HAPPY VACATION!!!

The Library wishes everyone a wonderful, safe, reading full vacation!!!!

Peacemakers from Johnson School singing to our Presehoolers in the library!!

Speech Assembly: Junior Connor Shea performing for peers in the library!!

The Library is Alive with the Thrill of Children's Books!

The library teamed up with Ms. Plachy's Early Childhood class to work on a data collecting project. The students, along with guidance from Ms. Plachy and myself created a survey for teachers regarding their favorite children's book. It asked for responders to identify their favorite book as a child and their favorite children's book as an adult. They also asked logistical questions such as department and age range so they could break down the data. The participation from teachers was huge, and armed with their information the class came to the library and took over. They pulled books from the preschool collection and created bulletin boards and displays. Their bulletin board is going to be interactive and they will be asking students to fill out a book mark to put on the "book shelf" indicating their favorite book! It was great to see the students so engaged in this project and excited to create a visual display of their work!!

 This is a great article about how to break down the whole research process. Often times it can be an overwhelming endeavor. Using one of the strategies librarians often employ will help students be successful and not feel as if the project has a life of it's own!! What is important to note is the author does not stress the library databases but acknowledges in the comment section how important they are to producing a high quality product!

http://www.nypl.org/blog/2013/11/18/research-using-big6-skills-better-grades

Book Blog of the Week:

The Boys in the Boat: nine Americans and their epic quest for gold at 
 the 1936 Berlin Olympics / Daniel James Brown

You know a non-fiction book is great when it reads like compelling fiction! For me The Boys in the Boat is similar in read to the crazy successful and amazing Unbroken / Laura Hillebrand where you become so invested in the main character you feel as if you know them and want them to survive and succeed. Not only am I getting to know Joe Rantz, the young man at the heart of the story, but the author makes the sport of rowing come alive all the while setting the stage of what life was like in the 1930's. I love this book and would highly recommend to anyone who loves a great story of determination, hard work and overcoming amazing odds!!!

Booklist Review: *Starred Review* If Jesse Owens is rightfully the most famous American athlete of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, repudiating Adolf Hitler's notion of white supremacy by winning gold in four events, the gold-medal-winning effort by the eight-man rowing team from the University of Washington remains a remarkable story. It encompasses the convergence of transcendent British boatmaker George Pocock; the quiet yet deadly effective UW men's varsity coach, Al Ulbrickson; and an unlikely gaggle of young rowers who would shine as freshmen, then grow up together, a rough-and-tumble bunch, writes Brown, not very worldly, but earnest and used to hard work. Brown (Under a Flaming Sky, 2006) takes enough time to profile the principals in this story while using the 1936 games and Hitler's heavy financial and political investment in them to pull the narrative along. In doing so, he offers a vivid picture of the socioeconomic landscape of 1930s America (brutal), the relentlessly demanding effort required of an Olympic-level rower, the exquisite brainpower and materials that go into making a first-rate boat, and the wiles of a coach who somehow found a way to, first, beat archrival University of California, then conquer a national field of qualifiers, and finally, defeat the best rowing teams in the world. A book that informs as it inspires

Read, Write, Create, Imagine.....

At this busy time of the year, it is always important to take a minute to relax and take in your surroundings. The perfect way to do this is to choose a good book, curl up and shut out all the hustle and bustle around you. As I look out over the library this morning I see some students quietly working individually, others in a study group for an upcoming test while others are sitting in comfy chairs reading. The morning is my favorite time of the day, students in the library are calm, engaged and working hard.  At this time of the year I feel it is important to stress what we appreciate, and I appreciate the opportunity to work with students, to get to know them both academically and personally, to run a library where students are happy, engaged and feel comfortable. I an happy to be part of such an amazing staff and work with teachers who appreciate and understand the value of a school library and library teacher!


Book of the Week:

The Diviners / Libba Bray

Libba Bray is one of my favorite authors. She can not be pigeon holed into a certain genre or style as I feel all her books are unique in their own right. This is one of the best books I have read in years. It is full of mystery, magic, thrill and intrigue. It scared me, made me think and kept me on my toes. The best part is, the sequel is scheduled to be released in April!!

