Our school library provides a wide range of print and non-print materials and online sources for our students, teachers, and the Russell Family at large. Students visit their library during weekly scheduled library classes. They learn how to use their library’s resources and technology, and they become acquainted with the wonderful world of children’s authors, illustrators, and literature. The library is continuously open during regular school hours. Students are welcomed at all times during the day to work individually or in small groups under the guidance of the professional librarian. Our library is a great place to read, learn, and connect with books, information, and fun! We ever strive to make our library a friendly and inviting place where students will want to return time and time again.
During the school year, we sponsor several “celebrations” highlighting the importance of reading: October - Library Book Fair coinciding with Marple Newtown Visitation Days March – Read Across America Day/ Dr. Seuss’s Birthday/PTO Author Assembly May – The Visiting Author coinciding with Young Authors' Day National Children's Book Week Suggested Summer Reading Lists/Special Participation Recognition (www.mnsd.net/reading)
At Russell School, we say YES to reading, learning, and connecting @ our school library!Do stop in and visit. The welcome sign is always out!
Think LIBRARY, because @ your library, you can explore, find, and create! Think LIBRARY for Reference Sources! Visit Learning Links on Mrs. Makela's Class Page! Visit Library Links on the Russell Homepage.
Library Mission Statement In a systematic and accumulative approach, using a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books and materials, on-line sources, problem solving solutions, reading comprehension strategies, author studies, and author visits: to instill in our students a life-long love of reading and learning, to promote an appreciation for the world of children's book authorship and illustrations, and to create information-literate students of the 21st century.
Learning Links
World Book Online (World Book Encyclopedia) -- www.worldbookonline.com From home, you will need to enter username: marplenewtown / password: student
Power Library -- http://www.delcolibraries.org/Databases_Full.htm From home, this link will take you to the Delaware County Public Library Homepage. You need your public library card barcode number to access the databases on POWER Library
netTrekker (curriculum based search engine) -- http://school.nettrekker.com
/frontdoor/ From home you will need to enter the username: mnsdes / password: student
@ Your Library
Weekly Communicator @ Your Library
Weekly Communicator As the end of school is fast approaching, we begin to think about getting all of the library books and magazines back to start our annual inventory process.
Therefore, library circulation will close on Friday, May 30th, two weeks before the last day of school. (Across the District, June 1st is the traditional day to close circulation). Library classes continue of course, but all library materials will be due on Friday, May 30th!
Please help your child/children find all books and magazines checked out from RussellSchool Library, so that they can return the library materials by the 30th of May. We are always so appreciative for your help when calling all books home for the summer!
Our volunteer mothers are still very much needed during this busy end of the year!
Thank you!
FYI Please
Library Policy
Students visit their library every week during a regularly scheduled library time.
Even though there is a fixed library schedule, all students are welcomed at anytime during the school day to their library with their teacher’s permission.
Library books and magazines are checked out on a weekly basis, yet they can be renewed as often as need be.
If students forget their books on library day, no fines are charged, however, new library materials can not be checked out by the students.
Students are encouraged to return their library books and magazines the very next day after library class day, so that they can check out new materials.
Students can come to their library for new books and magazines anytime during the school day or week.
If there is a snow day, holiday, conference, or in-service day when the students are not in school on their regularly scheduled library class day, students can bring back their library materials on the very next day that they return to school so that they can get new books and magazines.
Teachers can send small groups of students or individuals to the library to check out new materials.
Likewise, if students are sick on their library class day, they can bring back their books on the day they return to school, so that they can select new materials from their library.
The books are here for the students to delight in, learn from, and to check out. As “Paws” puppet says in library class:
“hug your books; they will love you back!
Enjoy them, take good care of them, and bring them back so you can get new ones!”
“Paws” puppet joins library classes discussing “respect” for each other and for their library and library materials. We summarized our discussion into a library classroom agreement.
We are students of character who agree to:
Treat others with respect, care, and kindness
Show respect for library books, materials, and equipment
Demonstrate responsible and cooperative behavior
Follow directions and rules
Communicate kindly and listen attentively
Try always to do our best in all things
Say “yes” to reading!
Say “no” to bullying!
Our students do a wonderful job in showing respect with regards to their Russell School library.
Students are responsible for all materials that they borrow from their school library.
Lost or damaged materials must be paid for.
Report cards will be held unless library records are cleared.
Library Lessons in a Nutshell
Kindergarten
Orientation; Happy Birthday, Author; Holiday/Seasonal/Curriculum-Related Stories; Fiction/Non-Fiction; Author/Illustrator; Stories Depicting Character Education; The Caldecott Award and Caldecott Honor Books; The Pennsylvania Young Readers’ Choice Award Books and the Vote; Poetry; and the Visiting Author.
