HMS Library Quarterly Report
January-March 2015
Students read...
The chart below illustrates book circulations this quarter as they relate to third quarter last year as well as second quarter this year. As was the case both first and second quarters this year, of the three quarters shown this quarter has the lowest number of circulations. I know looking solely at the number of book circulations may not be the most accurate in determining how much reading is happening at school, but the trend is a little concerning for me. I wonder if the numbers are lower because students are more selective in what they choose, because they are reading books not part of the library's collection, or because the amount of reading has actually decreased. I will continue to monitor these numbers along with having conversations with teachers about how to continue encouraging reading.
To continue making progress towards having an updated, relevant collection that meets the needs of teachers and students, 40 books were purchased this quarter. Some of the titles are pictured below.
In addition to the books purchased, during third quarter 46 books were removed from the collection. Withdrawing books that are damaged, outdated, or no longer relevant is an important part of keeping the library's collection useful for teachers and students.
Teachers collaborate...
I worked with the English Language Arts teachers to plan a variety of activities for students this quarter. All students participated in booktalks on the William Allen White award books as well as books written by our visiting author, Rebecca Johnson. In addition, all students participated in a Write Around strategy to practice looking for "contrasts and contradictions" (a tool found in the book Notice and Note: Strategies for Close Reading written by Kylene Beers and Robert E. Probst that the ELA teachers are using in their classrooms) in various texts found in the library. And, as always, there were plenty of opportunities for students to share with each other the good books they were reading!
Students participate...
We continued to have interesting responses to the questions I posed on the white board in the library. This quarter's questions were "What is your reading resolution in 2015?" and "Who is a character to whom you'd like to teach a lesson? Who is a character that could benefit from learning about HMS's three pillars?"
The other fun way students participate in the library during third quarter each year is through the March Madness book bracket. The voting has begun and the winner will be announced at the beginning of April. It is fun to listen in on students' conversations about which books and series they think should deserve to win!
Special events...
We had a very special event happen at HMS this quarter. Nonfiction author Rebecca Johnson came to Hesston to visit the elementary and middle school students on Thursday, February 26! We spent much of our time in the library during February reading her books and preparing for her visit, and I don't think anyone was disappointed. Ms. Johnson told some fascinating stories about how she studies science as she writes her books and how her writing has enabled her to have some pretty amazing adventures! The students were a great audience that day, and a good experience was had by all.
What's next?
The mission of an exemplary school library, according to the American Association of School Librarians' Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs, is:
"to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information; students are empowered to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information." As I think about my contributions at HMS, I come back to that mission. I continue to work at doing what I can to make sure HMS's library is exemplary according to that definition.
Rachel Yoder
HMS Library Media Specialist
Email: rachel.yoder@usd460.org
Website: ms.hesstonschool.org/library