Booklist:
*Starred Review* Here's your headline, boss: Small-Town Dame Lands in Big Apple, Goes Wild, Tries to Stop Resurrection of Antichrist. It'll sell bundles! Indeed it will, as Bray continues her winning streak with this heedlessly sprawling series starter set in Prohibition-era New York. Slang-slinging flapper Evie, 17, is pos-i-tute-ly thrilled to be under the wing of her uncle, who runs the Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult. Business is slow (i.e., plenty of time for Evie to swill gin at speakeasies!) until the grisly arrival of what the papers dub the Pentacle Killer, who might be the reincarnation of a religious zealot named Naughty John. Even Evie's new pals hoofers, numbers runners, and activists, but all swell kids are drawn into the investigation. It's Marjorie Morningstar meets Silence of the Lambs, and Bray dives into it with the brio of the era, alternating rat-a-rat flirting with cold-blooded killings. Seemingly each teen has a secret ability (one can read an object's history; another can heal), and yet the narrative maintains the flavor of historical fiction rather than fantasy. The rest of the plot well, how much time do you have? The book is big and wants to be the kind of thing you can lose yourself in. Does it succeed? It's jake, baby.

Giving Thanks......

At this time of year it is so important to remind ourselves what we have and how we can give back to others. We decided to get back to the basics with this month's board. Ms. Carrick created a "giving thanks" board. Reminiscent of our elementary school days, a huge turkey was on the board and students and staff were asked to fill out a feather with what they were thankful for. Most students were very touched by this and the majority filled out feathers stating their family and friends were what they were thankful for. It is nice to see us all take a minute to calm down with all the hustle and bustle in our lives and reflect on what truly matters!!

Book Blog of the Week:

Mortal Heart / Robin LeFevers

I have been waiting for a year for this book to arrive! The third and final installment in the Grave Mercy trilogy, Mortal Heart follows the story of Annith, one of Death's handmaidens. The book did not disappoint!! This has been a fantastic series and we were so fortunate to have Robin LeFevers come to the library and speak to a class as part of our visiting author series.
Starred Review. Gr 9 Up-This thrilling series conclusion narrates the fate of 17-year-old convent-raised Annith who impatiently awaits her assignment to serve as the god Mortain's Handmaiden of Death. When the Abbess appoints her as Seeress, Annith is even more distraught, knowing that the position will condemn her to a life of celibacy and isolation. Vowing to confront her superior and aided by both the Helloquins (damned souls seeking redemption) and the Arduinnites (protectors of women and innocents), the teen escapes to the Breton court, where Duchess Anne and her followers are strategizing against the invading French. Distressed over her true parentage, Annith finds comfort in the Helloquins leader Balthazar, who has secrets of his own. LaFevers again mesmerizes her readers through the political struggles of 15th-century Brittany and the intrigues of the followers of Mortain. Details of court and village life in 1489 add vitality to the historic background, and back matter will further aid readers' understanding of the times. Clear, fast-paced, dramatic prose reveals the story via short, action-packed chapters, and the expert craftsmanship of the writing is worth savoring. The protagonists' sometimes-contradictory natures enrich their characters, and the intertwined relationships of realistic and Netherworld personages add depth to their personal stories.

Tea with Principal Lee!
The library staff was honored to have tea and discuss the workings and teaching that happens in the library with Principal Lee! It was a great opportunity and we were grateful to be a part of Principal Lee's visit to Natick!

Principal Lee with Natick High School Mandarin Teacher Lei Zhao in library conference room

Books, Books, and More Books.....

One of my favorite things is to walk into the library and see boxes sitting on my desk, this means books have arrived!!! Our latest arrivals are full of mystery, intrigue, ambition and life choices. They range from Hamlet in graphic novel form, to a biography about a man who went from the inner city, to Yale only to fall victim to a life of drugs. There are books about mystery and thrillers to a great batch of children's books. The best part of receiving the new books is having the students standing around waiting for them to be cataloged and processed so they can begin to read them. For those they believe reading is dead, they should come down and see the excitement on our student's faces.

Speaking of reading, one of the highlights of this week was when Ms. Michelson brought down her students for a lesson on using the catalog and finding books in the library. We spent a block learning how to search in our online catalog, choosing topics that interested us and browsing the shelves for great books. I also spent time discussing with the students what kind of books they would like to see on the shelves and have begun to order books that appeal to them. Everyone left with a book either in their hands or put a request in for a book from one of our other school libraries. Nothing pleased me more than to see the happiness in their eyes when they found a book that excited them. Ms. Michelson is going to make this a regular visit!

