Welcome to the Del Mar Heights Library Collection and Innovation Center! My name is Heidi Merkel-Eckstein, and I am delighted to be your child’s Library Media Specialist. 

 

At Del Mar Heights School, our library is not confined to a single room. Instead, our Decentralized Library System brings books and opportunities for discovery directly into students’ daily lives. Books are thoughtfully placed throughout our Commons and shared learning spaces, making reading visible, accessible, and easy to incorporate into the school day.

 

 

Our library is a collection of learning spaces where students can connect, collaborate, explore, and read. Collections are organized by grade level and include a variety of genres, topics, and reading interests.

 

Students have opportunities to:

 

 

This model allows students to encounter books naturally—whether they are working in the Commons, collaborating with classmates, or simply looking for their next great read. We want reading to be something students can access anytime, anywhere, rather than something that happens only during a scheduled library visit.

 

 

With greater access comes greater ownership. Students are encouraged to care for library books, return or renew materials on time, and communicate with their teacher or Library Media Specialist if a book is lost or damaged. Most importantly, we want students to see themselves as active members of a community of readers.

 

Families can support this process by encouraging children to care for their library books, keeping them in a special place at home, and talking with them about what they are reading and what they would like to read next.

 

 

Our goal is simple: to help your child love reading and look forward to discovering their next great book.

 

Please encourage your child to read each day and ask about the books they are exploring at school. Talk about favorite characters, interesting ideas, new discoveries, and books they might want to read next. These small conversations help build a strong and joyful culture of literacy.

 

Our school library is also part of a wonderful local reading community. We encourage families to explore our nearby public libraries, including the Del Mar Library and Carmel Valley Library, for additional books, programs, and opportunities to read and learn together.

 

 

Thank you for supporting our Decentralized Library System and helping us create a school where books are accessible, reading is celebrated, and students have the independence to follow their curiosity.

 

My goal is to help every child discover books that spark their imagination, expand their world, and foster a lifelong love of reading. If you have questions, need book suggestions, or would like support finding the right book for your child, please reach out to me at heckstein@dmusd.org. I am always happy to help your child find their next great read!

 

I wish you and your child much shared enjoyment, discovery, and adventure through books!

 

Del Mar Heights School