West Pensacola Elementary School

We are excited to welcome our students to the library for the 2024-2025 school year! Please check out the links below for more information about the books available for your children to read, as well as information about how you can stay involved with our school community through the library!

-Ms. Sara Ratliff (librarian/media specialist)

Ms. Ratliff has served the Pensacola area for twenty years as an educator. She has been a school librarian for thirteen years and a public librarian for nine years. On the weekends, you may see her working at the Downtown Branch of the West Florida Public Library. When Ms. Ratliff is not listening to audiobooks (yes, that counts as reading!), she is spending time with her lovable pitbull, Max, and her two guinea pigs, Nic & Pedro, who graciously allow her to dress them up for pictures. Ms. Ratliff has been a librarian at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, but elementary is her favorite age group. 

West Pensacola Elementary Library:

Destiny Card Catalog

Required Reading Lists

Destiny Classroom Library Manager

Parent & Student Resources:

AR Book Finder

Florida Electronic Library

Gale Research Database (password- sunshine)

West Florida Public Library Every student in Escambia County is eligible for a free student card and may check out 3 books without incurring any late fees!

WFPL Card Application

Sunshine State Young Readers Award Programs: 

There are lists for 6-8, 3-5, and K-2 with 15 books each on them. Students are encouraged to read as many as they can. Students in 3-5 and 6-8 may read from their lists and participate in the Battle of the Books in the spring. For every 3rd-5th book read and AR test completed at 80% correct, a student will receive a book's Brag Tag. The SSYRA JR K-2 books will be used in the March Madness Book Competition in the spring.

 SSYRA 6-8 Book List

SSYRA 3-5 Book List

SSYRA 3-5 AR Information

SSYRA JR Book List

Collection Development:

Book Budget, Guidelines, & Lists 2024-2025

Collection Development Plan 2024-2025

Our Library Advisory Council must be composed of at least our school’s media specialist, two teachers, one parent, and one community member. LAC members will be asked to read professional book reviews for all books being considered for purchase for student circulation in our library and will be utilizing our Collection Development policy to evaluate individual titles and provide input regarding book orders for the library in our meetings. Meetings will be on the following dates at 1:45 in the school library, unless a majority of the new council decides to make changes to fit the needs of the council: October 3rd, 2024, (during our first Scholastic Book Fair), February 27th, 2025, (during our second Scholastic Book Fair), and April 17th, 2025 (following SSYRA announcements). Please contact Ms. Ratliff if you are interested in attending our school LAC meetings.  

Library Advisory Council Parent Application

Library Advisory Council Meeting Agenda & Minutes

Parent & Teacher Resources:

District Media Services

Where to Locate K12 Library Access Form in Focus

K12 Library Access Form

Parent Permission Form for Movies

Novel Study Approval Form

Novel Study Parent Letter Template

Justification for use of Outside Media approved list 

Justification for Use of Outside Media

New Legislation: Reading Lists, Outside Media and Library Collections FAQ

ELA B.E.S.T. STANDARDS: ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS