Library & Research

As your students move from elementary school to middle school, they have access to an expanded, more diverse, and more mature library collection to serve the needs and interests of our middle school patrons.  You should have a conversation with your student(s) about choosing books that match both your child's maturity level as well as your family's values.  Parents and guardians are encouraged to look at their student's library account to see their history of what has been borrowed from the school library.

Titles available within Dunstan’s School library have been reviewed to make sure they have at least 2 positive reviews and are appropriate for middle school students (Jeffco Library & Materials Selection Guidelines) but some text may stretch the boundaries of your family's values.  If a title within the collection does not align with what you feel is appropriate for your family, please have your student return the item and choose something different.

• How many books can students have at a time?
  Dunstan patrons are allowed to check out two (2) items at a time.  Should students wish to check out more, they must have a conversation with Ms. Dolan to get approval.
• What will prevent patrons from borrowing additional items?
  Items that are listed as lost or overdue in a student's library account will prevent them from acquiring any other items until they return or pay for the items they previously borrowed.  Students need to speak with Ms. Dolan directly to get the information they need to clear their library account issues.
• How long do patrons have to return the item(s) once they check them out?
  • Fiction Titles (those identified as FIC) have a 28 day loan period upon initial checkout.
  • Nonfiction Titles, Graphic Novels, and Story Collection (those identified by numbers, GN, and SC) have a 14 day loan period upon initial checkout.
• Can a patron renew their book(s)?
  • Patrons are welcome to speak to Ms. Dolan to determine whether the book(s) is/are able to be renewed.  Often times there are other students waiting to check out the book(s), which makes it essential that patrons work to get books returned as soon as they are done with them.

Like any other district material loaned to students, loss of damage of a library item must be reported to Ms. Dolan as soon as it happens and paid for. Students will need to speak directly with Ms. Dolan in the library to determine replacement cost and to pay for the item (exact cash amount or check payable to Dunstan Middle School). If the item is paid for and found within the same school year, the amount paid will be refunded to the student. After that, no refund will be issued if the item is located.

Hooking readers and ensuring a school ibrary is useful and engaging requires that we provide books to patrons that are high-interest and modern.  Filling the library with outdated materials turns the space from a fluid student-centered destination to a museum of old materials that never leave the library. 

If you're interested in donating items to Dunstan's library please use Dunstan’s Library Amazon Wish List to see what we are looking for. If the book is on the list and you have a gently used copy, we will gladly take it. If you have books at home that are not on the list, please consider donating them to another worthy cause. Thank you.

Dunstan’s Library Amazon Wish List

Ms. Dolan is always looking to get student voice in the purchase of library books for our school library. If you’ve read an amazing book and are interested in recommending it, please go through the following steps:

Step 1:  Check Dunstan’s Library System to make sure the book isn’t already in our library collection. (Remember-Spelling matters so make sure you spell things correctly.)

Step 2:  Check at least 2 of the review sources below to make sure the book is listed as appropriate for at least 2 of the grade levels here at Dunstan (grades 5-8/ages 9-13).

• Kirkus Reviews
• School Library Journal (SLJ)
• Booklist
• The Horn Book Inc

Step 3:  If the title is not currently in Dunstan’s library collection, is listed as appropriate for at least 2 of the grade levels here at Dunstan (grades 5-8; ages 9-13):  Fill out the "Recommend A Library Book" Google Form for Ms. Dolan so she can look into the recomendation before ordering books (usually in late Sept-early Nov)

*Due to the maturity of the content, YA books that are listed for a slightly older audience (ages 14+/grades 8+) are not allowed on middle school library shelves.

"The vision of Jeffco’s libraries is to provide a student-centered, inclusive experience that empowers learners, strengthens community, and nurtures a lifelong love of reading."

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Jeffco Public Schools Values Belonging: In Jeffco, we cultivate environments where all students, staff, families, and members of our community are safe, accepted, respected, included, encouraged by others, and feel that their voices and perspectives are valued.

Teaching Sensitive Issues Flyer

“A reliable or credible source is a source that can be backed up with evidence, is free of a person's biases, and comes from a trustworthy author or organization. They are used in research to help back a person's information that they are giving.” Study.com

When doing research for academic purposes, it’s essential to make sure the information you’re finding is reliable/credible. Doing straight Google searches to find the information that you need is not the best way to go because anyone can create a website (whether they know anything about a topic or not) and the site isn't checked for accuracy and/or bias.

Ms. Dolan and school staff members want you to use the resources and databases available through the Jeffco Public Library (JCPL) system because these resources ARE published by credible sources AND checked for accuracy and/or bias. Save yourself huge time and effort by using these resources because you won’t have to check to make sure the same information is found across multiple resources. You can find the information you need and just cite the source. That’s it.

Students who use the resources available to them through the JCPL system DO have to have a JCPL account. Visit any JCPL branch (WITH A PARENT/GUARDIAN) to complete an application and get a JCPL Card.

• Dunstan promotes a learning environment that values academic honesty.
• A lack of understanding by the student is not a reason to lose one's academic integrity. Students must seek the assistance of their teachers if they struggle understanding a skill or concept enough to paraphrase and make connections of their own.
• Students should avoid the act or appearance of academic dishonesty, which might take the form of plagiarism, cheating, forgery, the use of Generative AI without explicit direction from a school staff member.   Jeffco Public Schools AI webpage
• Google Classroom automatically runs an Originality Report whenever a written assignment is submitted to determine potential plagiarism.
• When a student questions whether work might be identified as academic dishonesty, they should check with their teacher for clarification and guidance.
• Academic dishonesty may lead to a referral and classroom or office consequences.
• When in doubt, check with your teacher before engaging in questionable behavior.

As we navigate the evolving landscape of education, Jeffco is committed to leveraging innovative technologies that facilitate extraordinary experiences and outcomes for all students. We believe that AI presents an opportunity to responsibly transform our present to prepare our students for their future.   There are some resources specifically for students regarding the use of AI in their academic work.

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