Library Staff, Contact Information, and Hours
| Library Staff |
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Hours |
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M.S.L.S., M.Ed. - Head Librarian |
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M & T |
6:45 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
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M.S.L.S. - Librarian |
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W & Th |
6:45 a.m. - 4:00* p.m. |
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F |
6:45 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
Phone: |
703-913-3939 |
* Extended time only when late buses are available. |
Mission Statement
The WSHS staff endorses the American Association of School Librarians’ revised mission statement:
 The mission of the school library program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. The school librarian empowers students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information by:
• collaborating with educators and students to design and teach engaging learning experiences that meet individual needs
• instructing students and assisting educators in using, evaluating, and producing information and ideas through active use of a broad range of appropriate tools, resources, and information technologies
• providing access to materials in all formats, including up-to-date, high quality, varied literature to develop and strengthen a love of reading
• providing students and staff with instruction and resources that reflect current information needs and anticipate changes in technology and education
• providing leadership in the total education program and advocating for strong school library programs as essential to meeting local, state, and national education goals.
The West Springfield High School Library also endorses the Library Bill of Rights and the American Library Association Freedom to Read and Freedom to View statements. Day-to-day library management is guided by FCPS Policy 3012, Instructional Materials and Equipment: School Libraries.
Policies and Procedures
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Responsibilties |
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Use of the library is a privilege.
Respect the right of other students to study.
Respect the right of others to use library materials.
The library is a shared space open to all students.
Please do each other the courtesy of keeping it clean, quiet, organized, and operational. (top) |
Books |
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Finding Books |
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There is a catalog computer so you can look up books without having to log on to the network.
The books are categorized as New, Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Short Story, Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, Biography, Everyone, and Foreign Language Materials. “Now How Do I Find the Book?” in the WSHS Library course (Online Catalogs) provides more information about the physical layout of the library. |
Returning Books |
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Place books which have not been checked out on reshelving carts so we can put them back in the right place and they can be found again.
Books check out for three weeks.
Late fines accrue at .10 per school day.
You cannot check out more books if you have overdue books or fines.
(
Do not check out books for a friend; if his or her account is delinquent, yours probably will be too. )
Return books which have been checked out in the blue book drop just outside the library doors. |
Miscellaneous |
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• We can check out books from other FCPS libraries.
Ask at the front desk.
• We accept book recommendations.
Use the notebook at the front desk and check back to see the status of your request. (top) |
Passes |
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You do not need a pass
before school,
after school,
during Spartan Time,
or during lunch (unless you go to the cafeteria first*).
*You may get a pass from the library before you go to lunch so you may come back to the library during lunch.
You do need a pass
during class time and
during Learning Seminar.
The pass MUST be in your planner. If the pass is not in your planner, you will be sent back to class.
(top) |
Expectations |
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• The library is a quiet zone for school work only.
• No food, no gum, water only at the tables. No liquids at the computers.
• Before you leave, push chairs in, put trash in trash cans, and put paper in recycle bins.
• During the school day, you cannot use your cell phone without permission. Before and after school, have it set to vibrate or airport mode and take calls outside the library.
• Scissors, pens, staplers and other office supplies are on a cart by the entrance.
• Always sign in to the library, unless you are with a teacher.
(top) |
Computers |
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Use computers in accordance with WSHS and FCPS Guidelines. That means school assignments only. No games, no shopping, no goofing off! Access email only for school-related purposes. Use your own computer accounts for the network, 24/7, NoodleTools, etc. Your computer may be monitored to insure that you comply with the computer use guidelines you and your parents signed. Remember to log off (if it is the end of the day, shut down) the computer.
You may print for .10 per page. Only black & white, single-sided printing is avaiable. You are responsible to pay for what you print, so ask for help if you need it and use print preview before you print. Print before school, during lunch, or after school as there is not enough time between classes. (top) |
Spartan Time |
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• You do not need a pass for Spartan Time, but you must be a Spartan in Good Standing and have the stamp (from Student Services) in your planner*.
*We can look at your current interim/report card, but this holds up the line. Please get the stamp ASAP.
• Have your planner open to the stamp and your barcode so we can get you checked in quickly. Know if you plan to use a computer or sit at a table.
• Only come to the library if you plan to work on an assignment. You will be asked to leave if you are socializing. (top) |
After School |
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• The library is open after school for school work and quiet study only.
• Only four students at each table, so this is not the place for group work if your group is large.
• Your time between 2:30 and 4:00 must be accounted for to receive a bus pass. If you are in the library, you must be working or reading. (top) |
Citing Sources
Login and password is required for remote (home) access and are available on FCPS 24-7 under Courses --> WSHS Library --> Works Cited. You will find the Seventh Edition MLA Style Guide with examples. The MLA Handbook is available in the library but cannot be checked out. If you have any difficulty, contact a librarian.
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NoodleTools is a citation and note-taking program that requires a personal account. The librarians cannot help you reset your password for this account, so keep track of your own username and password. |
Databases
Logins and passwords are required for remote (home) access and are available on FCPS 24-7 under Courses --> WSHS Library --> Databases --> Database logins/passwords. If you have any difficulty, contact a librarian.
6 databases covering history, geography and government, as well as a collection of ebooks.
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Science encyclopedia and current events.
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Almost 2 million images from the 1840s to yesterday.
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Thousands of full-text poems. |
Newspapers, journals and research resources. |
Cultural references of the world’s countries and peoples. |
4 databases cover current issues and the 3 branches of government. Also includes the Encyclopedia of American Government Online. |
23 databases of newspapers, journals, reference resources, as well as over 300 ebooks (online reference). |
Illustrated and digital encyclopedias. |
Thousands of images and an art encyclopedia. |
Encyclopedias. |
Includes the World Book encyclopedia, a Spanish-language encyclopedia and World Book Kids. |
Manipulable country data. |
Library News
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Purchase your very own signed copy of UnWholly by Neal Shusterman in the library. The cost of a signed book is $14.00 (list price $17.99).
Author Neal Shusterman was at WSHS on October 10, 2012 and had a chance to talk to students. He is touring this fall to support UnWholly, the sequel to Unwind. His books can be checked out from the library. |
The library is currently hosting a display of Haikus Haiga from Mrs. Thakur’s Japanese 2 and 3 classes. |
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