Media Center

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Media Center News - October 2008

Much is happening in the St. Mary School Library Media Center, with each and every student from Kindergarten through Grade 8 contributing to the life and spirit of the space. On any given day in the Library, a handful of students may be settled comfortably in a corner completely engrossed in their books, while another group crowds around a bulletin board display animatedly debating the merits of the featured books. Meanwhile, in the back room other students are deftly scanning shelves in search of the book whose spine label bears the exact numbers they have transcribed from the automated catalogue program. Across the room, some students are thumbing through magazines, and a few more are quizzing each other on the facts and statistics in the latest world almanac.

Let me use today’s schedule to illustrate a typical day ...first period this morning, Gr. 8 students put their information literacy skills to the test by engaging in a friendly competition at the SMARTBoard to see which team could score the most points by properly defining specific internet terminology. As the 8th Graders were heading to their next class, the 1st Graders were making their way into the Library, to enjoy David Shannon’s newly released, and very cleverly illustrated picture book, Too Many Toys. While brainstorming prior to sharing the story, the children decided that although it may be possible to have too many toys, it is difficult to part with even a single one! Each 1st Grader then selected a book to borrow for the week, brought it to a wonderful parent volunteer for checkout, and went happily on their way. Then followed the usual traffic of individual patrons, a mix of students and teachers, stopping by to select, return, or renew books, or to conduct a quick search in the reference section. During today’s final two periods, Mr. Gannon conducted his 7th and 8th Grade Music classes in the Library, taking advantage of the wonderful sound system and projection aspect of the SMARTBoard.

As a reminder that there is never a shortage of things to do and learn in a library, and to encourage the students to become lifelong library patrons, I regularly call students’ attention to new offerings at our public libraries. A recent lesson presented to 5th through 8th Graders featured the newest format for recorded books, Playaways. After I demonstrated how to operate the digital audiobook device, students listened to a bit of Jerry Spinelli’s Eggs, and then learned how to access Playaways throughout the entire C/W MARS Library System via interlibrary loan.

To further enhance student appreciation of the value of libraries, we also frequently employ the SMARTBoard to visit the interactive exhibits on the Library of Congress award-winning website, www.loc.gov. Last, but not least, I am pleased to announce the creation of the St. Mary School Book Club. The 22 students from Grades 5 through 8 who have joined the book club are currently reading our first selection, The Tiger Rising, by Newbery Medal author Kate DiCamillo. Two 8th Grade club members will lead our discussion when we gather next month for our first session. How exciting for our students to experience the joy of community reading!

Have a terrific fall,
Cecile Coté