Your Library Supports Educators

DC Public Library has an array of special services, online and print resources and enhanced borrowing privileges for educators.

Educator Cards | Class Visits | Special Services | Online Resources | LearnZillion | Summer Challenge

Summer Challenge

Help your students keep learning and stay engaged all summer long with DC Public Library's Summer Challenge. Summer Challenge encourages families to incorporate reading for 20 minutes each day into their daily routine. Complemented by fun virtual events and the chance to win great prizes from local businesses like Politics and Prose and Busboys and Poets, it is a great way to inspire your students to keep reading during the summer months.

To assist you in reaching out to your students the library has put together an 8.5 x 11" flyer and a one-pager for the program for you to download and print or send via email to your class.

Enhanced Borrowing Privileges - Educator Cards 

• Educators in District of Columbia schools, childcare facilities or home settings can supplement their curriculum with an abundant, ever-changing supply of books and audiobooks on a range of subjects and reading levels.
• With an Educator Card, you can:
  • Check out up to 100 items of any kind except DVDs.
  • Borrow the materials for nine weeks.
  • Visit the library to select materials, place electronic reservations or contact the librarian to gather items (3 to 5 days in advance).
  • Enjoy the benefits of borrowing without overdue fines for children's and YA material.

For more information and card application, visit our Educator Card page. Download an application for educator cards.

Class Visits

DC Public Library welcomes class visits by appointment. Please contact your neighborhood library to schedule.

Special Services for Educators

Library staff can:

• Gather materials and identify online resources for any subject and reading level.
• Facilitate library card sign-ups for students and educator card sign ups. 
• Visit your classroom or schedule your class to visit us. Topics may include:
  • Story Time or Book Talks
  • Hands on activities, including STEAM topics
  • Choosing research books
  • How to evaluate sources
  • Avoiding plagiarism

Online Resources for lesson planning and students

DC Public Library has a vast collection of print and online resources aligned with Common Core standards to support instruction. For a full listing visit the Research tab at the top of this page. Visit LearnZillion for DC Public School curriculum modules that are classroom ready and incorporate DC Public Library Collections and Resources. 
 

For 3- to 5-Year-Olds

• Help children build their home library by signing them up for the Books from Birth program. Informational fliers and registration forms are available in both English and Spanish.
• For children learning to read, check out BookFlix, online video storybooks that help children prepare to read. Spanish titles are also available.
• Recommended book lists by grade level. Every book is available at the DC Public Library.

For First - Fifth Grades

• TrueFlix, ScienceFlix and Global Issues in Context.
• Teach kids the joy of reading with Tumble Books, animated, talking picture books available in story books, chapter books/read a-longs and nonfiction titles.
• TrueFlix explores true facts about people, places, history, science and nature for grades 3-6.
• Several encyclopedias, including Britannica School, eLibrary and Student Resources in Context.
• Start the book selection process by browsing reading lists made just for your students. 
• Doing Research in My City and The Poor People's Campaign of 1968 LearnZillion Curriculum Modules for teachers 

For Sixth - 12th Grades

• Several of our online resources include embedded lesson plans and are aligned with common core standards, including Global Issues in Context, Opposing Viewpoints in Context and Learning Express Library (available in Spanish also).
• Library databases offer assistance with student research papers and school projects. Find newspaper and magazine articles in Student Resources in Context and the National Geographic Virtual Library, as well as images in Image Quest. 
• Learning Express Library and Testing and Education Reference Center allow your students to take practice tests for elementary and high school standardized tests,  AP exams and for college entrance exams such as ACT and SAT.
• Learn a new language. 
• Doing Research in My City and The Poor People's Campaign of 1968 LearnZillion Curriculum Modules for teachers