Blog Book of the Week

We Were Liars / E. Lockhart

This was one of my favorite books I read in the last few months. It is a chilling tale that leaves you guessing right until the end. It was a page turner and kept me up at night with just "one more page" before I turned in. I felt invested in the characters, I loved that it took place in Massachusetts, and the story flowed so that you were always on your toes but never lost!

From School Library Journal: Gr 9 Up—Cadence Sinclair Easton comes from an old-money family, headed by a patriarch who owns a private island off of Cape Cod. Each summer, the extended family gathers at the various houses on the island, and Cadence, her cousins Johnny and Mirren, and friend Gat (the four "Liars"), have been inseparable since age eight. During their fifteenth summer however, Cadence suffers a mysterious accident. She spends the next two years—and the course of the book—in a haze of amnesia, debilitating migraines, and painkillers, trying to piece together just what happened. Lockhart writes in a somewhat sparse style filled with metaphor and jumps from past to present and back again—rather fitting for a main character struggling with a sudden and unexplainable life change. The story, while lightly touching on issues of class and race, more fully focuses on dysfunctional family drama, a heart-wrenching romance between Cadence and Gat, and, ultimately, the suspense of what happened during that fateful summer. The ending is a stunner that will haunt readers for a long time to come.—Jenny Berggren, formerly at New York Public Library

Author Visits!!!

 Students As Authors! Ms. Eriksen's Sociology Students

Winning Sociology Picture Books

It has been a busy week in the library with budding authors abound! This week we were so fortunate to have students from Ms. Eriksen's Sociology class read to the preschoolers. Students assignment was to look at Mass media, specifically books, as one of the main agents of socialization.  As such, students created their own children's books which focused on reinforcing societal norms and values. The classes then voted on the best books, and the winning books are displayed in the library.  The students were given the opportunity to read their books to the preschoolers. Most of the students took advantage of this and the preschoolers were THRILLED to have the "big kids" read to them. They had questions for them about the books and a great time was had by all!!!

Seniors Dakota Bryon & Valerie McMahon

Senior Leah White

Senior Brandon Thornhill

Author Visit with Lisa Maxwell

Author Lisa Maxwell

As part of our visiting author series, Ms. Carrick arranged for author Lisa Maxwell to Skype into the library with Ms. Napier-Bernstein's Creative Writing Class.  Lisa just released her first book "Sweet Unrest" to amazing reviews. Lisa began the session by telling the class she  always loved books and always loved reading so she decided to write one! Lisa discussed with the students how much revising goes into writing a story and that most of it happens after the book has been bought by a publisher! The students had amazing questions for her and focused many of their questions on character development. One student commented that what really stood out for her from Lisa's talk was when Lisa said, "it's okay to not be ready" when it comes to writing. She did not begin writing until she was 30. The student said it felt as if a weight was off her shoulders knowing it is not something she HAS to do as soon as school is completed. I was so impressed with the students enthusiasm and maturity during the discussion! It was a rewarding experience for all and we are so excited about our continued success of author visits at the library!! THANK YOU to Ms. Napier-Bernstein who had her students read an excerpt from the book, complete a lesson connected to it and had questions prepared! It made all the difference!!

 

 

 

 

Book of the Week

Sweet Unrest / Lisa Maxwell

"When seventeen-year-old Lucy Aimes moves to New Orleans and meets Alex, a boy who behaves as if they've known each other forever, she becomes caught up in a centuries-old vendetta" This book was filled with mystery, suspense, love and intrigue. I found it to be a cross between Beautiful Creatures and Into the Easy. I originally picked it up because the author Lisa Maxwell was Skyping into the library and I wanted to be prepared. I am so glad I did. It was a fun read and one that held my interest from beginning to end! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

 HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN
Halloween's roots can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival Samhain that marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the cold dark period of winter. The Celts believe on this day the boundary between the living and dead were blurred and ghosts came out to haunt and cause mischief to crops and people. To honor the day, the Celts built large bonfires where they sacrifice crops and animals. They also wore costumes usually of animal heads and bones.

Halloween in America really took off in the mid 1800's when a wave of European immigrants, many from Ireland, came to America and brought with them the Celtic tradition. The tradition of dressing up dates back hundreds of years ago. Winter was a frightening time for many, the darkness and cold, and the short food supplies. Many believed ghosts haunted during Halloween. In order to not be seen, people would wear masks trying to fool the ghosts that they too were spirits. 

