Library and Information Center

Sam Brannan's Library and Information Center is the hub of learning at Sam Brannan Middle School. Its goal is to support students in becoming independent critical thinkers, researchers, and readers. As valuable members of Sam Brannan Middle School, students are expected to be learners who are:

L egal

E thical

A ppropriate

R esponsible

N etworking

E fficient

R espectful

The Library and Information Center offers:

Multiple Media Resources

• Tom Jr. is a full-text information retrieval system which maintains a current database of periodicals. The database contains articles from the past three years and is updated monthly. Students find Tom Jr. particularly helpful when researching current issues. Tom Jr. uses a similar format to the database retrieval systems used at local high schools as well as at California State University, Sacramento (ERIC). Students will transition easily to more sophisticated retrieval systems.
• The Online Catalog has four stations which will be available for use in finding relevant books for a given research topic. Students will be able to use the same access process as they would at local public libraries.
• TheWorld Wide Web will give students access to much of the most current information and to many experts through e-mail on the Internet. Students can participate in world wide data collection projects, research obscure topics for which we do not have funds available to purchase print materials, and browse indices to get a general scope of topics for research. Students may schedule to use the Internet terminal for 15 minute intervals during class research days, before and after school, and during lunch. (Computer privileges can be revoked for inappropriate use of the technology).
• NEW TO THE LIBRARY AND INFORMATION CENTER is the Media Center with multiple internet stations.

Additions

Sam Brannan is fortunate to have extensive print resources available. Each year the collection is assessed to determine the focus for the following year's purchases. The new selections are in the areas of:

• Science
• Fiction

Future Plans

• Video Viewing Room for students to make up missed films or videos.
• Aligned curriculum for computer labs, Library & Information Center and regular classes. Classroom teachers work closely together to insure that the students have the appropriate resources available for each of their learning projects.

Hours

• Open Monday through Friday from 8:15 - 3:00.
• One lunch period daily

Rules

• Students are allowed up to three books checked out for up to three weeks. Reminders are sent out for overdue books followed by detention. Finally, if books are not returned or paid for, and detention is not served, students lose activity privileges (field trips, sports rights, dances). Fortunately, Sam Brannan students are very responsible.

Students at Sam Brannan Middle School have the unique opportunity to use facilities which are on the way to meeting the technological demands of the twenty-first century. The Library and Information Center and core teacher teams offer the students support in their educational growth process in an environment which fosters learning.