MediaCenter Staff Handbook

Sarah Salnick, Media SpecialistJanet Biggs, Media AssistantCatherine Cecere, Media AssistantKeith Hurt, ITSS

The Westland Middle School Media Center houses a collection of over10,000books, playaways, books on tape and CD, videotapes, and more. The School Library Media Specialist and Media Assistants administer the collection using an Internet-based circulation system called Destiny. Destiny provides efficient check-in and check-out of materials. The system also includes a catalog feature, used by staff and students to search for needed materials. It is available from school and from home.

A "Research and Learning Hub"of 32 computers is located in the MediaCenter. It is the center for most of the student research performed at Westland, and therefore, the first priority is students scheduled into the MediaCenter with teachers to work on research projects in collaboration with the media specialist. Non-collaborative activities, take second priority.

In the Media Center, students have access to a print reference collection, nonfiction trade books purchased to match the MCPS middle school curriculum and to online Internet subscription services purchased by MCPS, the state of Maryland, and by Westland. The online Internet subscription services are also available to the Westland community on every networked computer in the school building and at home. Usernames and passwords for the online resources can be found electronically on Edline or a print version can be found in the MediaCenter.

Westland students and staff will also find a leisure reading section including popular magazines and young adult literature chosen for students with a wide range of interests, backgrounds and reading ability. This section also includes audio books for many popular titles that can be checked out for home use.

Goals and Objectives of the MediaCenter:

  1. To provide a climate conducive to learning, study and research.
  2. To promote learning for all students according to abilities, needs and interests.
  3. To promote an interest in reading of all kinds as a major lifetime activity.
  4. To plan and collaborate with grade level teams and departments for instructional use of the MediaCenter.
  5. To instruct students and staff in location, retrieval and use of information resources effectively and efficiently.
  6. To instruct students to review, evaluate and select media to match the task assigned.
  7. To disseminate information and plan training for staff and students to integrate the use of materials (both print and non-print), productivity software and computer equipment and peripherals into all facets and levels of the middle school curriculum.
  8. To educate students, staff and the community to respect copyright laws and plagiarism rules.
  9. To organize MediaCenter materials and equipment for optimum accessibility and use by all patrons.
  10. To support computer use following MCPS Regulation IGT-RA and the returned and signed “Student Application for Access to Computer Networks.”
  11. To support Regulation IIB-RA, Evaluation and Selection of Instructional Materials and Library Books.
  12. To review, evaluate and acquire materials that support MCPS curricula and the interests of staff and students on a continuing basis.

Hours: The MediaCenter is open from 7:35-3:00.

Passes:

  • Students can come to the media center before school, beginning at 7:35 on days when media center staff is available. Students must sign-in at the front desk if they are using a computer.
  • During classes, each student must present a pass from a staff member to enter the MediaCenter. All students must sign-in at the front desk.
  • Passes for student use during lunch is dependent on the teaching schedule of the media specialist and is reviewed each morning. Students must get a pass from the cafeteria, sign-out from the cafeteria, and sign-in at the front desk of the MediaCenter. The lunch schedule is read on the morning announcements and posted right inside the MediaCenter.

Circulation: Students and staff must check out all materials at the circulation desk. A member of the media staff should be available for assistance. Middle schools have security systems to protect the collection and the alarm will sound if the material is not signed out properly.

Circulation by Staff:

  • Staff members may keep materials long term. Quarterly reports will be run to inform staff members of the materials they do have in their possession.
  • Collections may be checked out for classroom use. Please try to give the media staff 48 hours to pull a collection based on specific needs. These books should not be given to students for use outside the classroom. If a teacher would like the student to take home one of the books from the classroom collection on an overnight basis, the student should be directed to the Media Center to check the book out in his/her own name.
  • If a teacher would like books placed on reserve in the MediaCenter, please try to give media staff 48 hours to pull this collection based on specific needs.
  • If a teacher would like a student to use a book(s) checked out to the teacher outside of the classroom, return the book(s) and allow the student to come to the media center to check it out in his/her own name. Please do not allow the student to take the book from the classroom if it is checked out in the teacher’s name.

