Worcester Academy's student population is comprised of Middle Schoolers (grades 6-8) and Upper Schoolers (grades 9-12). In addition, a part of this population includes 5-day and 7-day boarders in grades 9-12. The rest of the Academy's immediate community consists of faculty and administrators; support, maintenance, clerical, food service, housekeeping, and security staff; and resident families.
Mission
The mission of the library is to provide student-centered resources and to offer services, opportunities, and programs that promote life-long reading and inquiry.
Goals
The goals of the library are:
- To provide instruction and support to utilize the library resources creatively, independently, and responsibly,
- To provide programs that encourage the enjoyment of reading,
- To instill in everyone the appreciation of and respect for shared knowledge,
- To ensure that the reading, thinking, writing, and creative skills developed in the library provide a solid foundation for life beyond Worcester Academy, and
- To provide an inviting and comfortable environment that encourages listening to and questioning everything courteously.
Features
The library, located in Rader Hall, is part of the Information Services Department that includes the technology office located in Walker Hall. For more information about technology and teaching, click here.
Its resources consist of 18,000+ books, periodicals and newspapers, numerous subscription
databases, CDs, DVDs, and videocassettes. These are collected to support the Upper and Middle Schools' curricula for research and study and to provide its boarders with recreational reading, viewing, and listening materials. Wireless desktops and laptops, printers, copier, scanner, and headphones are available for use within the library.
Both floors allow "conversational" levels of collaboration for study and research. Two reading rooms are reserved for silent study.
A seminar room seats up to 18 people and contains tables, a projector, white board, computer, and video, CD, DVD, and tape players.
Loans & Fees
Print materials are loaned for three weeks, AV materials for one week. However, anyone can request extended loans at any time. All borrowers with overdue materials lose borrowing privileges (with the exception of technology resources) until their items are renewed or returned. Each item not returned by the end of the academic year will incur a replacement fee.
Etiquette during all hours of operation, both daytime and evening
Good manners and thoughtfulness toward others are essential everywhere on campus at all times, and in addition at the library:
- Collaboration must be kept at a "conversational" level.
- Clean up of litter is each individual's responsibility.
- Cell phones must be set to VIBRATE.
- A relaxed environment is permitted, but shoes must be kept off of all furniture.
Personal belongings are not to be left unattended, unless arrangements have been made with a librarian.
revised 11/2008 js
