Library Monthly Report April
2010
TECHNOLOGY:
The five older computer monitors
that were placed on elevated pods in the library were replaced with sleek flat
screen monitors. The new flat screens
are a better compliment to the new design of the library. The library website
---www.hillcrestlibrary.org---- further served to facilitate library lesson
collaborations. Teachers found it handy
to submit a web link to Ms. Spoljaric, the library
web site master, and request that the link be made available to their students
through the library web site.
CIRCULATION
A total of 311 items were checked
out of the library. Fiction was the
dominant genre, totaling 185 items checked out.
The next largest category was the 700’s totaling19 items. Many graphic novel titles in our collection
have the Dewey Decimal call number of 741.5.
OPEN ACCESS USE OF LIBRARY/VISITS
The librarians collaborated with 4 Social
Studies teachers, 3 English teachers, 1 Instructional Support teacher and 2
science teachers, to create lessons in the library. These lessons integrated technology, taught
research skills and increase book circulation in the library. Sample lessons included how to write a
scientific paper, brain disorders, illegal immigration, and using the online
databases for research. More and more teachers are making appointments to use
the library computer lab.
Periods 5 and 6 remain very busy
periods. The normal count for periods 5
and 6 is 85-100 students, each period.
During these busy lunch periods, students read, study, play
chess/checkers, or sit in the “chill zone” area with friends.
In April, the library had 8859
visitors (average of 2214 visitors per week).
CONCERNS:
As classes schedule time to use the
computer lab, it puts a strain on the five computers that are available in the
main area during the lunch periods, especially when classroom teachers send
students to the library with a pass to complete computer work.
The clutter and disorder and
congested air problem in the library storage room remain issues that need to be
addressed.
Library Monthly Report March
2010
TECHNOLOGY:
One of the rooms adjacent to the
library---which houses the reference collection---now has a total of 16 new
computers with flat screen monitors. This computer lab/reference area is roomy,
bright and well used by the Hillcrest High School community. The older model machines were moved out to
the main area and placed on elevated pods that were part of the new design of
the library renovation. The addition of
the new computers led to easier service for students. The waiting procedure that took place on a
daily basis was significantly reduced. Students are now more easily able find a
computer and complete work.
The library website
---www.hillcrestlibrary.org---- further served to facilitate library lesson
collaborations. Teachers found it handy
to submit a web site link to Ms. Spoljaric, the
library web site master, and request that the link be made available to their
students through the library web site.
CIRCULATION
A total of 371 items were checked
out of the library. Fiction was the
dominant genre, totaling 207 items checked out.
The next largest category was the 700’s totaling 64 items. Many graphic novel titles in our collection
have the Dewey Decimal call number of 741.5.
OPEN ACCESS USE OF LIBRARY/VISITS
In March 2010, the library hosted
the awards ceremony for the Public Service and Law Institute. More than 75 students were honored in this
ceremony. The library also acted as the meeting place for the English department
and Instructional Support department meetings.
Even without scheduled classes in
the library during periods 5 and 6, the numbers swell up to 85-100 students
each period. During these busy lunch
periods, students read, study, play chess/checkers, or sit in the “chill zone”
area with friends.
The librarians collaborated with 7 Social
Studies teachers, 6 English teachers, 2 science teachers, 1 math teacher, and 1
Health teacher to create lessons in the library. These collaborations successfully integrated technology, taught research skills and increased book circulation
in the library. Sample lessons included
citing sources, biographies of famous authors, Irish potato famine, United
Nations’ involvement in world crises, and supply and demand. Two ESL teachers conducted testing and class
instruction in the library. The smartboard technology
that is prominently displayed in the main area figured significantly in the
lessons of several teachers. A math
teacher expressed great pleasure after its use facilitated the progress of her
lesson.
In March the library had 8730
visitors (average of 1746 visitors per week).
CONCERNS:
The librarians continue to record the
attendance of students that have been placed in the library for the entire Spring 2010 semester.
The storage room in the back area of
the library is in dire need of attention.
The clutter and disorder and congested air problem remain issues that
need to be addressed.
Library Monthly Report February
2010
Monday, February 1, 2010 marked the
beginning of the Spring 2010 semester.
TECHNOLOGY:
Mr. Duch, our principal, donated a
state of the art Smart Board to the library.
It is permanently mounted on display in the main room of the
library.
CIRCULATION
A total of 301 items were checked
out of the library. Fiction was the
dominant genre, totaling 181 items checked out.
The next largest category was the 700 totaling 47 items.
Many graphic novel titles in our collection have the Dewey Decimal call
number of 741.5.
OPEN ACCESS USE OF LIBRARY/VISITS
The librarians collaborated with 3 Social
Studies teachers and 2 English teachers to create lessons in the library. These class lessons integrated technology, taught
research skills and increase book circulation in the library. Sample lessons included citing sources, Black
History Month biographies, and career planning. ------ requested use of
library classrooms.