Professional Journals:

Most professional journals are purchased by content area departments. Lists of periodicals subscribed to by the WestlandMiddle School community are available in the media center.

Professional Materials:

We have a professional collection for staff members in the media center.

Circulation by students:

  • 3 items at a time, but this is lenient. If a student needs more books to complete a task s/he will be allowed to check out more books as long as s/he has no overdue materials.
  • Staff members should not check out materials for students who have reached their limits. Instead they should encourage students to return or renew books or pay for lost books. The media staff will place items on a 3-day reserve for a student to give him/her time to return materials.

Book Circulation:
Books may be checked out for a two-week period and can be liberally renewed unless a reserve is placed on the item.

Lost and Damaged Books:
There are no fines for overdue library materials. However, students are responsible for the books that are checked out from the Media Center, and they are obligated to pay for lost or damaged materials by the end of each quarter and certainly by the end of the school year.
Planning Activities in the Media Center:
The media specialist will plan and schedule the instruction in the Media Center in collaboration with grade level teams and departments. If a teacher would like to use the MediaCenter for small group instruction, a meeting or an after school activity, this also needs to be scheduled in advance with the media specialist. First priority for media center use (including use of any computers) is by the media specialist along with classes collaboratively scheduled with content teachers.
Expectations:
When using the Media Center each staff member will ensure that students are observing the following:

  • Maintaining a learning atmosphere that is conducive to studying and conducting research with a minimum noise level.
  • Returning materials to the appropriate shelves in the same places found or return to the media staff
  • Treating books with respect
  • Using bookmarks.
  • Not writing or highlighting in the books.
  • Cleaning up work areas and pushing in chairs before leaving the Media Center.
  • Refraining from consuming food and beverages during the instructional school day. Food and beverages can and will be consumed during meetings held in the media center after the instructional day by adults (or on staff professional days).

When using the computers in the MediaCenter, each staff member will ensure that students are observing the following:

  1. Logging in using only his/her login ID and password.
  2. Keeping his/her password confidential.
  3. Limiting his/her use to the software on the menu. No one may access the hard drive or change settings on the Desktop or within Internet Explorer.
  4. Logging off when finished
  5. Supporting computer use following MCPS Regulation IGT-RA and the returned and signed “Student Application for Access to Computer Networks.”

When using the computers in the MediaCenter, each staff member will follow 1-5 above and will also:

  1. Recognize that scheduled classes have priority for use of the computers in the MediaCenter.
  2. Recognize that students working on school assignments take precedence over staff use.
  3. Refrain from consuming food and beverages at all times.

AV Equipment:
Digital cameras, video cameras, tape recorders, slide carousels, LCD projectors and other AV equipment can be checked out for classroom use at the circulation desk.

Computer Equipment:
Each classroom should also have 1 computer and access to a laser printer nearby. If there is no access to a computer or a printer or if the equipment is malfunctioning, please contact Mr. Hurt via e-mail.

Promethean Equipment:
Please bring broken ActivVotes, Wands, Slates, and Pens to the Media Center. If staff is not available, please label the broken equipment with your NAME and the problem.

Promethean Bulbs:
Please contact Mr. Hurt if you need a new bulb.

Equipment Housed in the Media Center:
The laminating machine, the binding machine, the Ellison Letter Cutter are available for staff use in the media center workroom.

Computer Labs Schedules:
The computer labs schedules are kept electronically on Outlook. Time is booked through department heads.

Computer Cart Schedules:
Computer Cart schedules are kept electronically on Outlook. Email Sarah Salnick if you would like to book time using the Netbooks.

Outlook:
For information concerning access to e-mail, see Mr. Hurt.

Home Software:
For information concerning software with licenses that allow home use by staff, see Mr. Hurt.

Collection Development:
Please feel free to suggest any materials for purchase by the Media Center. A “wish list” is kept throughout the year by the media specialist

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