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The Ferguson's Youth Services Department is committed to supporting local educators. To assist you, the library provides the following information, materials, and special services.
Here are some web sites that are recommended by the Children's Librarians at The Ferguson Library:
Professional Organizations
Teachers as Learners - Education Resources
Reading and Books
Preschool Educators
Technology and the Internet
Assignment Alert
 The Ferguson Library is eager to make its resources accessible to teachers and their students. In order to facilitate this process, we make available an "Assignment Alert" form, which can be submitted online. This advance notice allows the children's librarians to set aside materials, enabling all of your students equal access to public library resources. Assignment Alert forms are distributed to the schools in the Fall or you can access the online form below. Assignment Alert Form
Check out our Tips for Teachers to make the most out of your collaboration with The Ferguson Library.
Book Lists
 The Youth Services Librarians at the Ferguson Library have put together some recommended reading for all ages and interests. Take a look at our genre lists, graded lists and even reading suggestions for those Harry Potter fans. Booklists
Learning Kits To Go
Who Can Check Out a Kit?
- Early Childhood Educators
- Teachers
- Parents
- Home School Families
- Anyone needing materials to educate and entertain young children
How Do I Check Out a Kit?
- All kits are available for loan from the Main Library
- Kits are loaned for three weeks, with one renewal if another person is not waiting for the kit
- Kits may be reserved online or in person
- Patrons will be asked to review contents of the kit and sign for the kit
- This is a free service, but patrons will be charged for missing or damaged items
- Overdue fines are $1.00 per kit, per day
- Patrons are limited to one kit at a time
Topics (click on a topic to see the contents of the kit):
Africa
Body
Community
Dinosaurs*
Family
Insects
Mexico
Mother Goose
Music*
Numbers*
Nutrition
Seasons
Space
Transportation*
*These kits contain at least 1 multi-sensory item suitable for use by children with special needs.
Mini Kits To Go
Our Mini Learning Kits are now available in a number of topics in easy-to-carry bags.
Topics Include:
Ancient Egypt
Colors
Community Helpers
Dinosaurs
Farm
Farm 2
Hooked on Phonics
Hooked on Phonics: 1st Grade
LeapPad Learning System
Math K-1
Math 2-3
Moving
Muzzy ESL
Muzzy Multilingual Language Course level I
Muzzy Multilingual Language Course level II
New Baby
Nutrition
Phonics
Phonics II
School
Seashore
Shapes
Spanish
Spanish II
Transportation
Your Reading Power (a follow-up to Hooked on Phonics)
Zoo
Life Skills Kits
These kits have been funded through an LSTA grant and contain materials suitable for use by children with special needs.
Topics:
Dressing & Grooming
Social Skills / Friendship
Outreach Programs
If you are unable to visit the library, a professional staff member from Ferguson's Youth Services Department can visit your school for a half-hour program of stories using puppets, flannelboards, and more.
Ferguson's librarians can also provide parent and teacher workshops on topics such as choosing excellent picture books, the importance of family reading, and techniques for reading aloud.
For more information, or to book any of these special services, call the Ferguson's Youth Services at the Main Library at 351-8242.
Teacher Cards
How to Get a Teacher Card:
Ferguson Library Teacher cards are issued on an annual basis to Stamford teachers, Stamford residents who teach elsewhere and home-schoolers up through grade 12. Teacher cards are issued at the Main Library and the Harry Bennett Branch, and can be used at both those locations.
Individuals who want to have a teacher card must submit proof each year that they teach in Stamford or are a Stamford resident employed outside the city by a school. Acceptable forms of proof include a school roster, pay stub or any official school identification.
Upon showing acceptable identification at the registration desk, the teacher will be given a teacher card application.
