Simone Williams

Media Center Handbook Table of Contents

Philosophy.................................................................................................................... 2
Mission......................................................................................................................... 2
Media Center Hours....................................................................................................... 3
Scheduling Information................................................................................................... 3
Media Center Rules........................................................................................................ 4
Policies and Procedures................................................................................................... 5
Resources................................................................................................................... 5
Circulation Procedures................................................................................................... 5
Media Center Services..................................................................................................... 7
Collections.................................................................................................................. 7
Process of Selecting Materials........................................................................................... 9
Ethical Use of Information............................................................................................. 11
Personnel.................................................................................................................... 12
Media/Technology Committee Selection............................................................................14
Ethical Use of Information............................................................................................. 15

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Philosophy

The Media Center is dedicated to making sure students learn the necessary skills needed
to succeed in the classroom and in life. We want students to realize the potential both a computer
and a book have to contribute to their education. We not only want students to learn now, but
learn for life. The library is a place for those who seek knowledge, and we encourage a positive
environment with various resources to do so. We know that once we empower the youth, we
empower the community.

Mission

Media Center staff seek to empower the community through the education of students.
We do this by collaborating with various professionals in the school system and providing a
place for everyone to obtain knowledge. We want to advance this ability by continuing to
provide needed services and building lasting relationships.

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Media Center Hours

These are the optimal hours for the media center to be in operation. If scheduling changes, those
affected will be notified.

Monday Thursday 7:30 am until 5:00 pm

Friday 7:30 am until 3:45 pm

Summer Hours TBT

Scheduling Information

Project room closes at 4:30 pm to allow for clean-up, but all other parts of the Media Center will
remain open until 5:00 pm.
Any meetings past regular hours will need to be reserved one week in advance in order to attain
proper staffing.
There will be a tentative schedule for instruction on new material used in the Media Center.
Tours can be provided and must follow the rule of being scheduled one week in advance.
Teachers seeking to have large groups will need to reserve spaces one week in advance or notify
in reasonable time.

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Media Center Rules

Behavior
Remain quiet and respectful of materials and people around you.
Leave book bags in small lockers at the entrance before coming into the library.
Sign in at the front desk.

Visitation
Students must have a signed pass given to them by the teacher during instructional hours.
Faculty are welcome at any time and must report to the front desk for assistance.
Community Members/Volunteers need to have a visitation pass from the front office.

Groups and Community Members

Rooms should be reserved from classroom visitations and instruction to maintain noise level.
Community members have a designated section to use computers.
Special events will be held in the common space, and any eating or drinking is restricted to this
area.
No library materials are allowed in the common space except for those managed by the
facilitator.

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Policies and Procedures

The Media Center offers a variety of resources that will help Students, Faculty and Staff,
Community Members, and Volunteers. These resources are intended to provide supplemental
knowledge and equipment that will further the education and understanding of those who use the
facilities.

Resources
Media Center Collections
Technology Support and Equipment
Reading Spaces
Instructional Spaces
Group Rooms
Study Nooks
Crafts Center
Test Prep/College Application Station

Everyone is subject to the same rules of check out. Some exceptions may be made considering
the use of the materials.

Circulation Procedures

Do not remove any materials from the library without first checking them out.
Magazines cannot be checked out.
The maximum length circulated materials can be checked out is two weeks.
Any material turned in after the assigned due day will be fined $0.05 a day.

Technology Procedures

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Individual students and faculty may sit at any computer that is not designated for a specific
purpose
Community members and instructional groups must use a reserved or unoccupied room
Make sure computer usage is ethical and related to an assignment
Materials can be checked out for up to a three day period
The over-due charge is $1.00 per day
Damage charges will be assessed on site and may require the person to pay a percentage to repair
the device

Media Center Services

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The Media Center is designated to enriching the lives of students, teachers, administrators
and approved visitors from the community. This process is achieved by providing resources that
enable these constituents to complete projects and tasks that will help them advance their own
educational and community goals in a time frame that in manageable by the media center staff.
These services include the necessary hardware, software, environment, and assistance to navigate
through the process of completing a project or learning module.

Library Components

Collections
There are various collections in the Media Center. As far as books, there are encyclopedias,
books required for the Accelerated Reading Program, Classics, books used as supplementary
resources for classes we offer at the school, accepted donations, and books that are specific
interests and fun to read.
As for other collections, there is an extensive variety of videos and cds with appropriate and
approved content that are available for those who are approved to check them out. We also have
regular subscriptions to a wide variety of educational and information magazines available for
reading in the center.

Rooms for Reserve

These rooms can be reserved one week in advance or on an as-needed basis with proper
notification. The primary purpose is to provide a space in the media center for instruction of a
group of people that will not disturb the other operations of the media center. It can be used for
group meetings, writing workshops, hardware and software tutorials, testing, and various other
purposes.

Computer Use
There are several use stations that are great for individual work and research. There is also a
section that does not require a person to enter the library completely that will be primarily used
for people in the community or teachers needing some privacy. They are equipped with the latest
software, printers, and technology support teams.

Technologies

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Several technologies are available for check out including tablets, cameras, laptops and
calculators. These tools are powered throughout the building by wireless internet and have a
small time window for which they can be out of the media center.

Crafts Center
In this area of media center, anyone who has access to the media center has the ability to use
products we have available to complete assigned projects. Teachers can also borrow and request
materials from the library to do bulletin boards. The Crafts Center has paper rolls, a lamination
machine, die casts for letters, scissors, markers, paints, and various other crafts needed to
complete projects.

