PHS Library Update

March 1-31st is Women's History Month and we look forward to celebrating some of our favorite female authors and strong female characters! What started as a week long event in 1982 has since grown into a full month beginning in 1995. We spend the month of March honoring the historical and contemporary contributions women have had and continue to have on our society. Follow us on Social Media for updates!

In an effort to be available to students for a place to catch a break, print, check out books or do work, we will remain open after school until 11am for the month of March. Students should plan to sign in at the front by the hand sanitizer station AND again when they sit down.

We're so excited to be up and running again and can't wait to see everyone! Here are some commonly asked questions that have popped up over the last couple of weeks with their answers:

Why do I have to sign in to the media center? This is best practice and will continue to happen after the pandemic. Signing in allows staff to know who is in the space and utilize the sheet in the case of an emergency to account for everyone. Right now we're having you sign in at the front door AND at your table to allow for quicker and more efficient contact tracing.

Why are there so many signs up all over the media center? Signage is up all over the media center as a simple way indicating which doors are Enter/Exit, where to sign in, where it's okay to sit and how many humans may sit at any given table and reminders to remain six feet apart. They also add a nice pop of color!

Why is there 40 person maximum? To keep in line with current expectations, we're only allowed to have 40 humans in our media center at any given time. This does limit the number of lunch passes available. It's not forever.

Can I check out a book? YES! Book checkouts are a thing again! You're welcome to come by to browse the shelves and checkout whatever you'd like. Anything you see in the displays is up for grabs too! We've had so many no additions to our collection thanks to DonorsChoose, We Need Diverse Books and the Educational Excellence Foundation.

Can I return a book? Book Returns are being accepted everyday and can be placed in the large black bin in the PHS lobby or in the large black bin by the circulation desk. Please note that all books must quarantine before Mrs. Genesky can check them back in.

Can I use a desktop to work/print? Yes. You'll notice when you come in that we have blocked off every other desktop to allow for six feet apart. Please only sit where designated and wipe down your station with the provided wipes.

Can I eat in the Media Center? Not right now. The cafeteria is the designated spot on campus for you to remove your mask and eat.

Has anyone ever taught you the difference between a formal vs informal email? No? Well, take a few moments to chat through it!

A formal email is sent to a place of business, a current/future employer, potential colleges, teachers, etc. while an informal email is sent to friends or family. The tone you take, format you use and attention to detail you provide is key to making a great first impression!

We're excited to bring ACT and SAT test preparation kits to The Park! We'll start off with two ACT kits and two SAT kits to gauge interest and usage and build from there. Kits will be available to checkout from the PHS Media Center Circulation desk for 3 weeks at a time.

Each kit will come in a zipped canvas tote and include the following:

• Kaplan Study Guide
• Barron Flash Cards
• Graphing Calculator
• Timer
• Practice Tests
• Test taking tips

Rachell Genesky, MLIS

School Library Media Specialist

Plymouth High School

@rvgenesky

She/Her

Email: rachell.genesky@pccsk12.com
Website: https://sites.google.com/pccsk12.com/phsmediacenter/home
Location: Plymouth High School, N Beck Rd, Canton, MI, USA
Phone: 734-582-5616
Twitter: @LibraryMediaPHS