Lisle Public Librarian, Miss Lindsey and Schiesher Librarian, Mrs. Jakalski introduce biographies to 4th Graders
The End of 2009 Brought a Flurry of Activities in the Schiesher LRC!
- In late November, the new Lisle Public Library Youth Services Director, Lindsey Dorfman, (“Miss Lindsey” as she is known to our students who visit the public library), came to visit Schiesher’s 4th grade students as they began their research on famous Illinoisans. She gave a presentation detailing the many biographical resources available to our students and showed them the types of stickers put on books to indicate that they are biographies about famous Illinoisans. She brought with her a binder organized alphabetically which lists all resources on a particular famous person, and gave directions on how to use it and where to find the resources in the library. Our students were taught how to use the public library website, giving them directions on how to log in, look for and reserve materials in the library using the online catalog, and how to access and use the library’s “e-sources” which include online encyclopedias as well as two sites that exclusively provide biographies. At the end of Lindsey’s presentation, Mrs. Jakalski showed students the types of individual and collective biographies found in the Schiesher Library and where they are located. Before they returned to their classrooms, each student was given a brochure created by Mrs. Jakalski and Miss Lindsey that summarized all the information the students had learned.
- In early December, Mrs. Jakalski held book talks for each grade level introducing many of the 700 new books that were added to the Schiesher Library between November and December. During the book talk, some students were busy making lists of the books they thought their class might enjoy. Students were especially eager to learn about new titles written by favorite authors, new books added to favorite series, and new series books recently released. Some of the most anticipated series books were The Lightning Thief Series, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, the 39 Clues Series, and the Warrior Series (Erin Hunter). Students were eager to check out the books immediately after the book talk. Mrs. Jakalski and Mrs. Weller spread the books throughout the library so that all students would easily be able to find them. In the remaining weeks before the winter break, students checked out hundreds of the new titles. *
- The HSO sponsored Scholastic Book Fair was held in the LRC during the week of December 7. The Book Fair was open on the evening of the Third Grade Music/Chorus program so that parents could stop by and shop. This Book Fair, as well as the one held in the spring, are always very popular with our students. Several of the popular titles we have in the LRC were available for purchase at the fair, and students gave us several recommendations of books they found that they would like to see in our library, which we were able to buy from funds earned from the fair’s profits. Beth Eckard, Schiesher Book Fair chairperson, reported that over $4500.00 was raised for the HSO. Thank you so much to Beth and the wonderful parents who volunteered their time to run the Book Fair!
- During the third week of December, another Book Talk was held as the 5th grade teachers and Mrs. Jakalski introduced twelve books that have been selected as nominees for the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award. This is anannual award given to the author of the book voted most outstanding by students in grades four through eight in participating Illinois schools. Scheisher School registered with the award committee in order to be able to vote for the award. Multiple copies of each title were ordered for the LRC and students began eagerly checking them out right before the winter break. Schiesher students will complete their reading and vote for their favorite title by mid-February and Mrs. Jakalski will submit our vote to the Caudill committee by February 28. The Caudill Award winner will be announced sometime in March.*
- During the month of December, Mrs. Jakalski introduced students to two new features recently added to our Schiesher Library online catalog that they can use to access our subscription databases (online encyclopedias) and an educational search engine. “One Search” is a new button added to our online catalog home page that, with the entry of a search term and a click of the button, allows students to search World Book Student Encyclopedia, Encarta Online Encyclopedia, Grolier Encyclopedia, Britannica Online Encyclopedia, Facts for Learning, as well as several free online databases. “Web Path Express” is another new feature of our online catalog. Clicking on the link found on the Schiesher online catalog home page will open the Web Path Express search box. Students can enter a search term and be automatically directed to a list of kid-friendly, educator tested websites. More detailed information on how to use these new features will be presented to students during the coming month as they begin new research projects, and detailed instructions will be sent home with students.
*To visit the Schiesher Library Online Catalog, please access the Lisle School District website (www.lisle202.org). Click on the “Schiesher” tab at the top of the page, then the “LRC Page” tab on the left side of the page. Click on the picture of the stack of books to access the catalog.
For a complete list of titles included in the Book Talk, please visit the Schiesher online library catalog and click on the “Resource Lists” tab on the left side of page, then the “Public List” tab on the upper top of the page. Click on the lists labeled “Book Talk Dec. 09.” For access to the list of Caudill Award books, click on the list labeled “Caudill Award.”
