Written by Mackenzie Manley, Content Specialist, Downtown Main Library
Settle smoothly into a new academic year this back-to-school season with the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library. The Library has useful resources for teachers and students of all ages, from elementary to college.
Event Spotlight: Back-to-School Resource Fair
Head to the Downtown Main Library this Saturday, Aug. 9, from 10 a.m. to noon, for a fun-filled day designed to help your family prepare for success!
To help families transition successfully into a new academic year, the Library will give away essential school supplies, host a tailored storytime for little ones, and provide free haircuts for students who want a fresh new look.
Get Homework Help
Stuck on a homework assignment? Need help studying for an upcoming test? During the school year, students from kindergarten to eighth grade can get no-cost, walk-in, one-on-one homework help in reading and math! View locations and schedules here.
Students of all ages can also get live online assistance from expert tutors with Homework HelpNow. The service is available from 2 – 11 p.m., seven days a week.
The Library also gives access to several online resources and databases that are perfect for students diving into research for projects, essays, presentations, and more. Examples include Biography in Context, Opposing Viewpoints in Context, FactCite, Peterson’s Career and Test Prep, World Book Kids, Middle Search Plus, Primary Search, Science Reference Center, and TOPICsearch.
More Resources
Our physical collection is great for after school or weekend browsing, but there’s also Overdrive Kids, where families can browse eBooks, eAudiobooks, streaming videos, and animated picture books for kids. You can also check out eMaterials via Libby!
Similarly, Tumblebooks’ collection for grades K-6 include picture books, nonfiction books, educational games, and books in Spanish and French.
For Teachers
The Library isn’t just for students, we’re also here to help educators!
Let our expert staff help connect your classroom to materials relevant to your curriculum! To participate in Teacher Collections, all you need is an Educator Card. Collections may include up to 50 books, but we may have to limit the number of books on certain topics based on popularity. Teachers can request nonfiction books, picture books for storytimes, books for students to read, multiple copies for classroom sets, lists of specific titles, accelerated readers, magazines, audiobooks, and Playaway View.
Please allow two weeks' notice for our Outreach Services department staff to prepare your collection! Collections can be picked up at the branch of your choice or you can sign up for monthly Delivered Teacher Collection Service.
Along with Teacher Collections, Educator Cards also allow teachers to check out up to 200 items (except for DVDs) and get access to classroom sets of downloadable materials.
Classroom and Library Visits
Already looking for a fun, informative activity to break up the day-to-day? Consider having CHPL visit your classroom, school library, or tour one of our 41 locations!
Our staff can provide age-appropriate information on various topics like literacy skills, research skills, available library resources, online safety and college and career readiness.
Cheers to the 2025-26 academic year! We can’t wait to help support educators, students of all ages, and families this season as they ease into a brand-new year of learning.
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