WSHS Library News 10/7/26
curiosity * joy * belonging
Join us in honoring the cultural history and heritage of the Filipino American community as we celebrate and uplift all that the Filipinx American community has accomplished within the U.S. and across the globe.
This year's Fresh 50 books list is now live and the titles are flying off the shelves! These 50 titles include recently published books that were selected by WSHS students last spring. These titles include a wide range of genres and have an eye on representation both in authors' and characters' backgrounds and perspectives.
Once a student reads one of the Fresh 50 books, they can let me know their thoughts about the book via a short survey. This entry puts their name in a monthly drawing for gift cards to local businesses. Thanks to favorites like Easy Street Records, West Wings, Bakery Nouveau, Top Pot Doughnuts, Paper Boat Books, and Pegasus Books for supporting our schoolwide reading culture!
Banned Books Week is the first full week of October and was designed to inform the public about attempts to censor books in libraries, schools, and bookstores. This year is an opportunity to inform communities about the escalation in censorship and the importance of the right to read. This year’s theme is “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.” We have a lively book display in the library that is designed to get students thinking critically about censorship and the dangers it poses to an individual's freedom to read. Guiding questions include:
-what uncomfortable truths, difficult histories, or marginalized perspectives does the story share?
-what specific part of the book caused people to object, and was that content taken out of context?
-whose values or beliefs are challenged by the themes, language, or characters in this text?
The library is buzzing during lunchtime! In addition to the regular activities we have available each day (chess boards, art supplies, and puzzles), we have special events as well.
Wednesday 10/21/26 - What Do You Know Wednesday Trivia at lunch! Students are invited to compete in teams to answer quirky and random trivia questions. Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
Friday 10/30/26 - First Fresh Reads Friday! Seattle Public Library's Teen Librarian, Wally Bubelis, will be here here talking good books and checking out titles to interested folks. People can sign up for library cards as well! And I always make or purchase cookies for the readers who talk books with Wally. No pass or special permission is required- students can just show up and join in on the fun!
Your student is invited to join us next week, 10/14 from 6-8pm, at Easy Street Records for a High School Reading Night! This is an exciting opportunity to grow as readers and build community. The concept is simple-bring a book and read in the company of others! There will be prizes and discounts on food from the cafe to enjoy while reading. This is a monthly community event and is open to any high schooler in West Seattle!
Library Link is an amazing partnership between Seattle Public Library and Seattle Public Schools. All SPS students have access to free digital resources such as:
- E-books and audiobooks via Libby and Hoopla
- digital magazines and newspapers via Flipster and PressReader
- live online tutoring via Tutor.com
- SAT prep courses via Tutor.com
Library Link login info:
- Card Number: 990000 + your student ID # (find your student ID # on The Source)
- PIN: Last four digits of your student ID # (your pin used to be your 4-digit birthdate)