Library
2008-2009 Annual Library Report
This has been a very exciting and fulfilling first year for both Mrs Holihan and I. We would like to share the Wilson library's collaborative accomplishments with you.
Highlights
*Circulated 7921 Books
 
*Over 12,332 visits- students ( and teachers) enjoyed the library this school year - This number does not include class visits to choose books for genre studies. We helped our students choose that "just right book" Our students enjoyed reading, relaxing doing their homework, working on projects, doing class projects, and also, assisting us while in the library.
*Taught or co-taught 513 Classes in the Library
*1390 students came to the library for independent computer use. This is beyond classes using the library computer lab. We fielded their Help requests, set them up with their Computer ID's, taught or reminded them them how to use programs. They are a savvy group of students, and use the computers creatively and intelligently.
*Created and updated new library website for school and home use. You are looking at one link, check out the rest!
*Obtained $1,500 in Grant money from the Wilson PTO and NEF Foundation, to create an audio resource center to support reading. Center includes MP3 players and Audio book downloads, CD Players and CDs, and Boom Boxes, as well a speaker system that can be used with the MP3, I Pod, and computer.
*Completed Inventory of collection using new library automation system. We have 14,549 items in our collection. This accomplishment was due to the hard work of Ms Holihan.
*Added 1260 new items to the collections including fiction, non-fiction, DVD's and CDs
*Weeded 450 items from the collection(see our Criteria on Weeding for details on what we choose to remove from the collection)
Collaborations to Create 21st Century Learners
5th Grade Academy
 
Every 5th grade student participated in a 5 part survey of the Library program which includes:
? Library tour and how to use the patron catalog
? Reference Material review, Stations include Using the dictionary, encyclopedia, Atlas and Almanac.
? Non fiction/get to know Dewey Scavenger Hunt
? Genre Study: review and Tic Tac Toe
? Review of computer use, acceptable use policy, and library web site
7th Grade : Using the Internet As Informational Text - to study the Jim Crow Laws and the civil Rights movement. Collaboration with Ms Galvani's &th grade L&L classes. Students were learning about the Jim Crow laws , and the Civil rights movement while reading Roll of Thunder hear My Cry, and Mississippi Trial 1955. As Part of the Novel unit, they looked at Websites as as informational text rather than traditional nonfiction texts. We used this as an opportunity to teach students how to evaluate web sites, and which search engines to use. Students chose a related website using applicable criteria, and Mrs Bloom conferenced individually with 50 students to review their chosen website, discussing why they chose the site, what made it a reliable source, graphic features, how could it have been made better.
We have an ongoing collaboration with the music department. Research is done in the library on instruments of the orchestra and composers. This project is done each trimester. Students use print and internet resources.
All 8 district Librarians and Director of Technology evaluated, chose and implemented a web based library catalog to provide the best access to our students and faculty. The system was deployed over February vacation. This allows teachers, students and parents to access all district library holdings from school and at home.
6th grade Historical research: All 6th grade students combined their genre study of Historical Fiction and research on the actual historical event that occurred in the book. Students were taught to use Encyclopedias, non-fiction titles, databases and internet resources to research their events. This project culminated in a Term II writing assessment.
 
5th Grade Poetry Project: 4 Sections of the 5th grade participated a multi- sensory poetry project in the library. Students used the internet and books to choose their favorite poem and chose appropriate images to accompany each line. They created a power point , as well as a voice over audio by speaking each line of the poem, for each slide. Students then created a video which described why this was their favorite poem, much like the favorite poem project. Their parents enjoyed a presentation of the end results.
 
8th Grade Database Lessons: All 8th Grades classes participated in lessons on how to access and use the databases in the library as part of a L&L research project.
Collaboration with 7th Grade on Worlds Fair to incorporate a research component: The goal was to have all students serve as investigators on behalf of he UN. They assessed their country based on an established hierarchy of needs and a set of essential questions. We worked on meeting the research standards of paraphrasing/direct quotes, bibliography and footnotes, and using primary /secondary sources.
 
 
5th Grade Research and Core Writing: Students chose a topic in history (within the period between the American Revolution and early 1800's ) and researched using Encyclopedias, on-line Databases and non-fiction books. Students learned how to access these resources , take notes, and how to use source note sheets to keep track of the resources used.
Programs in the Library
Author of the month: explore new authors every month
Massachusetts Children Book Award : Children Read and vote for their Favorite Book
Student Bookmarks: Students write reviews, we turn it into a bookmark
Election held in the library
Read the Book/ see the Movie
Student Book Reviewer program: Students receive Pre Publication books from publisher, write review, gets put on publishers website.
Abe Lincoln and Charles Darwin Time line to celebrate 200th Birthdays
March Madness- NCAA tournament
Book Fair
 
5th Grade Lunch Bunch: Students come to the library at lunch to help in the library
Baseball Fever: home runs for every 100 pages - over 475 books read in a month
Look what we're reading now
Get caught Reading
 
 
Student Library Volunteer Program
 
Library Classes-Taught By the Librarian
Library Skills: all 6th Grade students take a 15 class session to develop their research skills. During this class they learn how to:
use the patron catalog
use online encyclopedias/databases
use Non fiction books
evaluate and choose appropriate websites for research
note taking skills
Create and give a Power point presentation
Media Literacy 5th Grade: 4 Modules:
Media and Advertising
The Cool Kid
The Power of the Video Game
Visual Literacy
Professional Development
Attended American Library Association National Conference
Attended Massachusetts School Library Association Conference
Co-taught in-service program on using wikis and blogs to specialists at Wilson and Kennedy
Ms Holihan and Ms Bloom Attended 2 Day Training on Destiny Library System
| 
