University of Rochester

Librarians Nurture High School Scholars

  • students cross footbridge in the rain

    About 40 juniors, 50 sophomores, and their teachers made the half-hour trek from Wilson High School in Rochester’s 19th Ward neighborhood during the course of the week.

  • studentswalk in the rain
    High schoolers get a taste of life on a college campus.
  • girl studying book
    Wilson High School junior Jenna Hoffman, who is working on a paper about John Lennon and the peace movement, examines the library’s Vietnam War collection in Rare Books and Special Collections.
  • students study a letter
    Student and librarian read an Oct. 22, 1966, letter sent from soldier Charles DePuy Jr. who was based in Saigon. He writes: “I have changed all my politics, since my awakening from the deep sleep of American news disseminated about Vietnam. (Whatever you hear, don’t believe it.)”
  • girl in colorful woven hat get help from librarian
    Wilson High School junior Tempest Sampson, right, gets help from reference librarian Eileen Daly on how to navigate the University’s digital resources.
  • librarian with student at computer
    Wilson High School junior Kadecia Wilson, right, works with reference department library assistant Katie Kumler.
  • students looking at book
    International Baccalaureate program students are focused during their research hours on campus. Each student’s essay must pass the scrutiny of an international panel of judges for its author to earn an IB diploma.

 

In preparation for their culminating research papers, juniors and sophomores in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Wilson Commencement High School spent the week of May 22 at the libraries on River Campus. Working one-on-one with campus librarians, the students were able to mine the University’s databases of scholarly articles, explore primary source material, check out books, and comb the stacks – opportunities normally out of reach for high schools programs.