Let us help your students develop library and technology skills.
Schedule an appointment for personalized instruction.
All workshops take place at the school.
This Gail Borden Public Library service is about teaching digital
resources to meet the student's information needs at your school.
In the information literacy process, a student will identify information research goals, seek, use, and assemble relevant information, and the librarian will provide assistance.
Research at the Schools
- Students will find resources for developing their research skills.
- Students will find tools for applying these skills to a research task.
- Books can be provided with remote check out to supplement research.
- A teacher card will be provided and activated at school.
Click on the button below (Schedule a Librarian Here) to go to Schedule Form.
Resources Inside the Library
Complete and Submit a Classroom Collection Form - Library staff will gather up to 30 items for educators to pick up and use in their classroom. Great for research projects, themed storytimes, or supplementing your school's collection of reading materials.
Educator Cards - Educators who teach at schools within the Gail Borden Public Library District are eligible for an educator card, which allows educators to check out up to 60 items for classroom use.
Schedule an In-Person Library Visit
Resource Room - Use the library's laminator, paper cutter, and Ellison dies (shape cutters).
Middle School Education On the Go - Educators serving students in grades 6-8 may request a visit from a librarian who can provide booktalks, demonstrations of online research tools (including library databases), and more. To request a visit, or to discuss how the library can help your students achieve their learning objectives, contact Catherine Blair at zone@gailborden.info or 847-608-5206.
ReaderShip Outreach - The ReaderShip brings storytimes to preschoolers at daycare centers within the library district.
Veterans Voices - Veterans Voices connects volunteer veterans with students, draws on the power of personal stories, brings to life the experiences of veterans, and honors their contributions. Conversations can be as structured or as formal as you like, and as small or as large as you like. Veterans will discuss their experiences during conversations.
Online Resources
Diversity resources - Find books in the U-46 Multicultural Curriculum Supplement on Black History and Culture, learn how to locate multicultural books using a library database, read about the importance of providing students with reading material that reflects the world's diversity, and more.
The Gail Borden Public Library offers a variety of services for high school educators to introduce their students to library services. Librarians can provide in class instruction, host your next library visit, and help direct students with career & college readiness.
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Educator Cards Teachers at high schools located within our library district may apply for an apply for an Educator Card. These cards allow access to library materials and online resources for classroom use. High schools within the district are Elgin Academy, Elgin High School, Larkin High School, St. Edward Central Catholic School, and South Elgin High School. Educators can apply for a card at the Main Library, Rakow Branch, or South Elgin Branch. |
Library Visits Educators are invited to bring their class to a visit to the library to learn about library services, get a start on a research project, and visit Studio 270, the library's high school teen center. Bring your class to get a head start on their next research project, paper, or essay. Librarians can provide instruction on how to use the collection, search databases, and provide a curated selection of materials for your class project. Special Education Visits Visit Studio 270 to learn about the library and have a great time. Schedule time to have a library tour, learn how to sign up for library cards, have time on computers, play video and board games, have craft time, and much more. Have time in Studio 270 just for your students to explore and learn. Schedule a Library Visit Contact Billie Jo Moffett at 847-289-5833 or bmoffett@gailborden.info to schedule your next library visit. |
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School Visits Need additional materials to complement a curriculum topic? Would you like a demonstration of a test preparation site or research database? Do your students need assistance in finding articles for a research topic? High school teachers are encouraged to contact Billie Jo Moffett, bmoffett@gailborden.info, or at 847-289-5833 for individual assistance. Classroom visits and demos are available. |
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College & Career Readiness Trained staff can assist with college applications, scholarship searches, and proofreading those important college essays. AVID classes, and others, may benefit from these services. Volunteers Teens looking to complete volunteer service hours can do so at Studio 270, the library’s high school teen center. Individual, as well as group sessions are available. Please contact Billie at bmoffett@gailborden.info for more information. |
If possible the students should have a pencil, paper, and headphones.
Contact Tish Calhamer if you would like to design your own program at the school:
Phone: 847-289-5838 or
tcalhamer@gailborden.info
At this time, all staff-directed school visit dates have been booked for the 2024-2025 school year.
Registration for the 2025-2026 school year will open in August.
* PLEASE NOTE *
We are temporarily unable to fill requests for Puppets. Requests for all other items will be filled normally.
All collection requests require at least 48 hours notice and no more than 7 days
Fill out all appropriate collection data for submission to Gail Borden Public Library.
Any request after 8:30pm on Monday-Thursday will not be looked at until 9:00am the following day.
Requests submitted after 5:00pm on Friday may not be looked at until the following Monday.
Educators (including all professional staff)at institutions within the Gail Borden Public Library boundaries are eligible for an educator card (even if they already have a personal library card here). An educator card allows you to check out up to 60 items for classroom use. Information about the card is sent to schools at the start of each school year.
