Stinger's Library

St. Michael's Stinger's Library, continues to change and develop with our students. This web page will help students, staff and caregivers be made aware of the happenings and policies in our school library. Additionally, there are links to useful resources, including the Gale database and our own online Library Catalog. Our library's web page also shares information about our popularScholastic book fairs and ways you can assist the library. If you're interested in book chats/reviews and what we've been up to, please visit the In the Library section of the website to read our library's newsletters.

About our Library

Our Library Learning Commons, located centrally on the school's main floor, is a wonderful resource center for all staff, students and caregivers at St. Michael Catholic School. Our Library Learning Commons maintains a collection of over 9000 resources. Circulating items include a variety of youth fiction and non fiction, graphic novels, audio book Playaways and a parent library (available upon request). Our school's photo archives are also stored in the library.  
 

In addition to our print resources, Wellington Catholic District School Board, provides students with access to numerous electronic resources in the form of online databases and programs. Many of these are available at school or home using quick links found on our online library catalogue's (OPAC) home page.

Mrs. Brousseau, our Library Technician, is responsible for both developing and maintaining the library's collection. The Library Technician also manages the library during class library periods and break periods when students may exchange books or participate in one of St. Michael's clubs. Our Scholastic Book Fairs, are held during our September Open House and during May's Catholic Education Week. These events help keep our school full of exciting resources and EXCITED readers! 

Please contact Mr. Brousseau with any concerns, suggestions, or if you are interested in assisting the library. 

Borrowing items

All St. Michael's staff and students have the privilege to borrow library materials and access electronic resources. Loan limits may be extended at the discretion of the Library Technician and the student's teacher. If an item is recalled, it is expected that the item be returned within 2 days.

The privilege of checking out more than one item allows students to explore a variety of interests (fiction, non fiction, graphic novels, leisure, curriculum). Teachers may reduce student loan limits at their discretion. The loan limits for materials are as follows:

Grades JK - 2; may borrow 1 item for a period of 1 week

Grades 3 - 5; may borrow 2 items for a period of 2 weeks

Grades 6 - 8; may borrow 3 items for a period of 2 weeks

Materials may be renewed up to 3 times for 1 additional week. Patrons are required to bring their items into the library to be renewed.

Summer Lending Program

Students entering grades 4-8 have the opportunity to borrow 5 books from our library over the summer months. Parental permission is required to participate in the Summer Lending Program. Please visit or email the Library Tech. for your summer reading booklet [email protected]

Lost / Damaged Items

The library provides an opportunity for students to learn value and responsibility. Users are responsible for informing the Library Technician that an item is lost or damaged. Every effort will be made to locate the item within the library before requesting payment. At the discretion of the Library Technician, users may be required to replace irrevocably damaged items. The patron is responsible for either replacing the item OR providing the replacement cost of the item. The replacement amount is the cost of the item plus $1.00 for additional costs associated with reordering/cataloguing an item. Many of our items have reinforced library bindings. These are considerably more expensive than trade items and our costs are reflective of the copy item.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read/borrow ANY books in the library?

Students are encouraged to read within their reading/maturity level. There are several guidelines to choosing a "just right" book. Class teachers and the Library Technician are there to assist students in selecting appropriate items. Students wishing to borrow materials that are outside of their class reading level are required to submit a parental consent form to the Library Technician. The form designates the types of materials students may read and is available in the library.

If I let my friend borrow the book and they lost it, do I still have to pay?

Yes! You are responsible for the items you borrowed.  

Can I borrow or return a book when it is not my class' library day?

Yes! You may return your books at any time (provided they are placed in the correct basket) and you may check out books during any break that the Library Technician is available in the library. Students require teacher permission to go to the library during break periods.

If I have paid for a lost book and it is returned, do I get a refund?

Definitely! The library is very happy when books are found and money can be reimbursed.

I would like to share a specific book with my child.  May caregivers borrow items from the library?

