Back-to-School is for All Ages
Students, guardians, and teachers are all preparing to go back to school in just a few weeks. For each group, gearing up means something slightly different, but the Library has everyone covered.
Educators
Teachers and homeschoolers can take advantage of educator resources year-round by getting an educator card in addition to their card for personal use.
An educator card allows a six-week loan period with the ability to renew. Those cardholders can check out up to 75 items at once, including 10 DVDs or 30 CDs, and can put up to 100 items on hold.
Educators can request materials based solely on the subject matter and ability of students — no more specifics needed — and the Library will send a notification when they’re ready for pickup. Magic!
What’s more is that educators have access to a range of classroom services, everything from storytimes for younger students to information literacy for older ones.
And don’t forget to book a field trip. Request a tour of Central by filling out this form or Plaza by calling 816.701.3481.
Students and Families
For starters, did you know that any student enrolled in Kansas City Public Schools automatically receives borrowing privileges at all Kansas City Public Library locations in addition to school libraries?
Have you checked out these pages of resources specific to each age group?
The Library also hosts great events like the one at the end of July at the Ruiz Branch.
For 24 years, Ruiz has hosted a back-to-school party for students who live or go to school on the Westside. At the late July event, they handed out backpacks filled with school supplies, free books and snacks, had vendors and inflatables, and did a lot of crafts and activities.
And if a student, teacher, or parent/guardian isn’t quite sure what’s available or how to get signed up for digital services like The New York Times, genealogical research, homework help with Brainfuse, or even music classes, check out the Niche Academy for steps on how to do it all.
Early and pre-readers have resources at the Library, too.
Books to Go is a free service provided to preschools, home childcare centers, or kindergarten sites located within the Kansas City Public Library district that care for children ages 6 and under. Upon request, the Library sets up an in-house account for the site, which is used to check out Books to Go materials. Items are checked out to your account in advance and placed in boxes. Each classroom receives at least one box of roughly 20 books, depending on class size. Once a month, these carefully hand-selected materials are delivered to your location and materials from the previous month are picked up at the same time.
And the Bookmobile will have a back-to-school display and scavenger hunt in August! To find the Bookmobile, check here.
So, even though we won't be seeing you as much as we did all summer, we're still here, and anywhere you are online! We’d love to see you at one of our 10 locations to borrow books, DVDs and CDs, and use our public computers and free Wi-Fi, or spend time on the online catalog or at the Digital Branch.