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for Families: Reading and Academic Growth

My own library card

Parents, make sure your child gains access to information.

Once a child reaches 13, she or he may have their own public library card. Getting a personal library card is an essential first step to adulthood, cultivating independent reading habits and lifelong learning.

The Alameda County Library eCard is easy to apply for and gives your student access to certain databases and e-resources that they will need to use in certain high school classes. Ask your student to follow these steps to get an eCard. 

Our goal, starting in 2025, is to have all entering Freshman get eCards before school starts.

Apply for Alameda County eCard

Alameda County Library logo

Alameda County Library eCard

https://alam1.aclibrary.org/selfreg

Castro Valley Public Library eCard

Sign up for a Castro Valley Public Library eCard in these quick steps:

 

  1. Enter your birthdate
  2. Enter your name, home address (in Alameda County), phone and student email (CVHS Gmail account or other)
  3. You will instantly receive an account number. Save it somewhere!
  4. Test your access to the eLibrary.

 

Tip:

Write down your account number somewhere you will remember! If you have a cellphone, add it as a "Contact.".You will also receive a confirmation email from CircAdmin. Keep that message in a folder!

For more information, visit the Alameda County Library's FAQ on library cards and eCards. 

https://aclibrary.org/faq/library-cards-ecards/

PIN

Note: the first time you use your eCard, you will be asked to set up a PIN. Enter a four digit pin that you will remember. Write it down or keep it where you keep your library card number (e.g. phone contacts, email folder).

Test Your Access to the eLibrary Databases

1. Visit the Alameda County Public Library homepage. https://aclibrary.org/ 

2. Go to "Learn and Connect" and "E-Library"

AC Library Learn and Connect eLibrary

4. Find the Gale-in-Context: Biography database listed alphabetically under "G".

Gale in Context: Biography database

3. Select the A-Z List of e-Resources.

A-Z List E-Resources

5. In the Gale-in-Context: Biography database, search for a famous person.

You did it! It worked!

Gale Biography Search

Now explore the databases in your subject or field on the A-Z list!

Challenge: Find 2 databases in your field. If you can't find one readily, ask your CVHS Librarian or an AC Librarian to guide you or to build a guide for you.  Some databases may contain information in your field but are not explicitly described that way.

A place to read and social reading

High school students become lifelong readers when they have freedom to read, a variety of interesting places to read, and most important, some kind of social interaction around what they are reading. 

  • Freedom to read, choose and explore. In high school years, it is essential that students sample things, in fiction and non-fiction, in order to develop their own reading favorites, viewpoints, discernment and curiosity. It is okay to start a book and not finish it or to have multiple books checked out at a time. And it's important to ensure access to as much information as you and your community can afford (through print and digital libraries, personal collections, etc.) Check out the American Library Association's Freedom to Read Statement and the Right to Read Act.
  • Places to read including multiple places at home (bedroom, living room, kitchen table, balcony or backyard) and in the community (public library, cafe, park, BART train). Mixing it up can help with concentration and memory. Allow students to experiment until they find their best combination of places. 
  • Social interaction around reading.  Social interaction can be as simple as a comment about a book by a parent, a friend or a neighbor. Book reviews and recommendation sites, BookTok podcasts, author interviews and book trailers on TeachingBooks.net (see the Library A-Z Database List) can all help to socialize a book or reading interest. Check out the I Read section of the library website.