Meet our staff

Our librarian, Mrs. Michelle Unger,  is a NYS certified school library media specialist (SLMS) who obtained a Masters in Library Science in 2013 from the University of Buffalo. Mrs. Unger has library experience in the following school districts prior to joining Global Concepts: Lackawanna Schools,  East Aurora Union Free, Orchard Park Schools, Kenmore-Tonawanda Schools, and City of Tonawanda Schools, most recently as a Summer School Library Media Specialist. Prior to her library experience, she obtained a BA in Sociology from State University College at Buffalo and has worked in many private sector areas including insurance, finance, legal, retail, higher education and also owns a computer training company.

 

Additionally, we have several parent volunteers who give of their time to help out in the library on a regular basis and student library assistants in grades 4-7. 

 

Our Library

We serve approximately 40 teachers, 700 students (550 who meet once a week for library class for a total of 22 classes), have over 4,000 titles of fiction and non-fiction and circulate apprxomiately 500 materials each week. Our curriculum follows the AASL (American Association for School Librarians)  guidelines and is also aligned with Common Core.

 

Library Policies

 

Access & Checkout

All students are scheduled for a library period with their class once a week for instruction and to check out library books. In addition to the scheduled library period, students may visit the library each day from 7:30 am. - 7:45 am.  for an open checkout period.  Additionally, they may visit from 3 pm. - 3:20 pm. each day, Tuesday - Friday only. 

At the beginning of the  year, a letter will go home to parents/guardians outlining the borrowing privileges and responsibilities for each grade. Kindergarten students begin the year by checking out 1 book weekly to keep in their classrooms. It is due in 1 week and must be returned before another book may be borrowed.  In January, kindergarten students may begin checking out 1 book weekly to take home.  First grade students may check out one book for a period of 1 week and may bring them home.  Students in grades 2-6 may check out 2 books for a period of 1 week.  Books may be renewed twice.

 

 

Overdue and Lost Books

 

At GCCS, we strive to teach students to be responsible throughout the school. When a book is overdue, students are verbally reminded about the book. Fines are NOT charged for overdue books.If students have lost or misplaced a library book, they are asked to have the adults in their family help them look carefully and return materials as soon as possible. Students who lose or damage library materials will be asked to pay the replacement cost for the item.  Students with unpaid charges will have limited library checkout until the charges are paid. The librarian will have the flexibility to provide alternative ways for a financially burdened student to compensate the library for lost or damaged library materials.