OUR PHILOSOPHY
The ACS Lower School Library provides materials to promote the love of
reading and to support the curriculum. We provide resources for students and
faculty in the form of print, non-print, and electronic materials, in order
to complete assignments, explore ideas, and find a wide variety of
recreational reading on many levels and topics, so that our students will
become lovers of reading, independent library users, informed users of
information, and life-long learners.
LIBRARY VISITS
Students are scheduled to visit the library once per cycle. Homeroom
teachers may scchedule additional time to conduct research. Students may ask
their homeroom teacher for a pass to visit the library during recess to read
and to work independently or with a group. Students have daily access to the
library and may come in the morning before class, during recess, and after
school, with teacher permission, for a new book(s), provided they return the
previous one(s).
Students in grades four and five who are doing research projects may have
their limit extended for a project or assignments.
Books may be renewed up to two additional times. Students must bring the
book to the library to have it renewed.
DAMAGED and LOST BOOK POLICY
Unfortunately, accidents do happen. Please see Take Care of Books for tips
on how to take care of books. If a book is damaged beyond repair, you will
be asked to pay for it. Please do not attempt to repair a book at home. A
note sticking out of the book when it is returned that explains the damage
is appreciated.
If a book is lost, you will also be asked to pay for it. You will be
notified that your child has lost a book. A student may not check out
library books if he/she has lost a book. Paying for a lost book is
considered GOOD LUCK in the Lower Library! Most of the time the
students "find" the book once they have paid. The Lower Library is happy to
return your money!
OVERDUE POLICY
We do not charge a fine for overdue books. Students return library books on
the day they have their scheduled library time. If a students forgets to
return library books, an overdue notice is sent home the same day. The
student may not borrow books until the overdue books are returned. If you
receive an overdue notice, please return the book(s)the next day with your
child. Students can come to the library in the morning or during recess to
return overdue books. You may receive an email message if a book(s) continue
to be overdue.
Please be aware that at the end of the school year students who have overdue
books do not receive their report cards until all library books have been
returned or paid for.
We attempt to instill a sense of responsibility in our students for the
books they have borrowed. This means they are responsible for caring for
the books, using a bookmark, renewing them, and returning them on time, so
others may borrow them.
STUDENT SELECTION
The Lower School Library believes that students should be free to select
books they are interested in reading. This is part of what makes library
time "special" for many students.
The Lower School Library is divided into two sections, one for nursery to
grade two, and one for grades three to five. This division makes it easier
for students to choose books appropriate for their grade level. Books in the
nursery to grade two section are marked with an E in the call number for
fiction and nonfiction. Books in the grade three to grade five section have
an F for fiction in the call number and the nonfiction have only the Dewey
Decimal number which is for the subject of the book.
To also help in book selection the beginning chapter books in the grade
three to five section are marked with a red dot. Moving to this section for
library time is a big change for grade three students and the red dots are
meant to help them choose chapter books at their level.
Grade three to five students are also encouraged to use the five finger test
to choose fiction and nonfiction books at their reading level. See the five
finger test page on the website for an explanation.
This division of books is a help but KG2 students are just learning how to
read. The book they bring home is meant to be shared with you! Grade one
students may also choose a book that they are very interested in but cannot
read on their own as yet! This may happen especially with nonfiction. Our
students are very interested in learning about dinosaurs, insects, space,
and
all kinds of animals, for example! If your children bring home books they
cannot read on their own as yet, please read them together.
To help with book selection in the nursery to grade two section, some of the
fiction and nonfiction easy reader series are marked with colored dots;
green
level one, orange level two, yellow level three and orange for beginning
chapter books. Grade two students also learn the five finger test.
If your child selects a book which they do not like, or one which you do not
like, or feel is appropriate, please return the book the next day and select
another. If your child consistently makes selections which you feel are
inappropriate, please feel free to contact us.
