Professional Resource Library
The AISD Professional Resource Library (PRL) offers a large collection of professional materials that can be checked out by any AISD staff member; scroll down for details. These resources include:
Professional books and teaching resources for teachers, administrators, librarians, and other educators
Picture books, non-fiction books, fiction books, biographies, etc.
Class sets of books
Audiobooks on CD and PlayAway
Puzzles, games, manipulatives, kits, coding robots, makerspace materials, etc.
And much more!
Professional eBooks for educators and articles from professional journals are also available to all AISD staff on the MackinVIA platform! Click the arrow for directions.
From your AISD Portal, click the MackinVIA tile (look for the rainbow pinwheel).
Click the “backpack” button in the top right corner and select “Change Site” from the dropdown menu.
In the pop-up box, select “AUSTIN ISD PROFESSIONAL LIBRARY/LMC”.
Use the search box to search by title, author, or subject. Choose “eBooks” on the left side-bar menu to browse all available eBook titles.
Choose “Digital Resources” on the left side-bar menu to access professional journal content through Educator Reference Complete, Academic OneFile, and Ebsco Explora Educator’s Edition.
VISIT IN PERSON
You can visit the PRL@Metz in person during the open hours to browse the collection and check out or return materials. A librarian will be available to assist you with locating and selecting resources during these hours.
NOTE: If you come in person during the open hours, check the PRL sign on the front door and Teams or call the person listed so we can come to greet you.
SEARCH FOR RESOURCES AND CHECK OUT ONLINE
You can search for available resources using the online catalog at http://catalog.austinisd.org/professional, and request materials online by submitting THIS FORM. Always use the Google form to request materials. When you fill out the form, you can choose to:
Have materials checked out to you and delivered to your campus. Allow up to two weeks to receive materials due to delivery schedules. Or…
Have the materials checked out to you and held for pick up at the PRL during the hours listed below.
When you have finished using a resource, turn it in to your campus librarian OR return it to the PRL in person during the open hours.
EXPECTATIONS & POLICIES
The PRL serves all AISD staff. It is important for PRL materials to be returned in a timely way so that they can be utilized equitably by other staff members.
How long you are able to keep materials will vary based on the type of item. When you receive materials from the PRL, they will have due date slips to let you know when the item will need to be returned.
Please return the items to your campus librarian OR to the PRL@Metz by the due date.
If an item is due but you aren’t done with it, send an email to professional.library@austinisd.org to renew. Note that if there is a waitlist for the item, it cannot be renewed and it will need to be returned.
Overdue notices will be emailed periodically throughout the year.
Items more than 3 months overdue will be billed. Payment information will be included on the bill; however, we would much rather get the item back!
Principals and directors will be notified of any obligations still outstanding at the end of the school year.
It is expected that staff who check out PRL materials will exercise reasonable care to prevent unnecessary damage or loss. Normal wear and tear is expected and we understand that accidents happen, but we have a limited budget and rely on our patrons to help extend the life of PRL materials as much as possible.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR CAMPUS LIBRARIANS
Campus librarians support the PRL in the following ways:
Getting the word out to your staff and campus about the PRL and how to use it.
Assisting teachers if/as needed in using the online catalog to locate resources at the PRL and filling out the online request form to request them.
Checking your Library Logistics bin regularly for deliveries and routing items sent from the PRL to the teachers who requested them.
Accepting returns of PRL items from teachers and sending them to the PRL through Library Logistics. When a teacher returns a PRL item to you:
Check the item in. A pop-up box will ask if you want to put the item IN TRANSIT; say yes.
Make sure the item is securely packaged in a box or manilla envelope and address it in large, clear print with a marker to: PRL @ Metz / Route #63
Place the item in your Library Logistics bin to be picked up.
Click HERE to access the information on this page in a printable format.