Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Opens Early With Special Student Hours For Kindergarten Through College

Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Opens Early With Special Student Hours For Kindergarten Through College

New early hours bring additional support for distance learning

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District announced new early opening hours for students of all ages as part of its ongoing effort to support distance learning success. For students in grades K-College, early opening hours at the Library District’s 13 urban branches began on September 14, and run every Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Regular library hours for all public access will continue to open at 10 a.m. Urban branch locations and early opening details can be found at https://lvccld.org/special-services/

The new early opening hours are available for students only, in grades kindergarten through college, with a valid student ID or other proof of enrollment, such as registration papers, a school receipt, or course login info. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult caregiver, and older students can choose to be accompanied by a family member or caregiver. There will be free access to WiFi and computers and printing is available, with open seating and social distancing in place.

“Distance learning is putting unique demands on students and their families,” said Fred James, acting executive director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. “Our mission is to provide a range of solutions that give parents and kids the tools they need to be successful in this new learning environment. Teens and college-bound young people who don’t have a computer or WiFi at home may even elect to stay past 10 a.m. to log into their classes and complete their school day from the library.”

In Addition to Early Student Hours:

The Library District’s 25 library branches across Clark County offer parents and caregivers a vast array of free services that support student achievement, including STEAM project-based learning programs, a wealth of online and physical materials to assist with homework, including Homework Help centers with laptops and printers, and tutoring services.

The Library District is also partnering with the City of Las Vegas to bring Vegas Strong Academy student support centers to library branches. The Academy is run by City of Las Vegas Safekey staff from the Department of Youth Development and Social Innovation, and is available at five Library District locations: East Las Vegas Library, West Las Vegas Library, Clark County Library, Sunrise Library, and Windmill Library from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Register here for all sites: www.lasvegasnevada.gov/VegasStrongAcademy. Parents can inquire about their eligibility for Vegas Strong Academy subsidies by calling the City of Las Vegas at 702.229.2273.

In-branch technology resources that are available with your free library card include computers, laptops and WiFi, plus, parents and students can check out iPads and WiFi hotspots for at-home use. Your library card also lets you check out books, movies, music, and other materials from the branch locations as well as stream and download content from the Library District website at LVCCLD.org. There is even more to discover using our website, with links to hundreds of online learning resources covering math, science, history, biographies, literature, geography, and many other topics for all ages. Be sure to explore our Tools for School Success to make distance learning easier and more fun.

Parents can sign up for a library card for their child in a branch or register for a free digital eCard at LVCCLD.org/eCard (instructions in English or Spanish).

For the full range of Library District programs, services, plus online learning, go to LVCCLD.org/Limitless-Learning. Below is a brief overview:

• Free In-Branch Homework Help – Starting September 21, 2020, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Foundation will provide in-person tutoring for students in grades K-12.

• Schedules will vary by branch, so please call the branch to confirm times and availability. For library locations, hours, and special services offered at each branch, go to https://lvccld.org/special-services/.

• UNLV Tutors for K-12 – Students from the UNLV School of Education will provide homework help assistance weekly, Monday through Thursday plus Saturday during daytime hours, at all 13 urban library branches in the Vegas Valley. Please call your nearest branch to confirm times and availability.

• Teacher Tutors for K-12 – Teachers from CCSD will be available for free in-person tutoring weekly, Monday through Thursday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the following branches: Centennial Hills Library, East Las Vegas Library, Rainbow Library, Spring Valley Library, Sunrise Library, West Las Vegas Library, Whitney Library, and Windmill Library, with support from the United Way of Southern Nevada. Please call the branch to confirm availability.

• Teen Tech Labs – The Library District operates several Teen Tech Labs that give youth access to new technologies related to media and music production, coding, robotics, and other maker projects. The following labs and programs are open, with activities limited by the Governor’s health directives and social distancing requirements:

• COX Teen STEAM LAB at Enterprise Library

• Robot LAB Programs at East Las Vegas Library sponsored by NV Energy and Union Pacific

• SWITCH Robot Lab at West Las Vegas Library

• Best Buy Teen Tech Center at Clark County Library

• Homework Help Centers offer in-person Homework Help Centers and laptops for K-12 at the following select locations: Centennial Hills Library, East Las Vegas Library, West Las Vegas Library, Rainbow Library, and Sunrise Library. Please call the branch to confirm times and availability.

• Take-and-Make projects are our engaging, educational new “library take-out” projects that package DIY activity materials with written instructions for kids to take home and create.

• Storytimes, STEAM, and other interactive programs that provide valuable growth and development opportunities for children and their caregivers will be offered weekly in all library branches.

• Kickoff to Kindergarten is a drive-thru event this year and the first 250 families will receive backpacks with school supplies! It is held annually at the East Las Vegas Library with the University of Nevada Extension and 14 community organizations to prepare kids for this first big educational step. This resource fair provides caregivers with a range of resources for children ages 3-5. The event will take place on Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Three Square will provide after school meals beginning the first day of school at the following library branches: Clark County Library, Enterprise Library, Spring Valley Library, and Whitney Library.

• Discovery Children’s Museum Family Adventure Passes are available to check out at all of our library branches for a period of three weeks, allowing free entrance to the museum daily for families of four.

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District is an independent taxing entity that serves a diverse community across 8,000 square miles. Through its 25 branches and website, the Library District offers a collection of 3.2 million items consisting of books, eResources, movies, music and now, Discovery Children’s museum passes. The Library District is a vibrant and vital member of the community offering limitless learning; business and career advancement; government and social service support; and a place where people find a sense of culture and community. For more information, visit LVCCLD.org.

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Foundation is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation that expands the programs and reach of the Library District. Foundation efforts align with Library District goals to be a key community asset in learning, employment, and community vitality. The Foundation attracts new resources for Library District service innovations and partnerships that improve the educational, economic and social well-being of people and communities in southern Nevada. For more information, visit LVCCLDFoundation.org.