4 Library Hacks for Educators

School's about to start, and we want to make your teaching-life easier.  Here are some ways your library can help.

1.  ebooks = projectable books

When you're sharing a story or lesson, it's so helpful when you and your students are (literally) on the same page.  With an ebook, you can project what you're reading so that your class can follow along.  Hoopla has a nice selection of fiction and non-fiction for all ages.  Bookflix will be of particular interest to primary teachers with it's paired fiction and non-fiction titles on a wide variety of subjects.

Hoopla's non-fiction collection includes many useful titles for Social Studies, Science, and Math.

2.  book orders

Many of you have access to outstanding school libraries, which is fabulous!  But sometimes you need something beyond what your school library can support.  Maybe your second grade class has suddenly developed a keen interest in learning all they can about Bigfoot, or perhaps your sixth graders all need to read a biography on a famous Kansan.  We can help you support student learning with a book order.  Call us at 785-580-4565 or send an e-mail and give us a week's notice, and we'll gather up to 10 books to meet your needs and have them waiting in the Holds Pick-Up Room or send them to a Bookmobile stop.  This service is available to all teachers from early childhood to grade 12.

3.  book group in a bag

Are you ready to use literature circles in class or start an after-school book club?  Book Groups in a Bag provide you with 10-15 copies of the same book + a discussion guide.  Simple and easy.  Give us a call at 580-4565 or send an e-mail, and we'll get you whichever title meets your students' needs.

4.  find read-alikes

When the holds list for the hottest new book is 40 kids long, it can be challenging to motivate some kids to read.  Novelist is a fabulous, easy-to-use tool to help connect kids with other books they might enjoy.  Just type in the name of the book, then click on one of the read-alike links to get a list of similar titles.  You can also search by topic, browse topical book lists such as Number Sense or Dystopian Fiction, and find discussion questions for picture books under "Picture Book Extenders."

bonus tip:

Find lots of activity ideas and book lists on our Parents and Kids Pinterest board!

Follow Topeka Library's board Parents and Kids on Pinterest.