/ Programs / Enrichment Programs / Library

Library at Wilmington Montessori School

Infants and toddlers visit the library for weekly story time, learning appropriate library behavior while sitting in a group listening to stories read aloud.

Preschoolers continue honing their listening skills and begin to use the library as a resource, choosing books to borrow and the difference between fiction and non-fiction.

Kindergarteners learn how resources are organized and are introduced to alphabetizing and sequencing skills. Other library skills presented include: identifying parts of a book, learning how to "read a picture," inferring information from a visual scene, recalling favorite stories, sharing information from books with others, and understanding procedures for the library loan process.

By the end of the 6-9 program: Students understand how the resources of the library are organized using the Dewey Decimal system. They continue to apply alphabetization and sequencing skills to independently find books on a shelf by call number. students understand how to find and use a variety of reference materials (encyclopedias, atlases, dictionaries). Students are able to use the school's online library catalogue system and are introduced to additional online sources of information. Students understand concepts of print and are able to identify parts of a book (table of contents, index, and appendices).

By the end of the 9-12 program: Students can identify the important information contained within a library catalog, i.e.: publisher, date of publication, place of publication, subject headings, and Library of Congress call number. Students are then able to critically distinguish between appropriate and poor sources of information (e.g. outdated sources, biased materials and irrelevant information). Students choose sources and create bibliographies. Students use the computer lab for gathering and analyzing information and synthesize the information into a meaningful format to share with others. Students develop proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and internet research.