Alexander II
Math and Science
Magnet School
Media Center Handbook
2013-2014
Table of Contents
Media Center Staff / 3Media Center Calendar / 4
Introduction, Mission Statement, Goals / 5
2013-2014 School Media Plan / 6
Media Center Policies and Procedures / 7-9
Process for Selection of Materials / 10
School Media/Technology Committee / 11
Procedure for Reconsideration of Materials / 12-14
Classification System / 15
Media Center Print Resources / 16
Media Center Non-Print Resources / 17-18
Media Center Services / 19
Work Room Services / 20
Copyright Laws / 21
Renaissance Place Accelerated Reader / 22
Alex II Network / 23
2013-2014 Media Center/Technology Staff
Mrs. Sarah K. Chancellor
Media Specialist
2013-2014 Media Center Calendar
August
19th: Student orientation and check-out begins
September
Library Card Sign-Up Month
November
4-8: Book Fair
February
Love your library month
3-7: School wide Equipment Inventory – No Media Center classes
27: School Media Festival
March
20th: District Media Festival
May
2: Students last day to check out books
9th: Last day of Media Center classes, All materials due
16th: Last day to take AR tests
12-16: Media Center Inventory
2
2
Introduction
This handbook has been developed through the cooperative efforts of the administration, media specialist, technology specialist, and the media/technology committee.
Our goal in the media center is to provide students, teachers, and parents with the materials and services that will make teaching and learning challenging, interesting, exciting, and successful. Therefore, it is necessary to have specific policies and procedures that will assure that the center functions smoothly. This handbook provides as an explanation of the center’s policies and procedures and information about the services and materials that are available.
Mission Statement
The mission of the school library media program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of information. The school library media program’s contribution to the educational process is to fully integrate resources with specific learner goals and objectives through cooperative partnerships of all those who are responsible for student learning. The school library media program provides students and staff with opportunities to appreciate the value of information and ideas; develop an appreciation of good literature; and, become lifelong readers and learners.
Goals
To provide equitable access to instructional materials in a variety of formats for all members of the school community.
To provide a variety of resources to meet the diverse abilities, needs, interests, and talents of our students.
To provide library media materials and services that make reading fun for the learning community.
To provide instruction and guidance in the acquisition and evaluation of information.
To provide opportunities for collaboration between the library media specialist and classroom teachers to incorporate information literacy and technology into instruction that provides options designed to meet the needs of diverse students.
SCHOOL MEDIA PLAN
2013-2014 School year
ALEXANDER II MAGNET SCHOOL
The mission of the school library media program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of information. The school library media program seeks to fully integrate resources with specific learner goals and objectives through collaborative partnerships of all those who are responsible for student learning. The school library media program provides students and staff with opportunities to appreciate the value of information and ideas; develop an appreciation of good literature; and, become lifelong readers and learners.
Media Program Goals: Promotion of Reading, Collection Development, Information Access Skills Instruction, Utilization of Technology
Budget Priorities / Service PrioritiesFocus purchase of Biographies and Science Materials
Replace weeded materials from nonfiction.
Enhance the e-book collection
Continue replacing VHS video collection with DVD titles
Continuous update and expansion of print and non-print materials to meet and exceed SACS standards
Purchase Georgia Picture Storybook Award and Georgia Book Award nominees and resource materials to promote reading
Continue to provide incentives for the Accelerated Reader program
Continue to build Media Center collection focusing on books that support newly-adopted textbooks and realigned curriculum guidelines based on GPS/Common Core Standards
Replace worn out and outdated equipment, as needed / Cooperatively plan units of study and teach information access and research skills
Promote reading through participation in the Georgia Book Award Program, Accelerated Reader Program, Book Week, and National Library Week
Actively encourage students to participate in the Technology Fair and the Media Festival by providing Technology Workshops and assistance.
Provide Media Center Orientation for the staff and students
Weed books as needed, concentrating on the reference section
Update media policies and continue to work with the Media Committee to assess needs in the classroom and the Media Center
Maintain clean MARC records
Promote copyright adherence
Annual inventory
Continue Staff Development training for teachers and LMS
Media Center Policies and Procedures
Media Center Hours
The media center is open from 8:15 until 4:15 each day and operates primarily on an open schedule. This allows the resources and personnel to be available to all persons throughout the day. Media staff is present to assist where needed and to check out books and other media resources. Students are welcome to visit the center before and after school with a parent, but must have permission by their teacher during school hours. The Media Specialist teaches information literacy lessons as scheduled with classroom teachers.
Media Personnel
The Media Center staff is made up of the Media Specialist, Media Assistant, and Technology Specialists. The Media Specialist and Technology Specialist both participate as members of the instructional team, planning with administrators and teachers to identify, select, and provide the best resources to meet student needs. The Specialists must ensure a unified media program, which is effectively managed, instructionally related, and accessible to all. Technology Specialists are present as assigned by the Technology Director.
Student and parent volunteers are also a part of the day to day functioning of the center and are welcome any time. Volunteers may never be left unsupervised with a group of students as they perform routine tasks assigned by the Media Specialist or other Alex II staff.
Student Computer Access Policy
Students must have a signed Acceptable Use Policy/Computer Internet form on file to be allowed access to the computers on campus. The computers are to be used for academic purposes only. Students are monitored at all times by school staff while accessing the computers in the center. All documents should be saved to a personal flash drive or compact disc or emailed to ensure it is not deleted or lost.
Teachers should send no more than three students per class at a time to the Media Center. In the event that more students need access to computers the teacher must accompany and remain with the students in the media center.