Study Nooks
Study Nooks are desks within the media center that are secluded from more trafficked areas for
students who may need a study hall or want to have a private place to study afterschool. Because
the media center will be open for afterschool hours Monday through Thursday, student athletes
or tutors may have students come in and work on assignments after-hours.

Test Prep/College Application Station

There will be an area specifically dedicated to college research and practice test materials.
Students who are seeking to gain entry to colleges can use those computers specifically for that
reason, or if they are a part of the Move on When Ready program, they have a designated place
to complete assignments other than the college they are attending.

Process of Selecting Materials

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Objective
The Media Center staff desire to obtain and maintain a vast, quality collection of
materials for all who seek to obtain knowledge from the facility. Our main focus is to insure that
students of all reading levels can find something they are interested in and items that can help
them complete assignments effectively.

Responsibility for Collection

Selections will be made by an experienced panel consisting of teachers, Board of
Education Members, community members, parents, high school students, local public library
staff, and the Media Center Specialist.
The selection options will be considered based on the needs of teachers as well as the
following sources:
o Senior High Core Collection
o Nonbook Materials Core Collection
o Subject Guide to Childrens Books in Print
o ALSC Notable Childrens Books
o YALSA Best Books for Young Adults
o Notable Social Studies Trade Books K12
o Outstanding Science Trade Books K12

Maintenance
Materials the Media Center currently holds will be evaluated every 4 years. We will be
eliminating materials based on relevance and appearance. Those that we deem undesirable will
either be discarded, donated to other libraries or causes, or given to students who may see them
as beneficial. Technological resources will be evaluated every 2 years in order to keep or obtain
current software and discard any obsolete resources when necessary.
Monetary gifts are always welcomed, but those gifts that may be donations will need to
be carefully evaluated to make sure we have a need and space within our current collection.

Budget
Most of the Media Center funds for materials will come from the money we are given by
state and local governments during the fiscal year, however, there will be funds coming from
various other sources. The selection committee as well as the Media Center staff will be writing

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grants and holding fundraiser to increase the awareness of the library and its importance to
education.
Funds will be divided into the areas with the strongest need and with the most benefit to
the library in the future.

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Ethical Use of Information

As Media Center Staff, we are responsible for educating and ensuring that all users of all
resources located in the center are used in a safe and ethical manner. Everyone authorized to use
library facilities is entitled to use anything within the media center and will not be discriminated
against for age, sex, religion, or race.

We will uphold the standards and laws set forth for copy right infringements, technology
software, plagiarism, and any other form of original content being used in the center. We
encourage people to ask of they are using information correctly, and we are available to assist
with making responsible decisions. Should someone intentionally violate the laws, the proper
procedures will be followed according to the school handbook.

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Personnel

The following positions are necessary and the people who hold them will be available to
assist students during the specified hours of operation. If there is ever a time where no staff
members are available, the Media Center will have someone on call from the public library to
assist the students.

School Librarian/Media Specialist

Education: Must have a Masters Degree from an American Library Association accredited
school and at least be eligible for certification in the state of Georgia
Expectations: To lead and manage all staff in the Media Center
To prepare all reports and correspondences with the school and community
Organize events to promote education in the library
Manage the library budget
Create an environment that fosters learning and empowers visitors to use
information sources available to them efficiently and ethically

Paraprofessional 1
Education: Must be a certified paraprofessional in the state of Georgia and have earned their
high school equivalency
Expectations: Help with morning and afternoon assistance
Organize and maintain collections and the work environment
Alert the Media Specialist of any concerns
Help to organize special events
Manage front desk operations
Make sure proper library behaviors are occurring

Paraprofessional 2
Education: Must be a certified paraprofessional in the state of Georgia and have earned their
high school equivalency

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Expectations: Help with afternoon and evening assistance

Make sure all materials are accounted for and in order at the end of the day
Close the center
Monitor and assist students in various stations of the library
Make sure everyone is aware of any reservations or communications by preparing
a debriefing for the staff in the morning

Volunteer
Education: Does not have to have high school equivalency or paraprofessional certification,
but if they did, it would be a great asset
Expectations: Help the paraprofessionals monitor visitors
Help with organization of collection materials
Be a friendly face to guest of the library

Student Workers
Education: This person could be a student at the school, or a student at a University seeking
to complete an internship
Expectations: Help where needed
Be friendly and helpful to visitors

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Media/Technology Committee Selection

When selecting the people who will serve on the Media/Technology Committee, I would
like to be involved along with the principle and a teacher in order to sway a vote for who should
be on the committee. The teacher we select will change each year to accommodate for those
who may leave before they finish their terms
Members of the committee will be from many areas of the school system. I want
teachers from each grade level, each education level, and those who are seeking to be developed
professionally. I want someone from the public library, several people from the Board of
Education, parents, high school students, volunteers, and someone from a local college. In total,
I want 22 people, excluding myself and others on the selection committee.
Each committee member would be up for selection every two years, and the issues they
will be discussing and voting on include the following:

Selecting library materials

Making budget decisions
Finding alternative methods of fundraising
Deciding on special events

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Ethical Use of Information

As Media Center Staff, we are responsible for educating and ensuring that all users of all
resources located in the center are used in a safe and ethical manner. Everyone authorized to use
library facilities is entitled to use anything within the media center and will not be discriminated
against for age, sex, religion, or race.

We will uphold the standards and laws set forth for copy right infringements, technology
software, plagiarism, and any other form of original content being used in the center. We
encourage people to ask of they are using information correctly, and we are available to assist
with making responsible decisions. Should someone intentionally violate the laws, the proper
procedures will be followed according to the school handbook.

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Media Center Handbook

Simone Williams

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