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Welcome to the AISL Library & Discovery Center! The library is the center of learning and community connection and is a hub for inquiry, collaboration, creation, and literacy. We also offer a range of events, including an Author-In-Residence program, Maker Saturdays, Community Open House, and informational sessions.
Our two teacher-librarians and technology coaches collaborate with teachers to build on units of inquiry at the PYP level and units of study on the MYP and DP levels. The lessons are integrated into the curriculum in order to allow for “just in time” learning and application of information literacy skills, which include digital citizenship, source evaluation, fair use, and more.
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Essential Information Literacy Skills at AISL The AISL Library & Discovery Department follows the 21st Century Literacy Standards as set forth by the American Association of School Libraries. These four standards are below. We believe that learners use skills, resources, and tools to
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Library News |
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@AISLusaka |
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@AISLSecLib |
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In focus...
Resources
Visiting Authors
Parent Workshops
Coffee Houses
Maker Space
Special Events
Enjoying Zambia
Policies
Resources
Physical Space
Collections
Databases
LibGuides
Physical Space
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Our library, housed in one facility, serves the entire school. It is staffed by two certified teacher-librarians, one serving the primary school and one serving the secondary school. Our two library assistants help with lessons, circulation, and day-to-day operations.
We have wifi throughout the library, 4 projectors (3 with airplay), and a large charging locker for all devices. Additionally, we have several collaborative spaces, games, a conference room, and a Nespresso coffee / tea bar for our patrons. |
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Collections
Databases
Our library offers a wide range of 20+ databases & subscription services that support research and inquiry across all grade levels. We have research-oriented databases appropriate for everyone from pre-readers to the college-bound, and we also have language acquisition tools, educational games, a New York Times all-digital subscription package, audio books, lightly animated picture books, eBooks, and more.
LibGuides
We use the LibGuide platform to curate resources to support students and teachers with academic units. The resources on these guides have been hand-picked their quality and appropriateness by our librarians in collaboration with teachers. Our school currently has 72 easily-searchable LibGuides and a Virtual Library for both the primary school and the secondary school (password available upon request).
Holiday Learning LibGuide
Are you or your son / daughter looking for some great recommended reads over the holiday? Would you like your son or daughter to participate in The New York Times summer reading challenge? Are you looking forward to finally having a bit more time to practice another world language? Or are you trying to help your son or daughter find some high-quality on-line resources for continued learning, coding activities, tutorials, podcasts, or more? If your answer to any of these questions is "yes," please check out our Secondary Holiday Learning Libguide. It includes an array of resources that will provide many hours of fun & learning!
Visiting Authors
Our library also hosts world-renowned visiting authors annually, usually one for the primary school and one for the secondary school. Past authors have included Michael Salinger, Sarah Holbrook, John Coy, David Biedrzycki, Erica Perle, and Nick Toczek, among others. These authors work directly with students in small groups and share their writing at all-school assemblies. Our librarians also bring in guest speakers (in person or via Skype) to further support teachers’ units of inquiry on the primary level and MYP / DP units on the secondary level.
Samm Farai
Erica Perle
Nick Toczek
David Biedrzycki
Sarah Holbrook
Michael Salinger
Samm Farai
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Mr. Farai, also known as Comrade Fatso, is a renowned stand-up comedian, poet, song-writer, and is also the producer of the satirical news show Zambezi News (a bit like The Daily Show). He was recognized as the 2016 Comedian of the Year at the African Entertainment Awards (USA) & was chosen as one of the Top 60 Emerging Young African Democracy Leaders at the 2015 World Movement for Democracy Awards (USA).
Mr. Farai worked with our secondary students, exploring using humor as a weapon, writing political satire, sharpening public speaking skills, and more. |
Erica Perle
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Erica S. Perl is an award winning children's book author. Her new middle grade novel, Aces Wild, is a companion to When Life Gives You O.J., which was named a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Older Readers, an Amazon Editors’ Best Book of the Month, and a finalist for the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award and the Rhode Island Children’s Choice Book Award).
Erica is the author of Dotty (illustrated by Julia Denos), which is perfect for back-to-school and has been called "a charmer" (Kirkus Reviews) and "an unadulterated delight" (Publishers Weekly). She is also the author of Chicken Butt! (now available in plush from Merrymakers!), Chicken Butt's Back!, Ninety-three In My Family and Chicken Bedtime is Really Early. |
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Dear AISL community members,
I can’t believe this wonderful week is coming to an end! I was told that the people I would meet in Zambia would be among the most kind, friendly, and generous in the world, and it has been true. I have also been impressed by the level of creativity, collaborative spirit, and sense of humor shown by the AISL primary school kids. And it has been such a joy to be immersed in a school community that so clearly values the creative process and supports student expression. I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit AISL (and Zambia), and I thank you all for welcoming me so warmly.
