Access to Everything, All the Time
For many teachers and school librarians, accessing a wide variety of materials is a challenge. Costs are one issue, and having the space to keep multiple copies of a textbook or popular Young Adult title is another.
“You know what’s really expensive? Artbooks. Knowing how art changes over time really helps our students transform their art, and do big art history projects,” Amanda said. “I don’t have to have every single book on Pablo Picasso. Kids can order big, expensive, expansive books of Picasso’s art from NPL. If I had to order those, I’d be spending $150 to 200 on a single one of these books. Because Limitless exists, I don’t have to.”
It’s a sentiment that Elise DeTrude — 3rd Grade Teacher at Westmeade Elementary School — shares.
“I’ve used Limitless since I started teaching, and I love it. It’s very efficient and convenient for teachers,” Elise said. “I use Limitless for whatever type of unit we’re working on, because I don’t keep a huge stock of books in my classroom.
“For instance, I just ordered a lot of books on animal adaptations, because that’s our next science unit. I try to order them before so students can preview them, get them interested, and maybe order a book for themselves from Limitless that’s similar.”
Beyond books, Limitless allows teachers and students to access NPL’s extensive collection of databases, from PowerKnowledge to New York Times Online, for classes, research projects, and more.
And for students with reading challenges, it’s a boon.
“I know, for a lot of struggling readers, they really love the confidence that audiobooks and other read-for-you books gives them,” Elise said. “It’s the feeling of being able to do something on their own, just like their classmates. It opens up a whole new world for them.”