Changes

Key achievements and new developments for the library program in 2024-2025.

Staffing

↓1

The library was without a ​full time aide for the first time this year. That change affected most of the developments below.

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Volunteers

↑4

Four students became charter members of our ​Volunteer Staff program. V-Staff members help with former responsibilities of the library aide, including: circulation, shelving, cataloging, cleaning, and answering questions. 

Open Periods

↓29%

Due to the loss of the library aide, the library went from being open 92% of the time last year, to being open 63% of the time this year. There was a corresponding 16% drop in daily study hall attendance.  

Testing

↑2%

The library was closed for testing 5% of the time this year, up from 3% last year. Testing limits student access to library resources, but also creates opportunities for Mr. Wightman to push into classes.

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Push-Ins

5:1

For every 5 classes that visited the library, Mr. Wightman pushed into 1 class. Last year the ratio was 3:2, so Mr. Wightman was less free to go into classes without an aide. However, teachers compensated by being more willing to bring their classes to the library. 

Circulation

↓33%

The library circulated 33% fewer books this year than it did last year. This may be partially due to the English department giving students more choice in their reading, and mandating ​fewer assignments where students were forced to check out books.

Reading

20 Minutes

All library visitors were expected to read or work on schoolwork for the first 20 minutes of each block. Most students opted for schoolwork, there was some in-library reading that isn't  reflected in the circulation statistics. 

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Support

↑8

Thanks to Dorrie Swart, Carol Bragg, Jamie Miller, Mike Burke, Deb McCullough, Wendy Everard, Chris Carroway, and Kelly Kutik for taking on a shift of library duty and helping keep the space up and running.

Databases

↑6

Cazenovia students had access to 6 new databases this year, at no additional cost to the district, due to the expansion of the statewide NovelNY program. 

Collaboration

Teachers can bring classes to the library to use the books or workspace. They can also collaborate with Mr. Wightman on lessons involving research, media literacy, tech tools, or literature. In 2024-2025, teachers booked the library or invited Mr. Wightman into 305 class sessions.

Collaboration Changes

Overall collaboration time was down 15% compared to last year. However, two departments, social studies and world language, increased their library use by 4 sessions each.

The two grades that used the library least last year, 8th grade and 12th grade, increased their collaboration this year.

Collaboration Summary

Once again, 3/4 of the classes using the library were English classes.

The 9th grade team reclaimed the collaboration lead, after losing the top spot to the 10th graders last year.

Top Collaborators

Ms. Chiarello

84 Classes

Mr. Murlin

65 Classes

Mrs. Littlepage

44 Classes

It was a year of consolidation in the library. Ms. DiNapoli and Mrs. Everard both introduced new mini research assignments, while Mr. Chiarello and Mr. Murlin made their existing research units more efficient. 

Capacity

The library is available for many uses, including classes (484 periods), meetings (72 sessions), testing accommodations (21 periods), and open space for study hall students (958 periods).

Classes

Classes used the library space or met with Mr. Wightman about 39% of the time, down from 44.5% last year.

The beginning of the year may be an opportune time for new collaboration.

​Study Halls

The library was open to students

63%

of the time.

On the average day students filled

99

study hall seats.

On the average day the library served

71

unique individuals.

Traffic Patterns

As was the case last year, the library was busiest during the lunch periods.

5th period was once again a major outlier in terms of class reservations.

After School Meetings

43% of school days had an after school meeting in the library.

Records

The library hosted four classes in a single day on 9 occasions. The busiest day was February 7, with three classes and 282 students. The busiest study hall day was October 7 (202 students). 

Impact

On the average day class and SH students filled

166

library seats.

Between classes and study halls the library served about

106

unique individuals every day.

Collection

The library maintains a collection of print books & magazines, ebooks, audiobooks, text & multimedia databases, and equipment. The collection is constantly updated: with new copies added every month, and outdated, worn-out, and unused titles periodically removed and offered to students and teachers for free. The Cazenovia community has a strong record of supporting intellectual freedom. No library materials were formally challenged this year.

Scope

Print Books

6,846

12.47 per student

Ebooks and Audiobooks

3,767

19.33 print & digital per student

Databases

81

Copies Added

88

Copies Aged Out and Donated

44

Titles Formally Challenged

0

The library collection is perfectly balanced between fiction and nonfiction. The nonfiction collection is slightly older than recommended, and will continue to be updated in the coming years.

Top Readers

​Top Print Reader

Kayden M.
12 checkouts

​Top Print Reader

Kayla S.
12 checkouts

​Top E-Reader

Anna B.
96 checkouts

Curriculum

Reader of the Semester

Nathan S.
Fall

Reader of the Semester

Brianna S.
​Spring

Top Titles

#1

12 Checkouts

#2

11 Checkouts*

#3

10 Checkouts

#4

9 Checkouts

#5

9 Checkouts

#6

9 Checkouts*​

#7

8 Checkouts

#8

8 Checkouts

#9

8 Checkouts

#10

7 Checkouts*

Titles marked with an asterisk appear on reading lists for honors English.

