Library

Director of Library, Media and Technology

Molly Laden

Email:
mladen@medford.k12.ma.us

The school libraries have three main areas of focus for students:

To promote literacy and reading for learning, personal growth and enjoyment
To assist students and classroom teachers in fostering academic achievement
To create responsible digital citizens

For the school community at large, the school library’s mission is to promote a culture of literacy and learning for all, and provide a welcoming space for collaboration, project creation, and inspiration.

Library Curriculum Overview

Grades K-5

In elementary school, the library focuses on developing a love of books, reading, and finding things out. Starting in kindergarten and moving through 5th grade, students learn the knowledge and skills necessary to use the library to find books and information. This progression of skills and knowledge includes the following areas: understanding how the library and its materials are a shared, community resource; understanding the rules and expected behavior in this community space; understanding how resources are organized in the library; understanding how to look for resources in the library; learning how to select just right books of interest to the student; learning to appreciate reading and books; exploring different types of books - fiction, nonfiction, genres and authors; understanding the process of looking for a book including how to use a shelf marker, checking out and checking in, being responsible with materials.

Kindergarten to 5th grade students attend library class once a week for 45 minutes.

Grades 6-8

In middle school, students review and build on the library knowledge and skills learned in elementary school. Middle school students may use the library independently and with the help of the library staff to find books and information. These skills and knowledge can include understanding how the library is organized and the different types of resources available; learning how to locate resources in the library; learning how to select books of interest and reading for pleasure; learning how to select books and resources for a class assignment/project; understanding and exploring different types of books, different book formats, and genres; learning to appreciate reading and books; understanding the purpose of the library and its materials as a community resource; learning the library processes and the importance of being responsible with library materials.

Students generally visit the library on a flexible schedule many times as a part of one of their core classes. This can be a whole-class visit, small-group or individual visits. Students may also visit the library as a part of a class assignment or project.

High School

The high school curriculum focuses on advanced research and project creation skills, such as writing a thesis, using databases and other libraries, evaluating sources for accuracy and bias, copyright and in-text citations, in collaboration with classroom teachers on projects such as Science Fair, World History Day, and other curriculum related topics.

Freshman orientation introduces 9th graders to online and print resources, with reader’s advisories and instruction on access to all reading formats. Collaboration with the public youth librarian expands those resources to the vast collection of YA literature and programming available in the public library in preparation for college level information skills. Understanding their digital footprint and how to apply security measures for online safety and privacy is also covered.

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