The Oak Park and River Forest High School Library monthly report for April 2011 highlights various events, purchases, and collaborations with teachers that took place during the month. Playaway audiobooks were well-received by students and helped improve comprehension. New databases were purchased for the next school year. The librarian attended several professional development events and created online resource guides for various teacher projects. Library use and database searches were also reported.

1. Oak Park and River Forest High School LibraryApril, 2011 Monthly Report

2. HighlightsNational Library Snapshot Day: A day in the life of the OPRFHS Library.

3. HighlightsNational Library Week/National School Library Month Student Center DisplayTeacher response to the Playaway collection:My students (who are often resistant readers) have greatly enjoyed the use of the Playaways in my classes…I think this helps close the reading gap for them and has proven quite beneficial in their comprehension. More importantly, their enthusiasm for the novels we have read has increased …I cannot properly express how much it has improved my classes.

4. HighlightsPurchased new databases for next year that will improve access to quality materials for teachers and students.

5. Highlights“Survival” Book Display“We Got Issues” Book Display

6. HighlightsAttended the D219 Tech Conference at Niles West HS, April 9thMet with IT Department regarding Web 2.0 library initiativesAttended the “Information Literacy Summit 2011” at Moraine Valley Community College, April 19thParticipated in Booklist’s webinar: “Superbooks: How Graphic Novels Can Save Your Library,” April 14thAttended “One Book, One Chicago “ event at CPL where Neil Gaiman spoke, April 12th

7. Collaboration (online pathfinder made for each of the following)Strimple – Playwrights Project (scripts pulled)Silver – Intro to Psych final project (books pulled)Bayer – Genome Debate (books pulled)Rosas – Junior Theme (books pulled)Farley – Genetics Glogster (books pulled)Hanson – Affirmative Action Debate (books pulled)Maloney & Noble – Junior Theme (books pulled)Stovall – Junior ThemeWalter – Life War Project (Life magazines and books pulled)Gonzalez – Picasso research and interview movies used Windows Movie Maker and flip cameras (books pulled)Fox – Junior ThemeTsilimigras / Booth – Junior ThemeAlexander – Junior ThemeWilliams – 2nd Semester Research PaperMertz – Speeches by DuBois and Washington

8. CollaborationBellamy – Book TalkStrimple – Scene Selection (scripts pulled)Collins – Drawing booksCampbell – Painting booksGoldberg – Middle East Cultures project

9. April Statistics

10. April Database Statistics (# of searches)

11. April Database Statistics (# of searches)