Americans began to dress up in costumes and go door to door asking for money and food which eventually became "trick or treating." By the late 1800's Halloween became more of a community/neighborhood event and has grown into one of the biggest holidays in America. At Natick High we celebrate it with the littlest and the oldest!! The preschoolers parade around the building in their adorable costumes while the only others allowed to dress up today are the seniors!!



Halloween is a long standing tradition for
seniors. For as long as I can remember, dating back to when I went to school here, the seniors are the only ones who are allowed to dress up. All morning we have been snapping pictures of Hot Air Balloons, Golden Trophies, The Wizard of Oz and Zoo Keepers! The day culminates with a class photo and an ice cream social! I think every year the students are more creative and are trying to think outside the box.

Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow Or EPCOT.......

Mr. Cuoco's Philosophy classes were hard at work this week creating their own versions of a utopian society. My job was to teach students how to find examples of utopian communities in history. I began the lesson with an introduction to EPCOT. Walt Disney proposed to the Florida legislature in 1966, (a few months prior to his death), an idea for his own perfect utopian community. Walt Disney died shorty after his meeting with legislators and his idea of EPCOT was never realized, however elements he envisioned were included in the EPCOT we know today. The following is a link to the article detailing Disney's utopian idea and even cooler, an actual half hour video Walt Disney produced for Florida legislators. Lets here it for primary sources!!!
http://www.businessinsider.com/walt-disneys-original-plan-for-epcot-2012-6?op=1

This week one of the preschool classes had a "mystery reader." Senior Aileen Morley-McLaughlin is in the library frequently during her privs and asked if it would be possible to read to the preschoolers one day! Knowing how much the preschoolers love to have one of the "big kids" read to them and how rewarding the experience would be for Aileen, I jumped at the chance. No one was disappointed! The preschoolers did a great job welcoming Aileen and listening to her read and she was fantastic with them! I love watching the interaction between our youngest and oldest students in the school.

 

 

 Book of the Week:

Little Green Peas: A Big Book of Colors / Keith Baker

In keeping with the preschool theme, the book I chose for this week is a beautifully illustrated story about colors. It has been a while since a picture book has excited me this much! Little green peas make their way across the pages to various objects of different colors. The story introduces our youngest readers to colors, seasons and the cuteness of the "little green peas." The colors jump off the pages and the illustrations create a warm feeling for each color. This is a great book to share with a group, one on one and to teach concepts such as colors or seasons. One of my favorites!!!

It's Never Too Early to Start Reading!!

It is never too young to share the love of reading with others!!

I had the amazing opportunity to go to Candlewick Press this morning and hear about some of the soon to be published new books. The enthusiasm the editors felt for the new material was contagious and I left their very cool headquarters in Davis Square with a renewed sense of excitement about literature! The best part of the visit was as I was taking notes I had specific students in mind for each book. Whether it was a preschool book some of my littlest visitors would enjoy or a young adult novel I know a certain student would devour, each book had an impact on me. I can not wait to put the books on our shelves. The best surprise was having author/illustrator Matt Tavares as a guest speaker discussing his new book Growing Up Pedro. It is a picture book biography for the middle grades. He discussed how he narrowed his theme of the story, (the focus is on growing up very poor in The Dominican Republic and the bond between Pedro and his brother Ramon, both making it to the major leagues) and how he creates his illustrations. It is an amazing piece of work and brought tears to my eyes!

Author/Illustrator Matt Tavares at Candlewick Press

Book of the Week:

Out of the Easy / Ruta Sepetys

Out of the Easy was our first book for Students as Readers this year! It was recommended by one of our members and is a gripping mystery taking place in the French Quarter of 1950's New Orleans. Josie, the daughter of a prostitute was able to successfully complete high school while raising herself and working non stop as her mother was not much of a role model. She has dreams of escaping New Orleans attending Smith College when she becomes involved in a murder investigation. The author has you completed invested in Josie and the characters that support her. You want to see good happen to Josie. The novel moves quickly and one of the best aspects of the story is the role New Orleans plays. It is just as major a character as the people. This was a fan favorite among our Students As Readers and one I would recommend to anyone who likes a good mystery, strong characters and an intriguing setting!

Library as a Seed of Experiment!!

