SC Discus - State Based Resources

SC Discus

           One of the tools that I explored this week was SC Discus.  This is a magnificent tool for teachers and librarians.  SC Discus is a free, online library provided by the South Carolina State Library to all South Carolina residents.  Typing SC Discus into the search bar of a search engine will take one directly to the site.  I have never had to provide a password, but there is sometimes a need for this.  If a South Carolina resident needs this password they can call the South Carolina State Library or get the sigh-in credentials from a library, both school and public.  It is permissible to provide this user name and password on paper but not in a digital format.

            SC Discus is a collection of databases organized so that it can be searched by topic, A-Z database names, content, age groups, and subjects.   There is content for K-12 students as well as adult students.  Also, general topics that might interest adults such as car repair and prescription drug information are available as well.  The great thing about discus is that all the databases have been vetted and provide credible and reliable sources.

            One way that SC Discus can be integrated into an instructional activity to support student learning is through the Biography in Context database.  Teachers can use biographies, videos, images, newspapers, magazines, and websites about famous or important people to introduce or delve deeper into any type of lesson from art to science to even math.

            Another very useful database available through SC Discus is NovelList Plus.  This database helps readers choose books based on all kinds of criteria such as read-alikes, genres, award winners, age group appeal and so on. Finally, as an aside, I have not been able to afford School Library Journal for my school.  I was very accustomed to using this journal when I was a public librarian to choose books to add to my collection.  I was tickled to find it available for free on SC Discus. 

 Reference

South Carolina State Library. (2018, June 18). New to Discus? Start here! [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.scdiscus.org/new-discus-start-here