For Educators
You're an educator. We're your public library.
Let's be friends.
Any educator currently working at an education facility in Perth County is eligible for an Educator Card. This includes K-12 classroom teachers in public and private schools, daycare center instructors and homeschoolers.
To apply for an educator card, simply fill out our application form and bring it to the library.
Educators are required to have a personal library card to be eligible for an Educator card.
Why get an Educator Card?
The Educator Card is designed to help make full use of the library's resources.
- Check out most items for double the standard loan period
- Renew most items 1 time (Renewal is unavailable if the item is reserved for another customer)
- Pay no late fees (Payment is required for lost or damaged items)
- Obtain a bi-monthly newsletter about library resources geared to educators
- Personal library card and educator card accounts are totally separate
Cards for Students
SPL is happy to provide personal library cards for your students. Library cards arm students with access to information, build literacy skills and most importantly, promotes a love of reading.
Contact Wendy Hicks to arrange library cards for your class.
Class Visits
IN PERSON CLASS VISITS ARE CURRENTLY SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
During COVID-19, a virtual class visit can be arranged. We can work with teachers to book visits for their class through Zoom or Google Meet.
SPL offers class and school visit options to all Stratford schools. To request a class or school visit contact the staff person noted beside the visit type and they will contact you shortly to discuss the visit in more detail. All requests for visits will be approved based on staff availability – we may not be able to accommodate all requests, particularly those made at the last minute. Please provide at least 2 weeks' notice for class visits.
Class Visits to the Library
Bring your class to the library so students can become familiar with the library space, our amazing staff, and the resources we offer. Students may apply for library cards, borrow books, listen to book talks and stories, develop research skills, and learn how to use the library’s catalogue. We are able to work with groups of all ages from preschool to grade 12.
Need something a bit different? We can always customize a visit to support your current project or class focus to meet the needs of you and your students.
Please contact Wendy Hicks to arrange your visit.
Librarian Visits to Schools
We offer outreach programs to schools, including storytimes, book talks, theme presentations to support a focus on literacy and learning. We can also provide demonstrations of databases and instruction on how to research or use the library's downloadable collections.
Our Librarians are also happy to speak to parent groups or teachers on professional development days.
Please contact Wendy Hicks to arrange a visit.
MakerSpace Visits
The Makerspace is one of the newest resources offered by SPL. We have can provide "pop-up Makerspace" that we can set up in the auditorium to introduce kids to the maker movement.
- For grades K - 4, visits include a storytime and exploration at multiple stations; each station demonstrates a different maker concept and provides a hands-on activity.
- Visits for grades 5 - 12 will include an introduction to the MakerSpace and a focus on a maker concept such as 3D modeling, coding of robotics, or virtual reality.
Contact Krista Robinson to arrange a visit.
Class Visits in a Box
Class Visits in a Box are borrowable activity kits that include the option of an in-person or virtual librarian visit. The visit includes a quick pitch of library services, library card applications for students, and the activity kit of your choice.
Kits come with supplies, tools, and instructions. Examples include finger knitting, DIY bookbinding, Writers' Block Antidote, Pixel Art Mosaic Project, paper quilling, and 3D geometric bubbles.
Also available are Virtual Field Trips that include a video of the field trip location and a related activity kit.
Please contact Brooke Windsor to book.
Books to Go
We can gather books, DVDs and magazines that support your lessons in English or French*. Call or email and we will create a booklist or set aside a selection of material on specific topics for pickup.**
Our Public Service Librarians can also create BiblioCommons lists to support your curriculum. For example, if you need good fiction reads by First Nations authors appropriate for grade 6 students, we can build you a menu of suggestions in BiblioCommons that we can share with you.
* Number of resources may be limited
** Please provide a minimum of 3 days notice
TIP: Keep check-out receipts. They provide a ready-made list / bibliography for future use!