About our library
What is the Manhattan Beach Middle School library?
The MBMS library serves to instill a love of reading, inspire life-long learning and curiosity and develop digital citizenship, communication and fact-based research skills. The library is an inviting space where all students and staff are welcome to:
Where is the library?
The library is located on the Manhattan Beach Middle School campus. This is a secure campus and visitors are required to check in at the front office.
Our address is 1501 N. Redondo Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
What are the library’s hours?
The library is typically open during school days from 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. The library may close early after school for meetings, etc. and is not open during the summer, spring or winter breaks.
Who is the MBMS librarian?
Me! Nice to meet you! I’m Laurie Reiter (pronounced “writer”), the school’s library resource specialist. You can email me at [email protected]. I am also the school’s co-chair for No Place For Hate and a member of the District’s Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC). If you have a child in special education or with a 504 plan (I am also a parent who has children with both an IEP and 504), please feel free to reach out to me so I can help your student have a positive experience in our library. And that invitation applies to all of our MBUSD families – please let me know if there is anything you’d like me to know about your student so they feel welcome in our library.
You can also connect with and learn more about my areas of expertise here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriemansfieldreiter
Our library’s full time position is generously funded by the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation.
Who can use the library?
Although our primary audience are students and staff at Manhattan Beach Middle School, any family enrolled in a Manhattan Beach Unified School District school or MBUSD staff member is welcome to check books out of our library.
You can find the library catalogs for all MBUSD schools here: https://mbusd.follettdestiny.com
What do I need to bring to check out materials from the library?
All students and staff members should automatically have a MBUSD library account (see “Getting Into Your Library Account” below for instructions). For in-person checkouts, you don’t need to bring your ID. The librarian can look up your account through our library system.
If you’re a student at another MBUSD school, you may come in person, request books through your school librarian or contact the MBMS librarian at [email protected].
MBUSD family members (parents, guardians, etc.) who have a student enrolled at MBUSD should bring an ID card with them.
Getting into your library account
How can I find out what books, textbooks or Chromebooks I have checked out?
Each student has an MBUSD library account. You can see what library and tech materials you have checked out by logging into your library account on https://mbusd.follettdestiny.com.
How do I log into my MBUSD library account?
Click here for visual, step-by-step instructions.
Step 1: Go to https://mbusd.follettdestiny.com
Step 2: Under the "Middle Schools" section, click "Manhattan Beach Middle School" to enter the MBMS catalog site.
Step 3: On the catalog screen, click “Log in” at the top right of the Manhattan Beach Middle School (MBMS) screen.
Step 4: Log in
User Name = Your student ID number
Password = destiny (same password for all students)
Step 5: Look for your name at the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 6: Click on the “My Info” tab in the upper left of the screen to see your library record, including all items checked out (library books, textbooks, Chromebook, etc.), due dates of check-outs, if you have overdue items and if there are fines on your account.
Need help? Please contact the librarian, Laurie Reiter, at [email protected].
What’s on my account?
What if my account says I have a book out but I think I already turned it in?
It could be a mistake! Or you could still have the book (did you check your backpack/car/house? Lots of books go missing under beds or in furniture). Let’s talk! Please contact the librarian, Laurie Reiter, at [email protected].
What if my account says I have a book out but I don’t think I’ve ever checked that book out. Like, never ever.
It could be a mistake! Let’s talk! Please contact the librarian, Laurie Reiter, at [email protected].
What if my account says I have books checked out from my elementary school? I don’t even go there anymore!
Sometimes we borrow books from other MBUSD schools if we don’t have a copy in the MBMS library. You may have also checked out books while you were in elementary school and if you didn’t return them, your elementary school librarian still has them listed on our MBUSD account. Either way -- let’s talk! Please contact the librarian, Laurie Reiter, at [email protected].
Can I get a list of every book I’ve ever checked out of the MBUSD libraries?
Absolutely! After you log into your library account, click on “View History.”
What if I have a question about a Chromebook or Chromebook fine on my account?
Please contact our tech office manager, Gisela Vazquez, at [email protected].
How to return books
How can I return an MBUSD library book?
You can bring any MBUSD library book to Laurie Reiter, the MBMS librarian. You are welcome to bring books back to the library during school hours and should give books directly to the librarian or place them in the returned books box at the library desk. You can also return books to the school’s front office and ask the staff to place them in the librarian’s mailbox.
Can I return a book from any MBUSD school library to the MBMS library?
Yes! Your MBMS librarian will scan the books in and make sure they get to the correct school library.
I put my book back in the library/classroom. Why is it still showing that it’s checked out on my account?
When you return a book to our librarian, she scans the barcode on the back of the book. Once the book is scanned, your account should show the date the book was returned.
If you’ve placed your library book someplace other than the librarian’s hand or book return box -- back on the shelf, on a cart, on a table, in the lost and found, given it to a teacher or another student, etc. -- the book has likely not been scanned in and is not considered “returned.” A book will continue to show on your account as checked out until it is scanned in.
What if I returned my MBUSD library book to a public library?
It happens! The public libraries try to return those books to our school library but sometimes the books can take months or years to come back. You’re still responsible for replacing the book or paying the replacement fee to MBUSD. Please contact your librarian, Laurie Reiter, at [email protected].
Is there a drop box outside where I can return books?
Unfortunately not.
Can I mail my books back to the library?
Yes. Please send to:
Manhattan Beach Middle School Library
1501 N. Redondo Ave.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266