Back to School 8.17.25 - Flipbook - Page 15
A Special Advertising Section of Baltimore Sun Media Group | Sunday, August 17, 2025 15
Start the School Year Off by
Visiting Your Local Library
By Megan Weeden, Contributing Writer
A
s families prepare for a new school
year – stocking up on supplies, setting routines and refreshing wardrobes – there’s one essential that
doesn’t cost a thing but can help make the
school year run smoothly: your public library
card.
More than just a quiet place to study or
check out books, the public library is a family
support hub, offering resources that equip students, parents and teachers with the tools they
need to succeed – whether starting preschool
or preparing for college.
Maryland is home to 24 public library systems. While each one is unique in its offerings,
they all share a common goal: supporting lifelong learning.
If you don’t have a library card yet, it’s
easy – and free – to get one. Many Maryland
libraries offer online registration, and some
even accept student ID numbers for instant
access to digital materials. A single card gets
you access to great resources, both in person
and online.
Here’s a rundown of just some of the incredible services you can find at your public
library this fall.
While storytime is an early literacy staple
at all public libraries, libraries across Maryland also support kindergarten readiness
with other early learning initiatives like Every
Child Ready to Read, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten and Books for Me.
“The Every Child Ready to Read program
emphasizes the importance of talking, singing, reading, writing and playing to foster language development and make sure children
go to school ready to learn,” says Christine
Feldmann, director of marketing and communications at Anne Arundel County Public
Library. “Kindergarten readiness is a big focus
of what we do in libraries.”
The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program encourages families to read aloud daily.
It’s simple: read together, track your books
and earn small prizes along the way. The result – children enter school more prepared,
confident and excited about learning.
The Books for Me program at Enoch Pratt
Free Library partners with Head Start and
runs workshops for caregivers, teaching them
how to best support young children’s reading
development.
Some libraries, including Anne Arundel
County libraries, also offer other services that
families might need – like a baby pantry that
provides diapers, wipes and formula, food distributions, job training, and even social workers on-site to help families navigate services
for housing, food, and mental health.
“We recognize that for a family to be able
to prepare their child for kindergarten, they
need to have their basic needs met,” says Feldmann. “Libraries are part of that safety net.”
For families with the youngest learners,
some libraries provide access to ABCmouse
from home. Geared towards early learners
ages two to eight, this engaging educational
platform features games, songs, puzzles and
stories that teach reading, math and science in
a playful and interactive way.
Once children reach school age, be sure
to check out Brainfuse, an online learning
platform available at many Maryland public
libraries. It includes live tutoring, homework
help, writing feedback and test prep. It also
offers teacher resources and interactive tools
that support collaboration, independent and
group learning.
Students can also access digital research
databases like Gale, EBSCO and Britannica
for reliable sources for papers and projects.
These are also accessible from home with a
library card.
Libraries also support college and career
readiness. All Marylanders can access Peterson’s Test and Career Prep, which includes test
prep for the SAT, ACT and AP exams, as well
as tools for job searching, resume building
and interview prep.
For older teens and adults, LinkedIn
Learning provides thousands of video courses taught by industry experts. Topics include
business skills and software, web development, music, photography, video editing and
animation.
Borrowing eBooks and audiobooks is a
great way for learning on the go. Busy students, commuting parents or anyone juggling
a packed schedule can download digital titles
on the Libby or Hoopla apps and enjoy anytime, anywhere. Users can borrow everything
from classic literature to test prep guides and
popular fiction. With features like adjustable
font sizes, built-in dictionaries and handsfree listening, eBooks and audiobooks make
it easy to fit reading into even the busiest day.
Libraries recognize that to succeed, students and parents need access to technology.
Every Maryland library provides free public
computers, printers and Wi-Fi access. Some
libraries even loan out Chromebooks, tablets
and hotspots – and many offer parking lot WiFi so families can stay connected, even after
hours.
In addition to supporting classroom
learning, some libraries are offering real-life
skill-building tools. For example, Anne Arundel County Public Library has a driving simulator – a unique opportunity for teen drivers
to practice safe driving techniques in a virtual
environment.
“We found many teens are very nervous
about learning to drive,” says Feldmann. “This
gives them a safe space to practice. It is like a
video game and uses real scenarios like driving in rain so that they feel more prepared.”
Libraries also partner closely with educators and homeschool families. Services include homeschool meetups, curriculum kits,
STEM programming, makerspaces with access to equipment like 3D printers, and special educator library cards that allow extended
checkout privileges and access to classroom
collections.
To get the most out of your library card,
check with your local library and see what
they have to offer. You might be surprised at
how many free learning tools, programs and
supports are right at your fingertips.
Photos provided by Anne Arundel County Public Library.
