Wyndham Lakes Elementary
Media Center
Policies and Procedures
2017 - 2018
Policies
Checking Out Materials
The Media Center is open during school hours every day.Materials and books are on loan to students and faculty for their use during the school year. Theyare to be kept clean and handled carefully. Students are responsible for the care of the materials they check out. Their right to check out books may be revoked due to lack of care of books.
After learning the Media Center policies and procedures, students may check out books for two weeks. Kindergarten students may check out one (1) book at a time tokeep in the classroom. In January, Kindergarten students may take their books home. First through fifth graders may check out two (2) books at a time. The Media Center Responsibility form should be returnedsigned by a parent in order for students to check out the allowed number of books.Parents may check out five books at a time, through their own Destiny account.
Teachers may check out up to 50items. However, there should be no shelf clearing of a topic. For example, if one grade level is learning about Native Americans, only take 3 – 5 books on that subject so there is enough for each teacher to check out. Items may be kept for one month and renewed one time.
Only one SSYRA book may be checked out at a time. Books may be renewed for an additional time only once, unless it is an SSYRA book or popular title; then it may not be renewed. Any other materials can be renewed as long as they are not on hold for another patron. In order to renew the item, it must be brought to the Circulation Desk in the library.Books on CD and magazines can be checked out one at a time by second through fifth grade students. There are no overdue fines but new books cannot be checked out until books are returned. If only one book is returned, then only one book can be checked out unless the other book is overdue.
Fines for Lost and Damaged Items
Students should never loan a library book to another student. The original student will be held responsible for the book if it is lost. Instead, return the book to the media center so other students may check it out for themselves. Both students and teachers are required to pay a replacement cost for all damaged or lost books checked out to them. If a student has a fine, they will not be allowed to check out books until the fine is paid. Teachers should not check out books for students unless they are willing to assume responsibility for lost or damaged books. Students with overdue media center materials or fines on their account will not receive their report cards at the end of the year until the materials are returned or paid for.
If a student has a book checked out or a fine on their account and they leave our school, they are still responsible for returning the book and/or paying that fine. A refund may be given if the book is located within 90 days after it is marked as lost. Books are marked lost 90 days after the checkout date. If a student or teacher pays for a damaged book that is not suitable for use by anyone, the book will be discarded. However, if the book is slightly damaged but not usable in the library, a fine must be paid and the student may keep the book.
Procedures
Circulation
Only Mrs. Haynes and Mrs. Rodriguez will be checking in and out materials to and from the Media Center. If Mrs. Haynes or Mrs. Rodriguez are unavailable to check out books, teachers may leave them on the check-out desk with a note and we will check them out as soon as possible. Please do not take books from the library without checking them out first.
Teachers may make a request for materials providing 24 hours’ notice. We will locate and check out the materials to you as soon as possible. When requesting an item from another library, please plan ahead and make your request at least one week in advance.
Students should return books to the media center before 9:30 am either before or after the announcements. Students who return a book later may not be able to check out a book until the following day.
Small Group and Whole Class Checkout
Every class will have a designated check out time. You may choose to bring your whole class at that time or send students in small groups throughout the week. Small groups of up to four students may be sent to the Media Center for checkout. When looking for a book, students should use a shelf marker to hold the place of the book they are deciding on. After choosing their book(s), students should quietly wait in line at the check-out counter. Once everyone in the group has checked out, they should immediately return to class. Students may not bring food or drinks into the Media Center. Computers must be used carefully to avoid damaging the equipment.Small groups may not be sent to the Media Center for check out during the 90 minute reading block, per Mrs. Zizza.
Scheduling Lessons
Teachers will coordinate with Mrs. Haynes to set up lessons and/or projects in the Media Center giving at least two weeks’ notice. Mrs. Haynes will meet with teams or team leaders to discuss grade level needs. At the beginning of the year, teachers will bring their classes to the library for introductory lessons about the Media Center and Destiny. After students learn the policies of the Media Center, they may check out books. If whole class lessons include research lessons using the internet, they may be coordinated with your computer lab time. Whole classes may not sign up for Media Center lessons during the 90 minute reading block, per Mrs. Zizza.
Laminating
Teachers are given 75 feet of laminating for the whole year. Laminating will be done only on Wednesdays after pre-planning week. The laminating film is 25 inches wide. Items wider than 25 inches cannot be laminated. Teacher purchased materials and special projects are acceptable, daily routine items and class sets of items are not. All items are subject to approval by administration.
Please leave the items you would like laminated in the designated bin near Mr. Maldonado’s office labeled with your name on them. The completed laminating will be placed there as well.
*All students are welcome to come in for book check out in the morning as long as their library books have been previously returned. Students may use the computers in the media center before school if they have a pass from their teacher.
Reading Programs
SSYRA JR (Grades K – 2)
Kindergarten, First and Second grade students are invited to participate in the Sunshine State Young Readers Junior program. Fifteen books are selected; 10 picture books and 5 easy chapter books. Students / classes who have read three or more books may vote for their favorite in the spring. Either the classroom teachers, Mrs. Haynes, or Mrs. Zizzacan read the books to whole classes as well. Mrs. Haynes will provide lessons for some of the SSYRA Jr picture books.
In order for students / classes to be eligible to participate in the end of the year reading celebration they must read the following number of books and complete a summary or activity:
Kindergarten: At least 8 books read as a class along with an activity* for each book read. Please
share with Mrs. Haynes to display in the library.
At least 3 books read as an individual along with a summary for each book read.
First Grade: At least 8 books read as a class along with an activity* for each book read. Please
share with Mrs. Haynes to display in the library.
At least 5 books read as an individual along with a summary for each book read.
Second Grade: At least 8 books read as a class along with an activity* for each book read. Please
share with Mrs. Haynes to display in the library.
At least 7 books (including 2 chapter books) read as an individual along with a
written summary for each book read.
*Acceptable activities:
- Illustrated or written summaries
- Favorite part of the story illustrated or written
- Any other creative display pertaining to the story
- Lesson Activity in the Library with Mrs. Haynes
Sunshine State Young Readers (SSYRA)
Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 can participate in the statewide Sunshine State Young Readers program. Each year 15 current fiction books are selected for the program. Students who read three books can vote in the spring for their favorite. The winning author is awarded a plaque at the annual Florida Media Educators Conference.
Students are encouraged to keep track of how many books they have read on the SSYRA checklist. Mrs. Haynes will also keep track of who read the books. In order to prove that they read the books, they must either turn in a summary (provided by Mrs. Haynes and on Share Point) or complete a quiz. During the year, students will be acknowledged on the announcements when they have reached their grade level goal. Those students will also be invited to the end of the year Reading Celebration.
3rd grade – 6 books
4th grade – 10 books
5th grade – 12 books
Battle of the Books and SSYRA Reading Club
Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 are encouraged to participate in the SSYRA Reading Club. At the beginning of the year, an invitation will go out to all 3rd – 5th graders. They will be responsible for locating their own copy of each of the SSYRA books from our library, the public library, or a bookstore. We will complete activities and games about each book. Students must pass a quiz on each book with 70% or higher in order to qualify for the Battle of the Books Team. Everyone is welcome to continue with the reading club even if they do not qualify for the team. We will have the traveling team and the supporting team. The traveling team will compete and the supporting team will help the traveling team prepare for the battle.
Scholastic Book Fair
The Media Center holds two to three Book Fairs each school year. One is held during Open House in September, another during Building Better Readers Night in January, and a possible third BOGO fair in May. Students and parents may purchase books from the Scholastic Book Fair during school and in the afternoon. Proceeds from the book fair are used to purchase additional books and materials for the media center.