Library Services

Becca Todd, District Library Coordinator pile of books
2020 Bonar Street, Berkeley, CA 94702
Phone: (510) 644-4895, Fax: (510) 644-8933
beccatodd@berkeley.net

Our school libraries are bustling centers of learning, cultivating an appreciation for literature and fostering development of research skills and information literacy. Thanks to the support of the Berkeley community and the Berkeley Schools Excellence Project (BSEP), there is funding for library staffing and resources in every BUSD public school. Check us out!

Our “Read for the Record” event reading of  Llama, Llama, Red Pajama at our preschools was a rewarding experience for everyone!  More info about Read for the Record here.

Leveled Books – One of the strategies we use in the classroom to improve literacy is making sure students have books at their fingertips that are at the “just right” reading level – there are mini-libraries in every elementary classroom.  Each elementary report card indicates the reading level for students in grades K-5.  Find the book list that corresponds to your child’s reading level here.

School Site Libraries – Click here to visit our online school libraries.

The Central Media Library of videos and dvds serves all our schools.
(Call Stefany Reich-Silber at 644-6184 for borrowing protocol, or email her at stefanyreichsilber @berkeley.net.)

Cyber Savvy resources are provided to help students, families and the whole school community be safe and ethical in the digital world.

~Explore additional online resources~

Calisphere provides a world of primary sources and more–a project of  the University of California and the California Digital Library.

World Book Online Reference Center puts a virtual encyclopedia at every student’s fingertips. (Request your school’s home use password from your site library staff.)
Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos es una enciclopedia virtual escrito en espanol. (Pide la “password” para usarla desde la casa.)

InfoPeople Search Tools – going beyond Google.

~Looking for recommended literature?~

At their “Good Books” web page, the Berkeley Public Library maintains graded book lists K-8 , themed book lists for all ages and direct links to award winning titles. Our local bookstores are great places to pick up books to add to your permanent home library collection; IndieBound provides some of their recommendations.

The International Children’s Digital Library is a delightful online library of children’s books in many languages.

Every year, students throughout California vote on the best book through the California Young Reader Medal program.

Literature Links from the California Department of Education provides recommended literature databases in many genres and subject matters.

STAR reading lists are based on your child’s score on the California English-Language Arts Standards Test.

TeachingBooks.net provides brief online author videos and other resources about children’s authors and illustrators. It’s like having an author or illustrator visit your classroom or living room! Directly linked from any school computer, every BUSD family can utilize this resource from home with a simple password. Just ask your school library staff.
TC Reading Workshop (Elementary) – Resources to support the Teachers College Reading Workshop for the elementary grades.

~Standards and Guidelines for Strong School Libraries~

Model School Library Standards – The California Department of Education adopted Model School Library Standards! The entire publication is available for download from the CDE website.

The California Campaign for Strong School Libraries encourages all of us to bring the resources and higher student achievement that coincide with strong school libraries to all California school districts. More information is available here.

~Interested in supporting BUSD’s Libraries?~

Join the Friends of BUSD Libraries! It’s fun, free and oh-so-rewarding. Even if you can’t come to a meeting, we’d love to have your input. Check us out online.

Want to leisurely talk about the children’s and YA books you’re reading this summer? Check out Summer Reading 2011 – Cafe Chats.