Welcome! Thanks for taking a moment to read the DCHS library media center newsletter. We strive to create an inviting atmosphere that allows for quiet study/exploration, reading, creativity, and collaboration. The library team loves to collaborate with teachers in the development of engaging learning activities that support the Indiana standards, and incorporate information literacy skills and soft skills. Here is what you will find in this volume:

• Women's History Month Resources
• New: Comics Plus
• Book & Bake Update
• Solar Eclipse Prep

Find resources for communicating to students the many ways women and girls have changed the world through the power of their voices

Enjoy! 🗣 🎤🪧✍🏽

Comics Plus, powered by LibraryPass, is a digital platform offering thousands of digital comics, graphic novels and manga to readers through school, public, and academic libraries. You can access titles using a smartphone, tablet, or web browser, and can be downloaded to multiple devices. There is never a wait to read, all titles are unlimited access simultaneous use.

We are excited to bring Comics Plus to DCHS and DMS readers! We've found students of all reading levels enjoy graphic novels, comics, and Manga. These works can also be a gateway to reading for students who find full pages of text intimidating. Images reinforce text, enabling reluctant readers to decode information with more independence.

Another great feature about this service is our ability to manage what content is accessible to our readers. Providing age-appropriate materials is a primary concern for librarians, educators, and parents, and appropriateness can often be a subjective judgement that is different in every school, library system, and community. The curation process is taken very seriously, utilizing a custom set of guidelines to help determine appropriate age ranges for the content available to our readers. Review the age guidelines here.

Readers at DCHS will have access to the high school/young adult collection. Our readers at DMS will only have access to the collection specifically curated for middle school readers. We can search by specific title, category, publisher, most popular, or release date.

The short video below demonstrates how to explore titles, and read them from any device. There is an app, but it is not necessary. The app is called Library Pass.

DCHS: Students at Decatur Central may access our Comics Plus collection from the DCHS library media center website. There is an access code specifically for DCHS readers. Once the correct access code is entered, students will be prompted to create their own credentials, and then may begin reading.

DCHS access code may be acquired in the library.

DMS: Students at Decatur Middle School may access their Comics Plus collection from their DMS Learning Commons website. There is an access code specifically for DMS readers. Once the correct access code is entered, students will be prompted to create their own credentials, and then may begin reading.

DMS access code may be acquired by reaching out to Mrs. Murray at DMS.

Our final session of February wrapped up our romp through the romance genre. We made it - whew! Tweet Cute by Emma Lord was on the Indiana Eliot Rosewater nominee list for the 2022-23 school year and a great pick for our Book & Bake club. Why? First, it is a fun, rom-com with great character development which gave us plenty to discuss. It also gave us an opportunity to explore how social media is so engrained in our lives.

Secondly, the recipes in the novel are so much fun! Our main characters were duking it out on social media over a grilled cheese recipe (a.k.a. "Grandma's Special") so of course, we had to try it! It was great! (I ate too much!). We couldn't pass up making the infamous Monster Cake as well. How can you pass up an opportunity to make a combination brownie/Funfetti concoction loaded with Rolos, Reese's cups, Oreo cookies, vanilla frosting, and edible cookie dough?? (Do your teeth ache yet? 😬 ) Other recipes that have our attention from the book include Kitchen Sink Macaroons, So Sorry Blondies, I'm Sorry Lemonade, Milkshake Mash, and Where-Are-They-Now-Waffles. I need stretch pants!

Our next session will be a salute to strong women. We are reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Yes, we will be making pie. No, we will not be using Minnie's recipe. You can relax.

Want to learn more about solar eclipses in advance of the upcoming April 8 total solar eclipse? Check out the Indiana Learning Lab’s collection of solar eclipse related resources.

Check out the Indiana LearningLab HERE - create a free account and enjoy the great resources!

Email: dbeecher@decaturproud.org
Website: https://www.decaturproud.org/central-high/media-center
Location: 5251 Kentucky Avenue, Indianapolis, IN
X: @dmbeecher