Library

The library is open thirty minutes before and after school each day. On school days with a shortened schedule, the library is open thirty minutes after the students are dismissed.

The CPS Library's mission is to enhance and support the curriculum of the school. The library endeavors to assist the faculty, staff, and students with research and informational needs. It is the librarian's responsibility to deliver quality services and provide education in using old and new resources. The library is open every school day and its resources are well-maintained, organized, and accessible. The atmosphere of the library is conducive to study, and the library staff is supportive and professional.

LIBRARY HOLDINGS

Books 21,993
Periodicals 6,089
Non-print materials 800


The best guide to the resources of the library is the librarian who can assist students in finding appropriate print and non-print materials. The library staff can help students use Spectrum the online catalog — the key to the entire collection of 29,273 items.

Students are welcome to come to the library to read, study or research anytime throughout the day.

There are more than forty databases available to students in the library AND from any Internet browser outside the library. Students are encouraged to use our subscription services first for research needs.

Our research databases and online informational tools include:

Columbia Granger's World of Poetry
Encyclopedia Americana Online
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia of Popular Music--New!
Expanded Academic ASAP
Facts on File History
General Reference Center Gold
Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia
Grove Art Online
Grove Music Online
Literature Resource Center
netTrekker
NoodleBib
Novelist--New!
Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford Reference Online
Scientific American Magazine Online
Scribner Writers Series
Student Resource Center Gold
Student Resource Center- Health
Virtual Thesaurus--New!
World Book Online Reference Center

InfoCentre the library catalog is available online for easy searching of the entire library collection. Recommended web sites are also included in InfoCentre.

To have easy access through the web to these reference databases, students must pick up a “blue sheet” always available in the library. The instructional sheet gives details about each online resource as well as the Internet addresses, user names, and passwords needed.

Students may send an email to Mrs. Gans and a "blue sheet" can be sent as an attachment to their home address.