Library News: December "This or That Calendar"

For December, follow along with this month's "This or That" calendar. WHHS staff voting results will be revealed each day on social media: @WestHillsLib on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. See how your preferences compare!

Staff Update: Library Book Recommendations, November Calendar, and Our Students' Interests

See information below from Suzanne Sannwald regarding library resources.

• Library Book Recommendations from Staff: I aim to update the library's print collection with high-interest, relevant books, including items requested by students and teachers. Our budget has historically been modest, which has limited the scope of yearly purchases. Fortunately, GUHSD Libraries have received a block grant that will allow us to add more library materials than usual for the next four years. I hope to inform selections based on community suggestions in addition to professional reviews, so I invite you to submit teacher and staff recommendations using the form linked above or directly to me in person or by email.

• Online Database November Calendar: November is over, but check out the calendar if you missed it. When selecting books to purchase in a print format (and, yes, students still enjoy print!), I strategically consider which resources will best complement what students can access online. For instance, the majority of academic research is conducted digitally, including through the use of our district’s online databases. Since there are so many offerings, I dedicated the November calendar linked above to highlighting various databases. Remember, I will always gladly customize guidance for your particular students and assignments.

• Our Students’ Interests: It is a privilege working in the library and getting the opportunity to learn about students’ interests both in and out of class. Most book requests come up through in-person conversations and can include everything from programming and mythology to UFC and martial arts. This year, however, I revised the library’s 9th-grade survey to find out even more about what students want to learn (see also: specific examples), as well as what they are “fans” of. After all, the more I learn about our students, the more relevant I can make the library. And, I can say without a doubt, I am always inspired when I learn more about our students and their worlds!

• December "This or That" Calendar: Thank you to all staff members who participated in the form to vote last month! See the staff voting results each day on social media: @WestHillsLib on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

Library News: Online Database November Calendar

While many students enjoy reading print books for personal inquiry and interest, the majority of academic research is conducted digitally, including use of our district’s valuable online databases. Since there are so many offerings, the library’s November calendar highlights various databases available for use both on and off campus. If you need any help with these resources, contact our WHHS Teacher Librarian Ms. Sannwald.

Staff Update: New PBS Video Collection Access and GUHSD Online Databases

The California State Library just announced adding access to the PBS Video Collection: 4th Edition as part of the California K12 Online Content Project. For on-campus access to the collection, you do not need to log in. For off-campus access, use this district username and password (you must be logged into your @guhsd.net account to view login information).

For future access, the PBS Video Collection (along with other online database resources available for GUHSD) is linked on GUHSD’s Online Databases page, which is also linked at the top of WHHS’s Library website.

Click here to read more information about the new PBS Video Collection. Also, as always,  Suzanne is happy to work with you to curate resources and/or create research and resource guidance customized for your particular students and lessons.

Staff Update: Accessibility Resources to Support Students

ITS has added a new Accessibility Tools page to the FutureForward website for students and families - these tools may be helpful for students with a variety of physical and learning needs. Please note that this district page is also linked on a new WHHS Technology Hub Accessibility Tools page that includes more guidance on Read&Write in particular since this is a one-shot tool that can help students with a variety of needs, including text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and translation. In addition, given some of our newcomer students who have very limited English fluency, there is also a new Translation Tools At-A-Glance handout linked that you may find informative.

Library News: Buy Chromebook Insurance by October 1st (August 19-30)

Purchase optional Chromebook insurance from the Finance Office or online Web Store by the October 1st deadline. For more info about plans, see futureforward.guhsd.net/insurance. Not sure if you bought a multi-year plan in the past? Log into Destiny (bit.ly/whhs-destiny), go to the "My Info" tab, and check for a previously purchased multi-year policy under the "Resources" heading. If you have more questions, contact the WHHS Library.

Staff Update: Back to School Announcements

Thank you all for allowing me to share information during the staff development days. Here is a link again to the Digital Resources for WHHS Staff slide deck. And, to save you another click, the two most requested links within the deck are to the Destiny Textbook Checkout Instructions and the Paw-some Pack Pets Submission Instructions. We've already gotten some great new pet submissions, which you can see here.

As April shared via email, we are incredibly fortunate that there are plans for GUHSD Tech to release Digital Classroom Support Packages. Since it will take time before these items are available, we will continue to swap out old "Classroom Chromebooks" (Any Samsung or Acer 720/740/731) with available stock we have of Acer 732/733s. You are welcome to drop off old devices you have in the library or email Suzanne with your request. Then, later in the year, after we receive the "Support Package" Chromebooks (another model), we can swap out devices again. While this requires extra swapping due to the timing of model retirements and new stock availability, it is a solution to ensure students have seamless access to the technology they need in your classroom since the library only has the capacity to issue loaner Chromebooks for devices being repaired. If you have any questions, reach out and we can help you figure out your individual situation and options.

 

Finally, as a reminder from Suzanne, my teaching schedule as the librarian is Periods 1-6. I open the library for student access 15 minutes before Period 1 and close 15 minutes after Period 6 (which allows me to help people at the start of 7th period). I am open throughout class periods, passing periods, and break. While closed at lunch (except for club meetings), David Thatcher is usually available to provide tech support to students at his office's Tech Help Door on the back side of the library building). Whenever he is available, he is also happy to help students at the Tech Help Door after the library closes since he works until 4:30 pm. One final note, while the library is closed during Period 7, working with teachers and classes is one of my top priorities and so I will find ways to accommodate class visits during Period 7 whenever possible. So, don't hesitate to reach out no matter what your teaching schedule may be!