Greenfield Middle School Library

Aaargh! Pirate Poet visits GMS

2008-06-10T12:10:00.004-04:00

The Pirate Poet (Kay Lyons) and GPL Assistant Director Lisa Prolman visted GMS today. They told 150+ kids everything they need to know about summer reading in Greenfield. Here's where you can get the scoop: http://www.greenfieldpubliclibrary.org/kids.html

Tollbooth Success!

2008-06-09T08:43:00.010-04:00

Congratulations to Rachel Popowich and all the amazing students who worked so well together this weekend! The Greenfield Middle School production of The Phantom Tollbooth was a resounding success. We are so proud of you all.

Get your tickets HERE

2008-05-29T14:53:00.005-04:00

Come see The Phantom Tollbooth at Greenfield Middle School! Performances will be held Friday, June 6th @ 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 7th @ 2:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale Monday, June 2nd in the school library and are priced as follows: $1.00 in advance, $2.00 at the door.

Want to Volunteer?

2008-05-27T08:06:00.002-04:00

Helpers are needed to run the GMS Book Fair. Are you available from 12:00 to 12:30 on June 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th? How about some other time during the school day? Please contact Robin Shtulman in the school library. Thanks!

Fifth graders write about Boston

2008-05-22T11:39:00.001-04:00

Check out 5th grade teacher Angela Larke's blog, where students on Team 5A have written about their field trip to Boston!

http://angelalarke.edublogs.org

What's important?

2008-05-20T11:21:00.002-04:00

In Hole in my Life, Jack makes a decision not to take drugs in jail, even though they're available everywhere. On p. 166 he writes, "I figured getting out of prison was more important than getting high in prison."

What's important to you?

Opportunity

2008-05-20T11:17:00.002-04:00

In our Great Stories Club, we are almost finished reading Hole in my Life by Jack Gantos. On page 162, Jack faces being released into the general prison population. He doesn't want to join the "population." So, he asks if he could help in the prison hospital, where he would have his own cell and be safe. He doesn't wait for an offer; he makes his own opportunity.

How can you make your own opportunities? Can you think of a time when you made your own (good) opportunity? As you get older, who is responsible for creating your opportunities?

National Endowment for the Humanities grant!

2008-05-19T14:20:00.002-04:00

The Greenfield Middle School Library is one of 3,000 libraries across the country selected by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the American Library Association (ALA) to receive free hardcover books on the theme of “Created Equal.”

The award is part of the NEH’s We the People initiative, which supports projects that strengthen the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture. Selected public and school libraries in all 50 states each will receive a set of the 21 books (including Spanish translations of four of the titles), posters, bookmarks, bookplates from the NEH and the ALA, “History in a Box” resource materials on Abraham Lincoln from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and access to online planning and promotional materials.

The We the People Bookshelf on “Created Equal” contains the following books:
· “The Ugly Duckling” by Hans Christian Anderson, “The Gettysburg Address” by Abraham Lincoln, and “Pink and Say” by Patricia Polacco.
· “Elijah of Buxton” by Christopher Paul Curtis, “Give Me Liberty! The Story of the Declaration of Independence” by Russell Freedman, “Lincoln: A Photobiography” By Russell Freedman, “Many Thousand Gone: African Americans from Slavery to Freedom” by Virginia Hamilton, and “Lyddie” by Katherine Paterson.
· “Saturnalia” by Paul Fleishman, “Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott” by Russell Freedman, “Abraham Lincoln the Writer: A Treasury of His Greatest Speeches and Letters” edited by Harold Holzer, and “Breaking Through” by Francisco Jiménez.
· “Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution” by Natalie S. Bober, “That All People May Be One People, Send Rain to Wash the Face of the Earth” by Nez Perce Chief Joseph, “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes, “Lincoln’s Virtues: An Ethical Biography” by William Lee Miller, and “Amistad: A Novel” by David Pesci.

“One of the best ways to get students to understand history is through the reading of excellent historical fiction and non-fiction,” said 8th grade teacher Denise Petrin. “Good books, like Lyddie and Lincoln: A Photobiography make history something students can relate to and are a great way to teach the many stories in history.”

For more information about the We the People Bookshelf grant contact Robin Shtulman at 413-772-1360, ext. 221. For more information about the We the People Bookshelf project, please visit http://publicprograms.ala.org/bookshelf.

Mark Your Calendars!

2008-05-16T14:43:00.003-04:00

The Greenfield Middle School Library will host a buy-one, get-one-free book fair on June 3, 4, 5, & 6th! The fair will be open during school (7:45 - 3:45) and Friday night from 5:30 until after the end of the school play. This is your chance to stock up on twice as many books for summer reading!

Scenes from Blood and Guts

2008-05-13T12:58:00.005-04:00

Storytelling at the Greenfield Public Library May 17

2008-05-07T11:31:00.001-04:00

The Greenfield Public Library, with support from the Greenfield Cultural Council, is proud to be hosting a series of world-class story performances on Saturdays in May. Each performance will run from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Greenfield Public Library and is free and open to all.

