Campus Center Library
Where books are just the beginning…
The school library media program is not only integral to and supportive of the school curriculum, but also provides a mechanism for choice and exploration beyond the prescribed course of study. The Saint Stephen’s library media program provides a wide range of resources and information that satisfy the educational needs and interests of students.
The library program supports the curriculum by providing materials and services to all faculty, staff, and student members. Extensive additions are continually occurring to all areas of the collection: fiction and non-fiction, magazines, newspapers, and audiovisual holdings.
The Virtual Library provides an extensive selection of online sources and information to all divisions and extends the library into the classrooms and to every Saint Stephen’s community home.
The mission of the school library media program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information.
This mission is accomplished:
- by providing intellectual and physical access to materials in all formats
- by providing instruction to foster competence and stimulate interest in reading, viewing, and using information and ideas
- by working with other educators to design learning strategies to meet the needs of individual students
The library’s vision is an environment where young minds are developed to be effective decision makers, who are motivated, responsible community leaders prepared for the 21st Century.
The library is no longer just a place of books, but in addition, with the acquisition of audio-visual and technology-based materials, it has truly become a Multi-Media Resource Center.
All of the facilities are available to our students and faculty, and through their use, we hope to achieve our twofold purpose:
• to create in our students a love of literature and books
• to instruct them in the skills necessary to help them function as better independent users of the media center
Acceptable Use Policy (PDF Format)
Copyright Concerns (PDF Format)
Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines (PDF Format)
Search the Library Catalog
Our two libraries service children in four divisions. Children in Fledgling Falcons and Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 6 normally access information in the Campus Center Library, staffed by Mrs. Sarah Potwin. Children in grade 7 through to grade 12 access information in the Upper School Library Media Center, staffed by Mrs. Christina Pommer.
Children may access the library catalog from campus, from home or from anywhere an internet connection exists. Children in grades 3-4-5-6 have received barcodes which allow them to create a library account, thus giving them access to write reviews, recommend books to their classmates, place holds on desired items. This barcode also allows our children access to our ebook / audio book service, free of charge.
Welcome to our school. Please do not hesitate to ask for assistance when looking for a great book to read, researching a statistic for an essay or for help with your Accelerated Reader tests.
Let me introduce myself. I love books. I love reading. I love how independent reading has become a life long learning skill in my life. I would like to try to impart this enthusiasm to our students.
I have worked in both school as well as public libraries since August 4, 1986 (yes, I can remember my first day!). I have also worked for the National Gallery of Canada in a variety of capacities: reference, cataloging, records management, slide division.
Growing up in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada (a border town), I have held positions in both Canada as well as Northern New York State and Vermont.
In addition to having a love of children’s literature, I hold several degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts (Honors), Theory and History of Art from the University of Ottawa (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
- Master’s of Library and Information Sciences from the University of Alberta (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
- New York State, Department of Education, Public Librarian’s Professional Certificate
Besides reading to Eoin, I enjoy browsing in bookstores, hiking, canoeing, locating the nearest Starbucks and cheering on the Montreal Canadians. Eoin’s current favorite book is Biscuit by Capucilli, as that it contains many of the new site words he is learning. I wish that all newly purchased refrigerators should come equipped with a lifetime supply of Cherry Garcia ice cream. I think that Tom Baker was the best Dr. Who — ever! Like many Saint Stephen’s faculty, I speak other languages: French and Italian. I love books by Avi, Will Hobbs, Gordon Korman and Anthony Horowitz. I am a Falcon through and through because my house is yellow with a green roof!
Please contact me with any questions or concerns you might have, by email spotwin@saintstephens.org or by telephone (941) 746-2121 x 533. Welcome to our Campus Center Library!
