BMS Library

Our 2009-2010 mission of the Broussard Middle Library is to enable students and teachers to become lifelong learners through effective library usage in areas of recreational reading and research techniques. The BMS library's theme is "Wild about Books," displaying this sentiment with safari decor. You are invited at any time to visit our beautiful facility!

Family Reading
This year, as a result of another Louisiana Education Foundation school impact grant, BMS is excited to invite students and parents to participate in two Family Reading Safari Nights. These events feature paired reading of books chosen by students and their parents and provided by the library. The nights will take place in mid-October. This optional free event will include AR testing, book discussions, videos of students and staff, refreshments, door prizes, and special guests. Eight book breakfasts (October, December, February, and April) will also be offered. These will feature selected novels to be discussed by students, and parents will be welcomed. More information on these events will be forthcoming.

Library Legacy
The library would like to remind the BMS family of a program called the Library Legacy project. Families are encouraged to purchase library books for BMS as living memorials to honor relatives and friends.  This is a great way to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and so forth.  We have published a list of books, all classic titles for middle grades, from which to choose. (Contact Mrs. Orgeron at school or by e-mail to request a list.)  We will place a bookplate in each donated book as a reminder of the donor and the honoree, along with the date of the donation.  To participate, make checks payable to "Broussard Middle School," and write "Library" and the title of the book and the name of the honoree on the memo line. We hope everyone will want to participate in the improvement of our book collection in this way!

AR and STAR
BMS utilizes the STAR (Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading) and AR (Accelerated Reader) Renaissance Place programs to improve reading comprehension.  At the beginning of the year, students take the STAR test to determine their reading level. The AR Renaissance Place software allows students to test on any book for which the company has a test; there are currently more than 100,000 available! Each six weeks, the library awards readers who excel in the AR program with an AR Dress Down Day; and at the end of the year, they are recognized at the Awards Day program. This recognition is based on both points (at least 20) and percentage scores (at least 85%) on tests.

Louisiana Young Reader's Choice
Our fifth-eighth graders are again encouraged to take part in the Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award contest whereby they can vote for their favorite book from a list of 15 nominees. To encourage participation, Mrs. Orgeron will give STAND dollars to students who pass AR tests on these books.  Students should have read a minimum of three of these titles to be eligible to vote; the voting each year ends February 1. See the library media specialist for a list of nominated titles.

Fundraisers
Our library fundraisers this year include collection of Campbell's and Community Coffee UPC barcodes and used computer cartridges (any kind), and pen and pencil sales. The deadline for turning in Community Coffee barcodes to homeroom teachers is January 25. Campbell's product barcodes with Campbell's Kid Logo and Community Coffee UPCs should be turned in to students' homeroom teachers. (Note that Campbell's labels are no longer accepted!)The winning homeroom will be treated to a pizza party at the end of the year, and students who turn in bulk labels can earn STAND dollars for their efforts. Used cartridges can be sent to the school library for deposit. Please solicit involvement of relatives, friends and business contacts to contribute labels and cartridges to BMS! In addition, assorted pencils are sold in the library for 25 cents each, and our pen machine dispenses pop-a-point pens for 50 cents.

Partners in Education
The library gratefully acknowledges Production Wireline and Cased Hole Services of Broussard, one of Broussard Middle's Partners in Education, for two years' donation of one book per month. The library has chosen Junior Library Guild as its source of these books. Come by the library to check out the new books tagged with a gold JLG seal and displayed in the library.

Our school is currently in need of Partners in Education for the 2009-2010 school year.  We are especially interested in businesses in the Broussard area and/or associated with students who attend our school.  Mrs. Orgeron is coordinating this effort.  If you are interested in knowing more about this program, please contact the school library at 837-6975.

More news on other library activities will follow.  If I can help you in any way, please e-mail me and I will contact you.  Thank you!