Let’s work together to make sure our youngest community members have everything they need to be strong readers, engaged learners, and confident students. From birth, while learning to read, success throughout the school year, and for support throughout high school, the Library has resources for families and teachers. If you can’t find what you need on this page, please call us at 419.259.5200.
FOR FAMILIES:
We’re bringing Library activity programs to you! Visit any location for Activities to Go bags. Each bag has directions and supplies for fun activities at home for preschoolers OR kids ages 5 – 10. If you can’t get to a location, just call us at 419.259.5200 and we will email you a full set of instructions.
We will choose from available materials to fill requests with a quick turnaround for you! Just let us know where you want to pick up your books from and we will get started! Use this form or call any location.
For families who are preparing for kindergarten, we can help you be successful. Our virtual Countdown to Kindergarten program includes helpful videos about:
- The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA)
- Skills you and your child can practice over the summer
- Reading tips and a story about a child’s first day in kindergarten
Scroll down to view the video series and then you can request a kindergarten packet that includes: skill rings, safety scissors, and additional information about the KRA. Requests can be sent to readytoread@toledolibrary.org
You can also download and print:
Thank you to the Library Legacy Foundation for making this program possible!
Free, recorded stories for children, teens, and adults! Listen by phone any time of day or night. Just call 419.745.9700 and choose your age group and story. Stories updated every two weeks.
Sign up today to have one free book per month sent to your child. If you register your newborn baby, that means you will receive up to 60 books! Start building your child’s at-home library early! Register for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library with this form or in person at any Toledo Library location.
Ready to Read for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarten through third grade.
- Families are children’s first teachers. By interacting with your child every day, you can help ensure kindergarten readiness.
- Our Ready to Read program is a parent education initiative designed to help families prepare children (birth-preschool) for kindergarten while providing the information and tools needed to build early literacy skills.
- This team will also provide tips and insight for families who may need encouragement during the first years of elementary school.
For information or to schedule an individual or group training session, please complete this easy form or call 419.259.5253.
Choose one or choose them all!
Pick up tracker cards at any location or track online with Beanstack or with the Beanstack Tracker App on Google Play or Apple.
10 to Try: Read one book in each of 10 categories. Choose your own titles or try our recommendations below. Complete all 10 categories by Dec. 31, 2022, to receive a backpack and be entered to win grand prizes.
- Adventures booklists: Adults, Teens, or Children.
- Biographies or Memoirs booklists: Adults, Teens, or Children.
- Books You Always Meant to Read booklists: Adults, Teens, or Children.
- Fantasy or Fairy Tales booklists: Adults, Teens, or Children.
- Graphic Novels booklists: Adults, Teens, or Children.
- Humorous booklists: Adults, Teens, or Children.
- Librarian Recommended books–Ask your librarian or check the TLCPL blog for recommendations.
- Ohio Authors and Settings booklists: Adults, Teens, or Children.
- Short Books/Short Stories booklists: Adults, Teens, or Children.
- Timeless Classics booklists: Adults, Teens, or Children.
8 Aloud: Read aloud 8 chapter books (or listen to the audiobook) with a child, a class, a family, or a friend. Complete the challenge and receive a zipper pouch. Find your own chapter books or try our recommendations listed here:
- Animals
- Award Winners
- Beginners
- Best Audio
- Classics
- Fantasy
- Historical Fiction
- Humor
- Too good to miss
101 Picture Book Challenge: Read our list of the best picture books which includes classics, new titles, and everything in between. Complete the challenge and receive a book for your home library.
50 More Picture Books Challenge: If 101 books weren’t enough, or you want to start with a smaller challenge, this is for you! Complete the challenge by reading the books on this list to receive a book for your home library.
Write a great story and win great prizes!
Fall is here and pumpkins are everywhere and in everything. Your story can be about anything but must include the word pumpkin.
GRADE CATEGORIES/PRIZE:
Prizes awarded in each Grade Category: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
1st Place: Grades K-8: Nintendo Switch Lite | Grades 9-12: Beats Studio Buds
2nd and 3rd Place: Grades K-5: Soundcore by Anker- Life 2 Neo Headphones | Grades 6-12: Soundcore by Anker- Life Note C Earbuds
Honorable Mentions (2 per category and all winners): T-shirt and Rocketbook notebook
HOW TO ENTER
Download the entry form here
or
stop by any location to get a form
or
Entries may be dropped off at any Library location or mailed to: Youth Services at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, 325 Michigan St., Toledo, OH 43604.
