Linda Hollinger Policies and Procedures ManualPolicies and Procedures Manual

Mission Statement

School library media programs facilitate learning through collaboration with students, teachers and the learning community to provide resources and meaningful learning experiences. The library media center encourages reading and literature appreciation, critical thinking and independent learning. The LMC teaches information literacy skills and provides access to intellectual resources. The library media center supports the curriculum of the school, contributes to student achievement and encourages students to be lifelong learners.

Vision

The vision of the library media center is to empower students with a foundation for lifelong learning and to ensure that students are effective users, produces, and communicators of ideas and information. 

Philosophy

 The philosophy of the library media center is to foster a love of reading and the motivation to become a lifelong learner.  The library media center seeks to prepare students by providing information literacy skills that promote responsible decision making. The library media staff believes that all students can learn and seeks to provide an environment where all are welcome, feel accepted, and appreciated in their efforts. Collaboration between the LMC and students, teachers, parents, and the learning community, is necessary to provide the best education possible for students.

Library Goals and Objectives

• To acquire and maintain a variety of media center resources which meet the needs of the users.
• To teach students the necessary information literacy skills to be efficient and effective information users.
• To support the school’s curriculum by providing necessary materials and appropriate guidance and instruction.
• To encourage an appreciation of a wide variety of literature and develop a love of reading.
• To motivate students to become lifelong learners.
• To provide a welcoming environment that is conducive to learning.

Library Bill of Rights

The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.

I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.

V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.

VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

Adopted June 18, 1948, by the ALA Council; amended February 2, 1961; amended June 28, 1967; amended January 23, 1980; inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 24, 1996.

A history of the Library Bill of Rights is found in the latest edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual.

The Nine Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning:

Standard 1: The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively.

Standard 2: The student who is information literate evaluates information critically and competently.

Standard 3: The student who is information literate uses information accurately and creatively.

Standard 4: The student who is an independent learner is information literate and pursues information related to personal interests.

Standard 5: The student who is an independent learner is information literate and appreciates literature and other creative expressions of information.

Standard 6: The student who is an independent learner is information literate and strives for excellence in information seeking and knowledge generation.

Standard 7: The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and recognizes the importance of information to a democratic society.

Standard 8: The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and practices ethical behavior in regard to information and technology.

Standard 9: The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING

The library media center provides an open, flexible schedule for all. An open schedule allows students and teachers to come to the library media center throughout the day on a need basis to:

·         Use information resources

·         Read

·         Check books in and out

·         Meet and work with teachers and other students

A flexible schedule encourages collaboration and planning between the library media specialist and the teacher resulting in a library media program that supports the school’s curriculum through integration of information skills with the school’s curriculum and developing assignments that encourage open inquiry.