During the week, I visited every primary school classroom, including ELC, and I did book-based projects with students in K-5. In kindergarten, kids wrote and drew sequels to FEROCIOUS FLUFFITY. In first grade, I was treated to a presentation of COLDylocks and the Three Polar Bears and many other uniquely fractured fairy tales. In second grade, we had a “taboo” poetry slam (writing without using the most obvious words) based on DOTTY. In third grade, I met a menagerie of one-of-a-kind “practice pets” –unicorns, a giraffe, pigs, and more – inspired by WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU O.J. And in fourth and fifth grade, we did dramatic readings of many new works of capybara-centric student theater (based on THE CAPYBARA CONSPIRACY).
I wanted to leave a little gift to say thanks, so I created the attached handout. It summarizes my writing philosophy, which I emphasized with the kids all week (ask them to show you the three “Lucy rules” of writing and you’ll see). I am hoping it will be of use to kid and adult writers alike.
I can’t believe this wonderful week is coming to an end! I was told that the people I would meet in Zambia would be among the most kind, friendly, and generous in the world, and it has been true. I have also been impressed by the level of creativity, collaborative spirit, and sense of humor shown by the AISL primary school kids. And it has been such a joy to be immersed in a school community that so clearly values the creative process and supports student expression. I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit AISL (and Zambia), and I thank you all for welcoming me so warmly.
During the week, I visited every primary school classroom, including ELC, and I did book-based projects with students in K-5. In kindergarten, kids wrote and drew sequels to FEROCIOUS FLUFFITY. In first grade, I was treated to a presentation of COLDylocks and the Three Polar Bears and many other uniquely fractured fairy tales. In second grade, we had a “taboo” poetry slam (writing without using the most obvious words) based on DOTTY. In third grade, I met a menagerie of one-of-a-kind “practice pets” –unicorns, a giraffe, pigs, and more – inspired by WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU O.J. And in fourth and fifth grade, we did dramatic readings of many new works of capybara-centric student theater (based on THE CAPYBARA CONSPIRACY).
I wanted to leave a little gift to say thanks, so I created the attached handout. It summarizes my writing philosophy, which I emphasized with the kids all week (ask them to show you the three “Lucy rules” of writing and you’ll see). I am hoping it will be of use to kid and adult writers alike.
| aisl_esp_writing_tip_sheet.pdf |
Nick Toczek
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Nick Toczek is a writer and performer working variously as poet, journalist, magician, vocalist, lyricist and radio broadcaster. He founded his poetry magazine The Little Word Machine, co-founded Moseley Community Arts Festival, and toured with his music and poetry troupe, The Stereo Graffiti Show. Moving back to Bradford in 1977, he co-founded the seminal music fanzine The Wool City Rocker and formed the band Ulterior Motives, in which he was lyricist and lead vocalist.
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Since the mid-’90s, his collections of children’s poetry including ‘The Dragon Who Ate Our School’ have seen him become a best-selling children’s writer. By 2011, Toczek had worked as a visiting writer in thousands of schools, visiting dozens of countries worldwide in the course of this work. He continues to publish books and release CDs. His book on anti-Semitism, Haters, Baiters and Would-Be Dictators, will be published by Routledge in April 2015, and a collection of his best dragon poems will soon be published by Caboodle Books.
David Biedrzycki
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David Biedrzycki has been creating illustrations for book publishers, advertising agencies, magazines, and design firms since 1980. His art has graced the cover of KidSoft magazine, New England Aquarium billboards and children's software packaging, such as “The Amazon Trail” and “Odell Down Under.” He is the author/illustrator of the Ace Lacewing, Bug Detective series as well as ME AND MY DRAGON and ME AND MY DRAGON: Scared of Halloween. He also illustrated THE BEETLE ALPHABET BOOK and DORY STORY.
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Sarah Holbrook
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Sara Holbrook is a full time educator, author/poet and consultant who brings practical knowledge to the classroom helping students to develop the complex thinking and literacy skills they will need to succeed in the 21st century workplace. With over 30 years’ experience as a writer in the fields of education, law, public housing, and drug prevention, she has been teaching in classrooms around the US and abroad for over 20 years. She is also the author of more than a dozen books for children, adults and teachers as well as an award-winning performance poet. A frequent keynote speaker, she shows teachers how to use writing and oral presentation exercises in order to help raise vocabulary and other literacy skills along with comprehension through collaboration, writing and classroom performance across all grade levels and content areas.
