Vernon SchoolLibrary
Why did I get that e-mail from the library?
The Vernon library is one of the most beautiful spaces in the building. It has vaulted ceilings and windows to the eaves. More than 12,500 books crowd the bulging shelves. It oozes with bookish ambiance. It is a favorite spot for SEI after school study groups, and for staff to visit for a friendly word from the librarian.
A history of our collection
The Vernon library has been in a state of flux since we merged with Meek School several years ago. Soon after, many books from the Whitaker Middle School collection moved in, in order to prepare for a middle school program at Vernon. At the same time, a computerized cataloguing system was debuted. This required many hours of cataloguing help from a library aide and trained volunteers.
A massive "weeding" of the collection in Spring 2007 resulted in nearly 1,000 books being donated to students, community members, community organizations and nonprofits that teach English overseas. Some of the outdated science texts were donated to Collage on Alberta for use in their altered book workshops. We wanted the old, out-of-date books to be put to some use instead of being thrown into the recycling bins, and they were received with gratitude by these folks.
The spring cleaning left room for new books. New acquisitions are funded by alumni donations, book fair profits, and Powells Books' "It's for the Kids" fundraiser. The African American biography section was updated several years ago by a Portland Schools Foundation: Think grant.
It is our goal to have a vibrant, interesting collection of books, at a variety of reading levels. This will give kids the opportunity to practice the reading skills that they are learning during the school day, and to develop a love of books.
The future of the collection
The library continues to grow and change. With the addition of IB to Vernon we have been compiling lists of books to help teachers introduce kids to the IB Profile and IB Attitudes (behaviors found in successful learners). New books will need to be purchased and catalogued to support teacher designed IB units.
