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Overview
The Early Childhood Library Program was established in the Winter of 2005 with the opening of the library.  The library is staffed with a certified School Library Media Specialist who assists both faculty and students with finding resources, research help, and utilizing the library resources.
The goal of the PHA library program is to support literacy and academic achievement in the PHA community while fostering a lifelong love of reading. Through classes on information literacy and exposure to varied print and electronic texts and media, students are prepared to access, understand, evaluate, and present information in an information literate society.

The Library Program
Students visit the library for formal classes weekly where they are taught skills in information literacy and exposed to a variety of media, including print, electronic and visual forms. In this class, they are encouraged to read different genres of literature as well as to check out items for academic research and their at home enjoyment. A major component of this class is emphasizing the technique and importance of effective research. Students at all levels learn research skills that will aid them in achieving academic success. The Library strives to be at the literary center of the school through school-wide reading promotions, programs, and events, including the RIF program.  

The Collection
The Early Childhood Library collection serves as an outstanding resource to students and faculty of the Early Childhood Campus. It is developmentally appropriate for Kindergarten to third grade students and was built to support the curriculum goals as well as reflect the diverse ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds of the students represented at the school. The growing collection currently holds approximately 13,000 books and contains:

• Reference (dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, almanacs, etc.)
• Fiction (including chapter books, easy readers, and picture books)
• Non-fiction
• Periodicals
• DVD / VHS materials
• Database access

In addition to the resources above, the Early Childhood Library maintains a Literacy Resource Center for teachers, including leveled books, audio book kits, big books, professional books and magazines, and additional materials for classroom use.  

Circulation:
Classes have circulation every other week.  Books are checked out for two weeks at time, with renewal allowed as needed.  

• Kindergarten: 1 book which remains in classroom
• 1st and 2nd: 1 book to take home (and additional materials for research as needed)
• 3rd: 2 books to take home (and additional materials for research as needed)
• Latebooks are charged a fine of: 5 cents per day (with a maximum of 50 cents per item)
• Students must pay the cost to replace lost books.

Students may check out new materials whenever they return materials. Students may visit the library when there is not a class with a teacher’s permission. Student usually visit during homeroom in the morning, during snack time, during recess and after school.

Parents are invited to visit the library to check out books for kids to enjoy at home or books from our teacher’s professional collection, including several age appropriate books on puberty topics.

For any library inquiries please contact the Early Childhood Library Media Specialist, Ms. Kugel (kkugel@prospecthillacademy.org)