February 2011Usage
  • 1,532 students used the library for research or classwork
  • 246 classes came to the library for lessons or information resources

Circulation
  • 1,283 items were circulated or renewed
  • 27 interlibrary loan requests were placed or filled (resource sharing)

Information Skills Lessons taught:
  • Location & access (individualized instruction)
  • Introductory & advanced OPAC skills (individualized instruction)
  • Authors & genres (general instruction)
  • Research databases (general instruction)
  • Research Methods (general instruction)

Highlights
  • February 14th - author visit from acclaimed children's and young adult author Cynthia DeFelice. Ms. DeFelice presented to the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades and signed books for our students.
  • February 17th - attended a Learning Commons 21 workshop with Allison Zmuda. The workshop centered on strategies for transforming a traditional library into a 21st Century learning commons.
  • February 18th - Actor and director Dan Bostick visited school to show the students how audio books are produced.

Concerns
It is very gratifying to learn how much of the 21st Century Learning Commons model is already in place here at DMS! However, in an era of shrinking budgets and staffing it is daunting to think of the technology and space that will be needed to fully embrace the learning commons model.