Educator Resource Center
Welcome to the Educator Resource Center - a collection of resources curated just for Jackson's teachers.
A JDL student card is an online-access-only card that allows students to use e-materials without fear of losing or returning items. These cards are good until June 30 of the year a student turns 19, allowing for uninterrupted use throughout their entire K-12 career.
To begin the process of getting student cards for your students, contact JDL’s Youth Services Coordinator, Kristin Stiger.
JDL offers a range of classroom visit options. Have an idea for something not listed? Let us know! We’re always looking for new ways to collaborate.
Great for grades PreK-2, our staff will bring a selection of books, songs, and activities to share with your students. We can tailor storytimes to fit your schedule and curriculum.
Contact your nearest branch and schedule your visit today!
- “You have a library card, now what?” Presentation (15-20min) Just signed your students up for JDL student cards and want them to know all the amazing materials they have access to? We’ll bring a bit of humor and all the information your students need to begin exploring our digital offerings.
- “Searching for Reliable Resources” Workshop (45-60min) The internet is filled with misinformation. Let our Information and Library Science professionals teach your students what good resources look like and smart ways to find information for school projects. *This visit requires that students have access to a computer with internet access*
- “Advanced Searching” Workshop (45-60min) Typing in a full sentence into a search engine?! We’ll cover the basics of Boolean search methods and how the right search terms can help your students find results faster and with more precision. *This visit requires that students have access to a computer with internet access*
Invite your nearest library branch to your next school event, open house, or conference day. We’ll connect families with library services, programs, materials, and, of course, library cards!
Reach out to your nearest JDL location and set your Pre-K establishment up with regular picture book deliveries.
This delivery program pairs well with a storytime visit on delivery days.
JDL’s Books on Wheels program delivers a mobile library cabinet to elementary schools in
Jackson County. These wheeled cabinets are a great way to keep your elementary school library collections fresh with fun, up-to-date reads.
Each cabinet is curated by our Collection Services librarians to ensure a wide range of topics and interests are inside each one.
Sign-ups for the next school year are every spring. Make sure to sign up for the educator’s newsletter to get up-to-date information on the program.
Looking for Pilot Partners!
Designed for individual students (not classrooms): students place holds using their JDL library cards on titles they would like delivered to them at school. Books are returned using a library drop box placed inside the main entrance of the school.
Invite JDL to your next professional development day. We can present on topics such as:
- Services for Teachers/Schools: Let us go over the services presented on this webpage
- Michigan Electronic Library (MEL) Databases: We’ll show you all the great resources provided by our state library.
- JDL e-Materials and Subscriptions: Find out all the JDL materials you have access to from your classroom
- Storytime Workshops: One of our storytime staff will share some tips and tricks on creating engaging storytimes
- Book Tastings: We love to share new amazing books. Let us set up a book tasting for your staff!
Sign up for our periodic Educator Newsletter below.