Library
About the Library
The primary goal Selma High School Media Center is to implement, enrich, and support the educational program of Selma High School. We are dedicated to providing the learning community with the resources and instruction in information literacy needed as we support and complement the school's changing curriculum and personal interests of the patrons. We recognize that learning is a lifelong process and to this end we dedicate our time, our talents, and our resources.
Ms. Richardson, Library Media Specialist
email: ashley.richardson@selmacityschools.org
Mr. Cole, Library Assistant
email: shawn.cole@selmacityschools.org
eBooks
MackinVIA™ is a program that makes it easy to access your school’s digital resources. You can use MackinVIA on any desktop, laptop, or mobile device with Internet access. If you would like to download titles to read offline, our free MackinVIA app is available for all major mobile devices.
Free eBooks
Project Gutenberg - Choose among free epub and Kindle eBooks, download them or read them online. You will find the world's great literature here, with focus on older works for which U.S. copyright has expired. Thousands of volunteers digitized and diligently proofread the eBooks, for you to enjoy.
Open Library - Open Library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published.
Student Resources
ACT/SAT and Test Prep
ACT.org - free ACT practice tests and study guides
Homework Alabama - Test Prep and Self-Study for almost all standardized testing, including SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, and more. Live tutoring help in standardized test subjects including GED, HiSET, and ASVAB. **Librarian Recommended**
Khan Academy Test Prep - Self-paced courses for SAT Math, SAT Reading and Writing, and more.
Formatting and Citations
EasyBib - Citation and formatting guides with clear examples. AI powered citation generation and plagiarism check. **Always double check generated citations!
MLA Style Center - A companion to the MLA Handbook, quick guide to citing in MLA
OWL Purdue - Guides for APA, MLA, avoiding plagiarism
Homework Help
Homework Alabama - Through Homework Alabama, every Alabamian gains no-cost access to one-to-one tutoring and drop-off review services, test prep and self-paced resources, and job search assistance. All tutors are rigorously vetted subject-matter experts. They ask questions, they encourage, and they empower. They’re available every day from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. so that learners of all ages and stages can get help anytime, anywhere, from any internet-connected device. **Librarian Recommended**
Khan Academy - personalized learning, practice exercises, and instructional videos covering a variety of subjects, test prep, and life skills
Research Links
Alabama Virtual Library - The Alabama Virtual Library provides all students, teachers, and citizens of the State of Alabama with 24/7 online access to premier library and information resources free of charge. **Librarian Recommended**
Recommended Databases:
- EBSCO Discovery Service: High School - single search access to most AVL resources
- Gale in Context - Opposing Viewpoints - facts and insight into debated social and political issues
- Gale Power Search - single search across a variety of Gale databases
Library of Congress Digital Collections - Great for primary sources!
Selma Dallas County Public Library - Originally established in 1904, as a Carnegie Library, the Selma-Dallas County Public Library has grown into a 25,000 square foot community center located in the heart of downtown Selma, Alabama.
Life After High School
Career Prep
Alabama Works - find a job, search career tips, and locate career centers
Career Onestop - U.S. Department of Labor source for career exploration, training, and jobs **Librarian Recommended**
Job Corps - the nation's largest free, residential career training and education program for low-income young adults ages 16 through 24
College and Scholarships
Career Onestop Scholarship Finder - search more than 9,500 scholarships, fellowships, grants, and other financial aid award opportunities
CollegeChoice.net - college search and rankings
Scholarships.com - Alabama Scholarships
Selma Dallas County Public Library - information and applications for The Edwin and Virginia Godbold Scholarship and The Will Goodwyn Scholarship for SHS students
Selma University - Scholarships
StudentAid.gov - learn about grants, loans, and scholarships and apply for FAFSA
Military
Other Opportunities and Resources
AmeriCorps NCCC - a service program for young adults that strengthens communities and develops leaders through direct, team-based national and community service. A full-time, residential program for young adults ages 18-26.
Khan Academy Life Skills - Self-paced courses on Financial Literacy, College Admissions, Careers, Personal Finance, and more **Librarian Recommended**
For Teachers
Information Literacy
Checkology from the News Literacy Project - free virtual classroom covering misinformation, disinformation, media literacy, and more
Civic Online Reasoning - free curriculum to help students evaluate online information
Common Sense Media: AI Literacy - quick, grab-and-go lessons to help your students think critically about AI and its impact
Purdue OWL: Preventing Plagiarism - These OWL resources contain lesson plans and activities to help teachers instruct students on how to understand and avoid plagiarism.
Standards and Lessons
Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX)
ISTE - The ISTE Standards are a framework that guides educators, leaders and coaches in using technology to create high-impact, sustainable, scalable and equitable learning experiences. They have been adopted by all U.S. states and many countries worldwide.
Khan Academy State Standards: Alabama - browse courses by state standards
TeachingBooks - discover virtual teaching ideas, provide all students passages to 76,962 books, share resources via email and Google Classroom, and more
Teacher Tools
Canva - free for teachers and students. Create and personalize lesson plans, infographics, posters, video, and more.
MagicSchool AI - AI for educators
For Parents
Alabama Virtual Library: All Resources - The Alabama Virtual Library provides all students, teachers, and citizens of the State of Alabama with 24/7 online access to premier library and information resources free of charge. **Librarian Recommended**
Common Sense Media - since 2003, Common Sense has been the leading independent source for media recommendations and advice for families
Kahn for Families - Units on using Khan Academy to support your student
