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 welcome in the Library Learning Commons at all times, 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.