Can I use my cell phone in the library?
Are you open during the extended day block, Block E?
Can my friends and I work together as a group in the library?
Can I print in the library?
Is there a place for silent, individual work?
Do you have old editions of magazines?
How many books can I borrow?
Can I use the library computers to play games?
Is Mr. Sexton the best teacher librarian in the history of the world?
Why is there a duck in here?
Does the duck bite?
What is a call number?
Does this library use the Dewey Decimal system?
Fiction is fake and Non-Fiction is true. Do you agree?
Does the duck have large talons?
Why can’t I find John Green books under “J”?
Do I need my Student Card to take out books?
Question:
Can I use my cell phone in the library?
Answer:
No.
The quick answer is no, but there are some exceptions.
In most cases, cell phones should not be seen in the school library.
New for September 2024, cell phone use throughout the school district is restricted to instructional purposes only.
In some cases cell phones may be used if it can be demonstrated that there is an instructional requirement.
Your cell phone can be used for access to our online catalog as you search for books and other library materials.
Question:
Are you open during the extended day block, Block E?
Answer:
Yes, the school library will be open in Block E. Ms. Maion is the Teacher Librarian during that block.
Question:
Can my friends and I work together as a group in the library?
Answer:
The main area of the library has tables for students to work together in groups. If your group needs a place to work quietly together, you are very welcome.
Question:
Can I print in the library?
Answer:
Yes. There is one printing station near the entrance. Click here to find out more
Question:
Is there a place for silent, individual work? I need a place to concentrate on my work. Is there a place that is silent where I can work with fewer distractions?
Answer:
We have a silent work area in one corner of the library. These tables are for one person only, with no talking allowed.
Question:
Do you have old editions of magazines?
Answer:
Yes, you can often find older editions of magazines on the shelves underneath the “flip up” display shelves. These can be borrowed, just as you would borrow the newer editions. You can also find discarded magazines in the discard cupboard. These discards can be taken to keep.
Question:
How many books can I borrow?
Answer:
You can borrow up to five books at a time.
Question:
Can I use the library computers to play games?
Answer:
Yes and no. First priority on the library computers is for educational use only. Students wanting to do research or work on school projects and assignments need to have access to the library computers. Also note that classes that are booked into the library have priority on the computers over drop in/study block students. At slow times, if there are free spaces and you are not disturbing anyone, you might play games.
Question:
Is Mr. Sexton the best teacher librarian in the history of the world?
Answer:
Yes.
Question:
What is with the duck?
Answer:
If by “what is with the duck?” you mean to ask “why is there a duck in the library?” all I can say is that you should ask him yourself. His name is Buck. Buck the Duck. Buck the Library Duck. You can also check out his blog by clicking here.
Question:
Does the duck bite?
Answer:
If you continue to refer to him as “the duck” instead of using his name, “Buck,” then I would suggest that Buck will not be gentle with you.
Question:
What is a call number?
Answer:
In a library, the call number is like the “address” of the book. Call numbers let you know where you can find the book on the shelves. Call numbers are in the catalog information and are found on the spine labels of books.
Question:
Does this library use the Dewey Decimal system or the Library of Congress system, or another system for classifying and cataloging library materials?
Answer:
We are so impressed by that question! For most of our collection we use the Dewey Decimal system. We do have some sublocations, special sections within the library, that are catalogued and/or shelved in different ways. Most notable is our Indigenous Peoples Collection.
Question:
Fiction is fake and Non-Fiction is true. Do you agree?
Answer:
No. That is not a good way of describing the difference between Fiction and Non-Fiction. Some might argue that Fiction can often be “truer” than Non-Fiction. It is complicated, but here is a quick answer that might be helpful. Fiction refers to made-up stories while Non-Fiction refers to factual information.
Fiction is the product of the imagination, in which the events did not actually happen. Non-Fiction refers to written works which are not products of the imagination but are attempts to portray factual information about real life. However, there is often overlap between the two, and instead of the difference being black or white, like most things in life, there are often many shades of gray. Historical Fiction is an example of made up stories set within real historical contexts and often involving real people from history. This can be very confusing. More of a problem is that some things can be presented as Non-Fiction when they are actually lies, jokes or simply incorrect information. Meanwhile, Fiction can often reveal great truths about reality while presenting a made-up story.
Question:
Does the duck have large talons?
Answer:
Buck is pretty much my favourite animal.
Question:
I was told that fiction books are organized alphabetically by author’s name. However, I went looking for books by John Green in the “J” section and couldn’t find any. Why is that?
Answer:
When things are organized by a person’s name, most of the time it is by LAST NAME. Go to the “G” shelves. In almost all cases, the call number will be the first three letters of the author’s name, so in the example, you would look for “GRE”.
(BTW, if a Library Team member asks you for your name so that she can look you up in the catalog, she means your last name, not your first name. When names are sorted, it is almost always by last name, not first name.)
Question
Do I need my student card to take out books?
Answer
Yes, the best option for everyone is that you show us your student card for scanning when you want to borrow a book. We can use other methods, such as entering your student number by hand, but these are slower and cumbersome. Please get in the habit of bringing your Student ID Card!
Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library 