Resources and Tools for Teachers
from Skokie Public Library
The Youth Services Department strives to communicate its resources, services, and activities to local schools and educators. The following links include some of the many tools we use to help us stay connected with you and the educational needs of your students, as well as important information about Library services especially for teachers.
For more information about Library resources for schools and teachers, please contact Youth Services School Liaison Susan Heist Carlton by phone at 847.324.3144 or by .
| Youth Services print & electronic publications |
| Youth Services resources for teachers |
| Other Library resources of interest to teachers |
Youth Services Print & Electronic Publications
- Teacher's Guide NEW ONLINE FORMAT!
Print version distributed annually to Skokie schools - The Skokie Public Library Teacher's Guide is published by the Youth Services Department at the beginning of each school year. The Guide features information about Library resources available to teachers, classrooms, and students; information about important Youth Services events and activities; and a Youth Services staff contact list. Below is a sample of the services described in the Teacher's Guide:
News and Notes for K-8 Teachers
- Sign up to receive the monthly News and Notes for K-8 Teachers email newsletter! Learn about book highlights, technology resources, upcoming Library events especially for students and families, and more!
- Homework Helper
Print version available in the Youth Services Department - The Youth Services Homework Helper is designed to help students find the information they need for selected school projects that are commonly assigned to Skokie and local school students. Each Homework Helper includes information about reference books, books available to check out, Internet links, and links to Library research databases.
Youth Services Resources for Teachers
- Authors, Illustrators & Awards
- This section of the Library's Kids page includes links to information about authors and illustrators, book award lists, Skokie Public Library Youth Services librarians' kid pick book lists for kids of all ages, notable book lists on the web, and the Youth Services Voice of Youth Award.
- Classroom Connections
Available only to Skokie schools - These special classroom visits from Youth Services staff are a great way to get students interested in books, reading, and the Library.
- CoolKids Collection
- Find out what books (and more!) the Youth Services staff is recommending for kids of all ages! We've arranged our favorites so that you can browse by title, author, illustrator, genre, awards, reading level, and material type.
- Find it Fast!
- A
downloadable quick reference guide to the Dewey Decimal System and Skokie
Public Library Youth Services shelf locations for popular nonfiction
topics and subjects.
NOTE: Requires Adobe Reader 
Live
Homework Help™
Available from home for Skokie Public Library cardholders- Help your students get connected with the Live Homework Help™ online tutoring service available from the Library's Youth and Adult Services Computer Labs and from home for Skokie Public Library cardholders. Math, science, social studies, and English homework help is available for students in grades 4 through 12.
- Parent-Teacher Collection
- The Ardell Faulhaber Parent-Teacher Collection includes books and materials about child development, classroom management, enrichment activities, lesson planning, curriculum development, and parenting.
- Special Collections for Kids
- The Youth Services collection includes many Braille books and foreign language books. Follow the link to a Skokie Public Library catalog browse of these special collection materials.
- TeachingBooks.net
Available from home for Skokie Public Library cardholders - TeachingBooks.net offers easy access to audio excerpts of book readings by authors and professional actors; book discussion guides; original movies featuring authors and illustrators at work in their studios; and links to author websites, biographies, activities, and contact information. An "Educator Area" provides thematic booklists, information about children's book awards, and links to related resources in twenty-five categories. The TeachingBooks.net content is divided equally between elementary school-aged content and middle/high school-aged content.
Other Library Resources of Interest to Teachers
- Bookmobile Schedule
- The Bookmobile serves the Skokie community all year long, making seventeen stops each week. Many stops are located at or near schools, allowing students and teachers to make use of the Bookmobile at these locations. Teachers may use their Skokie Public Library teacher card to check out and return materials to the Bookmobile. With one week’s notice, Teacher Bags can be placed on the Bookmobile for teacher pickup. Many items can be placed on the Bookmobile with 24 hours notice.
- BookNews Newsletters
- Receive the BookNews newsletter in your emailbox on the 15th of each month! Learn about new books available at Skokie Public Library in our children's and teen collections and a variety of fiction genres and nonfiction subjects.
- Databases A to Z
- A large selection of electronic resources and reference materials are available by remote access from schools that serve the children of Skokie and from home for Skokie Public Library cardholders.
- Digital Book Collections
- Skokie Public Library patrons and Skokie school teachers can download eBooks and eAudiobooks to home computers and handheld devices. These digital books are essentially "checked out" for a period of three weeks; after that they are automatically returned to their libraries and become unusable on your computers and devices. The Library offers access to the North Suburban Digital Consortium collection. A valid Skokie Public Library card is required to use these services.
- Library Newsletters Available via Email
- Sign up to receive monthly email bulletins about new books and upcoming Library events tailored to your specific interests!
- Magazine and Newspaper Locator
- Skokie Public Library provides its users access to thousands of magazines and newspapers. Some are available in print and some are available electronically through the Library's database subscriptions. Use the search feature to locate magazines and newspapers by title or by subject.
- PowerSearch
- PowerSearch is a special library search engine which searches for books, articles from magazines and newspapers, and specially selected websites all at once with a single, easy to use interface. PowerSearch is available for in-Library use. A valid Skokie Public Library card is required for access from outside of the Library.
- Skokie Accessible Library Services
- Skokie Accessible Library Services (SALS) offers a number of accessibility services and tools for people of all ages and children with special needs. Resources include electronic aids, materials in special formats, programs, services, and adaptive devices for individuals with hearing, vision, and mobility challenges.
- Skokie History
- Skokie Public Library has many resources to help teachers learn and teach about the history of Skokie, including a digitized document collection about the attempted Nazi march of 1977 and 1978 in Skokie.
- Skokie Public Library: Research a Subject
- This collection of information and reference resources has been developed by Skokie Public Library librarians to help with online research. Topics include arts and entertainment, biography and history, business, education, genealogy, government, health, science and mathematics, travel and geography, quick reference, and more.
- Special Collections
- The Library has several special collections of books and materials available in the Readers' Services Department. Many of these resources can be helpful in the classroom, with individual students, or with tutoring groups. Materials include a Literacy Collection and a separate collection of ESL materials for those learning the English language.
- Teen Scene: Homework Help
- Although selected especially for teenagers, this collection of Internet links is a great research and reference resource for teachers, too.
- Teen Scene: Programs and Events
- Find out what’s going on at the Library for "the big kids"!