First Grade
Orientation; Happy Birthday, Author; Holiday/Seasonal/Curriculum-Related Stories; Comparison Literature and Point of View; Fiction/Non-Fiction; Author/Illustrator; Different Genres of Literature; Stories Depicting Character Education; Author Web Sites; The Caldecott Award and Caldecott Honor Books; The Pennsylvania Young Readers’ Choice Award Books and the Vote; Fairy Tale/Folktale Variants; Poetry; Reader's Theatre; Poetry; Online Catalog; and the Visiting Author.
Second Grade
Orientation; Happy Birthday, Author; The Caldecott Award and Caldecott Honor Books; Stories Depicting Character Education; The World Book Student Encyclopedia Volume Set Research; World Book Online - Worldbook Kids; POWER Library - Searchasaurus; Holiday/Seasonal/Curriculum-Related Stories; Different Genres of Literature; Fiction/Non-Fiction -Library Skills; The Title Page; The Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Books and the Vote; Poetry; Author Web Sites; Online Catalog; and the Visiting Author.
Third Grade
Orientation; Libraries/Library of Congress/Copyright Office/copyright date; Review of Library Skills; The Caldecott Award and and Caldecott Honor Books; Different Genres of Literature; Fiction Books–Library Skills; Non-Fiction Books – Library Skills; World Book Encyclopedia Volume Set Research; World Book Online Research; POWER Library Online Research; Stories Depicting Character Education; The Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Books and the Vote; Online Catalog, Poetry; Reader’s Theatre; Author Web Sites; and the Visiting Author.
Fourth Grade
Orientation; John Newbery Award and Book-Talk; The Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Mini Book-Talks; Reference Books; Fiction Books – Library Skills; Non-Fiction Books – Library Skills; World Book Online Research; Online Catalog; POWER Library Online Research; Grolier Online; netTrekker Online Research; Inventors/Inventions; The Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Books and the Vote; Poetry; Maps/ The Fifty States; The World Almanac for Kids; Different Genres of Literature; Stories Depicting Character Education; Author Web Sites; and the Visiting Author.
Fifth Grade
Orientation; Review of Library Skills; Reference Books/ Atlases and Maps; The
John Newbery Award Book-Talk; Newbery Honor Book-Talk; POWER Library Online Research; World Book Online; Grolier Online; netTrekker Online Research; The Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Mini Book-Talks; Elements of Fiction; National Children’s Book Week Theme Personal Responses; The Big Six Research Model and Report Writing Strategies; Online Catalog; Poetry;
Literary Techniques and the PSSA’s; The Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Books and the Vote; The Six Traits of Writing; How to Write a Works Cited Page; Author/Curriculum Related Web Sites; the Visiting Author; Stories Depicting Character Education; and Different Genres of Literature.
Student/Faculty Periodicals Student Magazines
American Girl Ladybug
Baseball Digest National Geographic Kids BMX Plus Owl Chickadee Pack-o-Fun Click Ranger Rick Discovery Girls Spider Faces Sports Illus for Kids Kids Discover Zoo Books
The Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Program The purpose of the Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Awards Program is to promote reading of quality books by young people in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to promote teacher and librarian involvement in children's literature, and to honor authors whose work has been recognized by the children of Pennsylvania. The program is sponsored by the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association.
