Library
Welcome to the PWBHS Media Center! Our philosophy is that the library is the literacy and curriculum hub of the school. It is the place that every student and every class utilizes for academic growth. We work hard to bring our stakeholders the best resources, innovative technology, fun programs, and great reads.
Library Newsletter
More to Explore
Finding Books
Find the Right Book for You!
Countless studies show that there is a direct correlation between being a reader and being academically successful. The PWBHS library is the perfect place to improve your reading ability. All you have to do is find a book you are interested in. We have worked to make that easier by arranging our library fiction section like a bookstore. All fiction books are arranged by genre. Maybe you would like a horror novel or are in the mood for some sci-fi. Romance may be more your speed, or possibly a drama-filled urban fiction is more your cup of tea. Whatever your mood, we have something for you!
- MackinVision is the way to search the library's entire print collection. Students can search by topic, collection, title, author, or sublocation to find the perfect read for them. They can access the MackinVision site through the TCS ClassLink.
- Sora is the digital library collection of the Tuscaloosa City School System and the children's and YA digital collection of the Tuscaloosa Public Library. There are over 10,000 digital books available to you for virtual checkout.
Research Resources
In the Information Age we live in, one of the most important life skills needed is the ability to find the information. Many students can struggle with this skill. Added to the information literacy instruction you receive in the library, the resources on this page should help you with the research requirements of your classes and help you gain the research skills necessary to be a success in college. Just click on the links below to access these resources.
- The Alabama Virtual Library is your main source for database research.
- Sora is the digital library collection of the Tuscaloosa City School System. There are over 5,000 digital books available to you for virtual check-out.
- The Online Writing Lab of Purdue University (OWL) is a phenomenal resource on how to write your paper according to MLA, APA, or other style guides.
- Easybib is a citation creation site. This resource will help you create MLA citations for your papers.
21st Century Tools for Fun and Work!
The library is smack dab in the intersection between technology and books...the modern digital world and the older academic world of reading. We aim to serve both needs in the PWBHS library. Our students have over 15,000 books to choose from to read for information or pleasure. However, we also teach and utilize technology resources and tools to classes across the content areas. Below you will find a link to just a few of the tech resources we recommend and give instruction to students and teachers.
Utilizing the tech tool Sqworl, we have provided you with this Tech Tool Page to many recommended tech resources.
Homework Help
We all need a little help sometimes. Another role the library plays is to provide academic support for our students. Here, you will find links to ACT prep resources and homework assistance. Please click on the link that will help you succeed.
Online Tutoring & Standardized Test Help
- Homework Alabama offers FREE online tutoring and academic resources from Tutor.com for Alabama residents, kindergarteners through college, and adult learners. Get help in math, science, English, social studies, or writing from a live tutor. Tutors are available 3 p.m. - 10 p.m., seven days per week. The Tutor.com SkillsCenter Resource Library is open 24/7. There are also many ACT practices and guides. You can access the services from an Alabama public library, home computer, or mobile device.
- Learning Express Library is a fantastic resource of online help, practice tests, study guides, and information for your education and career needs. There are everything from classroom tutorials for K-12 classes to AP exam study guides and practice tests to ACT/SAT/ASVAB practice tests, study guides, and even career guidance and help.
Teacher Tools
Here you will find the toolbox of resources for your lesson planning and classroom instruction.
General Resources
Literacy Focus Resources Available through ClassLink:
- The PWBHS Library Catalog is where you will look to find the print resources available to you at PWBHS.
- SORA is the digital library collection of the Tuscaloosa City School System. There are over 5,000 digital books available to you for virtual check-out.
- Alabama Virtual Library - The Alabama Virtual Library provides all students, teachers and residents of the State of Alabama with 24/7 online access to premier library and information resources free of charge.
ELA Resources
- ReadWorks helps you to improve your students’ reading comprehension. Access thousands of high-quality, free K-12 articles, and create online assignments with them for your students.
- CommonLit.org delivers high-quality, free instructional materials to support literacy development for students in grades 3-12. Our resources are:flexible; research-based; aligned to the common core state standards;created by teachers, for teachers.
- Kelly Gallagher Article of the Week is a tool to help build his students’ prior knowledge, he assigns them an Article of the Week every Monday morning.
- ThemeSpark is a collection of fast, easy K-12 teacher tools to improve student learning with curriculum.
Math Resources
- CK-12 provides a library of free online textbooks, videos, exercises, flashcards, and real world applications for over 5000 concepts from arithmetic to history.
- KhanAcademy give students the chance to learn for free about math, art, computer programming, economics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, finance, history, and more.
- SchoolYourself - Experience math in a completely new way with free interactive lessons from award-winning Harvard instructors.
Social Studies Resources
- Read Like A Historian - The Reading Like a Historian curriculum engages students in historical inquiry. Each lesson revolves around a central historical question and features a set of primary documents designed for groups of students with a range of reading skills.
- Crash Course in History - exciting and well-produced "crash course" videos on everything from history to science.
- The National Archives - engage students with lesson plans and bring history to life with great resources like primary sources, photographs, videos and more from the official record keeper of the United States.
Science Resources
- AccessScience is an authoritative and dynamic online resource that contains incisively written, high-quality reference material that covers all major scientific disciplines. An award-winning gateway to scientific knowledge, it offers links to primary research material, videos and exclusive animations, plus specially designed curriculum maps for teachers.
Fine Arts Resources
- Computer Arts is the world's leading design magazine and features inspirational design tutorials, tips, advice, interviews and much more. One of Creative Bloq's sister publications, Computer Arts is dedicated to making you a better digital artist and designer, posting regular pro skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects and more.
- MoMA Learning: MoMA Learning offers students and teachers tips, resources, and activities for engaging with modern art. The site can be browsed by "theme" or "artist" and features several tools for each category.
- Art 21: From PBS, this site provides in-depth video interviews with some of today's most world-renowned artists. While users can browse by artist, the video option also allows a deeper look into certain art themes. For example, the episode entitled "Change" looks specifically at artists who "act as agents of change" and create works in response to a world in flux.