Brookwood School It Starts Here.

The school library of today functions far differently than it did even 10 years ago. Advances in technology have made information more accessible to our students, and the library has moved from providing a resource rooted in print to one that includes all forms of media. At Brookwood, students and faculty can access the library’s web-based catalog and databases from the many computers in the school and beyond the school’s physical location and hours, as well. Nevertheless, the library’s strongest asset continues to be its commitment to fostering a love of reading through its literacy and library programs.

Beginning in Pre-Kindergarten and continuing through the fifth grade, Brookwood students enjoy weekly library classes in both the Shlopak and Eleanor DiCroce Libraries. These classes focus on literature appreciation, and students are encouraged to read widely. In addition, students learn the layout and organization of the library, as well as the skills necessary to locate materials for pleasure reading and research needs. Upper School students have very frequent access to the library. They select books for pleasure reading, come with their classes for specific learning experiences, such as becoming familiar with a web-based bibliography tool, or seek help with research. The development of information management skills begins with our youngest students as they learn to ask a question to solve an information problem. The research process becomes more sophisticated as students move through Brookwood, but the core skills remain the same - defining the information needed and the possible sources of information, locating those sources, engaging with the information and extracting meaning, synthesizing and organizing information in a final product, and, finally, reflecting about the research process.

The library’s 18 computers, LCD projector and comfortable seating areas facilitate learning. The 15,000-volume collection offers a broad selection of picture books, I Can Read titles, early chapter books, biographies, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, reference, audio CDs, newspapers and magazines for students, faculty, and the interns from Lesley University. Other library resources include the Bennett H. Stayman Professional Collection for parents and faculty, the Dan & Susan Wise Family Collection reflecting cultures around the world, and the Cotreau Family Collection which enhances the library's social studies materials. Above all, the collection is a learning collection; the nonfiction materials are up-to-date, relevant and developed with a constant eye to current curriculum.

In collaboration with the Language Arts program, the library sponsors Brookwood’s One School, One Book program. In its eighth year, the program aims to create a culture of reading by bringing the community together around one simple but provocative book. The school-wide experience builds unity, invites examination of shared and divergent values, and generates excitement about reading and writing. Favorite One School, One Book titles include David McPhail’s Mole Music, Bernard Waber’s Courage, Carmen Lomas Garza’s Family Pictures/ Cuadros de Familia, and Virginia Lee Burton’s classic The Little House, among others.

In addition, the library enriches its program for students by inviting leading authors and illustrators to Brookwood. Grace Lin, Paul Janezcko, Loree Griffin Burns, Greg Tang, Janet Wong, G. Brian Karas and Brookwood alumna Amy MacDonald are some talents who have worked with the students at Brookwood.

Ultimately, the library seeks to develop students who make and generate connections within the immediate community, as well as the global environment. From its broad selection of literature to its access to quality, web-based information, the library’s diverse collections and resources offer students the opportunity to expand their perspectives.

Library Curricular Goals
In general, the Library Department seeks to have Brookwood students:

• Understand library layout and procedures
• Expand knowledge of literature; read a wide variety of genres
• Develop information management skills
• Gather and use information to gain knowledge, solve problems and support positions
• Recognize reading as a lifelong pursuit

Grade Level Curricular Goals and Focal Points
At each respective grade level, our goal is to have students:

Pre-Kindergarten:

• Understand and enjoy stories of various types and lengths
• Locate a book with assistance
• Acquire information through observation and listening
• Locate the early section of the library
• Begin to understand the responsibility of book care, borrowing and returning books and materials

Kindergarten:

• Listen to literature for pleasure and information
• Appreciate title as a clue to a book’s content
• Use illustrations to acquire a greater understanding of the story
• Verbalize a story by interpreting the pictures in a book
• Begin to locate a self-selected book in the library
• Begin to recognize the difference between fiction and non-fiction
• Ask relevant questions

Grade One:

• Understand and enjoy stories
• Be exposed to a variety of genres (folk and fairy tales, I Can Read, biographies, early fiction and nonfiction)
• Understand the difference between an author and an illustrator
• Engage in author studies
• Recognize that library materials have a specific arrangement
• Locate information in nonfiction books
• Sort information in meaningful ways
• Begin to articulate orally a simple citation (author and title) to indicate an information source
• Identify parts of a book: cover, title and end pages
• Begin to use checkout and return procedures properly

Grade Two:

• Use library collection for pleasure reading
• Engage in in-depth author studies
• Begin to use author letters to locate books on the shelves
• Identify the parts of a book: spine, spine label, cover, title, page, barcode on book
• Recognize a simple citation (author and title) to indicate an information source
• Recognize and appreciate the difference between fiction and non-fiction
• Independently locate fiction and non-fiction in the library
• Begin to independently locate favorite authors’/illustrators’ books
• Sort, classify and sequence pieces of information (e.g. place events on a timeline, sort families of animals)
• Recognize when information is needed and be able to ask a question that requires information seeking
• Assist others with book selection
• Begin to locate and use the table of contents in non-fiction book
• Independently locate library staff and navigate the library’s physical space
• Understand and follow library rules and procedures

Grade Three:

• Select and enjoy chapter books
• Demonstrate awareness of literature from various cultures and genres (e.g. fairy tales, folklore, myths and legends, poetry)
• Practice making connections within literature
• Recognize basic story elements: character, setting, conflict
• Work cooperatively with others to share resources and materials
• Discuss information and ideas with others; listen well
• With assistance, list the criteria for a research assignment
• Brainstorm questions to answer in solving an information problem
• Identify, select, and locate resource materials and information on a given topic
• Write and articulate a simple citation (author and title) to indicate an information source
• Present a final product using an appropriate format: report, poster, VoiceThread, film, etc.
• Identify accurately library book arrangement

Grade Four:

• Recognize and identify various genres of literature
• Make connections among materials read, heard or viewed
• Make predictions in literature
• Identify and use parts of a book to gather information: copyright, publisher, table of contents, index, glossary, etc.
• Practice making connections within literature, as well as with words (e.g. plan a search strategy for information using key words to find the information using various sources such as a book index, library catalog, online site)
• Use the library catalog to locate information sources
• Begin to recognize there are different types of resources that can be used for different purposes: books, databases, periodicals, pre-selected websites, and reference materials (e.g. dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.)
• Participate actively in group discussions to design, develop and evaluate information products
• With assistance, consider the purpose and audience for the research product and/or presentation
• Present a final product using an appropriate format: report, poster, VoiceThread, film
• Synthesize information to organize and produce new meaning
• Understand the organization of the library

Grade Five:

• Identify and read from a variety of genres (e.g. historical, realistic, fantasy, fiction, folklore, poetry, biography, nonfiction)
• Recognize characteristic styles of various authors and illustrators
• Incorporate critical and creative thinking skills to evaluate literary elements
• Display understanding of various types of print material, of genres, and research aids
• Use the teacher-selected essential question to develop a topic focus (e.g. What book can I select that will meet the “Windows” assignment criteria?)
• Begin to evaluate relevance and validity information found
• With assistance, develop criteria for evaluating relevance of information, including authority, accuracy, objectivity, relevancy, and currency of source
• Compare and contrast information from different sources
• Begin to understand the ethical use of information; define plagiarism
• Adhere to the provisions of the Brookwood’s Acceptable Use Policy
• Collaborate with others to share information

Grades Six through Eight:

• Recognize reading as a lifelong pursuit
• Be familiar with various Internet search strategies and how to use them
• Evaluate personal research strategies, processes, and products
• Recognize and apply the ethical use of information
• Be fluent in information literacy skills when applied to authentic learning in a resource-based environment
• Understand the difference between and the uses of primary and secondary resources
• Be familiar with the library’s organization of resources