The Library

The OES Library Program serves the OES community at three campus locations and on the Internet. Information about the libraries’ offerings, as well as access to the libraries’ catalogs and to subscription databases, is available at the library website.

The Upper School Library is located on the ground floor of the Upper School Building and is accessible from the main lobby of the building. Library hours are 7 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 7 a.m.–3:30 p.m. on Fridays. The library’s resources include 15,000 books, nearly 50 periodicals, 22 computer stations, study areas, a lounge area, and a conference room that accommodates up to 16 people. It is staffed by a full-time professional librarian and a part-time library assistant.

The goal of the Upper School Library is to support teaching and learning in the Upper School by providing access to a wide variety of information sources, both print and electronic, and by providing instruction and guidance in how to search in and use those sources. In addition, the library promotes and encourages pleasure reading by ordering and displaying popular fiction; by celebrating such events as Banned Books Week, Teen Read Week, and National Library Week; and by conducting a summer reading program for Upper School students.

Increasingly, the OES libraries offer access to information in electronic form. Students and parents may search the library’s online catalog remotely via the library website. In addition, the libraries subscribe to nearly a dozen paid databases, including encyclopedias, dictionaries, biographical resources, and periodical collections. Students and parents may use any of these resources on campus, or from home with a username and password. The school’s librarians offer an occasional event, called “Data and Desserts,” to introduce parents to the libraries’ electronic resources.

The library program at OES prepares students to work confidently in the rapidly changing world of information. In the Upper School, research instruction is integrated into coursework through a wide variety of assignments, including the Freshman Rome Report, the Sophomore Poetry Project, and the Junior Literary Journalism Project. Students learn to create a strategy for research and to use the most appropriate materials. Students also learn how to search for materials in the public libraries and academic libraries of the greater Portland area, and how to request materials from those institutions.

Students, parents, and faculty members are encouraged to check out books from the library for study and for pleasure reading, and to submit requests for books they would like to see the library order and carry.

The Upper School Library and the other two division libraries are fortunate to enjoy the support of the Friends of the Oregon Episcopal School Library (FOESL), a volunteer parent group. FOESL stages an annual Fall Book Fair, a biannual Spring Book Fair, and a biannual used book sale. FOESL uses money raised from its various events to bring authors, illustrators and other speakers to campus.

Computer Network

All Upper School students are given “user” accounts, dedicated hard drive space, Internet access, and an email address on the school network. Network and Internet use policies are defined in the OES Computer Use Policy in the All School section of this handbook. Instruction on the use of the network and management of students’ personal accounts are provided in the introductory Technology course.

All buildings on campus are connected to our network, including a connection in each dorm room. Computers designated for student use are located in the computer labs, libraries, and classrooms. Network printers, including color lasers, are provided for use by students for printing projects and papers.

OES students have access to Microsoft Office XP. Many academic departments have course or discipline-specific software on the network for student use.

INAPPROPRIATE USE OF COMPUTERS
A student who uses the computer system inappropriately may be subject to probation, suspension, or dismissal depending upon the nature of the infraction. For more information on computer use and what constitutes inappropriate use, please see the OES Computer Use Policy in the All School section of this handbook.