School Librarian Provides Online Resources for Students

By Giulia Del Priore, Elizabeth Gesinger, and Julie Hansen

The shelves, study spaces, and relaxing areas of Albany High School’s library remain closed during virtual learning, but many of its resources have moved online.

School librarian Mary Ann Scheuer created four Google Classrooms individualized for each grade level to accommodate virtual learning, full of important resources.This new system allows students to quickly log on and view current information.

There is a new COVID-19 safe checkout process for library books. Students search through the online catalog or the library’s profile on Goodreads to select their books. They then fill out and submit a request form and pick their selections up at the AHS library on Fridays between 9 and 4 P.M.

“Students may not browse the shelves or study in the library,” Ms. Scheuer said. During Friday’s pick-up times, “students wear masks and practice social distancing.”

Resources for the book checkout process can be found on the library Google Classrooms and on the library page of the AHS website.

The classrooms also serve as a bulletin board for AHS news, with posts from student leadership about activities like Club Rush and other current events.

If students are experiencing technical issues, Ms.Scheuer created an AHS tech support guide that helps students to sign into AUSD Zoom classes. On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 - 11 A.M., she hosts library office hours dedicated to helping students with tech problems.

According to Ms. Scheuer, the Google Classrooms have been successful.

“About 80 percent of each grade level has joined,” she said. “Student leadership finds the Google Classroom to be very helpful as a way to share information.”