Learning Commons Policies & Procedures
Our mission is to instill a love of learning in all students, to ensure equitable access to information, and to ensure that all students and staff can effectively find and use ideas and information. We strive to empower students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information. We provide curriculum support, academic and personal interest reading material, and technology access to the students, staff, and parents of the OHS community in a welcoming environment. Books, magazines, newspapers, video and DVD recordings, online databases, eBooks, audio books, networked computers, wireless laptops, flip cameras, I-pads and other equipment are available for checkout to support reference, research, and pleasure reading needs.
Learning Commons Hours: The LC is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily and is staffed by a certified Learning Commons specialist. The Learning Commons is available to students for quiet study before and after school, and during lunch. Group meetings and conferences should be held elsewhere in order to maintain the quiet study environment of the library. Late afternoon or early evening meetings and events can be scheduled by contacting the media specialist.
Class Visits and Curriculum Support: Mrs. Mustian is a certified Learning Commons specialist who is trained to select resources as well as to help staff plan how best to use those resources in support of their instruction. We are available to collaborate on any unit involving research, and to teach students how best to locate and use information. Please sign up for library visits in advance (one week is recommended). At the time you sign up, please consult with the librarian to let her know the purpose of the visit. Besides instructing students regarding the use and evaluation of resources, we will be happy to prepare an online Web Guide listing targeted databases and related websites and/or a cart of print materials on reserve for your students. Finally, we are happy to help teachers promote independent reading by presenting book talks and preparing independent reading lists. Teachers may sign up to bring a class to the library in person or by email.
Passes: During class time, up to five students may be sent to the LC on individual hall passes by any classroom teacher from any academic class. Students must sign in at the circulation desk when they arrive. Students must return to the classroom before the bell at the end of the period, and they should have their pass signed by library staff when they leave. Teachers should check passes upon student return for valid times and signatures.
Substitute Teachers: Subs should not send students to the Learning Commons without prior arrangement by the classroom teacher and media specialist. Subs are not allowed to bring classes to the LC unless prior arrangement has been made between the teacher and media specialist.
Books: Students may check out up to three library books for up to three weeks with two renewals (as long as the book is not on hold for another patron), two eBooks for one week, two audio books for one week, and one magazine for one week. Reserve books may be checked out overnight with teacher permission. A student with an overdue or lost book may not check out another book until the overdue book is returned or cost of the lost book is paid. The LC will only charges fines for lost or damaged materials. At the end of the year, students may not walk in graduation, or be exempt from any exam if they have overdue library books or fines. Faculty may check out books, videos/DVD’s, equipment, and professional resources for as long as needed during the school year. Faculty may check out reference books to their classroom to be returned the same day. All faculty items are required to be returned before leaving for summer break.
Our mission is to instill a love of learning in all students, to ensure equitable access to information, and to ensure that all students and staff can effectively find and use ideas and information. We strive to empower students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information. We provide curriculum support, academic and personal interest reading material, and technology access to the students, staff, and parents of the OHS community in a welcoming environment. Books, magazines, newspapers, video and DVD recordings, online databases, eBooks, audio books, networked computers, wireless laptops, flip cameras, I-pads and other equipment are available for checkout to support reference, research, and pleasure reading needs.
Learning Commons Hours: The LC is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily and is staffed by a certified Learning Commons specialist. The Learning Commons is available to students for quiet study before and after school, and during lunch. Group meetings and conferences should be held elsewhere in order to maintain the quiet study environment of the library. Late afternoon or early evening meetings and events can be scheduled by contacting the media specialist.
Class Visits and Curriculum Support: Mrs. Mustian is a certified Learning Commons specialist who is trained to select resources as well as to help staff plan how best to use those resources in support of their instruction. We are available to collaborate on any unit involving research, and to teach students how best to locate and use information. Please sign up for library visits in advance (one week is recommended). At the time you sign up, please consult with the librarian to let her know the purpose of the visit. Besides instructing students regarding the use and evaluation of resources, we will be happy to prepare an online Web Guide listing targeted databases and related websites and/or a cart of print materials on reserve for your students. Finally, we are happy to help teachers promote independent reading by presenting book talks and preparing independent reading lists. Teachers may sign up to bring a class to the library in person or by email.
Passes: During class time, up to five students may be sent to the LC on individual hall passes by any classroom teacher from any academic class. Students must sign in at the circulation desk when they arrive. Students must return to the classroom before the bell at the end of the period, and they should have their pass signed by library staff when they leave. Teachers should check passes upon student return for valid times and signatures.
Substitute Teachers: Subs should not send students to the Learning Commons without prior arrangement by the classroom teacher and media specialist. Subs are not allowed to bring classes to the LC unless prior arrangement has been made between the teacher and media specialist.
Books: Students may check out up to three library books for up to three weeks with two renewals (as long as the book is not on hold for another patron), two eBooks for one week, two audio books for one week, and one magazine for one week. Reserve books may be checked out overnight with teacher permission. A student with an overdue or lost book may not check out another book until the overdue book is returned or cost of the lost book is paid. The LC will only charges fines for lost or damaged materials. At the end of the year, students may not walk in graduation, or be exempt from any exam if they have overdue library books or fines. Faculty may check out books, videos/DVD’s, equipment, and professional resources for as long as needed during the school year. Faculty may check out reference books to their classroom to be returned the same day. All faculty items are required to be returned before leaving for summer break.