To get an educator cards, educators must visit the Registration Desk at the Main Library, Rakow or South Elgin branches with their photo ID, which includes their current name and address and school ID badge.
The check-out period for most items is 28 days. The educator is responsible for lost or damaged materials.
Classroom Collections
Library staff will select up to 30 items for you to check out on your educator card. Requests should be submitted at least 48 hours, but no more than seven days, before you plan to pick up your items. Classroom collections may be picked up at the Main Library, the Rakow Branch, or the South Elgin Branch.
Call in a request to the KidSpace Help Desk (847-429-4685) or fill out an online form.
If you teach in a school district other than U-46 and need help determining which library serves your school, please call the KidSpace Help Desk at (847) 429-4685. We will be happy to help you.
Adults are welcome to use our resource room which contains an Ellison Die machine, sewing machines, laminator, and paper cutter. Fees are required to use some equipment; see a staff member in the Youth Center or call 847-429-4685 for more information. Please provide your own paper and supplies.
SEWING MACHINES
In order to use a sewing machine, you will need to purchase a bobbin for 25¢, provide your own thread (all-purpose is best), and use in the library. Sewing machines cannot be taken home.
ELLISON DIES
Some Ellison Dies travel to other libraries, please call ahead to check the availability of the die you require. Below is a list of the library's Ellison Dies.
*NEW* Click the title of each column to open a PDF with images of the die-cuts listed.
| LETTERS, NUMBERS, AND PUNCUATION | EXTRA LARGE DIES | DOUBLE CUT DIES | TINY DIES | |
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ALPHABET – LOLLIPOP (A-Z) and ?,!' |
ACORN |
ADVENT CALENDAR ALLIGATOR BAG #1 BAG #5 BALLOONS BANNER #2 BIRTHDAY CAKE BOX #1 BOX #2 BOX #5 BOX #6 BOX #7 BOX # 14 BOX #29 BOX #37 BOX #41 BOX - DOOR HANGER BOX - TAKE OUT CTN CARD/BOOK CARD/HANDSHAKE CARD/HEART - FOLDED CARD/JUMBO CARD/PLAIN 3D CARD/SELF CLOSING CARD/TUXEDO CARD/WINDOW CARD/WINDOW DESIGNER SQUARE CLOCK FACE WITH HANDS CUP WRAPPER, BOY CUP WRAPPER, GIRL DIAMOND ELEPHANT ELEPHANT 3D ENVELOPE, CD HOLDER ENVELOPE #1 ENVELOPE #2 ENVELOPE #3 ENVELOPE GIFT TAG #1 F.C. BOTTOM WHEEL F.C. TOP WHEEL GAME BOARD GAME PIECES GIRAFFE HANGING SNOWFLAKE 3D HAT, STOVEPIPE HAT, TURKEY HIPPO HOUSE #3 KANGAROO W/POUCH & BABY #1A KITE/TETRAHEDRON LACING GINGERBREAD LACING HEART LEAVES/JUNGLE (1 LG & 1 SM) LION LION 3D MAILBOX #1 3D MOBILE HANGER PENCIL BOX PICTURE FRAME RECTANGLE PAPER BAG PUPPET ELEPHANT PAPER BAG PUPPET RABBIT PUZZLE #3 PUZZLE # 6 SHOE FOR LACING SHOPPING CART SNOWMAN ACTION FIGURE TAG TAGS # 5 TAGS #6 (4 UP) TREE VISOR |
ACCORDION CARD ACCORDION FOLD #2 BAG #1 3D (BAGMAKER) BORDER/CHILDREN #2 BORDER/CROWN BORDER/FENCE BORDER/HEARTS BORDER/RR TRACK #2 BORDER/STAR BORDER/SPRING CARD, SCALLOP #3 CLIPBOARD DIORAMA/GHOST DIORAMA/MOON DIORAMA/WINDOW DOORHANGER/PAWS DOOR HANGER/PLAIN GIFT CARD GIFT TAG #9 MASK NAPKIN RING/BOW PEEK-A-BOO #1B POP-UP #3B ROCKET 3-D # 2 |
TINY ACORNS TINY APPLES TINY BALLOONS TINY BUTTERFLIES TINY BIRDS AND BUGS TINY BUTTONS TINY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TINY CRAYONS TINY DINOSAURS TINY FISH TINY FLOWERS TINY FLOWERS # 2 TINY FROGS TINY GHOSTS TINY HEARTS TINY HALLOWEEN COMBO TINY LEAVES TINY MUSIC NOTES TINY PUMPKINS TINY SCHOOL COMBO TINY SHAMROCKS TINY SHELLS TINY SNOWFLAKES TINY STARS TINY TEDDY BEARS |