Online Learning in a Time of Uncertainty

Schools are Closed Until May 1st at the Earliest... Now What? 

As a parent I can understand what was going through the minds of other parents when we heard the news that school closures were being extended until May 1. Lots of us are scratching our heads trying to figure out if and/or how we are going to help our children navigate their studies so that they can end the school year on a successful note. And many teachers are now scrambling on how to make their lesson plans accessible to students online while also reaching the many children and youth who do not have suitable Internet access at home.

While online opportunities are not always the best substitute for personal contact, we at Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library have done our best to increase our online presence so that children, teens, adults (everyone, really) has access to recreational and educational materials while our branches remain closed.

Some of you may already be familiar with TumbleBooks, the collection of online, animated eBooks for children that PARL has subscribed to for the past number of years. From the makers of TumbleBooks, PARL is now introducing TeenBookCloud, a collection of eBooks and audiobooks for aimed at youth in grades 7-12.  TeenBookCloud has something for every interest or reading level and includes a wide variety of novels, classics, and graphic novels. There is also a selection of non-fiction books and videos that may come in handy for various classes.

Unlike many other online library collections, the books in TeenBookCloud are not checked out or downloaded so there is no waiting list and books are accessible right away. 


Here are a few titles in TeenBookCloud that might be of interest:



A Stranger at Home by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
A memoir based on Margaret Pokiak-Fenton who, at ten years of age, was a stranger in her northern community after arriving home from a residential school.







The Night Wanderer by Drew Hayden Taylor

Newcomers to the Otter Lake native reserve don’t go unnoticed for long. So it’s no surprise that 16-year-old Tiffany’s curiosity is piqued when her father rents out her room to a complete stranger.But little do Tiffany, her father, or even her insightful Granny Ruth suspect the truth about their guest. The mysterious Pierre L’Errant has a dreadful secret. After centuries roaming Europe as a brooding vampire, he has returned home to reclaim his Native roots before facing the rising sun and certain death. 




The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into each other’s lives. 


In addition to these few suggestions, there are also a variety of classics, Shakespeare plays, Hi/Lo readers, short stories, and even a few books in French. You can find the full collection of books linked from our website. You probably don't need to use your library card to access this collection but it is useful to have one for accessing other resources. If you don't have a library card, you can apply for a free card on our website.