 Last week, Ms. Daley's AP Psych classes were in the library conducting research for their social psychology experiments. Aside from providing the classes resources to gather the background information on topics such as conformity and persuasion, the library has always been a partner in the implementation of the experiments! Students use the library and the library teachers to help them conduct their various experiments. It is always interesting for us to watch the unsuspecting students and staff attempt to figure out what is going on in the library.


The following article clearly supports not only the benefit but the NEED for a strong library program at the high school level for our students. It is so important for students to learn HOW to research effectively and not just rely on the instant gratification from Google. In today's world yes the information is there but it is not so much about finding the information but rather analyzing information and how one uses' it for new knowledge. That is a skill Google can not teach alone.
http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2014/09/k-12/good-research-habits-pay-study-ties-college-success-librarian-teacher-research-training-high-school/


Book of the Week: A Volcano Beneath The Snow: John Brown's War Against Slavery / Albert Marrin
For history buffs and those interested in a fascinating character, this biography on John Brown traces his life from childhood through his times as a staunch abolitionist. The author paints him as the "father of American terrorism" as his ferocious means to eradicate slavery was by any means necessary. He did however raise questions regarding the treatment of humans that are as pertinent today as they were during his time. This is a fascinating read and one not to be missed!

PreSchool Rockin in the Library!!!

Preschoolers have arrived in full force this week! Nine classes are scheduled in the library for story time and book sharing! The smiling faces of the preschoolers were eager to begin their weekly trips to the library! Returning students did a great job showing the new students what "whole body listening" looks like and all participated with enthusiasm and excitement!!






To kick off the year we read two books, Oopsy Teacher / Stephanie Calemenson and Row Row Row Your Boat / Jane Cabrera. Oopsy Teacher follows Mr. Bungles the loveable teacher who sometimes runs into mishaps throughout his day. Row Row Row Your Boat is a take on the classic song. Students were able to sing along and show off their animal sounds! I am looking forward to the weekly time with my little guys!!

Book of the Week:

New books are arriving in the library and they are flying off the shelves! I am going to try and highlight a book here each week to promote our collection. This week it is

This Star Won't Go Out / Ester Earl with Lori and Wayne Earl

John Green's The Fault in our Stars is a gigantic best seller about a girl who battles terminal cancer. It was made into a blockbuster movie and John Green has a legion of fans around the world. The book is best loosely on Ester Pearl. An amazing individual who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at age 12, Ester was a positive, generous and "normal" teenager. She died at 16 but touched the lives of thousands through her online journal, including John Green who connected with Ester and was able to meet her and get to know her before her untimely death. This memoir is a collection of Ester's journals, fiction, letters and sketches. It is a way to tell her story through her her words and thoughts. She is truly an inspiration!

Celbrate Your Freedom To Read!

Every year for a week in September, The American Library Association (ALA) celebrates Banned Book Week. The week unites everyone in the reading world from librarians, and booksellers to publishers and teachers. Every year, hundreds of challenges are recorded against books for various reasons. The ALA believes all books have a right to be on the shelf and it should be an individual's right to determine whether or not the book is appropriate for them. It is amazing how many books have faced a challenge and the reasoning behind them. For more information check out this website from "The Office of Intellectual Freedom" a division of ALA.
http://www.ala.org/bbooks/bannedbooksweek

You Can Always Take Time To Read......

The fall is such a busy time of the year for students and teachers! With the start of school, sports, band and drama, after school jobs, homework and friends who has time for much else? But there is always time to read and it seems as if the school community feels that way as well! We have had one of our best starts to the year in regards to book checkouts. Students are eager to read and checking out books left and right! I love to see the excitement on a student's face when they have finished a book and want to discuss it. We have wait lists and requests in at other schools for books students are eager to get their hands on. With the long weekend coming up we are excited to see how many books kids and staff will take out!!

Create by Mr. Wong, all books used are in the library!

Research, Reading and Relaxation......

