Library  

Hillcrest School Library

Library News January 31, 2012

Oakland Unified School District has purchased two online resources for our students to use when researching Encyclopedia Britannica & Encyclopedia Britannica e-books. Both resources are available to students online from home as well as from school. Please take a moment to look at these resources with your child. I will pass out bookmarks with instructions on how to access the resources from home as well as passwords for each site.

California Young Reader Medal

During library class this month students will hear stories nominated for this years California Young Reader Medal.

The nominees for the Primary (Grades K-3) Category are:

On Meadowview Street written and illustrated by Henry Cole. Greenwillow Books, 2007
Let's Do Nothing written and illustrated by Tony Fucile. Candlewick Press, 2009
The Odd Egg written and illustrated by Emily Gravett. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009
Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated by Florence Heide. Illustrated by Lane Smith. Schwartz & Wade Books, 2009
I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll. Illustrated by Howard McWilliam. Flashlight Press, 2009

The nominees for the Picture Books for Older Readers (Grades 4 and Up) are:

Goal! by Mina Javaherbin. Illustrated by A.G. Ford. Candlewick Press, 2010
Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Scholastic Press, 2007
Wabi Sabi written by Mark Reibstein. Illustrated by Ed Young. Little, Brown & Co., 2008

Debra Hughes, Teacher-Librarian
510 879-1275
hillcrest.library@gmail.com

Fall Hillcrest Book Fair
Dec 6 – 9, 2011

Drawing by Hillcrest parent Jerry Pierson

Tuesday	8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Wednesday	8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Thursday	8 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Friday	8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sponsored by the Hillcrest Library Committee, the popular Hillcrest Book Fair will be in the school's main hallway! This event is a fun Hillcrest tradition and is always anticipated eagerly by students, teachers, and families.

The Book Fair is the perfect place to do some holiday shopping for family and friends on your gift list while also benefitting the Hillcrest Library. The wonderful Laurel Book Store is returning to provide a large and diverse array of titles from which to choose: from board books for the smallest siblings to easy readers to chapter books for all grades to young adult fiction all the way up to adult fiction and nonfiction. The Book Fair will have it all!

We will be open the evening of December 8. Stop by before or after you and your family attend the Bay Area Children’s Theater performance of cracked up holiday tales.

We welcome suggestions, requests, and special orders prior to the Book Fair (as well as during the event). We will be happy to stock your suggestions as well as provide you with some unexpected and exciting choices.

A percentage of the proceeds from all Book Fair sales will go to the Hillcrest Library so we can continue to improve the library collection. Thanks to the Hillcrest community, last year's Book Fair was a big success and we were able to make significant additions to the library for both student and classroom use.

Please let us know if you can help out. The Book Fair would not be possible without the many fantastic Hillcrest parents who help set it up and staff it. We need volunteers to set up on December 5, operate cash registers during the fair, and close down the fair on December 9. There are short shifts available in the morning, afternoon, and evening. We need your help to make this event go smoothly! Volunteering at the Book Fair is fun -- seeing how excited the kids and parents get over the books is a blast!

Contact: Cindy Pierson

Greetings from Librarian Debra Hughes

Dear Hillcrest Families,

My name is Debra Hughes and I am your school librarian. I feel fortunate to be working as a librarian in this supportive community.

A little bit about me
I have lived in Texas, New York, Illinois, Florida and Colorado before settling in California. I recently became a librarian, but I have taught at both the elementary and middle school levels. I have a Masters Degree in Library Information Sciences with a Teacher-Librarian Media Credential.

I am married and have three children ages 21, 17 and 13. I like to travel, hike, bicycle, and read. My favorite children’s book is “Tale of Despereaux” by Kate DiCamillo.

Schedule and Goals
Classes started the week of September 13. Children in grades K-5 have a specified time to come to the library each week. During their library classes, I read a story and then students will be able to check books out of the library.

As the year goes on, I start teaching Information Literacy skills. This involves a curriculum which helps students evaluate and effectively use information sources from dictionaries to online resources. 

Your resource
I want the Hillcrest Library to be a community resource. The library will be open at lunch time and after school on Fridays from 3:00 – 3:30. Parents and children feel free to use the library during these open times.

I look forward to getting to know you and your children. Please stop by and say hello.

Sincerely,
Debra Hughes, Teacher-Librarian
510 879-1275
hillcrest.library@gmail.com