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Library and Media Center

Portola Springs Elementary
Library and Media Center

Welcome to Portola Springs Elementary’s Library & Media Center. Our mission is to teach our students the information literacy skills necessary to access and evaluate information, to use it accurately, creatively, and ethically to provide a wide variety of materials to support the curriculum, and to encourage a life-long love of reading.

Thank you,

Library Media Technician
Shirley Ku ShirleyKu@iusd.org
Erin Yarborough ErinYarborough@iusd.org

Open Hours

Students have access to the library during their weekly scheduled library time. 

Book check-out information

  • Students will check out 1 or 2 books a week depending on grade level.
  • Additional books will be permitted for school assignments.
  • All books checked out need to be returned before any new books can be checked out.
  • Students with late books or fines will not be allowed to continue checking out library books until their materials are returned and their account cleared.

WHAT IF I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT I BORROWED

Students can access their accounts and view their information anywhere through Destiny.  You can view library books borrowed and their due dates online. 

Fines (Damaged and Lost Books)

Fines are collected for lost or damaged books. Replacement books are not accepted in lieu of paying fines. Access to grades, yearbooks and borrowing privileges may be withheld until late books/fines are collected. (Education Code sections 19910-19911 and 48904).

Emails are sent weekly to parents regarding overdue, lost, or damaged books. 

There are no fines for overdue books returned in good condition.

E-Resource weblinks

  • Destiny (Select Portola Springs Elementary) View the library catalog and other shortcuts.
  • Sora (Overdrive) (Username: #lastnamefirstname Password: your 9 digit number) E-books and e-audiobooks available to download to ipad, computer and more.
  • MackinVia (Click on the green person next to your name at the top, select "change site",  and select Portola Springs Elementary)
  • ComicsPlus (Go to MackinVia and click on "Comics/Graphic Novels" from the leftside menu) Unlimited access to thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, and manga. 
  • Encyclopedia Britannica (Username: portolas Password: irvine) Online access to accurate, age appropriate articles, images, and videos on millions of topics.
  • Clever Cloud based service that compiles digital tools for the classroom.
  • Canvas Cloud based service that compiles digital tools for the classroom.
  • NatGeo Kids Online access to videos, images, books, and magazines from National Geographic. (offsite password: poppy)
  • California Department of Education Recommended Reading Lists searchable database of books for children which helps students, teachers, and families find books that entertain, inform, and explore new ideas and experiences.

Videos

We have been creating videos for you. We will be adding to this list as we create and edit more so check back regularly. You will need a IUSD email address to view the videos.

Poetry Month 

Star Wars Day (May the Fourth Be With You)

California Young Reader Medal Primary Nominees for Portola Springs Elementary

2022 Nominees

Primary Books

Picture Books for Older Readers

2021 Nominees

2020 Nominees

Other Stories

Public Domain Books

How to Videos/Slideshows

I'm bored

    Aside from the many books we have available through Overdrive or MackinVia, here are some other things you can do when you're bored. 

    • Orange County Public Library Access countless books through their nearest library branch or electronically. All library cards are free. We highly recommend their e-resources including:
      • Overdrive (e-books and e-audiobooks)
      • Hoopla (movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics and TV shows)
      • Bookflix (video storybooks paired with related nonfiction ebooks from preschool through 3rd grade)
      • California Mission eBooks (electronic copies of California Mission books, no library card required)
    • Shelver Practice putting your books in call number order, alphabetical or dewey decimal.

    External Videos and Websites (We have done our best to select quality videos, but adults, please preview before sharing.)

    California Young Reader Medal

    Every year Portola Springs participates in the California Young Reader Medal. We read and share the nominees with our students and they vote on their favorite book. 

    Here are the nominees for 2023-2024: 

    Primary (K-4)
    Click here to vote
    Click on the title for the book video
    Title and Author  
    The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry and the Fan Brothers  
    Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler and Loren Long

     
    Negative Cat by Sophie Blackall  
    The Littlest Yak by Lu Fraser and Kate Findley

     
    Dozens of Doughnuts by Carrie Finnison and Brianne Farley  

     

    Picture Books for Older Readers
    Click here to vote
    Click on the title for the book video
    Title and Author Number of Votes
    Nicky and Vera by Peter Sis  
    The Elephants Come Home by Kim Tomsic and Hadley Hooper  
    Bartali's Bicycle by Megan Hoyt and Iacopo Bruno  

    Intermediate (4-6)
    Click here to vote
    Click on the title for availability
    Title and Author Number of Votes
    We're Not From Here by Geoff Rodkey  
    A Game of Fox and Squirrels by Jenn Reese  
    Across the Desert by Dusti Bowling  

