About the Darien High School Library
The DHS Library is committed to serving and supporting the educational needs of the students and the staff.
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Library Hours |
Resources
The Library maintains a specialized collection of various materials and resources designed to meet the needs of students and faculty. The collection provides materials for research and information as well as materials for pleasure and general interest. Print, electronic, and audio visual materials are indexed in the Follett Destiny Catalog. This online catalog and circulation system allows patrons to search for Library materials at school and remotely. The reference collection in the library is extensive and designed to meet the many education needs within the school. In addition to the outstanding print holdings, the DHS Library has a collection of eBooks that are accessible either through the catalog or the Library website. Also included in the collection are various periodicals, many of which are retained in a periodical archive and/or on microfiche. Articles from periodicals may be searched using the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature or ProQuest Platinum which is a full-text subscription database of newspapers and magazines. The Library also subscribes to several online databases to further support the information needs of our students and teachers at school and remotely. Videos, audiotapes, and music on compact discs are all part of the audio visual materials available in the Library.
Borrowing
All materials in the Library are available for circulation. Due dates and fines vary according to the type of material. Materials placed on reserve for class use are held behind the Circulation Desk. Reserve items may be signed out for use for one period or checked out at the end of the day for return the following morning. All items may be renewed by contacting the Library as long as the item has not been placed on hold. Patrons may check their Library obligations by logging onto their Follett Destiny account using their district username and password.
Resource |
Loan Period |
Fines |
Books |
2 weeks |
$0.10/day |
Magazines |
Overnight |
$2.00/day |
Reference |
Overnight |
$2.00/day |
Reserves |
Overnight |
$2.00/day |
Videos |
1 week |
$0.25/day |
CDs |
1 week |
$0.25/day |
Behavior
The Library is a place for quiet work and study before, during, and after school. The general rule for Library behavior is consideration of others and the need for a quiet work environment. During the school day the Library is open to all students who have quiet work to do during their unassigned periods except for freshmen and students on academic probation who need a library pass. Students who simply wish to socialize should use other areas in the school. Students may talk quietly while working in the open area but must work silently on their own in the section reserved for silent study. Various study rooms are available for group work. During times of heaviest use access to the Library may be limited to the first few minutes of the period and students who leave will not be readmitted. No food, drinks, or computer games are allowed in the Library.
Computers
The DHS Library has numerous computers that are available to students for curriculum related purposes on a first-come, first served basis during regular library hours. Use of the computers may be limited when a teacher has reserved computers for a class. Student use of the computers is subject to the terms of the Computer Use Agreement that students and parents sign. Any improper use of any of the computers may result in loss of computer privileges.
Selection Assistance
The library teachers gladly provide assistance with the selection of books for assignments and for pleasure reading. Various Resource Lists in Destiny and resources by subject are also available.
Inter-Library Loans
The Library belongs to the Connecticut Library Network that shares resources through project reQuest: an online catalog that allows patrons to locate materials in other participating libraries all over the state. Please see a library teacher for instructions on obtaining materials through the Inter-Library Loan (ILL) system.
Book Ordering
Patrons are invited to make suggestions for additions to the Library collection. Books are ordered throughout the year as needed. Although some requests can be filled in a few days, others may take some time. It is important to make your request for materials as early as possible. Please see a library teacher about your requests
Additional Services
Library teachers provide assistance to students preparing Works Cited pages for their research assignments. DHS subscribes to a software program Noodletools that assists students with the correct format for citations and Works Cited pages. School supplies such as pens, pencils, notebooks, index cards, hi-liters, 3.5" disks, stamps, folders and report covers may be purchased at the circulation desk. There is a coin-operated photocopier located behind the circulation desk as well as a microfiche reader printer and digital flatbed scanner. If there are other services that you require, please ask a library teacher.
Passwords
The DHS library online databases are accessed with a username and password. If you are unable to access the databases, please see a librarian or send an email to dhslibrary@darienps.org from your school email account. iCONN is accessible from home with a public library card number.
We will do our best to serve you!