About the BHS Library
Our Mission: The Berkeley High School teacher librarian team is dedicated to providing equitable access to high-quality library services in order to help nurture a literate, socially conscious, and engaged community.
We work closely with teachers to meaningfully integrate resources, technology, and information literacies to help students become lifelong readers and more discerning researchers and consumers of information. We also work with students to build a library program that reflects their needs, interests and curiosities.
We are committed to maintaining robust digital and print collections that reflect the diversity of Berkeley High students and staff and support academics and independent reading at Berkeley High.
Ms. Meredith Irby, Teacher Librarian
This will be Ms. Irby's 4th year at BHS! Prior to working as a TL at BHS, Ms. Irby taught middle and high school ELA and Social Studies in Oakland and Brooklyn, NYC. Ms. Irby loves connecting with students and helping them with the just-right book. She has a deep love for unlikely romances and diverse fantasy titles with strong female leads. In her free time, Ms. Irby loves riding her bike and trying the vast array of delicious taquerias in Oakland.
Allyson Bogie, Teacher Librarian
Ms. Bogie was new to the BHS Library in August 2023. She began her career teaching English in Oakland, and worked as a Teacher Librarian in West Contra Costa Unified for 12 years before coming to Berkeley High. She loves to read romance, suspense, and new adult realistic fiction - and to compare the screen and book versions of any story. In her free time, she's usually with her family, at the swimming pool, or in the redwoods.
Ms. Nicole Fitzhugh, Textbook Queen
Ms. Fitzhugh loves high fantasy and historical fiction (?). She is also a master of puns and wordplay, and has the best selection of sarcastic tshirts.
Our Collection: There are over 30,000 books in the BHS Library collection including fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, biographies, and reference titles. Our collection is curated to meet the curricular and independent reading needs of our students. We also have a collection of zines and magazines that students are welcome to read in the library.
Our Policies: We welcome students to the library on their own before school, during breaks and lunch, and after school until closing. Students are able to check out 6 books at a time for a period of 3 weeks, using their student ID card. We offer a quiet place for studying and reading for all student populations including those on Independent Studies. During lunchtime students are invited to eat, play games, and hang out with their friends.
Our Technology: The BHS library has 13 student computers available at all times, a 30-seat computer lab open to students at lunch time and to classes during the day, and a class set of Chromebooks. We provide free school related printing all year long. We currently subscribe to 6 databases that students can access on and off campus. We are always available to assist students with technology!