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September 2023
By Alice N. Johnson, Library Media Specialist | ajohnson@dedham.k12.ma.us
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 3:30pm | DHS Library Website
Mrs. Johnson at The Last Bookstore, Los Angeles, CA
From the Librarian
From the Librarian
Welcome! I am so happy to be back for another year at DHS and am looking forward to working with all of you: assisting you with your school projects and assignments, helping you find great books to read, supporting your technology needs, and providing you with a welcoming space within the school.
Over the summer, my husband, sons (ages 17 and 19) and I, took a family trip to California. We had fun exploring San Diego, Disneyland, and Los Angeles. Also, many of you know that my husband and I are amateur beekeepers. Something I'm very proud of from the summer is that we were able to collect honey from our beehives for the first time ever! It's delicious! I also spent a lot of time reading over the break. Some of my summer favorites included Solito by Javier Zamora, Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, Anatomy: a love story by Dana Schwartz, The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, The Last Ranger by Peter Heller, and The Getaway by Lamar Giles. I'd love to hear about any great books you've read recently!
We are excited to welcome you to the DHS Library. We will continue to offer and expand our library programming with events like our annual Blind Date with a Book program and hope to add additional makerspace activities during X-Block. Please let me know if you have any new ideas. We are fortunate to continue to have Ms. Ellakkis as our library assistant. I’d like to remind you that the library is open from 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. As a reminder, students are always welcome in the library; if you’re not sure about our sign-in procedures, or how to find library materials, just ask! I am very excited about this year and hope that you stop by to visit the library soon, if you haven’t done so already.
― Mrs. Johnson
"When in doubt, go to the library."
"When in doubt, go to the library."
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chambr of Secrets
Let us know what YOU want to read!
BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS!
BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS!
Many NEW BOOKS will be added to the library collection over the next few weeks. Stop by to see what's available.
Also, if there are books you are interested in having us purchase for the library, whether it is a topic, series, author, or a specific title, please let us know on this book suggestion form. We may not be able to get all the books that are suggested, but we appreciate your help in maintaining a selection of books that will be of interest to our school community!
eBooks & Audiobooks through Sora
eBooks & Audiobooks through Sora
-- Available to all DHS students & staff --
You can READ or LISTEN to books on your Chromebook, or on a personal device such as a phone or tablet. Use your school email account to log in to either the website or free app.
"Great books help you understand, and they help you feel understood."
"Great books help you understand, and they help you feel understood."
– John Green, American author (1977- )
Summer Reading Information
Summer Reading Information
Our schoolwide Summer Reading Book Discussions will take place on Friday, September 22. Check your school email for specific details. We will have 52 discussion groups representing 33 different books! It's exciting to know that the entire school will be talking about books and reading during that time.
Many thanks to all of our group leaders; their support is instrumental in making this program work.
I hope you enjoyed your summer reading book choice! Even though "summer reading" is almost over, I encourage you to try another book on our 2023 summer reading list for your independent reading. There are so many great books to choose from. Get a recommendation from a friend about what they read over the summer. Try something new! Stop by the Library or contact Mrs. Johnson if you're interested in any of these books and/or need a suggestion on what to read next.
Makerspace Activities in the Library
Makerspace Activities in the Library
We aim to offer monthly makerspace activities in the library during X-block. Activities may include button-making, robotics, origami, duct-tape projects, knitting, and 3D printing. We are excited to continue offering and expanding these programs this year.
Stay tuned for sign-up information in upcoming newsletters and email.
"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you."
― B.B. King, American musician (1925-2015 )
"Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. " (U.S. Census Bureau | National Hispanic Heritage Month)
Take a look below at some of the recommended library resources available to you.
Print Books
Print Books
DHS Library's collection of PRINT BOOKS for Hispanic Heritage Month - As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I want to direct you to some great books available through the DHS Library. These books are either written by, or about, Hispanic and Latino fictional or real characters. Stop by the library or contact us if you see something you would like to borrow.
eBooks & Audiobooks
eBooks & Audiobooks
MLS Sora eBOOK/AUDIOBOOKS collection for National Hispanic American Heritage Month - Our MLS Sora eBook subscription has a wonderful curated collection of ebooks & audiobooks for National Hispanic American Heritage Month. This list has been greatly expanded since last year and currently contains 511 ebooks & 180 audiobooks for grades PreK-12. Students and staff can borrow any of these resources by logging in with their school email address.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
HispanicHeritageMonth.gov - Explore this collection of resources provided by The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Biography (Gale in Context) Database - Read about some influential Hispanic Americans in our Biography in Context database.
Voting is open to all
MA students in Grades 7-12
Voting is open to all
MA students in Grades 7-12
Go online between September 1-22, 2023 to vote for your favorite YA books from the past year! Twenty-one books have been nominated. Which one will win? Winning titles will be announced in October/November. There is no minimum number of nominated books that must be read - teens can vote even if they have only read one!
The MA Teen Choice Book Award (MTCBA) is a cooperative project between the Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA) and the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA), with support from Salem State University.
Follow on social media for voting updates | #MTCBA @MATeenBookAward
“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.”
—Carl Sagan, American astronomer and science writer (1934-1996)
Students! Families! Staff! We're Looking for Your Input!
Students! Families! Staff! We're Looking for Your Input!
We would love to hear from you.
If you have any questions about our library program and/or any suggestions on what we can offer, please let us know by completing the appropriate form.
Tech Support
Tech Support
I forgot my Chromebook . . . My Chromebook isn’t charged . . . Something isn’t working on my Chromebook . . . I can’t connect to the network / WiFi . . . I forgot my password . . .
Reminder: The library is your first stop for any technical problems.
Stop by the library to see either Mrs. Johnson or Ms. Ellakkis should you have any questions regarding your Chromebook, email, or other technology issues. If we cannot address the problem, we will contact the Technology Team. We also have Borrowed Chromebooks available should you need one.
The DHS Library Staff wishes you all the best for the 2023-24 school year!
Mission
Mission
The mission of the Dedham Public School Library Media Centers is to empower students to become enthusiastic readers, information seekers, and creative problem solvers, prepared to participate in an evolving world. Through collaborative teaching, curriculum integration, and classroom support, we cultivate curious, independent, lifelong learners with the inquiry skills needed to be ethically responsible and successful in our global community. We equitably connect learners to diverse materials and learning opportunities in an environment that supports cooperation, collaboration, and a love of literature.
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