Last week I was out-of-town for my son Austin's college graduation, which was of course a very proud and exciting event for me and my family. I apologize for the library being closed and for missing open house, but I hope you will forgive me under the circumstances!

This week the library is up and running at its usual pace, if not an accelerated one, due to the approaching end of the school year. Classes will be visiting the library this week and will do so next week. Classes will not be visiting the library during the partial week of June 16. The library will be closed to all patrons on June 16 for the annual "shelf-reading party," made possible through the awesome efforts of our wonderful library volunteers!

Attention parents and students: All PK library books are due no later than June 13. Please note that a hold will be placed on a student's report card due to unreturned library books. This applies to books checked out by the student or by his or her parent. Please contact me if there are any questions or concerns about library circulation. For any library materials that are lost or damaged beyond repair, payment must be made in exact change or a check payable to MBUSD.

Many parents have asked whether the Pacific library will be open this summer and… it will! MBEF has generously agreed to the funding that makes this possible. Students from any MBUSD school will be able to visit the Pacific Elementary library this summer to browse and check out books. As is the rule districtwide, a student must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult when using the library.

This week is the last meeting of the 5th-grade book club. What a great group this has been! It has been a genuine pleasure meeting with these students to discuss a novel every month. Their commitment to reading and the focus they bring to our discussions have made the club a very rewarding experience. The book club will start again in December for next year's 5th-graders. 

Finally, a note from the world beyond Pennekamp: The Kickstarter campaign to bring back Reading Rainbow has succeeded far beyond its initial goal. Opinions vary on Kickstarter and the appropriate uses of it, but personally, I am delighted to see so many people willing to support a program that put its faith not in flashy special effects but rather in exemplary children's books that enrich our experience of the real world. "Take a look, it's in a book…"

I have returned from my various travels and am looking forward to seeing a full schedule of classes this week! The class visit schedule can be viewed on this website. This week we have early dismissal on Thursday, so classes that meet Thursday afternoon are invited to visit the library at a different open time.

Library circulation policies are the same as last year. Students are permitted to check out the same number of books as their grade level; so, for example, a first-grader may take one book and a fifth-grader may take five books. Parents may check out ten books at a time. Kindergarteners are also allowed to check out one book but will not begin checking out right away. The loan period is one week, but a book may be renewed three times, for a total of four weeks.

The library volunteer schedule is filling up! Parent volunteers are still needed for the following classes: Mrs. Horowitz, Ms. Hooper, and Ms. Fletcher. Please see me or your child’s teacher to find out more about volunteering in the library.

This week the lower grades will hear stories about libraries and reading. TK/K will be working with books related to their study of the five senses. Grades 3 and 4 will be learning about the organization of the library. Grade 5 will hear a story in commemoration of Patriot Day that will also give us a chance to talk about picture books in general and literary terms.

Have you noticed how nice the library shelves are looking? We can thank the many students in grades 3, 4, and 5 who have "adopted" a shelf to maintain for this school year! Students make sure that their shelves are clean, that books are standing tall but not too tight, and that books are aligned with the front edge of the shelf. Every week students can earn a shiny star for their name tag by taking care of their shelf. Great job, students, and thanks!

Library readalouds for grades K, 1, 2, and 3 this week focus on fall, which began Saturday, September 22; distinguishing fiction from nonfiction; and finding nonfiction books in the library. DK/TK is reviewing colors and shapes. Grade 4 is building a vocabulary of "literary response" terms through discussion of The Cello of Mr. O, by Jane Cutler. Grade 5 will be hearing a Native American legend, to support their in-class work on Native American cultures as well as literary genres.

Calling all artists, readers, and library lovers--it's time for the Los Angeles County Public Library's annual bookmark contest! Entry forms are available in the public library as well as the Pennekamp Library, and can also be downloaded and printed from the public library's website. Entries are due at Pennekamp by October 26, or you can turn them in at the public library until the next day, October 27. This year's theme is "It Came from a Book!" The winning designs are made into bookmarks and distributed at public libraries throughout the coming year. Winners are honored at a city council meeting, win a prize "grab bag," and receive 50 copies of their bookmark to give to family and friends.

This Thursday, September 26, the 5th-grade book club is meeting in the library at lunch recess. Students, please come ready to discuss this month's selection: Aliens on Vacation, by Clete Barrett Smith. New members and interested observers are welcome to attend.