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West Hills High School Library
The West Hills High School library builds upon a tradition of providing high-quality, comprehensive library services.
The West Hills High School library builds upon a tradition of providing high-quality, comprehensive library services.
Learn more about the library program by checking out the following at-a-glance resources.
Learn more about the library program by checking out the following at-a-glance resources.
While this web page highlights "fresh blooms" (new additions or changes) from the 2022-23 school year, browse previous library reports to learn about other programming and services.
While this web page highlights "fresh blooms" (new additions or changes) from the 2022-23 school year, browse previous library reports to learn about other programming and services.
1: Fueling Improvement With Grant Funding
1: Fueling Improvement With Grant Funding
Thanks to a grant funding allotment, the library was able to invest in some valuable program improvements.
Thanks to a grant funding allotment, the library was able to invest in some valuable program improvements.
2: Increasing Support For Multilingual Students
2: Increasing Support For Multilingual Students
This year, there was an emergent need to develop more resources to support our expanding multilingual student population. Below are some of the resources that we created to help address this need.
This year, there was an emergent need to develop more resources to support our expanding multilingual student population. Below are some of the resources that we created to help address this need.
In addition to meeting academic needs, we aimed to celebrate our students' many languages.
In addition to meeting academic needs, we aimed to celebrate our students' many languages.
3: Experimenting With March Mathness
3: Experimenting With March Mathness
We are always seeking ways to collaborate with classroom teachers, and so this year's "March Mathness" experiment was a fun way to connect with math teachers on campus.
We are always seeking ways to collaborate with classroom teachers, and so this year's "March Mathness" experiment was a fun way to connect with math teachers on campus.
Each school day during the month of March, there was a "puzzle of the day" that was posted in the library and also shared by participating math teachers.
Each school day during the month of March, there was a "puzzle of the day" that was posted in the library and also shared by participating math teachers.
In addition to discussing puzzles in class, any student could optionally submit solutions in the library for prizes.
In addition to discussing puzzles in class, any student could optionally submit solutions in the library for prizes.
This ended up bringing fresh faces into the library and opening up different types of intellectual conversations in our space.
This ended up bringing fresh faces into the library and opening up different types of intellectual conversations in our space.
March Mathness.mp4
If you ever want to experiment with something new, the library is always excited to collaborate!
If you ever want to experiment with something new, the library is always excited to collaborate!
4: Refreshing Print Collection Organization
4: Refreshing Print Collection Organization
Library collections are like gardens that must be continually maintained in order to flourish. This includes not only adding new items and discarding outdated ones, but it also involves reorganization as needs and interest change.
Library collections are like gardens that must be continually maintained in order to flourish. This includes not only adding new items and discarding outdated ones, but it also involves reorganization as needs and interest change.
This year, one of the sections that we improved is historical fiction. It had previously been organized into two separate genres: "Historical, American" (color-coded light green) and "Historical, World" (color-coded dark green).
The sections have now been combined into a single genre for "Historical Fiction" (color-coded orange) to better group authors.
Newly acquired book stands now enable showcasing face-out books with student-created "shelf talkers," improving browsing.
Key historical period, location, event, etc. keywords (also indexed digitally) have been added to the top of spines to aid browsing.
A "before" photo of Historical, American & Historical, World
An "after" photo of the updated Historical Fiction section
Another section that we focused on this year is mystery fiction, a genre that has been immensely popular with teens in recent years. Previously, there were two separate genres: "Mystery" (color-coded brown) and "Suspense" (color-coded purple).
We eliminated the separate "Suspense" genre, recategorizing titles. While some were recategorized into "Mystery," there are others that fit into other genres, especially "Adventure."
In previous years, the focus for de-selection has largely been on the library's nonfiction collection. This year, more attention was given to fiction, especially the "Mystery" and "Suspense" sections that contained many outdated, adult-oriented titles donated in the past.
By reducing shelf space with the collapse of "Suspense," we were able to increase shelf space allotted for other popular genres, including "Romance," which is another genre that has been popular with teens in recent years.
Updated Map of the WHHS Library Print Collection
5: Expanding Student Club Participation
5: Expanding Student Club Participation
Due to limited staffing, the library is closed for general use during lunch. However, this has become a key time for engagement in the library through student clubs.
For the 2022-23 school year, these clubs met in the library:
Readers & Writers Club: A library tradition, this club has continued to thrive with monthly visits with the Santee Library, the annual publishing of Inkwell the WHHS Literary-Art Magazine, guest speakers, writing challenges, and more!
Best Buddies: Meeting in the library's Class & Club Space, the club engaged in new ways this year, including a gratitude tree and Wolf Pack Egg Hunt.
Makers Club: As a new club, students definitely brought a lot of energy, creativity, and productivity to the library's Maker Hub. See some creations here.
Button Club: This returning club continued to use the library's makerspace supplies to spread kindness, gratitude, and joy on campus.
Asian & SWANA Club: While not new to West Hills, this thriving club joined the library (along with co-advisor Mr. Holzhausen), adding lots of new life!
Readers & Writers Club
Makers Club
Button Club
Asian & SWANA Club
6: Cultivating Districtwide Reading Culture
6: Cultivating Districtwide Reading Culture
We are proud and grateful that GUHSD invests in cultivating a districtwide reading culture!
We are proud and grateful that GUHSD invests in cultivating a districtwide reading culture!
GUHSD's Library Council collaborates regularly with the San Diego County Library (SDCL), increasing student and staff access to valuable community resources.
GUHSD's Library Council collaborates regularly with the San Diego County Library (SDCL), increasing student and staff access to valuable community resources.
