Teacher Services

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CLASS VISITS

The Berwyn Public Library encourages teachers to bring their classes to the library! Youth Services staff will work with the teacher to ensure that we accomplish the goals set by the teacher for the visit. For grades K-3, we typically read stories, discuss how to use the library and take care of library materials, take the children on a tour, and give them browsing time in the Primary Room. For grades 4 and up, we gear the visit to meet the teacher's specific needs. For example, older children come in to use our materials for research purposes, to hear presentations on research skills, to learn to navigate our library catalog, and much more!

*Teachers who want to arrange a class visit must observe the following:

1. Class visits must be scheduled through the Youth Services Department at least two weeks prior to the visit. Classes arriving without a scheduled visit are invited to use the facility, but staff will not give tours or attempt any type of presentation.

2. Class visits will be limited to one homeroom class per visit.

3. Classes visiting the library require adequate adult supervision. The Berwyn Public Library requests that there be one adult chaperone for every ten students present during a class visit.

4. Training on databases located in the Reference Department will be limited to students in 7th grade or higher unless prior arrangements are made. The Reference Department phone number is 708-795-8000, ext. 3038.

Please click here to view our Class Visit Policy.

BIG BOOKS

The Youth Services Department houses several "Big Books" which can be checked out on your School Library Card to enhance projects or read-alouds:

Caps For Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

Corduroy by Don Freeman

Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert

Fix-It by David McPhail

Hurry Up, Santa! by Megan Durand

If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff

In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear *by Don and Audrey Wood

The Little Red Hen by Byron Barton

Mr. Grumpy's Outing by John Burmingham

Mrs. Honey's Hat by Pam Adams

Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth

Old McDonald Had a Farm by Pam Adams

The Pig in the Pond by Martin Maddell

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin/Eric Carle

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

Sing a Song of Sixpence by Pam Adams

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Pam Adams

This is the House that Jack Built by Pam Adams

This Old Man by Pam Adams

The Three Bears by Byron Barton

Thump, Thump, Rat-a-Tat-Tat by Gene Baer

LITERACY BAGS

Doing a read-aloud and looking for accompanying activities and visual aids? We have a variety of literacy bags available for check-out! Literacy bags contain a picture book, an activity sheet, and accompanying visual aids such as puppets, charts, or models.

Sky Tree by Thomas Locker

Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert

Swimmy by Leo Lionni

Abuela by Arthur Dorros

An Extraordinary Egg by Leo Lionni

How a Seed Grows by Helene J. Jordan

The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins

In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming

Weather Words by Gail Gibbons

Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino

My Five Senses by Aliki

Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant

Math Fundamentals: A Pair of Socks: Attributes by Stuart J. Murphy

Math Fundamentals: Missing Mittens: Odd and Even Numbers by Stuart J. Murphy

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood

Math Fundamentals: Inch by Inch: Measurement by Leo Lionni

A Pinky is a Baby Mouse by Pam Munoz Ryan

Splash! by Ann Jonas

Hear Your Heart by Paul Showers

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowles

What the Moon is Like by Franklyn M. Branley

My Street by Rebecca Treays

Shoes from Grandpa by Mem Fox

I Wish I Were a Butterfly by James Howe

Gregory the Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat

Dinosaurs! by Laurence Pringle

Tell Me How Ships Float by Shirley Willis

EMERGENT READER KITS

Check out a brand new Emergent Reader Kit and get several leveled emergent reader books on similar topics.

ELLISON DIE CUT

The Youth Services Department has an Ellison Die Cut machine that teachers can use to cut out alphabet letters and other shapes and figures for displays or projects. We ask that you call in advance to let us know when you are coming, and that you supply your own paper.

SPECIAL SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM VISITS

The Youth Services Librarians are more than happy to visit your school or classroom for special assemblies or projects. In addition to handing out information, we can also talk about upcoming programs, the importance of getting library cards, or we can present information in conjunction with a research project. We are also able to attend evening events, such as Family Reading Nights or PTA Meetings. Please contact us if you are interested in having us come to your school!

BOOKTALKS

Teachers can request Youth Services Librarians to come into the classroom to do Book Talks on specific books or authors. We give a short, gimmicky blurb about the book(s) without revealing the ending. We can also booktalk in conjunction with an upcoming unit of study. Call the Youth Services desk to schedule your Book Talk!

