Education & Test Preparation

DRIVING TESTS - FREE TEXAS DPS PRACTICE TESTS

Driving-tests.org includes free tests specifically based on Texas’s Department of Public Safety materials. Most tests have 40-50 questions that include hints and explanations for each question. The tests will automatically update as new practice tests become available. It is the only site of its kind to include accessibility tools and translate pages into Spanish. Driving-Tests.org’s specialized practice exams turn new drivers into safer drivers!

What’s included?

• 11 car practice tests
• 9 motorcycle practice tests
• 12 CDL (commercial driver’s license) practice tests
• 3 online driver’s manuals (car, motorcycle, CDL)
• A FAQ section with detailed answers to over 100 DPS-related questions

Take the marathon test and answer all the questions at once or use the exam simulator where there are no hints or explanations - just like the real test! The Read Aloud toolbar (found in the footer of every page) includes tools that let users hear selections read aloud or make them into MP3s, magnify text, and mask sections of the screen for greater visibility.

EDUCATION REFERENCE BOOKS

Online editions of The College Blue Book, Scholarships, Fellowships and Loans plus The Education Encyclopedia and many great college and career choice titles.

Gale Virtual Reference Library is a database of encyclopedias, specialized reference tools and informational resources that all ages can benefit from using. These reference materials once were accessible only in the library, but now you can access them online from the library or remotely from home or school 24/7.

• Popular reference and informational titles in a digital eBook format
• Cross-searchable and printable as PDF's
• No need to checkout – just use it
• No waiting – unlimited simultaneous access

We have over a thousand titles to choose from. Many have been grouped into collections to make it easier to use them.

Gale Virtual Reference Tutorial

Gale OneFile Educator's Reference Complete

• Provides full text for titles in the ERIC database and covers multiple levels of education from preschool to college and every educational specialty

Jobs & Career Gateway
A diverse collection of eResources to help get that job, find a better job, or help you advance your skills.  Resources include job search, resume tools, live tutoring, courses, test prep and carefully selected career and vocational eBooks.

The Jobs & Career Gateway includes:

AtoZ Databases 
AtoZdatabases is the premier Reference, Research, Marketing, Mailing Lists/Sales Leads, and Job-Search Database.

Career Center
Prepare for a career exam, explore occupations, and improve your workplace skills here.

Job & Career Accelerator
The LearningExpress Job & Career Accelerator gives job seekers of all ages, the most comprehensive collection of job and career resources anywhere—all in one place and always available online.

JobNow
Live tutors to help with resumes and interviewing. Available 7 days a week from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. for all Library card holders

LearningExpress Library 
LearningExpress Library features nearly 1,000 online tutorials, practice tests, and eBooks to help patrons of all ages. It offers job search and workplace skills improvement, skill building in reading, writing, math, and basic science, career certification and licensure exam prep, college and grad school entrance test prep, GED® test prep, and more.

Mango Languages
PhD-created and linguist-approved software teaches real conversations in over 70 languages and makes it fun. You will build language proficiency and cultural understanding around real-world communication skills that you'll actually need. 

Peterson’s Test and Career Prep
(Formerly Testing & Education Reference Center) Prepare for standardized tests with eBooks, online courses, and full-length practice tests for GED, SAT, ACT, AP, PSAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, TOEFL, U.S. citizenship, and more in Gale Presents: Peterson’s Test and Career Prep. Research undergraduate and graduate programs, finding tuition assistance, and exploring and preparing for careers whether you’re entering the workforce for the first time or searching for new opportunities. A variety of interactive methods prompt personalized career recommendations and insight on programs, knowledge, skills, and ability. Search for jobs and create visually interesting résumés, cover letters, and websites that can be externally shared with prospective employers, using prebuilt templates.

Universal Class
Universal Class brings libraries lifelong learning courses in over 30 subject areas, many of which offer continuing education units (CEUs). More than 500 courses are available, and all are designed and led by professional instructors to build deeper understanding and mastery of subject matter. Universal Class includes videos, assignments, quizzes, tests, and options for social media interaction with other learners. Patrons may take multiple classes and learn at their own pace.

VetNow
VetNow supports your community’s veterans and their families with navigating the VA bureaucracy, providing academic tutoring, and employment transition assistance.

Virtual Reference Library - Careers
A collection of eBooks specifically selected for supporting jobs and career inquiries.

Vocational & Career Collection
Full text coverage for more than 350 trade and industry-related periodicals

LEARNINGEXPRESS LIBRARY

LearningExpress Library features nearly 1,000 online tutorials, practice tests, and eBooks to help patrons of all ages. It offers job search and workplace skills improvement, skill building in reading, writing, math, and basic science, career certification and licensure exam prep, college and grad school entrance test prep, GED® test prep, and more.