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Michael Salinger
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Michael Salinger has been writing and performing poetry and fiction for over 25 years. In this time he has become a fixture in the performance poetry and education community performing and teaching in over 200 cities in 35 countries. His work has appeared in dozens of literary journals published across the US and Canada. His publication, Stingray , nominated for a Pushcart Prize, was published by Word Smith Press of Ann Arbor in 2007. A collection of humorous poems defining S.A.T vocabulary words titled Well Defined - Vocabulary in Rhyme is published by Boyds Mills Press. His latest collection - A Bear in the Kitchen was published by Red Giant books in 2013. He has co-authored three professional books with his partner in rhyme, Sara Holbrook.
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Parent Workshops
Balanced Tech Use
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Balanced Tech Use
- Setting boundaries regarding device use with your child
- Social media etiquette and safety
- Gaming: how much is too much?
There is no single answer to any of these questions, but together we will explore constructive ways to promote open dialogue and boundary setting with your child and family.
An overview:
- Social media etiquette and safety
- Gaming: how much is too much?
There is no single answer to any of these questions, but together we will explore constructive ways to promote open dialogue and boundary setting with your child and family.
An overview:
Be the Parent: Ultimately you are in charge; you make the decisions and you set the boundaries - you should expect your child to behave the same online & offline e.g. you would not want your child to talk to a stranger on the street; therefore, he or she should not engage with strangers online.Be involved: Monitor usage (perhaps by sharing passwords or being “friended” by your child), do spot-checks, be part of discussions - online & offline.
- Communicate: The best online safety strategy is to talk to your child. Talk about how other people around the world are dealing with social media, talk about your experiences, talk about your child's day.
- Be a role model: If you don't have a balanced lifestyle, nor will your child. If you over-use technology, so will your child.
- Educate yourself: Explore devices, try out apps (and check minimum age requirements) so you can make informed decisions to support your child.
- Promote kindness: encourage your child to think before you click/post - Is it True? Is it Helpful? Is it Inspiring? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind? Discourage meanness & gossiping.
- Avoid-oversharing: encourage your child to be selective in what they post and to whom they post - this goes for parents too!
- Think about use of spaces: you probably wouldn't play soccer in the living room; similarly, you probably wouldn't want your child to be checking their device at the dinner table. Encourage technology use in public spaces at appropriate times.
- Think of technology as another privilege you are giving your child: set guidelines with tech use as you would for anything else.
- Kids will be kids: your child will make mistakes using media. Try to handle errors with empathy and turn a mistake into a teachable moment.
- Problem solve: teach your child how to think through difficult situations for themselves.
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Additionally, we strive to uphold the following Principles of Intellectual Freedom:
- Parents have a right to determine what their own child may read or not read. They do not have a right to determine what other people’s children may read or not read.
- Library / media specialists should protect the rights of all students to read a wide variety of books across various genres, resist self-censorship (selecting or omitting materials based on one's personal preferences or projected concerns about others’ reactions to a given work), and support teachers who face challenges.
- Students should be trusted to choose books they want to read and taught that they are responsible for their own selections. When necessary, they should answer to their parents regarding those choices. (Note: given that our primary and secondary collections are housed in the same building, we DO steer students toward the appropriate zone for their particular grade level.)
Come on in and browse our display of some of the top challenged books from the past few years. You might be surprised by some of the titles you'll find on there!
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Coffee Houses
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The AISL coffee house events provide students with a relaxed, supportive platform for sharing creative forms of expression. Students will share poetry, music, stand-up comedy, drama skits, and more during the evenings. Perhaps there will be yodeler, a sword swallower, an interpretive lumberjack dancer, or a lion tamer. Imagination is our only limit.
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Maker Space
There are so many maker space activities to try on a rotating basis - here are a few of the favorites: Lego Creation Area, Wonder Wall, coloring activities, Rube Goldberg Challenges, Holiday-themed crafts & projects, Makey Do kits for creative cardboard construction and much more!
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Special Events
Computer Science Education Week
Banned Book Week
Poem in your Pocket
World Math Day
Computer Science Education Week
International Computer Science Education Week - formerly known as Hour of Code Week. The AISL Library & Discovery Center together with the AISL IT Department host several fun events during the week - some of which will be during class times, and others which will be available on a drop-by basis:
- Mystery Skype sessions
- Device Tear-Down Display (laptop, iPad, iPhone) with repairability indexes & a chance to guess which part is which along with display of computer-oriented repair tools
- Server room tours with IT staff
- 3-D printer on display printing out a project
- Libguide with Hour of Code Activities for all ages
- Makey Makey (simple circuitry- allows user to transform every day objects into musical keyboards)
- VR Glasses (bring your own iPhone to use with these)
- Parent Coffee Morning on Balanced Technology Use (Protea Room- 7:30 to 8:30 am)- for parents of students in Grades 5 & up
Banned Book Week
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Banned Book Week was begun in 1982 as the United States' book community's annual celebration of the freedom to read. At AISL, we subscribe to the spirit of the American Library Association's School Library Bill of Rights & its Freedom to Read statement.
