Computer Usage:
Students using CHS Computers: 185
CHS Library website page views: 569
B&W Prints: 673
Color Prints: 64
Teacher Collaboration:
Mr. Berkowitz brought his 12th grade classes for a lesson about research resources for poetry analysis. Students learned about which Digital Library databases offer the best resources for Poetry and Literature and how to use Webpath Express, a feature of the online catalog, to locate reliable websites for research.
Ms. Bentley had her EL students access the library collection as part of a writing project. When she brought her 11th grade classes, she incorporated the Banned Books display and website to spark discussion among students and motivate them to check out books for pleasure reading.
Ms. Bondy, Ms. Bonebrake, and Ms. Mazenod visited the library with their 9th grade classes for a library orientation. Students learned about the library, its collections, and how they are organized; the online catalog and how to use it to locate books and research websites and check their library and textbook accounts; and library rules and procedures. The main goal of the library orientation is to help students feel familiar with and welcome at CHS Library.
Mr. Haemler's History classes visited the library to learn more about research resources available from the online catalog and the Digital Library. Students were introduced to specific databases that cover History and the basic features of a database.
Ms. Thackeray brought her English classes for an introduction to research orientation. Since her 10th graders had never been to the CHS library before, their research orientation included an overview of the library collections and how they are organized as well as an introduction to Webpath Express and the Digital Library. Her seniors had a more in-depth look at how to do research using database features.
Recurring Visits:
Mr. Barr, Mr. Fitzmorris, Ms. Mazenod, Ms. Page, and Ms. Stewart bring their classes on a recurring schedule. These visits are meant to get students used to and excited about reading. The more they feel comfortable with the library and confident about using the collections and making choices, the more they will develop an interest for reading.
Technology:
In an effort to gather more data about library usage, students are now asked to sign in using a Google Form. Data collected from the responses can help determine what kinds of services students need.
Are you looking for a way to help your students be more organized? Do you need a tool to help students plan, gather, and share information? Trello is a visual work management tool that can help with creation, planning, managing, and sharing of content. Trello is also great for teachers! Click here for an example of a board for lesson planning.
Community Outreach, Public Relations, and Displays:
The last week of September is dedicated to Banned Books Week. It is a time for the reading community to come together and fight censorship. CHS Library believes that every reader should decide for themselves what they should and should not read. To support this effort, the Banned Books Week website included a list of banned books in the library, articles about challenges to books, and activities to get students thinking about censorship and the freedom to read. The Banned Books Week virtual reading room highlighted the most challenged and banned YA books, and the library display used the visual of books burning to spread the message that we must be diligent in fighting for our freedom to read.
Detail of Banned Books Week Display
Banned Books Week Display
Banned Books Week Virtual Reading Room
Library Practice:
Library Practice students have been learning about the library, its collections, and the online catalog. So far, they have learned how to shelve nonfiction (DDC), fiction (genre, then alpha order), and graphic novels (alpha order). By the end of Unit 1: The Online Catalog, they will have deep knowledge of the online catalog and all of its features.
Collection Development:
The last CHS Library book order was back in May of 2019! All the collections are outdated. In order to keep students excited about reading, the library must keep the collection fresh. There are SO many new YA titles published every month! In order to keep up, the library needs money. I will be reaching out to any and all stakeholders who can help to make a library budget a reality.
Interim LAUSD Superintendent Megan K. Reilly (August 16)
Counselors in the Library (August 19 and 20)
Vaccination @ CHS Library (September 27)
Maintenance:
• CHS Library is experiencing the WORST ant problem ever! Ants are all over: using the bungee cords to travel from one end of the collection to the other; along the baseboards; into the walls. We are waiting on a specialist from the district to handle the situation.
• Due to a power issue, most computers in the library are not working. A ticket has been submitted, but we are still waiting on a solution to the problem. Now that students have their own devices, this issue has not been really impacted students.
Upcoming Projects:
• In an effort to make the collection more accessible, we are reorganizing the shelves so that there are no books on the bottom shelf. We have successfully reorganized the Fiction collection; Nonfiction is coming next.
Hours
Mon: 9:34 AM-4:00 PM
Tue-Fri: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Library Closed:
Closed: Last 30 min of Per. 3
Period 4
Check CHS Library Calendar for conference and closures