About+the+Library

=Library Policies=
 * The library is open Monday - Friday 8:15 am to 3:15 pm. It may be closed for special programs and events.toc
 * Leave your Backpacks at the entrance to the library. Only take what you need when you are in the library.
 * No food in the library.
 * You must have a pass to come to the library. Unless you are coming with a teacher.
 * If you come from a Study Hall you must have the pass signed by the Study Hall Teacher.

=Circulation Policies=
 * Books are circulated for 14 School Days.
 * You can renew your book at any time.
 * If you do not return your book on time you will be charged a $.05 a day late fee until the book is returned
 * If you lose a book you will be charged the replacement cost of the book.

=**About the Librarian**=

Elissa Malespina is the Library Media Specialist at South Orange Middle School (SOMS) in South Orange, New Jersey where she works diligently to make her library a warm, welcoming and connected place for students and colleagues to visit. Throughout her 14 year career in education Mrs. Malespina has had the opportunity to work in the classroom as a high school history teacher, as a special education teacher for students with severe emotional, mental and physical challenges and for the last 8 years as a library media specialist at Highland Park High School, Columbia High School and now SOMS. Mrs. Malespina’s varied experience gives her a unique perspective toward working with students and teachers and drives her passions for infusing new technology into the curriculum and thinking outside the box to pique students’ interest and keep them engaged. Mrs. Malespina is at the forefront of using Web 2.0 resources and tools like QR codes to make the experience in her library more interactive. Her work with QR codes was featured in the April/May 2012 edition of //School Librarians Workshop// and she has presented to colleagues on QR Codes, Evernote in schools and Edmodo at New Jersey Association of School Libraries (NJASL) Conference, Handhelds in School Libraries Conference, 4t Virtual Conference as well as Teach and Meet NJ. She will be presenting at Edscape this October as well. When she’s not in her library or presenting at a conference, Mrs. Malespina is an avid sports fan. Along with her husband and 9-year-old son, she attends every home Men’s Basketball game her alma mater Seton Hall plays and Sunday is appointment television to watch the Giants and the Jets play, dismissing the idea that one can’t root for two different teams in one sport. Mrs. Malespina is also active on Twitter as @SOMSlibrary

=Contact Information= Elissa Malespina 70 North Ridgewood Road South Orange, NJ 07079 973-378-2772 ex. 2015 emalespi@somsd.k12.nj.us