Libraries

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The libraries of Highland School support the school mission by implementing the standards of the American Association of School Librarians which help students develop the ability to:

• Inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge.

Highland LS and MS students are challenged in Library class to investigate and inquire both to satisfy their natural curiosity about the world around them and in support of their curricular research.  High school students utilize the resources of the Upper School library in support of their curriculum, as well as for gaining information about their own interests. 

• Draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations, and create new knowledge.

Highland students use library resources to gain information in order to draw their own conclusions.  Information gained is applied in varying situations and students learn that their experiences and conclusions contribute to new knowledge.  This concept is reinforced in bibliographic instruction.

• Share knowledge and participate ethically and productively as members of our democratic society.

Students practice sharing knowledge through group work and “peer review” exercises to illustrate how collaborative efforts benefit the whole.  The librarians work collaboratively with the faculty to share instruction in information seeking and research skills.

• Pursue personal and aesthetic growth.

All students are encouraged to discover new worlds through the resources in the library.  Greater awareness of their world, derived from literature, online resources, and cultural exposure, provides students a better global perspective while helping them gain self-knowledge and understanding of their place in the world. 

The Libraries support the philosophy by providing to the Highland community access, both physical and electronic, to a wide range of resources (books, multimedia, electronic databases, serials) to support academic and personal growth with staff dedicated to providing instruction and guidance in the use and application of resources and technology.

Currently, there are two libraries at Highland - the Loeb Library, serving PK-Grade 8 and the William A. Hazel Family Library for Grades 9-12. The library catalog includes the holdings of both libraries and books are exchanged between the two libraries as needed. Each librarian has administrative duties and they include collection development, bibliographic instruction, cataloguing, processing, training volunteers and student assistants, budgeting, database maintenance (patrons, circulation, resources), and book displays.

Collection development is constant and ongoing in each library and is the task of the librarian for that particular library. Each library is considered "full service" - so anything that is needed to promote reading, academics, special events, or faculty needs is considered and included in that library's resources. Interlibrary loans are seldom necessary. Collection development involves keeping up to date with current best sellers and award winners and continually checking the collection to make sure it answers all of the resource needs of the students, teachers and faculty. Many venues are used for collection development, such as the library software vendor's (Follet) "Titlewave" process, the internet and keeping ahead of catalogs and other resources that come in daily. At the end of each school year, each library conducts an inventory.

The Loeb Library holds two books fairs each year, Fall and Spring. Students in K-Grade 4 participate in an Accelerated Reader program conducted via the library. The library also supports the Battle of the Books programs for two divisions (Junior Division for Grades 4 and 5 and Senior Division for Grades 6-8) and the National Education Association's "Read Across America" program. This program is a reading celebration that takes place on March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. There are 1-2 author visits each year.

The Upper School library is a 5,500-square-foot facility with approximately 8,300 volumes, 20 magazine subscriptions, and four newspaper subscriptions serving Grades 9-12 and the faculty/staff of Highland's Upper School. An ongoing program, Brooke's Books, is dedicated to the memory of a former student. The overall function of this program is to receive recommendations of favorite books from faculty, staff, parents, and students. These books are then purchased and the information about who recommended the book and why is added to the copy. The library participates (with at least book and bulletin board displays) in other Upper School or school wide programs, such as "International Week," visiting authors and monthly themes (i.e. African American History month or Valentine's Day).