Welcome to the Bush Middle School

Library!

Come on in!

Welcome to our library! I will be taking you on a tour and give you information that will help you successfully navigate the use of the library. My goal is for each student to be a successful independent user of our services!

Meet Mr. Hagen

The library is your place to find information on all manner of topics, and the place to locate great books to satisfy your literary needs. You are welcome anytime the lights are on. Mr. Hagen will be available to assist you in any way. He does ask that when you come in, make sure you have a pass or a teacher with you, and come in calmly. Lots of students will be in the library at any one time in the day, and they all have some job to do. So stay calm and stay focused, so everyone can be successful in their library visit!

Expectations

Put away your compass – just click on each section below to navigate through the library!

Fiction NonfictionReference Periodicals Computers Continue the tour…

Finding Your Way Around

Fiction

Walk past Mr. Hagen’s desk, to the back of the library. The wall on your left and the two floor shelves hold the FICTION books.

They are organized by genre, and in alphabetical order by author.

A red sticker on the spine means it is an AR book. Level and points are found on the spine or in the inside front cover.

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Nonfiction

As you walk to the back of the library, look to your right. Everything on that wall, along the length of the library, is the NONFICTION section.

Nonfiction is organized by the Dewey Decimal System; in numerical order and then alphabetically by author.

Some of these books are AR – look for the red dots!

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Reference

The floor shelf in the middle of the aisle just opposite the check-out counter is where you will find reference materials. Print encyclopedias on the left side; dictionaries, almanacs, atlases, and specific reference books on the right side. You will find some reference books on top of the counter, also.

These books are not available for student check-out.

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Periodicals

Magazines and newspapers are found on the floor shelf nearest to the tables. The most current copies will be found on the side facing the library windows.

You may check out magazines that are on the shelves below the current copies in the blue jackets.

Older copies are found on the other side of the floor shelf.

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There are twelve computers for student use in the library. They are found against the library windows and the wall next to Mr. Hagen’s desk.

They are used by individuals, small groups, or whole classes that visit the library, for a variety of reasons.

Please observe the proper use guidelines. If you are unsure about proper use, just ask!

Computers

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New Books Display

Looking for the newest books in our collection? As you come in the front door, you will see the display directly in front of you. Step up and find your new favorite !

Borrowing Policies

You can check out books and magazines – but you have to followthe rules…You can have books for a two-week

period. If you need them for longer, you can renew them for another two weeks. Hopefully you will be done with the books by then, and return them for others to enjoy.

Your librarian would like you to have no more than two books at a time. You can have a third if you need it for an assignment.

Please return books in a timely manner, so as many books are available to as many people as possible!

What if I want to know if a certain book is available?

How can I find out?!?!? There are two ways: Ask the librarian Check the Online Catalog

The Destiny Online Catalogcan be accessed from any computer at school, or anywhere in the

world, if you can access the Internet and get to the Bush Middle School home page. Try Destiny Quest – it is a cool way to look for the book that you want!

Accelerate d Reader As part of your English curriculum, you will take part in the Accelerated Reader program. The purpose of the program is to help improve your reading ability. You will have a goal to meet for each grading period, and you earn points by reading books and taking quizzes. You should get 70 percent of the questions correct in order to earn points.There are rewards for earning points. Every week, there is an AR Store where you can spend your AR points (without losing them toward your goal). And at the end of the grading period, if you have reached your goal, you will be invited to an AR Reward Activity. So read your books carefully and reap the rewards!

But wait – there’s more! The library is much more than just a place to find a book or magazine. Here are other things we can do for you:Suggest a good bookHelp find a specific bookOffer advice for AR successHelp decide on a research topicAssist with the steps in the research processShow how and where to find information on a

research topicHelp locate information in print resourcesHelp navigate the InternetOffer study skills adviceAssist with your homeworkAnd help you find your way around the library!

Need Online Resources?Check the Library Web Page! When you need information, searching

the Internet can take time. You can save a lot of time and be a more efficient searcher by using the information that you find on the library web page. Begin your search here, then broaden your search beyond that if needed.

When doing research, use the Big 6 Research steps , evaluate your internet sources carefully, take advantage of the sources provide by the library website, and you will have success in your information exploration!

Any Questions?Hopefully this has given you an introductory peek at your Bush Middle School library. The intention is for the library to be the center of the school – a gathering place where you can do homework; a place to do research; a place to find a great book or magazine; or a place to just get together with friends. Your friendly librarian will be on hand to answer any of your questions, help you with homework or research, or help you find the perfect book. So, welcome – we look forward to seeing you soon!