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A woman and boy look through children's books on a bookshelf and the child's height.

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.

Institute for Racial Equity in Literacy Returns to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

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Remixed & Reimagined, Practical & Radical, Liberatory Literacy Instruction

The DC Public Library Foundation is thrilled to partner once again with the Institute for Racial Equity in Literacy (IREL), a unique and powerful professional development experience for educators focusing on the intersection of literacy instruction and racial equity. This year there will be two sessions for educators!

 

  • Session 1 | Reading Towards Freedom (July 16-18)
  • Session 2 | Writing Towards Freedom (July 20-22)

Learn More and Register Today

Services for Educators

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Girl in a tie dye tee shirt and shorts sits at a table writing in a workbook.

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.

Early Childhood

ABCmouse logo

ABCmouse

ABCmouse helps children 2 and older learn to read through phonics, and teaches lessons in math, social studies, art, music and more.
Library card required
Britannica Fundamentals logo

Britannica Fundamentals!

Engaging and fun learning experience for students in kindergarten through second grade.
Library card required
Watch and Learn Library logo

Watch & Learn Library

Watch & Learn Library is made especially for young learners, pre-k through 3rd grade, to help expand their vocabulary and comprehension.
Library card required
Tumblebooks Logo

TumbleBooks

Enjoy animated books, read-alongs, eBooks, language learning, educational videos, puzzles and games for grades K-5.
Library card required
Bookflix logo

Bookflix

Kids can explore educational topics through animated books, read-alongs, puzzles and games.
Library card required
OverDrive-Libby logo

OverDrive & Libby

Borrow eBooks, Audiobooks, and digital magazines to read on your phone or tablet using the Libby app, by OverDrive.

1st to 5th Grade

Brainfuse HelpNow logo

Brainfuse HelpNow

Connect to live online tutors for homework help, writing lab, test prep and more.
Watch and Learn Library logo

Watch & Learn Library

Watch & Learn Library is made especially for young learners, pre-k through 3rd grade, to help expand their vocabulary and comprehension.
Library card required
Tumblebooks Logo

TumbleBooks

Enjoy animated books, read-alongs, eBooks, language learning, educational videos, puzzles and games for grades K-5.
Library card required
Britannica Fundamentals logo

Britannica Fundamentals!

Engaging and fun learning experience for students in kindergarten through second grade.
Library card required
Britannica School logo

Britannica School

Find information for homework and school projects by reading level, grade and age.
Library card required
Britannica Escolar logo

Britannica Escolar

Britannica Escolar está diseñado específicamente para estudiantes Primaria & Secundaria e incluye artículos, imágenes, videos y un atlas.
Library card required
TrueFlix logo

TrueFlix

Explore true facts through video and online books. For ages 8-11.
Library card required
ScienceFlix logo

ScienceFlix

Enhance STEM learning with films and online books.
Library card required
Gale in Context Elementary logo

Gale in Context: Elementary

Social studies, science, language arts and more for grades 1-5.
Library card required
OverDrive-Libby logo

OverDrive & Libby

Borrow eBooks, Audiobooks, and digital magazines to read on your phone or tablet using the Libby app, by OverDrive.
NoveList Plus K-8 logo

NoveList Plus K-8

Discover new book titles based on your interests or reading preferences, with recommendations for grades K-8.
Library card required

6th to 12th Grade

Brainfuse HelpNow logo

Brainfuse HelpNow

Connect to live online tutors for homework help, writing lab, test prep and more.
Gale in Context: Middle School logo

Gale in Context: Middle School

Research cultures, history, science and social issues for students in grades 6-8.
Library card required
Gale in Context: High School logo

Gale in Context: High School

Browse topics to help with papers, projects and presentations.
Library card required
Britannica School logo

Britannica School

Find information for homework and school projects by reading level, grade and age.
Library card required
Britannica Escolar logo

Britannica Escolar

Britannica Escolar está diseñado específicamente para estudiantes Primaria & Secundaria e incluye artículos, imágenes, videos y un atlas.
Library card required
Learning Express Library logo

Learning Express Library

Practice tests for improving skills and passing academic and licensing exams.
Library card required
Recursos para Hispanohablantes logo

Learning Express Library: Recursos para Hispanohablantes

Desde mejorar sus habilidades de lectura, escritura y matemáticas hasta prepararse para el GED, estos recursos lo ayudarán a alcanzar sus metas.
Library card required
Peterson’s Test and Career Prep logo

Peterson’s Test and Career Prep

Search college and graduate schools, identify scholarships, take practice tests, create resumes and explore careers.
Library card required
Mango Languages logo

Mango Languages

Learn new languages and cultural skills.
Library card required
Britannica Imagequest logo

Britannica Image Quest

Images from the world’s leading collections including Getty Images, National Geographic Society, and National Portrait Gallery of London.
Library card required
Newsbank America's Newspapers logo

America's Newspapers

Search American newspapers and other sources of current and archived articles on issues, events, people, government and more.
Library card required
Access World News logo

Access World News

Full-text access to newspapers from around the world.
Library card required
Britannica Academic logo

Britannica Academic

Comprehensive research tool and fact-checked online encyclopedia.
Library card required
Britannica Enciclopedia Moderna logo

Britannica Enciclopedia Moderna

Enciclopedia destinada a estudiantes de secundaria completa con un diccionario, atlas y líneas de tiempo.
Library card required
OverDrive-Libby logo

OverDrive & Libby

Borrow eBooks, Audiobooks, and digital magazines to read on your phone or tablet using the Libby app, by OverDrive.