Resources for Educators
Washoe County Libraries are here to support educators at every level and of every type. For more information on these programs or services, please contact the library.
Friction-free Educator Cards
We are working to eliminate barriers and make our resources more accessible to teachers. To facilitate our efforts, we are pleased to offer expanded access to library resources and services for educators through our Educator Library Cards.
The Educator Card is available to educators employed at Washoe County schools and preschools, as well as homeschooling parents and staff employed at charter schools, daycare centers, camps, and after-school programs in Washoe County. The Educator Card does not accrue fines on print material. If you are an educator and want to take advantage of this new program, just check in at your favorite branch to update your status.
Library Visits, Fieldtrips, and Classroom Visits
Washoe County Library offers free tours of our facilities. These tours can help your students learn how to use their local library branch. To schedule a visit to your library, please contact your local branch.
Would you like library staff to come to your school or event to promote library resources? We offer a variety of presentations from reading stories in the classroom and informational booths during school events to lessons on library databases and professional presentations for school administrators. For more information on scheduling an outreach at your school, please contact Beate Weinert, Youth Services and Library Events Manager, at 775-327-8361 or bweinert@washoecounty.us.
Online Resources for Educators
Explore online library resources and recommended web resources on the tabs below.
Books & Reading
- TumbleBook Library is a collection of animated, talking picture books that teach young children the joys of reading in a format they'll love. Includes common core-aligned lesson plans and resources for classroom use. If you work in a Washoe County School District elementary or middle school, ask your librarian for the WCSD username and password for streamlined access. Everyone can use all features of TumbleBook Library using a Washoe County Library card.
- Find reading recommendations in the Washoe County Library catalog: just find a book you like and discover read-alikes, series information, reading levels, and more. Find recommendations by subject and AR level.
- Mango Languages is a fun-infused way to learn a new language. Mango prepares learners for realistic conversations and strengthens everyday communication skills in over 70 world languages, including English.
- Explora is available in elementary, middle school, high school, advanced high school, and educator editions. It includes language arts, history, social studies, math, and science resources.
History Resources
- ABC-CLIO includes academic reference works and periodicals on topics such as history and social sciences.
- Biography Reference Center includes a collection of more than 450,000 full-text biographical resources for all grade levels.
General Reference
- World Book Online is a suite of online research tools including encyclopedia articles, primary source collections, educator tools, student activities, and more.
Homework Help
- BrainFuse Help Now offers live tutors daily from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm, as well as test preparation resources and a writing lab. Requires the latest version of Java.
- Learning Express Library includes online tutorials, practice tests, and e-books for computer skills, job search, workplace skills improvement, career certification and licensure exam prep, college and grad school entrance prep, GED test prep, and more.
- Lynda.com is the premiere online learning resources for business, software, technology, and creative skills.
- PBS LearningMedia
- Starfall is a free public service that teaches children to read with phonics. From letter recognition up to guided reading; very easy for children to use independently.
- Reading is Fundamental provides resources for literacy educators.
- Literacy Center offers free educational activities and materials for your pre-school age children, in English, español, deutsch, and français. Some adult supervision required.
- Library of Congress Teachers Page provides lesson plans, professional development tools, and access to primary sources.
- NASA's Science Resources for teachers
- US Government Printing Office
- National Archives
- MLA Formatting
- Online Nevada Encyclopedia
- National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations
- EdWeb: Free professional learning network that hosts online communities and engaging edWebinars for educators.
- ERIC: The Educational Resource Information Center includes more than 2,200 digests along with references for additional information and citations and abstracts from over 1,000 educational and education-related journals.
- The Nevada Registry: Listings of all online and in-person registry-approved trainings.
