DC Public Library is proud to offer enhanced borrowing privileges as well as specialized services and resources to support the work of educators in DC.
Educator Cards
With an Educator Card, educators in DC can check out up to 100 items (of any kind except DVDs), and keep them for up to nine weeks. Educator cards also provide access to our online resources. To obtain an Educator Card, simply visit any DC Public Library location, or download an application and return it to your closest neighborhood library. You will need to present documentation to show you are currently an educator in the District of Columbia.
Educator Card FAQ
What documents are accepted as proof of educator status?
Accepted documents include:
- Classroom teachers and daycare professionals:
- a current pay stub from a DC educational facility, or
- a letter from the principal, office administrator, or school library media specialist.
- Homeschooling parents/caregivers:
- a verification letter from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).
How do I renew my privileges?
You must renew your Educator Card annually. Cards are valid from August 1 through July 31. All Educator Cards expire on July 31. To renew, you will need to provide proof of your status as a current educator in DC (see accepted documents above) at any DC Public Library location. You will not need to re-apply or obtain a new card.
Are there restrictions on Educator Cards?
To ensure the availability of popular materials for all users, the following restrictions apply:
- Educator cards, while allowing a longer 9-week borrowing period, do not allow for item renewals.
- Only one copy of a title may be checked out.
- Library staff may need to limit the number of titles checked out on a particular subject.
- Cards will be blocked until overdue materials are returned.
- Damaged or lost materials should be reported to the librarian. Educators will need to pay for lost or damaged items.
- Educator cards may be used to borrow any circulating materials EXCEPT for DVDs from our children's, young adult, or adult collections.
Services for Educators
To serve you as an educator, staff at your local library can:
- Suggest and gather print materials and online resources for any topic or grade level. Please note: staff need at least 5 days advance notice to gather materials.
- Facilitate educator card sign-ups and library card sign-ups for students.
- Visit your classroom or schedule your class to visit us. Topics may include:
- Story Time or book talks
- Hands-on activities
- Research help, including how to choose, evaluate, and cite sources.
- Library tours
- Presentations about Discover Summer, our all-ages summer learning program
These are just some of the ways educators can collaborate with library staff. Visit or contact your neighborhood library and ask to speak to a children's staff member to request services.
Educator Resources
Find resources below, grouped by grade level, that can support your work and support your students' learning in the classroom and at home. These resources are accessible with an educator card, and many contain content specifically geared toward educators, such as printables & worksheets, educator toolkits, and even lesson plans.
Lesson plans are also available from The People's Archive on a variety of topics such as: how to use the library, Home Rule and the arts in D.C. Each series is broken up by age/grade and built around resources and materials found in The People's Archive's collections.
Early Childhood
ABCmouse
Britannica Fundamentals!
Watch & Learn Library
TumbleBooks
Bookflix
OverDrive & Libby
1st to 5th Grade
Watch & Learn Library
TumbleBooks
Britannica Fundamentals!
Britannica School
Britannica Escolar
OverDrive & Libby
NoveList Plus K-8
6th to 12th Grade
Gale in Context: Middle School
Britannica School
Britannica Escolar
Learning Express Library
Learning Express Library: Recursos para Hispanohablantes
Peterson’s Test and Career Prep
Britannica Image Quest
America's Newspapers
Britannica Enciclopedia Moderna