Instructional Resource Center
The Instructional Resource Center (IRC) provides equipment and resources needed for staff to laminate, create posters, die cut, create instructional materials, and browse instructional aides.
Paper is provided or staff may bring their own supply. There is no charge for paper, supplies, or laminating.
Special August 2026 Hours
The IRC will be open August 10 from 9 a.m.-noon, August 11 from noon-3 p.m., and August 12 from 9 a.m.-noon.
During this time, no scheduling will be required to use the laminator and poster maker, with the following restrictions:
- Staff will be limited to 15-minute use of the laminator and poster maker.
- Quantities will be limited to one class set or resources.
2026-2027 School Year
The IRC will fully reopen for the 2026-2027 school year on Wednesday, August 26 at 4 p.m. Regular hours of operation are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4-6:30 p.m.
Please note, if HCPSS schools are closed due to inclement weather or due to any unscheduled emergency, the IRC also will be closed.
Hours of Operation:
Wednesdays & Thursdays
4:00-6:30 p.m.
Location:
9645 Gerwig Lane
Columbia, MD 21046
Contact:
Phone: 410-313-7013 (during open hours of operation)
Die Cuts
The Instructional Resource Center has a comprehensive collection of over 900 decorative dies from 1″ to 14″ and 7 different alphabetic fonts from 2″ to 10″. There are 70 different Resource and Culture boxes that can be borrowed. A variety of teaching/learning aides in Math, Science, Language Arts, and Social Studies are on display with master copies available.
Anything that can be cut with scissors can be cut on the die cut machines. Please no foam core board.
Materials the die cut machines will cut:
- Cardstock
- Compressed Sponges
- Construction paper
- Cotton fabric
- Felt
- File folders
- Foam sheets
- Foil
- Magazine pages
- Maps
- Metallic tissue paper
- Newspaper
- Poster Board
- Sandpaper
- Tissue paper
- Wallpaper
Note: If you want your die cut items to be laminated, laminate the paper first, if your die cut items are to be glued on to something else, laminate the whole thing when you are done.