The Rambling Reader

Quarter 1 2023

See what is new at the Dr. Stephen J. Storkel Learning Center for 2023, including:

Library Class Statistics and Updates

Our library continues its mission of sparking curiosity, creating connections, and empowering learners. 

Every morning we welcome many students into the building to start their day with us. On an average day, we get well over one hundred students meeting with their peers, stopping by to print out an assignment,  and checking out books before the school day even begins.

 Throughout the day, students join us during their study halls to study and collaborate or just relax with their classmates. This quarter we had well over 5,200 students join us for their study hall periods. Students also joined us for their classes, holding over 230 classes in our library. So far we've had English classes visit for Library Orientations, independent reading selections and Anglo-Saxon history, CHS argument exploring debate resources,  science classes researching the elements, social studies classes researching the Industrial Revolution in the United States, Global Issues and Ancient Civilizations, and AP Psych journal article research. We also held PSAT testing, chess club meetings, and student government meetings in the library.

During our first quarter, we also had over 2,200 circulations, not including the books used for in-class research. 


Library Promotions and Displays

Trick or Read: Students may pick up a Halloween themed wrapped book for a chance at a "treat" a good Halloween themed book to check out and a small prize, or a "trick"  a book about a strange or silly trivia.

Design a bookmark: Students can create the next library bookmark design using our whiteboard tables.

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration: Books and posters were on display around the center seating area to celebrate Hispanic heritage month!

We also had some fun decorating the library for the fall and Halloween with our Scary Good Reads Display and circulation desk monster.

Makerspace Club

Makerspace Club had their first meeting this year. Take a look at some of the things our students created using felt and thread!


Ramtastic Reads from the Library

*Top 10 Independent Reads Checked out in October:

  1. One of Us is Next by Karen M. McManus
  2. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
  3. Catching Fire  by Suzanne Collins
  4. The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
  5. The Cruel Prince  by Holly Black
  6. The Hidden Oracle  by Rick Riordan
  7. All Quiet on the Western Front  by Erich Maria  Remarque
  8. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
  9. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
  10. The Colossus Rises by Peter Lerangis


Popular books not required readings*

Resources in Focus

Power Library: Students and staff can access Power Library resources using their school Google accounts. Open a New tab in Google Chrome, Click on Google Apps, Scroll down and click on the PO icon, and explore some of the resources offered through this collection of databases.

For students: You may access EBSCO's Academic Search Main Database for periodicals for research papers, as well as Transparent Language Online for practicing a foreign language, and PA Job resources to research and plan a career path.

For teachers: If you are looking for information and current articles about education or pedagogy, try Power Library's Teacher Reference Center, which provides 280 peer-reviewed journals in education.

You may also stop by to pick up a new bookmark for this year!