Research Tools by Subject: Education

iVOX Books is a children’s book app which uses storytelling technology to delight and engage curious young minds. Ages 3 through 8 can follow along with a story while interacting with its characters and scenes, immersing them in narrative like never before. Residents of Pulaski and Perry Counties can access these exciting new “books that move!” for free.

Enter your ZIP code and click Central Arkansas Library System to continue. Then enter your library card number and PIN. The collection consists of 24 animated titles with color-changing captions. Every three months six new titles will be added and six old titles will be removed. Check out up to twelve at a time.

Use your browser in full-screen mode or install the free Android or iOS app on your mobile device.

An interactive database with practice tests and tutorials for many standardized academic and licensing tests, such as the GED, SAT, Nursing, Real Estate, etc. Access: Sign in as new user and create personal account using your library card number as your user name.

Tags: ACT, SAT, Test Preparation, GED, College Admission, Jobs, Employment

Learn technology, business, and creative skills with LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com). LinkedIn Learning offers over 16,000 video courses and tutorials taught by industry experts. Courses are self-paced and offered in 7 different languages (English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Mandarin, and Portuguese). Develop your skills in Microsoft Office (including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint), Adobe Creative Cloud, web development, photography, animation, marketing, and much more!

LinkedIn Learning can be accessed in a web browser and or with Apple and Android devices.

For mobile app use, follow these directions for setup:

1. Download the LinkedIn Learning app from the App Store or Google Play Store
2. Select Sign in
3. Select Sign in with your library card
4. Select the box for Enter your Library ID and type cals at the end of the auto-filled URL
5. Enter your Library card number and PIN and select Continue

Tags: Continuing Education, Online Classes, Career Skills

Go beyond the ABCs when preparing for kindergarten proficiency with 100s of guided lessons using videos, music, eBooks, tutorials, and more. Online/offline curriculum is balanced 60/40 to help make the move from gross to fine motor skills (e.g., using scissors).

Discover the daily state of the markets at the Morningstar Investing Center home page. Move on to their research tools and screeners to locate and compare various stocks, mutual funds, ETFs and 529 College Savings Plans. Need to know more? Utilize their topical articles, newsletters, videos and classroom of self-study courses on investing and retirement. Click the circled question mark to view the introductory tutorials and guides.

Note: number users who can access simultaneously is limited

Use of Morningstar Investing Center through the CALS web site is not intended to be an endorsement by CALS of any advice or recommendations provided by its research. Investments are volatile and may lose value.

Includes information on many titles popular with students in grades K-8, arranged by instructional unit, theme or topic. Teachers can find appropriate fiction to complement classroom instruction.

Tags: Teacher Resources, Educator Resources, Book Recommendations, Reader’s Advisory, Libros en Español