Summer is a great time for readers of all ages. This year for the first time, all local public school children have ready-made access to books and audiobooks all summer long, even if they can’t come into the library or don’t have a library card.
All children in grades K-12 in public schools in Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties have a StudentAccess library account, unless parents have opted out of the program. The account, which is the student’s lunch number (student ID number), allows them to borrow up to 10 books or audiobooks from any Fontana Regional Library location, and they can also access eBooks and online library databases from a smartphone, tablet, computer, or anywhere that has an internet connection. Many eBooks can be viewed in a special dyslexia-friendly font that has been shown to be a helpful learning tool for those with reading difficulties. Several hundred titles are available in Spanish as well as English.
The StudentAccess account is free, and there is no card to keep up with. There are no overdue fines for these accounts, but students are responsible for any fees for lost or damaged books.
There is something for everyone, even the youngest learners: NC Kids Digital is designed for kids in pre-K through 4th grade and includes more than 3,700 eBooks, audiobooks, videos, and Read-Alongs for reading on a mobile device or computer.
Read-Alongs are picture books with professional narration and word animation that makes it easy for young readers to follow along word-by-word. Audiobooks are also part of the library’s digital collection, with research showing that listening to books can be as important as reading them.
All these resources, and more, are available year-round at the Hudson Library (where digital content can be downloaded and enjoyed later), at home, or on vacation. StudentAccess accounts remain active over the summer, with no interruption in privileges.
For questions about StudentAccess accounts, or how to access any library resources, please call the Hudson Library at 828-526-3031 or visit www.fontanlaib.org. Hudson Library is a member of Fontana Regional Library, which serves Macon, Jackson, and Swain Counties.