On May 17, local musician and storyteller Brendan Taaffe will amuse and entertain with a mix of stories from around the world. A popular elementary school music teacher, Brendan began using story as a way to capture attention in the classroom, and quickly his relaxed and magical telling became the hit of the school. Illustrating the stories with expert music, Brendan is sure to capture the imagination.

FREE COMIC BOOKS!

2008-05-02T06:19:00.006-04:00

Today is Free Comic Book Day! Come to the GMS Library for your FREE comic book!
Thank you to Main Vein Comics for donating all the cool comic books!!!

Meet Amber, a published poet

2008-04-29T14:32:00.005-04:00

Amber, a GMS 5th grader, has a poem published in the May/June issue of New Moon magazine!

Cool Science Event this Thursday!

2008-04-28T08:28:00.003-04:00

Click the title of this post for audio version

Join Us! All GMS families are invited!

On Thursday, May 1, from 6-8 p.m.
Franklin Medical Center and the GCC Nursing School will bring
“Blood and Guts” to the GMS Library!

Free and fun
Hands-on
Students and their families will get to learn about
medical careers
the human body
emergency room work, medical laboratory work,
physical therapy, radiology, germs, nutrition,
and more!

There will be snacks and prizes!

Volunteers are needed to staff the welcome table
Please call Robin Shtulman @ 772-1360 ext. 221 if you are interested.

What do you think?

2008-04-28T08:00:00.002-04:00

In Hole in my Life, Jack’s family moves a lot. At the beginning of this book, Jack’s family moves to a place where he can’t go to school and he doesn’t speak the language. What do you think of that? What do you think of Jack’s parents? How do you think most kids would fare with no education, no supervision, and no roots?

Responses to Gantos' _Hole in my Life_

2008-04-28T07:52:00.005-04:00

I like the books. I like it because it teaches you what not to do when you get older. I like the part where they talk about drugs. Drugs are bad for you. This book is interesting to me.

The book is about a boy who does drugs. His family moved to Puerto Rico. The title of the book is Hole in my Life. It tells him what not to do.
-- Jeremiah, GMS student

The book I'm reading is called Hole in my Life. In this book he is sentenced to jail and he talks to convicts who are in jail for life so they can try to change his life before he ends up like them and he has to go to school in an old building that used to be a jail.

I like this book because it tells a true story about somebody and I like true stories. Also I like this book because he starts his life as a screw up and changed that to be an inspiring writer.
-- Ray L., GMS student

O'Breeze

2008-04-18T11:23:00.002-04:00

It's on my face
It's in my hair
Leaves are blowing
Everywhere
I love to just sit and feel the air
Some it's chilly
Sometimes it's straight
but it is important
Yes it's our fate
Sunglasses are hot and
Flip-flops are cool but
School is a drool
When I look outside
I see the sun
I see seagulls having some fun
I want to join
soonly I did
Then I just felt a breeze
upon my cheek
Jeez
I was asleep

by Angelina Heon, GMS Student

Getting Poems for Pockets!

2008-04-17T09:48:00.004-04:00

The Library

2008-04-16T12:40:00.003-04:00

Library is very awesome if you are interested in books.
If you are very interested in book you should check out the books at the library.
Books are very good if you like to read.
Ready to check out books? Go to the library,
After you check out books you can go home and
Read them.
Yes, you can go to the library to check out books.

by Ciera Smith, GMS Student

Hole in my life

2008-04-15T11:47:00.003-04:00

In Great Stories Club, we are reading Jack Gantos' Hole in my life.

At the beginning of the book, Gantos quotes Oscar Wilde: "I have learned this: it is not what one does that is wrong, but what one becomes as a consequence of it."

On p.7, Gantos says his father said this: "These folks zigged when the rest of the world zagged. And once you cross the line, there's no coming back."

Think about these 2 opinions. Which do you agree with? Why? Is there a line which once you cross it, you can never be a regular, decent person again? How do you think all those people Jack's dad pointed out would feel about being known only for the things they've done wrong?

I Float in the Pool

2008-04-15T07:48:00.002-04:00

I Float in The Pool
Relaxing on the water.
Soothing My Problems From School,
Swimming Like An Otter.

The Breeze Cools My Face,
The Pump Calms Me To Sleep,
Enjoying Myself in This Place,
My Thoughts Turn Deep.

My Troubles Float Away,
Dreaming Of The Waves.
Having So Much Fun On This Day,
Trying To Understand This Maze.

by Freddy Vega, GMS Student

April 17th is Poem in Your Pocket Day!

2008-04-14T07:45:00.005-04:00

Thursday, 4/17 is the first national Poem In Your Pocket Day!

The idea is simple: select a poem you love during National Poetry Month then carry it with you to share with co-workers, family, and friends on April 17.

Poems from pockets will be unfolded throughout the day with events in parks, libraries, schools, workplaces, and bookstores.

If you don't have a favorite poem, swing by the library to get one! Our 5th & 8th grade library helpers have selected a whole bunch of terrific pocket-sized poems for you to carry, read, share & swap.

For more information, visit poets.org

Happy National Poetry Month!

Scenes from our poetry party

2008-04-09T12:58:00.009-04:00

Keep 'em coming!

