Library Information Services

MDK12 Digital Library Teacher-Librarian Partnership Grant Supporting Innovative and Effective Use of Digital Content in World Languages and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).  Learn more about our partnership at: http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/mdk12grant2007/wl.html
BCPS Feebased Databases These online databases are subscriptions licensed by the Baltimore County Public Schools or the MDK-12 Digital Library for use by students, staff, and parents in school or from home. Fee-based database digital content, unlike most content found on the free Internet, represents authoritative content from reference, periodical and multimedia information resources. An investigation of a subject or research project should always include information located in these fee-based databases. The organization of these databases is exceptional and the powerful search features ensure success in locating information on almost any subject. No password is needed when accessing these databases from school or office computers within the Baltimore County Public Schools. To access these databases from home, a login ID and password are required. Your school library media specialist will provide this information to you as well as a handout for your notebook. Below are databases useful to World Languages and ESOL instruction. To access other databases, please visit the Office of Library Information Services’ website.
	BrainPop BrainPop includes hundreds of animated movies developed according to national standards for K-8. BrainPOP covers the core curriculum subjects in:SCIENCE, ENGLISH, MATH, SOCIAL STUDIES, TECHNOLOGY, HEALTH Each movie is accompanied by a 10-question interactive quiz, experiment, comic strip, timeline, and printable activity page. The teacher's section contains lesson plans, standards correlation, and ideas for using BrainPOP in the classroom. NEW! BrainPop en Español
	CulturalGrams Secondary provides information on cultures of 182 countries and territories . Reports include maps, statistics, a glossary, and in-depth information on 25 categories such as land and climate, history, population, language, religion, general attitudes, personal appearance, greetings, gestures, family, dating and marriage, diet, recreation, holidays, government, economy, transportation, communications, education, events and trends, and much more. Use the sortable data feature to compare country information such as area, literacy, life expectancy, population as well as data tables on land, population, environment, health, economy, government, transportation, and communications.
	Cultural Grams Kids Edition provides an engaging kid's-eye view of 66 countries, featuring cultural and geographic information, history, maps, flags, and colorful images. Use the sortable data feature to compare country information such as area, literacy, life expectancy, population as well as data tables on land, population, environment, health, economy, government, transportation, and communications.
	SIRS Interactive Citizenship includes interactive books, organized by chapter and offered in two formats, each with a specific purpose. The interactive books What Citizens Need to Know About Economics, What Citizens Need to Know About Government and What Citizens Need to Know About World Affairs, are available in both printer-friendly (PDF) and Web-friendly (HTML) formats.
	SIRS Discoverer is an award-winning, general reference resource for young researchers that makes learning fun and intuitive. SIRS Discoverer helps students in grades 1-9 develop their research, writing, language and computer skills. The database includes carefully selected full-text articles and images from more than 1,600 domestic and international newspapers, magazines and government documents.
	SIRS Discoverer WebFind is an online database of carefully chosen, reliable and credible Internet resources on almost any subject appropriate for researchers in grades 1-9. Each site contains content from well-documented and reliable sources that are relevant for younger researchers. Utilizing time-tested techniques, SIRS evaluates and continuously monitors each site to ensure quality and accessibility.
	Worldbook Online includes more than 26,000 articles as well as more than 12,000 pictures and maps, and 7,000 links to editor-approved Web sites useful in helping students constructively explore topics further.
LIS Initiatives and Resources
High School Assessments (HSA) Web Portal The office of Library Information Services has compiled links for everything HSA. Resources for parents, students, and teachers are available at the HSA Web Portal.
Information Seeking Behavior Model This tool supports teaching online research and the Online Research Model’s created by Baltimore County Librarians.  Each step of the process provides explanations and fantastic tools and resources.
The BCPS Professional Research Library This site gives information about services and access to professional resources and the Multicultural Resource Library for Baltimore County Public School employees. The professional research librarian, Fran Glick, provides expert search services using DIALOG online services that provides access to many research databases not available to the general public.
Safari Montage Safari Montage is an anytime access video-on-demand service populated with thousands of high quality educational media that are aligned to the Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum.  The entire digital library is searchable by keyword, subject, and VSC standards.  Great care has been taken to ensure that all materials available on SAFARI Montage are of genuine educational from producers such as National Geographic, PBS, History Channel, Biography, NOVA, BBC, Disney, and many other outstanding educational media producers.
Family Guide to Internet Safety This is a valuable resource for parents and teachers about internet safety and using common sense in cyberspace. The document also provides information about tech tools to help keep children safe.