Library Services

The Elmwood Park High School Library strives to fortify students with the technology and literacy skills they need for college and the marketplace beyond.

Introducing Sora, the Student Reading App

The most recent addition to our library resources is Sora, a free reading service that provides access to digital books.

Why have we added Sora? The collection of titles in Sora is an extension of District 401’s physical library, but this collection is in an app with 24/7 access to e-books and audiobooks.

The Sora app makes it convenient for students to check out titles at home, on the weekends or during school breaks. And there's no worry about misplacing a book or running up late fees, because these digital titles automatically return at the end of the lending period.

Sora can help students of all ages read more and improve comprehension. Struggling or reluctant readers, learning-challenged readers, second-language learners and gifted readers alike can all benefit from this service. The benefits include:

Enriching vocabulary and improving comprehension and pronunciation
Introducing students to books above their reading level
Teaching critical listening
Helping busy kids find time to read
Incentivizing reading with fun avatars and achievements

Accessing Sora

To access Sora, download the free Sora app from the App Store or the Google Play Store, or visit meet.soraapp.com.

Then, using your student school email address, you will be all set to borrow e-books and audiobooks on your computer, tablet or smartphone.

To directly access District 401's Sora account, please click here:

https://soraapp.com/library/epcusd

How EPHS Library Helps Students

Through engaging research lessons and 21st-century learning, students develop skills in argumentative reasoning and digital literacy, the ability to form solid arguments and solve problems creatively.

Using emerging technologies, library desktop labs and roaming laptop carts, we help students become acclimated with the changing learning strategies in education and harness these programs to their benefit.

Through inquiry-based learning opportunities, students gain experience planning how to approach a particular line of research, accumulating data and structuring their results properly to convey their desired point of view.

We also continue the tradition of collecting the most exciting books for pleasure reading, including suspense thrillers, dramas, supernatural and relationship books, to stoke the creative fires of our students. Book clubs and literary clubs help encourage our more ambitious readers and writers to reach their full potential.

To Find a Title or Resource

If you are looking for a book or other resource in our library, please use this link:

Library Catalog

If you want to explore other school libraries in our District, please use this link:

Quick Links to D401 Library Resources

Checkout Policy

Fiction and nonfiction books may be checked out for two weeks.

Reference books, older magazines and other materials may be checked out for overnight use. These materials must be returned before the first period class of the next day.

Fines are imposed for each overdue book.

District 401's Policy on Library Services

EPHS's library operations are governed by District 401's policy on library media programs, which can be found in Section 6:230 of the Board of Education's District Policy Manual:

The Superintendent or designee shall manage the District's library media program to comply with (1) State law and Illinois State Board of Education rule and (2) the following standards:

The program includes an organized collection of resources available to students and staff to supplement classroom instruction, foster reading for pleasure, enhance information literacy, and support research, as appropriate to students of all abilities in the grade levels served.
Financial resources for the program's resources and supplies are allocated to meet students' needs.
Students in all grades served have equitable access to library media resources.
The advice of an individual who is qualified according to ISBE rule is sought regarding the overall direction of the program, including the selection and organization of materials, provision of instruction in information and technology literacy, and structuring the work of library paraprofessionals.
Staff members are invited to recommend additions to the collection.
Students may freely select resource center materials as well as receive guided selection of materials appropriate to specific, planned learning experiences.

A searchable version of the complete District Policy Manual can be found here.