Local library patrons to benefit from renewal of state program
Patrons of the Forrest City Public Library will be happy to learn that the Arkansas State Libraries has renewed its EBSCO's LearningExpress Library through June 2024.
The Forrest City Public Library is one of many libraries across the state that uses the LearningExpress program to offer a large number of resources online.
"We are glad that Arkansas State Library decided to renew EBSCO's LearningExpress Library," said Arlisa Harris, Forrest City Public Library Director.
"LearningExpress Library offers a broad array of online resources that benefit students who are preparing to enter the workforce or attend college for the first time, as well as those who are unemployed and seeking to reenter the workforce,” said Harris. “It would also be a great resource for anyone desiring to develop workplace skills or looking for a career change."
The State Library initially acquired the resources in June of 2020 through the Institute of Museum and Library Services and funding from the CARES Act.
The Arkansas Department of Education extended the original one-year subscription with funds from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Grant Program as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The funding provides help to local education agencies responding to changes in student needs due to Covid-19.
According to Harris, the LearningExpress Library is available to all Arkansans and includes interactive modules for college and high school core competencies, computer skill advancement, standardized test preparation and career certification exam preparation.
It provides career match guidance, information on occupations, resumé builders, a job search portal, and tutorials on topics such as interviewing, networking and writing cover letters. Also included are exam preparation materials in a variety of career fields, including nursing and allied health, social work, cosmetology, commercial driving, law enforcement, military, teaching, real estate and many others.
The Traveler program provides Arkansans with free access to an online collection of reputable, high-quality digital resources including academic and professional journals, learning platforms, and magazines, newspapers and periodicals, according to a press release. The Traveler collection includes materials suitable for research by audiences at every level, from early childhood education to post-graduate studies.
No library card or registration is required, and all resources are accessible from the Arkansas State Library website.The Arkansas State Library, a division of the Arkansas Department of Education, provides the resources, services, and leadership necessary to meet the educational, informational and cultural needs of the citizens of Arkansas. The Library also provides guidance and support for the development of local public libraries and library services.
To access the Traveler Statewide Digital Resource program visit https://www.forrestcitylibrary.org/ or call 870-633-5626 for more information.