Exciting Developments for Dixon's Library!

The Snapdragon Book Foundation, www.snapdragonbookfoundation.org, has awarded our library a generous grant to purchase new books. We express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for the honor of being selected and for the opportunity this affords us.

Our application, entitled Dealing with Diversity: Building Bridges with Books, outlined our circumstances and described some of the objectives in place for the library. In our increasingly global world of information students must be taught to seek diverse perspectives. Our current student-body comprises a large element of diversity. We need materials which will help students gain a sense of personal identity and attachment to their own cultural heritage, books that will help students increase in understanding and appreciation of both their own heritage and that of other people. Books with protagonists who face the challenge of physical or mental handicaps can also instill in our students an appreciation of how these individuals have already and are now making  contributions to our society. We hope to help our students develop a sense of shared membership in a larger community comprised of many others from diverse and valued backgrounds. Such sensibilities can only serve to benefit them now and in the future as they interact with others in our ever expanding, diverse global environment.

Activities Planned:

As learning is enhanced by opportunities to share and learn with others our plans include several means by which this may be accomplished:

1) Shared Book Reviews

As students complete the reading of a title dealing with diversity they will be invited to do a book review on the form provided. On this they will comment on how their "view" has been altered, their understanding affected. Having done so they will receive Panther Paw Prints, one little print to be placed in a container for a monthly drawing, one larger print to be placed on the wall or ceiling between the two Panthers which mark the beginning and ending of the "Bridge" across the main span of our library. The book reviews will be placed in a file in a location accessible to all.

As the literal bridge of paw prints extends from one side of the library to the other, we hope a      symbolic bridge, formed of new perspectives, knowledge, understanding and sympathy, will be
formed within our students to help them on their journeys from the present to the future.

2) Jeopardy Games

These will be staged in the library throughout the year during i-time. Questions for each game will be generated from information presented in certain books, the titles of which will be announced in advance.


3) Parent Book Club

Interested parents are invited to e-mail me at tessar@provo.edu  We can meet periodically at lunch time in the library. Parents can participate in the creation of our Panther Bridge if desired.