Expanding educational opportunities and enhancing academic achievement, A+ Partners in Education is a multifaceted partnership formed with Howard County Public School System (HCPSS).
Students & Parents
- Every HCPSS school student has a library account. Click the Library’s logo at hcpss.me for account info, or use your name and address in person.
- Borrow materials, access e-resources, and get homework help with your library account.
- Every HCPSS has a library liaison who strategically promotes summer reading and more!
- Don’t attend HCPSS? Get a Library card online or email [email protected] to connect your school.
Educators & Administrators
- Get an educator card to borrow more items for longer.
- Connect with your school HCLS liaison to explore A+ Partnership
- Supplement teaching with eContent and Homework Help, including online tutoring
- Share free, fun, and educational classes & events
- Connect kids and families to the library
A+ Opportunities for elementary schools
A+ Activities at every Elementary School:
· Kindergarten field trips to HCLS (part of HCPSS’ curriculum)
· Visits by HCLS to RECC + PreK classes, annual visit by our Pop-Up Library!
· Opportunity to participate in A+ competitions: Spelling Bee & Battle of the Books
· Summer Reading Promotion by HCLS at your school
We are here to collaborate and welcome new ideas! We can also:
· Bring the HCLS collection to you! On-site book borrowing at school events, dismissal or in class.
· Connect families to the Library for academic success via a family night at the library!
· Equip and inspire teachers, liaisons and other staff to use and share library resources
· Promote e-resources and teach e-resource navigation in connection to a specific assignment/unit.
· Provide “Stories Galore” classes for PreK-2 – in which HCLS instructors read new tales and old favorites. Teachers may request a particular theme. 30 – 45 min.
· Engage with students and families in ways that advance equity in educational outcomes!
A+ Opportunities for middle schools
A+ Activities at every Middle and High School:
· Invitations to participate in the Spelling Bee and HCLS programming like HiTech classes
· Promote HCLS resources and/or teach e-resource use. This is best in connection to a specific assignment/unit, or at orientation.
· National History Day classes: HCLS instructors can teach classes on how to formulate historical questions, access different types of historical data, and practice identifying the author or source of an historical document or narrative. These classes introduce HCLS online research tools.
· Promotion of Summer Reading and HCLS summer classes + opportunities
We are here to collaborate and welcome new ideas! We can also:
· Bring the HCLS collection to you! On-site book borrowing at school events, dismissal or in class.
· Connect students to the library for academic success with a spirit or study night at the library!
· Equip and inspire teachers, liaisons and other staff to use and share library resources
· Engage with students and families in ways that advance equity in educational outcomes!
Partnering for student success
Launched in 2002, Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) and Howard County Library System (HCLS) formed A+ Partners in Education to expand the educational opportunities and enhance the academic achievement of every Howard County student.
It was one of the nation’s first systemwide school and public library partnerships.
Together, we have furthered students’ academic success, enhanced their love of reading and learning, and forged connections to libraries that will serve them their whole lives.
Questions: [email protected]
