December Issue III

Anne Frank Library Resources
FEATURES 15
A Look into the
Anne Frank Library
Anne Frank Library provides new tools and services to make vast resources more accessible.
By MELODY GUI ‘21
Along with the numerous
side-effects the pandemic
has had on the Baldwin
campus this year, the Anne
Frank Library has not been spared. Contrary
to last spring, however, there are
new tools and services to make the Anne
Frank Library’s vast resources more accessible,
thanks to librarians Mrs. Friedman-Way
and Ms. Nardelli’s hard work.
As COVID-19 cases continue to
rise nationwide, the prospect of another
long period of Baldwin Wired
2.0 does not seem far-fetched. But
even when the campus was open,
most students, other than seniors,
did not have access to the library.
What are the ways to continue
utilizing the library’s resources during
this special year? Stripped of the traditional
way of walking around the library
and browsing the shelves, are
students finding it harder to check out
books? The answers might surprise you.
“This year, we’re doing the Baldwin
Bookdash, and it’s been amazingly
successful. It does feel like the number
of checkouts is much higher this year
than in years past, especially in middle
school. Students have really embraced
Baldwin Bookdash,” Ms. Nardelli said.
Ms. Nardelli explained that part
of the reason students are checking
out more books despite not having
access to the library is the appeal of
Baldwin Bookdash. This system entails
delivering library books in a little
bag along with a pin and a sticker.
“
As we prepare to
go into Baldwin Wired
2.0 as well as with an
increasing number of
projects and papers,
let us not forget our
love for reading.”
Receiving a book is like receiving
a gift through Baldwin Bookdash. Due
to the success of Baldwin Bookdash,
the librarians
are considering
keeping
it even after
the pandemic.
T h e
Anne Frank
Library online
catalog
has also been
updated this
year, making
it easier to
navigate and more aesthetically pleasing.
Students can click on topics and browse
through collections of titles on specific
issues at the bottom of the new catalog,
which also has a lot of appeal to students.
“You can’t come to the library, but
you can go and click on topics and find
books on that topic. Or if we make a
special collection on something timely,
you can see the titles of the books and
just feel like you are in the library even
though you are not,” Ms. Nardelli said.
Mrs. Friedman-Way explained
that another option that has been extremely
popular this year is the “Mrs.
F match,” where she matches students
with books based on their answers to
her questions, interests, and personality.
“I think the students like being surprised.
And some of them have really
embraced the mystery of ‘Mrs. F match.’
Like, what is
it she is going
to choose for
me today. They
trust me to do
it,” Mrs. Friedman-Way
said.
Moreover,
people
might just
miss having a
physical book
in their hands.
It is a nice break from the excessive
amount of time spent with electronic
devices and virtual learning resources.
Of all the new services created at
the library since the pandemic, the hidden
gem is the opportunity to set up
one-on-one Zoom conferences with Ms.
Nardelli and Mrs. Friedman-Way, which
can be done using the link on the online
library catalog or the “Ask a Librarian”
page on the library Google Classroom.
The librarians are there to help
students locate resources, learn how to
navigate the catalog, do an advanced
search, create citations, and much more.
“I encourage them to make appointments
with me, and I can help them with
the projects. It’s available to anybody.
If you have a project, and your teacher
maybe didn’t ask us to come in, you can
still contact us, and we’d be happy to help
you find resources and use the databases
more effectively,” Ms. Nardelli said.
Students can better take advantage
of the great books with the library’s information
if they know how to use the
catalog most effectively. Understanding
how to explore and research information,
play with different combinations
of keywords, and use advanced
searches will also help prepare students
for college, where they will be navigating
much bigger libraries and databases,
such as the Library of Congress.
Mrs. Friedman-Way and Ms. Nardelli,
who are both extremely experienced
in library science, literature, and
education, are enthusiastic about connecting
with and helping students and
are excellent resources to go to for help.
As we prepare to go into Baldwin
Wired 2.0 after winter break, as well as
with an increasing number of projects
and papers, let us not forget the vast collections
at Anne Frank Library, the new
services it provides this year (that will be
accessible in a virtual format), our librarians
who are always there to help, and,
most importantly — our love for reading.
ANNE FRANK
LIBRARY’S
NEW
TOOLS AND
SERVICES:
BALDWIN BOOKDASH
The librarians deliver library
books in a little bag along
with a pin and a sticker. With
Mrs. F’s match, students can
match with books based
on their answers to a brief
survey.
ONLINE LIBRARY CATALOG
Students can browse through
collections of titles on
specific issues or create their
own collections.
SCHEDULED MEETINGS
Students can schedule a
meeting with the librarians to
locate resources, learn how
to navigate the catalog, do
an advanced search, create
citations, and more!
Design by Melody Hao ‘22 • Photography by Maggie Song ‘21