Anderson County Library System and The Cleo Bailey Experiment Collaborate to Unveil “Little Free Library”

Bonjour, Mango!

Learning a new language just got easier. The Anderson County Library System now offers Mango Languages, an award-winning language education resource, to all library users.

Mango Languages offers over 70 languages and more than 20 English courses for speakers of other languages. Mango is the only adaptive language-learning system powered by proven methodologies, designed to naturally establish retention and rapidly build conversation skills. It is accessible on desktop and on mobile devices with an Apple and Android app.  Users can create accounts to keep up with progress, set up a family account, and for offline learning.

Mango Languages is the latest addition to the digital resources available with a library card. From researching products and investments to studying for the SAT, GED, and other technical exams, library users have access to a wide range of online learning and research tools available anywhere, any time with a library card.

The Anderson County Library System serves residents of all ages in Anderson County across nine library locations, a bookmobile, and the digital library. Get Library events, books, and news straight to your inbox by signing up for newsletters.

Introducing Book-A-Librarian

You have questions; the Library has answers! From Shakespeare to stock investments, you can find reliable research information online and in the catalog with your library card.

However, if you’re not sure where to get started, or need a little extra one-on-one help, the Library now offers a Book-A-Librarian service. Simply fill out this online form to select which topic you would like assistance with and which appointment time you would like. Then, meet one-on-one with library staff in person at the Anderson Main Library, via Zoom, or on the phone.

Topics include assistance with genealogy and local history research, how to check out and read eBooks with the Libby app, or help with Microsoft Office programs. If you don’t see a topic that fits your question, you’ll have to option to fill out what research or learning topic you need assistance with, and library staff will do their best to help. You can also see all upcoming computer classes, workshops, and programs the library offers on the events calendar.

Financial Literacy Resources

April is Financial Literacy Month, and whether you’re looking to brush up on accounting skills, plan your personal finances, or explore investments, the Anderson County Library has the resources to help – all available free with your library card.

Universal Class provides online, self-paced classes on hundreds of topics, including:

• Accounting and Bookkeeping 101
• Debt Reduction
• Estate Planning
• Goal Setting 101
• Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
• Habits of Millionaires
• Investing 101 & 201
• Microsoft Access 2019
• Microsoft Excel 2019
• Personal Finance 101
• QuickBooks 101
• Retirement Planning

The Great Courses has hundreds of popular courses on a wide range of subjects taught by the world’s greatest professors. Using the Libby app, check out a week pass for unlimited views. When the week is up, you can always check it out again. Lectures relating to financial literacy include:

• Economics of Uncertainty
• Money Management Skills
• The Art of Investing
• Understanding Investments

For those looking for the latest data, sophisticated tools, and reliable, unbiased information, Value Line is the investment research tool to use. Value Line provides how-to guides, education tools, and market research for beginner and veteran investors.

For help with these or any library resources, contact the Adult Services department by calling (864) 260-4500 ext. 126 or emailing reference@andersonlibrary.org.

Libraries Support At-Home Learning

Recently, a Facebook group of which I am a member changed its name from “Librarians Serving Homeschool Families” to “Librarians Serving At-Home Learners and Homeschoolers.” Parents are more involved than ever in their children’s education, and it’s imperative that they know all the resources that are available to them, especially the ones that cost little to nothing.  Enter the public library.

The Anderson County Library is part of a consortium of twenty county library systems in South Carolina that share resources.  If we don’t have a book in Anderson County, but Beaufort County has it, you can put it on hold from wherever you are and have it brought to your nearest branch library, and it usually takes less than a week. The following chart shows how to save almost $300.00 on just a few items by using the library instead of purchasing literature for your class.

Savings From Using the Library

But what if you need an item right away? Digital resources make that entirely possible. The Hoopla and Libby apps allow you to download e-books, audiobooks, music, and videos straight to your device. Want to take a free online course? The library offers the popular Universal Class on our website if you have a library card.  From Accounting to Web Development, Universal Class has dozens of topics for you, including more than 40 online courses under the “Homeschooling” category alone. Do you have a teen learning to drive? Look under the “Research” tab of our website and you’ll find current SC DMV practice tests. Do you need a tutor for your child? No problem. Tutor.com offers one-to-one tutoring anytime, anywhere at no cost to you, thanks to DISCUS.

Libraries all over the country have valuable resources online to help at-home learners and their families succeed. September is National Library Card Sign up month.  Stop by your nearest branch to get yours today.

Helpful websites for at-home learning from the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library

Finally, I encourage each family to download the Libby app, which allows access to leading digital magazines on your mobile device. This can be limited to Family & Children’s resources, and includes the popular National Geographic for Kids, as well as Muse, which encourages reading for fun as well as learning.