Library offers special educator card for teachers

A 2013 report by the National School Supply and Equipment Association found that, nationwide, teachers spent $1.6 billion of their own money on school supplies for their students. Not much has changed since then, and the teachers in Cleveland Heights–University Heights schools no doubt are part of this national trend.

However, teachers in the community can borrow—not buy—books, DVDs, CDs and audiobooks from the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library System. In October, Heights Libraries made it even easier for teachers to use library materials to enhance their lesson plans by creating the Educator Card.

“With the Educator Card, teachers can check out most juvenile materials for twice as long as they could with a personal library card—that’s six weeks for books, audiobooks and music CDs, and two weeks for Blu-rays and DVDs,” said Sam Lapides, youth services manager. “It also allows teachers to keep their teaching materials separate from their personal items.”

The card also gives teachers access to the new Educator Collection program, which enables busy teachers to call the library or fill out an online form requesting up to 25 books on a topic of their choice. The collection will then be held for them at any Heights Libraries branch. 

“We have enormous respect for educators and want to help them succeed in the classroom, or at home, by making it easier for them to access supplemental materials,” said Lapides. “This program lets teachers draw upon the wide variety of materials owned by Heights Libraries at all reading levels. We hope these materials will help teachers enrich their students’ learning.”

The new Educator Card is available to all who teach at public schools, private schools or preschools, or who home-school their children. Teachers must apply in person at a Heights Libraries branch, and present a photo ID, proof of current address and proof of educator status, such as a school employee ID badge, pay stub from a school employer or a home-school certification letter from the appropriate authority, such as the CH-UH Board of Education or the Ohio Department of Education.

Educators and home-schooling parents can find more information at www.heightslibrary.org.