Welcome to Los Osos Middle School Library

Hours

Mondays 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tues - Fri 7:50 AM - 4:00 PM
unless otherwise announced.

Though the library's official closing time is 3:40 PM, students may often stay later. On rare occasions, the library is closed after school. Students are notified via bulletin notices whenever closures are scheduled.

      The Collection

  • The library has 18,963 books, videos, audio tapes, and compact discs.
  • The library subscribes to two newspapers and thirty-five magazines, and keeps thousands of back issues.
  • The library subscribes to a variety of databases via the County Office of Education's Education Technology Portal at http://www.etcportal.org. Students and staff may access these databases at any time from home or school computers. To use, log onto the portal using your regular school user name and password, choose "My Tools," and select any of the Thomson Gale resources.

 

The "Ins and Outs" of Circulation and Obligations

  • You are expected to take good care of library materials and return them on time.
  • To check out materials, take them to the circulation desk and either present your student ID card, or give your first and last name.
  • Materials are generally checked out for three weeks. Look for the due date inside the front cover of your book or video.
  • Please return library materials as soon as you have finished using them. There is no need to wait until the due date.
  • You may renew an item as often as you want, as long as no one else has a hold on it.
  • You may place holds on materials currently checked out. Do this at the circulation desk.
  • You may check out up to ten items without permission and any number above ten with permission, as long as you do not have overdue books or outstanding fines. Please ask Mrs. Rabourn or Mrs. Dornish for permission.
  • Fines are .10 a school day per item, beginning the second day the item is overdue. If you are absent on the due date, you will not be charged fines as long as you return the items the day you return to school and inform the person at the circulation desk. Do not simply drop overdue books into the return box if you have been absent.
  • Fines should be paid day the item(s) are returned or as soon as possible thereafter.
  • As a courtesy, overdue notices and fine notices are generally given out once a week in Advisory class, usually on Mondays. You are required to report lost or stolen materials to Mrs. Rabourn or Mrs. Dornish as soon as possible.
  • You are required to report damaged materials to Mrs. Rabourn or Mrs. Dornish immediately.

Collection Arrangement

Fiction books are novels, short stories, and picture books. They are arranged alphabetically by the author's last name and may be found in four places:

  • Hardback novels are in the regular fiction section near the center of the library. They have FIC (for fiction) and the first three letters of the author's last name on their spine labels. For example:

FIC 
AVI

FIC 
CAL

FIC 
CLE

FIC 
GRE

FIC 
WAL

FIC 
WRI
  • Short stories are in the wooden shelves between the magazine lounge are and the computer alcove. They have SC (for story collections) and the first three letters of the author's last name on their spine labels.

SC 
FEN

SC 
FER

SC 
GAR

SC 
TWA

SC 
WEL

SC 
YOL
  • Picture books are at the end of the encyclopedias below the workroom windows. They have E (for everybody) and the first three letters of the author's last name on their spine labels. For example:

E 
BRE

E 
DEN

E 
HAR

E 
SEU

E 
STE

E 
WAL
  • Paperback novels and a few short story collections are in the circular racks near the magazine display. They have PB (for paperback) and the first three letters of the author's last name on their spine labels.

PB 
AVI

PB 
CHR

PB 
CLE

PB 
RAW

PB 
ROW

PB 
ZIN


Classified books are mostly non-fiction (informational), but they also include fairytales, folktales, myths, legends, poems, plays, essays, cartoons, joke books, etc. Classified books and videos are located in the rear half of the library. They are arranged in numerical order from least (001) to greatest (999). These numbers represent the Dewey Decimal System. Each Dewey Decimal number stands for a subject and each one has at least 3 digits. Examples of Dewey Decimal numbers are 001.9, 292, 398.2, 423, 500, 629.1, 796.334, 811, 921, and 973.4. Classified books and videos with numbers from 001-899 are on the left side of the library; ones between 900-999 are on the right side.

On the spines of classified books and videos, you will find labels called "call numbers." Call numbers are like the book's address.  Each call number includes the Dewey Decimal number representing the topic of the book, and the first three letters of the author or editor's last name, or in the case of biographies (921), the first three letters of the last name of the person the book is about. If there is more than one book or video with the same Dewey Decimal number, they are then arranged alphabetically by the letters in the call number.  For example, the following call numbers are in correct shelf order: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

001.9

292.1

 423

 423

500

510

623.009

623.05

623.1

921

921

973.9

999

ZEL

NOR

MER

AME

STR

HAN

  SLA

 HEN

AND

LIN

PRI

DUR

CLA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference books are non-fiction books that are generally used to find information fast. They all have Dewey Decimal numbers just like the rest of the classified books. In addition, their call numbers have the letters REF above the Dewey Decimal number to let you know they are in the Reference section. Here are some of examples of Reference call numbers:

REF
030
COL

REF
423
WEB

REF
629.23
BRE

REF
973
WOR

 

The reference books are located in two areas of the library. The "ready reference" area is near the center of the library. Atlases and dictionaries are in large stands; encyclopedias are under the workroom windows.

The rest of the reference books are shelved on the back wall of the library on either side of the emergency exits. They are arranged in numerical order, from 001-899 to the left of the back doors and 900-999 to the right of the back doors.

Reference books may be checked out with permission from Mrs. Rabourn or Mrs. Dornish.

Computer Access and Technology Use Policy

There are fourteen computers in the library for student use. Four are designated as search stations for in-house materials only. The other ten computers are in an alcove. This is where students may complete assignments using a variety of software programs and the Internet (filtered). Students may also use these computers to search the library's Web-based online catalog, Web Collection Plus. This version of the catalog includes electronic access to thousands of websites pre-selected for their high-quality, relevance to curriculum, and appropriateness for students.

Students using computers are required to follow the District’s Technology Use Policy, signed by the student and his or her parent or guardian at registration. This policy states that computers are to be used for completing classroom assignments only. It spells out restrictions against e-mailing, chatting, instant messaging, game-playing, etc.

Library Expectations

Work calmly and quietly, without socializing.
Refrain from eating and drinking.
Stow backpacks on or under tables, not in aisles.
Treat library materials, equipment, and furniture with care.
Let library staff return your books to the shelves.
Return supplies to their proper places.
Sign up to use computers in the alcove and follow guidelines of Technology Use Policy.
Use recycling bins for recyclable paper only.
Use trashcans for trash only.
Push your chair in each time you get up.
Leave your area neat and clean.
Exit through the front doors only.
Ask for assistance at the circulation desk if the security alarm goes off as you exit.

Supplies

A plethora of supplies is available for student use. They are located at the end of the circulation desk. You may use colored pencils, rulers, calculators, etc., as long as you return them to the supply shelves immediately after use. You may help yourself to paper, one piece at a time. Computer diskettes may be purchased for .50 each at the circulation desk.

Handouts

To help you do research and find good books to read, Mrs. Rabourn has developed a number of handouts. Please feel free to take copies. You will find them in various places around the library.

Copier

The library has a copier for student use. It is located to the right of the entrance. Each copy costs 10 cents. The machine gives change for dollars and quarters. Please ask for assistance if you are not sure how to use the machine.

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