Library

The Saint Bernadette Catholic School library is organized in a three-tiered (three libraries in one) system, designed to meet the needs of students and faculty, both within and outside of the classroom.

The three sections include religious materials suitable for the various age groups. Simplified tales from the Old and New Testaments, as well as picture stories of the saints are included in the primary section. Bible story collections and more detailed lives of the saints are available for the middle level students. Religious reference and resource materials for the older students and adults include a variety of standard Bible translations, The Jerome Biblical Commentary, Biblical atlases, catechisms, as well as the four-volume complete Butler’s New Lives of the Saints, and the 19-volume Catholic Encyclopedia with index and supplements.

All three sections, also, contain fiction and non-fiction: Fiction being shelved alphabetically by author’s last name; Non-fiction organized by a customized Dewey Decimal system. Complete collection numbers approximately 15,000 items available for circulation. Notable holdings include:

New items replacing dated materials, supplements for popular sections, and supporting classroom needs are added weekly to the extensive holdings of the library.

Acquisitions for the library at St Bernadette School are funded by a “New Book Fair” held in the fall, coinciding with mandatory parent-teacher conferences. A secondary source is Title VI, The Innovative Education Grant, variable in amount according to student population figure, and other legal requirements. Additional funding comes from a “Used Book Sale” in the spring, along with occasional bequests and memorial donations. Staffing and supplies are covered through the general school budget.

Students in each grade visit the library weekly, during a scheduled 30-minute class period for checking out materials for recreation reading and classroom assignments. Non-scheduled blocks of time on Mondays and Fridays provide options for additional research periods, video presentations, oral reports, demonstrations and poetry readings using the library facilities. Materials are returned on a weekly basis, with unlimited renewals, barring a posted reserve on an item. The numbers of items for an individual checkout is limited by the responsibility of the student in returning them.

The library is staffed by a team of parent and community volunteers coordinated by a paid staff specialist with a Master’s degree in Library and Information Management. Tasks performed by the library crew include:

Volunteers are always welcome, and tasks can be modified to fit the availability of the volunteers. Work is performed during the school day or Wednesday evenings (year round).

The library crew has in progress the development of a customized computer database for the purpose of catalog and cross-referencing services. When complete, this will provide a detailed record of the library’s holdings. The cross-reference service is available via the library’s computer and will be available in the future through the school’s computer lab and possibly, the school’s website.

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