Special Features of the Teacher Card:
- The teacher card allows you to keep materials you check out for school use separate from those you check out for personal use
- Your teacher card allows you to borrow a rich and diverse selection of materials:
Books
Talking books and book and CD kits
Music CD's
Magazines for children, teens, parents and teachers
Videos and DVD's CD-ROM's
- You may borrow most materials (including all books, CD's and cassettes) for up to six weeks. These materials can also be renewed for an additional three weeks provided there are no holds. Magazines may be taken out for one week; and four titles of media (including videos and DVD's) may be taken out for one week. (New adult books are not eligible).
Rules and Regulations:
Teachers may check out materials on a teacher card at the Main Library or Harry Bennett Branch, but materials may be returned to any Ferguson Library location.
We reserve the right to limit the total number of books that may be borrowed, and the number of books borrowed on a specific topic.
Cards are issued to individual teachers only, not to the school. Although no overdue fines will be charged, each teacher is financially responsible for unreturned and damaged materials.
Be sure to ask about our Learning Kits, Teacher Units and other services for educators. Contact the Youth Department for more information at 351-8243.
Teacher Units
To support your curriculum needs and to make the library's materials more readily available to you, librarians in Ferguson's Children's Department will pull together a customized package of materials on a specific subject for you. To meet your curricular deadlines, please request this service at least two days before you need the material. Requests can be made in person at the Main Library, or over the phone.
Visit the Ferguson Library on the Purple Bus
The purple bus is available to bring Stamford Public School classes to the library on the following days only:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings
First Visit: 9:15 a.m.
Second Visit: 10:15 a.m.
(Arrangements can be made to accommodate middle and high school students upon request)
- Each school must designate a contact person (ideally your school's media specialist). Scheduling of the bus must be done through this contact person, not with individual teachers
- In order to maximize the time we have the bus, class visits are scheduled for 45 minutes to 1 hour (but can be less if the teacher requests it)
- If you need to cancel or change your scheduled visit date or time please notify us ASAP
- A purple bus visit is a perfect opportunity for the students to obtain library cards. If a teacher wishes to get library cards for his/her students, completed library card forms must be sent to the Youth Department, to the attention of Rebecca Stine, or the teacher may bring the completed applications on the day of the visit. Library cards will be mailed to the students' homes
- The bus does not operate on school holidays or snow days. When possible, we will try to reschedule canceled visits due to snow days
- If you have any questions, or wish to schedule the bus for your school, please contact Rebecca Stine at 351-8246. Fax: 359-6750
What to Expect on Your Purple Bus Visit to the Library
The Youth Librarians at the Ferguson Library are prepared to offer a range of programs during your purple bus visit. Typically, there is time for two of these activities listed below per visit. Take a look at these age-appropriate selections, or let us know if you have a specific request.
What is the Library All About?
Basic Tour and Introduction to the Library
Answers basic questions about what you'll find at the Ferguson Library, such as how do I get a library card; what can I do with my library card; and how do I find my favorite books or books that I need for assignments (Kindergarten and up) *.
Storytime Fun
Storytelling/Reading Aloudd
A rousing session of storytelling, reading aloud, flannel board stories and more... (Grades K - 2)
Book Talking
Dramatic Teasers to Great Books<
Are your students looking for a great book to read but don't know where to start? We'll book talk some of our favorite stories - they're sure to find some favorites of their own. (Grades 3 and up)
Reference Lessons
We will take your students through the research process by teaching them how to find the books and computer resources they need. We always appreciate knowing in advance what your students are studying. Let us know what your topic is and we'll focus the lesson around it. (Grades 3 and up)
Using the Electronic Databases
We will demonstrate our wide selection of online databases and then give your students a chance to try them out on their own. (Grades 3 and up)
Guide to the Internet
Using the library's own web resources as well as popular search engines, we'll help your students become web-wise as they find and evaluate the information they need. (Grades 3 and up)
How Do I Find a Book?
Using the Electronic Card Catalog
A basic introduction covering title, author and subject searches in the library's catalog. (Grades 3 and up)
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