Services from the Hatfield Public Library for teachers

  1. Class Visits
  2. Curriculum Support

Class Visits

We love hosting classes at the library!

Please note: public librarians do not act in loco parentis — we will encourage students to ask teachers about what they can or cannot check out, but each teacher is responsible for setting expectations with your class.

To support your visits, librarians are happy to arrange displays and promote books that support classroom lessons — please email upcoming themes to kids.hatfieldlibrary@gmail.com at least 2 weeks before your visit so that we can ensure we have enough material in house.

Structure of a visit by grade:

  • PK/K: visit for storytime. Visits last for around 20 minutes.
  • 1st: all first graders get a library card! Visits include a story, followed by browsing. If there is still time, students are welcome to play in the kids room. Visits last around half an hour.
  • 2nd-6th: visit for storytime and/or browsing. Students are welcome to play after browsing as long as the teacher is present. Visits last between 20 minutes and half an hour.

Students in grades 2-6 who don’t have a CWMARS library card can check materials out on their teacher’s card if the teacher approves.

If there is time before the visit, students can also apply for a library card online or the teacher can print out this form, send it home to have it filled it out, then bring the completed form to the library before your class visit.

Scheduling your class visit

Schedule repeating visits once a month or bring your class in for a one-off visit.

While the library event schedule is subject to change, but we are usually able to host class visits during the following timeslots:

  • Tuesdays: 11:15am–2:30pm
  • Thursdays: 12:15–2:30pm
  • Fridays: 1:15–2:30pm

Scheduling both classes in the same grade:

  • Classes will visit one at a time, though grades with small combined class sizes may inquire about visiting together. 
  • The library will need a 15 minute break to reset between classes.

For example, 1st Grade might come on the first Tuesday of the month, with one class visiting from 11–11:30am, and the other from 11:45am–12:15pm.

Library Behavior Expectations

We’ll go over library behavior expectations as part of the first visit of the school year.

Please contact Jocelyn at kids.hatfieldlibrary@gmail.com to schedule a class visit.

Curriculum Support

The public library may serve as a backup for the school librarian — please start by contacting the school librarian about finding materials to support your curriculum needs.

Each teacher needs a library card at a CWMARS library in order to check out books at the Hatfield Public Library. Not sure your library is a member? See this list of CWMARS member libraries.

If you don’t already have a library card learn more about how to get one under Your Library Account.

The Youth Librarian is available to:

  • Place holds on your account to bring in many copies of a title from other libraries for teacher/classroom use.
  • Provide support for public library online resources, including ebooks and audiobooks through Libby, movies through Kanopy, and access to databases.

Please contact Jocelyn at kids.hatfieldlibrary@gmail.com to request titles or for help using public library online resources.