Get the Tools You Need for a Successful School Year at Your Miami-Dade Public Libraries
Summer break is officially over as Miami-Dade County Public Schools students head back to the classroom Wednesday, August 17. And while you're gathering your school supplies, don't forget the most important one of all – your library card!
A library card gives students of all ages access to tools, materials and resources that can help them succeed in school both online and at their local library branch. Kids in Pre-K through elementary school can use their library card to access online materials and resources through our Library for Children page, including ABCmouse, World Book Online, Gale in Context: Elementary and more. Middle and high school students can check out our Library for Teens page to find general and subject-specific databases about a variety of topics, along with volunteer opportunities and college readiness resources. Continue reading our newsletter below to learn more about other great resources available to you through your Miami-Dade Public Libraries.
Don't have a library card? You and your child can sign up for one at any library location or register for an electronic card (eCard) online and begin using it immediately! Always have your card and access to your account handy by storing it on our free MDPLS mobile app.
Already have a library card but don't know its status? Our Customer Care team can help! Email us at customercare@mdpls.org.
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Have Fun While Learning!
Starfall Now Available Online through the Library
We're happy to announce that Starfall, the popular online learning program for kids, is now available through the Library! This engaging education platform offers age-appropriate learning activities in language arts, reading and math for children in Pre-K through 5th grade.
Starfall uses fun interactive games, talking storybooks, colorful cartoons and more to encourage kids to explore new topics at their own pace and become confident and self-motivated learners. Plus, parents and teachers can access lesson plans and resources to help children learn to count, write, spell, identify shapes and much more.
Click here to start learning with Starfall!
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Free Homework Help and Tutoring Available at the Library
Help your child have a successful school year with the Miami‑Dade Public Library System’s Homework Help & Tutoring Program! Free tutoring by certified teachers is available in reading, math and science to all K-12 students who live in Miami-Dade County.
Tutoring sessions for the new school year begin Wednesday, August 24. Online tutoring in reading and math will be available on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. In-person tutoring in reading, math and science will be offered at 29 library locations on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Visit www.mdpls.org/tutor for more information.
Additional Tutoring Resources
Need homework help or tutoring on your own schedule? Tutor.com can help! Access personalized, virtual tutoring sessions in a variety of subjects from expert tutors who are available seven days a week from 9 a.m. to midnight – free with your library card. Click here to get started.
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Save money, shop smarter
Smarter Back-to-School Shopping with Consumer Reports Online
It's the season for back-to-school shopping and Consumer Reports online is your one-stop resource for everything your family needs!
Whether your kids are starting kindergarten or taking their first steps into college, Consumer Reports' back-to-school guide will help you save money and make smarter shopping choices on electronics, school supplies and more. Best of all, you can access everything Consumer Reports has to offer free with your library card!
Click here to get started.
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Employee Spotlight
Library Tutor Surey Rios Makes Learning Fun!
The Library's Homework Help & Tutoring Program is made up of a team of certified teachers who are dedicated to making learning fun and easy. As a tutor for the Miami-Dade Public Library System, Surey Rios strives to help students achieve academic success during the school year and beyond.
When did you begin working as a Library tutor? I started in November 2019 as a K-8 general education tutor for the Library's Homework Help & Tutoring Program. In 2020, the program pivoted to an online format and I became a math tutor in upper elementary math to calculus.
What inspired you to become a tutor? My inspiration for helping others comes from my experiences with math in high school. My math angel is my high school calculus teacher, Mrs. Bez. Because of her, I went from a math zero to a math hero. When I taught high school agriscience, I would help my students with their math homework “for fun.” Tutoring for MDPLS allows me to help the students while having fun. I love interacting with the students and seeing them experience the “aha!” moments.
What do you like most about being a tutor? My favorite is transforming students who didn’t believe they could be good at math into students who find math fun, exciting, challenging and worthwhile. I live for those changes.
What is one of your greatest achievements? I was thrilled to hear that my students got the highest scores on the End of Course Assessments. The skills they learned and the confidence they acquired because of the Homework Help & Tutoring Program helped them to succeed and overcome the COVID-19 slide and their trepidations about math.
How have you brought your personal creativity into your work? I love learning and experiencing science (which is everything), crafting and solving math problems (weird, yes!). As a Curriculum Specialist for School Choice and Parental Options at Miami-Dade County Public Schools, I work in a team to transform public schools into places that offer innovative learning opportunities for students. I get to design the curriculum for these programs.
Do you have a favorite library resource? The Homework Help & Tutoring Program and the Adult Learning Academy are my favorite library resources. Both offer services to the community that improve the lives of learners. I get to contribute to that. Society improves when its citizens can achieve more. I am humbled and overcome with joy when I see students succeed.
What is the last book you read? Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World, which made me feel better about my interactions and shortcomings with math.
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Make This the "Purrfect" School Year with a New Furry Friend!
Did you know that pets can have a positive impact on student learning? If you're looking to bring a cuddly new friend into your home, consider adopting a shelter dog or cat from Miami-Dade Animal Services!
Sweet and supportive animals make terrific study buddies and can help kids feel more confident and engaged in their schoolwork. Miami-Dade Animal Services has many pets looking for new homes and loving families – so change a life by adopting a shelter pet today!
Visit Miami-Dade Animal Services online for more information.
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Community News
Miami-Dade County Names its
First Artist-in-Residence
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava named local eco-artist Xavier Cortada as the County's inaugural Artist-in-Residence on August 5 at Main Library in downtown Miami.
As the County’s Artist-in-Residence, Cortada will work to develop creative ways to engage, educate and empower residents to address important social and environmental concerns.
During the event, Mayor Levine Cava, Library Director Ray Baker and Mr. Cortada also unveiled the Mayor’s new library poster, which is on display at all library locations and encourages residents to explore the many resources available to them at their local public library.
Watch this edition of Miami-Dade Minute to see highlights of the announcement and learn more.
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Going back to school is an exciting time for both kids and their parents. From finding the confidence to be yourself to tips for spotting a best friend, this month’s Staff Picks for Kids is filled with stories about the first day of school. Check them out today!
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Resources and Lesson Plans Available for Teachers
Looking for fun and interesting resources to make this a school year to remember? Miami-Dade Public Libraries offers a variety of online resources that teachers can take advantage of, including the Library of Congress Teacher Resources database, which provides classroom materials, lesson plans, professional development tools and more.
Another great resource is Gale OneFile: Educator's Reference Complete, which offers full text for journal articles, books, dissertations and more through its Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) database.
Visit our Learning & Training page to find even more great resources for teachers.
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No Internet? No Problem!
Check Out the Internet From the Library
Having access to a computer and the internet is a must for students and families. Don't have internet or a computer at home? Need an extra mobile device for your household to use?
Borrow a Chromebook laptop or tablet with free built-in internet access or a Wi-Fi hotspot that allows you to connect up to 15 devices from any Miami-Dade Public Library System location with your library card. Mobile devices are loaned for 30 days at a time and automatically renew up to three times if no other customers are waiting.
Visit mdpls.org/mobile-device for more information.
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