2008-04-07T14:00:00.007-04:00

Thank you, people of Greenfield. I just picked up 5 new books from our World Eye Bookshop wish list:

The Liberation of Gabriel King, by K.L. Going
Kabul Beauty School, by Deborah Rodriguez
Star in the Storm, by Joan Hiatt Harlow
The Neddiad, by Daniel Pinkwater
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, by Barry Lyga

The students here appreciate them so much!

More about April

2008-04-07T13:47:00.003-04:00

If you haven't visited the GMS Library in a while, now's the time! The walls are covered with original student poetry. The tops of the bookcases host 5th grade cereal box book reports. The entryway displays biography caricatures. And the window boxes are full of imaginative bird models. Thank you to all of the students and teachers who have shared their work!

Try this

2008-04-04T14:20:00.003-04:00

Hey --

Ms. Harrington told us about this magnetic poetry website:

http://www.magneticpoetry.com/kidspoetry/createpoem.cfm?kit=4

Try your hand at writing a poem! When you have one you especially like, save a screen shot of it, paste it into a Word document, and bring a copy to either the 3rd floor computer lab or the library. We'll look over your poems with the GMS language arts teachers and choose a few to honor and share.

Happy Poetry Month!

Hear Here

2008-04-01T12:59:00.003-04:00

Original poetry by Mrs. Engle's trailblazing 6th grade poets. Please listen and feel free to make laudatory comments!

** Click the title of this post to launch the MP3 file. **

Thanks to Beth Nelson for showing us how to use the software & to Gaby Richard-Harrington for sharing her equipment.

(P.S. We're so excited; this is our first podcast.)

April is National Poetry Month!

2008-04-01T11:18:00.004-04:00

It's time to wax poetic . . .

So much is going on in the GMS Library! Come visit and see the fabulous Poetry Month display created by our 5th & 8th grade helpers under the guidance of Beth Nelson, Simmons College graduate student . . . Borrow some wonderful poetry books from our enormous deposit collection, courtesy of the Western MA Regional Library . . . hear original poetry performed aloud at our 6th grade soiree on April 8th! If you can't get there, tune in to GMS-TV each morning to hear a poem each day. For an infusion of more daily poetry visit the Library of Congress website!

We have even more planned this April -- Check back soon!

And the Survey Says . . .

2008-03-31T10:46:00.004-04:00

Sixty-seven GMS students answered our reader survey! Most students declared that they love to read Horror novels. In second place came Realistic Fiction, then Romance, then Adventure and Survival Stories. Tying for fifth place were Sports fiction, Science fiction and fantasy, and Non-fiction. Next came Mystery and crime novels, Poetry, Animal stories, Folklore, fairy tales, and mythology, and Historical fiction.

You have been heard! I will use some of the money we earned from the winter book fair to buy more of what you like. Thanks for participating.

The Great Stories Club books are here

2008-03-29T07:04:00.003-04:00

GMS Students: Tell Us What You Want!

2008-03-21T11:15:00.002-04:00

If you are a GMS student, we really want to know what you like to read! Your responses with determine what we buy for the GMS library, so give us your input! Look to the right and click on"Click Here to take survey," which is just over the clock-like object. Thanks!

Ya-Hoo Great Stories Club!

2008-03-17T10:03:00.003-04:00

We are so excited to announce that Greenfield Middle School has been awarded a Great Stories Club grant! The books should be arriving around April 1. (No fooling!) We (the library and the Bridges program) will be sharing book discussions throughout the spring. Watch this space -- we'll let you know how it's going!

GMS Teachers: Would You Like Your Own Blog?

2008-03-12T11:41:00.003-04:00

GMS Teachers:

Ms. Harrington & Ms. Shtulman would like to help you get set up with a blog of your own. Think of all it could be: post assignments, communicate with parents, invite your students to post, showcase their wonderful work -- Whatever you can imagine!

We recommend Blogger and Edublogs. Both are free. Either one of us would be happy to show you how. If you can type, you can blog!

Once you have started your blog, you can announce it in the school newsletter and Ms. Harrington will link to it from the GMS website.

Blood and Guts postponed

2008-03-12T10:39:00.002-04:00

Our partnership with FMC and GCC, Blood and Guts, will not be happening on April 4. Have no fear! We are working on rescheduling and will let you know. It is an event not to be missed!

Even More Great Books

2008-03-10T12:53:00.008-04:00

Here are some more books with interesting and strong central girl characters!

Out of many waters -- by Jacqueline Dembar Greene
Shadow spinner -- by Susan Fletcher
A girl named Disaster -- by Nancy Farmer
Heaven -- by Angela Johnson
Gifts -- by Ursula K. LeGuin
The outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place -- by E.L. Konigsburg
Just Ella -- by Margaret Petersen Haddix
Rodzina -- by Karen Cushman
Thwonk! -- by Joan Bauer
The golden compass -- by Philip Pullman
The book of story beginnings -- by Kristin Kladstrup
Lirael -- by Garth Nix
Uglies -- by Scott Westerfeld
I rode a horse of milk white jade -- by Diane Lee Wilson

You can get all of these, and those listed in the previous post, at the Greenfield Middle School Library. Hope to see you there!

March is Women's History month!

