West Middle School Library

Click here for online units.

Research Resources

To obtain usernames and passwords for each resource, please contact Ms. Valentine.

New!

Sirs Discoverer - A general reference resource to help students develop research, writing, language and computer skills.

CultureGrams provides in-depth perspectives of daily life and culture to more that 200+ countries, the United States, and Canada.

      The Grolier Online Reference Database includes Encyclopedia Americana, Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, The New Book of Knowledge, The New Book of Popular Science, Lands and Peoples, and America the Beautiful.  

To access Grolier Online at home, click here.

    Indiana residents can also access magazine and encyclopedia articles at no cost  through Inspire, which is provided by the state of Indiana.

Extensive career information can be found at Chronicle Occupational Briefs Online. 

    West Middle School also offers the K-12 Teaching and Learning Center.  Here students can access an almanac, an encyclopedia, family guidance tips and more!

Special Programs

Accelerated Reader

    We have upgraded to Renaissance Place, which allows students access to nearly 110,000 Accelerated Reader quizzes.  Students may take quizzes only during school hours under the direction of their reading teacher.

    Students are encouraged to read within their Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) when participating in the Accelerated Reader Program.  This is the reading level range at which students can achieve optimal growth in reading skills without experiencing frustration.  ZPD is not equal to grade level nor does it represent grade level.  Each student's ZPD is determined by the STAR test.  

Read-n-Feed

Our 2008 Read-n-Feed was held on May 1, 2008.  We welcomed Margaret McMullan, author of How I Found the Strong and When I Crossed No-Bob. Click here to see the slide show.

     West Middle Library welcomed Elaine Marie Alphin, author of Ghost Cadet and guest speaker at our annual Read-n-Feed on April 19, 2001.  Click here for activities based on the novel.  A very exciting Read-n-Feed was held on April 17, 2002, when we welcomed award winning author Paul Zindel.  We also greatly enjoyed April 18, 2003 when we hosted novelist Gordon Korman.  You can learn more about Mr. Korman by clicking here.  Author Alane Ferguson, co-author of the series, Mysteries in our National Parks, visited West Middle School during the week of April 12, 2004.   You can learn more about Mrs. Ferguson by visiting alaneferguson.com. It was fabulous meeting Roland Smith, whose novels include Sasquatch, Zach's Lie, and The Captain's Dog, during his visit to West Middle School on Friday, April 22, 2005.  Students read several of his novels in preparation for his visit.  Learn more about Roland Smith at rolandsmith.com.  In April 2006, we hosted Young Hoosier Book award nominee David Patneaude, author of Someone was Watching, Framed in Fire, and Haunting at Home Plate, among others. John H. Ritter, our 2007 Read-n-Feed author, led an educational and entertaining day on April 11, 2007. 

  Thank you to the MSD of Martinsville Education Foundation for their support of this annual program.

The Young Hoosier Book Award Program

2008 WMS Winner - A three-way tie!

Code Orange by Caroline Cooney, The Old Willis Place : A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn, and So B. It by Sarah Weeks

2007-2008 Indiana Winner - So B. It by Sarah Weeks

    West Middle School students are participating in the Young Hoosier Book Award program.  The goal of the program is to encourage recreational reading.   The books in the program are chosen by a group of Indiana educators.  Students who read five of the twenty nominated books are eligible to vote for their favorite.   Young Hoosier books are marked with a yellow dot and all are also included in the Accelerated Reader program.  Read five and help West Middle School have a strong voice in choosing an author to honor!                                                        

Library Mission Statement

It is the mission of the school library media program to provide the highest quality materials and service to support and enhance the curriculum as well as the learning needs and styles of all students. Programs that model best instructional practices will be developed in conjunction with classroom teachers to enhance the educational development of each student.

Technology as a Tool for Teaching and Learning

    Click here to find links to lessons, webquests and curriculum ideas that feature innovative ideas, teacher/librarian collaboration,  and technology.

 If you would like to become a library volunteer, please email Cindi Valentine  or Linda Brinegar or call the school at 765-342-6628.   Thank you!