Literary Resources

Literary resources are local and online resources that aim to help individuals improve their basic literary. Basic literacy is defined as, "developing foundational competency including reading, writing, math, job application assistance, and overall life-skill development. Also includes STEM (Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) knowledge building on basic skills and concepts." Learn more at https://paforward.org/basic-literacy/.

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• ​Mango Language Services - ESL/Language Classes

  • The Mango Language Database is a digital program you can use free with a library card designed to help you with learning a second language or learning English as a Second Language (ESL).

  • If your library card says "North Wales Area Library" you can access mango through the "eResources" page on our website.

  • If your library card says "Montgomery County - Norristown Public Library" you must access mango through the "eResources" page on MC-NPLs website at http://mnl.mclinc.org/esources/.
     

Online Education and Career Resources

Online education resources are local and online resources that aim to help individuals improve their information literary. Information literary is defined as, "Having the ability to express, connect with and understand knowledge and communication through comprehensive and innovative formats; the ability to distinguish between credible and non-credible sources; recognizing when information is needed to further oneself, an objective or a project." Learn more at https://paforward.org/information-literacy/.
 

• Computer Virus Resource Guide - Computer Skills

  • The Internet has made it possible for people to interact across long distances, but it has also brought the ability to inflict harm from afar using computer viruses. This guide will help teach you about what a computer virus is and what the different types of viruses are while also providing links to more information covering topics like antivirus software and more. As the internet becomes more and more important to everyday life it becomes more and more important that people know how to protect themselves while using the internet.

  • Check out the Computer Virus Resource Guide at https://router-admin.net/articles/computer-virus-resource-guide
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• Office 365 Training Center - Computer Skills

  • Knowing how to use Office 365 programs like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are necessary skills to have in today's job and education worlds. This handy set of guides can teach how about these programs and how to do various tasks in them. Simply click on the program you want to learn about and from there you can watch a series of videos of how these programs work and how to use them.

  • Check out the Office 365 Training Center at https://support.office.com/en-us/office-training-center
     

• Pennsylvania Career Link - Career Services

  • Launched in July, 2012, PA CareerLink® is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s initiative to transform the landscape of how job-seekers find family sustaining jobs and how employers find the skilled candidates that they need. To see all the different resources and services offered by PA Career Link, click here.

  • Check out Pennsylvania Career Link at https://www.pacareerlink.pa.gov/jponline
     

Civic and Social Resources

Civic and social resources resources are local and online resources related to civic and social literary. Civic and Social Literacy is defined as, "engaging in discourse while remaining respectful of other individuals of varying opinions; understanding the importance of community engagement which allows individuals to interact with one another, in a participatory manner; invoking societal change." Learn more at https://paforward.org/civic-and-social-literacy/.

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• Voting Resources: Pennsylvania - Voting

  • This website provides helpful links and resources for Pennsylvania voters. This includes information like learning about early in-person voting, tracking your mail ballot, checking your voter registration status,  finding ballot return locations, and more.

  • Check out Voting Resources: Pennsylvania at https://www.votespa.com/Resources/Pages/default.aspx
     

• Polling Place Search Tool: Pennsylvania - Voting​

  • The Polling Place Search tool is a tool that will help you locate your polling place for Election Day.

  • Check out the Polling Place Search Tool at https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/pages/pollingplaceinfo.aspx.
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Health and Well-Being Resources

Health and well-being resources are local and online resources related to health literary. Health literacy is defined as, "having the ability to make informed decisions in relation to an individual’s physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual health; Also applies to caregivers understanding the health information of a loved one." Learn more at https://paforward.org/health-literacy/.
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• American Addiction Centers - Addiction

  • American Addiction Centers (AAC) is a resource that provides educational content about alcohol and substance use disorders, as well as a directory of addiction treatment facilities across the United States. They offer a variety of helpful resources including a free rehab guide that provides statistics on addiction and explains how to find free rehab centers, virtual support and addiction meetings that allow individuals to join 12-step AA/NA meetings that are hosted weekly by a person in recovery, and a page about ​alcohol & drug addiction hotlines that provides valuable information on what happens when an individual calls a hotline. 

  • Check out American Addiction Centers at https://americanaddictioncenters.org/
     

• PACE Program - Medication Costs

  • The PACE Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department Aging, assists qualified state residents who are 65 years of age or older in paying for their prescription medications.  PACE works with Medicare Part D and employer plans, retiree coverage, and Veteran’s benefits to provide seamless coverage with low to no-cost fees. 

  • Check out the PACE Program by visiting https://pacecares.magellanhealth.com or call 1-800-225-7223.
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• The Recovery Village​: Pennsylvania Resources - Drug Addiction

  • This webpage from The Recovery Village provide helpful information addiction statistics and drug rehabilitation and substance abuse resources in Pennsylvania. It also links to other pages providing information about specific local areas, such as this page with information about addiction resources in Norristown.

  • Check out The Recover Village: Pennsylvania Resources at https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/local-rehab-resources/pennsylvania/
     

• ​​SMART Recovery - Addiction

  • Self-Management And Recovery Training (SMART) is a global community of mutual-support groups. At meetings, participants help one another resolve problems with any addiction (to drugs or alcohol or to activities such as gambling or over-eating). Participants find and develop the power within themselves to change and lead fulfilling and balanced lives guided by the science-based and sensible 4-Point Program.

  • Check out SMART Recovery at https://www.smartrecovery.org/
     

Financial Resources

Financial resources are local and online resources related to Financial literary. Financial literacy is defined as, "having the knowledge and understanding necessary to make informed fiscal/economic decisions for personal life planning and business interests including responsible budgeting, spending and saving skills." Learn more at https://paforward.org/financial-literacy/.

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• DOE & EPA Fuel Economy Guide

  • The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made a Fuel Economy Guide, that gets updated weekly, to provide consumers with information about fuel economy and the benefits of using more fuel efficient vehicles.

  • Find the DOE & EPA Fuel Economy Guide at https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/guides.shtml
     

• IRS Forms and Instructions - Taxes

  • This page from the IRS provides links to download and print all the important tax forms you ​​might need for the current financial year. It lists all the most requested forms and has a link to view any more obscure forms you might need.

  • Find tax forms at https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions
     

• Keystone Scholars - Financial Aid

  • Keystone Scholars is Pennsylvania’s investment in your baby’s bright future. PA Treasury is investing $100 for every baby born to or adopted by a PA family after December 31, 2018 to families to be used for the baby’s future higher education expenses. A child with education savings is three times more likely to enroll in a two- or four-year college and four times more likely to graduate.The $100 will be invested by the PA Treasury Department and will grow through the years right alongside your child. Your Keystone Scholars account can be used for qualified expenses when your child pursues higher education. 

  • Check out Keystone Scholars at https://www.pa529.com/keystone/
     

• The Simple Dollar - Here Is What to Do if You Run Out of Unemployment Benefits - Unemployment

  • This year has been hard on many people financially. Many Americans face the risk of losing their unemployment benefits starting on March 14. This guide from The Simple Dollar offers information on how readers can acquire financial assistance if they are struggling to find employment and a detailed table highlighting each state's extended benefits programs. 

  • Read the article at https://www.thesimpledollar.com/financial-wellness/news/here-is-what-to-do-if-you-run-out-of-unemployment-benefits/

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