Orientation sessions for grades 2-6

September is always a busy month in the library.  Each class in grades 2 through 6 visited the library at least twice for orientation sessions.  Different concepts and skills are emphasized at every grade. 

• Grade 2:  Students review alphabetical order (first letter only) and practice finding and re-shelving picture books. 
• Grade 3:  Students review alphabetical order (first three letters) and practice finding books in the Early Fiction section.
• Grade 4:  Students review parts of a book (author, title, publisher, verso page, and copyright date) and practice finding books in the Early Fiction and Fiction sections.  The online public access catalog (OPAC) is introduced. The students practice using OPAC to find the call number for a specific title and then find the book.
• Grade 5:  Students review the organization of the library and practice finding books in the Early Fiction and Fiction sections.  They also practice locating information in OPAC records (author, Lexile measure/reading level, and call number).
• Grade 6:  Students review the organization of the library and how to use OPAC.  They also practice finding books in the Early Fiction, Fiction, and Nonfiction sections.

And the winner is…

The Chickadee Award Committee has announced the winner of Maine’s 2008-2009 children’s choice award.  The winner is My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socksby Hanoch Piven!  Of the 12,817 Maine children who participated in this year’s program, My Dog received 2,997 votes.  The second and third place winners are Bob and Otto and The End respectively.  All winners are CJL’s top choices, too, but not in the same order.

Kudos

Mrs. Carlisle’s kindergartners filled another Book Return chart with 100 stickers!  Each sticker represents a returned book.  The children received bookmarks and stickers as a reward for their efforts.

Miss Kimball’s second graders filled their Book Return chart, too.  It is their fifth chart!  They received a congratulatory letter from Skoob the Shelf Elf, a chance to display the Golden Shelf Elf Award in their classroom for two weeks, stickers, and bookmarks.

Keep up the good work, students!

Ms. Black accepts position in Bridgton

   Ms. Annika Black, the library assistant, will be leaving CJL at the end of the month.  She has accepted a position as the Children’s Librarian at the Bridgton Public Library.  We wish Ms. Black well in her new job.  She will be missed!

Responsible library users recognized

Returning library books on time is part of being a responsible library user.  First and second grade classes are recognized for their efforts to return their books promptly.  Each week a class earns up to five stickers. (The number is based on the number of overdue notices issued to individuals in the class.  Five stickers are awarded if there are no overdue notices for a class.)  When the class sticker chart is filled with 20 stickers, the class receives a congratulatory letter from a book character, bookmarks, and a small prize.  “I.Q. Mouse” corresponds with the first graders and “Skoob the Shelf Elf” encourages the second graders.

Miss Kimball’s second graders were the first to fill their book return chart, but Miss Mallon and Mrs. Sturtevant’s classes filled theirs the following week.  Mrs. Bemis and Mrs. Patrick’s first graders filled their charts one week and Mrs. Brennan’s followed the next week.  Congratulations to all first and second graders!  You are off to a great start!