Winners will be notified by telephone after December 7, 2022. Winning entries will be posted on the Toledo Library’s OverDrive website after Dec. 31, 2022 with guardian’s permission. Winners will be invited to the recognition event on January 7, 2023.
GUIDELINES
To enter, your story must:
- Be your original work, which comes solely from your imagination.
- Include three parts: a beginning, middle and end.
- Be 500 words maximum.
- Be hand-written or typed (12+ point font) and stapled to the entry form.
MORE DETAILS
- Winners must have parent/guardian permission to receive prizes.
- Children of employees of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library are not eligible to enter.
- Judges’ decisions are final and binding.
- Photocopies of the entry form will be accepted.
- Entries become the property of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library and will not be returned.
- The Library reserves the right to use winning entries in related promotional materials with guardian’s permission.
- We regret that we cannot confirm receipt of your entry.
- Prizes are generously provided by the Library Legacy Foundation.
No printer at home? Contact your nearest Library for printing up to 10 free pages per day from Scholastic Teachables.
- BIRMINGHAM: Green on Green
- HEATHERDOWNS: Sometimes Rain
- HOLLAND: Where is Jumper
- KENT: 5 Little Ducks
- KING ROAD: Hi Koo A Year of Seasons
- LAGRANGE: Cat’s Colors
- LOCKE: Round
- MAIN LIBRARY/ROOFTOP: Bumpity Thumpity
- MAUMEE: The Honeybee
- MOTT: One Dark Bird
- OLANDER PARK: Watersong
- OREGON: The Balcony
- POINT PLACE: Ava’s Poppy
- REYNOLDS CORNERS: Hiking Day
- SANGER: The Honeybee
- SOUTH: Stars
- SYLVANIA: And the People Stayed Home
- TOLEDO HEIGHTS: Mama Built a Nest
- WASHINGTON: Quiet
- WATERVILLE: Trees
- WEST TOLEDO: Walk & See ABC
Tutor.com offers online academic tutoring to K-12, intro-level college and GED students. No appointment is needed and tutors are available noon to midnight, 7 days a week! Study 24/7 with their practice quizzes and SkillsCenter Resource Library. Sample quizzes include ASVAB, ACT/SAT prep, Math Fundamentals and much more. Tutor.com also provides writing support either in a live session or through the Drop-off Paper review. Receive feedback on reports, essays, resumes and cover letters within 12 hours.
TutorSmart provides free after-school tutoring for 1st – 8th grade students in the Greater Toledo area. Fall registration is now open! Apply here.
If you are interested in becoming a TutorSmart tutor, email your resume to HR@tutorsmart-toledo.org.
FOR EDUCATORS:
We will choose from available materials to fill requests with a quick turnaround for you! Just let us know where you want to pick up your books from and we will get started! Use this form or call any location.
Book kits are perfect for supporting your teaching. At this time, you may reserve a maximum of 60 days in advance. Check back often as our inventory is always changing.
- Juvenile and Teen Kits have 25 copies.
- Book Kits are checked out for a maximum of 9 weeks. No renewals.
Most of these titles are available in eBook or eAudio format from Libby or hoopla (number of copies and availability varies).
Start your request with this form or call 419.259.5200.
We have childcare kits with material designed for specific ages…with free delivery. 15 books are included per kit. Start your request with this form or call 419.259.5200.
Our librarians are ready to help your students. Let us customize a visit to meet your learning needs. Schedule your visit with this form or call 419.259.5200.
Our monthly Educator Newsletter provides tips on using all our resources to help your students learn. Sign up with this form.
Call us at 419.259.5200 to get a Library card for all of your students.
Always Available eBooks for Educators
Discover Your Next Favorite Read!
Educator Resources in World Book Kids
Gale eBooks – Searching for Information
Gale In Context Elementary-Overview for Students
Homework Help for Older Students
How to Access Homework Help Databases for Elementary Students
