The Carmel Clay Public Library is one of Carmel, Indiana’s best treasures. While many people still associate the library with books, it has so much more to offer. Your neighborhood branch provides tons of services, all under one roof. With a free library card, your whole family can access numerous resources for young kids, teens, and adults. Here are a few tips from Creme de la Creme of Carmel, IN. to help you take advantage of your community library. 

Audio and E-Books

Thanks to innovative apps like Hoopla, you can access thousands of e-books, audiobooks, movies, and music. BookFlix is an engaging literacy resource for kids that introduces early readers to an online world of knowledge and exploration. TumbleBooks adds animation, narration, music, and sound to picture books, creating an electronic version of all your family’s favorite titles.

RBdigital allows you to browse magazines, newspapers, and comics, while Kanopy is an on-demand streaming video platform that delivers films and documentaries right to your computer or smartphone. Sign up for an account with your library membership and start checking out these amazing innovations right now. 

Virtual Programs for Preschoolers

An infant being read to by his father

Image via Flickr by StacyZ aka Adore_One

Your Carmel library offers online storytime for infants, toddlers, and kindergartners. These read-aloud sessions are an ideal way to enjoy your little one’s beloved stories without having to buy or borrow the physical books. Parents and children share activities during these lively sessions, and everyone is encouraged to sing and dance together. You can join your friends at the library for a virtual dance party. Groove along to the beat and get silly with other grown-ups and their preschoolers live on Zoom.

Questers

These programs offer children ages 4 to 12 a self-guided adventure. Older children complete activities in categories like circuitry, robotics, science, and music. The younger kiddos are introduced to STEAM topics and explore literacy and cognitive growth. With the library’s online program, the Questerverse, participants are introduced to various challenges that develop social-emotional and critical thinking skills.

Teen Activities

The Carmel Clay Public Library offers a variety of activities geared toward teens. Having a library card can expand their mind and enrich their skill sets. Your kids can use their creative skills with the Crafty Book Recommendations program. They’ll design an art piece representing one of their favorite young adult books that showcases the theme, setting, and characters. 

Blackout Poetry Zine is another fun program for older kids. It’s a unique process of creating poetry from an existing text by marking out certain words and leaving behind phrases that form a visual poem on the page. Your Carmel teens are also invited to make their own tie-dyed masks. These craft kits are available for pick-up at the library. 

Study Space and Homework Help

Children and teens can receive free homework help through the Carmel Clay Public Library. Its online affiliation with tutor.com can be accessed from home or at the branch. This ingenious program connects students from fourth grade through college with tutors. The service offers assistance with every subject, including math, science, social studies, and English. The online classroom is available on-demand 24/7 or an appointment may be scheduled for personalized tutoring.

The library is also a terrific place to study. If your child finds it too distracting at home to complete their assignments because of the TV or loud siblings, encourage them to go to the library and study in peace. The environment here is quiet and relaxed so that they can concentrate on their assignments.

Extensive Resources

Have you ever wondered about your family’s ancestry? Do you want to start a home-based business? No matter what subject you’re interested in, the library has a wonderful collection of resources to aid you in your research. American Ancestors is a common online genealogical resource, while Ancestry Library Edition offers library cardholders access to over 4,000 genealogical databases ranging from 1790 to 1940.

Indiana Legal Forms provides easily edited and printed documents for various legal matters, including bankruptcy, divorce, and wills. Rosetta Stone Library Edition can improve your skills in up to 30 languages. Business Essentials’ database features a comprehensive view of company profiles, investment reports, and detailed industry news.

Career and Test Preparation

Thanks to Gale Courses, you and your kids will find access to hundreds of engaging, instructor-led online classes. Your local Carmel branches deliver content focused on technology skills, personal enrichment, and professional development. College professors and other experts teach these six-week courses in order to provide members like you with a high-quality experience for all ages.

Learning Express Library supports those in your family who are looking to improve their academic performance. Whether you want to pass the GED, help your senior high school student prepare for college or find a job, this service is for you.

Chat With a Librarian

Librarians can add a lot to your family’s library experience. They are a wealth of knowledge and can provide you and your kids with book recommendations, point out all the branch’s hidden treasures, or guide you in solving problems. They’ll also help you save time because they’re experts in everything your library has to offer. Many librarians are subject specialists in a variety of disciplines and can help you jump-start a paper or a project.

Libraries Teach Responsibility

One often overlooked advantage of the library is that it helps instill a sense of responsibility in your children. They’ll learn how to keep track of their library card and the importance of deadlines. It’s a great way to teach kids about how to borrow books, games, and DVDs, how to keep them in good condition, and how to return the titles on time.

These are just a few of the many benefits of joining your local Carmel library. Is your family taking advantage of these free perks? Let us know what your family loves about the Carmel Clay Public Library. Drop us a line so we can share your ideas with other Crème de la Crème families.