Hours

8:00 am to 3:30 pm daily

Librarian

Theresa Diaz
diazt@mail.muhlsdk12.org

Phone

610-921-8028, ext. 5

Library Links

Card Catalog: Click here to access the elementary center card catalog.

Featured Reader: The elementary center staff loves to read! Click here to check out the favorite titles of our current featured reader!

Muhl Medal: Click here to see the list of our school's favorite books and a picture of last year's winning class!

World Book Online: Click here to access the World Book Encyclopedia online. User name: muhlsd; Password: muhls

Favorite Author and Illustrators: Click here to link to the web pages of some of our student's favorite authors and illustrators

Program

The Muhlenberg Elementary Center library currently serves over 1,200 students and 200 faculty and staff. Every homeroom visits the library once a cycle for book exchange, and approximately 30 classes receive library instruction each cycle on a rotating basis.

A primary goal of the elementary library program is to foster a love of books and reading and create life-long readers and learners. During their scheduled library time students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade listen to and participate in telling a variety of stories. They learn about different authors, illustrators, and genres. Students in third and fourth grade are encouraged to read for pleasure and to select materials appropriate for their interests and abilities. They participate in reader’s theater, and listen to book talks and read-alouds. Special events, activities, and contests further promote the joy of reading.

The library curriculum in the primary grades also includes basic instruction in information literacy skills. Students learn about library organization, and they are exposed to a variety of sources of information, including print and non-print materials. Students in the intermediate grades build upon these information literacy skills. They learn how to locate and access materials using the computer card catalog, utilize print and non-print reference resources, and use search strategies to extract information from a variety of sources.

Collection

Students and staff have access to over 13,000 books and an extensive children’s magazine collection in the elementary center library. A professional library and audio visual collection are available for teacher use. The collection is always growing and changing as we work to support the curricular need of faculty and the current interests of our students.

Our participation in the AccessPA gives students and teachers access to the over 11 million titles of the participating schools and universities. The PowerLibrary project allows access to thousands of full text magazine and newspaper articles, a major encyclopedia, and many other electronic reference sources.

Link to Power Library from school

Link to Power Library from home

Circulation policies:

Loan period for student materials: one six-day cycle, renewals allowed

Kindergarten students: one book at a time
First Grade students: one book at a time until January, then two books
Second-Fourth Grade students: two books and one magazine

Overdues/lost books: no fines are charged at the elementary level for overdues. Students must pay for lost and damaged books.

Sponsored Activities

Muhl Medal Campaign

Each year the culminating library activity is the “Muhl Medal” campaign where the student body elects one picture book as the winner of the coveted “Muhl Medal.” Fifth grade students run the contest as each fifth grade homeroom nominates a picture book story. The students campaign for their nominated titles by creating posters, radio ads, and videos that advertise their book. Most importantly, they visit all the other classrooms to read their story aloud. On the second to last day of school, all students and teachers vote for their favorite, and on the last day of school the winner is announced. The contest creates a great deal of excitement about books and winners of the Muhl Medal are always checked out of the library!

Past winners include:

2000 Power and Glory by Emily Rodda
2001 The Dumb Bunnies by Sue Denim
2002 Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey
2003 Parts by Tedd Arnold
2004 Substitute Teacher Plans by Doug Johnson
2005 I Stink! by Kate McMullen
2006 The Night I Followed the Dog by Nina Laden
2007 Do Not Open This Book by Michaela Muntean
2008 I Ain't Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont
2009 Burger Boy by Alan Durant
2010 The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog by Mo Willems
2011 The Book That Eats People by John Perry

Book fair

The Scholastic book fair is held each year in the LGI. Students and teachers have the chance to purchase new, high interest books, and all proceeds benefit the library.

Visiting authors and assembly programs

These special events are scheduled at various times each school year as a way of promoting reading and understanding the creative process.

First grade visit to community library

All first grade students visit the Muhlenberg Community Library in April/May. They learn about the services and resources provided by the library and are given the chance to get a library card. Muhlenberg Community Library - http://www.berks.lib.pa.us/muhlenbergcl