Check It Out: Back to school, no matter your age

Going back to school isn’t just for kids anymore. For adults seeking opportunities to learn and grow, the Newport Beach Public Library has many resources to help you continue your educational journey.

We have several databases that can be accessed from home, such as the Testing and Education Reference Center and Universal Class. The Testing and Education Reference Center can help you prepare for a test if you’re going back to school for a higher degree or looking to make a career change. With up-to-date information as well as helpful practice tests, this is a great resource for anyone high-school age and older who needs test-prep help.

Universal Class offers students online access to up to five classes every six months. Classes feature a real teacher to help with the process. Choose from a wide variety of topics, including computer software, cooking, crafts and hobbies, and health and medicine. With more than 500 classes to choose from, you are bound to find something interesting you’d like to learn more about.

We also offer Rocket Languages, a database that provides comprehensive help in building language skills. Choose from 11 different languages; instruction includes interactive audio courses and games to help build your vocabulary.

The library also offers books to help you make your back-to-school dreams a reality. “501 Ways for Adult Students to Pay for College,” by Gen and Kelly Tanabe, offers a wealth of information about student loans and financial aid for the nontraditional student. “The Adult Student’s Guide to Survival & Success,” by Al Siebert and Mary Karr, is another guide to help adult students navigate the challenges of enrolling in and paying for college.

“Barron’s CLEP” provides test prep for the College Level Examination Program. For adults looking for a refresher on what they learned in high school, no matter how long ago it was, and for adults looking to start or restart their college careers, this helpful guide will steer you back on the right path for educational success.

The newly opened media center at the Central Library features access to Lynda.com, an online training site designed to help students learn a wide variety of specialized software programs, such as AutoCAD and Photoshop. Library card holders can make a reservation during media center hours.

The center offers a wealth of continued learning opportunities, with chances to teach yourself animation, movie editing, music creation, website design, graphic design and so much more.

Even if you’ve been away from a traditional classroom environment for a few years, it’s never too late to start learning something new or brushing up old skills. Visit the Newport Beach Public Library or go to our website to take advantage of all of the wonderful learning resources there are to offer.

CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public Library. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers by accessing the catalog at https://www.newportbeachlibrary.org. For more information on the Central Library or any of the branches, please contact the Newport Beach Public Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.