Library Philosophy
The overarching goal of the library program is to help children develop a thoughtful and critical approach to books and media that can serve them in many aspects of their lives. We hope to steadily increase children’s independence in being able to find resources, whether fiction or non-fiction, digital or print, and to help children recognize when they need assistance.
In our approach we help to build and sustain a culture of reading and a sense of a community of readers. It is our hope that children realize that reading is not a solitary activity but one in which friends and family may participate. By reading picture books and short stories, telling stories and traditional myths, children are encouraged to explore other worlds. This happens very concretely for young children comparing their world to others. Older students are able to make these ideas abstract and ponder the emotions of the characters and extrapolate themes based on their own knowledge. In this way children learn that reading and discussing books is a safe way to share ideas, feelings and beliefs.
The library is one of the few places where children are able to explore freely. While parameters may be given on what books children are to look for, in general a point is made to have students use their imagination and push the boundaries of their reading interests. Learning to take risks, learning that it is acceptable to fail, is a difficult skill. Through their choices children learn to be more self-reliant; building on this confidence they are able to safely explore their world.
Throughout the years, children are encouraged to come to the library to look for answers. Starting at a young age they are given the vocabulary and framework to articulate their questions. As they mature they are taught the skills to use a variety of print and electronic resources to answer their questions. As important as it is to teach the technical research skills, we also push students to think about how to evaluate these resources and question their value for a given project.
We are blessed to have a very rich, broad assortment of media to support the curriculum and pursuits of this community. We strive to make the collection reflective of the broad range of interests, cultures, and reading levels of our population. Our collection includes books, audio books in several formats, magazines, and videos. Our website, especially the Students Homepage, extends the library beyond our walls and our school day in order to support the curriculum and guide students and parents to useful resources at any time.
Tali Balas
Librarian, PreK-2 |
Sue Giffard
Librarian, 3-5 |
Jennifer Still
Media Librarian |
Andrea Dolloff
Assistant Librarian |
|