• Description
• Hours
• Instructional Use
• Management Use
• Powerful School Library = Student Literacy
• Resources
• Staffing
• Technology

Description
Your Library Media staff welcomes you! Our staff includes: Lisa Goldberg, Library Media Teacher and Terri Glausser, Library Technician.

The Library Media Center (LMC), including the audio-visual presentation room, enjoys more than 11,000 student and teacher visits every month. More than 700 students use the Media Center on a daily basis. Torrey Pines is on a block schedule with three two-hour classes, however, the LMC schedules one-hour sessions to accommodate demand.

Hours

• The Library Media Center is open Mondays and Wednesdays, 7:15-4 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:15-6 pm, Fridays, 7:15 to 3:15 pm. Exceptions to the schedules are posted in the LMC that day. Under the block scheduling system at Torrey Pines, three two-hour classes make up each day. The Library Media Center schedules two classes per period.  

Resources
As of October 2008, there were 9 books per student in the Library Media Center (in an exemplary library, the California School Library Association's Standard and Guidelines for Strong School Libraries, 2004 ed. recommends 25+ books).  The average copyright date our the print collection is 1989 or almost 20 years old!

As of Fall 2008, the library’s online public access catalog (OPAC) is available on 37 LMC computers and networked throughout the campus.  The LMC's OPAC (also called Alexandria) is web-based and accessible from school and home, 24/7. 

Thirty-two student LMC computers and one teacher station have high speed Internet and are available throughout the day during library hours. The computers are also available before and after school for staff development workshops. 

Since 1999 the library has added more than 6,000 reference, fiction, non-fiction books and more than 2,000 DVDs, videos, art and study prints and audio CD items to the collection.  This has been possible with California State Funding, School Site Council and the continued generosity of Friends of the Library/TPHS Foundation.  At the same time, many out-of-date and inaccurate resources have been weeded.

Instructional Use
All freshmen complete an orientation of the Library Media Center through English classes. In Fall 2008, more than 500 freshmen received this introduction to the library. Students watched a student generated DVD library orientation, starring our Falcon mascot, Freddie Falcon. Students also learned the basics of using online research tools. One objective of the orientation is to make students feel comfortable using the facility. 

The Library Media Teacher reinforces concept for “focused” searches with ALL students throughout core courses. Many students come to the library with three basic myths. They are:

1. Books are unnecessary for my assignment

2. Google and Wikipedia are the best resources to use.

3. If it’s on the Internet, it's true and I can use it.

In conjunction with current assignments, we review a focused inquiry without using any of the above search engines, search in depth, use excellent, recommended websites and maximize efficiency. 

Assignments can begin with a search through OPAC to see what resources are available in the library.  An encyclopedia can also be used where a basic understanding of the topic is needed quickly. Some of our online subscriptions, such as our online catalog, (OPAC), World Book Online, Literature Resource Center, Science Resource Center, Daily Life Online also recommend evaluated websites. California Standards correlations to subjects and activities are included. Focused searching using our website is emphasized for in-depth assignments including primary, academic journals, scholarly writings and videos. Using Google and other Metasearch engines can often send students to inaccurate information and wasteful time.

All our online websites have been purchased for remote access from home free of charge. Any needed passwords students require are easily obtained from the Library Media Center. This assures access 24/7. 

Current and relevant print materials continue to be purchased for assignments. The library media teacher continues to emphasize a combination of print and non-print resources for any assignment.  In the last six years, thousands of carefully selected books have been added to the collection that are directly correlated to the school’s curriculum.

• More than 10,000 student and teacher visits are made to the Library Media Center and the AV room each month.

Management Use
Since 1987, the Library Media Center inventory and circulation have been computerized. Over the course of 20 years, upgraded management software and hardware has been purchased. All library instructional resources are searchable throughout the campus and remotely. The library technician modifies and edits MARC catalog records, preparing them for final review by the Library Media Teacher. Online subscriptions provide excellent resources for the Torrey Pines community 24/7.  As of FALL 2008, additional online resources have been added (see Research Links page).

Powerful School Library = Student Literacy
Studies continue to support the many positive correlations between student achievement and high school library programs and their staffing.  Check this link below for proof of the power of a high quality high school library on your student's literacy:

Technology
In the Library Media Center, an increased integration of technology into the curriculum is seen as a means to enhance academic performance and postsecondary success in college and the work place. The increased use of technology is a means for introducing students to a real world educational and work atmosphere that stimulates and motivates student learning and prepares them with 21th Century Skills.

Staffing
The library media staff includes a credentialed library media teacher and a library technician The library media teacher and other school faculty work collaboratively in curriculum planning and instruction.