Library Media Links

In support of the 21st century learner, Allen-Field offers a robust Library Media Program with a full-time certified library media specialist serving Allen-Field’s entire learning community, providing all of the students, parents and staff with open access to the school’s varied collection. Allen-Field’s library collection is an integral academic component, reflecting the school’s curriculum and programs while also meeting the needs of the students’ diverse interests, abilities and learning styles. Wisconsin’s Common School Fund currently funds Allen-Field’s varied collection, which includes online databases, encyclopedias, books, magazines, media and library computers.

Information and Technology Literacy, as defined by Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards, is “the ability of an individual, working independently or with others, to use tools, resources, processes, and systems responsibly to access and evaluate information in any medium, and to use that information to solve problems, communicate clearly, make informed decisions, and construct new knowledge, products, or systems.” Allen-Field’s certified library media specialist also serves the school’s learning community as the Instructional Technology Leader (ITL), supporting staff as they integrate technological skills and tools throughout the curriculum.

Schoolwide, classrooms have 2-3, Internet accessible, Macintosh computers. The Macintosh computer lab is available for student use and professional staff development. Software programs, such as Kidspiration, Inspiration, Apple iLife (GarageBand, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD) and Microsoft PowerPoint, along with the online databases within the MPS Virtual Library and the MPS Destiny Online Library Catalog featuring WebPath Express provide Allen-Field’s learning community with technological tools to gather, organize, analyze and evaluate information in order to synthesize and communicate new learning in our digital world.

The goal of Allen-Field’s library media program is to promote lifelong learning, informed decision making and a love of reading.

For Further Information:

Wisconsin School Library Funding – Wisconsin’s Common School Fund

Information and Technology Literacy Standards, Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards, Department of Public Instruction

American Association of School Librarians Position Statement on the Library Media Specialists Role in Reading

Just a suggestion…

With a myriad of Web sites on the Internet, here is a list of some suggested sites that provide credible, authoritative places to begin an information search or to just have some fun.

MPS Virtual Library features BadgerLink, CultureGrams, Grolier Online, Nettrekker, Thinkfinity and World Book Online. Ask the library media specialist for the passwords for home access.

MPS Virtual Library features BadgerLink, CultureGrams, Grolier Online, Nettrekker, Thinkfinity and World Book Online. Ask the library media specialist for the passwords for home access.

Allen-Field’s Destiny Library Catalog highlights an easy and efficient way to search the library catalog and extend the search to evaluated Internet sites, categorized by grade level using WebPath Express.

• Once logged in to the catalog, Allen-Field’s learning community has access to Scholastic BookFLIX. The subscription runs through February 2010 and provides online books that are paired readings on a specific topic. One book is fiction and the other is nonfiction.

Milwaukee Public Library’s Kid Zone provides links to games, homework help and information for parents and children. Highlights from MPL’s Kid Zone include these Spanish language sites:

• Zona Latina para Niños (Grades 3 to 8) provides links to many Latin American Spanish language sites for kids, including television stations, cartoons, magazines and more.




• Multnomah County Library - Página de Niños (Grades 3 to 8) is a Spanish Language Web site for children. Online games (juegos), stories (cuentos), science (ciencias), art and activities (arte y actividades), songs and rhymes (canciones y rimas) and magazines (revistas) are available. This site was created and is maintained by the Multnomah County Library.

American Library Association (ALA)/Association for Library Service to Children’s (ALSC) Great Web Sites for Kids. These sites were selected by the Children and Technology Committee of the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, and are organized by content area categories such as math, social sciences, science, the arts, reference desk…) and Great Web Sites for Kids - Parents/Teachers/Caregiver’s page. Highlights from ALA/ALSC’s Great Web Sites for Kids page include:

Colorín Colorado was taken from a Spanish phrase that is often said after reading a good story. "Colorín Colorado" is a bilingual Web site for parents and educators who wish to help children become successful lifelong readers. Al igual que la frase que indica el final de un cuento, Colorín Colorado es un sitio bilingüe con información para padres y educadores sobre cómo ayudar a los niños a leer con fluidez y eficiencia.
KidsClick! is a directory of sites selected by librarians and organized by subject and Dewey numbers. Students can click on a particular subject and another page appears with a list of age appropriate Web sites for that subject. This directory is also searchable by keyword. Each Web site lists the suggested reading level. Additional tips on searching techniques are included.
Kidspace@ the Internet Public Library is a place worth visiting. The Internet Public Library provides links and activities related to a wide variety of subjects. Sponsored by the School of Information at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, it is a good place to search or browse for information.
Netsmartz features games, activities and information to help kids, teens and parents stay safe on the Internet.
Reading is Fundamental (RIF) is a program in which Allen-Field participates with support from the Rotary Club of Milwaukee. Allen-Field students receive three free books during the school year. This Web site provides literacy and reading activities for families in English and Spanish.
Story Place: The Children's Digital Library Take a virtual trip to The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County. Stories, online activities, take-home activities, and reading lists can be found in English and Spanish.

International Children’s Digital Library (ICDL) contains complete books in many languages and reading levels. The ICDL's mission is to "excite and inspire the world's children to become members of the global community – children who understand the value of tolerance and respect for diverse cultures, languages and ideas – by making the best in children's literature available online."

back to top

Get directions to Allen Field here.