Library Media Specialist

Mrs. Becky Nicholson has been the school library media specialist at Columbian since the fall of 2000. Her favorite part of being a school librarian is working with all of the different age groups--helping them to find books they love to read and also working to ensure that every student has the opportunity to become an independent and responsible user of information.

Columbian's library space is shared with the computer lab, where 27 Apple iMacs are available for student use. The library is open from 8:45-4:00 each day. Books may be checked out on the student's check-out day, or students are welcome to come during the school day to browse as needed with their classroom teacher's permission.

Books are checked out for a two week period, but may be returned sooner.

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Kindergarten classes meet with the library media specialist in the library for story time or computer lab activity twice a week. In Kindergarten, children learn to self-select and "read" fiction and nonfiction materials (decode story through illustrations). They learn appropriate care and treatment of library books, equipment and facility. Children become familiar with the library's checkout routine and realize the importance of returning books in a responsible manner. Most Kindergarten students visit the library daily to check out a book.

Kindergarten students will be taught the following terms: title, author, illustrator, cover, spine, pages. The library media specialist will present a rich and diverse variety of literature to the children, including nursery rhymes, poems, fiction and nonfiction selections from a variety of authors. Kindergarten children also participate in the Golden Sower Vote in April. For more information about the Golden Sower Award, visit the Golden Sower website.

First grade students have two 30-minute scheduled library periods per week. One period is designated as the check out day for the class, and the other period is reserved for sharing literature, author studies, learning library skills, or research lessons. Although the class does have a designated check out day scheduled, students are welcome to visit the library for independent book return and book check out any time their teacher gives permission for them to do so. In this way, the students become more familiar with how to use a library.

Second grade students have two 30-minute scheduled library periods per week. One period is designated as the check out day for the class, and the other period is reserved for sharing literature, author studies, learning library skills, or research lessons and projects. Although the class does have a designated check out day scheduled, students are welcome to visit the library any time (with the classroom teacher's permission) to return and/or check out books. In this way, the students become more familiar with how to use a library. In addition to self-selecting and independently reading fiction, nonfiction and poetry, second grade studens will use appropriate reference resources to locate information. Second grade students are taught about the parts of a book (title page, table of contents, introduction, index, glossary, etc.) Children in second grade will learn about various literary awards such as Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, and Golden Sower. Ethnic heritage and contributions of various cultures will be shown in the literature presented. Second grade students will participate in the Golden Sower vote in April. For information about the Golden Sower, Nebraska's Children's Choice Book Award, visit the Golden Sower website.

Third grade students have two 30 minute scheduled library periods per week. One period is designated as the check-out day for the class, and the other period is reserved for sharing literature, author studies, learning library skills, keyboarding, or research lessons. Although the class does have designated check-out day scheduled, students are welcome to visit the library any time their teacher give permission for them to do so if they need to return a book and check out another, or to do independent research using library print and computer resources. In this way, the students become familiar with how to make use of the library.

Third grade students are taught how to use the library's computer catalog to locate materials in the library, and are also introduced to the Dewey Decimal System. The students self-select fiction, nonfiction, and poetry books for checkout. Third graders will summarize various selections in writing activities. Third grade students will participate in the Golden Sower vote in April. For information about the Golden Sower, Nebraska's Children's Choice Book Award, visit the Golden Sower website.

Fourth grade students have two 30 minute scheduled library periods per week. One period is designated as the check out day for the class, and the other period is reserved for literature sharing (read-alouds and book talks), learning library skills, or research lessons. Fourth graders are expected to bring a book with them each library time for silent reading. Although the class does have a designated check out day scheduled, students are welcome to visit the library any time, with the classroom teacher's permission, if they need to return or check out books, or work on independent research. In this way, the students become more familiar with how to make use of a library.

Fourth grade children will locate materials in the library according to Dewey Decimal call numbers, and will self-select reading materials. Students in fourth grade are taught the Big Six model for research. They will use the model in classroom research activities. Students will develop appropriate questions to guide research, use a variety of reference resource materials to locate information, and use note-taking, outlining and summarizing strategies to record and present information.

Students on the fourth grade level will read the Golden Sower nominated books independently. Those students who read at least five of te ten nominees will be eligible to participate in the Golden Sower vote in April. For information about the Golden Sower, Nebraska's Children's Choice Book Award, visit the Golden Sower website.

Fifth grade students have two 40 minute scheduled library periods per week. One period is designated as the check out day for the class, and the other period is reserved for literature sharing (read-alouds and book talks), learning library skills, or research lessons. Fifth graders are expected to bring a book with them each library time for silent reading. Although the class does have a designated check out day scheduled, students are welcome to visit the library any time, with the classroom teacher's permission, if they need to return or check out books, or work on independent research. In this way, the students become more familiar with how to make use of a library.

Research is an important component of fifth grade library skills. Students will use the Big Six research model to identify information needs and select appropriate information resources. Bibliographic format for print, nonprint and electronic resources is taught to fifth grade students. Students will use information gathered from a variety of formats to create a research product, complete with bibliographic citations, with direction from both the classroom teacher and the library media specialist.

Fifth grade students are well acquainted with literary awards: Caldecott, Newbery, Coretta Scott King, Golden Sower. Fifth graders will learn to identify a variety of literary genres, such as mystery, science fiction, historical fiction, realistic fiction. Students on the fifth grade level will read the Golden Sower nominated books independently. Those students who read at least five of the ten nominees will be eligible to participate in the Golden Sower vote in April. For information about the Golden Sower, Nebraska's Children's Choice Book Award, visit the Golden Sower website.

Sixth grade students have two 40 minute scheduled library periods per week. One period is designated as the check out day for the class, and the other period is reserved for literature sharing (read-alouds and book talks), learning library skills, or research lessons. Sixth graders are expected to bring a book with them each library time for silent reading. Although the class does have a designated check out day scheduled, students are welcome to visit the library any time, with the classroom teacher's permission, if they need to return or check out books, or work on independent research. In this way, the students become more familiar with how to make use of a library.

Research is an important component of sixth grade library skills. Students will use the Big Six research model to identify information needs and select appropriate information resources. Bibliographic format for print, nonprint and electronic resources is taught to sixth grade students. Students will use information gathered from a variety of formats to create a research product, complete with bibliographic citations, with direction from both the classroom teacher and the library media specialist.

Sixth graders will be expected to seek information related to personal interests and evaluate information and information sources according to given criteria. Some sixth grade students earn service hours by volunteering their assistance after school shelving books or performing other housekeeping duties for the library media specialist.

Students on the sixth grade level will read the Golden Sower nominated books independently. Those students who read at least five of the ten nominees will be eligible to participate in the Golden Sower vote in April. For information about the Golden Sower, Nebraska's Children's Choice Book Award, visit the Golden Sower website.