We would love to welcome you and your class to the Library. All our Class Visit options are free of charge and designed to help support your students’ learning. Everyone one who lives, works, or studies in St. Catharines can get a SCPL card, and we will provide cards to every student. All Class Visits can be modified to be:
Virtual: via Teams or Zoom
In our library: you bring your class on a field trip to any of our 4 branches
At your school: a Librarian will come to you and present in your classroom or at an assembly
In Library visits can include a tour of the location and browsing/borrowing time.
Elementary School Modules
Students will learn the basics of using a public library with fun activities and a behind the scenes look at how the Library works.
Topics include:
- The difference between Fiction and Non-Fiction
- What you can borrow from the Library besides books (board games, sports equipment, telescope, video games, craft tools)
- How to use your new library card
Overall goal: Students feel comfortable and excited about using their library
Here at the Library, we are on a mission to help everyone develop a lifelong love of reading!
This visit includes:
- A short fill-in-the-blanks story game
- Fun book talks on new items in the library targeted towards the age group of your class
- A short tutorial of how to access those items with your library card
Overall goal: Students are knowledgeable about new books, and motivated to read more books.
Bring your class to the library or have us come to you for a high-energy, interactive Storytime! Optional: Teachers may request a theme that reflects what you are learning about in class.
This visit includes:
- 2 – 3 picture book readings from our collection
- Songs and rhymes
- A short activity about using the library
Overall goal: Students recognize the Library as a fun place, and develop early literacy skills.
Bring your class to the library for a fun, hands-on art workshop! Each student will leave with a finished product that they created.
This visit includes:
- A short activity about using the library
- Information about craft and art resources at the library including craft books and borrowable craft items (knitting needle, crochet hooks, cookie cutters, and pom pom maker)
- A craft workshop
Overall goal: Students recognize the Library as a fun place, and develop a new art / craft skill.
The Library is the perfect place to go when you have questions that need answering or research to complete. In this workshop, students will learn what resources the Library offers, and how to use them. Optional: Teachers can request a focus on a topic that reflects what you are learning about in class.
This visit includes:
- An overview of the library’s digital resources
- Best practices for searching a database
- Tips and Tricks for using the Library’s catalogue
- An activity in the Library’s Computer Lab: The Great Book Search Race
Overall goal: Students understand what resources to use in different circumstances, and they have the basic skills to access information using Library resources.
We live in the Information Age, and it can be difficult to decipher what is true and what is fake. This workshop challenges students to think critically about the information they consume, and teaches techniques for assessing news sources.
This visit includes:
- An overview of modern information literacy challenges
- Tips for identifying reliable information
- Fake News Challenge: can students use their new skills to identify which news story is from a satirical news source vs a real news source?
Overall goal: Students understand that we live in a complex information driven world, and can apply information literacy skills to identify credible new sources.
Every year the Library offers an exciting Summer Reading Club program designed to get kids excited about reading over the summer break.
This visit includes:
- Information about how the Summer Reading Club works
- Showcase of the amazing prizes they could win
- Book Talks on new items
- Promotion of our fun lineup of Summer library events
Overall goal: Students know how to participate in Summer Reading Club, and have an increased reading rate over the summer break
Make the Library a regular fixture in the lives of your students. We can work with you to design a customized monthly class visit experience which can include a new activity each visit and browsing/borrowing time for the students. This is a popular option for schools that are located within walking distance of a SCPL location.
This visit is highly customizable, and can include:
- Storytimes
- Library Tours
- Resource Tutorials
- Book Talks to promote new items
- Staff present to help students pick items they love
Overall goal: Students are reading more, and are completely comfortable using their library.
High School Modules
Students will learn the basics of using a public library including our online resources.
Topics include:
- What you can borrow from the Library besides books (board games, sports equipment, telescope, video games, craft tools)
- How to use your new library card
- Overview of the Library’s online resources
- Book Talks on popular titles
Overall goal: Students feel comfortable and excited about using their library.
The Library offers several tools to help students with their research needs. In this workshop, students will learn what resources the Library offers, and how to use them. Optional: Teachers can request a focus on a topic that reflects what you are learning about in class.
This visit includes:
- An overview of the library’s digital resources
- Best practices for searching a database
- Advanced search tricks (Boolean Search Logic, Keywords vs Subjects, searching shortcuts)
- An activity in the Library’s Computer Lab: Database Race
- A timed scavenger hunt throughout the library to apply their new research skills
Overall goal: Students understand what resources to use in different circumstances, and they have the basic skills to access information using Library resources.
We live in the Information Age, and it can be difficult to decipher what is true and what is fake. This workshop challenges students to think critically about the information they consume, and teaches techniques for assessing news sources.
This visit includes:
- An overview of modern information literacy challenges
- Tips for identifying reliable information
- Fake News Challenge: can students use their new skills to identify which news story is from a satirical news source vs a real news source?
Overall goal: Students understand that we live in a complex information driven world, and can apply information literacy skills to identify credible new sources.
The Library offers many different Online Resources, besides traditional research databases. This workshop will showcase which online resources we offer, and how they can be used to improve student’s lives.
This visit includes:
- A presentation highlighting some of our non-traditional online resources (CreativeBug, Hoopla, cloudLibrary, MangoLanguages, Novelist)
- Digital scavenger hunt in the Computer Lab using the resources
Overall goal: Students have a comprehensive knowledge of the Library’s digital resources, and are excited to use them.
The Library purchases hundreds of new items every week. In this dynamic presentation we will tell your students about new books. Optional: Teachers can request a certain topic to reflect what you are learning about in class.
This visit incudes:
- Book talks on new highly-appealing titles
- Browsing and borrowing time with staff available to help students find the perfect book
Overall goal: Students are excited to read the new books they selected
Make the Library a regular fixture in the lives of your students. We can work with you to design a customized monthly class visit experience which can include a new activity each visit and browsing/borrowing time for the students. This is a popular option for schools that are located within walking distance of a SCPL location.
This visit is highly customizable, and can include:
- Library Tours
- Resource Tutorials
- Book Talks to promote new items
- Staff present to help students pick items they love
Overall goal: Students are reading more, and are completely comfortable using their library.
Book your class visit now:
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 905-688-6103
Educator Memberships
Educator memberships are available to educators currently working or living in St. Catharines. This includes Kindergarten to Grade 12 classroom teachers in public and private schools and licenced daycare employees. The membership allows educators to borrow library items for an extended period. Name identification and address verification as per Adult Card Registration and proof of educator status is required. Please call 905-688-6103 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Community Groups and Organizations
Groups wishing to visit the Library are encouraged to arrange a session with a Librarian. Your visit can be customized to meet the unique needs of your group or organization. Visits may include a guided tour of the facility, catalogue/database training, research assistance and much more. Please call 905-688-6103 for more information or to book a visit.
