Featured Events
To participate, please visit Beanstack: Reading Challenges and Personalized Recommendations
American Heart Association provides community blood pressure kits, monitors to Volusia County Public Library
Library users can borrow kits as part of new “Libraries with Heart Initiative” program
Borrow a Blood Pressure Monitoring Kit
Volusia County Public Library offers free blood pressure monitoring kits through a partnership with the American Heart Association as part of the Libraries with Heart Initiative. Library users can borrow these kits to check their blood pressure at home—just like borrowing a book. Each kit includes a digital blood pressure monitor along with American Heart Association materials that explain how to take an accurate reading and what the numbers mean. The program helps remove common barriers such as cost and access, making it easier for community members to stay informed about their heart health.
Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, often without knowing it. Regular monitoring is an important step in prevention and management. By offering these kits, the library supports lifelong learning and community wellness by connecting users with reliable, evidence-based health resources.
To learn more about blood pressure and heart health, visit heart.org/bloodpressure.
Raising Readers Reading Challenge – Raising Readers Reading Challenge is a self-paced, long range literacy challenge, for children in grades 3-5, that cultivates growing reading skills during a critical stage in a child’s literacy journey – when they progress from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” Through a collection of age-appropriate short articles, children will be encouraged to read at their own pace – building confidence, comprehension, and a lifelong love of reading. These brief non-fiction articles offer children a glimpse into the wonders of the animal kingdom and the marvels of the natural world. From crawling critters to surprising sea creatures, each article sparks a kernel of curiosity, builds vocabulary, and helps children practice their newly developed reading skills. By registering for this program, caregivers can help their child(ren) practice, log, and track their reading and activity progress. Register online or by visiting any VCPL branch. After registering, starter kits can be picked up at any branch.
Register online, at https://volusialibrary.beanstack.org/reader365. After registering, starter kits can be picked up at any branch.
Freading
Freading's specialty is non-fiction - over 200,000 titles and every title is always available so no need to make a reservation. A very handy tool for students who are researching a topic and need immediate information.
https://volusialibrary.freading.com
Tutorial on how to use Freading.
Volusia Reads: Adult Online Book Club
Volusia County Public Library has partnered with PBC Guru and Freading to create a virtual book club for library users and the community.
It's always available for download from Freading.