CHECKING OUT BOOKS

The most popular fiction series in the Sycamore Park Library!

Grades K-5 are now checking out books.  I am new to Sycamore Park, but I think the school has done an amazing job creating enthusiastic readers.  In all classes, only very few students are claiming that they don't like to read. I can say without a doubt that the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is the number one draw, followed by series fiction such as Babymouse and Captain Underpants. I think the library budget will be wisely spent on purchasing even more Diary of a Wimpy Kid books because they are checked out as soon as they are returned - there is not even time to reshelve them before they are gone again.

It is critical that students in elementary grades learn that reading is fun and worthwhile - maybe even fun enough to compete with video games.    

Books that make reading fun....

 I found an interesting article online about the importance of reading.  I couldn't say this any better, so I will show it to you. It said:

Why is reading important?

It is how we discover new things. Reading is vital in developing a good self image.

Being able to read is a crucial skill in being able to function in today's society. It is important because it develops the mind and develops the imagination.

A person who knows how to read can educate themselves in any area of life they are interested in.

Non readers or poor readers often have low opinions of themselves and their abilities. They feel isolated and behaviour problems can surface. As we live in an age overflowing with information, reading is the main way to take advantage of it.

"Reading, like no other medium, can transform your life in a flash, and you never know which book, at which time in your life, might be the one that rocks your world and inspires you to grow in ways you never thought possible."
---Burke Hedges.

 

You can check out this article here:  http://www.squidoo.com/why-reading-is-important

 

Books should be returned on their next Library resource day so that they may check out a new book(s) at that time.  Students in Grades 2-5 can check out 2 books at a time, while grades PreK-1 may check out one.

In the past several weeks, all grades have been working on taking care of books, being responsible with books, and the importance of keeping the library in order (always use shelfmarkers!)  Now the older grades (3-5) are beginning to learn about the library catalog.  Library catalogs are almost always accessible online from anywhere - home or school.  Learning how to effectively use library catalogs is a necessary skill, especially now in this information age.  For research papers and homework while in school to life outside of school, knowing how to access credible information is very important. With e-books and online databases, learning what is available through a library's website and catalog means the difference literally between being "information literate" or being illiterate when it comes to the wide world of information that is pressing in on all sides. 

You can access Sycamore Park's library catalog from anywhere - any place you have internet access.  You can google "Sycamore Park Elementary School" or go to Culpeper County's website and go to Sycamore Park's website from there. Once on Sycamore Park's website, just click on "library" on the left side of the page.   You can choose the "home" tab or the "catalog" tab.