School Services Grade School
The mission of Mount Prospect Public Library is to provide diverse services and resources to meet the informational, educational, recreational, and lifelong learning needs of the Mount Prospect community. To achieve this goal, Youth Services staff has established a number of programs and services to benefit you and your students. We feel it is important for the Library to work closely with schools to expose children to the wide variety of reading materials and information sources available. This guide is intended to introduce you to the Library’s programs and services.
Bulletin Board Space
Overdues & Responsibilities
Book Lists
Literature Based Programs
Special Collections
Bulletin Board Space
Are you interested in displaying your students' work outside the classroom? An easy way to let all of Mount Prospect see your class’s artwork, visual aides from projects, Character Counts posters, etc., is to schedule the bulletin board in Youth Services. Teachers may exhibit items for 30 days. The Library reserves dates on a first come, first served basis. Please contact Julie DiGuiseppe for the bulletin board's measurements and to reserve a month.
Overdues & Responsibilities
The school is responsible for any lost or damaged materials. Schools will be notified about any outstanding materials and billed if the materials are not returned.
Book Lists
If you plan to distribute book lists to your students, please remember to provide us with a copy to keep at the Youth Services desk. This enables the Staff to provide better service to the students who come to the Library looking for the titles.
Literature Based Programs
Kindergarten
Storytime programs for kindergarteners are available September until April and may be held at your school or the Library. Please contact Jan Penner at 847/253-5675 to schedule one of these programs.
- Family Fun
- Funny Bunnies & Fuzzy Feathers
- Puppy Love
- Library Life
- Mother Goose and Friends
- Transportation
- Make Room for Me
Kindertales
These fun-filled thirty minute programs for Mount Prospect kindergartners will include stories, songs, and snacks. Please encourage your students to register for the fall, winter, and spring sessions.
Thursdays 4:30-5 p.m.
1st and 2nd Grades
Choose one author per visit from the following:
- Jan Brett
- Steven Kellogg
- Marc Brown
- William Steig
- Eric Carle
- Don and Audrey Wood
- Kevin Henkes
- Tomie dePaola
Programs, approximately 30 minutes in length, will include stories and related activities such as flannels, crafts, games, or a short video based on the authors or their books. VCR required. You may choose two of the authors offered, but at least one program would need to be presented at your school. For more information on a specific program and to schedule a visit, please contact Julie DiGuiseppe in Youth Services.
3rd Grade
Favorite Story Characters
A booktalk/fashion show will highlight popular series, both new and old, that third graders will enjoy.
4th Grade
Reference Orientation
Introduce your students to the public library and all it has to offer. The format of this program will include the video, “Library Skills.” The program includes a scavenger hunt and a crossword puzzle. Please allow 1½ hours for this program if visiting the Library. A one-hour abridged version of this program can be presented at your school
3rd through 5th Grades
Booktalks
Please call to schedule booktalks at least 4 weeks in advance
- Historical fiction / Nonfiction
- Mystery / Suspense
Kids Books-To-Go!
Perfect for your book discussion groups, each bag will include multiple copies of popular fiction titles, as well as discussion questions and activities. Titles to watch for in this special collection: Matilda by R. Dahl, The Watsons Go to Birmingham by C. Curtis, and more!
Special Collections
Parent Teacher Collections
Youth Services houses a Parent/Teacher Collection of over 2,000 titles. This collection contains many resources specifically chosen to help teachers and librarians plan curricula and programming for students and their families.
Early Reader Boxes
Early Reader Boxes feature a variety of titles from the Real Kids Readers series. This series is used to teach reading skills by blending phonics and whole language. Please request a box as you would a book bag; the loan period is three weeks.
Science Discovery Boxes
Each box includes four or five classroom activities with lesson plans and materials needed for each activity. Reproducibles with take-home activities for students are also included. Please request a box as you would a book bag; loan period is three weeks.
Science Discovery Boxes were developed through a grant partnership between Kohl Children’s Museum, Wilmette, Illinois, and the Illinois State Library.
