Library Media Center Policies and Procedures

Shannon Sisco

 

Mission Statement

 

“The mission of the Library Media Center is to lead, motivate, and encourage our students toward becoming useful and knowledgeable citizens who are effective users of technology and lifelong readers.  We want our students to be able to use their informational and literacy skills to evaluate and think critically.”

 

Vision Statement

 

The vision of the library media center is to guide our students to use literacy and information skills to make them lifelong learners.

 

Philosophy

 

“The philosophy for the Library Media Center will focus on the combination of library media instruction with classroom learning.  Instruction will be planned to teach literacy and information skills that meet all instructional standards of our students.  The collection of resources will be chosen with care to reflect the needs of all students and staff.  Our collection will provide a wealth of quality resources in all formats to meet a wide range of learner abilities and developmental.”

 

Goals and Objectives

 

The goal of our Library Media Center is to put into practice an information literacy program using technology in a variety of forms.

Objectives:

1)     Collaborate to design an information literacy program for teachers and students.

2)     Teach our students how to acquire information from the internet or from software.

3)     Where needed purchase software or hardware that supports the classroom curriculum.

 

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.

Amended February 2, 1961; June 28, 1967; and January 23, 1980, inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 23, 1996, by the ALA Council.

 

Literacy Standards

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 information 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.

 

 

Access

It is the policy of the media center to maintain an instructional environment, which cultivate improved and increased use of educational media by students, faculty and the administration. Our primary goal is to maximize the availability of the resources without excessive delays.  The media center operates on a flexible schedule to allow more time for collaboration between the LMS and classroom teachers.  Students can come to the media center to read, research, or check out books throughout the day.  Students may check out a maximum of three books for one week. One book can be a fun book and the both two need to be on the students reading level.  Teachers may check out an unlimited number of books for nine weeks. Each student is required to have signed permission slip which is included in the code of conduct booklet.

 

Hours of Operation

 

The Calera Middle School Library is open from 7:40 - 3:15.

 

School begins at 7:40 a.m. and ends at 3:05 p.m. 

 

 

Budget Procedures

The library media specialist will work with the budget committee to develop a budget that will benefit the entire school.  The library media specialist will assess the needs of the media specialist based on materials, resources, supplies, and technology.  Funds that are received will be allocated according to the states procedures.  Records are kept to show the spending of funds.

 

Facilities Planning and Management

As a part of the maintenance schedule each month and the end-of-the-year checklist the following will be inspected to identify any damages or if repairs are needed: painting (walls), carpet, window coverings, furniture and/or shelving replacement, heating and cooling system, or if furniture needs to rearranged. 

 

The media center does have insurance if a disaster occurs.  To prevent a disaster there are smoke detectors are in the library.  The library will be air conditioned in the summer to avoid mold.  Library data is backed up by the county each day.

 

Events will be posted on the calendar that you find located on the media centers website.  It will be updated weekly.  If a teacher has a request to place something on the calendar, a weeks notice is required.

 

Services/Activities Offered

• Book fairs
• Book talks/discussions/clubs
• Reference services
• Bibliographies/Biographies
• Author Visits
• Classroom lessons taught
• Scheduled and Flexible Scheduling
• A quiet place to read or do research
• Encouraging words from the LMS
• Book recommendations made from other students/teachers through website/newsletter/announcements
• Battle of the Books
• Wikis and Blogs
• Activities for Black History Month
• Get Caught Reading

 

Advocacy, Public Relations, and Promotion

The library media specialist will advocate to gain support from teachers, administration, government, students, parents, and community by making appearance at meetings or events.  The library will host events that the community will be involved in to show what the library media program has to offer. 

 

PEPE/PDP

The library media specialist will write a PDP each year as required by the state.  The library media specialist will be observed by the requirements of PEPE.

 

Equipment Maintenance, Repair, and Disposal Plan

 

• All equipment and manuals/instructions will be labeled with a barcode.
• Maintenance will be in the budget each year. 
• When purchasing equipment, if possible extended warranties will be purchased.
• All staff while be trained on how to handle basic problems with library equipment.
• All equipment will be maintained regularly by cleaning in the prevention of problems.
• There will be replacement parts in the storage room for library equipment.

 

Considerations for disposal:

• Cost of repair
• Value of equipment
• The amount of use it receives
• Age of equipment
• If the equipment is still under warranty

 

Job Description

Library Media Specialist

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with teachers in the planning of integrating library media resources with the classroom curriculum.
• Actively participate in school wide planning
• Make diverse materials and instruction available
• Have a variety of resources available in many formats (print, visual, digital etc.)
• Implements technology
• Make the library media center accessible
• Provide a welcoming environment for patrons
•  Motivate students in reading
• Provide professional development for faculty and staff
• Have an open flexible schedule for students to come to the media center
• Maintain and update collections
• Develop a policy and procedures manual
• Keep records of equipment and library resources
• Stay current on new technologies
• Mange library staff and volunteers
• Maintain a budget
• Promote the use of the library
• Advocate for the library

 

Library Media Aide

Responsibilities:

• Circulates books and other resources
• Helps teachers and students locate resources
• Shelves or files books and other learning resources
• Maintains book conditions—mending, cleaning, labeling
• Assist in the supervision of the students
• Helps keep the library clean and welcoming

 

Volunteers

Responsibilities:

• Assist students in locating books
• Put up bulletin boards or promotional materials
• Check-in/out library material
• Label resources with barcodes
• Helps the LMS or LM aide in any way

 

Student Aide

Responsibilities:

• Check-in/out library material
• Keep media center clean and organized
• Maintain bulletin boards
• Shelve books
• Read with students
• Assist students in locating books

 

 

Library Evaluation

The LMC will be evaluated each year by the Library Media Program Administrative Evaluation Form from Alabama's School Library Media Handbook for the 21st Century Learner located at: http://carolynstarkey.mrooms2.net/file.php/7/Standards_Objectives_and_Guidelines/Alabama_Library_Media_Handbook.pdf.