What services are public libraries offering to teachers...

I began my exploration by browsing various Canadian public library websites to see what services are being promoted for teachers on these sites. There were great discrepancies in terms of the amount of web space devoted to teachers, from entire pages with dozens of links to sparse instructions for teachers to “contact [your] branch for more information”. (I won’t name names; online space is now considered to be premium real estate!)

Many of them share common successful services that have proven to be used and beneficial such as:

• Homework alerts (assignment alerts allow teachers to let librarians know in advance, and prepare for, 30+ kids, or their parents, to arrive on a Sunday looking for books about “knights or castles” in preparation for a project on the Medieval Period due in “two days”.Some sites offer online alerts, some request a phone call, and some welcome the teachers to “drop by” anytime to discuss in advance such assignments.

• Class visits (where classes visit, with their teachers, during school hours for library orientation sessions, subject tours or to attend a special program, such as an author reading, or lessons in using the catalogue)

• School or Education Cards or Group Loan Cards (cards that eligible teachers are permitted to use to borrow children's material for teaching purposes)

• Virtual Collections (staff selected websites linked from the library page, chosen for their particular relevancy to teachers and their district)

• Book Sets (Teachers can borrow teen and tween titles, meant for book clubs, for their classes)

• Newsletters for Teachers (Online news, updated frequently, with library information pertinent to teachers.)

• Book Selection (For teachers who face a time crunch, or who do not, subject or theme specific materials can be selected by request through an email or phone call to the librarian)

• Education & Curriculum Links (allows teachers to easily access local government and school district information through the public library website)

Next, I’m going to have a look at the more unique services that are being offered.