BSHS 2024 October Library Update

Please read below for updates from the High School Library!

Check out these classic Stephen King horror books from Sora to make your October a little more spooky!

You still have time! Come down to the library to pick up an order form for an autographed copy of the new Ruta Septeys and Steve Sheinkin book, The Bletchley Riddle. Ruta and Steve are coming to present to our 10th grade students on October 7th, but anyone can order a copy of the book. The Bletchley Riddle is a historical adventure set in the summer of 1940 at Bletchley Park, where young codebreakers work to decipher the Nazi Enigma cipher. The story follows siblings Jakob and Lizzie Novis as they navigate the challenges of wartime secrecy while unraveling the mystery of their mother's disappearance, blending elements of history and mystery in a narrative described as "Enola Holmes meets WWII."

Come participate in our October makerspace. Make a q-tip skeleton! Get creative and build a whole family. Make an anatomically accurate skeleton with all 206 bones and show it to your science teacher! The sky is the limit! We also have a craft to make your own Halloween ornament! All supplies are provided.

New to us this year is a powerful new database for research, EBSCOhost Academic Search Elite. EBSCOhost Academic Search Elite is a comprehensive research database designed to support students by providing access to over 10,000 full-text scholarly journals and magazines across various disciplines. It offers robust search capabilities, enabling users to find peer-reviewed articles and other valuable resources efficiently. You can find EBSCOhost Academic Search Elite on Library.fyi.

The last week in September was Banned Books week. Banned Books Week is an annual event established in 1982 to raise awareness about the importance of free and open access to information, highlighting the ongoing challenges and censorship faced by various books in libraries and schools. This year's theme, "Freed Between the Lines," emphasized the liberating power of reading and encouraged communities to advocate against censorship.

The American Library Association (ALA) reported a record 4,240 unique book titles were targeted for censorship in 2023. This represents:

• A 65% increase from 2,571 unique titles targeted in 2022
• A 128% increase from 2021 numbers

The ALA documented 1,247 demands to censor library books and resources in 2023.

For more information, please check out the below links:

Pen America: https://pen.org/

The American Library Association: https://www.ala.org/

Banned Books Week: bannedbooksweek.org

All freshman English classes have been coming in the past few weeks to get a library orientation. They have been learning about the expectations and procedures, how to navigate the library, and how to access all of the resources the library provides.

Contact me if you need me to pull resources, want me to teach a lesson, are interested in some book talks, or if you want to collaborate on a multi-class project! There is nothing too big or too small.

Library Staff:

Librarian: Mrs. Gunner Moorfoot

Library Teaching Assistant: Mrs. Boudreau

Library Teaching Assistant: Mrs. Quay

Library Hours:

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 7:30-2:25

Tuesday and Thursday: 7:30-3:15

Please fill out below to request any items you want to see in the library!

220 Ballston Ave, Ballston Spa NY 12020

(518) 884-7150