Ellen Frank, Librarian

Gerri Calandro, Librarian

 

Happenings @ the Library

   2007-08

· BANNED BOOKS WEEK 
· From September 24th-28th, 2007, Jamaica H. S. celebrated Banned Books Week. A bulletin board display was created with titles of banned books and banned books were on display throughout the month. Web sites were added to our database page. Read The Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2007 (http://www.lita.org/ala/pressreleases2008/may2008/penguin.cfm) at this ALA site.

· RENAISSANCE FAIRE DISPLAY 
· On Friday, October 19th, members of Ms. Lyzinski’s English classes danced to Renaissance music and modeled Renaissance fashions. There was a corresponding display of student projects relating to Renaissance literature.

· SPOOKY READ ALOUD 
· Over 3,000 libraries nationwide celebrated TEEN READ WEEK from October 14-20th. The theme for this year’s program was LOL@ Your Library. Jamaica High School Library celebrated by having a Spooky Read Aloud on Tuesday, October 30th, 2007. Over 270 students and 6 teachers participated in this event.
 
· FRESHMEN ORIENTATIONS 
· During the fall term, all freshmen English students were required to spend two days in the library completing a library scavenger hunt. The students were taught how to find their way around the library and how to navigate our website. 

· TEACHER’S TEA 
· On Wednesday, November 21st, the entire staff of JHS was invited to the library reference room to view our new book collection, set up appointments for class visits and learn about how teacher-librarian collaboration will lead to increased literacy. Over fifty people visited the library where they were treated to both the food for the brain and treats for the body.

· DILLY READ ALOUD
· On Thursday, December 20th, all Freshmen Ramp-Up English classes presented their “Dilly Books” in the library. These Dilly Books were based on the actual book Dilly's Summer Camp Diary by Cynthia Capeland Lewis. The winning titles were read aloud by the authors and the students were presented with awards for their work. 

· BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION 
· This year we celebrated Black History Month on February 14th, 2008 with an encore presentation by “Cops and Teens.” The program was developed and presented by Investigators Darnley O. Scoon and Kenneth W. Taylor of the NYPD. The mission of the program is to educate teens about how the decisions they make now can affect them for the rest of their lives.  Topics included how to correctly interact with the police department, the importance of staying in school, and how joining gangs can be a deadly mistake.

· WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION 
· A bulletin board display about creative women was displayed in the hall and pictures by famous women artists were displayed. A book display was presented in the library as well.
 
· INTERNET AWARENESS DAY
· On Tuesday, March 11th, Police Officer Lamont Anderson addressed our freshmen and sophomores on the discretion necessary when posting personal information online.  Students learned how easy it is for strangers to discover their personal information and the dangers lurking behind innocent conversations.

·  GUEST AUTHOR JHS ALUM RETURNS
·  On April 9th, Ferentz Lafargue, ’94, returned to speak to students about his book Songs in the Key of My Life. He also spoke to them about college and the career choices he faced.
 
· POEM IN YOUR POCKET DAY 
· On April 29th, JHS celebrated Poem in Your Pocket Day by hosting A Celebration of Poetry. Various teachers and over 100 students shared original poetry and/or favorite poems. We also had a poetry wall set up in the library where students free-styled their own poetry. 
 
· LAW DAY 
· On May 2nd, Mr. Rule, Law Program Coordinator, planned a symposium about “The Rule of Law,” the theme for this year’s Law Day. The Honorable Judge Martin Ritholtz opened the day with a presentation about law and the recent cases which led to diversity in the community. He also brought along his law secretary, Debra Edwards JHS Class of '87 who answered questions from students about her career and other interesting law careers the students may be interested in. Professor Pat Montana from St. John's Law School taught our students for the day.  Guests from White and Case, our law firm mentor, and other public and private law firms visited classes throughout the day and discussed the importance of laws in our society.  Members of the Law Team hosted the lawyers and moderated the workshops throughout the day.

· STATISTICS 
· Books checked out:  This year: 1,615; Last year: 1,315:   19% increase 
· Class visits and Teacher Circulation: Many teachers utilized our resources throughout the school year for class visits, research projects and to borrow books for pleasure reading. 
· Visits to the JHS Library Website 
· School web site: This year: 94,605 visits
Last year: 56,665 hits = 40% increase

· USE OF DATABASES:
Databases subscribed to: Eighteen (including NOVEL databases)
On average, the use of our databases increased 79% over last year.

(Site updated: 6/18/08 ef)

 

PROBLEMS? TELL US ABOUT THEM.

Ellen Frank

G. Calandro

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