Special Services for Teachers and Institutions
Please note: When making arrangements for a special service or class visit, please call the Youth Services Department at least 2 weeks in advance.
Institution Loans -- Institution borrowing privileges are extended to educators employed by Highland Park School Districts and private schools/educational institutions located within the boundaries of the City of Highland Park and to employees of City of Highland Park agencies and the Park District of Highland Park. Institution cards are to be used for educational or work-related materials only. Teachers may select books from the collection in person if they have been authorized by their school. Otherwise, the school contact person will request titles by phone or e-mail. Teachers may pick up materials in person or materials may be sent to District 112 schools via weekly school custodian delivery.
Book Talks -- A member of our staff will tailor-make a book talk on a special topic for different reading levels; a selection of books is brought to the classroom and presented to the students.
Class Visits -- Group tours and research visits at the Library are available; these may include research instruction and/or book talks.
Preschool Visits -- Preschool classes and home day care groups are invited to join our drop-in story times for 3 1/2 - 6 year olds. Please call 847-432-0216 X216 to make a reservation.
Reserve Collections -- Teachers can call the Youth Services Department or use our contact form to request that materials in heavy demand for an assignment be put on temporary reserve or limited check-out so that all students will be able to find information.
Para El Niño -- A special project serving preschoolers in the daycare programs at Highland Park Community Nursery and Daycare and TriCon Childcare. In order to encourage reading in the homes of daycare children, books from a traveling bilingual collection are brought to children at the schools for check-out. Also, Library staff present storytimes on a regular basis, either at the schools or the Library, and offer other special projects for the children.
Homework Help
The following book suggestions may help you in your classroom.
Other Helpful Links
Highland Park Library Links:
Online Database Subscriptions
Subscription databases to online reference materials such as World Book Encylopedia
Helpful Internet Links
Outside web pages selected by Library staff for accuracy and authenticity and arranged by subject
TumbleBooks
Animated storybooks, book puzzles and games, language learning, and readalongs, including beginning readers and junior novels
BookFlix
Video storybooks paired with nonfiction eBooks reinforce early reading skills and introduce children to real-world facts and information
My Media Mall
E-books and E-audiobooks can be downloaded to a personal computer, and enjoyed anywhere on a wide range of portable devices, including MP3 players, IPods and IPads, smartphones, and ereaders, including the Amazon Kindle
The Lexile Framework for Reading
The web site for the company which produces the Lexile standard
My Social Story at the Library
Inhouse story illustrating how to use the Highland Park Public Library
Reading Programs
The Library has many special programs to encourage reading.
Book Patch
Have your students practice their reading and writing skills. Kids ages 3 - 14 can read books, write a short review for each book, and earn a special reading patch!
Book Match
January - March
Become a Book Match coach for your school and encourage your students to use their reading skills in this fun extracurricular competition for grades 4 - 7!
Read To Succeed
Use your students' free reading time wisely. Students who log 5 hours of reading time are be entered in a drawing to win Chicago Wolves themed prizes
Summer Reading
June - July
Summer reading programs help students retain vital skills over the summer. Kids read books and come in and tell us about them, or write an online review and earn prizes!