Library Learning Commons

Welcome to Weston High School Library Learning Commons
Library Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 AM – 3 PM

Student Quick Links

LLC

About – Library Learning Commons

A warm welcome awaits you in our spacious, comfortable, and well-equipped Commons. Here you will find an atmosphere of individualized service, with facilities designed to meet YOUR needs. Our friendly staff members consider helping you their top priority!

Mission Statement

The mission of the Weston High School Library Learning Commons is to ensure that students graduate as competent, critical and ethical users and creators of information.

Our goal is to honor the unique potential of each member of the school community and to cultivate “information literate” citizens. Upon graduation, students should be able to determine their information needs, recognize relevant information, solve problems, and effectively communicate the results of their research

WHS crest

CURRENT STAFF

Library Media Specialist – Storm Snaith
Library Paraprofessional – Jennifer Nice

OUR COLLECTION:

Reference and non-reference books, including titles for leisure reading as well as academic requirements.
Subscription databases and services geared to student needs
MP3 Audio Books
Kindles
eBooks – Reference and pleasure reading
DVDs, CDs (audio books)
Magazines and newspapers
Textbooks for use in the Commons
WHS Class Yearbook collection
Archives of school history

OUR SERVICES:

Twenty-five station computer lab
Large seminar/classroom
Small conference rooms for group study or meetings
“New Room” for collaborative work or small classes
Charging station
Desktops and laptops for Internet research and class assignments
iPads
Video and audio equipment
Small “store” for purchase of supplies
Study carrels, leisure reading areas, tables

LIBRARY LEARNING COMMONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the loan period for books and Kindles?

Reference Books: Overnight only
Non-Reference Books: 15 school days
Can I check out DVDs and CDs?

CDs and DVDs can be checked out overnight. Late fine is $1.00 per night up to a maximum of $3.00.
How many books can I check out at a time?

As many as you like.
What if I lose a book, device or material that I've borrowed?

You will then be charged for the replacement cost.
Can laptops be checked out in the Commons?

Yes. Laptops, ipads, and tablets may be checked out for in-library use only, if they have not been requested for a class.
Can residents of Weston not associated with WHS check out books?

Yes, with proper identification and during school hours.
What do you sell in the Commons "store?"

Blank CD-Rs, blank DVDs, posterboard, 3×5 index cards, report folders, AA batteries.
Can I bring food and drinks to the Commons?

No! Only bottled water is allowed. Snacks are allowed in the "New Room" only if you clean-up after you've finished!
How much do I have to pay if I return a book late?

The fine will be $3.00 for Library materials, no more no less; a fee of $3.00 will be posted to your account after the 15 school day loan period.
Can I check out magazines and newspapers?

Current issues of magazines may not be checked out. Back issues of magazines may be checked out overnight. Late fine is $1.00 per night up to a maximum of $3.00.

Newspapers may not be checked out.
Can I check out textbooks?

No. The Library has a limited number of textbooks, and these must be used in the Library.
Can I pay off my fines by helping out in the Commons?

Yes. You will receive credit (not cash) at the rate of $3.00 for every class period worked. Arrangements must be made with Library staff.
Can equipment be checked out, e.g., cameras, tripods, headphones?

Special arrangements may be made with Library staff to check out this equipment.
May I come to the Library during my quiet study period?
Yes, if the following requirements are satisfied:

You have work to do in a specific subject area.

You receive a pass from that subject area teacher.

Have your quiet study hall teacher sign the subject area teacher pass.

You check in and present pass to Library staff when you arrive in the Library.
How can I become a Library Learning Commons Aide?

First check with your guidance counselor. Then see Library Staff to obtain permission and an application.
How many items are there in the Commons collection?

Approximately 24,000.

Policies and Procedures

Student Expectations in the Library Learning Commons

Respect the rights of others to work effectively.
Computer games, food, drink (other than bottled water), and littering are not permitted.
Appropriate language only!
Show care when using all library resources.
Please return your books/materials on time.
Print only what you really need. Do not waste our limited paper resources.

