The Library and Information Program

Using the Seattle School District-adopted "Big Six Model for Information Problem-solving Strategies" students learn ways to break down a task into manageable pieces. We work together with classroom teachers to design projects that teach students information gathering and use skills that they can apply in all areas of their lives.

We provide numerous print and electronic resources such as Compton's and World Book Encyclopedia, both print and CD-ROM-based; Encarta and Columbia Encyclopedia on CD-ROM; Microsoft Bookshelf, atlases, almanacs and Primary Search, a database of over 100 nationally-acclaimed magazines. We provide assistance in acquiring resources from remote locations via the Intenet. We maintain an up-to-date collection of materials designed to support curricular themes and literature-based reading programs.

Students may retreat to the quiet atmosphere of the LMC during recess to pursue leisure activities such as chess and other board games, computer time or research and reading.

To ensure that all students have an opportunity to explore books, every classroom has a regularly scheduled period each week for checking materials out. Students may have up to two books at a time checked out for a period of one week. (Of course, the same book can be renewed for an additional week at a time.) The flexible daily schedule has been designed to accommodate all students, staff, and parents who wish more frequent access to check out and return materials or to take advantage of "reference-only" materials that must remain in the LMC. Whenever possible, we provide guidance in the selection of materials so that students will have positive reading experiences. We encourage students to choose books that are at an appropriate level and represent a variety of subject matter and style We also offer personalized bibliographic services upon request. We promote the enjoyment of various literature genre through shared reading and booktalks. Sometimes stories are read to the students; other times previews may be shared to encourage students to discover the books on their own. "Readers' Theater" activites are often used to involve the students in acting out their own radio-type drama using scripts derived from books. We promote a variety of enrichment programs such as the "Book-It" Reading Incentive Program, "Paige Turner", Books and Bagels Reading Club, Birthday Book Bonanza Program, Young Authors' Conference, and visits by local authors who share their experiences with the students. We work with the Seattle Public Library to encourage everyone to make use of the resources available there. If students do not have a Seattle Public Library card, we can provide them with an application. (Multi-lingual applications are available.)

Thinking strategies included in the library skills program have focussed on predicting, inference, paraphrasing and "Brain Quest". Proper care of books, citation skills and locating books using the Follett Card Catalog program are also stressed.

Lawton Library Media Center maintains a website at http://www.orgsites.com/wa/lawtonlibrary, through which the world-wide community can access the latest information on our programs and activities.