Our library program strives to develop students’ research skills and encourage reading through the collaboration of our classroom teachers and teacher-librarian. Parents are welcome to visit our library and select books to read with their children.

The library is open from 8:35 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It offers a quiet place for students to study, do homework or read. It houses a large selection of up-to-date informational books, reference materials, vertical files, periodicals and Internet access.

The library is fully automated and the library staff will assist students in searching online using computer terminals. A computer lab is available in the library for students to search on the Internet, search for periodicals through EBSCOhost and use word-processing programs. Informational and recreational materials may be loaned for two weeks and reference books may be taken out overnight.

Resource-Based Learning

Research for these projects is seen as a six-stage inquiry process:

Stage 1 - Task Definition

Students pose questions and establish purpose and need for inquiry.

Stage 2 – Planning

Outline process to direct inquiry; inspiration is useful tool to use at this stage.

Skills taught at this stage are:

• Webbing
• Outlining

Stage 3 - Information Retrieval

Students identify, select and evaluate information sources; they collect information from primary and secondary sources.

Skills taught at this stage are:

• Key words
• Tool time
• Encyclopedia
• National Geographic index
• Vertical file
• Middle search
• Internet Searches and evaluating a website  

Stage 4 - Information Processing

Students choose information, organize and record information, make connections.

Skills taught at this stage are:

• Bibliographic format
• Note-taking

Stage 5 - Creation and Genesis

Students make decisions about audience and form in order to revise, edit and create products.

Skills taught at this stage are:

• Revising and editing
• Writing formats
• Representing

Stage 6 - Presentation and Assessment

Students present final form of product, assess product and evaluate inquiry process and skills.

Skills taught at this stage are:

• Presenting
• Assessing and evaluating