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Highlands Elementary School

Educating Today for a Better Tomorrow!

Library

Welcome to the Highlands Library!

Highlands Library is a vibrant hub for students and staff. Every week, students dive into the world of stories while mastering essential library and research skills. Our carefully curated collection offers a vast array of genres, ensuring every reader finds something they love. Beyond the shelves, staff leverage our diverse books and databases to enrich the curriculum and sharpen English/Language Arts skills. The excitement continues throughout the year with guest author visits, an annual book fair, and engaging reading challenges. Mid-week, students fuel their creativity and brain power with Wednesday lunch-hour Makerspace sessions, featuring grade-specific STEAM activities. With over 8,000 books projected to circulate among our K-6 community by the end of the 2025-26 school year, it’s clear: Highlands students are truly enthusiastic readers!

Children and adults gather around tables, engaged in a craft activity.

 

A person stands on a sandy beach, looking towards the camera with mountains in the background.About Your Librarian

Kim holds a B.A. in Language Arts Education and a Masters in Curriculum and Instructional Leadership, bringing a wealth of teaching and specialized reading experience to Highlands. She has worked as a 4th and 6th-grade teacher, a Title 1 specialist, and held library roles at the public library level before settling in Boise in 1994. Kim has been the Highlands Elementary Librarian since November 2014, and in her free time, she enjoys travel, reading, and walking.

 

Our Vision

Our Vision

Every student a reader; every learner an explorer. We envision a district where every student builds a unique reading identity and possesses the critical thinking skills to navigate a changing world with confidence and curiosity.

Our Mission

Our Mission

The Library Services program provides an adaptive "in-between" space where students connect classroom learning to personal passion. We foster a lifelong love of literacy and provide a safe, supportive environment for students to explore, fail, try again, and grow.

Our Values

Our Values

Belonging: We are a sanctuary for all students, reflecting their interests and welcoming their authentic selves. Agency: we empower students to take ownership of their learning and develop their own voice. Agility: We adapt our programs and spaces to meet the evolving needs of our schools and community. Integration: We bridge the gaps between content areas, making learning cohesive and relevant.

Our Commitments

Our Commitments

We serve the Boise School District community through four pillars of excellence: Knowledgeable Professionals: Expert guidance from certified staff who lead with empathy and expertise. Accessible Spaces: Flexible, modern environments designed for both quiet reflection and active collaboration. Vibrant Collections: Curated, relevant materials that act as both mirrors to our students' lives and windows to the world. Inclusive Programming: Engaging activities that celebrate student interests and spark a community-wide joy for reading.

BSD Libraries At A Glance

 

88

IBOB teams read 16 books and competed against teams across the state.

208

virtual and in-person author visits connected students and their favorite writers

461,930

library books checked out this year--that's almost 20 per student!

3,801

hours students and teachers read or listened to books on Sora

10,412

new books were added to libraries last year

187,610

research sessions across all databases this year

1447

research and information literacy lessons delivered in libraries this year

19

books per student on average

District Library Policies

Several Board-adpoted policies inform how materials are added and removed from library collections. The links below point to the most current versions of these documents within the Board of Trustees Policy Manual.