Donna Kocian

Librarian

 281-420-4615

Contact Me

About Me ...

     Welcome to the Ashbel Smith Library webpage! I am so excited to be your librarian and cannot wait to share the world of imagination, innovation, creation, and exploration with you! As a graduate of Ross S. Sterling, I am delighted to be back where it all began; in GCCISD.

     In 1998, I graduated from UHCL with a Bachelor's degree in Education and began my teaching career as a 5th grade Math & Science teacher in Galena Park ISD. I earned a Master of Science degree (Educational Administration) in 2004 from UHCL and began working in Deer Park ISD as a science teacher. In 2018, I earned a Master of Library & Information Sciences, again from UHCL, and began my library career in Pasadena ISD. In 2024, I came to GCCISD as a librarian for Ashbel Smith and Lamar Elementary schools.

     I love what I do, and do what I love; and, I absolutely love reading a really good book! I believe anyone can fall in love with the written word; it just takes the right book at the right time. I look forward to our journey together as we travel through the shelves in the Ashbel Smith Library.

Kocian's Kids

Sterling Municipal Library

Harris County Public Library

Mission Statement

The mission of the school library program at Ashbel Smith Elementary is to create a learning hub that uses our collection, the curriculum, and technology with the help of the teacher librarian and volunteers to enable students, staff, and community members to seek, evaluate, and use information to develop a love of reading.

Vision Statement

The vision of the Ashbel Smith Library is to inspire our students to become life-long learners through reading and information retrieval.

Goals that support the mission and vision:

• Create a safe and welcoming multi-use environment for all stakeholders
• Provide a maintained and monitored collection
• Teach patrons how to effectively find, use and evaluate information
• Provide clean study areas and an organized collection of materials
• Utilize current technologies as a means of information retrieval
• Provide lessons and materials that complement district, state, and national standards
• Provide opportunities for patrons to participate in library clubs, Makerspace activities, and library material maintenance

To Access the Library Catalog

Destiny Discover is the place to find eBooks (electronic books) to read on your device! Students from Ashbel Smith can check out up to 5 eBooks at a time. eBooks are returned automatically after 7 days. However, if a student is not done reading a particular book, he/she may check it out again for another 7-day period. 

1. Students will log into their Class Link(opens external link in new window) account

a. Username - ID Number (this can be found in the Parent Portal(opens external link in new window)(opens external link in new window))

  b. Password - 8-digit birthday

2. Select the Destiny Discover tile. It will log in your child automatically.

3. When searching for an eBook, look for this logo in the corner of the book: 

4. Once your child checks out an eBook, go to My Stuff > Checkouts to continue reading the book. 

5. While browsing eBooks, look for the section at the bottom of the homepage called "Lightbox Books". These books focus on various science-related topics and have interactive features such as videos, slideshows, maps, and more!