Humanities Institute conducted a successful
Poetry Slam event to raise money for victims of Haiti’s hurricane disaster. The
library was able to seat over 100 patrons for the two day event. \ Periods 5 and 6 remain very busy
periods. The normal count for periods 5
and 6 is 85-100 students. During these
busy lunch periods, students read, study, play chess/checkers, or sit in the
“chill zone” area with friends.
More than 40 students through
periods 3-7 passed their Spanish Regents in January and were placed in the library
for the Spring 2010 semester beginning in
February. The librarians kept record of
their attendance during each period.
In February, the library had 6041 visitors
(average of 1510 visitors per week).
CONCERNS:
The seven computers we have are not
enough computers to accommodate the demand.
When classes reserve the computers, lunch period students, who are
giving up their free period to complete assignments, are asked to wait for
computers. The volume of activity in the
library is extremely high. Some teachers
send up to 6 students down to library to complete work. This puts a strain on the usage of and
waiting period for computers as students are forced to rush their completion of
work. Some students are not even able to
get a computer to use.
The storage room in the back area of
the library is in dire need of attention.
The clutter and disorder and congested air problem remain issues that
need to be solved.
Library Monthly Report January
2010
The library reopened Monday January 4,
2010. Newly delivered books that were
ordered in the fall were displayed nicely.
Many students and staff expressed great pleasure at seeing the new
library with the new comfortable seating arrangements and organization.
PATRON VISITS
The reopening of the library was a
much anticipated event. The library quickly became a popular place to visit.
The lunch period population swelled immensely during the first two weeks of
January. Periods 5, 6 and 7 saw between
45-80 students each period each day.
This statistic is only rivaled by period 9 in the library where 30-40
students stay until 3:40 PM. During the
month of January, two ESL classes visited, a Social Studies inclusion class
investigated World War I, the College Office conducted online CUNY testing for
students, and an English class of seniors received instruction on finding your
voice in a report while avoiding plagiarism.
-
Library Dedication: On Friday,
January 22, 2010, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and Queens Councilman
James F. Gennaro participated in the official opening
ceremony of the library. Approximately
$750,000 was spent on the library’s renovation which was provided by Ms.
Marshall and Mr. Gennaro. The library has been renamed in their honor.
-
In January, the library had 7054 visitors
(average of 1763.5 visitors per week).
CIRCULATION
Overdue notices were sent out to
students during the final week in January---Regents Week----in order to remind
students of materials that
needed to be returned.
A total of 263 items were checked
out of the library. Fiction was the
dominant genre, totaling 166 items checked out.
The next largest category was the 700 totaling 28 items.
CONCERNS:
Only seven computers were placed in
the library computer lab. Students pouring into the library on a day to day
basis to work on projects faced waiting periods and slow machines. Additionally, some students expressed
frustration with unlocking the computers with self-created passwords. Students that forgot their passwords were
required to request account assistance from technical support staff.
Library Monthly Report December
2009
CIRCULATION AND PATRON USE
The librarians maintained the
library in the annex in room 321A during the busy lunch periods. Additionally, the
librarians were assigned time in the newly renovated space to unpack the
collection of books from storage. Though
this activity restricted circulation and patron use, it coincided with the
holiday season, in which the school semester was shortened by the December
break. A total of 4 science classes and 3 social studies class visits were
conducted in the library. The monthly
English department meeting was completed in the library.
RENOVATED SPACE:
The removal of two walls---opening
up two library classrooms, installation of additional shelving, a new
circulation desk, recessed lighting and vibrant paint were completed by
December 15, 2009. The main room
contains the fiction collection and the books in other languages
collection. The classroom on the left
side of the main room is for research.
It has space for over 15 computers and all Reference books. The
classroom on the right of the main room contains all of the non-fiction books;
both the biography collection and the Dewey Decimal number books.
TECHNOLOGY:
Winnebago Spectrum automation system
was successfully uploaded to our server in October 2009. It continued to run
through December. Student records were
imported successfully as well.
Library Monthly Report October
and November 2009
CIRCULATION
An average of 40 items per month ---
including books, magazines and audio-visual items was our library’s
circulation. With access to only an
abbreviated collection of items to choose from, students and teachers were
limited in their selection of items.
PATRON VISITS
The library annex seats 24
comfortably. Periods 5 and 6 remain very
busy periods. Both lunch periods have an
average of 40 students daily in the library, even without computer usage. The printer was successfully set up in mid
October 2009.
RENOVATION PLANS:
Classroom 321A has been designated
for temporary library usage. A small
collection of textbooks, magazines and popular fiction display titles have been
made available for student use. Winnebago
Spectrum automation system was successfully uploaded to our server in
October. Student records were imported
successfully as well.
CONCERNS:
Three student computers and a
printer were placed in the temporary library annex. Students and staff in the temporary library
annex are able to hear ---and are often distracted by---the noise coming from
the cafeteria, during the lunch periods because of the singular wall separating
the two rooms.
Our access to technical support for
our Winnebago Spectrum OPAC system has expired as of May 2009.