Sept. 14-20 Spotlights

Welcome to new and returning staff!  Once our library/learning commons (LLC) is completed, it will be a wonderful space for independent and collaborative learning.  Although both the move and Covid have changed both the floor plan and “business as usual”, the library will continue to fully support students and staff in resources, reading, and research/ inquiry-based learning.

 Instead of a monthly start-up newsletter as in previous years, the library will be sending short updates every Friday in September.  Updates will be emailed to all staff, and archived in the News and Updates tab of the library web site. 

 Please take a few minutes to skim these important updates.  

 TEXT CIRCULATION

 1. Can texts be safely circulated?  Where and when are they available?  

 

• Yes;  books in storage are not at risk of a virus living on the surface of the book.    However, please advise students that they should not share their texts.
• If numbers permit, you may wish to keep a few extra copies of texts in your room; however, based on the current science reported by the BC Teacher Librarians’ Association, please quarantine a text for 48 hours once it has been used.
•  Text sign out will begin next Tuesday, Sept. 15.  See #3 for booking procedures.

  

2.           Where are textbooks located?  What if there are not enough texts for my class?

 

• Check with your department head regarding location of bookrooms and any requests for additional resources. Department Heads can ask Wendy to source out possible loans from other schools in our district.  If unavailable,  the principal can approve an order, which is completed through the school accounts clerk.

 

3.            What is the procedure for signing out textbooks?

 

• Book a time on the Google Calendar ( calendar link to be sent out Tuesday, Sept. 15)  and include your room number on the booking.  Please double check the date and time you have requested.
• Bring the number of texts you need to your classroom and keep them safely stored
• Sook or I will sign out books to your students from your classroom -- not from the library.  Plan on 10-15 minutes.

*Please have a back up list of your students with their student numbers.

*Please note that there will be fewer time slots by block than in previous years.

 TEACHER RESOURCES

 

• In the library:  DVDs/teacher resources are available in the teacher collaboration room adjacent to the circulation desk. Feel free to browse this area at any time.
• Library web site: Check out the Special Subscriptions tab for newspaper, film, magazine, and professional resources.  Log in to this tab -- and all staff pages with the password vhstaff1914
• Times Colonist newspaper access:  There will be no hard copies of papers this year, but I will arrange for Digital Access within the next week.  Update to follow next week.
• Open access texts:  A colleague shared the following site with me, noting that her colleague who teaches Psychology made excellent use of it during the spring of 2020: https://openstax.org/subjects/view-all 
• Criterion Films:   Access is automatic within our schools.  Remote access now requires a separate district log in for students and for teachers.

https://www.criterionondemand.com

 Teachers:

Username: 91011

Password: GVict

 

Students:

Username: 9101106

Password: GrvStudent

 LIBRARY FACILITY

 The library facility includes the two rooms adjacent to the circulation desk, the floor area extending from the shelves towards the stage, and the stage area.  The open area of desks at the entrance is a separate lunch area and makeshift classroom area.

 The library facility is not open to students during the week of September 14-18, including during before school, during lunch and after school.  As you have seen, it needs significant completion by the district, but I also need a better understanding of  health and safety considerations in a library context from our district’s pandemic response team. 

I will let you know when the library facility is available, what access will look like to abide by provincial, district, and school safety protocols.

Thank you for your patience and understanding in this process.  We look forward to welcoming you and your students -- and to continue promoting reading, not only for academic skill building but also for personal development and recreation.  

 

 TEACHER-LIBRARIAN AVAILABILITY 

 Although the library facility is not ready, the teacher-librarian IS ready!  If you need resources, reading materials, support for research,  will bring what is needed to your classroom.  

 A full list of library supports provided by Wendy (teacher-librarian) and Sook (library clerk) are listed here.

 Looking forward to working with you and your classes in new and creative ways this year!