With your library card and PIN/Password, you have access to research, teaching, learning, and other educational resources.

Conduct Education Research

Education Abstracts 
Research educational topics such as adult education, multicultural/ethnic education and teaching methods.

ERIC 
Search education literature and resources.

Teacher Reference Center 
Indexing and abstracts for popular teacher and administrator journals and magazines.

Continue Your Education

Learning Express 

Practice tests and tutorial course series designed to help students and adult learners succeed on academic or licensing tests, like your PRAXIS. Get immediate scoring, complete answer explanations, and an individualized analysis of results.

Universal Class 
Learn a wide variety of skills and subjects through self-paced, instructor-led learning.

Udemy 
Learn and improve skills across business, tech, design, and more. Includes 6,000+ on-demand video courses in multiple languages.

Learn Another Language

Mango Languages 
An online language learning program that focuses on teaching actual conversational skills, including English for non-native speakers.

Rosetta Stone 
Become a language expert by listening, reading, writing and speaking. Choose from 30 languages.

Share with Your Students

Homework Resources

Your students can access reference books, newspapers, encyclopedias, journals, and much more remotely. See the Homework Help and Online Information pages for the complete list of resources available to students.

Brainfuse 
Live tutors and expert help available daily from 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm. 

Test Preparation and Skills Practice/Review

Learning Express School Center 
Review and practice reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, language and reasoning.

Learning Express High School
Practice skills and prepare for GED examination.

Learning Express College Preparation Center
Prepare for entrance examinations from PSAT to ACT to AP subjects.

Learning Express Career Center
Prepare for Work Keys tests, occupational tests (military, nursing, plumbing, etc.), and professional entrance exams (allied health, culinary arts, etc.).

Brainfuse 
Expert help includes a writing lab, language learner lab, and skills building, plus eParachute, which describes college majors and assists in matching skill sets and interests.

The Mailbox
A resource for teachers featuring unlimited access to classroom activities, lesson plans, and worksheets.

Find a Book, Read or Tell a Story

Looking for classroom or personal reading? Try our Kids Recommended and Teen Recommended pages for lists of award winning children’s and teen books and other good reads. If you need something a little more grown-up, check out our Adult Recommended page.

Bookflix 
Interactive reading that pairs classic video storybooks with related nonfiction titles. Includes puzzles and other activities too. Geared for K-3.

Lightbox
Interactive nonfiction books that integrate multimedia into each page. Enjoy online, no downloads required. For grades K-12. 

Picture Book Finder
Picture books grouped by subject and linked to our online catalog.

Bilingual Stories with Storyteller Joe Hayes
Hayes tells bilingual (Spanish-English) tales from the Hispanic, Native American and Anglo cultures.

Homeschool Resources

At Olathe Public Library, we make every effort to support and encourage the homeschooling families in our community. Our librarians are happy to assist you in finding the resources you need along the way.

Getting Started 

The state of Kansas classifies all homeschools as Non-Accredited Private Schools. Homeschools must be registered with the state, and must provide class time that is substantially equivalent to the time public schools are in session. More information about these and other requirements can be found on the Kansas State Department of Education’s Homeschooling Fact Sheet. For those looking for a basic list of the steps to follow when deciding to homeschool, Midwest Parent Educators, a local homeschool organization, offers a helpful guide.

Local Homeschool Groups

If you’re looking for a way to connect with other homeschool families, there are several groups in the area that provide opportunities for resource sharing and networking, as well as offering ways to find out about special events for homeschoolers in the Kansas City area. Membership in these groups generally requires a small fee, however some resources on their websites are available for free.

Midwest Parent Educators
The largest homeschool group in the Kansas City area, MPE has provided support to homeschoolers for more than 30 years. It is a Christian organization, however membership is open to everyone. MPE offers access to smaller support groups, known as Cluster Groups. They also host an annual curriculum fair, homeschooling conference, and graduation ceremony.

Johnson County Homeschool 
This group serves families in Johnson County and KC metro area. The group is currently only accepting new members on a referral basis, however their website provides links to many of the local activities and programs available to homeschoolers.

Library Resources for Homeschoolers

Recommended Books
Find books on getting started homeschooling as well as curriculum guides by grade level. If you need a particular item that isn’t owned by a library within the Olathe or Johnson County library systems, we can often obtain it through Interlibrary Loan.

Online Resources
Find more than 100 electronic databases including many that may be of use to homeschooling families, including encyclopedias and reference works. In addition, online learning programs include language learning, computer instruction, academic subjects, college exam prep and more.

Using the library’s subscription to Brainfuse, students in Kindergarten through college can connect to live tutors using an online classroom. Tutors are trained and certified by Brainfuse. They must have a four-year degree and prior teaching/tutoring experience and must also pass a background and reference check. Tutors are available Monday through Sunday from 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm.