Online Resources for Teens

Resources for Teens from MeL.org

Michigan residents or Michigan library or school access only.

College and Career Readiness

Career Preparation from LearningExpress Library web button

Includes a resume builder where you can save, edit, and print. Explore a variety of careers including allied health, law enforcement, and nursing. Prepare for occupation exams including civil service, commercial driver's license, cosmetology, teaching, and more. Prepare to join the military or become an officer. Create a free account to access tools to help you do well on these exams.

College Admissions Test Preparation from LearningExpress Library web button

Practice tests, preparation eBooks, and tutorials for the ACT®, SAT, 12 AP subjects, PSAT/NMSQT, and TOEFL iBT® exams. Create a free account to access tools to help you do well on your college admissions tests and essay. Create a free account to access tools to help you do well on your college admissions tests and essay.

Designed for two-year colleges, this resource offers support for vocational programs. Subjects include: counseling, biotechnology, cosmetology, fashion design, forensics, graphic arts, health information technology, law enforcement, and veterinary assistant.

Homework

More than 450,000 biographies. Includes complete full text run of Biography Today and Biography Magazine as well as thousands of narrative biographies.

Nonfiction content geared for K-12 students. Includes over 132,000 encyclopedia articles, 103,000 images, 7,500 multimedia elements, more than 27,000 eBooks, and novels and essays. Tools include translation for 50+ languages and read-aloud functionality. Includes Lexile ranges and alignment with Michigan Department of Education Academic Standards across a variety of subjects.

Provides hundreds of popular magazines and reference books for high school libraries. Covers subjects such as art, history, sports, and music. Includes thousands of biographies and primary source documents. Also includes photos, maps, and flags. Pulls content from MAS Complete, Consumer Health Complete, Newspaper Source Plus, eBook High School collection, Applied Science & Technology Source, and Vocational Studies Premier.

Magazines and reference books for middle school students. Includes thousands of biographies and primary source documents. Subjects include history, current events, science, sports, and biographies. Also includes photos, maps, and flags. Pulls content from Middle Search Plus, Primary Search, Newspaper Source Plus, and the eBook K-8 Collection.

Includes over 14,000 short stories and 54,000+ poems. Covers information on thousands of authors and their works. Topics include: plot summaries, literary criticism, book reviews, novels, and author interviews.

Designed for high school libraries and offers coverage of popular high school magazines and reference books. Wide range of subjects offered including art, history, sports and music. Over 1,000,000 photos, maps and flags.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context web button

Provides different views about issues that help students develop critical thinking skills. This resource brings balance and perspective to contemporary issues using arguments from experts.

Read

For high school students and educators. There is a selection of teacher resources and titles align with Common Core Curriculum Standards. You may access the full text of these eBooks from your computer, or download titles to most popular portable devices.

Discover millions of books available from 400+ Michigan libraries.

Contains information on over 260,000 fiction and readable nonfiction titles. Features lists of award-winning books, book discussion guides, Read-a-Like recommendations, and complete series information. Also includes reader ratings and reviews. Create your own reading wish list.

Digital Learn

Use a computer to do almost anything! If you are new to computers, haven't used them for a while, are a little unsure and uncomfortable, or just need a bit of a refresher, DigitalLearn has the tools to help you tackle technology at your own pace and gain the confidence you need to succeed.

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Driving Tests

There might be nothing so iconic in Michigan other than driving a car. After all, the place that made Motown is also the seat of the American car industry. So to help you get a license to drive, we’ve put together everything you need: practice tests for car, motorcycle, or commercial vehicle licensing, official driver’s manuals, and more.

GCF Learn Free

With more than 1,000 lessons in technology, reading, math, career skills and more, GCFLearnFree.org helps users learn the essential skills they need to live and work in the 21st century, all for free!

Hour of Code

With technology changing every industry on the planet, computing knowledge has become part of a well-rounded skill set. Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics. Discover how accessible and fun computer science can be by doing just one Hour of Code at http://HourOfCode.com.

Scratch

Scratch is the world’s largest coding community for children and a coding language with a simple visual interface that allows young people to create digital stories, games, and animations. Scratch promotes computational thinking and problem solving skills; creative teaching and learning; self-expression and collaboration; and equity in computing. Check it out at https://scratch.mit.edu/

World Book Online

World Book Online offers 3 different databases for kids to explore: Early Learning, Kids, and Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos. Early Learning is designed for preschool students with tools and content that reinforce early childhood curriculum via short videos, read-aloud stories, printable activities, and matching and tracing games, among others. Kids is an ideal learning resource for elementary-aged students designed to build confidence and encourage creativity with image-driven navigation and inquiry-based activities. The site features easy-to-read articles that can be read aloud or translated and a wealth of engaging games, science projects, and activities. Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos is the ideal Spanish-language reference tool for those learning Spanish and ELL students. Browse features provide visual prompts, and bilingual features allow students to toggle between Spanish and English text. The site includes concise articles, videos, maps and activities more. World Book Online is accessible with your library card.

Beanstack

Beanstack is the app the library uses for Summer Reading and other reading challenges. Beanstack helps you keep track of all the books you read. When you create a Beanstack account for yourself or your family, you’re instantly connected to the library’s reading programs, so you’ll get credit for every minute and every page. We’ll keep all your stats for you, cheer you on while you work towards your program goals, and let you know when you’ve earned prizes. When your library’s program ends, you keep your account, and your reading history—it’s always free, and you can keep right on logging your leisure reading. When the next library program comes around, no need to re-register—just click on it, and you’re in. Download the Beanstack Tracker app or click "Get started with Beanstack"!

hoopla

Checkout and download eBooks, audiobooks, music, and videos with your library card! Download thehoopla app or log in with your library card and your 10 digit phone number (your PIN). You will also need to create an account with an email address and password. For more information, check out our How to use hoopla page.

Libby

Checkout and download eBooks, magazines, and audiobooks with your library card! Download the Libby app or visit smdl.overdrive.com and log in with your library card and your 10 digit phone number (your PIN). For more information, check out our How Do I use Libby page.

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Michigan Activity Pass

Discover Michigan with the Michigan Activity Pass! Using your library card, check out a pass for one of Michigan’s cultural attractions or state parks and recreation areas! Go to miactivitypass.org to get started!

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