Library

Students in grades six through eight use the library during their discretionary periods for research, quiet study, collaborative work, and reading. The librarians collaborate with the subject area teachers to develop the students’ research skills through their regular assigned projects. Students learn to select appropriate tools for different research tasks; in addition to the extensive book collection, they use the library’s automated catalog; a full-image, online periodical search system; and other CD-ROM and online reference sources. The electronic sources can be accessed anywhere in the school through the school-wide network. Students also learn to generate useful search terms through preliminary research, to navigate the various information sources, and to locate specific information within texts they have retrieved. The library is open from 8AM to 4PM, and the librarians are always available to help. In addition to reading at home and during discretionary periods, students read books of their choice during a quiet reading period several times per week.