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Teachers & home educators

Library cards

Schoolchildren at the Suffolk Libraries Children's Month launch at Bungay Library

We offer two special cards for educators:

School Self-Service Card. For £50 a year, schools can borrow up to 35 books for 17 weeks at a time. For more information and to apply, call 01473 351249 or email help@suffolklibraries.co.uk
Home Educator Card. A free additional card that allows you to borrow up to 20 books for 12 weeks at a time if you teach your children at home. For more information and to apply, visit your local library.

Britannica for children, Britannica for students and Britannica for adults - age-appropriate encyclopaedia available anyone with a Suffolk Libraries card
Q-files - illustrated encyclopaedia for children
Fact-checking tips from Suffolk Libraries (PDF) - free poster you can download and print.

Children holding up books that are popular with Suffolk Libraries readers

New titles and recommendations for primary school children and new titles and recommendations for secondary school children - handpicked new and themed titles from our children’s librarian. Includes lists for Empathy Day, Black History Month, Refugee Week and Pride, as well as award longlists and shortlists
Booktrust Bookfinder - perfect titles for all ages and interests
Books for Topics - recommended books for curriculum topics as well as Reading for Pleasure lists
Love Reading 4 Kids - find titles by age, genre and subject
Fantastic fiction - listings by author of sequels and series.

Childnet - great advice, tips and resources for parents and carers, teachers and young people
NSPCC - online safety - advice and guidance about what to do if there are concerns about your children’s welfare and internet safety as well as ‘Share Aware’ guidance
Childline on social media - support for young people up to the age of 19 on a range of any number of issues or concerns including internet safety
UK Safer Internet Centre - tips, advice and resources on the safe and responsible use of technology for young people.

Two boys with books and a Summer Reading Challenge volunteer

Dyslexia and Irlen syndrome - information, advice and booklists for parents of children with dyslexia or visual stress
Help with reading and literacy - information on local and national organisations and reading materials for struggling readers of all ages and abilities
Bookstart and storytime resources - includes information about our storysacks and big books - perfect for bringing stories to life for groups of children - as well as our Get Ready for School bags
Parenting advice collection - booklists on lots of aspects of growing up, including mental health and wellbeing, aimed at young children and young adults
Haverhill Library run a Home Education Book Club for Key Stage 1/2 children twice a month
Every year during the summer holidays we run the Summer Reading Challenge. The challenge is aimed at children aged 5-11, and we encourage 12+ year-olds to volunteer to help out.