Read, Explore, Learn, Grow & Play at Lexington County Public Library
Lexington County Public Library has a strong tradition of serving children and families with great collections, programs and services designed to build a love of reading and discovery. We also uphold the value of supporting families, caregivers and educators. Visit any of our 10 branches to find dedicated areas for children to read and explore. Designed to support literacy and learning — our programs provide rich experiences that provide opportunities to build a love of books and community. For children, Lexington County Public Library provides:
Interactive, early literacy supporting storytimes
Literature, science and arts-based programs
Engaging books and media for children at every reading level
Reading recommendations
Summer Reading programs to support learning and prevent summer slide
Tours, orientations and training programs for elementary school students
BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
Children & Tweens
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Digital Downloads
Explore ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, comics, graphic novels, movies, music and more all available for download to your favorite device.
Libby / OverDrive
Discover the titles, authors or genres you're looking for in the format you want (ebooks, audiobooks)
There’s still time to get in on the fun of Summer Reading. Call your local branch for information about days and time prizes can be picked up — they'll be available the entire month of August.
Books, ebooks, audiobooks, movies and television shows are all items accessible through the library — but what about music? That’s where Hoopla comes in. Hoopla allows you to check out music from a wide variety of artists and in a multitude of languages, as well as ebooks, audiobooks, movies and tv shows.
Fairy tales are an important genre in children’s literature and have been passed down from generation to generation. Usually ending “happily ever after,” fairy tales make for a perfect family read aloud. These favorites for the gentler listeners’ ears will be a good place to start.
Oh, hear the cheerful cries of the left-handed population. August 13 is officially recognized as International Left-Handers Day, and I find it most important to honor these everyday troopers for making it in a right-handed world. Why, you ask?
Everything about 2020 has been different, so the back-to-school season is no exception. This year, first-day-of-school jitters are mixed in with uncertainty, all while the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on our lives. Hand sanitizer and laptops have replaced backpacks and lunch boxes as must-have items for returning students — where the one uniform requirement nationwide is a mask.
If you’re reading this, I’m sure these thoughts are running through your mind …
What will this school year look like?
How do I prepare my child for virtual school, in-person and virtual school or just in-person school?
If we do virtual school, am I supposed to teach my child, too?
Trust me, you’re not the only one who’s having to adapt. Our library staff are here for you and we’ll continue to support you during these unprecedented times.
Let’s jump right into it. The most important part about getting ready for school — even during a pandemic — is preparation. How can I do this, you ask?
Communication
Have a talk with your child about how this is new for both of you, just like every new school year.
Ask questions about how your child is feeling and what you can do to support them and vice-versa.
Communicate that you’ll navigate this school year as a team just like you always do.
Establish Expectations
Discuss with your child what you expect from them, whether it’s submitting assignments on time, being on time for virtual class, making good grades —anything and everything you can think of.
Let your child verbalize what they expect from you. Remember this is a two-way street.
Plan
Sit down with your child and make a schedule for what will go on during the school day, just like they have at school. For example, 8:30 AM virtual math, 9:15 AM break time, 11 AM lunch, etc.
It’ll take time for your child to get adjusted to this schedule, just like it does during regular school, but after a couple of weeks hold your child accountable to sticking to the routine.
Classroom Rules
Teachers and their students typically establish classroom rules together, and they’re held accountable by their teacher and you, as a parent.
Make sure you hold your child accountable during virtual school because the teacher can’t see everything that’s going on.
If needed, make rules alongside your child and enforce them all day, every day. If your child doesn’t submit an assignment, don’t ignore this. Sit down and have a conversation with them, so this doesn’t happen again. If something like this is ignored, they may just stop doing their work.
Support Your Child’s Teacher
Please be patient with teachers, they’re going through the same thing as you.
Remember that virtual school isn’t homeschool, let teachers be teachers and educate your child.
It’s okay for you to help your child, but let your child get answers wrong. If you correct your child’s work, they may never learn.
Stick to your role as a caregiver. Continue to communicate with your child’s teacher, ask questions, anything that you would normally do, do it.
Familiarize yourself with your child’s classes and grading system.
Have Daily or Weekly Family Meetings
Talk about how school is going, what is or isn’t working.
Listen to everyone and uplift each other.
Anything is open for discussion.
The library has valuable tools and resources in different formats to support you and your child. Check out our Online Resources where you can browse by topic or try out our virtual Ask a Librarian chat service. As always, you can contact your local branch for help. We’ll always be here for you — happy to help.
For supporting children’s continuous learning at home and for back-to-school plans, we’ve got you covered with virtual learning materials. Explore any interest, develop new skills, connect with others in the community.