RESEARCH

Now that the school year is fully under way, the research/teaching collaboration has begun! Teachers are booking library time for their classes for lessons connected to a writing and/or research project. I love to see the library calendar fill up with a variety of classes from different disciplines. Teaching students to make connections between what they know, what they learn and what they can now newly create with research is so exciting for me as a teacher. I want them to know research is so much more than just "Googling" information and rearranging the information in their own words. A big shout out goes to Mr. Rufo who was the first teacher to sign up for the library, his students are researching different regions of France and sharing the information on a wiki!! Your prize is on its way!!!

http://regionsdefrance.wikispaces.com/

READING

STUDENTS AS READERS Begins!!
The first meeting of Students As Readers was this past Wednesday (Sept 10th). Ms. Carrick and I welcomed back many familiar faces while getting to know a whole bunch of new ones! The lively group discussed some great reads from over the summer and were given the title of the book for October's meeting.  All students are welcomed!!

We will be reading: Out of the Easy / Ruta Sepetys

Josie, the seventeen-year-old daughter of a French Quarter prostitute, is striving to escape 1950 New Orleans and enroll at prestigious Smith College when she becomes entangled in a murder investigation.  

RELAXATION

The library has been overflowing with students signing in for studies. Whether it is first block where 70 students are studying or last block where they are all relaxing waiting for the end of the day, the library is typically packed. We love seeing all the students using the library as a place to be. We also want to remind students that when you sign in for study you are here for the full study. Please remember to sign out if you are going the bathroom or to your locker and remember most students who are here are here to study and work on projects.

Students Are Not The Only Ones Summer Reading!!!

It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.

–Oscar Wilde

While summer is definitely a time to relax, have fun and enjoy some down time, students are also required to do their summer reading. While I always hope that everyone reads because they WANT to, I know this is not always the case! Hopefully most students found some good books they enjoyed this summer. We want to let students know they are not the only ones who were reading this summer. Thus, the annual Staff Summer Reading Display is up in the library! Each year we ask staff members to share what they have read over the summer. We include the complete list of books from each teacher, along with the books displayed if we own them. Many teachers like to include a few lines about the book. This is one of our most popular displays as it sparks a lot of conversation not just from the students but between staff members as well. It is a great way to get to know each other when you can talk about a book you have both read. In addition the students love to see what their teachers have read and will often choose a book because a teacher they admire has read it.

Welcome Back Display to Greet Students and Staff in the Library!

There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.

–Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

WELCOME BACK!!!

"The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives." ~Robert Maynard Hutchins

Summer is over and we are back into the swing of school as if we never left! While the summer for me was filled with trips to the beach, parties with friends and watching my children simply enjoy being kids, it is time to move back to school life. It was truly wonderful!! 

The library is already a hub of activity! It is great to see the new seniors embrace their position at the top of the pack. They are all working hard and filled with enthusiasm, excitement and determination as they prepare for this important year. The freshmen are finding their way around, eager to learn the ropes of their new school, meet their teachers and enjoy being a high school student! 

The favorite part of coming back to school is seeing the students we have missed, having them come into visit and tell us about their summer adventures! It amazes us to see how they have grown and what they have done over the summer! It means a lot to us to have these bonds with the students.

And on that note, I wanted to share something that was given to us by a graduating student. Francesca was one of my Com Sem students, an incredibly talented and intelligent student as well as being an amazing artist. She was a constant visitor to the library. She presented us with one of her original artworks and we are proud to have it hanging in the library!


"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."  ~John Dewey

Happy Summer!!!!!!

Well, I can't believe it is that time, summer is here!!! This will be the last post until school starts up again in the fall. This blog has been one of my favorite things this year. I love being able to communicate all the amazing projects, lessons, thoughts that have happened this year. I hope it has been enjoyable for all of you to read!

So as we move into the summer I would like to end with some quotes about libraries, reading and research. It has never been more important to understand and appreciate the value of libraries, library teachers and the research skills it takes to be an effective student in today's world. Have a lovely summer, read, research and relax!!!

Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no future.

–Ray Bradbury

A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never failing spring in the desert.

–Andrew Carnegie

To build up a library is to create a life. It’s never just a random collection of books.

–Carlos María Domínguez

“Reading a book is like re-writing it for yourself. You bring to a novel, anything you read, all    your experience of the world. You bring your history and you read it in your own terms.”
^{- Angela Carter}

“It is not enough to simply teach children to read; we have to give them something worth reading. Something that will stretch their imaginations--something that will help them make sense of their own lives and encourage them to reach out toward people whose lives are quite different from their own.”
^{- Katherine Patterson}

“A book is the most effective weapon against intolerance and ignorance.”
^{- Lyndon Baines Johnson}

"Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought."

      -Albert Szent-Gyorgyi