Library

Access the Library Catalog from Home

The Middle School Library Program was initiated in the Winter of 2007 with the official 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.

Students visit the library on their own as well as through their Reading and Research classes. Information literacy skills are taught in collaboration with the projects, units, and lessons across the curriculum. The school library media specialist works closely with classroom teachers to ensure that the students have access to resources that support and enhance the goals and curriculum of each grade level and department. Through this collaboration students are exposed to a variety of media, including print, electronic and visual forms. The library strives to be at the center of the school through school-wide reading promotion, programs, and events.

The Collection

The Middle School library serves as an outstanding resource to students and faculty of the Prospect Hill Academy Middle School. The collection is developmentally appropriate for Middle School students and was built to reflect the ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds of the students represented at the school. The ever growing collection currently holds approximately 3,000 books and contains:

• Reference (dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, almanacs, etc.)
• Fiction (chapter books, YA titles, short story collections, and bilingual texts)
• Non-fiction
• Periodicals
• Professional Development Collection
• DVD / VHS materials
• Database access

In addition to the resources above, the Middle School Library has a media lab with 25 computers providing access to the Internet, databases, and Microsoft applications that provide a students and teachers an engaging educational environment that connects technology to the curriculum.

Circulation

Students are able to check out resources during their recess and after school as well as during their Reading and Research classes. Fifth grade has library class once a week with scheduled circulation times.

• Students are able to take out two books at a time for a two week loan period.
• Late books 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.
• If students have an overdue book or an existing fine, they are unable to take out a book.

For any library inquiries please contact the Middle School Library Media Specialist, Ms. Kelleher.