Online Resources for Students

Access General Reference

Britannica School

Britannica School

Learn more about any subject – for all grades and all reading abilities – offering thousands of up-to-date, curated, and curriculum-relevant articles, images, videos, audio clips, primary sources, maps, research tools, recommended websites, and three separate databases (Elementary, Middle, or High).

Access with your Library Card  • Perfect for research 

Gale Interactive Science

Gale Interactive: Science

Imagine what it would be like to learn complex science concepts with more confidence and less fear. Gale Interactive: Science is a virtual lab that gives students in middle and high school grades the power to see beyond static text and embrace learning outside of the classroom.

Going beyond textbooks and traditional science curriculum, Gale Interactive: Science is a highly visual online learning tool that takes visual-spatial learning to the next level by bringing the lab to the classroom. High-value, rich-media digital content selected from authoritative classroom resources, like Gale In Context: Science and Gale OneFile, is paired with interactive 3D models to deliver a virtual laboratory simulation experience for students in middle school and high school grades. Students can entertain their curiosity and inspire grade improvement through an experience that allows zooming in, rotating, or pulling models apart to explore and experiment with complex scientific topics.

Access with your Library Card 
Gale Onefile Health and Medicine

Gale OneFile: Health and Medicine

Created specifically for students, knowledgeable consumer health researchers, and health care professionals, Gale OneFile: Health and Medicine is the perfect resource for up-to-date information on the complete range of health care topics. With more than 2,500 embargo-free, full-text periodicals, reference books, pamphlets, and hundreds of videos demonstrating medical procedures and live surgeries, Gale OneFile: Health and Medicine ensure that researchers get current, scholarly, comprehensive answers to health-related questions.

Access with your Library Card 
Salem Press

Milestone Documents in American History (Salem Press)

Access 133 full-text primary source documents with analysis and commentary.

In Library Only  • Perfect for research 

ProQuest Culture Grams

ProQuest CultureGrams

Access concise and accurate information on the countries of the world. Includes individual reports for 200+ countries, all 50 United States, and the Canadian provinces written and reviewed by in-country experts and updated regularly. The engaging interface includes a worldwide photo gallery, slideshows, video clips, famous people collection, Faces of the Worlds interviews, recipe collection, and data tables to help put facts into perspective and for comparison.

Access with your Library Card  • Perfect for research 

ProQuest: eLibrary

ProQuest eLibrary

The ProQuest eLibrary simplifies the research process, making it easier for researchers to select their topics and get connected with scholarly information. Includes more than 11,000+ editor-created Research Topics on a vast array of people, places, historical events and eras, literary genres, current events, broad curricular themes, and much more. Editor’s picks and trending topics make it easier to explore appropriate subject matter and get started. Includes primary and scholarly sources in 100% full text. Includes 1,700+ magazines, newspapers, transcripts, and digitized reference book content. Includes more than seven million images, maps, websites, videos, and interactive simulations.

Access with your Library Card  • Perfect for research 

Proquest Homework Central

ProQuest Homework Center

The ProQuest Homework Center provides authoritative information on a variety of topics to assist student research across multiple ProQuest platforms.

Access with your Library Card  • Perfect for research 

ProQuest: Sirs Discoverer

ProQuest SIRS Discoverer

A general reference database that provides age-appropriate, authoritative, curriculum-aligned content and features for use by students and educators in elementary and middle/intermediate schools. Supports assignments for grades 4 through 8. All content is curated by trained editors and indexed from 2,000+ reliable, high-quality sources.

Access with your Library Card  • Perfect for research 

Discover Online Learning & Tools

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Khan Academy

Khan Academy offers online learning for free about absolutely anything, including science and engineering, computing, arts and humanities, economics and finance, test prep, and much more.

Mobile apps available 

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Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Search for word meanings, pronunciation, origin, synonyms, and more. Merriam-Webster has been a trusted dictionary resource since 1828. Browse the ‘Word of the Day,’ word games, and word quizzes.

All ages 

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Quizlet

Quizlet is a mobile and web-based study site. Free access includes flashcard development for topic studying and review, as well as games for learning.

Ages 12+  • Mobile apps available 

Finish High School Education

Apply for a Library Scholarship

Adults can earn their high school diploma in as few as 5 months. It's online, flexible, and free!A personal academic coach ...
Gale in Context: High School

Gale in Context: High School

Gale in Context: High School offers cross-curricular content aligned to national and state curriculum standards and reinforces the development of skills ...
Gale Interactive Science

Gale Interactive: Science

Imagine what it would be like to learn complex science concepts with more confidence and less fear. Gale Interactive: Science is a ...
Gale OneFile: High School Edition

Gale OneFile: High School Edition

Gale OneFile: High School Edition is designed for middle- and high-school students and provides access to age-appropriate, authoritative digital content ...

Find an Oral Language Piece
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Oral Language Festivals

Schools all over Kern County participate in the Oral Language Festival, a competitive event where students perform interpretations of a piece of literature in front of an audience. Literature selections must be published works that are available to all students. Pieces from organizational newsletters, the Internet, and regional newspapers are not acceptable. Overall, most published works are appropriate Oral Language texts and you can choose any book you like! Pieces must be in 3-5 minutes in length, so you may edit the piece to an appropriate length. Since new titles are continuously available, any picture book found in the Children’s area is a good place to start. Pieces should be appropriate for age, event, and presentation to a community audience. Be sure to check out YouTube for videos of past Oral Language winners!