This year, SDCL generously provided GUHSD access to One Book One San Diego titles. Print versions of these titles will continue to serve students beyond this year as literature circle options.
Sora integration provides eBook & audiobook access, including collections SDCL specifically curates to meet the needs of our district's students (see sample collections below created and/or curated by SDCL based on input from GUHSD Teacher Librarians).
This year, for the first time, we were able to invite students across GUHSD to attend the 2023 YALLWEST Young Adult and Middle Grade Book Festival in Santa Monica.
This year, for the first time, we were able to invite students across GUHSD to attend the 2023 YALLWEST Young Adult and Middle Grade Book Festival in Santa Monica.
Some comments from students who attended include the following:
"Thank you for the opportunity to go to YALLEST. I was able to see many authors I admire and new authors and books I'd like to check out."
"This was so much fun! It was like a nerdy Disneyland. It was amazing to be amongst so many like-minded people."
"Thank you for this amazing experience! I will forever remember this day!"
"This was the most fun I've had! I got to go to so many panels and I even got to get a book signed. I got to talk to authors that I've only ever read the books of. I want to go again next year for sure!"
"This is the highlight of my year. I would like you for the chance to go. Seeing all the books and people made my heart leap."
Given district support, GUHSD's Library Council hosted another districtwide summer reading program for 2023.
Given district support, GUHSD's Library Council hosted another districtwide summer reading program for 2023.
First launched as "Growing Readers" in 2020, this year's summer reading program theme was "The Universe Awaits."
The Universe Awaits reminds us how:
Reading is a way for you to explore the universe from wherever you are.
Just as the universe is always expanding, you can expand your personal universe through reading.
There is so much reading available and “awaiting” – we hope that the summer reading program will help you discover reading resources and opportunities available to you as a member of the GUHSD community
GUHSD Teacher Librarians made some key refinements to this year's online, gamified summer reading program, including the following:
Removed elements related to tracking time or books read. A teacher who used the program during summer school commented: "I loved all of the reflection activities, as they were a great way to engage my summer school students. They [students] felt less intimidated by the program because it was not about tracking reading minutes."
Expanded and prioritized the section on "Reader Identity" to encourage self-reflection. A student participant commented: "i never realized what made me not like to read as much but getting to write about why i do not like to read makes me want to read more."
Shifted focus to awareness-building and the discovery of available reading resources and interests. A student participant commented: "Yes, I have read differently this summer. I usually always read the physical book but this summer I listened to audio books and read eBooks."
Emphasized student creation to increase engagement and build in accountability. See creation sampler.
7: Enhancing Through Student Contributions
7: Enhancing Through Student Contributions
Our library is always enhanced thanks to our students and the ideas, creations, and enthusiasm they share. Below are examples of student contributions from the 2022-23 school year.
Our library is always enhanced thanks to our students and the ideas, creations, and enthusiasm they share. Below are examples of student contributions from the 2022-23 school year.
Students were instrumental with grant-funded improvements. These before and after photos display the following features:
Students helped select the green circular rug and teal comfy chair, which warmed up this area.
After seeing an old globe in the library, a student suggested creating a "Read Around the World" display, surrounding the globe with books that focus on people from around the world. This idea inspired the addition of the round table, and then Maker Club students 3D-printed letters spelling "Read Around the World" to upcycle the globe to serve as the display centerpiece.
A student artist created custom lettering for "new fiction," "nonfiction," and "graphica" sections of the "New Books" display tables, which help promote new books purchased with grant funds.
Students help develop themes (example) and resources for the newly purchased book display furniture added to the end of the far bookcase.
Wolf Pack Theatre was kind to recognize our support at their annual awards ceremony, but how could we not be excited to help promote their work? We appreciate how students helped bring performing arts into the library!
Wolf Pack Theatre was kind to recognize our support at their annual awards ceremony, but how could we not be excited to help promote their work? We appreciate how students helped bring performing arts into the library!
Noises Off! Bookmarks were a hit
Inspiration for our new display stand
We hope choir keeps coming back
Wherever you look in the library, there is original student artwork, including these new pieces...
Wherever you look in the library, there is original student artwork, including these new pieces...
A beautiful painting a student donated
A fiction genre student collage poster
We're keeping up this winning decor
Our library collection is also made richer with the addition of original student works...
Our library collection is also made richer with the addition of original student works...
A published student donated a copy
The Zine Club installed a mini library
So proud of Inkwell contributors
Students help promote reading by contributing to bookish resources...
Students help promote reading by contributing to bookish resources...
A student created this guide to the library
Bookmarks with student art are the best
Students provide book recommendations
Students also directly influence other library programming offered...
Students also directly influence other library programming offered...
Student art was popular for coloring
Students inspired & ran a chess tournament
Students help create interactive displays
Even the library supplies we offer are made possible thanks to students...
Even the library supplies we offer are made possible thanks to students...
Students 3D printed WHHS-themed checkers
A student brought this new stapler to life
Students helped maintain Chromebooks
NOTE: The red rose in the header image of this web page was a "random rose of kindness" gifted by a student, who would occasionally surprise staff members across campus with fresh blooms.
It was such a special treat to discover gifted roses like when this pink one was left on the door handle of the library one morning. Students truly inspire all the work we do!
Connect with us! #whhspack #WeConnectHere
Connect with us! #whhspack #WeConnectHere
Connect with the WHHS library throughout the year. Click on the icons to visit our website and social media.
Connect with the WHHS library throughout the year. Click on the icons to visit our website and social media.
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