2008-03-10T10:11:00.006-04:00

Celebrate Women's History Month with a great biography of someone like Susan B. Anthony, Madeline Albright, or Marian Wright Edelman. Or, come check out one of these great novels featuring strong and fabulous female characters:

Protector of the small -- by Tamora Pierce

Everything on a waffle -- by Polly Horvath

Boston Jane -- by Jennifer Holm

The Spiderwick Chronicles -- by diTerlizzi and Black

The true confessions of Charlotte Doyle -- by Avi

Anne of Green Gables -- by L.M. Montgomery

Dealing with dragons -- by Patricia Wrede

Shabanu -- by Suzanne Fisher Staples

The breadwinner -- by Deborah Ellis

Running out of time -- by Margaret Petersen Haddix

Homeless bird -- by Gloria Whelan

Esperanza rising -- by Pam Munuz Ryan

The sisters Grimm -- by Michael Buckley

Born in sin -- by Evelyn Coleman

Because of Winn-Dixie -- by Kate DiCamillo

Matilda -- by Roald Dahl

Princess academy -- by Shannon Hale

and so many more!

Ya-Hoo! New Books

2008-02-25T08:20:00.004-05:00

Today we have lots of wonderful new books, thanks to our friends at the Bement School Library. Among these new books are:

The World of Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Run Away Home
The Worms of Kukumlima
Leon and the Champion Chip
Room One
Green Boy
Niagara Falls, or Does It?
My Teacher Fried My Brains
The Haymeadow
Wayside School is Falling Down
Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist: Lunch Walks Among Us
Island of the Aunts
The Healing of Texas Jake
The Robber Boy
Dragon's Gate
The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death

And many, many more! Please visit the library and borrow some of these terrific reads!

Borrowing Magazines

2008-02-12T09:54:00.000-05:00

Did you know that kids can borrow magazines from the Greenfield Middle School Library? Swing by and see what's available to you:

Muse
American Girl
Stone Soup
Kids Discover
Sports Illustrated for Kids
Odyssey
New Moon
Transworld Skateboarding
Shonen Jump
and
Twist

Great Kids

2008-02-12T09:19:00.001-05:00

Thank you to all of the great kids who have been spending their spare time helping in the library: Zach, Nidhi, Tyler, Monique, Lauren, Cassie, Tiana, Diane, Ben, Yelena, and Alina have been learning to shelve books, make displays, process library materials and more! They have been a huge help while my arm is in a cast, and I have enjoyed their company.

Great Stories

2008-02-11T12:43:00.000-05:00

We have applied for an American Library Association Great Stories Club grant! If we get it, Linda Singer & Robin Shtulman will be sharing some very exciting book club sessions with the students in our Bridges program. We should hear back from the ALA in about a month. Wish us luck!

Blood and Guts

2008-02-11T12:35:00.000-05:00

Mark your calendars! On Friday, April 4th, from 6-8 p.m., the Library, PE, Science, and Health programs will be partnering with Franklin Medical Center and the GCC Nursing School to bring you “Blood and Guts!” This will be a free and fun hands-on program at which students and their families will get to learn about the human body, perform surgery, learn about emergency room work, and more. There will be snacks and prizes! Full details will follow closer to the date.

Celebrate Black History Month

2008-02-04T11:36:00.000-05:00

We have lots of great books by classic and contemporary black authors, biographies, history, art books and more! Come to the library and see.

Also, test your knowledge with the Biography "Quoting Greatness" quiz.

Come See

2008-01-17T10:11:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Mrs. Petrin, we are the lucky hosts to a traveling exhibit from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Five professional museum panels depict a history of the abolition of slavery in America, in an exhibit entitled "Free at Last."

Social studies classes will be signing up for viewing times. There is a teacher's guide with background information and activity ideas that staff may borrow.

We welcome all GMS staff, students, and parents to visit the library and view this exciting and important exhibit.

Want to Win $500?

2008-01-17T08:44:00.000-05:00

What are the 2 most important qualities a United States president should have? Why? What impact will the new president have on you, your family, and your community? How would you convince someone you know that it is important to vote in the election for President of the United States?

Spend some time thinking about this, and you might win a $500 savings bond! Students are invited to sign up with Ms. Shtulman in the library for the League of Women Voters essay contest. We’ll spend a little time learning about the job of the president, we’ll look at past winning essays, and we’ll write. We’ll meet during Flex 1.

The contest deadline is March 5th.

Thank You

2007-12-27T10:51:00.000-05:00

Tremendous thanks to all of the parent volunteers who staffed the book fair! Thanks, also, to everyone who shopped. Your support makes good things possible.

The book fair earned over $600 in cash for us to spend on materials needed to help our students learn. We also received over $150 in free books from the fair. Thanks to all those students who showed me which ones we should choose!

Last, but definitely not least, thank you to the teachers who made time for their classes to visit the fair. Your willingness to participate is key to the book fair's success as a library fundraiser. Yay!

Congratulations to great kids!

2007-12-27T10:46:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to all of the following GMS students, who did great things and won free books at our recent book fair:

Evelyn E. of 6B
Tameka
Olivia K.
Quinn
Cynthia S.
Masha
Julien of 6B
Jason P.

Keep it up!

Ms. Harrington and Ms. Shtulman want to encourage all students to keep doing their best work and being kind GMS citizens -- We'll come up with another prize for January.

