LIBRARY

Jeanne Swartz, Library/Media Specialist and also shares the role of co-academic lead.

Jeanne Swartz is a veteran Librarian/Media Specialist and Gifted and Talented Coordinator at the Circle of Nations/Wahpeton Indian School in Wahpeton, North Dakota. She is finishing her 25th year in this position at the Circle of Nations. Mrs. Swartz has also served as the Academic Lead since April 2003. Jeanne is a graduate of Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, with a major in elementary education and library science. She has completed graduate course work in Gifted and Talented education. Graduate courses have been taken at Northern State University in SD, University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University.

In addition, Jeanne has taken graduate courses in Indian Studies at the University of Arizona, University of North Dakota and with TEKWEB, a South Dakota consortium for technology and Native Studies. She is a co-chairperson of North Central Association (NCA) at the Circle of Nations. Jeanne is a lifelong resident of Rosholt, South Dakota which neighbors the Sisseton/Wahpeton Dakota Sioux Reservation.

The Circle of Nations Library/Media Center Program strives to ensure that each student will develop skills to become a life-long learner and a productive member of society.  An effective school library program must respond to individual differences and needs, and the changing needs of society and education.  To provide the basis for an effective library media program, the Library Media staff works closely with all those responsible for student learning.  In order to achieve the mission of the Circle of Nations, a strong media program must be available to all students and staff.

The following goals are established in the support of the Circle of Nations School Library/Media Center philosophy and mission:

• Serve as an integral part of Circle of Nation's educational program, assisting staff, administration and students in the learning process.

• Provide an opportunity for students to develop personal interests, become proficient at information retrieval and become an informed citizen.

• Motivate and guide students in the use of a variety of print and non-print materials.

• Provide opportunity for students to develop lifetime reading habits.

• Develop a comprehensive collection which is timely and based upon abilities, interests and needs of students and teachers.

• Support teaching and learning by providing intellectual and physical access to information.

The Media Center/Library is open to all students except during regularly scheduled classes.  All grades and classes have scheduled hours.  Library hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m..  The library is open to staff anytime during open hours.

The Media Center/Library has a collection of 18,000 books including a large collection of Native American books.  A large reference section features four (4) sets of encyclopedias and three (3) sets of Native American encyclopedias.  The magazine/periodical collection consists of 45 different magazine titles.  Newspapers are subscribed to and from various reservations and home areas where our students come from.  Two daily papers also available for students and staff.  The video collection contains over 1,200 titles and supports the curriculum as well as providing informational and entertaining materials.  Students have on-line access to computers in the library.  The library also has 250 books on tape which correspond with books in the Scholastic Reading Program.

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