6 Oral Language Categories

  • Serious Solo
  • Humorous Solo
  • Serious Duo – 2 students
  • Humorous Duo – 2 students
  • Verse Choir – 3 to 6 students
  • Impromptu Speech

Links & Resources

Humorous

Book NameAuthor
PartsArnold, Tedd
More PartsArnold, Tedd
The Strange and Wonderful Tale of Robert McDoodle: The Boy Who Wanted to Be a DogBauer, Steven
The Girl Who Wouldn’t Brush Her HairBernheimer, Kate
A Pig Parade is a Terrible IdeaBlack, Micheal Ian
Humorous MonologuesBolton, Martha
Never Ask a BearBonnet-Rampersaud, Louise
Would I Ever Lie to YouBeuhner, Caralyn
Click, Clack Moo: Cows that TypeCronin, Doreen
Dirty Joe, the PirateHarley, Bill
Some Things are ScaryHeide, Florence Parry
The Book of Bad IdeasHuliska-Beith, Laura
Cinder EdnaJackson, Ellen
Bigfoot CinderrrrrellaJohnston, Tony
So What’s It Like to be a CatKuskin, Karla
The Night I Followed the DogLaden, Nina
Cousin Ruth’s ToothMacDonald, Amy
The Recess QueenO’Neill, Alexis
BedheadPalantini, Margi
Piggie PiePalantini, Margi
Dragons Love TacosRubin, Adam
The Monster Who Ate My PeasSchnitzlein, Danny
Squids Will be SquidsScieszka, Jon
The True Story of the Three Little PigsScieszka, Jon
The Frog Prince ContinuedScieszka, Jon
KnuckleheadScieszka, Jon
I am Not Going to Get Up TodaySeuss, Dr
Stand Back Said Elephant I’m Going to SneezeThomas, Patricia
Falling for RapunzelWilcox, Leah
Waking BeautyWilcox, Leah
HippospotamusWillis, Jeanne
Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad DayViorst, Judith
Alexander Who Used to Be Rich Last SundayViorst, Judith
EarringsViorst, Judith
Rosie and MichaelViorst, Judith
Super-Completely and Totally the MessiestViorst, Judith
RAPunzel: A Happenin TaleVozar, David
Sleeping UglyYolen, Jane
It Could Always Be WorseZemach, Margot

Serious

Book NameAuthor
Little Match GirlAndersen, H.C.
In the Ghetto: Teens Who Survived the Ghettos of the HolocaustAyer, Eleanor H.
Great Slave NarrativesBontemps, Arna
A Day’s WorkBunting, Eve
Fly Away HomeBunting, Eve
The WallBunting, Eve
The Fall of Freddie the LeafBuscaglia, Leo
Competition Monologues IIVarious
The Rough Face GirlMartin, Rafe
The HighwaymanNoyes, Alfred
The Giving TreeSilverstein, Shel
Casey at the BatThayer, Ernest L
Our TownWilder, Thornton
The Polar ExpressVan Allsburg, Chris

Various Collections

NameAuthor
Thirty Famous One Act PlaysBennett, Cerf
50/50 Monologues for Student ActorsDepner, Mary
Winning Monologues for Young ActorsKehret, Peg

Books available in our catalog • Ages 9-13 

Get Guidance on School Projects

Brainfuse HelpNow Online Tutoring

Brainfuse HelpNow is an all-in-one suite of online live tutoring services designed for a wide range of academic needs - ...
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Conduct a Science Experiment

The Kern County Library supports learning in all academic disciplines, but is especially mindful of how important STEAM (Science, Technology, ...
mythology

Information on Mythology

Books about Percy Jackson and movies about Thor got everyone interested in mythology again, but have you ever wondered what ...

National Geographic Kids

National Geographic Kids brings together a complete archive of National Geographic magazine - every page of every issue - along ...
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Resources on Native American Tribes

Interested in California Native American culture? Writing a paper for school? The Kern County Library has some great resources to ...
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Write a California Missions Report

The California Mission Era began in 1769, and ended after the last Mission was built in 1823. California’s 21 Missions ...
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Write a Country Report

Doing country reports at the Kern County Library can be easy! Click below on any of the country names to ...
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Write a Presidents Report

Need help finding information for your President report? Here you will find information on the Presidents in all forms: books, ...
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Write a State Report

Doing state reports at the Kern County Library can be easy! Click below on any of the state names to generate a ...
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Write an Animal Report

The Kern County Library has a multitude of resources for you so your animal report can be out of this ...

Learn About Battle of the Books
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America’s Battle of the Books

America’s Battle of the Books is a nationwide reading incentive program encouraging students to read titles from a predetermined list and battle out their knowledge in a friendly competition.

Books available in our catalog  • Ages 8-12 

Practice Foreign Languages
Britannica Escolar

Britannica Escolar

The leading knowledge-building resource that is universally trusted for accurate and age-appropriate content in Spanish. Access with your Library Card  • Perfect for research 
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Google Translate

Google Translate is a free multilingual machine translation service. It includes language recognition, strong translations, and pronunciations.

Mobile apps available 

heading 'pronunciator' and eleven adults

Pronunciator

Pronunciator is a fun and free way to learn any of 87 languages with self-directed lessons, live teachers, movies, music, and more. Track your progress and learn your chosen language in your preferred learning style.

Access with your Library Card  • Ages 3+   •