Teachers: Keep nominating your students! All stundents who were nominated in December will be included in January's drawing.

Happy New Year!

Book Fair

2007-12-11T14:10:00.000-05:00

Come to the GMS Book Fair during school on December 18th, 19th, and 20th! We will be open all day and during Flex I and Flex II. The book fair will also be open on Wednesday night, before and after the band concert. Families are welcome. Come support our school and pick up some wonderful new books!

Live and Learn

2007-12-11T14:02:00.000-05:00

It takes a lot longer to walk to the library with 27 middle schoolers than it does by one's self! The good news is that the GPL will welcome us back for a second attempt and the kids want to go. We will definitely go again before winter break.

Walk to Read

2007-12-10T13:47:00.000-05:00

Ms. Marchefka & Ms. Shtulman's Flex 2 group will be walking to read on December 10th! We're taking an on-foot field trip to the Greenfield Public Libary, where Children's Librarian Kay Lyons will show us around and sign us up for library cards.

World Eye Wow!

2007-12-10T13:25:00.001-05:00

Our World Eye book-raiser is really taking off! Here are just a few of the titles we now have, thanks to community spirit: Meg Cabot's All-American Girl; The Last Holiday Concert; Naruto, The Lake of Souls; Winter of the Ice Wizard; Wabi: A Hero's Tale; and, Parvana's Journey. Many thanks to the Klein family, Lynda Leitner, Tom Carlson & Robyn S. Provost-Carlson, the de Bord family, and all our amazing anonymous donors!

See the Trees!

2007-12-05T09:18:00.000-05:00

Fifth graders at GMS have been studying the science of trees. As a culminating project, each student created a 3-D model of a tree, real or imaginary. We have everything from electric trees to shoe trees to truffula trees, and they're all on display in the GMS library. They will be here until the book fair, Dec. 17th. Come see!

Feed People

2007-11-20T08:52:00.000-05:00

The United Nations has a vocabulary game called Free Rice. Each time you correctly define a vocabulary word, UN sponsors donate actual food (rice) to people who need it around the globe.

It is free, it's for real, and here's the link:

Free Rice
http://www.freerice.com/index.php

Win a Great Book!

2007-11-20T08:09:00.000-05:00

Get Caught Doing GREAT!

Earn an A on a project?
Get 100% on a test?
Do something especially kind or caring?

You can win a FREE paperback book of your choosing at the upcoming GMS Book Fair!

One of your teachers must nominate you. Bring your note of nomination (signed by a teacher) down to the library and put your name in the Big Jar of Doing Great. On the first day of the book fair, Ms. Harrington and Ms. Shtulman will draw at least 5 names (maybe more!). If your name is chosen, you will get to come down to the book fair and pick out your favorite paperback book.

The more GOOD you do, the GREATER your chances of winning!

All About Newsbank

2007-11-06T09:54:00.000-05:00

And here is another resource we may use courtesy of our membership in the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System: Newsbank!

At Newsbank, you can search the following periodicals:
The Springfield Republican newspaper

~and~

BUSINESS (5 titles)
Business 2.0 (11/1/2002-Current)
Fortune (1/11/1993-Current)
Fortune International (5/29/2000-Current)
FSB: Fortune Small Business (2/1/2000-Current)
Money (11/1/1993-Current)
ENTERTAINMENT (3 titles)
Entertainment Weekly (1/8/1999-Current)
People Weekly (1/11/1993-Current)
Teen People (2/1/2000-Current)
LIFESTYLE (7 titles)
Baby Talk (9/1/1999-Current)
Essence (1/1/2003-Current)
Family Life (12/1/1999-12/1/2001)
In Style (1/1/2000-Current)
Life (9/1/1993-5/1/2000)
Parenting (9/1/1999-Current)
Real Simple (4/1/2000-Current)
NEWS (7 titles)
Foreign Affairs (2/1/1994-Current)
Newsweek (2/25/1991-Current)
Slate (6/25/1996-Current)
Time (1/4/1993-Current)
Time For Kids (1/16/1998-Current)
Time International (6/1/1998-Current)
U.S. News & World Report (1/1/1993-Current)
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (2 titles)
ON Magazine (includes Time Digital) (5/1/2000-1/1/2002)
Popular Science (11/1/2002-Current)
SPORTS (3 titles)
Sports Illustrated (1/11/1993-Current)
Sports Illustrated For Kids (1/1/1996-Current)
Sports Illustrated Women (5/1/2000-12/1/2002)

Newsbank also has special reports on hot topics such as oil prices, world health, the 2008 election, the war, and more.

Simply look to your right under "Helpful Links" and click on "Newsbank." You will need to get the user name and password from Ms. Shtulman in the library.

Happy reading!

About Those Databases

2007-11-02T09:24:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of the Greenfield Public Library, here are some descriptions of the Gale InfoTrac Databases that you may find helpful.

InfoTrac is broken down into separate units that index magazines, reference books, and newspapers for information on current events, popular culture, sports, medicine, arts and humanities, science and technology; provide company profiles, company rankings, investment reports, market trends; and much more. Search them one at a time or search several simultaneously. InfoTrac now has podcasts available as well as the ability to change the text into one of eight languages.

