LOTS OF ACTIVITY

This past week the IMC have been a beehive of activity. The computers were in use every day. 8th grade Social Studies spent the week working on a group project. And 7th & 8th graders checked out books for their next book report.

In the week ahead IMC computers continue to be in use - Monday-Wednesday for 8th grade Science, Wednesday and Thursday for 7th grade Advanced LA/Reading, and Friday for 8th grade LA/Reading. Also the laptop computers will be utilized by the 6th grade Health classes. AND the 6th graders will be introduced to the Accelerated Reader program (a computerized, multiple choice book report) and select a book for their first AR book report.

MORE ACTION

I thought that this week would be quiet but it ended in organized chaos with Mr. Safranski's 8th grade social studies classes and Miss Cerney's advanced language arts classes co-existing in the IMC working on projects. Still there were enough quiet times for Mrs. Wilson and I to get 39 more new books ready for checkout.

Next week the IMC computers are booked all week -- Monday and Tuesday for 8th grade social studies, Wednesday for 8th grade reading classes, Thursday for 7th grade language arts, and Friday for 8th grade science. In addition 7th and 8th grade reading classes will have book checkout for their next book report. It's shaping up to be a busy week ahead.

QUIET WEEKS

This past week and next week are quiet weeks for the IMC in terms of class usage. The health classes have been using the IMC computers and that's about it except for walk-ins. However it really picks up the week after next! The low usage has allowed Mrs. Wilson and myself time to dig into the pile of new book processing. It feels good to be working on new books again. Both of us are tempted -- there are soooo many books we want to read. The good news for students is that there are 31 new books in the New Book Display area by the windows this week. If you can't decide what to read, take a look at the new books. There's something for everyone!

BACK TO LIBRARY BUSINESS

It felt good to get back to library business this week. There was some computer use and some book checkout. The IMC was open before school and during study so we are back to a regular schedule.

Next week the only reservations are for computers on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for some of the Health classes which means that Mrs. Wilson and I will have time to work on new books. Keep watching the new book display shelves by the windows because there are some really great books just about ready for checkout.

CRAZY WEEK

Well, the MAP testing is finished (at least we hope it is!), so maybe the IMC can get back to being a library again. Library Orientation did take place for each grade with only a few strange quirks. Because the IMC computers were needed a third day for MAP testing, the 8th grade orientation and book checkout took place in the classroom with the library on a cart. I wheeled a selection of books to the classroom on a cart and proceeded as though we were in the IMC. 7th and 6th grade classes were able to meet for orientation in the IMC, but it was a bit chaotic as Mrs. Wilson was trying round up students who still needed to finish their MAP tests. The usual smooth operation wasn't with us this year.

No matter what has happened -- it is past. On Tuesday the IMC opens for full service. Just to review: the IMC is open during the regular school day including study. Students coming to the IMC during study need a pass. Written passes are 10 minute browsing passes. Laminated Research and Computer passes (2 of each per study classroom) are for the full study period. In addition the IMC is open before school at 7:35 AM Tuesdays through Fridays. Before school use also requires a pass. Forty laminated Before School passes are given to morning gym monitors for distribution to students.

After the dizzying speed of this first week, it will feel very nice to get back to library business next week.