State Library Announces Partnership with South Carolina Connections Academy
Columbia, SC – The South Carolina State Library is pleased to announce a new partnership with South Carolina Connections Academy (SCCA). The partnership emphasizes library usage for face to face meetings between students and teachers, use of online statewide services such as DISCUS, South Carolina’s Virtual Library as well as SchoolRooms, the new K-12 online multimedia discovery place for South Carolina students, teachers, parents and librarians.
South Carolina Connections Academy is the first of the new South Carolina virtual charter schools to enter into partnership with the State Library. According to SCCA principal, Dr. Don Brown, “This partnership helps connect families with students who attend the South Carolina Connections Academy to the resources already available in their local communities. It supports the increased use of libraries as well as provides virtual students more personal interaction.”
Students at South Carolina Connections Academy will have continued access to all of the online resources currently accessible in public schools either through their local public libraries or from home. Director of the State Library, David Goble, stated, “This is our first formal partnership with a virtual school. We expect to see many more partnerships of this kind. We have been providing virtual services to the State’s citizens for over 10 years through DISCUS, South Carolina’s virtual library. We are very excited to work with a partner that understands that libraries are essential to education and is eager to capitalize on the statewide service provided by the State Library and Public Libraries throughout the state. SchoolRooms is the newest of our statewide projects and we are thrilled about the opportunity to get the word out about its importance to K-12 students.” Goble continued to say that, “teachers, librarians and parents will find SchoolRooms to be an essential tool for supporting student learning. DISCUS and SchoolRooms are two of our premiere online services every student, teacher, parent, and librarian should be aware of and using.”
South Carolina SchoolRooms provides resources, built around school curriculum, to assist students with homework and school projects. Users can search their library’s catalog, educational websites, and selected DISCUS databases all at once. This online learning tool is not only designed for students, but also includes practical and relevant guides to assist parents, educators, and librarians. SchoolRooms is available at schools, libraries, and from home, using a simple e-registration form. The SchoolRooms project is funded in part by a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the South Carolina State Library. For more information about SchoolRooms, contact Amanda Stone astone@statelibrary.sc.gov and visit the web site at http://scsl.schoolrooms.net.
DISCUS, South Carolina’s virtual library provides reliable and up to date online access to magazine and newspaper articles, online encyclopedias, health, business, and legal research databases, and much more. DISCUS is funded primarily by an appropriation from the South Carolina General Assembly through the K-12 School Technology Initiative and is administered by the South Carolina State Library. Additional funding from the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) also supports DISCUS. For more information, contact Amy Duernberger aduernberger@statelibrary.sc.gov and visit the DISCUS web site at http://www.scdiscus.org.
The South Carolina Connections Academy provides a new form of public school that students can attend from home. This is a unique program that combines strong parental involvement, the expertise and accountability of publicly funded education, and the flexibility of online classes. For more information, contact Dr. Don Brown, Principal dbrown@connectionsacademy.com and visit the web site at http://www.connectionsacademy.com.