Meet the New AHS Library

We are so excited to welcome students and staff to YOUR new AHS Library! Read on to learn about some of our favorite new (and returning) features and resources. 

Find Your Study Zone

The new AHS Library is designed to support academic work, with zones to meet different needs. Find the one right for you! 

• Silent Study. Please, no talking. This area is for quiet, focused work, reading, or taking a test. Find it on the Library Mezzanine, on the 4th floor by the Learning Center.  

• Quiet Study. It's okay to whisper or talk quietly with those at your table. This area is mostly for independent work. Find it on the athletic fields entrance side, by the big windows. 

• Collaborative Study. Talking and collaborating with your peers is fine, as long as you aren't disrupting others in the library. Find it on the Mass Ave entrance side, towards the auditorium. 

Looking for a place to be social with larger groups or to have food or drink? Head for the Student Center on the 1st and 2nd floors of the new building between the Mass Ave and athletic fields entrances. 

Library Expectations

These expectations will help us make (and keep) this space great for the entire AHS community: 

• No food or drink. Water in closed containers is an exception. Beverages can be “parked” in the Library Lunch Room and picked up when you leave. The Student Center is the place to eat, drink, and be more merry. 

• Find your zone. Find the study zone that is right for your volume. Huddle table and docking station screens are for academic work during school hours. The Group Study Room must be signed out at the Circulation Desk. If you have a larger, more social group, there are spaces for this in the Student Center. 

• Pay it forward. Let's show Ponder Pride and leave YOUR library better than you found it. Please do not move chairs to/from tables or sit/lie on the floor. Throw away your trash and, even better, pick it up when you find it. 

New Library Resources 

Some cool new library features and resources to be aware of: 

• Huddle Tables. Two tables with oversized screens and seating for five. Priority is given for collaborative group work. Drop in or reserve in advance. Screens are for academic work only. 

• Group Study Room. Conference room with a large screen and seating for 10. For collaborative group work and conferencing only. Drop in or reserve in advance. Students must check in with library staff before using the Group Study Room. 

• Take-a-Break Table. Quiet corner for brain breaks, wellness, and self-care. Say hello to your inner child with picture books, puzzles, and coloring. 

• Docking Stations. In addition to six student Chromebox stations, the library has four docking stations where you can plug in your laptop to use a large monitor, keyboard, and mouse. 

On the 4th floor, off the Library Mezzanine, you’ll also find the Smart Lab (with Mr. Snyder) and the Learning Center. 

Returning Library Resources 

Of course, we still have the things you loved about the old library: 

• Books, books, books. The books look so happy in their new home! Come visit them. 

• Textbooks and technology. Textbooks, chargers, and emergency-only Chromebooks are still available for short-term loan at the circulation desk. 

• Book return. Return your library books through the slot in the circulation desk OR the new hallway book drop on the 3rd floor between the library entrance and the Humanities Wing. 

• Student printing. The student printer is now located just inside the main 3rd floor entrance to the library. 

• NHS tutoring. Drop-in NHS tutoring has resumed before and after school at the huddle table in nonfiction. Look for the sign! 

And you can always find us and our many digital resources online at library.spyponders.com. 

We look forward to seeing you soon at YOUR new AHS Library!