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

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.

Storywalk: The Magic Snowflake

Explore downtown magic with the storefront storywalk in Anderson! Visit downtown Anderson this December for a special, self-paced walking tour of the book The Magic Snowflake by local artist and author Scott Foster. The illustrations and text of each page in the book will be featured in store windows along Main Street. Start with page 1 at Belle Beauty, then follow the map on the sidewalk and read the magical story, or have the book come to life in a dramatic reading podcast produced by Market Theatre!

Storywalks are a great way for families to share the magic of reading, and the downtown storefront storywalk is the perfect opportunity to bring a love of reading and practice literacy skills while supporting downtown Anderson. After you finish the story, visit Carolina Wren Park for Holiday Ice, take pictures by the Christmas tree, or visit one of the local businesses that have copies of The Magic Snowflake available for purchase.

Visit the Anderson Main Library for a special scavenger hunt based on the book, then check out The Magic Snowflake or explore additional books perfect for the holidays. Complete the scavenger hunt and be entered in a drawing for a copy of the book and other fun prizes. Children can also pick up a Take ‘n Make snowflake ornament kit, and adults can pick up a Take ‘n Make craft kit to make a winter evening scene.                

This unique event is presented by the City of Anderson in partnership with the Anderson County Library System, with a dramatic podcast by Market Theatre.

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.