CHS library adds new books

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers, wrote Dr. Charles W. Eliot, former president of Harvard University.

Every year, the CHS librarian is given a budget for new books. A large percentage of this money is spent on nonfiction and reference books. This is mainly because reference books are about eight times as expensive as the average library-ready fiction book.

Recently, the California High School library received a shipment of nearly 70 brand new fiction books that had some kids buzzing with excitement.

Despite reference books being vital to the success of students, most teenagers do not want to read encyclopedias or dictionaries for recreation.

I think its important to take teacher and student requests because those are the books that kids want to read, said Janet Henley, librarian. Students need to know that their librarian values their opinions.

Three stacks of books, three days of processing, and 70 books later, Henley along with library aid, Kim Cullom, had the books ready for the shelf.

However, students were allowed to get a sneak peek at the books as soon as they came in. Henley had them on a specific shelf, and avid readers were able to write their names on sticky notes to claim books that they wanted to read.

Getting kids excited about reading is a difficult task, but with a shelf full of new, fresh fiction, students can escape to new lands, go on new adventures, and actually read for fun.