Library Staff

Hours and Use of the Library by Grade Level

Hours

Monday - Thursday: 7:45 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.

Friday: 7:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Scheduled Weekly Classes

• Preschool - Story time on Friday
• Kindergarten - Grade 4 - Book check-out, and library and information skills activities in support of curriculum, class activities and individual interests.
  Grade 5 - Book check-out in support of the Accelerated Reader Program assignments and individual interests

Open (Flexible) Schedule

• Individual students or small groups (4 or less) with a library pass given by the classroom teacher are welcome and encouraged to check out books or use reference materials daily.
• Grades 3-5: Teachers may sign-up for additional time.

Book Check Out

• Each child has a library number stored in the circulation desk computer. Students are encouraged to memorize the number.
• Books are circulated for a period of two weeks. (Kindergarten: one week) Students may renew a book one time for an additional two weeks.(Exception: Reference books may be checked out overnight only.)
• Preschool Parents are encouraged to check out books (1-3 at a time) to read with their child. A generic number will be used for book check out.
• Kindergarten - Grade 2 may check out one book at a time (Exceptions: If a parent is present, the student may check out more books; if an assignment requires more materials.
• Grade 3 - 5 may check out two books at a time (Exceptions: If a parent is present, the student may check out more books; if an assignment requires more materials).

Fines for Overdue, Damaged, or Lost Books

• Preschool - K: No fines are charged for overdue books
• Grade 1: Fines are charged for overdue books during the last nine weeks of the school year.
• Grade 2 - 5: Fines are charged for overdue books.
• Fines: 5 cents for each day late, excluding weekends, holidays, and excused absences.
• Students who have outstanding fines for library books at the end of the school year will have report cards held until the fine is paid.
• Lost or damaged books: The purchase price is charged if a book is damaged beyond repair or is lost.

Birthday Book Club and other Donations

Birthday Book Club

• A student selects a book from the library shelves. Parent/child pays the purchase price of the book and the donation is used to purchase library resources.
• A special book plate with student's name and birth date is placed inside the book.
• The student's picture is taken and displayed for a month in the library.
• The student is given a "birthday cushion" to use for the day.

Other Donations

• We are supportive of those who want to give money for books to honor someone special. Currently there are three special book collections: Katie Behrens Book Collection, Sara Lou Kenny Book Collection, and Bonnie Lindblom Book Collection.

Special Events

• Summer Reading Program, Grades 1 - 5:
  
  
  • The student's summer reading log with parent's signature is turned into the classroom teacher the first week of school.
  • Parents are encouraged to give reward(s) for goals achieved by his/her child.
  • Rewards given by the school:
  • A class prize for 100% participation of returning Westminster students

• The Book Character Parade is held in early November. Students, teachers, staff, and principal come dressed as a book character and participate in the parade.
• Extravaganza: The library supports and enriches the instructional units displayed on this night.

• Other events may include:

• Book Fair
• Author/Illustrator Visit

Library Resources

Catalog

• The Catalog, otherwise known as the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), is the index to all the resources of the library.
• OPAC can be accessed on the computers in the library, computer lab, and the classrooms.
• Searches can be made by title, author, subject, keyword, power keyword, and series.
• The computer screen will list all resources in the collection that match the search term(s).
• Bibliographic information and the availability of the resource are also listed.

How to Choose a Book for a classroom assignment:

• The Five Finger Test:
  1. Select a book that looks interesting by its title, cover and back cover. Consider the size of print, the length of words, and the number of pictures.
  2. Now it is time to test the book. Open the book to any full page of print and begin reading silently.
  3. Make a fist. If you come to a word you do not know and cannot guess put out your thumb. If you find another word, put out another finger, and so on. (Names of people and places do not count as an unknown word.)
  4. At the end of the page, the book should be rated according to the number of unknown words. (Example: If there was only one unknown word on the page, the book should be easy to read.)
• Code:
  1. Finger = Easy. Enjoy!
  2. Fingers = Just right. Have fun! It's probably a good book for a classroom Assignment.
  3. Fingers = Challenging, but a little work won't hurt. It's still probably a good book for a classroom assignment.
  4. Fingers = Very challenging. Read this with a partner. (Mom or Dad)
  5. Fingers = Save it until later. Then you'll enjoy it more.

Accelerated Reader in Grade 4 and 5

Accelerated Reader (AR) is a supplemental reading program intended to increase the amount of time students spend reading independently. At Westminster, AR is but a small component of the fourth and fifth grade reading program.

AR Book Lists by Level: Lists from 2.1 - 8.0 are available through the librarian.

How AR books are leveled:
AR book levels are based on a computer formula that calculates the level of a book based on passages, on interest level, and on comprehension statistics from a large group of students.

Technology

• Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), Internet access, and various CD-ROM programs for research are available in the library.
• Internet Acceptable Use Policy - see p.7 of Student Handbook

Parent Resources

• Parent/Professional Resource section contains a variety of books covering aspects of parenting.
• Videos available to parents include the following:
• 1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2 - 12
• More 1,2,3 Magic: Encouraging Good Behavior, Independence and Self Esteem
• Early Reader section and Everybody Picture Book section - Parents may check out 1-3 books at a time to help their child with his/her reading skills.
• Check out procedure - Parents who wish to check out books will be given a generic library number at the circulation desk.

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