Databases include:

Academic OneFile (academic journals; contains transcripts and podcasts from NPR, CNN, and the CBC; also includes full-text NY Times content back to 1995)
Biography Resource Center (includes over 1 million thumbnail biographies)
Business and Company ASAP (research businesses; no investment analysts' reports)
Contemporary Literary Criticism Select (essays on contemporary writers; includes biography and list of sources for further review)
Expanded Academic ASAP (full-text articles on Astronomy, Religion, Lay, History, Pyschology, Humanities, Current Events, Sociology, Communications, and the General Sciences)
General BusinessFile ASAP (use to research all business and management topics; directory listings for 150,000 companies as well as investment analysts' reports on major companies and industries)
General Reference Center Gold (general interest database on current events, arts and culture, sports, etc.)
Health Reference Center Academic (full-text articles designed for nursing and allied health students as well as consumer health research)
InfoTrac K-12 Junior Edition (for junior high and middle school students)
InfoTrac K-12 Student Edition (for high school students)
InfoTrac OneFile (comprehensive periodical resources; content goes back to 1980)
Kids InfoBits (targets grades K-5 with 75 full-text curriculum related magazines and 7 reference books)
Educator's Reference Complete (over 300 full-text journals for educators, administrators, and librarians)
Gale Virtual Reference Library (over 20 full-text reference books covering the arts, biography, business, environment, history, literature, medicine, multicultural studies, geography, and science)
Massachusetts History Online
New York Times 1995 - present

Start Your Search HERE!

2007-11-02T08:46:00.000-04:00

Need biographical information on your favorite founding father? Want to know what causes a tsunami? Do you want to browse the latest issue of Africa News, American Art Journal, Anthropology Today, Guitar Player, Drama Review, Time, Seventeen, Gardening Life, Skateboarder, or any of hundreds of magazines, encyclopedias, and other resources?

Start by searching in the Gale InfoTrac Databases. Again, these are brought to us via our membership in the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System (and how grateful we are!).

In this amazing resource, you will find the following:

Academic OneFile
Biography Resource Center
Contemporary Literary Criticism Select
Educator's Reference Complete
Expanded Academic ASAP
General BusinessFile ASAP
General Reference Center Gold
Health Reference Center Academic
InfoTrac K-12 Junior Edition
InfoTrac K-12 Student Edition
InfoTrac OneFile
Kids InfoBits
Massachusetts History Online
New York Times (1955-)
Gale Virtual Reference Library

These are all edited, reviewed, authoritative sources where you will find true and useful information!

You can find these great resources by looking in the list of "Helpful Links" to your right. Click on "Gale InfoTrac Databases." You will need to see Ms. Shtulman for the password.

Need a Newspaper Article?

2007-11-02T08:14:00.000-04:00

Start here!

As a benefit of our membership in the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System, we have access to full archives of the following newspapers:

Boston Globe

Berkshire Eagle

Boston Herald

BusinessWest (Chicopee)

Gazette (Haverhill)

North Adams Transcript

Patriot Ledger (Quincy)

Plymouth County Business Review

Sentinel and Enterprise (Fitchburg)

Standard Times (New Bedford)

The Sun (Lowell)

Telegram & Gazette (Worcester)

You can also reach these newspapers by clicking on "Massachusetts Newspapers" in the "Helpful Links" menu to your right.

You can search the newspapers individually or all of them at once! Search by subject, by date, by journalist, by page number, and so many other ways!

Please see Ms. Shtulman in the library for the password and for searching tips.

Have fun!

Great Reads for Teens and Pre-teens

2007-10-15T14:06:00.000-04:00

The Springfield, MA Public Library maintains a very cool website full of reading recommendations for YOU! You can find it at:
http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/reading/teenbooks.html
There are separate lists for 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, as well as "Teen Books that Don't
Make You Blush," "Going Places: True Tales of Travel and Adventure for Teens," "It's Alive! A Booklist of Horror Novels for Teens," and more. Take a look!

Gms Turns

2007-10-12T15:42:00.000-04:00

We interviewed Gms Turns. The kids we interviewed were Alex ,Laurana, and Maggie. The kids we interviewed liked their flex. In their flex they are going to act out a play and put it on film. The kids picked GMS Turns because they thought that acting was interesting. They said it was cool and the best. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they read or write. These are the kids that we interviewed and they thought that it was really fun to act.
By Crystal and Holly

raising salmon

2007-10-12T15:38:00.001-04:00

The first thing we asked is how it has been there? They said that it has been fun. We also asked them what they have learned? They said that they that learned how to raise salmon. We asked them if they had fish yet. They said no they will be getting them soon. We asked them what they will be feeding them? They would be eggs.

We also asked them where they would be. They said that they would be in the greenhouse which is on the second floor, in January. They went on a field trip and did college work. Someone will be giving the salmon to the school. And once they get them the salmon have to be in cool water, which has to be about 34 degrees.

They also have been reading about salmon. We don't like eating salmon, if you like salmon you can eat it.

Band Interview

2007-10-12T15:38:00.000-04:00

We interviewed the band Flex 2 and we got some answers to all of our questions.

What kind of instruments are in the GMS band?

