Mission and Vision of the Library

James Baldwin’s library welcomes student imagination and curiosity. A strong library program has many goals. It provides a safe and welcoming environment; offers a collection and programming that encourages students to read widely; fosters students who read for enjoyment; equips learners to ask questions, seek infomation, evaluate their findings, and communicate their learning in a variety of ways; and encourages students to develop their interests in a variety of genres and content areas.

Summer Reading

Keep reading all summer long! This will reinforce and grow reading abilities. Here are several resources to help you keep reading.

Principal’s Summer Reading Log kinder-2

Principal Silver’s Reading Log grades 3-5

Reading Lists

NE Librarian’s Book Recommendations

Seattle Public Librarian Erica Delavan’s Book Recommendations

Eckstein’ s list for our 5th graders who are graduating/ Eckstein library page

Visit Mercer Island’s Island Books on Mondays for reading and the program the offers free books.

School Library Journal recommends these inclusive chapter books

New York Public Library recommendations

Horn Book recommendations

HarperCollins recommendations

Chapter Book recommendations from Indigenous Reads Rising

New Books from Penguin Random House

Reading Programs

SPS Super Readers links to various summer reading programs

Third Place Books hs a summer reading program for children!

Seahawks program (log minutes for prizes, register for a mascot visit)

Best Books of 2024

School Library Journal Best Books of 2024

Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth, 2024

Publisher’s Weekly Best Books of 24 for Children

New York Public Library Best Kid’s Books of 2024

Chicago Public Library Best Books 2024 (scroll down for children’s categories)

Kirkus Best Middle Grade Books of the Year

Kirkus Best Picture Books of the Year

Seattle Public Library  access

Sora and Libby are linked on students’ Clever pages. SORA is an eBook access point for children, and this guide explains how to access it at home. This video explains how to access Seattle Public Library and its other electronic resources.

Hours

The library is open Thursday, Friday and every other Wednesday. We open on Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 and students are invited to come to the library before school starts on those days.

Books that are overdue or lost

Books are checked out for 2 weeks of school days. Fines for late books are never charged. However, we do ask families to replace books that are lost or damaged. Parents can see their students’ library book checkouts and lost book fees on the Source. Mistakes happen and times are tough- let us know if replacing lost books would constitute a hardship. Older students can keep track of their checkouts by logging in to our library website to the right. Students can browse the book collection, check to see due dates, and find research avenues there.

Media and Digital Literacy

The library teaches Media Literacy and Digital Citizenship. Library lessons will encourage children to think critically about media messages, when they engage in consuming or creating messages. Digital citizen lessons teach how to use technology in ways that are safe and kind, ethical and responsible, and balanced.

Volunteer Opportunities

The library space needs constant work, checking in returned books, shelving them, and repairing them. If you are interested in volunteering, please complete your SPS volunteer training, and let me know. We have a great volunteer group who will be glad to welcome you.

Thank you!

Jodie Purcell, James Baldwin Elementary Librarian
jkpurcell@seattleschools.org