Teacher Services
Our Youth Services (YS) Department would like to introduce you to our resources available for educators. This guide will provide you with information regarding library services available to teachers and resources available at the McHenry Public Library District (MPLD).
The following services and programs are available throughout the school year:
Classroom & Teacher Checkouts
Library Tours
Classroom Visits
Other Teacher Resources
Library Databases
Teacher Services Contact Form
Classroom & Teacher Checkouts
The McHenry Library has thousands of books and DVDs to supplement your classroom and school resources! If you are planning a special assignment, we would be happy to discuss available resources and possibilities to ensure student access to materials. Checking out materials via our Classroom Checkout Program allows you to have materials for extended times and avoid overdue fines. Contact us with the topic, grade, number of students, as well as your contact info, and YS staff will gather appropriate resources and have them available for pick-up at the library. Teachers are responsible for lost or damaged items.
*Teachers may check out materials for their own use by registering their Illinois library card at the Checkout Desk.
To request books for your classroom, contact the YS Department at 815-385-0036 or fill out the form here and select "Books for Classroom."
Library Tours
The best way for students to learn about the library and what it offers is to see it for themselves! We offer tours for students of all ages and can adjust our activities to meet your class’s specific needs.
Bring your students in for a behind-the-scenes tour, where they see how the library works, followed by a story time, an overview of research resources, and/or booktalks. We are happy to incorporate themes and resources related to topics you are covering in class.
Please call us to schedule a tour at least two weeks in advance of the desired date.
To book a library tour please contact the YS Department at 815-385-0036 or fill out the form here at least two weeks prior to tour date requested.
We also invite you to visit for a personal tour and a discussion of the various resources available to you and your students.
Classroom Visits
The YS staff is available to join you in the classroom!
We can perform story times, talk up new, interesting or subject-related books, discuss library services, or highlight online resources available through the library.
We also are available for special events, such as One School, One Book programs, teacher institute days, open houses, Family Reading Nights, or PTO Meetings. For events involving parents, we can hand out information about library services and events.
To schedule a Youth Services Librarian for a Classroom Visit please contact us at 815-385-0036 or fill out the form here at least two weeks prior to visit date requested.
Other Teacher Resources
EdPuzzle | Easily create beautiful interactive video lessons for your students that you can integrate right into your classroom. Get instant analytics to help differentiate your teaching and make grading effortless.
Kahoot | A game-based learning platform that brings engagement and fun to 1+ billion players every year at school, at work, and at home.
Canva: Teacher Resources | These teacher resources will spark engaging ideas for classroom activities. Discover these interesting teaching tools with free online teaching resources.
Khan Academy | Learn for free about math, art, computer programming, economics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, finance, history, and more.
PBS Learning Media | Inspire your students with thousands of free teaching resources including videos, lesson plans, and games aligned to state and national standards.
Common Curriculum | Common Curriculum is a digital lesson planning tool. It works for individual lessons and also offers a wider curriculum map for the term and year.
TeacherVision | TeacherVision provides teachers with expertly curated teaching resources and printables across all subjects for grades pre-k to 12.
Nearpod | Real-time insights into student understanding through interactive lessons, interactive videos, gamification, and activities - all in a single platform.
Class Dojo | ClassDojo is a beautiful, safe, and simple communication app for teachers, parents, and students.
