Programs
Library Learning Commons
The Open Window Library Learning Commons (LLC) provides an inviting setting where students cultivate a lifelong love of reading and become effective and ethical seekers and users of information.
The LLC supports foundational information literacy skills in kindergarten all the way through advanced research techniques in the middle school grades.
The learning commons model fosters an environment in which the LLC staff and resources are available to the community throughout the school day with ongoing collaboration with teachers that encourages the integration of literature appreciation and research skills in meaningful ways.
The LLC has a print and e-book collection and database subscriptions targeted to meet the needs of gifted readers; materials that are sufficiently challenging while still age-appropriate and engaging. We also offer extra-curricular activities such as book clubs for students and parents.
In middle school, the information literacy program covers advanced search engine techniques, creating citations, evaluating websites for quality, paraphrasing rather than plagiarizing, note-taking, outlining, and more. Information literacy instruction is integrated with humanities and science so that students learn skills that directly connect to work they are doing and can apply immediately. Students are also always welcome in the Library Learning Commons, whether they need a quiet place to work, a flexible space to collaborate, individual support with research, or just want to take a few moments to relax with a good book.
Meet our Librarian
List of 1 members.
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Lauren Richey
Library Learning Commons Director
Collection
The LLC has a print and e-book collection of more than 8,000 titles as well as database subscriptions targeted to meet the needs of gifted learners. The collection is curated with a focus on diversity of our community, student interest, and a world window. It is also curated to reflect the identities of students and peers.
Goals
The Open Window School Library Learning Commons (LLC) provides an inviting setting that focuses on three primary goals:
- Curiosity-driven information seeking
- Joyful lifelong reading
- Conscientious critical thinkers and users of information
Lower School
The lower school library program includes story time which focuses on stories to engage and cultivate curiosity in a variety of subjects and genres both fiction and nonfiction. Students are also introduced to information learning structures from navigating the catalog to using databases. A highlight for students is exploring the library during weekly checkout periods.
Middle School
The middle school library program focuses on supporting subject areas teachers, primarily humanities and science, with research skills such as search techniques, citation building, website source evaluation, paraphrasing, note taking, and more. These skills directly connect to work they are doing in classes and can be applied immediately. Middle school students have flexibility in their library visits and relish time spent with their own dedicated collection.
Open Window School
Open Window School provides a challenging academic curriculum blended with nurturing support from teachers that prepares students for long-term success.
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