Services Available for Educators
The Joliet Public Library offers classroom enrichment materials to supplement your curriculum. Educators with personal or institutional Joliet Public Library cards may apply.
The Joliet Public Library offers classroom enrichment materials to supplement your curriculum. Educators with personal or institutional Joliet Public Library cards may apply.
How Does It Work?
Educators may have the Joliet Public Library staff assist in pulling materials for them, place holds online using their educator card, or they may come in and browse the collection in person.
All materials that are checked out on your educator card must be for classroom use only; no personal use allowed. Loan period is three weeks and may be renewed twice. High demand items and/or topics may have limited availability.
How Do I Request Materials?
You may contact the Youth Services Department at 815-740-2662 or fill out the classroom enrichment request online. Please allow at least three business days for materials to be prepared.
How Do I Receive/Return Items?
If materials are going to a District 86 or District 204 school, they may be delivered/returned via the courier. Otherwise, boxes may be picked up/returned at either library location. Materials should be returned in the same boxes to ensure accurate records.
Additional Questions? Please contact the Youth Services Department at youthoutreach@jolietlibrary.org or call 815-740-2662.
To schedule a library event at your school, or to bring your school to the library to visit, please contact our Youth Outreach staff at youthoutreach@jolietlibrary.org or call 815-740-2662.
Library Promotion at Events
We would love to join your school for parent and curriculum nights, PTA meetings, and fun fests. We can hand out library information, have activities, and sign people up for library cards.
Family Engagement
Plan to host your next family night at the library. Family Reading/Math/STEM/Game Nights at the library are a great way to foster lifelong library usage.
Classroom and Library Visits
The Outreach Librarian and Youth Services Staff are available to come to your classroom virtually or in person to present a variety of programs. General library overviews, curriculum related storytimes, and genre booktalks are just some of the things we can bring to you and your students. Programs are between 30-60 minutes. Programs can also be presented at the library and include an age-appropriate tour. To schedule a visit, please fill out our Library Visit Request form.
Some special visits that the library offers include:
Presentations:
- What the Library Offers: covers all the materials, services, and current programs that the library offers
- Research Training: covers general research tips and resources, including JPL databases
- Online Homework Help: overview of our online homework help, Brainfuse, and the services it provides such as subject one-on-one help and proof-reading papers.
- E-library Resources: covers the various e-resources JPL own such as e-books
Booktalks for any grade:
- Genre
- Award Lists
- Quick Reads
- New/Hot Books
- Theme focused (poetry, black history, war, etc):
Programs:
- Storytime
- Crafts
- Teen Crafts
- Robotics (1 hour minimum)
- Escape the Room (5-12th grade)
- Special Themed Program
Who Can Apply for an Educator Card?
Educators who are City of Joliet residents or who work at an institution with either an existing Intergovernmental Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding with the Joliet Public Library are encouraged to get an educator card. If your organization does not currently have an existing agreement or institutional library card and you do not qualify personally, please have your director contact youthoutreach@jolietlibrary.org or review our Circulation Policy for additional information.
How Do I Apply?
Apply online through our Educator Library Card Registration to have the card sent directly to your school. Or, visit the Circulation desk at either library location. You will need to have a Joliet Library card or a valid driver’s license or state ID as well as proof of employment at a school or educational institution to apply.
Why Should I Apply?
The Joliet Public Library Educator card entitles you to:
- Check out materials for curriculum support in person at either Joliet Public Library location
- Share materials with students without financial risk
- Use our online resources, including databases and e-books
- Submit curriculum enrichment requests online
- Renew items and place holds through our online catalog
- Have materials sent directly to your school (District 86 and 204 only)
- Receive a teacher resources newsletter
- Use our Digital Media Studio resources
We partner with educational institutions throughout Joliet by offering services and materials. Please contact our Youth Outreach staff at youthoutreach@jolietlibrary.org to find out about ways we can help you and your students succeed.