Librarian's Update

Important Information:

The library will be hosting Keystone Testing this year. This year will hold a slight change in that the entire library will be used, not just the classrooms. The library will be closed during testing to all students not taking the test. The testing will take place from January 7th to January 17th. On January 7th, 9th, and 14th the library will be closed in the morning. On January 8th, 10th, and 15th the library will be closed in the afternoon. The library will host makeup tests on January 11th, 16th, and 17th, and the library may need to be closed depending on the number of students requiring the test makeup sessions. The library staff will be in communication with the study hall teachers about the restrictions.

Library Usage:

As tragedy has struck our community yet again, our library was host the counselors, clergy, and K-Pets to help our students and staff process the events at the beginning of the month. Witnessing the strength of our students and staff has been awe inspiring this year as we come together to heal.

As a trend, December is a slow time for teachers to sign up for library time. We have had nine visits from classes in the English Department, and five visits from classes in the Health Department. AP English students have worked hard to complete their first writing assignment of the year in the library, learning much about the requirements of an MLA Works Cited page. Health students took some time out of their usual class schedules to learn about Internet Safety and safe online relationships with friends and strangers.

In the slow periods, the staff has been hard at work building lasting relationships with our students, adding a cellphone charging station, updating our brain challenges, and examining our VHS collection. We continue to work towards our goals of making the library a place for all students to work, grow, and succeed in all areas of academics.

2nd Semester Changes:

The library staff has been listening to our students requests over the last year and a half to bring certain activities previously allowed in the library back into fruition. We are pleased to announce that beginning in the second semester, the library will be allowing students to check out some our board games twice a week. Students must be passing all classes, and have no assignments missing on their academic report. Any student wishing to participate in the board game must come up to the circulation desk and speak with one of our library staff members. Students not participating in the board game may not just observe the game, but should be working on academics and encouraged to sit at a separate table. If students become rowdy, the privilege may be taken away from the individual or group.