The Symmes Elementary library collection contains more than 20,000 items including books, videotapes, audiobooks, professional materials, periodicals, and electronic materials. Materials are selected to enrich and correlate with the school curriculum as determined by Sycamore Community Schools.

The goal of the library media program at Symmes Elementary School is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. This goal is accomplished by providing intellectual and physical access to materials in all formats by providing instruction to foster competence and stimulate interest in reading, viewing, and using information and ideas by working with other educators to design learning strategies to meet the needs of individual students.

Students in grades K-4 visit the media center once a week with their class for instruction and book checkout. All-day kindergarten classes come to the media center twice a week; one day for book checkout and one day for story time. Students are welcome to visit the library at other times during the week, with teacher permission, to check out new books.

Students may have 3 items checked out at a time. Kindergarten students start out the school year by checking out 1 book but will eventually work up to 3 books. Students should return all checked out items on their regular library day so that they may check out new items. Books may be renewed a reasonable number of times but books must be presented in order to be renewed.

Students will be given a reminder note to take home if they forgot their books on their class’ library day. Students are encouraged to bring their books back to school the next day if they forgot them. No overdue fines are charged. If a book is lost or damaged, current replacement costs are charged.

Parents should contact Cathie Ashton, library media specialist, at 513-686-1740 ext. 1846, email, or written note if extra time is needed to look for a missing book, if a book is accidentally returned to the public library, or with general library questions.