North Country School Library
The library is central to the curriculum and learning program at NCS. Students work here in groups with their teachers or individually with the full-time librarian who teaches library skills and supervises study. The library is centrally located in the school building. The library has several computers available for use with research CD-ROMs and online services (which the librarian teaches students how to use). The computer room is next door to the library so that students have ready access to advanced digital technologies for information processing, research, and retrieval.
- The North Country School Library has been designated as an "Electronic
Doorway Library" by the State of New York Board of Regents. This does
not mean that you need to swipe your card through a slot for the door to
open! It means that our students have access to five computer workstations,
(with Internet connections), a copy machine, fax machine, electronic interlibrary
loan access throughout northern New York, and two on-line magazine database
services. These database subscriptions entitle our teachers and students
to full-text magazine, newspaper, special televised reports, and public
radio transcripts; an amazing resource that is quick and well applied to
current event studies. We also have a collection of over 100 reference
CD's that cover a wide cross-section of history, arts, science, geography
and general multimedia reference encyclopedias.
- While proud of our electronic services, we remain devoted to the pursuit
of reading. To know things is not the same as thinking. Reading requires
time. It also requires thinking to understand the information read. It's
a good mental exercise with endless rewards. In our circle room we hold
our classic and contemporary fiction novels, magazines, and newspapers.
Huge windows practically encircle the room. A cozy fireplace-like nook
is loaded with pillows for bodies to relax and imaginations to stretch
and wander.
- Our rich collection of children and young adult literature is carefully
selected to appeal to all students. Award winning titles are naturally
included in our purchases, yet we're particularly on the look-out for titles
that students will love. I personally review approximately 40 new titles
a year for the School Library System of Northern New York, and "School
Library Journal" magazine. If you want to get a taste of some highly
readable books, check-out our Title Trek page.
- The remaining stacks in our library hold our reference titles. We are
part of a Cooperative Collection group linked to other libraries within
three neighboring counties. We acquire titles within very specific subject
areas. The Rain Forest and Civil War are currently two of our areas. Libraries
that we borrow from are also doing this. Therefore we "collectively"
have a wide spectrum to draw from that is kept complete and up-to-date.
Other noteworthy titles that support our curriculum or the current interests
of our staff and students are also purchased. General reference encyclopedias,
including those for science and social studies, help to complete our collection.
Title Trekking
The Title Trek program challenges children to read 46 books from a selected list of titles over their 4-5 years at NCS.
Click here for the title trek list of books!
The Title Trek program is further described on one of our student web pages...
Click here to learn more about it!
Bookmark Contest
Each year the library has a bookmark making contest. The winner's bookmark is reproduced, laminated, and included in all outgoing inter-library-loan books.
