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The library is open daily from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, except on Mondays and Wednesdays, when it is open until 4:30 pm. Available during all lunch hours, students can take AR tests, do homework, or check out books. Students in after school care may also choose to visit the library.
The library strives to provide a collection that is current, supports the curriculum, and reflects the needs and interests of students and faculty. The main goal of the library program is to help students develop skill and enjoyment in their reading and to develop their ability to use the library for reading and research. Faith-based content is infused in the collection and lessons. The library curriculum includes read-aloud, book talks, author studies and instruction in library organization, use of the card catalog, and research skills.
Students is grades Kinder through 5th visit the library weekly for a 45 minute story time or skills lesson, along with book check out. Middle school students visit the library for book check out with their reading teacher twice a month. K3 and K4 students from the CDC visit weekly for story time and related activities.
The library is staffed by Mrs. Joan Brooke, a licensed school librarian. The collection consists of approximately 16,000 items, including books, magazines, reference materials, audio books, DVDs and videos and bilingual materials. A professional library, containing books and periodicals, is maintained by the librarian and is located in the Staff Workroom. Desktop computers, laptops and some iPads are available for use, with full internet access and Wi-Fi. The library is fully automated for catalog and circulation using the Follett Destiny system.The library catalog link is Library Online Catalog https://olphselma.follett.destiny.com
OLPH has a subscription to World Book Online, please contact Mrs. Joan Brooke for the login and password.
The library also provides the following programs on campus:- Accelerated Reader Program – Students read and test on books to meet a grade level goal.
- The Six Flags Read to Succeed Program – Students read a total of six hours within a givien time period and earn a free ticket to Fiesta Texas
- Three book fairs (fall, early spring and late spring)
- Summer Reading Program - During the summer, the library is open two hours each day in June and on Monday and Wednesdays in July. During that time, students may check out books, take AR test, and do other reading activities. A fee is charged to participate in this program.
- The school subscribes to World Book Online and BrainPop. The main page of the Destiny Library System lists a wide variety of websites, organized by type.
- Khan Academy – Khan Academy provides a free, web-based Math program that supplements the grade level objectives. It is used as extra credit in the middle school Math classes.
- Bilingual Books – Our bilingual collections consists of approximately fifty Spanish and Spanish/English picture books available on a designated shelf in the picture book area. We also have several Spanish/English dictionaries and books on the French, German and Russian languages.
- Professional Library – The Professional Collection is housed in the teacher’s lounge. It contains several hundred books, periodicals and related items. We subscribe to a number of professional journals, including Education Week, Today’s Catholic Teacher, Catechist, Catholic Digest, The Mailbox (K-intermediate), School Library Monthly, and Teacher’s Helper (K-1). Upon arrival, these periodicals are circulated to all staff and then are stored with the Professional Collection for a period of five years.
- At least two author visits have been held in the past three years. In September 2013, Alexander London, author of three series for children, spent the entire day at OLPH. He met with students in grades 4-8 for a general discussion of his work and met with a select group of writing students to help them with their work. In March 2016, we hosted Christian author Geraldine Guagdano, whose books include Joseph’s Tory and Irene the Elephant. She held several thirty minute sessions for students in grades K-3 in which she read her books and discussed her work as a writer.