Check It Out!

🍂Fall into a great book this month! 🍂

October is one of my favorite months in the library! Cooler days are on the way, and it’s the perfect time to cozy up with a great book. We also have a month full of fun activities, contests, and reading celebrations! Explore this October edition of Check It Out!, the Straus Middle School Library Newsletter, to see what’s coming up.

Mark your calendars: The Book Fair will be on campus October 27–November 2! This is our library’s only fundraiser, and every purchase helps support experiences for our students. Book Fair proceeds fund makerspace supplies, monthly contest prizes, and reading promotions and celebrations—including Creepy Cafe!

We hope you’ll make time to visit and support our library. More information will be sent home through your student’s English class. You can also use the links below to learn how to set up an eWallet and find out when your student’s class is scheduled to shop.

Thank you for helping make the Straus Library a place where students can read, create, and connect!

Paige Fosmire
Straus Middle School Librarian
📧 Paige.Fosmire@nisd.net
📞 (210) 398-2583

Scholastic Book Fair

Click here for information about our upcoming Book Fair

The Straus Book Fair will be on campus October 27th - November 2nd. Click the button above to find out more information, preview the books that will be available at the Fair, set up an eWallet or volunteer to work at the book fair.

October Library Promotions

Monster Match Contest

Do you LOVE scary books and movies? Do you know all the monsters? If so, then the MONSTER MATCH contest presented by the Straus Library is for you! Match the monster to the BOOK it came from for a chance to win your very own scary book prize pack! All entries are due by Monday, October 26th and a winner will be drawn from the CORRECT entries on Wednesday, October 28th. Stop by the library this month to see all the monsters and try to figure out the books they came from!

Creepy Cafe Reading Challenge

There’s still time to earn your chance to attend Creepy Cafe! Read five books checked out from the Straus Library and complete a short response for each by October 23 to enter the drawing. Forty students from each grade level will win a ticket to enjoy pizza, treats, door prizes, and a Goosebumps movie during lunch on October 30! Whether you’re just getting started or finishing your fifth book, keep reading and turn in those responses. Stop by the library for details—your next great read is waiting!

Library Skills of the Month

This month’s library skills focus on using Destiny, our online library catalog. Watch the three short tutorials below to learn how to check your library account, find due dates, search by genre, and locate a book’s call number so you can find it on the shelf.

Using the Library Catalog - Check Your Account!

Click here or the picture above for a quick tutorial.

Using the Library Catalog - Search by Genre!

Click here or the picture above for a quick tutorial.

Using the Library Catalog - Locate a Book's Call Number!

Click here or the picture above for a quick tutorial.

Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day

Voices of the First Nations

The second Monday in October is observed as Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day. Stop by the library to see our display "Voices of the First Nations: Books by Native American authors featuring Native characters" and check out one of the books! You can also browse the books by clicking the picture below which will take you to this collection in our online catalog. Feel free to place one of them on hold or check it out from our library. Learn more about the history of Indigenous Peoples’ Day in this short article from Texas A&M University.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month continues through October 15! During this celebration, we recognize the histories, cultures, achievements, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Stop by the library to explore our featured books and complete the “Who Am I?” Hispanic Heritage Month challenge! All correct entries will receive a watermelon or mango chile paleta, while supplies last! Complete the contest by October 30th.

Scary Good Reads

Horror fans, rejoice: Halloween is almost here! For readers looking for titles that deliver the chills, these novels offer haunted houses, abandoned asylums, murderous trees, vengeful witches, ravenous ghouls, and one nightmare-inducing doll. These books may even have grownups checking under the bed before lights out. Check out Mrs. Fosmire’s favorites by clicking the link or image below. Each book cover in the collection links to a trailer, and students can use the library catalog to check availability. Scary Good Reads

Haunted San Antonio

Get in the Spooky Spirit!

October is the perfect time to explore the haunted history of our city. From ghostly hotels to mysterious tours, discover some of San Antonio’s most legendary haunted locations through the links below.

Sisters Grimm Tours

Check out some information from tour guides with a strong connection to the founding of San Antonio.

Haunted San Antonio Locations

Did you know about ALL of the haunted locations in San Antonio? Check some of them out here.

Menger Hotel

Have you ever visited the Menger Hotel in Downtown San Antonio? Rumor has it, the hotel is haunted. Follow these ghost hunters in the hotel. Photo by Billy Hawthorn

Join a Library Club!

Join the Book Club

Love to read, talk about books, and discover new favorites? Book Club is the perfect place to connect with other readers, explore great books, and take part in fun library activities throughout the year.

📍 Where: Straus Library
⏰ When: 8:00 AM
📅 October Meeting: Tuesday, October 6th
🗓️ After that: The 1st Tuesday of each month

Stop by the library to pick up a permission slip and join us!

Join the Library Crew

Love books and want to help out in the library? Library Crew is a great way to get involved! Crew members will help Mrs. Fosmire with shelving books, creating displays, organizing the library, and other fun behind-the-scenes library tasks.

📍 Where: Straus Library
⏰ When: Thursdays at 8:00 AM

Stop by the library to pick up a permission slip and join the crew. We’d love to have you!

📸 The Straus Library is now on Instagram!

Follow @nisdstrauslib for book recommendations, reading challenges, upcoming events, and a peek at the learning and fun happening in our library. Families and staff, join us as we celebrate our Maverick readers! 💙📚

Amazon Wish List

The Straus Library has an Amazon wish list to help us purchase supplies for our maker spaces, board games, prizes, reading incentives, and other library materials. Please do not feel obligated to purchase anything, but if you would like to donate something to the library, we are always appreciative! You can also help the library purchase some of these items by participating in our Book Fair in October, which is the library's sole fundraiser each school year.

Straus Middle School Library

Paige Fosmire, Librarian

📨Email: Paige.Fosmire@nisd.net
📍 Location: 8092 Talley Road, San Antonio, TX 78253

🌐Website:https://www.nisd.net/straus/services/library
📞Phone: (210) 398-2583

Check It Out!