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Educator Resources

This guide outlines services and resources for the teachers and educators in the community

Classroom Visits - Middle School, High School, & College

What's a booktalk? PPLD staff will visit your classroom and talk about books to help foster the joy of reading! We give just enough information about a book to get teens excited and wanting to know more!

Here's what we need to schedule a booktalk:

  • Your name
  • Your school
  • Best dates (We are available Tuesdays-Fridays)
  • Start and end time of each period
  • Grade levels in each period
  • Number of students in each period (up to 60 at a time)

If you would like to schedule a booktalk, please fill out the Educator Support form and select "Booktalks" from the Request Type section. 

Are you planning a research project for your students? Our Research Classes are built to teach your students about the research process, how to use PPLD library databases to find and evaluate information, and how to assess whether it is relevant to their academic work. 

Research Class Details: 

  • Sessions are typically 45-60 minutes long.
  • We can talk to multiple classes at once (about 40 students).
  • We can teach in your library, your classroom, or at a PPLD location.
  • Students need access to personal devices, such as laptops, or to computers in a computer lab.
  • We need a projector and an internet connection.
  • Teachers must be present during these presentations.

Since library cards are required to access PPLD databases, students will need to obtain one before our visit. If your school has the PowerPass, they already have library cards. If your school is not a PowerPass partner, or you're not sure, please reach out to Rachel Martin to inquire about Student Library Cards. 

We ask that: 

  • Students have a specific assignment and/or a specific topic for that assignment (e.g., biography, social justice, literary analysis). This allows us to focus our presentation.
  • Students need to know about the assignment prior to our visit. 
  • The assignment requires the use of at least one PPLD resource (e.g., a library database or Libby/Overdrive). This encourages better attention during our presentations!

Here is what we need to schedule a Resource Class: 

  • Your name
  • The name of your school
  • A selection of dates that work best 
  • Bell schedule(s) for the selected dates
  • Number of students in each class attending the presentation
  • The assignment parameters

If you would like to schedule a Resource Class, please fill out the Educator Support form and select "Research Class" under the Request Type section. 

Navigating Digital Literacy is our newest offering. In this course, students will learn the differences between media literacy, information literacy, and News literacy, why they are important, and how these concepts apply to their lives. Students will also learn the SIFT* method for investigating information and how to apply this method to their research projects both in and outside of the classroom. 

Navigating Digital Literacy lessons typically take 45-60 minutes for PPLD staff to run in the classroom. There is a practice element involved in the course, so students will need personal devices (laptops, tablets, or phones). We can also present these classes in a computer lab, if one is available at your school.

Here is what we need to schedule a Navigating Digital Literacy class: 

  • Your name
  • Your school
  • A selection of dates that work for you and your students
  • Bell schedule(s) for the selected dates
  • Number of students in each class 

If you would like to schedule a Navigating Digital Literacy class, please fill out the Educator Support form and select "Navigating Digital Literacy Class" in the Request Type section.

*The SIFT method was created by Mike Caulfield. If you would like to learn more about SIFT (The Four Moves), please read this article.

Are you having a Back to School Night, Community Picnic, Registration Day, or other type of event?

PPLD can support your school's community by hosting a table filled with resources, library card sign up, or an activity.

If you would like to schedule PPLD for an event, please complete the Educator Support form and select "Event" from the Request Type section. 

Volunteer Opportunities For Your Students

Pikes Peak Library District has many opportunities for teens to gain volunteer hours by working at the library with various levels of time commitment.

  • Library Helper: Assist with program preparation and/or facilitation, help children with crafts, and assist staff with everyday functions of the library.
  • Review Crew: Write a book review for our website.
  • Teen Advisory Board: Monthly meeting for teens to suggest and plan services and programs for teens.
  • Summer Adventure Volunteer: Assist with PPLD's Summer Adventure program.
  • Workforce Readiness Training: Get ready to find a job or go to college! Complete this training and pass an assessment for 10 hours of volunteer credit.

Some opportunities are only available at select PPLD locations. CLICK HERE to visit our volunteer page to read volunteer expectations, available locations, and the volunteer application form.

If you would like to find volunteer opportunities for your students outside of PPLD, CLICK HERE to view the Volunteering and Service Opportunities.

Supporting Mental Health in Young Adults

Pikes Peak Library District is not just there for your students' educational needs. An important part of our mission is to support all aspects of young adults' development, including supporting mental health and mental illness awareness. Below are some resources that you can pass along to your students.