Library

St. Thomas Aquinas Library Mission Statement
St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School is a diocesan co-educational school shaped by Christ-centered values and the Dominican tradition of truth. Our mission is to teach gospel values by providing a learning environment and by developing an independant learner with the ability to access and process information and ideas in the student's persuit of academic excellence that fosters the development of the whole person in a Catholic- Christian community. Our Library is located on the second floor of a two-story building with large windows that overlook pinetrees, open fields, and parking lots. The layout and warm colors of the reading/research room give the library a very aesthetic atmosphere--creating a mood for inquiry. The architectural firm won the Lousiana Architectural Award for Excellence in 1987 for the schools's design.

The STA Library has over 20,000 books, 40 periodicals, 500 pieces of media, three daily newspapers, three monthly newspapers, seven computers, and a mini-lab including 8 laptops.

Policies and Procedures
The library is a quiet place, an extension of the classrooms, for reading, researching, or studying. All students will be expected to observe the RIGHTS OF OTHERS to accomplish these goals.

1. Circulation--all items taken from the library must be checked out.
2. Books, vertical files, and old magazines may be checked out for two weeks and may be renewed as needed.
3. Reference books, teacher reserves, videos, and the most recent copy of a magazine may be checked out for overnight/weekend use. Fines should be cleared with the librarian as soon as possible.
4. For overdue books, vertical files, and old magazines, the fine is $0.10 per day, not counting absences, holidays, or weekends.
5. For reference books, teacher reserves, and the most recent copy of a magazine, the fine is $0.25 per day after the first hour tardy bell.
6. For photocopies and computer printouts, the cost is $0.10 per page.

Students are encouraged to return materials on time in fairness to their classmates.

1. Reminder notices for overdue materials are sent, should materials not be returned on time.
2. A white overdue notice is sent through first hour teachers on Monday mornings, or the first day of the school week.
3. A yellow overdue notice is sent the second week for materials that are overdue.
4. A pink notice is sent the third week for materials that are overdue.
5. With the fourth notice, a typed list is sent to all faculty members.
6. The student becomes ineligible to check out library materials for as long as he/she is on the list. After he is off the list, the student will go into a restrictive status being allowed one checkout at a time for his stay at STA.

Each student can make the library a better place by

1. Adhering to the accepted classroom and school guidelines, as explained in the student handbook.
2. Passing through the entryway in an orderly manner, and lowering his/her voice.
3. Not bringing food, candy, or drinks into the library.
4. Leaving binders at the door.
5. Having a pass to use the library during instructional time.
6. Speaking quietly and behaving in a manner consistent with study.
7. Asking the librarian for help, if needed.
8. Having a library card to check out materials.
9. Checking out all items to be taken out of the library.
10. Returning library materials on time.
11. Paying for lost items.