Plagiarism /Academic Honesty Overview

PLAGIARISM results when you use the words and/or ideas of an author as if they were your own. When you borrow someone else’s words and ideas without giving proper credit, you are being dishonest. Plagiarism includes:

Turning in another person’s paper as your own work.
Using another person’s ideas without giving proper credit.
Copying an article from a book, journal, magazine, or electronic source and turning it in as your own. This includes pictures, graphs, charts, tables, cartoons, etc.
Using parts or part of an article from a book, magazine, journal, or electronic source without documentation to identify the original source.
Using any direct quotation(s) without citing the original source.

Any plagiarism, intentional or not, casts doubt on the honesty of all your statements.

All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work is not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior. Plagiarism is considered cheating and disciplinary action may result (see 2014-15 Handbook, ACADEMIC HONESTY/PLAGIARISM, p. 41.)

Student Guidelines for Ethical Behavior

Technology has dramatically changed the manner in which we all share ideas and information. Students now have extraordinary access to information in all its forms–text, images, sound, and video. This new access, combined with the new ease with which people can publish and broadcast, has added to the complexity of copyright issues.

At Weston we are concerned, and guide our students to behave responsibly in an electronic environment. We expect students to respect the integrity of intellectual property.

Multimedia Projects

In creating academic multimedia products, students may use the “lawfully acquired copyrighted” works of others with proper credit and citations. They may perform and display their own educational multimedia projects in the course for which they were created. They may also retain them as examples of their academic work for later personal uses such as job and college interviews.

The rule of thumb for multimedia projects is to “be conservative.” Use only small amounts of the works of others. Do not make any unnecessary copies–no more than two “use copies” and one additional back-up copy. (If a group created the project, each major contributor may make his or her own copy but only for the purpose for which the project was originally created.)

Crediting Sources

Students should credit all sources of copyrighted information with proper bibliographic citations, including author, title, publisher, and place and date of publication, URL, etc. This bibliographic information may be combined and shown in a (teacher determined) separate section of the project, for instance, a hard copy “Works Cited” or “Reference page”, or a slide at end of presentation.

If students will later use their multimedia project in another way, for example distribution on the Web, they must take steps to obtain permissions for all copyrighted portions. This should be done while the project is being developed rather than waiting until the project is completed.

Portions Used

There are very specific guidelines limiting the portions of copyrighted works students are allowed to use in a multimedia project. Portion use varies according to information format:

Text

Up to 10% or 1000 words, whichever is less, of a copyrighted work
Poems: The entire poem if less than 250 words – 250 words or less if using a longer poem
No more than 5 poems (or excerpts) of different poets, from an anthology
No more than 3 poems (or excerpts) by one poet

Music or Lyrics
Up to 10% of a copyrighted musical composition, but no more than 30 seconds from an individual musical work
Any alterations cannot change the basic melody or the fundamental character of the work

Illustrations
A photograph or illustration may be used in its entirety
No more than 5 images by an artist or photographer
No more than 10% or no more than 15 images of a collective work

Motion Media
Up to 10% of a copyrighted work or 3 minutes, whichever is less
Numerical Data Sets
Up to 10% or 2500 fields or cell entries, whichever is less, from a copyrighted database or data table

Internet (use in multimedia projects)

Care should be used in downloading material from Internet sites for use in multimedia presentations. Students should be aware that some copyrighted works have been posted to the Internet without authorization of the copyright holder. See the description of the Creative Commons on the main web page.

Integrity of the copyrighted work: alterations

Educators and students may make alterations in the portions of the copyrighted works used in an academic multimedia project only if the alterations support specific instructional objectives. All alterations must be noted.

Permission is required:
For multimedia projects used for non-educational or commercial purposes
For duplication or distribution of multimedia projects beyond limitations outlined above (posting on the Web, for example)
When distributing the project over an electronic network