Library Visits

You must have a school ID and a library pass signed by your teacher to check out books or use the computers.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Library Word of the Week - Censor

Next week is Banned Book Week! Every year, the American Library Association reports out on what books have been challenged or banned in libraries and schools across the country. 


Therefore, our Word of the Week is: 

censor: censor takes out things that are objectionable 
or inappropriate, like the censors at the TV networks 
bleeping out all the bad words in a show.



Here is more information about the top 10 banned/challenged books of 2014: 

The ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) receives reports from libraries, schools, and the media on attempts to ban books in communities across the country. We compile lists of challenged books in order to inform the public about censorship efforts that affect libraries and schools. The top ten most frequently challenged books of 2014 include:
1)      The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: anti-family, cultural insensitivity, drugs/alcohol/smoking, gambling, offensive language, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group, violence. Additional reasons: “depictions of bullying”
2)      Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi
Reasons: gambling, offensive language, political viewpoint. Additional reasons: “politically, racially, and socially offensive,” “graphic depictions”
3)      And Tango Makes Three, Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Reasons: Anti-family, homosexuality, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “promotes the homosexual agenda”
4)      The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “contains controversial issues”
5)      It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
Reasons: Nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group. Additional reasons: “alleges it child pornography”
6)      Saga, by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples
Reasons: Anti-Family, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group. Additional reasons:
7)      The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited to age group, violence
8)      The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “date rape and masturbation”
9)      A Stolen Life, Jaycee Dugard
Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group
10)  Drama, by Raina Telgemeier
Reasons: sexually explicit

Friday, September 18, 2015

Library Word of the Week - Words of the MCAS

I found a great list of words most likely to be found on the MCAS test. Sometimes, when we take tests, we really do know the answer to the question, but we don't always understand the question itself.

Here are some words you should try to remember for MCAS:

Word:
Summarize

Example:
Summarize the arguments for and against offering courses in public schools.

What you need to do:
In a paragraph, briefly cover the major points presented in the selection.

More here: Mr. Whittier's MCAS words

Friday, September 11, 2015

Library Word of the Week

Politics are in the news with the candidates vying for RNC and DNC nominations. 
One of my favorite political words is:

Filibuster: An attempt by a Senator or group of Senators to obstruct the passage of a bill, favored by the majority, by talking continuously. Because there is no rule in the Senate over how long a member can speak, a Senator can prevent a bill from coming up for a vote by talking endlessly. Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina set the record in 1957 by speaking for more than 24 hours without stopping.

One of the most famous recent filibusters was Wendy Davis in Texas.


Thursday, September 10, 2015

Found Art

Someone left art behind in the library. This is a combination of two pieces, but looks amazing like this.


Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Word of the Week

I missed posting on Friday! I bring you a perfect (delayed) word of the week: 

  1. Procrastination is the practice of carrying out less urgent tasks in preference to more urgent ones, or doing more pleasurable things in place of less pleasurable ones, and thus putting off impending tasks to a later time, sometimes to the "last minute" before a deadline. (definition from Wikipedia) 
from: http://www.seoandy.net/biz/just-quit-dilly-dallying/ 


I know I was a procrastinator when I was in high school. I would wait to finish assignments until the night before. But who needs that stress? It was horrible! I would panic the night before an assignment was due and then do poorly on it. Isn't it better to take your time, do the work, and do well on it? 

Read "Wait, But Why?" for more. 


Excerpt: 

Even for the procrastinator who does manage to eventually get things done and remain a competent member of society, something has to change. Here are the main reasons why:
1) It’s unpleasant. Far too much of the procrastinator’s precious time is spent toiling in the Dark Playground, time that could have been spent enjoying satisfying, well-earned leisure if things had been done on a more logical schedule. And panic isn’t fun for anyone.
2) The procrastinator ultimately sells himself short. He ends up underachieving and fails to reach his potential, which eats away at him over time and fills him with regret and self-loathing.
3) The Have-To-Dos may happen, but not the Want-To-Dos. Even if the procrastinator is in the type of career where the Panic Monster is regularly present and he’s able to be fulfilled at work, the other things in life that are important to him—getting in shape, cooking elaborate meals, learning to play the guitar, writing a book, reading, or even making a bold career switch—never happen because the Panic Monster doesn’t usually get involved with those things. Undertakings like those expand our experiences, make our lives richer, and bring us a lot of happiness—and for most procrastinators, they get left in the dust.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Welcome Back!

We started back yesterday! What a day!

The HSC library has a few lunch passes left. We are only giving out 20 permanent library breakfast/lunch passes per lunch, so make sure you come down soon.

The passes require a contract that states students will:

  1. Follow all library rules (no eating, clean up after yourself, adhere to the uniform and cell phone policy)
  2. Keep volume low
  3. Be on time to class
  4. Maintain a 2.0 GPA (this one is new!)
  5. Be respectful of all teachers, deans, and administrators
Students will get one warning before lunch passes are taken away.
Lunch passes are also on a cycle this year, so the first round of passes is only good until Winter Break in Dec. Next round is Jan - Feb break, then Feb - Spring Break, and finally the last one until the end of the year.
Students can always sign up for daily/weekly lunch passes, if passes are only needed for a day or two to work on a project.

Don't forget, Ms. D can be reached via email at dambruosom@springfieldpublicschools.com