The kind of instruments that band plays are the Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Tuba, Saxophone, Trombone, Drums, Xylophone, Electric Guitar, Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, and the Baritone.

What are the loudest instruments?

The loudest instruments are the drums, trumpet, baritone, tenor tax.

What are the softest instruments?

The softest instruments are the flute and the alto sax.

What are the brass instruments?

Some of the brass instruments are the trombone, the tuba, the trumpet and the french horn.

What are the string instruments?

There is only one string instrument : the electric guitar.

Playing the instruments look hard, are they what they seem? Why?

A lot harder than what they seem. It's hard to pay attention to the conductor with all the instruments playing, almost every note is hard to play. Especially the brass. Some of them are easy, it depends on the person.

What have you guys been doing in band?

Practicing Hot Cross Buns and Go Tell Aunt Rhody.

(Thanks to Kayla, Kellie, James, and Danny for being the lucky ones to answer our questions. Thanks again guys!)

Typed by Stephen, Nicole, Amber, and Nathaniel.

Read, Watch, and Complain!

2007-10-12T11:01:00.000-04:00

Do you like to read? Watch movies? Whine a bit?

We will read (aloud, together) great books that have been made into movies. Then, we’ll watch the movies! Our first book will be Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson. Is the movie as good as the book? Better? A total dud?

If there is time, we will read a second novel. The Outsiders? The Lion the Witch, and the Wardrobe? Wizard of Earthsea? Hatchet? Bring your suggestions.

Please note that we will be reading every day. Pick “Read, Watch, & Complain” if that sounds fun to you!

Interview Tyler

2007-10-10T15:30:00.000-04:00

What I've been doing in the past few weeks is making signs for the library and helped put things up on the bulletin boards. I put blue construction paper on the front bulletin board. I put "Reading is Fun"on the small board. I made signs so research is easier. I've been fixing old signs that needed fixing. I've been working with Mia. Now it is much better.

Intevew Mia

2007-10-10T15:19:00.000-04:00

What I have been doing in the library is making posters for the GMS library. I wanted people to read books there. And I have also helped other people with their projects. I work with someone named Nicole. She has been helping me with the posters, and we worked together to make this.

I have been also working with someone named Tyler. He has made posters to show where the books were. He has also made posters to where to get a book checked out. I am glad to be in this Library Apprentices class.

Our partnership with World Eye Bookshop!

2007-10-10T13:30:00.000-04:00

The Greenfield Middle School Library has entered into a fabulous partnership with local bookseller, World Eye. Ms. Ann Smith, the owner of World Eye, has agreed to help put new, current books in the hands of our kids.

Here's how it works: I send World Eye a list of all the books GMS kids have been wishing we had here in our library. Anyone who wants to help -- parents, grandparents, community members -- can go to World Eye, look at our wish list, and buy a copy for our school library! World Eye will offer a discount on any books purchased for our school library. You may donate anonymously or let me know what you've donated & I'll put a commemorative book plate inside the front cover.

Our kids get to read great books, our money stays local, and we all win.

If you would like more information, please contact me in the library.

World Eye is located at 156 Main Street in downtown Greenfield. 413-772-2186.

Love Graphic Novels?

2007-10-03T20:14:00.000-04:00

Check out this great site: Sidekicks! You'll find reviews and suggestions for good reading.

Here's what it's about:

"Graphic novels, the focus of this site, take the whole storytelling format one step further. The shortest definition of a graphic novel is this:
a book-length comic
It's that simple. Artists and writers create longer tales, ranging from 50 to over 300 pages worth of work, using all the trademark comics pieces, from text bubbles to panels. As with comic books, they are often quite complex in terms of artwork and the look of the pages get more adventurous."

http://www.noflyingnotights.com/sidekicks/what.html

Anime Club!

2007-10-03T11:14:00.000-04:00

Yes!

For all of you 7th and 8th graders who have been lamenting our lack of anime and manga -- The Greenfield Public Library has a club for you! The Greenfield Anime Club meets Saturdays from 10-12 at the GPL. Read books, watch movies, make costumes! It's free! Call the GPL for more information: 772-1544.

Thank You, North Parish School!

2007-10-03T11:01:00.000-04:00

Wow!

A week ago Friday, Joan Schell, principal of the North Parish School, donated a car-full of wonderful books to the Greenfield Middle School Library. Among the books were: Bridge to Terabithia, titles from the Chronicles of Narnia, How to Eat Fried Worms, Charlie and the Chocolate factory, Just Juice, and so many others that no school library should be without!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

What i'm doing in library apprentices

2007-10-01T15:18:00.000-04:00

In library apprentices we are working on posters and a webpage for the internet. Crystal and athaniel are working ona song about books. Also putting pictures on the wepage also. For posters we did a sign out on the bullitien board. It said " Welcome to gms library" The song that crystal and athaniel are doing is actually a rap. Lidnsey ,stephen and rory are also working on the webpage with the blog. Me, amber,tyler,amelia , and nicole are working on posters and decorating the library.

by holly

What I am working on atGMS library.

2007-10-01T15:17:00.002-04:00

What I am working on is...Making signs for the GMS library. Why I want do this is because I like to be creative with writing and drawing. What signs I made said Biography Books are great! Check them out! Also I made a welcome to the GMS library. Another sign I made said What Books do you like?Why I Like to do these signs is because I like to catch the persons attention with them.