    Here are the results for 2022-2023:

    Primary (K-4)
    Click on the title for the book video
    Title and Author  
    We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins 182
    Parker Looks Up by Parker Curry, Jessica Curry, and Brittany Jackson

    62
    Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang and Max Lang 61
    The Good Egg by Jory John and Pete Oswald

    57
    Dozens of Doughnuts by Carrie Finnison and Brianne Farley 123
    Picture Books for Older Readers
    Click on the title for the book video
    Title and Author Number of Votes
    This Way Charlie by Caron Levis and Charles Santoso 108
    Holes in the Sky by Patricia Polacco 37
    Dinosaur Lady by Linda Skeers and Marta Alvarez Miguens 58

    Intermediate (4-6)
    Click on the title for availability
    Title and Author Number of Votes
    The Lion of Mars by Jennifer L. Holm 3
    Gold Rush Girl by Avi
    Also available through IUSD Sora, and OCPL Overdrive     		 6
    The Canyon's Edge by Dusti Bowling
    Also available through OCPL Overdrive     		 0

     

    Here are the results for 2021-2022:

    Primary (K-4)
    Click on the title for the book video
    Title and Author Number of Votes

    Drawn Together by Minh Le and Dan Santat

    		 244
    Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o and Vashti Harrison 110
    All are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman 21
    Hair Love by Matthew Cherry and Vashti Harrison 16
    Dreamers by Yuyi Morales  62
    Picture Books for Older Readers
    Click on the title for the book video
    Title and Author Number of Votes
    Before She was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome and James Ransome 57
    The Skydiving Beavers by Susan Wood and Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen 83
    Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson and Frank Morrison  70

    Intermediate (4-6)
    Click on the title for availability
    Title and Author Number of Votes
    Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
    Also available through OCPL Overdrive, and OCPL locations.     		 4

    The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart 
    Also available through OCPL Overdrive, and OCPL locations. 

    		 8
    Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
    Also available through IUSD Overdrive, OCPL Overdrive, and OCPL locations.     		 4

    Here are the results for 2020-2021:

    Primary (K-3)
    Click on the link for the book video
    Title and Author Number of Votes
    The Day Your Begin by Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael Lopez 5
    Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp 136
    Alfie: The Turtle that Disappeared by Thyra Heder 10
    After the Fall by Dan Santat 13
    Poor Louie by Tony Fucile 55
    Picture Books for Older Readers
    Title and Author  
    Step Right Up by Donna Janell Bowman and Daniel Minter  
    Six Dots by Jennifer Bryant and Boris Kulikov  
    Sergeant Reckless by Patricia McCormick and Iacopa Bruno  

    Intermediate (4-6)
    Title and Author Number of Votes
    The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser
    (Available for request from PS library. ebook from IUSD MackinVia, or OCPL Overdrive)    		 0
    Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan 
    (Available for request from PS library or ebook from OCPL Overdrive)    		 0
    ReStart by Gordon Korman 
    (Available for request from PS library, ebook from IUSD Overdrive, or OCPL Overdrive)    		 5

    Here are the results of our 2019-2020 election:

    Primary (K-3)
    Title and Author Number of Votes
    Let Me Finish! by Minh Le 21
    Highest Mountain of Books In the World by Rocio Bonilla 26

    The Bad Seed by Jory John (video)

    		 52
    Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings (video) 118
    The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors by Drew Daywalt (video) 247
    Picture Books for Older Readers
    Title and Author Number of Votes
    Lillian's Right to Vote by Jonah Winter 43
    Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers 83
    Malala's Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai 129
    Intermediate (4-6)
    Title and Author Number of Votes
    The Detective's Assistant by Kate Hannigan 7
    The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley 13
    The Loser's Club by Andrew Clements 29

    How Can I help?

    We love how supportive our Portola Springs family is. Here are a few ways you can help support the library. 

    • Parent Volunteer Information - We love our Grizzly volunteers! If you love books, children, and organizing, please consider volunteering in the library media center. Contact the library for more information. 
    • Portola Springs Elementary Library Amazon Wishlist - If you would like to support the library directly, you can purchase an item off our Amazon wishlist which will ship directly to the school. 
    • Book drive - You may also donate gently used books and media (board books, children's books, adult books, dvds, cds) to the library. We will add any books we can, share other books with teachers and staff, and what the school can't use will be sold to purchase additional books for the library. Please bring your books and media to the library anytime we are open. 

    Library Lessons