Semple Library Annual Report

The mission of Semple Elementary Library is to foster the love of reading by connecting our students, staff, and administration with the resources, technology, and critical thinking skills they need to inspire learning. We will maintain a nurturing, safe, fun, and inviting environment for all and strive to meet the needs of all ethnic, cultural, and educational differences for all patrons to excel in our global community. We will collaborate with teachers, administrators, and parents to inspire learning and ensure that we have adequate resources to become 21st-century learners.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the library's environment tremendously. As part of Semple's Return to School Plan, students did not travel to their Special Areas. Special Area teachers traveled to each teacher's classroom. Teachers and coaches used the library for virtual teaching, storage, and testing.

Within each classroom, students remained at their desks to check out E-books and participate in craft activities. Students had the option to work on the floor or their desks during makerspaces.

Reflection/Goals: Students wanted to get on the floor to have more room and better access to their makerspace or craft activities. I will arrange tables in the library to allow for more use of floor space. I will also make flexible seating out of crates to give more students flexibility in their seating.

Ms. Alisa Neff is the library clerk who also serves as a small group instructor and cafeteria monitor. She assists during library lessons as well as during book check out.

Reflection & Goals: I did not need volunteers during the pandemic. Pre-pandemic, I used student volunteers to help during checkout in 4th and 5th-grade classes. I will recruit and train volunteers from each 2nd-5th grade class to help with checkout in the upcoming school year.

Social Media: Twitter @LibrarySemple

Communication: Bi-Monthly Newsletter

During the pandemic, students were on an AA/BB schedule. On the first day, students checked out E-books. On the second day, students researched a topic in Gale, participated in makerspaces, and/or completed a craft.

Book Check Out

Students had their Chromebooks during Library Time. Students were able to use MackinVia, our state collection of E-books, to search for and check out E-books.

Research Topics on Gale

Students were asked to explore Gale on their own.

Students asked which animal was their favorite. They were then asked to find at least 5 facts about their favorite animal.

Students were shown and allowed to touch snakeskin. They were then asked why do snakes shed their skin. Students found the answer on Gale.

Students were also asked to explore the National Geographic books, magazines, and videos.

15 Book Challenge

From March until the last day of school, students were challenged to read 15 books and note them on a Google Slide to receive a prize.

Battle of the Picture Books

During the month of March, students and staff were given a March Madness bracket of picture books to read and determine which book was the best.

Black History Trivia Game

During the month of February, students were given clues of famous African Americans everyday. Students submitted their answers in Google Classroom.

Reading Group

During NTI, I taught second grade reading group. We read "Bud, Not Buddy" and "Frederico the Wolf" as a group. Students also read individual books Literacy Footprints. We focused on character, setting, theme, and making inferences. (sample reading group lesson https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pWHeZU-tMM4xFSOBBECzgngWtgjOjv8O/view?usp=sharing)

Co-Teaching

Also during NTI, I co-taught on the second grade team. My focus was reading and writing. (sample co-teaching https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vtz6ZE7PM3E6tnvWqu0eKd7gM9Hzh2Al/view?usp=sharing)

Virtual Visitors

Students were able to visit with a ball python after they felt the shed skin and researched why snakes shed their skin. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/13dzxYQUZHzSZSMp1WompobNXBNsbm5jG/view?usp=sharing)

Representative Attica Scott spoke to students and read book. She also recorded a conversation with me about the importance of the library.

Virtual Readings

The library offered a virtual book shelf that changed every week and virtual book displays that connected to content. The library also offered weekly read alouds. (read aloud sample https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z4KNaBaTQKjlnCWWSAXdrZM2-8mFf-S-/view?usp=sharing)

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations

Students were able to make crafts and watch videos to learn more about famous Hispanic people.

Pop-Up Library

The library offered a Pop-Up Library that met students in front of the building to distribute books they placed on hold during the beginning of NTI.

Virtual Field Trips

During NTI we visited the Atlanta Zoo Panda Bears (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZgRSQIM9BM), Harry Potter World, and Slime in Outer space (https://youtu.be/aLWFcwzFetA), Seattle Aquarium (https://youtu.be/mY8__n13tKM), Coastal Wetlands (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fI1zDucc5Q&t=13s), Hawaii Caves (https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service/hawaii-volcanoes/nahuku-lava-tube-tour) Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico (https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service/carlsbad-caverns/natural-entrance), Bryce Canyon, Utah (https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service/bryce-canyon/sunset-point, and bats (https://batworld.org/virtural-tour-of-bat-world-sanctuary/).

Reflection/Goals: Students loved the virtual fields trips so I will incorporate them during the next school year. I will also have more classroom visitors. I will also use Gale more.

Library Budget: $1,200

Scholastic Book Fair: $0.00 (We had one Book Fair in the fall that only sold one item.)

Library Expenditures: $0.00 (We did not place any orders)

Reflection/Goals: My budget for 2021-22 is $1,500. The budget will be used for operating supplies and books.

Books

I reached out to teachers, coaches, and the community to donate books to the school. I received over 500 titles. These donations were used to make sure every student had at least 10 books to take home and read over the summer. It is important to note that we usually order 80-100 books from Scholastic Book Fair Rewards, but we only had one sale during our virtual Scholastic Book Fair in the fall.

Technology

Students were able to use their Chromebooks to access our E-Book collection through MackinVia.

Donors Choose

9 new makerspace activities

Reflection/Goals: To increase the collection's diversity, I will purchase 37 diverse books this year. The focus will be African American, South Asian, Jewish, and Middle Eastern cultures. Students will continue having access to our E-Book collection. I will also apply for grants, and more Donors Choose items.

LibGuide Statistics

Total Resources: 955

Total Logins: 870

Total Views: 1,755

Total Checkouts: 1,356

Total Requests: 215

• There are 38 more books in the collection from last year.
• Weeding completed, and the average is 2005 instead of 2004.
• Before weeding last year, the average age was 1999.
• Recommended publication date is 2011.

Reflection/Goals: Give students more access to the E-Book collection to access books anywhere they have a Wi-Fi device. Weed the fiction section more aggressively. Publicize the Scholastic Book Fair earlier so that I can buy new titles. I weeded in the Everybody section in May 2021. Increase the number of research projects in the library to use Gale Database more. Create a PD to train teachers on how to use and incorporate Gale in their classrooms. I also want to get more involved in the analysis of MAP data and create more opportunities for students to master skills on their learning continuum.