Online Calendar | Feedback or Suggestions
Round Rock Public Library is proud to be a partner in the Round Rock ISD school-readiness initiative, RRock Ready. The library recognizes the important role of public libraries in providing free access to materials that support the work of caregivers as they help children become strong learners.
Public Library Early Learning strategies
Read | Write | Sing | Talk | Play early literacy strategies adapted from materials developed and shared by Austin Public Library, and based on the Every Child Ready To Read initiative of the Public Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children
Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy is a go-to site for strategies to incorporate early literacy practices into storytime and read-together times. The site also has an annual list, The CLEL Bell Awards, honoring the best new books for each of the five early literacy practices (read, write, sing, talk, and play).
Library resources for selecting educational materials
NoveList Plus K-8 is a comprehensive reading resource for fiction and nonfiction books. NoveList K-8 Plus will help you find books on many topics, sorted by ages, appeal, and even unique characteristics of characters. NoveList will even help you locate “read-alike” titles and authors.
Children’s Core Collection gives you a peek into the evolving canon of children’s books considered of high literary merit. Find the books that currently are considered the best on their topic, for each age.
Homework Help is a collection of online resources helpful to child-friendly research work.
Tips for using the Library’s online catalog:
- Remember: We are a large library. Approach the catalog with the expectation that we have an item, and try a few strategies to find that item. If we do not have an item, you can request it from another library (InterLibrary Loan) or you may submit a purchase request.
- Log in to your online account to create lists for each of your units, and to place holds for quick and easy pick-up.
- If you are logged in when you create a search, the search strategy is saved in your account. You will be able to use that search again without recreating it.
- Use the Advanced Search option to limit searches to the materials you want. For example, if you only want physical books, limit your search to the appropriate collection or location. Usually, this will be:
- the Everybody Books collection (fiction picture books),
- the Easy NonFiction collection (informational picture books)
- or the location called Yellow Shelves (which includes both the Everybody and Easy NonFiction collections)
- Sort your results in the way that gives you the books you want the most at the top of your list. For example, if you prefer new books, choose the sorting order Newest to Oldest.
- Feel free to contact the Youth Services staff for more strategies that will get you to the materials you want with the fewest number of clicks.
RRPL’s online media for children
Overdrive is the Library’s collection of downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks. It includes many children’s titles. Use this link to find many fiction and non-fiction picture books, as well as specialty materials such as Bob Books and Beginning Reader books. This service is offered as a desktop version or through the Libby app.
hoopla has eBooks, eAudiobooks, eComics, and movies available for 21 days. Stream on PC or Mac or download to your mobile device for the 21 days with the hoopla digital app for Android, iOS, and Kindle.
Freegal is a downloadable music service which provides access to the catalog of Sony Music Entertainment artists. Library cardholders can download five songs a week. Users may access it as a desktop version or through an app.
Websites that encourage using books as mirrors and windows
- Colours of us: Regularly updated lists of multicultural children’s books
- We Need Diverse Books: A continuing conversation about books that reflect the everyday experiences of all children
- The Coretta Scott King Award is given to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.
- The Pura Belpre Award is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
