Library

Opened in October 2007, Burke’s new 5,500 square foot library is located at the center of campus and is the heart of our school.  With a collection of over 32,000 items, a new on-line catalog and circulation system, 15 computer stations with WiFi connection, ActivBoards, a Media Room with video and DVD capability, two librarians, one library assistant, a dedicated team of parent volunteers and, most importantly, a community of avid readers and researchers, the Katherine Delmar Burke School library has it all.

In addition to housing our deep and diverse collections, our library provides optimum learning spaces for students (up to three classes at a time), exhibition space for student art and a warm and welcoming place for the entire Burke’s community – students, faculty and families.

The library program runs from kindergarten through eighth grade and focuses on literature appreciation and information literacy. We work closely with individual users--students, faculty, staff and parents -- for both their recreational reading and research needs.

Lower School Curriculum

The Lower School library curriculum is designed to develop confident, competent, curious and personally connected learners, able to fully and responsibly process information and to enthusiastically appreciate literature.

All Lower School students come to the library once a week for a forty to fifty-five minute period.  In kindergarten through fourth grade, our library program focuses on information literacy and literature appreciation.  The program at each grade level is age and developmentally appropriate, integrated with the classroom curriculum, and is multicultural, meaningful and mindful of intellectual freedom.  We incorporate important teaching strategies such as guided practice, incremental steps, increasing challenge, hands-on learning, authentic assessment and integration of new abilities and understandings.

During library, students enjoy many learning experiences: hearing books read aloud; engaging in literature and research-related activities; and independent reading.  Students also select and borrow books.

Information Literacy 
From kindergarten on, students learn and practice many research skills and strategies.  They learn to: define information needs, develop search strategies, find information, use information, interpret information and evaluate research process.

In addition, our students practice social responsibility with regard to library use and research specifically to: share space and resources, engage in thoughtful and thorough independent and collaborative learning, produce original work, respect intellectual property and use electronic sources in responsible ways.

Literature Appreciation 
We work closely with all of our Lower School students to foster and develop a deep appreciation of literature.  The literary experiences in library include: reading in general—making choices and having varied literary experiences, literature—including role, quality, structures, genres, literary elements and reading and responding to text—focus on comprehension, support and interpretation.

Teacher-Librarian: Susan Faust
(415) 751-0177 ext. 311
susan.f@kdbs.org
Schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Upper School Curriculum

The Library is at the heart of the Upper School student’s experience at Burke’s. Students visit the library by class for research and library-based projects. Their classes are planned in collaboration between the school’s librarian and their subject teachers.

Fifth and Sixth Grades 
Fifth and sixth grade students are scheduled to visit the library once a week.  They select books from specific subject lists and produce written and oral book reports and creative projects.  Using a variety of print materials and electronic sources, students continue to develop their research skills, for example reading for information, note taking and bibliographic notation.  Teachers may schedule additional visits to the library for extensive projects and reports.

Seventh Grade 
Seventh grade students visit the library as needed for class projects and research. Students continue to develop their research skills and begin to demonstrate competency in the use of a variety of library materials (print and electronic). All students are encouraged to use the library for independent research and study, as well as for recreational reading.

Eighth Grade 
Eighth graders also use the library as needed for class projects, research and recreational reading. Students continue to develop and refine their research skills and with a goal of mastery in the use of print and electronic library materials. All students are encouraged to use the library for independent research and study, as well as for recreational reading.

Teacher-Librarian: Helen Wiley
(415) 751-0177 ext. 337
helen@kdbs.org