PHILOSOPHY - BERLIN HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY/ MEDIA CENTER
The purpose of the Berlin High School Library/Media Center is to instill students with life-long library skills. They learn to access and use information, and to be responsible for their own learning. The Library staff works in partnership with teachers to meet individual learning needs.
The Berlin High School Library/ Media Center has responded to changes in society and technology. Students have access to on-line subscription databases and the Internet. The Media Center is an active learning environment: instruction focuses on the learning process itself, rather than the providing of information. Innovations in technology have revolutionized the way information is found and used. Access to electronic media has greatly increased opportunities for learning. To be productive citizens, students need to learn how to conduct electronic searches. They also need to be taught the responsibility required of them with these increased opportunities. Students become producers and consumers of information in a variety of sources and formats. Students are actively engaged in the learning process. The students gain information through the search process and then create a meaningful product that communicates that knowledge effectively The development of expertise in accessing, evaluating, and using information creates authentic learning.
The Media Center is one part of a learning community. This community is comprised of students, staff and parents, as well as local, regional, state, national, and international communities. We are all interconnected in our search for understanding and our own efforts to meet constantly changing needs for information. The learning community is not limited by time, age, job, or academic discipline. Common interest, needs and telecommunication technology provide the limits for this learning community.
The Library/Media Center helps our students to thrive in this rapidly changing, challenging environment. We help our students to become information literate: to locate information creatively, to evaluate and use information to problem solve, and to satisfy their curiosity. We will help our students to become ethical, lifelong learners who will contribute responsibly and productively.