CAMPUS:
LIBRARIES AND COMPUTERS
The libraries at Marymount underwent an architectural transformation in 1998 to become two of the most beautiful spaces in the school. They take advantage of natural light and picturesque views. Their expansion continues with upgrades in technology and a yearly order of the newest books.
The libraries are fully automated and use the Mandarin M3 system with barcode check out. Each year new books are purchased for the library based on teacher recommendations, student suggestions, and the librarian's discretion. The reference area includes sets of encyclopedias plus the computer program of Encarta Encyclopedia, Atlas and Dictionary in both English and Italian.
The Secondary Library Multimedia Center consists of 12 stationary Pentium III computers equipped with 17" monitors and 12 laptops with Wi-Fi (wireless Internet access), a scanner, a heavy-duty laser printer, a color printer, and zip drive. The computers are connected on a fiber optic infrastructure network on which students have personal password protected logins. Students carry out individual research projects or an entire class may sign up to meet in the Multimedia Center. Internet usage is filtered.
In the Elementary School Multimedia Center there are 10 computers networked with the Internet and the computer lab
upstairs. Students may come down in small groups for research and teachers utilize the center to enhance the classroom curriculum.
The Early Childhood recently created their own library with over 2500 books in English to read in school or checkout for home.
The peaceful and serene libraries beat with the pulse of the information age. "The library is used. Students are really getting information from here," points out the Secondary Librarian, Ms.Canepa. A constantly renewed source of books and an investment in technology not only allows students to learn, but teaches them skills on how to access information.
The Secondary Computer Lab contains 22 modern computers equipped with large color
monitors. The Secondary School network has two primary Servers, with dual processors and secure mirroring backup hard disks used for personal student folders, one proxy (internet) server and two workstations and a color laser jet printer. The Computer Laboratory and Library network have ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) high-speed Internet connection and 100 Megabit switches, making the network fast.
23 Pentium 4, 2GHz computers equipped with 256 MB of RAM are networked with ADSL Internet access and a HP DeskJet color printer in the spacious, bright and air-conditioned Elementary Computer Lab. A separate ADSL connection is dedicated for administrative use.
Computer Classes are part of the weekly schedule for all Elementary students, required in Middle School and offered in Secondary School. Classes are one component of Marymount's Technology Program. Computers are being increasingly integrated into regular classroom activities with Internet connections in every classroom in the school. Classes meet at the Multimedia Centers in the libraries. Portable computers are moving out of the library with teachers into the classroom for multimedia presentations. The philosophy of the computer program is to foster fluency in information technology, integrate it with their curriculum, and prepare students with the skills and knowledge to function in today's world. All this is made possible with the every growing investment in technology for the future at
Marymount.
