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Library Media Center

SCHOOL THEME:  "Reading is Your Window to the World"

The Patterson LMC (Library Media Center) involves many different aspects in addition to housing books. The mission of our LMC is to encourage, promote and assist students and teachers so they can be effective and discriminating users of ideas and information, and to foster good reading habits and the use of a library for lifelong learning. In the words of Albert Einstein, “Intelligence is not the ability to store information, but to know where to find it.”

General Info
We have a flexible schedule in the LMC which means that the children may come to the library at any time during the day when it is agreeable with their classroom teacher. The library is also used as a research center by many classes.

Our library has an online automated circulation and catalog system, which the children utilize to search for materials and to check out their own books. The link to our system, Destiny, is http://destiny.ipsd.org. Children may check out two books, keep the books for one week and renew the books, if necessary. If a student needs additional books for a school project, they may also check those out.

For students who have taken ISATs (Illinois Standardized Achievement Tests) and received ISAT scores, there is a section in the reading report that gives each student’s Lexile score. This is a score that can help students find books on their reading level, based on their performance on the ISAT. Below are two links that will help parents find books that match up to the Lexile score. The first is a link directly to the Lexile site and parents can search for books based on score, student interest, and much more. Or, parents can search the Patterson site specifically with Lexile score in mind to find books they can check out from the Patterson LMC.

Computer Lab
We have a computer lab which contains 30 Dell computers, as well as two computers in each classroom and many stations in the library. Each class comes to the lab at least one time per week and students utilize the LMC computers frequently throughout the day.

Accelerated Reader
One of the programs used on a regular basis is Accelerated Reader. This is a reading incentive program, which tests children on comprehension after they have read one of the Accelerated Reader titles. The children accumulate points when they successfully pass tests and use these points to select prizes from the AR Prize Cart. The books have been organized in two ways for you - by title of the book and by reading level of the book.

Programs and Book Fairs
The LMC also sponsors the Young Author’s program which includes the Young Author Café held annually in February, as well as two book fairs. These are usually held in November and April each year.

Finally, in conclusion, I want to remind you that reading to and with your child, no matter how old they are, provides a very meaningful experience for both parents and children.