Library Hours: 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
The RDS library contains 13,162 titles,of which 4,500 are nonfiction, 6,000 are fiction, and the remainder picture books, easy readers, biographies and reference books. We serve 350 students, and a faculty and staff of 60.
The RDS library program is shaped to support the school curriculum, to stimulate and encourage children’s use of books for informational needs, for research assignments and for recreational and enrichment purposes. The librarian consults with teachers, staff and parents to select the books and magazines, keeping the above goals in mind.
Our program is a unique blend of fixed schedule classes and flexible scheduling. For grades Kindergarten through 5 there are regular times assigned once a week for each class to come to the library, hear stories or book talks and to obtain library skill instructions. Grade 6 comes to the library once every two weeks for book talks and for a chance to browse the collection. For grades 7-8 teachers make arrangements with the librarian to come to the library for specific research and study assignments. At these times the librarian introduces or re-familiarizes students with what materials are available and with how to use the various indexes, sources and magazine indexes. In addition, students are free to come into the library whenever teachers permit to ask for reader’s advisory help and to ask for whatever information is needed.
Finally it is important to point out that the library collection includes materials that encompass the beliefs and ideologies of the diverse groups that are represented in our school population. The collection also includes information on the many different peoples that constitute our shrinking planet so that students may begin to familiarize themselves with lifestyles and attitudes that differ from their own.
