Services for Teachers and School Classes
Book Picks | Library Card in Every Hand | Class Visits to the Library | Library Cards for Students | Library Staff in Schools | Frequently Asked Questions | Contact the LibraryBook Picks
Library staff, with a minimum of one week's notice, will prepare a selection of novels, picture books, folklore and poetry on a specific topic. For non-fiction materials, staff will be happy to direct you to the appropriate subject area. Requests may be made in person or by telephone, at your local branch.You will be asked for your name, telephone number, age/grade level of your students, the reading level most appropriate (easy, middle, difficult, all), the subject of interest, and the date you would like to pick up the materials.
A Library Card in Every Hand
(an initiative of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library, the Limestone District School Board, the Algonquin Lakeshore District School Board and the Rotary Club of Kingston)Every school year, Grade One classes are invited to visit their local branch for a tour and a special program of stories, rhymes and songs. All students will be provided with library cards, with their parents' permission, and will be given an opportunity to borrow books during their visit. The Rotary Club will reimburse schools for 50% of the cost of transportation between the school and the library.
Teachers should allow themselves four weeks to prepare for this visit.
Once a visit is requested, a library staff member will contact the teacher to set up a date and time, and will mail student packages containing library card applications and other information to the school. Teachers will then send the packages home for parents, and collect completed applications. Completed forms must then be dropped off at the library at minimum of one week before the scheduled visit.
Visits may be scheduled any time between September and the end of May.
Click here to book a Library Card in Every Hand visit.
Bringing your class to the Library
Classes are invited to visit the branch library closest to their school at any time - prior notice is appreciated. You are welcome to arrange regular "book exchange" visits so that your students may borrow materials for class assignments and leisure reading. Please contact your local branch to discuss a visit schedule.Tours & Presentations for All Grades
Classes may request special in-library programs twice each school year. Please note that the library can only accommodate a limited number of classes. We encourage you to make your arrangements as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment. A minimum of two weeks prior notice is required. In case of a cancellation, please notify the library as early as possible so that the space may be used for another class.Primary grade visits will include a library tour, as well as seasonal programs that include stories, poetry and rhymes, songs and other activities.
Junior, Intermediate & Secondary classes may request any combination of:
- Library tour
- Class instruction on using the library catalogue.
- Class instruction on the library's online databases.
- Book-talks highlighting the best of our collection. We welcome thematic requests from teachers.
- Assistance with independent research.
Getting library cards for your students
We recommend that you arrange for each student to obtain a library card prior to any visit to the library. Membership application forms for students may be downloaded here. (link to junior membership form). Please send copies home with your students for parents to complete and sign the forms. Return the completed forms to the library at least one week prior to your class visit. Membership applications will not be processed during the class visit. Parents should know that children registered on our database who cannot locate their cards will be charged a $2.00 fee for a replacement card.Library staff visiting schools
Members of the library staff may be able to visit classes in schools throughout the year, as time allows. We prefer to visit a number of classes during a visit to a school, and are only able to visit each class once per school year. During the visit, library staff will promote public library services and highlight the best materials in our collection. Please contact Kimberly Sutherland Mills for more information, by email or at (613) 549-8888 ext 1520.Frequently Asked Questions
Does the library have material to support the curriculum?We have a variety of materials which would be of interest to students. However, our collections do not contain multiple resource sets, or materials intended expressly for curriculum support. The print and non-print material we offer will broaden the resources already available to you and your students.
Is there a limit to the number of books we can borrow on a subject?
Teachers and students may borrow up to three items on any one non-fiction topic, to a maximum of nine items per class.
Can I keep the students' library cards at the school?
Children should take their library cards home between class visits. They will need them to borrow material during other visits to the library.
What happens if students forget their library cards?
Children must present a library card to borrow materials. Please note that library cards are not transferable to another student, family member or teacher.
What items are students allowed to borrow?
Students may borrow books, magazines and sound recordings on CD and cassette. Due to limited loan periods, they will not be able to borrow videos (VHS or DVD) or seasonal books (eg. Halloween).
What about overdue fines?
Parents are responsible for fines on their child's card. Teachers are responsible for fines on their own cards, including fines on materials they borrowed on a student's behalf. If the school has a corporate card, the school is responsible for any fines incurred.