Library Media Center Home
Library Media Center
Library Info
-
The Helen Street School Library Media Center is a place where curiosity and problem solving are encouraged.
Centrally located as the "hub" in the school, it is the focal point for dreaming, stretching and discovery through pleasure reading, wondering, exploring, information seeking, knowledge building, and critical thinking.
At Helen Street School, the Library Media Center is an important part of your student’s education. -
Research shows school libraries support student learning & higher academic achievement when staffed by qualified library teachers who also inspire & engage students with information literacy, technology integration, and literature appreciation.
-
Book Loans
- Each student can borrow up to 2 books in addition to resources assigned by the classroom teacher.
- Books are due 1 week later, but can be extended or when the class assignment is finished.
- There are no fines for late books, but Notices of Unreturned Books are sent home monthly and inserted in Report Envelopes.
OPEN LIBRARY- Daily.
- Students are welcome to visit the library media center to return books and/or select new books for borrowing.
-
Acceptable Use Policy~
On registration, parents/guardians receive and sign an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), which describes the expectations for their child's technology and student account use. Students review the expectations in a student version of the AUP in Library Media class each school year. -
Volunteer Opportunities~
Parents/Guardians are always welcome to volunteer in our school library. Best help includes~ Shelving books, Sorting books, Prepping teacher requests, Labeling and helping students during Open Library.Morning drop-off times or Afternoon pick-up times are likely times, and 10-20 minutes can be very helpful.
If no openings exist at Helen Street School, we will refer you to another Hamden Public School.
Please contact Mrs. Helenski, Library Media Specialist, to discuss needs, training and days/hours available.
The 2025-2026 school year marks my 26th year of teaching, my 10th year in the library. Before becoming a teacher librarian, I was a classroom teacher in various grades for 16 years.
While this is my second year at Helen Street School, I am not new to Hamden. Previous to Helen Street, I was at Shepherd Glen for 18 years, 7 of which I was in the Media Center.
While at Shepherd Glen I incorporated many programs into the Library. Both virtual and in personal, for students, staff, and families, before, during, and after school. I look forward to bringing various programs to Helen Street as well. I also collaborated with the local universities to provide various enrichment opportunities and welcomed new teachers and media specialists into the building to share my love of teaching. I hope to continue these types of collaborations as well.
My vision for teaching is to provide skills and experiences that will broaden all students’ experiences and open their eyes to a world of possibilities and talents they may not have known existed.
On Monday, March 2, 2026! I was on the NBC Today Show! I was one of three Connecticut school librarians invited to be apart of a group of 16 tristate librarians. We were invited along with Tiktok librarian, Jen Miller, to celebrate Read Across America Day.
It was truly a once in a lifetime experience and I am beyond grateful to have been invited. I was also gifted more than 100 brand new books for our library, thanks to Scholastic!
If you missed the segment and would like to see it, you can watch here.
