Brockport High School library to be open evenings

Students at the Brockport High School will now have more options for getting their homework done. Soon they can go to the high school library at night to work on research projects, access the Internet, form study groups, or for a quiet place to do homework. Beginning October 15, the library will be open Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m.

Extending the library hours is part of a district-wide initiative to build student capacity for learning. "This practice will provide an additional opportunity for our students to take advantage of the many resources available at our high school," said Gary Levandowski, high school principal. "Many students have made a variety of commitments and we hope that this gives them the support and flexibility that they will need in reaching their own goals."

To further assist students, the daytime library hours were extended to 3:45 p.m. on A/C days. The library will also have extended hours during Regents exam week in January and during Advanced Placement and final exams in May and June. In January, the library will be open Monday through Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. from January 12 through 29, and plans to keep a similar schedule in June.

Kathy Jaccarino, high school librarian, created this schedule in response to a request from District Superintendent Jim Fallon and Principal Gary Levandowski to keep the library open longer during exam week. "We started a small pilot before exams in June and thought we would try extending the hours throughout the year," Jaccarino said. "It makes sense to keep the library open at night, especially since the building is already open for after-school activities. This could be a great opportunity for students participating in those events to pick up materials, do research, or get their homework done before going home.

Although there are several public libraries in the area, Jaccarino hopes that students will take advantage of the curriculum-based materials available at the high school library. Families of the students and tutors are also welcome to accompany the students in the evening.

Students can also access online resources such as magazine, newspaper, and journal articles right from their home/school computers.