Absolutely! Please stop by the library to borrow an item OR use our online library to reserve an item that can be sent home with the student. You will need to login into the E-library/Insignia, using your child's school board username and password. Our library also has an on-site parenting library that caregivers may explore.

If you have any questions regarding our Circulation Policy or a lost item, please contact [email protected]

Mission and Development

Our school library provides resources that support the efforts of St. Michael's staff, students and families in creating an inclusive, strength and service driven community. This mission is accomplished through:

  • providing access to a variety of print and electronic resources
  • library classes that promote literary appreciation, stimulate research ideas and develop assessment skills
  • ongoing collaboration with educators to determine suitable learning strategies that support the goals of Catholic education
 

Collection Development          

St. Michael's Catholic Elementary library, maintains a balanced collection reflective of classroom curriculums, student interests and recreational reading. The Library Technician collaborates with teachers and other educators to determine how best to support Catholic Education expectations. Teacher/student input and circulation statistics (provided by school's library catalog ) are consulted when purchasing materials. Currently, our library has more than 8400 items available. Resources are updated on an ongoing basis to keep pace with students' developing interests. 

In 2015, a large number of outdated/damaged items were removed from the resource center. This process of item removal ("weeding") is ongoing and necessary to maintain a current and appealing collection. Removing items allows space for more updated and relevant materials. St. Michael's library follows standard guidelines in deciding which materials to keep, or accept in the form of donations. The library may not retain the following:

  • items that are damaged or worn beyond repair
  • more than two copies of one title
  • items that are older than 10-15 years, content and appeal are out of date for students; some items may be retained at the Library Technician's discretion.
  • items with content, language or images unsuitable for Catholic Elementary education

In the Library

Welcome to the Stinger's Library online newsletter. Here you can find information about the goings on in the library. Which books or topics are popular, book fair action and upcoming events. Also,which read aloud books we'll be exploring, the Library Technician's reviews of some of the books we're reading from our library, and more...
 
 Search for books we have ONLINE!
Feeling rushed at the library? Want to tell others about that great or (gasp!) horrible book you read? Curious to see our most popular books? Our online library is just the place. https://wellington.insigniails.com/library/Home or click on the picture to the right.
Browse our collection's titles OR login with your board username (@wellingtoncdsb.ca is not necessary) and password to write reviews, place a book on hold or track your reading.
On the 'HOME' tab, check out the 'NEWS' section for helpful tips on how to navigate the catalog from home and find your just right book. Also, look there for opportunities to help improve our library catalog.

St. Michael's online Library Catalog

 

Feeling rushed at the library?

Want to tell others about that great or (gasp!) horrible book you read?

Curious to see our most popular books?  

Our online library is just the place!

Browse our collection's titles OR login with your board username (@wellingtoncdsb.ca is not necessary) and password to write reviews, place a book on hold or track your reading. BE SURE TO SELECT ST. MICHAEL AS THE SCHOOL. Caregivers are encouraged to place books on hold to read aloud with their little ones (and the big ones too)!

On the 'HOME' tab, check out the 'NEWS' section for helpful tips on how to navigate the catalog from home and find your just right book. Also, look there for opportunities to help improve our library catalog. The 'HOME' page looks like this:

 

Environmental Stewardship

Scholastic Book Fairs

 

Thanks to the support of our SMC community, St. Michael's Scholastic book fairs are consistently successful and highly anticipated. The Stinger's Library hosts two Scholastic book fairs each school year, during our September Family Open House and May's Catholic Education Week. For each fair our school library earns up to 60% commission on items sold. Book fair commission is used to directly benefit students - through PRIZES, classroom library gifts to teachers, and by helping to keep our library full of interesting books.  

If you are interested in assisting with a book fair, please contact our Library Tech., [email protected]

The library is especially happy to invite former students to return to assist at our fairs.

Check out some highlights and PICS from our previous Book Fairs! 

 

Scholastic Website

The Scholastic website has an abundance of activities and information regarding books and fostering a love of learning. There are options for parents and students as well as book trailers and guides. Check out the 'Books' section for the newest books.  Enjoy!

www.scholastic.ca