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Kerr, Bill. “Censorship.” Flickr, Oath, 28 July 2006, www.flickr.com/photos/billkerr/200721567.
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Additionally, we strive to uphold the following Principles of Intellectual Freedom:
- Parents have a right to determine what their own child may read or not read. They do not have a right to determine what other people’s children may read or not read.
- Library / media specialists should protect the rights of all students to read a wide variety of books across various genres, resist self-censorship (selecting or omitting materials based on one's personal preferences or projected concerns about others’ reactions to a given work), and support teachers who face challenges.
- Students should be trusted to choose books they want to read and taught that they are responsible for their own selections. When necessary, they should answer to their parents regarding those choices. (Note: given that our primary and secondary collections are housed in the same building, we DO steer students toward the appropriate zone for their particular grade level.)
Come on in and browse our display of some of the top challenged books from the past few years. You might be surprised by some of the titles you'll find on there!
Poem in your Pocket
AISL students from the ELC through upper secondary participated in an array of poetry-themed activities and events last week. Students created original poems at a variety of stations spread across the library, added to our community "Home Is..." poem, and had the opportunity to share creative work at the Middle School Coffee House. Many students and community members also enjoyed sharing their "poems in their pockets" with one another.
World Math Day
Students from Kindergarten to Grade 10 participate in World Maths Day. Students answer math number knowledge questions against other students from around the world, which earn them UNICEF points. These points convert into money that directly support education programs where resources are desperately needed.
Enjoying Zambia
Getting out into the bush is a favorite past-time for many of our families. To help you make the most of your time in that incredible environment, we also have:
- A wide range of field guides
- Up-to-date travel guides for Zambia and the region
- Libguides for special attractions, like Shiwa House
- Two very knowledgeable Zambian library assistants, who are always eager to share their local expertise!
If you're heading out for some weekend adventure, keep in mind that the AISL Library & Discovery Center has some great tools to help you make the most of your time! Feel welcome to check out any of the following items:
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A trail camera with SD card: Ever wake up in the morning and see the tracks of animals that passed through in the night while you were asleep? Now you can capture images and video using our motion-activated trail camera.
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Go Pro: We have a Go Pro with a kit of attachments available for check-out. Next time you head out on the mountain bike or land a tiger fish on the Zambezi, capture the action (and maybe share it with us!) by using our Go Pro cam.
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UV Light: Did you know that scorpions glow a vibrant green-blue under UV light? A fun thing to do when you're out at night is simply to shine a UV light around until you spot a scorpion. Of course, take care not to get too close! But it is fascinating to observe.
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Policies
Resource loan period: 2 weeks
Checkouts:
Overdues:
In cases of non-payment for lost items, the school may withhold records until the matter is resolved.
Families departing AISL will need to have all library materials returned or paid for in order for records to be cleared.
Checkouts:
- Primary School Students: 4 items per student
- Secondary School Students: 6 items per student
- Parents: 10 items per parent
Overdues:
- Our library software generates a weekly overdue notice that is sent automatically to homerooms (primary school) or to the individual student (secondary school).
- Items that are two months overdue will be considered lost. A bill will be issued for these items, and 30% of the cost of the items is added to cover international shipping and processing costs.
- Students with multiple overdues will not be able to resume check-outs until those items are returned. Our staff is happy to set aside resources the student would like in a specially designated place for 24 hours to allow the student time to bring in overdue materials.
In cases of non-payment for lost items, the school may withhold records until the matter is resolved.
Families departing AISL will need to have all library materials returned or paid for in order for records to be cleared.
Ms. Maguire's bookshelf: read
 
I loved the premise of this dystopian YA novel: big pharma controls the government and all citizens must where an M-Band that tracks their pheremones and emits signals that determines a person's compatability with others. Obviously there...
It took a while for me to get into this book. I like epistolary novels, which this is, but felt like it took an inordinately long time for the plot to go anywhere or for characters to develop. The details about adjusting to college life ...
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Jill's books
I hover between a 3.5 and 4 rating. This book deals with the tough issues of grief and loss in two separate families with teens as the main characters. It peels back the layers of emotions and you feel “with” the protagonists . There is ...
A fun book of poetry that students who love bugs and dirt and science will love!
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The Team
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Opening timesMonday-Thursday: 7:10-16:30 Friday: 7:10-14:30 Saturday: 9:00-14:00 Limited school holiday hours will be posted closer to the start of each holiday. Note that we are closed every Sunday and for all Zambian holidays |
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 07:15 - 15:45 / Friday: 07:15 - 14:30
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