Circulation

Cazenovia HS students borrowed 33% fewer books than last year.

Circulation was also down slightly in the middle school (2.5%), but up at Burton St. (1%).

Curriculum

Library students engage with a variety of topics, and create many different products.

Mystery Collage

Mr. Kelly's 9th grade world history students analyzed historical artworks, investigated the origins of a mystery collage, and created their own collages to comment on enduring issues.

Media Messages

Ms. DiNapoli's 8th grade English students used skits from ChatGPT to explore how creators can use volume, tone, body language, and emphasis to change the meaning of a story without changing the words. 

Book Trailers

Ms. Chiarello's 9th graders and Mr. Murlin's 10th graders created book trailers with We Video and analyzed ways to use music, images, and language to attract an audience. In the sample above, Kate Fidelman promotes Sadie​.

Research Projects

During the months of December, February, and May, Mr. Murlin's 10th graders, Ms. Chiarello's 9th graders, and Mrs. Littlepage's 11th graders took a deep dive into argumentative research papers.

Killers of the Flower Moon

In September, Mr. Harney's 8th graders investigated a historical murder mystery - and learned that it's important to consider the source, since not all sources can be trusted.

Accident Investigation

In October, Ms. DiNapoli's 8th graders investigated an accident involving a truck and a railroad bridge - and saw the benefits of comparing multiple sources.

Sci-Fi Perspectives

In December, Ms. DiNapoli's 8th graders thought about controversies in science and technology, and actively sought perspectives they disagreed with. 

Health Advocacy Projects

Throughout the year Ms. Moesch's 10th graders prepared advocacy projects. They researched health topics they cared about, and explored effective ways to organize, and communicate information. In the sample above, Maureen Gutierrez explains how to help people who inject drugs.

Commendation

A personal note, because it feels appropriate this year. 

One of the lesser-known duties of the librarian is dealing with the packages no one else knows what to do with. These unsolicited arrivals range from forgettable to endearing to bizarre:

Renewal notices addressed to someone retired,

Magazines the district never paid for,

Books that belong to the public library,

Appeals from up-and-coming writers,

A journalist from Boise checking if their mayoral candidate was indeed voted “most likely to be president” as a Central New York youth. (She was.)

​For many years my personal favorite was a three-page prophecy from cult leader Warren Jeffs. Not sure how many schools he sent that to, but it didn’t make it into any of our collections.

Ken Westhaver, of the Cazenovia High School Class of 1956.

This spring I received a portfolio of art prints from a Mr. Ken Westhaver of Fryeburg, Maine. The accompanying letter said, in part, ​

Let me introduce myself: I was a student attending Cazenovia Central School between 1952 and 1956. I graduated with honors, especially in the visual arts. I have since often thought to donate a few pieces of my artwork as a token of my gratitude for the support (Merril Bailey) I received at Cazenovia Central. [...] I am now an old man of eighty-eight winters so cannot travel to Cazenovia to make the donation. I do hope that you and your students enjoy these illustrations as much as I enjoyed creating them.

Mr. Westhaver’s letter was, of course, not the only surprise I got around that time. In late April I received notice that I had won the ​2025 CNYSL Super Librarian Award. I always assumed capes were for “knock down the wall” personalities and bold initiatives, not tinkerers. Apparently, five people on our team disagreed.​

I owe my colleagues, administrators, and students an enormous debt of gratitude. Their trust, collaboration, support, responsibility, and willingness to learn are ultimately what earned that award. Without them I would just be a pencil-pusher with a masters degree. ​

And that’s what made the end of the year a bittersweet moment. Our community had to reckon with how much “team” it can afford.

​In this line of work, losing collaborators is like losing part of yourself. 

That’s why I think Mr. Westhaver’s art has eclipsed the cult letter as my favorite mystery package. It’s a reminder that our work has value beyond dollars & cents. Our little daily interactions matter to the old men and women of tomorrow. We pay it forward because our community once invested in us. 

Click on the image above to view more of Mr. Westhaver's artwork.

So I thank my community for their investment. I thank my Lord and family for being there for me every day. I thank my district for taking care of me and giving me a place to tinker. I thank the facilities guy who listens when I bring up an intrusive wall. I thank my colleagues for working with me and welcoming me into their classrooms. I thank my students for bettering themselves. I thank the librarians who are partnering with me throughout Central New York to pursue literacy, intellectual freedom, and love of reading, however elusive they may seem, knowing that our impact may echo into the next century.

Thank you.