BIBLIOGRAPHIES

Teaching a thematic unit and want your students to do some outside reading or research? Teachers may request a listing of materials owned by the library on any specific subject. We ask for at least one week's notice to prepare a bibliography.

DISPLAY AREA

The Display Area is located in the first floor lobby of the library and is available on a monthly basis for teachers wishing to show off their students' achievements, projects, or artwork. We can also accommodate mobiles, dioramas, or the like. Call the Youth Services Desk to reserve a month.

GET YOUR STUDENTS A BERWYN LIBRARY CARD

Due to high interest, the Berwyn Public Library is again offering Berwyn students the opportunity to obtain library cards through their classroom teacher. The library cards can either be handed out during a class visit to the library, or can be distributed to the classroom along with a short presentation on the responsibilities of owning and using a library card.

Please contact us at least 2 weeks before you want the cards distributed. Please keep this mind when planning your class visit!

To begin the process:

1. Email, fax, or mail a classroom list with each child’s full name and address to:

Jasmine Brown

Librarian I -School Liaison, Youth Services Department

Jasminejb@berwynlibrary.net

Phone: (708) 795-8000, ext. 3088

Fax: (708) 795-8101

At this time, please let me know if you would like the library cards to be handed out at a class visit, or if you want to arrange for a librarian to bring them to the classroom. Include your name, school, and contact information in case we need to reach you.

2. In 2-3 days, we will mail you personalized notes and library card applications for each student. These notes will address each child’s eligibility to get a library card (i.e. some students may already have a card, or have an expired card, or have too many fines to get a replacement for a missing card, etc).
3. Send the applications and notes home with each child. Give the parents a day or so to review, sign, and return the applications. Parents will have the option to refuse a library card for their child.
4. Look over the applications to ensure that the parent or guardian on file for the student did indeed sign the application. It is important that the parents are aware that their child has a library card, because they are held responsible for any fines that accrue on their child’s card.   (*Remember, we cannot guarantee that every child in the class will receive a library card. Their eligibility will depend on a parent’s signature, a clear library record, or the parents’ willingness to pay outstanding fines or replacement fees.)
5. If the children are receiving their cards at a class visit to the library, bring in the completed applications to the visit. The cards will be distributed to the teacher at the end of the visit. If you would like a librarian to bring the library cards to your classroom and give a short presentation, please drop off or mail the completed applications back to the library.

RESERVE MATERIALS/ASSIGNMENT ALERTS

Doing a classroom project and need lots of reference materials for your students? Please send us an "Assignment Alert" to let us know of your upcoming projects and assignments! If we are prepared, we can better serve both you and your students! Depending on how much material the library owns, how many students are involved in the assignment, and how long the students have to complete the assignment, the teacher or library can choose between the following:

A. We can put all materials needed on "In Library Use Only" status so all children can use them at the library.

B. We may limit the number of books checked out on a specific topic by an individual student and shorten the loan period.

C. The teacher can request specific books to be gathered in advance, and then check them out on their School Library Card for use in the classroom.

All of these requests can be made via:

**Phone: (708) 795-8000, ext. 3006

**Fax: (708) 795-8101, to the attention of Jasmine Brown

**Email: assignmentalert@berwynlibrary.net

Please be prepared to share with us the following information regarding your assignment:

*Teacher's name and phone number we can best reach you at (work or home)

*School, grade, and number of students involved in the assignment

*Option A, B, or C from above

*Dates of the assignment

*A description of the assignment, including what materials you would like (non-fiction books on polar bears, 12 copies of "The Outsiders", etc.)

*How many materials you need

*When you would like to pick the materials up (If choosing option C)

USING YOUR SCHOOL LIBRARY CARD

If you opt to check books out for use in your classroom, you have the option of using your School Library Card to do so. In order to use your School Library Card, you must get a copy of the School Loan Form from your school librarian and get it signed by the authorized signer (in most cases, this is the principal or the school librarian). You MUST bring in this form when you come to pick up your books! Unfortunately, we cannot offer delivery to the schools because of the number of Assignment Alerts we handle during the school year.

Please click here to view our School Library Card policy.

If you have any questions about services for teachers, please contact Jasmine Brown, Librarian I-School Liaison, at (708) 795-8000, ext. 3006 or by email at Jasminejb@berwynlibrary.net.