Lab Scheduling & Policies
Teachers may reserve the computer lab by signing up on the schedule located in Groupwise.
Please be sensitive to classes throughout the school that must utilize the lab. Avoid overbooking and/or using the labs in excess so other classes cannot use them. Also, if you schedule a lab but then realize you do not need it please let the Media Center staff know ASAP!
The Media Specialist will collaborate with any teacher in planning a lesson for the class when given prior notification. Please send your request via the collaboration form located in the appendix of this handbook, online, and in the Media Center.
Circulation Procedures
RE: Faculty and Staff Members
Teachers may check out an unlimited amount of resources for three weeks. When finished using an item that is checked out, it should be returned to the media center. Materials should not be passed on to other teachers, as the teacher checking out the material is responsible for returning it to the media center. Note: Students are not allowed to check out any materials in a teacher’s name without permission from that teacher!
Faculty and staff may check out current issues of journals and magazines and return to the circulation desk when finished.
RE: Students
Elementary students will receive a shelf marker to be used as their library card and must presented at the time of checkout. Students in K-2 are permitted to check out one book at a time for one week. Students in 3rd - 5th grade may check out two books, one fiction and one non-fiction. A book may be renewed only if the student presents the book at the circulation desk at the time of renewal. Students may visit the Media Center once during the school day and only with a parent before/after school.
Students are expected to return their books on time. The media center staff appreciates the teachers’ assistance in helping their students assume this responsibility. Overdue notices will be issued weekly to the homeroom teachers, as reminders to facilitate the return or renewal of library books. If students fail to return their books, they will not be allowed to check out other books until the overdue book is returned, or until the replacement price has been paid.
RE: Parents
Parents may check-out up to five additional books under their child’s name. Books should be returned within two weeks.
Self-Checkout Station
Located at the circulation desk, please follow this procedure: Scan shelf marker or type in lunch number, or last name. Check to make sure the correct name comes up. Scan Alex II barcode on resource. Scan green checkout card.
Checkout policy for Technology Resources
Teachers need to plan and schedule for needed equipment in advance. For safety reasons, the teacher must pick up and return the equipment. If a piece of equipment requires maintenance, please notify the Media Staff.
Equipment should be returned by the end of day unless other arrangements have been made. Use of equipment is done on a first come first serve basis. The ipods, netbooks, clickers, and alphasmarts may be reserved via sign-up calendar in the Media Center.
The Media/Technology Specialist will provide an in-service on the operation of any piece of audiovisual equipment.
Lost and Damaged Materials
Lost or damaged books are to be reported to the media center.
The current replacement price will be charged for lost materials. An amount in accordance with the degree of damage will be charged for damaged books. If materials are damaged beyond repair, full price will be charged. This includes damage to audiovisual software and equipment used at school. Damaged software and equipment does not become the property of the student who damaged and paid for them.
Process for Selection of Materials
Philosophy for Selection and Utilization of Instructional Materials, Media and
Equipment.
The philosophy for selection of instructional materials, media and equipment is based on
the Bibb County Board of Education’s commitment to providing quality media programs
through cooperatively planned, instructionally related, unified media services that are
developed at the local level, accessible to teachers and students, and effectively managed
by media professionals.
Review and Revision of Policies and Procedures
In order that the criteria for selection of instructional media shall be kept up-to-date, they
shall be reviewed at least every three years at the direction of the Superintendent. All
revisions shall be approved by the Board of Education before becoming effective. The
Deputy Superintendent or designee shall be responsible for implementation of stated policies and procedures.
Evaluation and Selection
The following criteria shall be used in selecting and purchasing instructional media:
•All textbooks on The Georgia Textbook List and materials prepared by publishers to
supplement these texts.
• Instructional media recommended in State approved teacher’s editions of textbooks and
by local or state curriculum guides.
• Recommendations made in national review publications including review sections of
journals and professional organizations. The Coordinator of Library Media Services will
furnish upon request a list of national reviews that can be used in selection of media
materials.
• Instructional media previously approved within the system.
• Review by School/System Media/Technology Committee members and/or faculty.
Approval by the Deputy Superintendent and
School Media/Technology Committee
The Georgia Board of Education’s Rule 160-4-4-.01 (IFBD) requires that each school
have a media/technology committee. This committee shall be composed of the principal,
media specialist, technology specialist, teachers, students, parents and community
representatives. The make-up and functions of the committee shall reflect the needs of
the particular school that it represents. The committee addresses building media concerns
within the framework of the system’s media/technology policies. Committee
responsibilities include:
• planning the media/technology program for the particular school building which it serves;
• functioning as the first review of reconsideration of materials;
• assessing needs and recommending acquisitions for media/technology to support the school’s instructional program;
•recommending media/technology program objectives and priorities;
• assuring that the school media/technology program is in compliance with state and SACS standards, and with established system policies;
• evaluation of the program and its effectiveness as an integral component of the building instructional plan;
• recommending and developing individual school policy and implementation procedures;
• establishing and applying a decision-making process for selecting, acquiring and weeding within established system policies;
• fostering good public relations; and
• maintaining communication with other schools, the community, and other appropriate agencies.
Composition of the School Media/Technology Committee
The principal will annually appoint the School Media/Technology Committee. The
principal, media specialist, tech specialist, and instructional lead teachers are members of
the committee by virtue of their positions. Other teachers, students, parents and members
of the School Council shall be appointed annually.
Media/Technology Committee Involvement in Selection and Appeal
Two important roles of the school and system media/technology committees are (1)
participation in media/technology selection and (2) response to formal
complaints/challenges involving school/system instructional media.