Nicole

Why I like airplanes so much?

2007-10-01T15:17:00.001-04:00

I am reading books or reading airplane books and ofter kind of books. I like airplanes books because Airplanes are awsome and Here a list of my favorite airplanes: B-17 Flying Fortress and the P-51 Mustang and the P-38 Lightning and The Supermarine Spitfire and the Hawker Hurricane and the Memphis Belle the Famous Beautiful B-17 Flying Fortress.

Kyle

What I am doing at the Library

2007-10-01T15:17:00.000-04:00

What I am doing in Library is The GMS-Library Web Page because I have a large interest in computers. I think what we should add to it is more book recommendations, put down a book of the Day. For that we can get any book from the shelves and see if we want it there. There should be a list of events happening in the library.

Stephen

Student-Created Web Page

2007-09-27T08:23:00.000-04:00

Flex 2 Library Apprentice kids are working on a library web page. They are using a free web design program from McGraw-Hill.

As with any group project, there are lively discussions about what is important to include, the importance of spelling and truthfulness, and the fact that sometimes you just need to be a bit silly.

Please take a look at their work from time to time. Praise what you like, and give us suggestions, too!

Work

2007-09-26T15:40:00.000-04:00

On the computer I have been making songs with Nathaniel and Lindsey. It's funny hanging out with Nathaniel. We write about what we have done to the library We put pictures on the blog.

Iam Crystal

nathaniel

2007-09-26T15:22:00.001-04:00

The GMS library is a really good library to go and rent books from there are realy good books such as harry potter and fengshui if your wondering what it means, feng means wind and shui means water. The library has over a million of books to chose from.

My name is Nathaniel and my partner is crystal weve been workingon a song for the GMS library and also on logos and many other things so the library to be the best we can make it,so come on down to the GMS library and rent whatever book you find and like and rent it if you like.

Amber

2007-09-26T15:22:00.000-04:00

If you stepped into the GMS library two weeks ago, you would want to change it. Well, Amber wanted to decorate it too! She and her partners worked together to re-create three bulletin boards. One said "Read! Imagine! Create!" Another said, "Welcome to GMS library" right outside the library so everyone walkin' by could see it and check out a book. and the last one said,"Reading is Fun!" So she and her two friends worked together to make the library look cool and more put together and composed. Here's a message to all those readers out there, "Recommend Reading!"

An Opportunity from the Public Library

2007-09-26T07:35:00.000-04:00

Our friends at the Greenfield Public Library asked me to spread the word:

GMS students are invited to sign up for the book-to-movie fantasy reading club. Sign up for The Golden Compass (a.k.a. Northern Lights) starts October 1. You'll get your own copy of this amazing book by Philip Pullman! Then you'll be invited to participate in a book discussion at the GPL on Monday, November 5th, and everyone gets to go to the movie opening night (12/7) at the Garden Theatre.

National Punctuation Day!

2007-09-24T20:35:00.000-04:00

Today is National Punctuation Day! Celebrate by writing a well-crafted and accurately punctuated letter to a dear friend or relative, why don't you? Did you know that this national festival of the comma and semi colon has its own web site? If you go there, you may learn about many punctuation marks and their proper use. Hooray!

a song bye Lindsey

2007-09-21T15:32:00.000-04:00

Hi I'm Lindsey and I have been working on a song and it goes like this:
All the books in the library bring the students to the yard,
so drop it like your reading..like your reading ♥

What to Read Next in a Series

2007-09-20T12:57:00.000-04:00

Which comes first, The Two Towers or The Fellowship of the Ring? Party Princess or Princess in Love? Prisoner of Azkaban or Half-Blood Prince? Click on "What to Read Next in a Series" under "Helpful Links" to your left. This is a database maintained by the Mid-Continent Public Library in Missouri. You can search by series title to discover what to read next!

Yarr! It's International Talk Like a Pirate Day

2007-09-19T13:42:00.000-04:00

September 19th is always International Talk Like a Pirate Day! So, double-up on all your adjectives, drop your gs and vs, and always speak in the present tense!

Speaking of Grants . . .

2007-09-19T12:51:00.000-04:00

The GMS Library has applied for 2 grants: one, in partnership with teacher Suzanne Schropfer, is an Ezra Jack Keats Foundation mini-grant; the other is an American Library Association "We the People" Bookshelf. We won't know for several months whether we've been selected to receive them. We'll let you know!

Parent Volunteers Sought

2007-09-19T12:45:00.000-04:00

Parents, if you are interested in volunteering in the GMS Library, please contact Robin Shtulman at robsht1@gpsk12.org. You can also call me at 772-1360, ext. 221. Especially needed are parents willing to serve on the Library Advisory Council, which will help me write the GMS Library Long Range Plan, a pre-requisite to applying for Library Service and Technology Act Federal grants.

Welcome

2007-09-19T11:22:00.000-04:00

The Greenfield Middle School Library is open Monday through Friday, 7:45 - 12:00 and 12:30 - 3:45.

We have a growing collection of print, audio, video, and electronic resources for staff and students to use.