This will proudly be our 10th year that our students at Russell School have participated in this state-wide reading program! In library class during the year, we will be enjoying many selections from the grade level reading lists. In March our students will be able to vote on their favorite book on the lists. The votes will be sent in along with all other Pennsylvanian school students votes from participating schools across the state. In late spring, the winners are announced. The winners from the past years have been: 1998-1999 Grades K-3: No More Water in the TubTedd Arnold; Grades 3-6: Shiloh Seasonby Phyllis Naylor 1999-2000 Grades K-3: The Adventures of Captain Underpantsby Dav Pilkey; Grades 3-6: Frindleby Andrew Clements 2000-2001 Grades K-3: No David!by David Shannon; Grades 3-6: The Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller 2001-2002 Grades K-3: A Bad Case of the Stripesby David Shannon; Grades 3-6: So You Want to Be Presidentby Judith St. George 2002-2003 Grades K-3: Humpty-Dumpty Egg-Splodes by Kevin O'Malley; Grades 3-6: The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco 2003-2004 Grades K-3: Widget by Lyn Rossiter; Grades 3-6: Lewis and Clark and Me by Laurie Myers 2004-2005 Grades K-3: Substitute Teacher Plans by Doug Johnson; Grades 3-6: Double Fudge by Judy Blume 2005-2006 Grades K-3: Superdog: The Heart of a Hero by Caralyn Buehner; Grades 3-6 Scranimals by Jack Prelutsky 2006-2007 Grades K-3: Skippyjon Jones by Judith Schachner; Grades 3-6: Hachiko by Pamela Turner 2007-2008 Grades K-3: Good Dog by Maya Gottfried; Grades 3-6: The Aliens Are Coming by Meghan McCarthy
The Caldecott Medal Awards The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of 19th century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. 2005 Caldecott Medal Winner: Kitten's First Full Moon written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes 2005 Caldecott Honor Medal Winners: Coming On Home by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E. B. Lewis; Knuffle Bunny written and illustrated by Mo Willems; and The Red Book written and illustrated by Barbara Lehman. 2006 Caldecott Medal Winner: The Hello, Goodbye Window illustrated by Christopher Raschka 2006 Caldecott Honor Medal Winners: Hot Air, written and illustrated by Marjorie Priceman; Rosa, illustrated by Bryan Collier; Song of the Water Boatman, illustrated by Beckie Prange; and Zen Shorts, written and illustrated by Jon Muth. 2007 Caldecott Medal Winner: Flotsam written and illustrated by David Wiesner 2007 Caldecott Honor Medal Winners: Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom illlustrated Kadir Nelson and Gone Wild written and illustrated by David McLimans 2008 Caldecott Medal Winner:The Invention of Hugo Cabret written and illustrated by Brian Selznick 2008 Caldecott Honor Medal Winners: First the Egg illustrated by Laura Seeger; Henry's Freedom Box illustrated by Kadir Nelson; The Wall illustrated by Peter Sis, and Knuffle Bunny Too illustrated by Mo Willems
The John Newbery Awards The Newbery Medal was named for 18th century British bookseller, John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. 2005 John Newbery Medal Winner: Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata 2005 Newbery Honor Medal Winners: Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko and The Voice that Challenged a Nation Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russell Freedman 2006 John Newbery Medal Winner: Criss Cross by Lynne Perkins 2006 Newbery Honor Medal Winners: Hitler Youth by Susan Bartoletti; Princess Academy by Shannon Hale; Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson; and Whittington by Alan Armstrong. 2007 John Newbery Medal Winner: The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron 2007 Newbery Honor Medal Winners:Penny From Heaven by Jennifer Holm and Rules by Cynthia Lord 2008 John Newbery Medal Winner:Good Masters! Sweet Ladies: Voices From a Medieval Village by Laura Schlitz 2008 Newbery Honor Medal Winners:Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Curtis; The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt; and Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson
We welcome our Russell Family and the community at large to our annual Library Book Fair! Scholastic Books is our vendor. Our Book Fair coincides with Marple Newtown Visitation Week!
The dates and times of our Book Fair are: October 22 - 26, 2007. Monday, October 22, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Tuesday, October 23, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Wednesday, October 24, 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM Thursday, October 25, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Friday, October 26, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Place: LGI, the large group instruction room, # 216
Our Family Evening Event will be on Wednesday, October 24th. Bring your cameras and plan to do a little shopping too! Books make perfect gifts for all occasions.
We are in need of volunteers to help set up, sell, and take down the Book Fair. If you have any time to spend with us, please let us know. We are grateful for all of our volunteers, and especially for our BookFair and Volunteer Coordinator, Mrs. Karen Carr!
Visiting Author
Children's author, Rick Peoples, will be our visiting author in 2008! He will be presenting two assemblies on Young Authors' Day in May 2008, eating lunch with some of our students, presenting a small group instruction session, and reading to our Kindergarten students!
March 2, Read Across America Day
Thanks to the generosity of our PTO, a new tradition was started at Russell School: March 2nd author/illustrator assemblies celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday, reading, and children's books! Across the country, celebrations mark Dr. Seuss' birthday on March 2, as children of all ages join in celebratory activities for Read Across America Day! We at Russell School will also celebrate the day! We thank our PTO for their generosity in providing the funding for this special celebration!
We are very please to announce that this year's Read Across America author at Russell School is Betty Tatham! She is the author of several non-fiction books including: Baby Sea Otter, How Animals Communicate, How Animals Play, How Animals Shed Their Skin, and Penguin Chick.
Weekly Communicator @ Your Library
Student/Faculty Periodicals
Suggested Summer Reading Lists
