: word
definitions, synonyms, quotations, definitions of computer terminology,
world maps, facts and figures, and a style guide. Unlike print books, it
has the features of sound, images, videos, and animations. In addition,
you can search for information in all these features at once or one at a
time.
Encarta World Atlas
Encarta World Atlas 2001 Deluxe includes maps and video clips of places
around the world, music samples, articles about how people live,
statistics pertaining to countries, and much more.
Encarta Africana
Encarta Africana Third Edition is an interactive encyclopedia covering
Africa and the African Diaspora. The extensive multimedia features offer
unique perspectives on information that print encyclopedias cannot
provide.