The Philip J. O'Neil Library  
     
  About the Library  
 
 

Ava Sigsby, Librarian
Hanover Middle School
45 Whiting Street
Hanover, MA 02339

The Hanover Middle School Library was opened in 1971, when the building was constructed. It was named the Philip J. O'Neil Library in honor of the first principal when he retired in 1994, after serving in that role for 26 years.

The library is fully integrated and networked with approximately thirty computers for teacher and student use. It houses a collection of over 11,000 books, audiotapes, videos, and DVD movies The library also houses the Channel 1 video system.

 
     
  Mission Statement  
 

The Hanover Middle School Library Media Center is committed to ensuring that students and faculty are effective users of ideas and information. The center provides an instructional program and a diverse collection of resources that enhance critical, creative, and independent thinking.
Objectives to accomplish this mission:

  • Provide physical and intellectual access to materials in varying formats, in an environment that is conducive to learning
  • Offer concerned and informed guidance in the use of library resources
  • Support the Hanover Middle School curriculum with materials and services
  • Encourage students toward effective, independent use of Library Media Center resources to foster lifelong learning
  • Collaborate and cooperate with the Library Media Centers of the Hanover elementary schools and the Hanover High School, as well as the John Curtis Free Library

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  Resources  
  The Hanover Middle School Library Media Center contains an extensive collection of materials selected and acquired specifically for its patrons, approximately 900 students in grades 5-8, and approximately 80 staff members. The print collection consists of more than 12,000 volumes. These are divided among the general collection, that is, fiction, non-fiction, and biographies that may be checked out; the reference collection which does not circulate; and the professional collection for exclusive use by the faculty. The library also subscribes to 30 magazines for use by its patrons.

The HMS Library Media Center collection contains non print items as well. There are 158 videotapes, 154 DVDs, and 82 audiotapes and CDs currently in the collection. In addition, the Library Media Center houses 30 computers for the use of faculty and students. The Library Media Center catalog may be accessed online using the Alexandria automated catalog browser. All Library Media Center computers provide word processing capability, and access to the Internet.

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  Circulation Policies and Procedures  
  The following policies are designed to encourage library patrons to make use of the Library Media Center holdings and then to return them in a timely manner so that materials are available and accessible for the most users, most of the time.

Materials must be checked out before leaving the library. A member of the Library Media Center staff will check out materials and stamp the date due on the item borrowed. If there is no Library Media Center staff available, users may check out their own materials using the "Library Signout for Books and Magazines" form on the circulation desk counter. Entries on the sign-out form must be complete and legible. Users may stamp the date due on the slip provided in items they are borrowing.

The administrative computer on the circulation desk is for the use of Library Media Center staff only.

Students may borrow no more than six items at a time from the general collection. The Library Media Center staff reserves the right to limit further the borrowing of materials in a specific topic area when those items are in demand to support classroom instruction. There is no limit to materials that may be borrowed by faculty and staff.

Loan periods are as follows:

  • Students: 14 school days (weekends and holidays are not counted)
    Material may be renewed twice if there are no holds on the items.
  • Faculty and staff: 30 school days Material may be renewed as needed until the end of the school year.

With special permission from the Library Media Center staff, students may borrow material from the reference collection. Borrowed reference material must be returned to the Library Media Center by 8:00 am the following day.

Patrons must place items they are returning in the book drop located at the end of the Library Media Center circulation desk in order for those items to be checked in and cleared from their records. Students are expected to return or renew items borrowed by the date due. Students with overdue material will not be allowed to borrow additional items until those overdue have been returned. Although overdue notices will be issued periodically by the Library Media Center staff and distributed by the homeroom teachers, borrowers are expected to keep track of their own transactions.

All patrons of the Hanover Middle School Library Media Center are expected to respect the shared ownership of the collection that they enjoy along with other students and staff of the school. Materials should be handled carefully and any damage discovered should be brought to the attention of the Library Media Center staff for repair. Patrons who lose or severely damage items from the Hanover Middle School Library Media Center will be expected to pay for the replacement of those items.

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  Patron Conduct Policy  
 

In order to create and maintain an environment that is conducive to learning, the following patron conduct is expected:

  • All rules of behavior of the Hanover Middle School will be enforced.
  • Students should have a purpose for being in the library and a quiet, productive atmosphere should prevail so that students and staff who are working will not be disturbed.
  • Disruptive noise or behavior by library patrons will result in a "friendly reminder" to correct their conduct. If a second warning is warranted, the patron may be asked to leave the Library Media Center. If behavior is extremely disruptive, the patron may be asked to leave immediately with no prior warnings.
  • Because of potentially damaging effects on costly print materials, computers, furniture, and carpeting, eating and drinking (except water) are not permitted in the Library Media Center. Food or beverages brought into the Library Media Center must remain in lunch sacks or backpacks, or will be held by the library staff until the student leaves the Library Media Center.
  • Use of the Internet in the Library Media Center will be in accordance with the Hanover Public Schools Acceptable Use Policy.

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  Services for Faculty and Staff  
  The Hanover Middle School Library Media Center differs greatly from Hanover's elementary school library media centers. The most obvious difference is size. The space is 3-4 times that of the elementary schools, the furniture is larger, and there are many more volumes. The nature of the collection is different as well. Although the Hanover Middle School collection has hundreds of volumes suitable for recreational reading, there is also an extensive reference collection and a very strong emphasis in this facility on factual support of the curricula, and on research. Consequently, the entering Grade 5 students, and older transfer students as well, will benefit from library orientation and initial instruction in using the Hanover Middle School Library Media Center resources.

The Library Media Center provides resource support for specific assignments. At the request of a classroom teacher or team, the library staff can provide a bibliography of available resources, a collection of appropriate materials on reserve in the library, or a library cart of materials checked out and delivered to the classroom. The earlier faculty members can request these services, the better they will be. With notification, the Library Media staff can forestall student frustration by providing more informed help, by placing limited resources on hold, or by borrowing material from other libraries.

The Library Media Center encourages requests for collection purchases from faculty members. These requests may be for items to be used by students or items for faculty use in the Professional Collection. Print, CD, and DVD requests can often be filled from our local library network as well, provided that notification of the need is made early enough to allow delivery.

The Library Media Center can accommodate one or two classes at a time, with their teachers, for research or other use of resources. However, class time in the Library Media Center must be scheduled with the Library Media Center staff and reserved to ensure adequate resources and staff, and to avoid conflicts with other classes. Individual students or small groups of students with a note from a faculty or staff member may use the Library Media Center whenever the space is not totally reserved for classes. Teachers who send students to the Library Media Center to take tests should hold those students to an individual honor system, as the Library Media Center staff is not always able to monitor the test-takers.

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