As of today, all five locations of the Halifax County Library System now have Playaway Launchpad tablets available for customer check-out and in-house borrowing. 

Playaway Launchpads are designed just for children and teens and are preloaded with high-quality, ad-free apps that are both fun and educational. 

Apps are grouped into Launchpad tablets by subject, theme, grade level and age, making it easy for parents and children/teens to choose a tablet with the content most appealing to them. Every Launchpad is 100 percent secure, providing hours of interactive learning and play without the risk of exposure to unintended content. 

“By putting Launchpad tablets in the hands of our younger customers, we’re encouraging the next generation of learners and thinkers,” says Halifax County Library Director Brenda Faithful. “Providing all of Halifax County’s children and teens with access to technology and technological training is vital to their futures and the future of our communities.” 

The Launchpad content collection spans subjects from math and science to critical thinking and creativity, and features themed learning packs including animals, princesses, fantasy, nature and more. 

There are also SAT, ACT test prep collections as well brain games for teens. 

A custom-designed user interface gives children/teens the opportunity to make every Launchpad experience their own by creating a personal avatar, plus an informational console gives parents and educators feedback about how the children/teens spent their time on the tablet. 

The Playaway Launchpads are powered by an Android operating system and feature a 7-inch high definition touch screen, external speaker, universal audio jack and a durable, protective bumper. 

No connectivity or downloading is required so customers can simply check out and play. Launchpads can be checked out for seven days, with one seven-day renewal, and can be returned to the check out library. 

One Launchpad can be checked out at once on the same account. 

This grant is made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources — IMLS grant number LS-250229-OLS -21. 

The five branches of the Halifax County Library System are located in Halifax, Weldon, Enfield, Littleton and Scotland Neck. Any resident of Halifax County is eligible for a free library card, which will allow check out of these devices.