LearningExpress consists of:

• School Center - The resources here can help students in elementary, middle, and high school prepare for important tests, get extra help with assignments, and boost their skills in important subjects.
• High School Equivalency Center - Earning a high school equivalency credential can open the door to better income, a more fulfilling job, and a college education. If you are preparing for the GED® test, HiSET® or TASC™ exams, our practice tests, interactive tutorials, and eBooks will help you reach your goal.
• Adult Learning Center - This center offers busy adults the resources to improve basic skills in reading, writing, math, and becoming a U.S. citizen.
• College Center Plus - Strengthen your academic skills and prepare for placement tests and graduate school entrance exams.
• College Prep Center - Getting into college is an important step to building a strong future. First, you must do well on your college admission tests and write a personal essay that highlights your special talents. Use this center to get the resources you need to achieve your college preparation goals.
• Career Center Plus - Prepare for a career exam, explore occupations, and improve your workplace skills.
• Job & Career Accelerator™ - Whether you’re looking to find a new job in your current field or pursue a career in an exciting new industry, Job & Career Accelerator™ has the powerful tools and expert guidance to help you through every step of the process.
• Computer Skills - Video courses are the fastest and easiest way to learn how to use a computer. Use the materials in this center to learn the basics of computers, from searching the Internet to using popular programs for word processing, creating spreadsheets and databases, implementing design, and more.
• Recursos para Hispanohablantes - Este centro ofrece a los adultos que están muy ocupados los recursos para mejorar sus habilidades básicas, ganar sus credenciales de GED® o ser ciudadano estadounidense.

Learning Express Tutorial

MANGO LANGUAGES

PhD-created and linguist-approved software teaches real conversations in over 70 languages and makes it fun. You will build language proficiency and cultural understanding around real-world communication skills that you'll actually need. Learn through examples like 'What time are they arriving?' instead of much less useful phrases like 'The dog is under the table.'  With Mango, you'll learn vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and culture all in one integrated experience. 

• Intuitive - Mango breaks things down into small, bite-sized chunks; then challenges you to build them back up into full sentences. You'll learn language structure and vocabulary in a highly intuitive and contextual way.
• Construct - Mango teaches you how to create new meaning on your own by challenging you to combine freshly learned language structures and vocabulary with ones you learned in the past. You'll be amazed at how early you develop flexible communication skills.
• Pronounce - Mango's interactive words, pronunciation helpers, and voice comparison technology gives you everything you need to dial in that perfect accent. Audio can be heard slow and articulate, or at a faster conversational pace.
• Culture - Mango gives you the crucial cultural insights you'll need to communicate appropriately, meet new friends, and fully understand your new language.
• Movies - Like to watch movies? Imagine having everything you need to learn a new language through foreign film. With Mango, you get real entertainment immersion to take your skills to the next level.
• Memory building exercises - Perfectly-timed memory building exercises ensure you actually retain what you've learned. Get something wrong? Don't worry, you'll come back to it later.
• Semantic color mapping - Color mapping quickly reveals the relationship between your native language and your target language, giving you insight into the grammar and expressive mechanics of your new language.
• Understood and literal meanings - Get a better understanding of your new language by learning both understood and literal meanings. For example, the literal meaning of “How are you?“ is “How your things?“ in Russian.
• English as a Second Language - Native speakers of over 18 popular languages can learn English from Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean plus many more.
• Specialty Courses - Celebrate world cultures and learn languages in specific contexts.  Want to enjoy wine and cheese in France in French?  Speak Italian at the horse races in Sienna?  Converse in German at Oktoberfest and have the proper attire?  There are practical courses too like medical and legal Spanish.  Really get ready for Talk Like a Pirate Day next year!
• Mobile - Mango goes wherever you go with full apps for iOS and Android mobile devices. Over 60 language courses available in the palm of your hand.
• Online - Mango can be used online from any computer, anywhere, at any time. No CDs, DVDs, downloads, or installations. Used in conjunction with our mobile apps, Mango is one of the most accessible language and culture learning platforms on earth.

Mango Languages Tutorial

Gale Presents: Peterson’s Test and Career Prep
(Formerly Testing & Education Reference Center) Prepare for standardized tests with eBooks, online courses, and full-length practice tests for GED, SAT, ACT, AP, PSAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, TOEFL, U.S. citizenship, and more in Gale Presents: Peterson’s Test and Career Prep. Research undergraduate and graduate programs, finding tuition assistance, and exploring and preparing for careers whether you’re entering the workforce for the first time or searching for new opportunities. A variety of interactive methods prompt personalized career recommendations and insight on programs, knowledge, skills, and ability. Search for jobs and create visually interesting résumés, cover letters, and websites that can be externally shared with prospective employers, using prebuilt templates.

Overview:

• Find valuable information on colleges, technical schools, practice entrance exams and certifications, and professional license exams
• Ability to search colleges and universities, financial aid programs and scholarship information in one easily accessible spot
• A tuition cost calculator to easily assess the investment needed
• Online test prep and eBooks to study for school, college and careers
• Many varied diagnostic pre-tests that help students determine where they currently stand and how much prep they need before taking a certification exam
• Users can explore career choices, assess their likes, determine their abilities and strengths, measure their interests, build a web-based resume, create a cover letter, research specific job salaries, and map a career path to occupations most suitable to their goals

Gale Presents: Udemy

Udemy offers thousands of high-quality, on-demand video courses taught by world-class instructors across 75 categories for upskilling in the areas of business, technology, and design. You can also achieve personal success with courses on health and well-being, the arts, language learning, and more.

Udemy’s platform offers the highest-quality content for the most in-demand skills. Users can select the instructor and content that best addresses their skills need and learning preferences and filter search results on course features, level, duration, topic, and ratings. Smart recommendations based on the learner’s previous in-app activities offer a personalized learning experience with suggested courses relevant to their interests.

Users can learn anywhere and anytime.
With an app for iOS and Android, users can download courses to watch offline, listen to courses with podcast-style audio, and watch courses using Chromecast or Apple TV.

Get the app

Universal Class

Universal Class brings libraries lifelong learning courses in over 30 subject areas, many of which offer continuing education units (CEUs). More than 500 courses are available, and all are designed and led by professional instructors to build deeper understanding and mastery of subject matter. Universal Class includes videos, assignments, quizzes, tests, and options for social media interaction with other learners. Patrons may take multiple classes and learn at their own pace.

Over 500 CEU level courses covering 30 subject areas including:

• Computer Training
• Personal Finance
• General Education
• Business
• Entrepreneurship
• Parenting & Family
• Pet & Animal Care
• Career Training
• Health & Medicine
• Arts, Crafts & Hobbies
• Teacher Resources
• Homeschooling

Continuing Educational Unit (CEU) Courses: All Universal Class courses offer CEU credit. The typical time to complete a course is approximately 10 hours per CEU credit.

Video-Audit Mode: Universal Class offers over 300 courses for learners wanting to review courses without assignments, tests, or certification. Learners starting a video-audit course may switch over to the CEU course at any time.

Multifaceted Learning Styles: Video-based and written lessons are monitored by live instructors, so students interact with a real person while learning about the topic of their choice.

Multiple Course Enrollment: Each learner may enroll in up to five courses at a time, with six months to complete each course.

Internationally Recognized CEU Certification: Universal Class is IACET (International Association for Continuing Education and Training) certified for all courses. The IACET Council on Standards Development is responsible for the development, maintenance, and dissemination of evidence-based standards that promote and enhance continuing education and training (CE/T).

Universal Class Tutorial

VetNow

VetNow supports your community’s veterans and their families with navigating the VA bureaucracy, providing academic tutoring, and employment transition assistance.

Live Veteran Navigator: Connect with an expert to learn more about eligible VA benefits and community resources.
Live Job Coaching: Get help to transition your resume from military to civilian careers including translating military skills, key words, and more.
Resume Lab: Get help to transition your resume from military to civilian careers including formatting, key words, transferable skills, and more from Brainfuse experts.

Live service hours:  
Tutors/Job Coaches – 7 days a week: 2 to 11 p.m.
VA Navigators – Monday thru Friday: 1 to 9 p.m.

Additional resources available 24/7:

• Veteran Resources: carefully selected resources to help you understand your benefits and community resources
• Unemployment Benefits Assistance: Live unemployment benefits coaches are available to help workers determine unemployment eligibility benefits using state and federal guidelines. Experts help with filling out applications and finding the right unemployment resources so it isn't so overwhelming. During this unprecedented time, it is our goal to help workers receive the benefits they are entitled to. Resources include links to unemployment insurance as well as links by state.
• eParachute: discover the college majors and careers that match your skills and interests.
• Live Resume Coaching
• Resume Templates & Resources
• Optimal Resume: Award-winning resume creation software, job interview preparation, and much more
• Live Interview Coaching
• Interview Tips & Resources: help you prepare for your interview
• SkillSurfer: learning library with thousands of lessons, quizzes and tests. A "Get Live Help" button above a lesson or quiz connects you to a live online tutor.
• Writing Lab: get live writing assistance or, better yet, submit your work for a full critique within 24 hours.
• 24/7 Help: submit your questions anytime and the tutor will reply within 24 hours
• Language Lab: tutoring for your foreign language homework
• Message Center: create an account to view past sessions, access your submitted questions, tests, calendar, and Flash Bulb flashcards.
• Expert help is available in Spanish | La ayuda de expertos está disponible en español